Peggy’s personal author’s note: As an author, I believe the subtle influences on one’s thoughts, like sight, sound, smell, and the imagery of expressed words, (which have always intrigued this wordsmith) are everywhere. What is important is to recognize them for what they are when one is pursuing the truth because they can be used to gently sway one’s focus, divert one’s attention regarding certainty, or to mislead and cleverly distract.

Listen. Observe. Interpretation is in the eye of the beholder, regardless of circumstances. Sometimes influences hide in plain sight, while others are embedded in semantics and behavior. The key is to identify the disparity among them, when drawing your final conclusions when the truth comes walking in. Even then, the truth might never completely reveal itself. But then again, maybe it will…

Samantha’s note: As a protagonist, I reject the idea it’s luck that I’ve survived this long in sleuthing, plotting, and writing undreamed-of mysteries and how my crew and I manage to expose the truth in the end. No, by this point, I’d have to say it’s a miracle I’m still alive.