Page 36 of Whispers of Deception

Noah:I think it’s important to look at the context of this photo. Lilia and Augustus appear pretty close, and with the rumors swirling about Willow and Augustus, it’s easy to see why people are pointing fingers.

Sam:Exactly. It’s not just about the photo—it’s the timing. Lilia and Augustus have known each other for years, but the question is,what was their relationship around the time of Willow’s death?

Riley:Some sources say that Lilia was always in Willow’s shadow. If there was any jealousy or resentment, it would have been building up for a while. And if Augustus was involved . . . well, it wouldn’t be the first time a love triangle turned deadly.

Maggie:The theory that has been gaining traction is that Lilia could have seen Willow as a threat to her relationship with Augustus. It could have been pent-up resentment and maybe Lilia was finally pushed over the edge.

Noah:And let’s not forget that Lilia was one of the last people to see Willow alive. That’s a significant detail. If they had some kind of confrontation, it could have escalated.

Riley:There’s also the entire grave situation. I still feel like all of them know way more than they’re letting on. It’s too much of a coincidence for them to end up there.

Sam:And if she wasn’t the one who killed Willow, maybe she was trying to cover something up. Maybe she’s protecting someone, maybe they all are protecting someone.

Maggie:That’s definitely a possibility. But here’s where it gets tricky: Lilia has no previous history of violence. Straight-A student. The daughter of a well-respected lawyer. Could she really be capable of something like this?

Noah:People can be unpredictable when they feel cornered. If Lilia felt like she waslosing Augustus to Willow, it could have triggered something in her.

Riley:Or, what if Augustus was using Lilia? There’s a theory that Augustus could have manipulated her into doing something she didn’t want to. That photo could be proof of their close relationship—or proof that Augustus had something on her, some kind of hold.

Sam:Either way, I think the police need to look more into Lilia. She seems to have been the closest to Willow.

Maggie:So, where do we go from here? What should the authorities be focusing on?

Noah:Lilia and her relationship with both Willow and Augustus. There could be something there, and I think that it could really be the key to solving this.

Maggie:And to our listeners, we want to hear from you. What do you think? Should Lilia be the prime suspect, or is there something more to this story?

Noah:Thanks again to Sam and Riley for joining us today. Be sure to check out their podcast,Under the Radar, for a more in-depth analysis of this case and others like it.

Sam:Thanks for having us!

Riley:It was a pleasure.

Maggie:That’s it for this episode forWhispers of Deception. Stay safe, and keep questioning everything.

Chapter Sixteen

Cambridge, Massachusetts

The woods were thick with a cold, damp mist, making every breath feel heavy. The mud clung to their shoes with every step that they took. Delilah’s face twisted in discomfort as she kept looking down at her once-pristine shoes.

“Should we even be doing this? This feels wrong,” Eleanor said, her phone’s flashlight cutting through the darkness in shaky beams.

“Are we even going the right way?” Sebastian muttered, squinting at the path ahead.

“The map says it’s this way,” Augustus replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

“Your phone’s fucked up anyway,” Sebastian grumbled.

“Would you like to try instead?” Augustus shot back, his patience wearing thin.

“Can you both shut up?” Lilia hissed, his tone sharp with unease. “This is the stupidest idea you’ve had yet. We shouldn’t even be here right now. Someone should be talking to Orion Blake.”

“We’re nearly there,” Augustus insisted.

A sudden snap of a tree branch behind them made Delilah’s eyes widen with fear. “What was that?”

“An animal. We’re in the woods, Delilah,” Sebastian said, rolling his eyes.

---