Sequestered with the Murderers by Dr. Tanner (books for 8th graders TXT) 📕

“Ms. Brayborn, may I have a credit card and see your driver’s license. Nothing will be charged to your room, but the rule is to have the guest’s credit card on file. Your driver’s license is your form of identification.”

“No problem, and call me Vett,” I said as I took the items from my wallet. As she took them from me, my gaze went to the front door as a woman walked in, pulling a suitcase behind her. I was hoping like mad that it wasn’t anyone from the Danville media. I knew some of them and had favorable interactions with them. I just didn’t want to interact with any of them now. As the woman walked closer, I could see she wasn’t anyone I knew.

“Vett, here are your credit card and ID. You are on the second floor, room 204. Here is your key. If you need a second key, just let me know. This document is for the dashboard in your car. Just put it on your dashboard when you are parked on the lot. It lets the guards know that you are a guest of the hotel. We don’t have a restaurant in the hotel, so I’m giving you two coupons to the Attribute Country Diner across the street. The food is excellent. One coupon is for 50% off a dinner meal, and the other is for 10% off a breakfast meal. I think that is about it. Is there anything else you need at this time?”

“Just one. Do you have a workout room?”

“We have two treadmills and several dumbbells in a room down the hall behind you to the left. We are planning on an expansion to a full workout room next summer. Can I help you with anything else?”

“I don’t think so. You have been very helpful. What hours do you work?” I said with a wide smile on my face. I was trying my best to show friendliness and how appreciative I was of her service.

“I work from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and sometimes on Saturdays when a part-time person needs to be off. But this can change at a moment’s notice.”

“Well, I look forward to seeing your smiling face tomorrow. Thank you for your help.”

“It is my pleasure. The elevators are down the hall behind you and to the right. Have a pleasant evening.”

After entering my room, I put my overnight bag on the luggage stand, surveyed the room, and then pulled backed the curtains. I stood there staring out the window. My conversation with Sty had put me on edge. Was Jackson so preoccupied with his company that he did not know how the community felt about Duffy, or perhaps he did know? Were Duffy’s excellent driving record, his amiable disposition around Jackson, and good feedback cards from customers the only reasons Jackson kept him as an employee? I began pacing the room in thought. After a few minutes of pacing, I decided to have dinner at the Attribute Country Diner across the street. After calling Gam and Dimma to let them know I had arrived, I took a long shower. I dressed in jeans and a white blouse, then sat on the edge of the bed.

The information Solardette gave me floated in my mind while I had been dressing. I knew Brightness has a no-gun policy; it was in all its literature and its web page. The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg tour was the Purples’ fifth trip with Brightness. We were never asked to show identification, except for the one trip where we flew back home. The tour guide followed the same protocol as was done on our previous land trips once the bus was loaded with passengers: she called out names and put a check-mark beside the passenger names on her manifest. She never asked for identification. None of us had ever been searched, nor had any of our bags and luggage been searched by Brightness. What Solardette had heard (if there was a gun onboard) proved that a no-gun policy isn’t enough to stop someone from coming onto the bus with a gun. Anyone determined to get a gun onboard ground transportation, at least with Brightness, faces no security checks. That was disturbing. I never thought about security checks before because all our trips with Brightness had been excellent and ended as expected.

I had told Solardette I would call her on Monday, but I had questions for her that couldn’t wait. I grabbed my bag off the dresser, pulled out my phone, and quickly dialed her number.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Solardette. This is Vett.”

“Hi, Vett.”

“I’m in Attribute at the hotel. I know I said I would call you on Monday, but I have two questions for you that can’t wait.”

“What is it?”

“Was Marjorie the only person whispering to Carolyn and Gwen?”

“Yes, Vett. No one else was standing near them. Marjorie was leaning into them.”

I stood and began pacing the room. “And you’re absolutely sure the people sitting across from where Marjorie was standing and the people in front of Carolyn and Gwen were not in on the whispering.”

“Oh no, Vett. It was just the three of them. I am absolutely sure about that. The whispering didn’t go on for long. Maybe two minutes or so is how long it lasted. Then Marjorie went back to her seat.”

“Thanks, Solardette. I don’t know where all this is leading me yet, but I will keep you posted. You have a good evening.”

“I’ve known you long enough to know how your gift works. You were told to call me and ask these questions, and you did. Everything will all come together like it always does. Take care, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

After the call with Solardette, I grabbed the parking pass and the dinner coupon from my packet of information, grabbed my bag, and left the room. It was now 7:00 pm. The person at the registration desk was a man. I wanted to ask him questions about