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

Board of Supervisors. He won the election five times. After that, he served in other government capacities. My love is animals. Always has been. We lived on a tobacco farm when I was little. . . .”

As Holt Junior continued to talk, I saw that his physical stature of six feet three inches tall and 225 pounds (my guess) aided the strength and mental power I saw in him. His White “good ole boy” manner of speaking was so typical of White males in small rural Southern towns. It was such a big contrast to Joe’s mild manner of speaking. There was nothing notable about Holt Junior’s face. It was rather plain. He had blue eyes, a small mouth, bushy eyebrows, and a head full of curly brown hair with a few strands of gray. I guessed his age to be about fifty-seven, the same age as Joe. I was not warming up to him, and I didn’t know why.

“We still own that farm. Nobody works the farm now. Ina Jean and I grow a big vegetable garden out there every year.”

“Though I have never lived on a farm, my daddy has told me stories about his life on the farm. I understand it can be challenging at times. Uh, at the rest area, did you and Joe wait for your wives to come out of the ladies’ room to escort them back to the bus?”

“No. After using the restroom, we stood around outside talking for a bit, stretching our legs, right Joe?”

“Yeah, we did. We were the last to arrive back to the bus side. It was a miserable night that night, so cold, misty, and foggy. I would rather have pouring down rain than to have that misty stuff that prevents you from seeing your hand in front of your face,” Joe said.

Joe was slightly taller than Holt, perhaps six feet four inches tall. His body was thicker, 275 pounds, maybe. His brown eyes, babyface, and salt and pepper hair were quite attractive. Though I liked him, he didn’t portray the physical strength and mental power that Holt Junior had.

“Did you see anything out of the way on your way back to the bus?”

Holt Junior saying they stood around outside stretching their legs and chitchatting concerned me. Who does that in cold, foggy, and misty weather?

“Vett, it was misty and foggy. I didn’t see anything. We didn’t know to be looking for anything,” Joe replied.

“Same here. I didn’t see anything. I’m with Joe. We didn’t know to be looking for anything. Why would we?” Holt Junior said.

“Standing around outside after using the men’s room, did anything appear out of order or weird?” I asked.

Joe and Holt Junior both seemed to find my question baffling. They stared at me, and neither one looked at the other.

“What I am trying to do is understand the movement of everyone on the bus. Please don’t take offense. I will ask the same questions to everyone I talk to that was on the bus.”

“Okay, I understand. We didn’t see anything,” Holt Junior explained.

“Would you explain to me what you did when you two left the bus to go look for Duffy?”

“Sure,” Joe said decisively. “We left the bus, went directly to the men’s room, and searched all the stalls. He was not in the men’s room. We turned left out of the men’s room, headed south a few feet, walked around a couple of vehicles, called out his name, then headed east a few feet. We again called out his name. We could hardly see anything in front of us. After a minute or two looking behind cars, we headed north to the bus. Lemmonee saw us approach the bus, then opened the door. We entered the bus. That’s all we did.”

“Do either of you smoke?”

“No, we don’t. Why do you ask?” Holt Junior said.

“Sometimes people who smoke stand around smoking and lose track of time.”

“Neither one of us have ever smoked. We have been friends since college. So I am comfortable in saying we have never smoked,” Holt Junior explained.

“Did either of you have any long conversations with Duffy?”

“Joe, me, and the wives spent most of our time together. We didn’t get a chance to have any long conversations with Duffy, just the normal civilities. You know what I mean, good morning, how are you today, and the likes.”

Joe nodded in agreement.

“Okay, thank you for being upfront with me. Did you know any of the other passengers, except your wives, on the bus before the Tennessee trip?”

“No, I didn’t. Sometimes a passenger we have traveled with on a previous trip will be on another trip with us. But not this trip,” Joe explained.

“Same here,” Holt Junior said. “I didn’t know any of the passengers.”

“I take it you have lived in Envyton County all your life, except perhaps for college.”

Joe spoke first, “That’s right. We both went to James Madison University. I got a job teaching chemistry at Envyton Community College right out of college. I have taught there for thirty-five years. Abby is the librarian there and has been there for thirty-two years. Besides chemistry, I now teach physics, biology, and biochemistry. I love living here. It is not the big city, but we have a good life here.”

“It is a good life. I worked for the local vet in Envyton County after college to get some experience. When he died a few years later, my daddy helped me buy the business from his wife. Best decision I ever made,” Holt Junior said.

“Since you have been here all your life, what can you tell me about the Lacecap Hydrangea Murders?”

Holt Junior spoke first this time. “That happened in 1996 and was big news at the time. I’m sure you have read the police reports or done some research. What do you want to know?”

“Were you or your families acquainted with Ms. Lacecap, her daughter, and niece?”

“Vett, Envyton County is a small place. Everybody knows just about everybody. I didn’t know them personally,