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

about them when I get in. I should be there around noon.” I wasn’t ready to share any of my discoveries yet with anyone except Jackson. After talking with Jackson, I would have a better idea of what I want to share, if anything, with her.

“Okay, Vett. I’ll see you then.”

I rose and walked into the kitchen, taking my empty bowl, empty coffee cup, and my list with me. After putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, I called Jackson.

“Hi, Jackson. It’s Vett.”

“Hi, Vett. How are you this morning?”

“I’m good. I thought I would provide you with an update before heading to my restaurant.”

“Okay, give me a minute.” Jackson then plopped the phone down. I could hear shuffling papers. I immediately thought Jackson was looking for a writing instrument and a pad. I then thought about the office to the right of Brightness’s entrance doorway. The desk was neat and orderly: no cluster on the desk anywhere. And there was a gold square box holder on the desk with different colored pens. There was no nameplate on the desk, or the door, or the wall next to the door. I had a chance to glance in that office twice. Once when I arrived on Monday and again as Lemmonee and I said goodbye to Louise, the receptionist.

With the amount of shuffling of papers going on, I assumed the office by the front door didn’t belong to Jackson. I couldn’t picture Jackson’s office being that orderly and neat.

“Okay, Vett. I’m ready. I have my yellow pad and pen. What did you find out?”

“First of all, Jackson, I believe the murder was planned. This was not a robbery gone badly. This was a homicide in the first-degree.”

“How do you know this?”

“There was nothing in the police report that indicated something was stolen from Duffy. His wallet and I’m assuming his money, wedding ring, and watch were still on him.”

“They were.”

“So no robbery. He was not robbed of anything.”

“What else makes you think it was a homicide in the first-degree?”

“Well, it definitely wasn’t manslaughter because manslaughter is where the murderer didn’t plan the crime, nor did the murderer intend for the victim to die. The seven bullets in Duffy’s chest tell us that the murderer intended for him to die. And Duffy was murdered in a place he had no business being. The murderer somehow got him into that room without anyone seeing anything. All planned, hence first-degree murder.”

“I don’t know, Vett. Why would someone plan to murder Duffy? Couldn’t it have been a simple case of being in the wrong place at the right time or vice versus? You know what I mean?”

“You’re speaking of second-degree murder, which makes the murder not premeditated—not planned in advance. Duffy’s murder is not a case where the murderer by chance saw Duffy Friday night at a rest area and then had an abrupt and powerful desire to kill him for a past assault or indiscretion.”

“You sound sure about this.”

“I am. The maintenance room is not open to the general public. It is kept lock. The maintenance personnel would not be stupid enough to commit murder in his or her area of responsibility. I’m sure the maintenance person is one of the first people the police talked to the next day. Someone found out the maintenance personnel’s work hours and knew exactly when the maintenance personnel would be on the premise and when the maintenance personnel would be off the premise.”

“Well, yeah, that does make sense. The absence of a rest area personnel sure did coincide with the arrival of the bus.”

“It sure did. You’re coming around to my way of thinking.”

“You’re wearing me down,” Jackson said, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

“What do the maintenance room personnel do besides keeping the restroom clean and full of toilet paper?”

“Jackson, are you mocking this profession?” I teased.

“No, no. I just wonder what keeps them busy,” Jackson quickly clarified.

“Well, I can tell you from what little I know from my cousin Dottery’s son, Reed, who applied for a facilities custodial attendant position at a rest area. The job entailed, of course, keeping the restrooms clean, neat, sanitized, and keeping toilet paper holders full. He said he would have to perform general cleanup of all areas around the building, including the parking lot and picnic area. The job also entailed emptying trash receptacles, preparing recycling bins, and putting them in the designated space for weekly pick-up. Let’s see. He talked about having to have a general knowledge of maintenance like changing light bulbs, fixing a leaky faucet, and how to unstop a toilet. He even took a tour of the rest area he would be working at and said the maintenance room was stocked with all the equipment he would need. You know what I mean, mopping buckets, mops, light bulbs, tools, bulk cleaning supplies and sanitizers, and bulks of toilet paper and a lot of other stuff.”

“I take it he did not take the job?” Jackson inquired.

“No, he didn’t. He said the pay was too low. These kids nowadays want to start out making the big dollars. He has no college education and refuses to go, but he wants a job making $30,000. He’ll learn the hard way that it pays to have an education.”

“I agree with you on that one.”

“Jackson, can anyone get your bus drivers’ schedule?’’

“Yes. If someone wants to know a particular bus driver’s tours, the company provides that information. Some regulars enjoy touring with the same bus driver and want to go on another tour with that same driver. Why do you ask?”

“I believe the murderer knew Duffy’s schedule and chose the Tennessee trip specifically. I just don’t know why yet.”

“That could be. We don’t keep that information a secret. As you know, all passengers are given the driver and the tour guide’s business card at the beginning of the trip. This is good practice and makes passengers feel comfortable to know they can call on either one during the trip