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

said as I followed her from the living room to the kitchen.

“Thank you,” Carolyn said humbly.

Without meaning to, I stopped in the doorway of the kitchen as Carolyn kept walking in. I was taken aback by the powder pink 1950 style kitchen. Everything was powder pink from the Hotpoint stove and refrigerator to the cabinets to the table and chairs. Even the large bread mixer sitting on top of the fridge, the four-piece canister set, the bread box, the toaster, the sink, the napkin holder, and knickknacks were all powder pink. The items that weren’t powder pink were the countertops, the white linoleum floor, and the legs on the chairs were chrome.

Carolyn turned and caught my wide-eyed look.

“I know my kitchen is out of style, but in the 50s and 60s, it was the craze. When I bought this house, it was the kitchen that sold me. I love it, and I’ve refused to change anything, though my family and friends thought I should,” Carolyn explained.

“It’s different. I don’t mean to sound rude, but do all the appliances work?”

“Absolutely, they do. I’ve had to replace parts here and there. You can get almost anything you want in the color you want if you are willing to pay the price. I believe the refrigerator is on its last leg. It doesn’t stay cool as it once did. I’ve got another one and a freezer in the garage.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“I’ve lived in Envyton County all my life. Let’s see. I bought this house in 1970. So I’ve lived here for thirty-six years. Go ahead and sit down at the table.”

As I sat down, Carolyn removed a slice of pie from the pie dish on the table, put it in a saucer, and then set the saucer in front of me. She then removed a slice for herself, put it in a saucer, and then poured a glass of lemonade for each of us. Seating herself, she said, “You look really nice. You didn’t have to dress-up to come talk to me.”

“Thank you. Actually, the viewing for Duffy is tonight. I’m going to it after I leave you,” I explained.

Ever since I fully understood how God wanted me to use my gift, which was in my early twenties, I have been able to read people quite well. Carolyn’s behavior after my statement, though I sensed she was trying to hide it, told me I had hurled a big insult at her. Her whole body jerked for a second, then became utterly still. The fork in her hand fell to the table.

“Carolyn, did I say something wrong?”

“Oh no. I had not heard when the viewing was going to be,” Carolyn said while looking down at her slice of pie.

“Did you know Duffy before the Tennessee trip? I know this was your first bus trip with Brightness?”

“I think everyone as old as I am who lives in Envyton County have heard of the Lacecap Hydrangea Murders. It was big news at the time. As you heard on the bus, Duffy was involved in the murders. I knew of Duffy but didn’t know him personally.”

“Did you know ahead of time, he was the bus driver for the Tennessee trip?”

Looking away from me, Carolyn said, “No, I didn’t.”

“Carolyn,” I called out at a higher decibel level, “The apple pie is delicious.” I did this to get her to focus on me.

She looked into my eyes as she said, “Thank you. Apple pie is my favorite dessert.”

“Did you or Gwen have any conversations with Duffy?”

“No, we didn’t get a chance to talk to him at all.”

Now that I held her eyes, I took another bite, then asked, “What did you see that night?”

She continued to look at me while answering. “As I told the police. I saw nothing. I got off the bus at the rest area with everyone else. It was nasty outside, uh, you know, cold, misty, and foggy. I walked hurriedly to the ladies restroom, used it, and then walked back to the side of the bus where everyone gathered waiting for Duffy to return.”

“Did you see anything unusual in the restroom or outside of it?”

“Nothing at all. I was cold. I was more interested in using the restroom and getting back on the bus than I was in my surroundings.”

“It was cold that night for sure, not a time to be dilly-dallying outside.” This was my way of asking Carolyn the same question again.

“I didn’t see anyone doing that. I could barely see anything in front of me. The weather was just awful.”

“It was you or perhaps Gwen who told the Purples and me that you two were best friends.”

“That’s true.”

“I can’t remember how long you said you two have known each other.”

“Basically, all our lives. We were in elementary school together. Neither of us had children. We both lost our husbands a few years ago; my Harold died five years ago, and Gwen’s Nash died three years ago.”

“I am sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, Vett. We all have to go at some point.”

“That’s so true. Uh, on the trip, it appears that Marjorie began the disparaging talk about Duffy. Did you know Marjorie and Rebbie before the trip?”

“No, I didn’t. Marjorie, Rebbie, Gwen, and I sat at the same table at one of the breakfasts. This is when Gwen and I found out they live in Belated, too. We all got on the bus at the Martinsville stop, but I didn’t know them then. We didn’t know any of the passengers before the trip.”

“Do you guys have anything in common?”

“You mean besides living in Belated?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess we could have, but I don’t know. We didn’t talk much about ourselves. After we found out we all lived in Belated, we talked about some of the tourist attractions we were going to see that day. That was it. We didn’t get the chance to share another meal together.”

It was hard to believe all of what Carolyn just said. I know from my