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

“Oh well, it will come to me,” I whispered.

I started my Jeep and put it in reverse. As I did so, Carolyn’s apple pie came to mind. It indeed was delicious but a little too sweet for my taste. Just as that thought left my mind, the elderly Mellie sisters, who I interviewed last October regarding Hollice Nichols’ murder, came to mind. I had nicknamed them the sweet Mellie sisters because of their charming nature. What struck me as odd about their living room is that none of the furniture and furnishings appeared to be from the last twenty years except for the modern silver photo frames. Photos of family members in silver frames were on every flat surface in the room—the mantel, end tables, coffee table, and the piano.

“That’s it,” I shouted.

I saw what was wrong with Carolyn’s living room. There were no framed photos of people displayed anywhere in the living room, not even one of a man who I would have thought to be Carolyn’s deceased husband, Harold. The peculiar thing is that there were stacks of various sizes and color photo frames on the floor near the orange cigarette holder/plant holder at the back of the room. I couldn’t tell from where I had stood if photos were in the frames.

I drove away thinking my visit with Carolyn left me with more questions than answers.

CHAPTER 16

I arrived at Mineral Funeral Home in plenty of time to stake out a position in the back of the room. Before entering, I sat in my Jeep writing notes into my black and white composition book. My meeting with Carolyn was still on my mind. I concluded that she was hiding something. But why would she do that? I wondered. My encounter with her increased my desire to talk to Gwen. Would Gwen corroborate everything Carolyn said?

After completing my notes, I entered the building. A sign at the entrance read that Duffy was in viewing room A. Entering, I immediately saw Nancy Radley and two ladies—one White, the other Black standing at the front of the room to the left of Duffy’s casket. There were a total of nine people sitting in chairs on both sides of the aisle. I walked to the front, viewed the body, and then spoke to Nancy.

“Nancy, again, I would like to express my condolence for your loss.”

“Thank you, Vett. I am so glad you could make it. These are my friends Lynn Waters and Tess Maples. Lynn, Tess, this is Vett Brayborn.” It didn’t slip by me that Nancy chose not to mention that I was investigating Duffy’s murder.

“Hello ladies, it’s nice to meet you both.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” they echoed each other.

“Vett, again, thank you for coming. Enjoy the refreshment at the back of the room,” Nancy said.

I walked away as a line of ten people had gathered behind me to speak to her. I walked to the food table to see if there was protein food available. There were small ham sandwiches. I put two on a plate with three celery sticks. I needed this food to help eliminate the sweet taste in my mouth from the lemonade and apple pie.

I sat in the right section, four rows from the back row. This location gave me an excellent view of the entrance and of people coming and going. Less than five minutes later, a line of twenty people formed to view the body. No one I knew was in this group. As these people, one by one, viewed the body, spoke to Nancy, and then sat down, I couldn’t help but notice the colorful melting pot that had accumulated thus far. Different races, ages, gender, and style and color of clothing made up the melting pot. I was admiring it when a commotion at the entrance caught my eye. Brightness Bus Tours people had lined up in twos at the door to make an entrance. It looked to be a group of at least fifty people. They all wore the Brightness uniform, which consisted of a white shirt with the Brightness logo and khaki pants. In front of the line was Montgomery and a younger version of Jackson. I assumed this was Jackson’s son, Jack.

As the group slowly walked to the front of the room, I got a good look at Jackson’s wife. She and Jackson held hands as they walked behind Montgomery and Jack. She, indeed, looked younger than Jackson. She was Black, with light skin, small facial features, and was very attractive. I wondered if cosmetic surgery had anything to do with her appearance. Behind them were Lanta and a stout White man, taller than Lanta, who I assumed was Lanta’s husband. They had on the Brightness uniform, too, but her sizeable eye-catching ruby red jewels in her ears, around her neck, and on both wrists made her look obtrusive. I think it would have been better for her to look unobtrusive at a sepulchral occasion as this was.

Behind Lanta and her husband were employees I didn’t know. Armie Bledsoe and a Black lady holding his arm were toward the back of the line. I assumed this was Armie’s wife. Lemmonee Ames and the receptionist, Louise Bellville, were at the end of the line. This group obscured my view of Nancy, which I didn’t want to happen. I had been looking forward to seeing her reaction to Montgomery, Jackson, and Lanta. After the Brightness group viewed the body, spoke to Nancy, and then sat down, another group of people came in. After this group sat, Amazing Grace soft music began playing. It was now 7:00 pm.

The officiant, the funeral home director, stood, walked to the podium, and began the scheduled program. As he did so, I couldn’t help but notice that the colorful melting pot had been subdued. Now white and khaki had taken over. Nevertheless, all around the room were people of different races and ages who had come together to pay respect