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

and this afternoon,” I asked. My body had stopped shaking, and I was able to now speak coherently.

“No, Vett. I don’t usually pay any attention to the mailbox. I just know the mailman runs around 11:00 am.”

“Haiden, I’m going to call the police about the letter since it is of a threatening nature. I hate to do this to you, and I hope it does not upset your business. The police will want to talk to you,” Gam said.

“I understand. I am so sorry this happened to you, Vett,” Haiden said.

“It’s not your fault. Believe me, it really isn’t. You know I am an investigator. Well, the case I am currently on has gotten someone upset and nervous. So someone threatened me. That’s all. You’ve been the perfect host. This won’t stop me from coming back,” I said.

“Thank you, Vett. I really appreciate that. Now, what can I do to help?”

“If you remember anything else about the letter, let me know and bring the police up to this room when they arrive. This way, we won’t disturb any of your guests that may be on the porch or in the sitting room,” Gam said.

“Okay, I will,” Haiden said as she rose from her chair and walked to the door, opening it.

After closing the door, Gam pulled me from the bed and hugged me tightly.

“It’s going to be alright, Baby. It really is,” Gam whispered in my ear.

Twenty minutes after making the call, two seasoned police officers were at our room door. They were friendly and concerned. After hearing our story, one of the officers took the letter and put it in an evidence bag. They were there for an hour taking the report.

When they were ready to talk to Haiden, Gam said, “Baby, I’ll be back in a moment. I’m going to walk downstairs with the officers.”

“That’s fine.”

I needed the time alone to gather my thoughts. When Gam gets back to the room, I know he will ask me to give up the case—to stop investigating it and turn my notes over to the police. Sometimes he refuses to see that my work is just as important to me as his is to him. I did understand his somewhat distorted view of my work and life. He saw that I had a successful restaurant, my great aunt had left me enough money to live off, I was married to a man who loved me and could support me financially, so why did I need to put my life on the line by being a private investigator. He couldn’t see that while I am truly appreciative of all that I have, my work as a private detective is who I am. It’s my purpose for living. So it is up to me to continually show him I am willing to entertain an alternative solution in my work to keep the line of communication and understanding open between us. When I do this, he relaxes. I sense he knows I’m appreciative of his ideas and the energy he outputs in caring for me. He is then more willing to entertain the alternative. But it is taxing to get him to this point, having to do it all again when the next scare comes along.

It was worth it. I loved Gam with all my heart. He was protecting me, and I loved him more every day for it. But I couldn’t give up investigating. It’s what God wanted me to do. The way I saw my life was God had made me hold and un-wanting so I could devote time to helping others solve a mystery in their lives. I couldn’t give it up.

I had an alternative solution for Gam in my mind. Now I need to formulate it.

CHAPTER 22

Sleep can be an energizer. It was for me. Last night had been unsettling, but this morning I was back to my formidable self. I had been up against intimidation before. All this meant to me was, I am getting closer to the answer. At the same time, I had the comfort of knowing God was with me.

The night did end with a big surprise for me. Not once did Gam ask me to give up the case.

When he returned to the room, he said, “You’ve touched a nerve. You’re going to find this culprit. You might already have. Let’s walk through this thing again.”

We talked through the case until midnight, which by then, I was dozing off. We went to bed with no idea who sent me the letter.

Now, this morning, Sunday, 9:00 am, we were dressed and ready to go downstairs for breakfast when Gam hesitated.

“Baby, I think I will hang around with you today. I’m sure Mercy can find a fourth person for golf since the ticket is free.”

“No, Gam. It’s probably too late for him to do that. I’m going to be alright. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to read one of the books I bought yesterday.”

“I don’t feel right leaving you.”

“What can go wrong? You’ve talked one of the police officers from last night into staying outside until tomorrow. So this place is being watched.”

“I know. Police officers do things like this for each other. I’ve done the same thing before. I know they will be on the lookout.”

“Then go and play the game you love.”

“Okay, if you are sure.”

“I am sure. Now let’s eat.”

After a long slow breakfast together, Gam met Mercy and two other men by the front door. Gam had accepted Mercy’s offer to drive, so I watched from the porch as Gam retrieved his clubs from his car and put them in Mercy’s car. I waved goodbye.

Thirty minutes later, I walked up the stairs back into the room. The first and second things I had on my mental list of things to do was call Marjorie Brown, then Rebbie Shields. I called Marjorie first, then Rebbie. Neither answered. I left messages.

I then called Detective Fern Rivers, the detective in charge