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

“Hi, Jackson. It’s Vett.”

“How are you this morning?” Jackson asked cheerfully

“I am well. And I hope you are, too.”

“I am. Did you have a well-rested weekend getaway?”

“Yes, well-rested. The weekend was absolutely wonderful. The food was so delicious, and the customer service outstanding. You’ve got to visit Serenity one day.”

“I’ll add it to my list of places to visit and tell Lanta about it. She’ll definitely want to compare it to Oakmoor. On another note, happy belated birthday.”

“Thank you, Jackson. I had a wonderful birthday.”

“You’re welcome. Well, I hope this news I am about to give you is wonderful, too. I was able to get the names of the joggers that found Diantha’s body. They are Guy and Kristen Balara. They were both twenty-five years old at the time, and they still live in Envyton County.”

“Yes, this is good news.”

“And I have more good news. I have their telephone number for you.”

After Jackson gave me the telephone number, Detective Rivers came to me. I’m sure she has already spoken with them, I said in my mind.

“What about Whirley? Do you have contact information for him?”

“I do. Here it is.”

The name Whirley and Solardette began circling in my head. What does Solardette have to do with Whirley? I wondered.

“Thanks, Jackson. I will call the Balaras and Whirley. As far as the case is concerned, Joe and Holt Junior are involved. I don’t know how yet, but my profiling leads me to them.”

“They have been on several of Brightness tours. Any idea at all how they are involved?”

I did have an idea, but I could not share it with Jackson yet because of my promise to Detective Rivers.

“I’m working on a motive and hope to share their involvement with you soon,” I said.

“So you have a motive?”

“I’ve profiled revenge as the motive.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

“This was an impeccably planned volatile murder. I believe the murderer believes Duffy hurt his heart tremendously. Since there was no damage to Duffy’s body except for his heart, the murderer hurt Duffy where the murderer was hurt. An eye for an eye murder is a revenge murder.”

“Wow, I can see that.”

“I also know there was more than one person. Since this murder was carried out impeccably, there had to be trial runs. Someone had to pretend to be Duffy while another person pulled him into the maintenance room.”

“Vett, you’re good. This makes so much sense.”

“It does. I’m now trying to figure out the .22 caliber handgun angle.”

“What do you mean?”

“A newbie to handguns was involved in the murder.”

“I’m not going to ask how you figured that out, but wouldn’t that eliminate Joe and Holt Junior?”

“That’s my catch-22, but I’ll work it out.”

“Any word on how all this relates to the Lacecap Hydrangea Murders?”

“I’m leaning away from Duffy having anything to do with those murders. I’ve met with Detective Rivers from Envyton County, who is assigned to the case. She’s given me some information I can’t share now, but I can assure you Diantha’s case is not a cold case. Detective Rivers is actively working the case.”

“Duffy not having anything to do with Diantha’s murder would take a load off my shoulders.”

I heard clearly what Jackson said, and I squirmed in my chair. I stood up and began pacing the floor with the phone to my ear. I was starting to feel awkward, fidgety, and embarrassed for Jackson. Why couldn’t I assure him that no bad publicity was in store for Brightness?

“I hear you, Jackson. I’m going to talk to Detective Rivers again tomorrow. Hopefully, she’ll give me more information I can share with you.”

“Is there anything you need from me?”

“Have you received any complaints regarding Duffy? Were all the customer survey response cards all good? All things on the positive side?”

“I only read a select few from each trip. Carter, who you know is head of bus services, reads them all. All the ones I’ve read were positive. Carter has never brought to my attention a negative review. And he would have had there been any. I have read minor infractions such as he took too long getting a lady’s luggage from the bus luggage compartment, or the trashcan was overflowing, or the air didn’t flow to the back of the bus. All in all, the passengers loved Duffy and had good things to say about him. Why do you ask?”

“Just trying to learn more about his character. If he were nasty, mean, or disrespectable to the passengers, you and Carter would know that.”

“He wouldn’t be working for Brightness. Passengers are our bread and butter. Without them, I have no business.”

“I see.”

“All my employees know my rules, and they must abide by the customer service training provided to them. Our passengers are everything.”

“I understand. Uh, do you remember ever talking to Joe or Holt Junior on one of Brightness’s other trips?”

“I know I didn’t on the Tennessee trip, but I may have on one of the other trips. They’ve taken so many with us. I talk to so many passengers. I just can’t remember them all. Why do you ask?”

“Just trying to work out my .22 caliber gun angle. I was just wondering if they talked about hunting. Hunters don’t usually use a .22 caliber handgun.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you. I’ve talked to too many passengers to remember what they told me.”

“I’ll work it out. That’s all I have to report today.”

“Thanks, Vett. Have a good today.”

“You too, Jackson.”

I hung up the phone, grabbed my jacket and handbag, and then drove to work.

Upon entering the office, I threw my handbag on the credenza behind my desk and hung up my jacket. I then picked up the phone, dialed Aunt Clove’s office number, and then asked her to come into my office and provide me with an update. A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door.

“Come on in, Aunt Clove.”

“Hey, Vett. You look rested. How was the trip?” Aunt Clove was my mother’s baby sister and was a