Sequestered with the Murderers by Dr. Tanner (best books to read for self improvement .TXT) 📗

I didn’t know what Jackson had told her about my reason for being there.

We walked to a room that had double doors. Louise opened the right door and gestured for me to enter.

“Vett, you’re here,” Jackson called out as Louise closed the door behind me, retreating silently.

“Hello, Jackson. It is nice to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you, too. Did you have a good trip?” Jackson asked, taking my arm and leading me to the large conference room table.

“It was enjoyable.”

“Let me introduce you to everyone. You already know Lemmonee.”

“Hello, Vett. It is nice to see you again,” Lemmonee said, reaching out to shake my hand.

“Nice to see you to Lemmonee.”

“Vett, this is my only sister Atlanta Oakmoor. She’s the baby in the family. Please call her Lanta. Everybody does. She’s the company’s Chief Financial Officer.”

“Pleased to meet you, Lanta,” I said as I shook her outstretched hand. The Oakmoor Bed and Breakfast entered my mind as soon as I heard her name. I made a mental note to find out about a connection later.

“Vett, welcome to Brightness. Nice to have you here,” Lanta replied.

“And this is my older brother, my only brother, Montgomery Stevens, who is our CEO.”

“Pleased to meet you, Montgomery.” I shook his hand. His grip was firm and a bit crushing. From my line of work, I’ve learned that this is a sign of a strong and gregarious personality—a personality a bit out there and quite loud. A person with this type of personality has no hidden agendas—just the kind of person I liked.

“Pleased to meet you, too. I’ve heard good things about you from Jackson and Lemmonee. I am so hoping you can help us,” Montgomery said in a strong Southern accent, much stronger than the way Jackson spoke.

“I’m sure I can, and I’m happy to do it.”

“Vett, we have breakfast for you. Would you like to get a plate before we begin?”

“Everything smells so good. Yes, I would like something to eat.”

I wasn’t hungry, but since the breakfast was in my honor, I felt obligated to eat something. Lemmonee rose from her seat and walked over to the breakfast bar with me.

“This looks scrumptious, Lemmonee.”

“Best food in Attribute,” Lemmonee responded.

I put two slices of bacon, one scoop of eggs, and a blueberry muffin on a plate, and then poured a cup of coffee. I walked back to the conference table where Jackson had pulled out a chair for me at the head of the table. Lemmonee returned to the table with a plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and a glass of orange juice. When she sat down, Jackson, Lanta, and Montgomery rose, then walked to the breakfast bar.

“How was the weather on your way up here,” Lemmonee asked.

“A light rain when I left home, then it stopped. The sky was gray and overcast the rest of the way,” I answered.

“Thank God we don’t have weather like we had Friday night. That was some awful weather for the month of April,” Lemmonee said.

“April continues to prove it is one of those fickle months where the weather is concerned. You just never know what you are going to get,” I responded.

Montgomery, Jackson, and Lanta returned to the table with plates of food more lavishly piled on than what was on my plate.

Montgomery began by saying, “Vett, we are very informal around here and laid back. Help yourself to all the food you want. I hope you don’t mind us talking to you while we eat. We have a small business meeting scheduled after we meet with you.”

“I don’t mind eating while we talk. Thank you for the breakfast spread. It’s very nice.”

Montgomery was an older version of Jackson. The resemblance in the face was striking. He was tall like Jackson, heavyset, close to 300 pounds, I guessed. His bald head with strings of wiry gray hair hanging from the back of his head, his rumpled seersucker suit, and his wrinkled white shirt made him appear much laid back. I liked him. In just the few words he had uttered, I caught a glimpse of warmth and generosity.

“Vett, the four of us have gone over every detail of the Tennessee trip. There is nothing about Duffy or the trip that indicated he was marked for murder. We have a copy of the police report, a photo of the crime scene, and the preliminary autopsy report for you. He was shot seven times,” Jackson stated, handing three manila folders to me. “I trust you to handle these items confidently and discreetly. I do have a little pull in this town, so if there is anything else you need, let me know.”

I opened the first folder, which was the preliminary autopsy report, looked at the first page, and then looked at the marks and wounds page that showed the bullet holes on the body diagram. They were all around his heart. The second folder I opened was of the crime scene photo. The murder scene wasn’t gruesome. Except for his head, the rest of his body was covered with clear plastic. Blood had seeped through the bullet holes. Duffy looked like he was asleep with more blood on the left side of his Brightness Bus Tours white shirt than on the right. I couldn’t make out distinctly the seven bullet holes around his heart.

“It looks like whoever did this wanted to make sure he died. I’ll need some time to review these items.”

“We have an office set up for you. We figured you would need a place to gather your thoughts after our meeting. You may have more questions afterward,” Montgomery said.

“Thank you. Montgomery. How well did you know Duffy?”

“Not very well. Jackson manages the staff, hiring, employee matters, and things like that. I talked to Duffy a few times at company meetings and holiday parties. He seemed to be just an ordinary person like the rest of us. I knew about the Lacecap Hydrangea Murders matter, but the police acquitted him. So I had no qualms about Jackson