Murder Mystery Part 4

Ohohoho! What a twist! I hope you enjoy this installment!


Avery's blood boiled as he walked into the hotel lobby to witness a young couple checking out of the resort. He originally came here because Adam wasn't in his room when he stopped by. He stormed to the front desk. Louis sat looking bored.

"What the hell is going on?"

"What?"

"Who authorized those people to leave?"

"Nobody. They were checking out." Louis rolled his eyes as if this was the most obvious answer.

"I need to speak with the Hotel Manager. Now!" commanded Avery. Louis snorted and picked the hotel phone. A few minutes later and the manager came out smiling and looking nervous.

"What seems to be the problem, sir?" The manager smiled and tried to look as sympathetic as he could. His manager's blazer was barely held onto his rotund body, it looked as if the buttons might pop off. Avery cleared his mind of any nasty thoughts.

"Why are there people leaving the hotel? I specifically said no one can leave without authorization."

"Yes, the officer on duty told us that, but you see, we're only letting people leave who have nothing to do with the situation. I hardly see what harm there is letting one or two people leave."

"You don't know who's involved in this situation, that's the harm! You might have let the killer walk away!"

"Oh, I think your exaggerating."

"I most assuredly am not!" Avery could feel his face growing redder with rage. The manger looked around mouse-ily.

"We can't force the customers to stay. If we kept them here long than they wanted we'd be forced to accommodate them free of charge. And we can't tell them the police won't let them leave."

"Why not?"

"Well, if word got out that there was a murder here, do you know how bad for business it would be?"

Avery wanted to choke the life out of the hotel manager's fat neck. He restrained himself.

"From now on I want everyone who is leaving this hotel to be questioned by me first. I'll be stationing an officer here for the rest of this investigation."

"But surely you see my side of things."

"No, I don't." Avery walked toward Louis, who looked rather non-plussed to be dealing with the detective again. "I need to know, have you checked out a man named Adam Conway.

"Nope."

Avery nodded. "Good, if he comes through here, tell him I'm looking for him." Avery walked out of the hotel lobby and headed straight for the dining hall. He'd been working all morning and skipped breakfast. It was about time he got some lunch.

The dining hall was empty so Avery had time to go over the facts so far. Kimberly Douglas and Adam Conway arrive together a few days ago. They're planning to stay a few weeks, but last night they have a fight and Kimberly runs off.

"Hows your meal?" the ever chipper servant asked. She smiled as widely as possible.

"It's great, thank you."

"Wonderful! If you need anything let me know!"

"Ok, I will." The servant left and Avery continued to go over the case.

Adam claimed he was in the rec. room playing ping pong with Paul Staffer. Paul however denies this claim saying hes never met an Adam in his life.

"Mr. Simmons?"

Avery looked up from his mixed cut fruit. A man with greying hair and an unkempt mustache stood before him. "I'm Glen Endritch. I'm a photographer."

"Charming profession. Can I help you?"

Glen looked around nervously before sitting down next to Avery. He leaned in closely and dropped his voice to a whisper. "I think I can help you. I have information about the man who killed her."

Avery stopped chewing his piece of bacon and listened intently. The chipper server walked up and poured Glen a glass of water. Glen shoo'd her away.

"I work with him. I saw him do it. I even have photographic proof. It's in my camera in my room. Room 17. I'd tell you more but he's a very paranoid man and could have me killed if he..." Glen looked up and stopped talking. He leaned away from Avery.

"Mr. Simmons? You were looking for me?"

Avery turned to see Adam standing behind him. "Yes. I was."

"I'll leave you two. Mr. Simmons I'll be in my room if you need me." Glen stood up and walked past Adam. The two eyed each other suspiciously.

"Friend of yours?" Avery asked.

"Never met him in my life."

"Funny you should say that because that's what Paul said about you." Avery popped a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth. Adam's head snapped back to Avery.

"What?"

"Paul said you're lying."

"I'm not lying to you, I swear it! I spent the night with Paul!"

"Well, either way one of you is lying and I'll need to find out who. As it happens I'm on my way to investigate a lead. If you could wait in your room until I send for you that'd be great." Avery stood up and waved the server over. "Put it on my tab." He called to her as he left the dining hall.

After quickly looking at a hotel map to find room 17 Avery raced off. Photographic evidence is better than a witness statement. It was something concrete. Something that could nail the murderer without a doubt.

As every approached room 17 he was instantly overcome with worry. The door was wide open and the place appeared to be a mess. Avery cautiously walked into the room to find Glen Endritch face down on the floor with a bullet wound in the back of his skull.