Murder Mystery Part 7

And we keep on chugging, things are starting to fall into place for Avery it seems.


Avery pounded on the door to Room 38. "Who is it?" came the voice of Paul Staffer, sounding somewhat shy.

"It's detective Avery Simmons. We need to talk." Avery could hear the latch on the door unlock. Paul opened the door a crack.

"What do you want? I told you I was here all night last night."

"I just have a few more questions. If you could come with me?" Paul sighed closing the door. There was a sound of rummaging and Paul emerged wearing a short sleeved shirt and some khakis.

"Where are we going?"

"Just for a walk." Avery started away. Paul moaned but followed anyway.

"Paul, you didn't know the victim correct?"

"No."

"And you don't know her boyfriend."

"No."

"Or Adam Conway."

"I told you I've never met any Adam!"

"I'm just confirming. You said right after dinner service you went straight to your room and called your family correct?"

"Yeah."

"What did you talk about?"

"My vacation, how they were doing, how I missed them. The standard stuff."

"No news from home?"

"Sarah, my little girl, just got back her mark on her math test. She did good. 98%! I told her I was so proud."

"That's good."

They walked into the hotel lobby. The hotel manager stood humming and hawing in the corner as Officer Daniel Watson tried to calm everyone. Adam Conway looked shocked to see Paul. Paul stopped a moment in his tracks when he entered the lobby.

"So, Mr. Staffer" Avery continued as if nothing important had happened "you never went to the rec. room and you've never met Mr. Conway." Avery stopped and turned to face Paul. Paul was clearly upset.

"No! Of course not! I told you I went straight to my room!"

"And what did you do in your room?"

"I told you all this!?"

"I forget, tell me again."

"I called my family."

"Pauline." Avery commanded. "Look up if there were any outgoing calls from Room 38 will you?" The girl behind the desk quickly went to work. Paul looked around nervously.

"I don't know what you're hoping to find, I told you I called them. You don't need to check."

"No calls were made from that room last night, Mr. Simmons." Pauline's cheerful voice announced. "But there was a porno rental."

"Of course there was" Adam added.

"Shut up, you! I don't know you!" Paul shouted at Adam. Adam looked hurt. "I've never met him before! Besides shouldn't you be trying to find the murderer? Why are you bothering me!"

"With you spending the night alone with an unconfirmed alibi you're a suspect." Paul stopped and looked around nervously.

"Paul, please." Adam pleaded.

"Paul, if you tell the truth you'll be saving not only your life but Adam's. If you can confirm where you were last night I can dismiss you as a suspect."

Paul glanced around nervously. "You still can't prove I wasn't in my room."

"Pauline, when was that porno rented."

"At 1:30 AM sir."

"After the time of the murder. And we know you're lying about the phone call home, so that leaves a rather large gap in time where you're unaccounted for."

"Why are you doing this to me? I didn't ask for this!" Paul started to sweat.

"Just tell them the truth, Paul." Adam approached him. Paul stepped back in disgust.

"I'm not like you! I have a family! I have a wife and kids! They, I can't!" Paul slumped back against a wall. "I just..."

Adam sighed and looked at Avery. "I'm afraid I haven't been as truthful either Mr. Simmons. If it means saving both myself and Paul from suspicion and catching Kim's real murderer I'll come clean." Avery tilted his head to listen.

Adam took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Paul and I met in the rec. room, like I said, but we didn't play ping pong. He took me to the bar, we had a few drinks, and we spent the night together. That porno he rented was to get us in the mood."

The mood in the room shifted drastically. Avery noticed Daniel shifting uncomfortably nearby. Paul looked like he was on the verge of tears. Adam just looked stoic.

"So, if I'm correct in thinking so, you and Mr. Staffers were engaged in..."

"sex."

"I see." Avery looked to Paul. He was covering his face with his hands. "Is this true, Mr. Staffer." Paul nodded keeping his face hidden. "Mr. Staffer, you can go now."

Paul stood and turned to leave, he stopped and looked at Adam. He turned and left.