Chapter 47 Chapter Forty Seven

The name of the office manager is Judy Johnson.She was a wiry woman with a firm handshake and a businesslike demeanor.Her hair was brown and gray and pulled back into two braids.There are many wrinkles on the face, and the dark brown eyes are vivid.She was wearing a beige sleeveless dress, and her flat black leather shoes were worn out. Ms. Johnson told them that Molly was a good employee and that she moved to the office because it was closer to home and because there happened to be another vacancy there.Molly has no access to important documents in the office. "What kind of files is out of Molly's hands?" Puller asked.

"It's mainly the documents kept in Mr. Strauss' office," Johnson said. "His office has a back room, and there is a safe in it. Those documents are placed in the safe." "I thought it was a private bathroom," Puller said. "No. He shares the bathroom with us," Johnson replied. "Where's the key to the safe?" Cole asked. "There is a door key for the chamber, and a key for the safe. Mr. Strauss always carries them with him." "What is so important that you take such security measures?" Puller asked. "Well, this office keeps geological reports and other pertinent information on the location of coal seams. Knowing where coal is buried is valuable information to many people."

"Doesn't the Trent Mining Company own all the coal-bearing land around here?" "It's not like that. The company is always looking for new sources of coal, and they're always sending people out to explore. If anyone finds out where the coal is, they'll beat Mr. Trent to buy it, which means they'll Using Mr Trent's exploration results to their own advantage." "Do you do soil testing?" Cole asked. Johnson looked confused. "Soil testing? Where?" "Pollution." "We consciously abide by the regulations on environmental protection." Johnson's words came out of his mouth, obviously well-trained, Puller thought so.

"I'm sure you are. But you didn't answer my question." Cole stared. "We do soil testing quite often," Johnson said. "Okay. But when I asked this question just now, your expression seemed a little confused." "That's because I think you're here on Molly's business, and her job has nothing to do with soil testing." "Do you keep records of soil test results?" Puller asked. "Mr. Strauss would be in that safe if there was one. But I believe most of the testing is contracted out and the reports are sent directly to the company's headquarters in Charleston."

"I heard Molly and Eric Trewell lived together to save some money." "indeed so." "Sergeant Cole told me that this phenomenon is normal here." "yes." "How did the two of them meet?" Puller asked. Johnson said: "I remember it was a picnic outing organized by the company. Eric came with a few friends. He and Molly hit it off. They had both been married in the past and neither had any desire to marry again. They loved Having the other party for company, like Sergeant Cole said, there are a lot of things like that around here."

She paused, stroking one of her braids. "Anything else?" "Are you close to Molly?" Puller asked. "We're friends, of course we're close." "What do you think about why anyone would want to hurt her and Eric Trewell?" "I can't think of a single reason why anyone would do that." "Have you been to their house?" Puller asked again. Johnson looked away: "Been there once, maybe twice. We're usually in town for a meal or to a movie together." "Did it ever occur to you that Molly or Eric might be on drugs?"

"Molly? Drugs? No, I never thought about it that way." "It seems you know something about the symptoms of a drug addict, don't you?" Puller said. Johnson replied hesitantly: "I ... my son. He has had ... a drug experience. I ... think I understand what they look like." "So Molly doesn't have the symptoms of a drug addict. Where's Eric?" "I've never seen Eric have any symptoms either. I've seen him only a limited number of times, though." "You mean you don't see anything unusual?" Johnson hesitated. "Well, there's something. I'm sure it doesn't matter, but it's a little unusual."

"Say it to us," Kerr said, "and let's see if it matters." "Okay. Eric got really drunk one time and made a big mess of it here." "Did you report it?" Cole asked. "No, didn't even tell Mr. Strauss. It was because WV won the Big East game, so we didn't say anything, there must have been a lot of people drinking and partying after that game ...I remember Molly trying to quiet him down. He kept talking about the Mountaineers, still wearing their jerseys, waving the cheerleading flag. Then he was in Straw He fell asleep on the sofa in his office. We closed the door and let him sleep there alone, and Molly went to check on and take care of him from time to time."

① Mountaineers (Mountaineers): The name of the West Virginia University team. "Was Strauss there?" Puller asked. "Oh, of course not. He's out of town." "When exactly was that?" "Last December," Johnson said, "that's when the Big East championship game always happens." After some more questions, they left Jodie Johnson and her braids in a world of latticework. They also talked to some other people in the office area.No one has anything of value to offer.Molly is a great employee.They couldn't think of any reason why anyone would kill her.

"No big catch," Kerr said, as they walked to their car. "Both of us have been in Trivel's house." "I still remember, so what?" "Did you see the ring on his finger?" "I noticed, yes." “It was a Virginia Tech ring, where he went to school. He also had a poster of the Virginia Tech football team in his bedroom. Virginia Tech alumni are notoriously fond of their football teams How could Trewell be so excited about West Virginia winning a game in the Big East even though he lives in the state now? Virginia Tech once played in the Big East and now they're in the Atlantic The football game is almost always dominated. Our loyal Virginia Tech alum is so excited for a Mountain Rangers game here that he comes to the Trent Mining office, drunk unconscious?"

Cole looked back at the bungalow they had just walked out of. "You mean his real purpose was to sneak into Strauss' office? Maybe to open the safe?" "It seems to me so. Now the question is, did he actually do it?"