MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the heart of a labyrinth, Samuel lay lifeless, a corkscrew marking his end, throwing Detective Winston into a twisted web of clues, suspects, and secrets.

Breaking away from reviewing the lurid details of a heinous case, Winston decided it was time to confront one particular tenant. Torn between deciphering the eerie stills of labyrinth camera footage and diverting his attention to a potential suspect far too close at hand, he had seen a familiar sequence unfold before him.

On the footage captured by a security camera in the building, he had seen the tenant, Rachel, entering her apartment with the missing man, Samuel. The complicated storyline was becoming more obvious – a pattern that Winston had seen far too many times with Rachel. According to the information gathered so far, hers was the last face he saw.

He knocked on the door of Rachel's apartment, a new tenant he'd been informed had only been living there for about a week. Winston couldn't help but take note of the moving boxes still stacked high in one corner of the room. Rachel’s nervous attempt to smile did nothing to conceal her past, which was strewn with brutal felonies.

Senatorial informants had very recently reported finding traces of Samuel's belongings in her garbage. He wondered how long it would take for her to eliminate evidence this time around. "Hello, I'm Detective Winston," he introduced himself, "I'm here to discuss some matters regarding a missing person case. The person in question is a man named Samuel."

Rachel simply nodded, attempting a composed demeanor. Winston cast a studied gaze around the room. She insisted on recycling habits, yet had carelessly tossed away valuable evidence. He shrugged off the carnal shiver that ran down his spine and decided to stir the pot a bit. 

"Samuel was last seen on building surveillance entering the labyrinth," he started, "It was also around the same time you were seen entering and leaving the labyrinth. He hasn’t appeared on any other footage – which leads me to suspect you might know more than what you’ve admitted.” 

Rachel chose to remain in a trance of nonchalance as his words lingered in the silence. Samuel matched a distinct pattern. A profile of her victims, some of whom were found in the same labyrinth. A knock on her door meant the curtain was dropping on her deadly blend. She had murdered before, she was capable of murdering again.

Bracing herself, she toyed with the cuffs on her shirt, “I have served my time, detective," she whispered, "I've paid my dues in full."

Winston nodded, statements of past crimes echoing in his ears. "That may be true, Rachel," he replied solemnly, "But what about Samuel? He never showed up in any footage after he was last seen with you. Are we to believe it's another blend?"

Rachel remained silent. She chose not to respond. Her complacency seemed to linger as Winston excused himself. Another labyrinth of lies, yet another familiar story. "Well," he signed off, thinking about the sordid show in the labyrinth camera footage, "Let's see how this unfolds."

Winston pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at the entailments of the crime scene. The lifeless body of Samuel lay sprawled in the center of the labyrinth, a chilling testament to the fatal promise of its twisted paths.

The labyrinth had been under control of one person alone - Charlotte, choreographer extraordinaire. Winston remembered the stories he'd heard about Charlotte's fierce protectiveness, even leading to physical confrontations when it came to defending her sister.

The beauty of the aftermath was a cruel irony to Winston. He decided it was time to have a conversation with Miss Charlotte.

Arriving at the rehearsal hall, he could see Charlotte on the phone, her eyes scanning over the latest set designs. She ended her conversation and approached Winston, managing to smile warmly.

"Detective," Charlotte said. "Has there been any news?"

Winston cleared his throat, "Actually, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Charlotte nodded solemnly and offered him a chair. Immediately, Winston noticed the bottle of fine wine on the table, as well as opening tools, including a corkscrew Charlotte used to open boxes on the set.

"Winston began, "It's common knowledge that you're a regular at the local wine tasting events."

A blush dusted her cheeks, "I do appreciate a good vintage."

"And you had the labyrinth all to yourself?" Winston asked.

"A significant budget went into its design, and it was my responsibility to get it right," she admitted. "I was alone in the labyrinth setting up for several hours. It's where I was when... it happened."

She grew quiet as the images of Samuel's body surely replayed in her mind. Winston took note of Charlotte's reaction; silence could be the greatest revealer of subtleties.

In his notes, he knew Samuel had been troubling Charlotte's sister, a young lady who was often teary-eyed and visibly shaken by the consistent hounding of the victim.

"I understand that Samuel had been causing much distress to your sister," Winston ventured gently, recalling the obvious pain and upset in the young lady's face every time Samuel's name was brought up.

"He was a menace and a leech!" Her mouth snapped shut, the sudden burst of emotion quickly smothered.

With her reputation of being a fierce protector, there was no doubt that Charlotte had the capacity to defend her sister at any cost. His gaze flickered to the corkscrew once more.

Letting out a low breath, Winston packed away his notes. The way the evidence piled up was unfolding like the carefully planned moves of a dance.

choices

• Charlotte
• Rachel