MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the winding passages of a labyrinth, Lauren meets her untimely death by nail gun, pulling Detective Winston into a complex maze of lies and danger where Rose and Aubrey become his primary suspects.


Winston sat in his dimly lit office, peering over the case details. The name Lauren frequented his mind as he evaluated the circumstances of her death. It was a unique scene to say the least, a murder inside a labyrinth, with a nail gun as the murder weapon of choice.

His focus then diverted to the name that was on everyone's lips: Rose. She was Lauren's stepsister and her profession stood out to him the most. Rose was a carpenter; she was often required to read blueprints for her job, and had comprehensive knowledge about nail guns due to her regular use of them at work. As it happened, the blueprint of the labyrinth where the body was found was posted at her jobsite. An interesting coincidence, Winston thought, but he knew better than to jump to conclusions.

Rose's gang involvement made matters more complicated. As a member of a local gang that took their reputation seriously, she found herself enmeshed in scenarios where respect was the ultimate currency. Winston remembered hearing about a notorious gathering of the gang where Lauren had called Rose a loser. To publicly humiliate her in front of her fellow gang members like that had not been taken lightly. What bothered Winston was that despite Rose being present at a community event nearby, no one noticed her in the labyrinth that day.

Conviction settled within Winston. He needed to talk to Rose. Grabbing his coat, he exited the office, his mind reflecting the image of the carpenter, wrapped in the complexities of Lauren's murder. Little did he know, the clues were only beginning to unfold.

Detective Winston put away the photos of the crime scene he was investigating. The labyrinth where Lauren was found, held a certain eerie mystique to it. He began by interviewing the suspect, Aubrey.

Walking into the office of Aubrey was like walking into a different time period. The room was grand and ornate, filled with all types of frames and decor, managed by none other than Aubrey himself, the boss of the esteemed business.

Winston started the conversation careful not to rush. "You designed the labyrinth?" he asked, nodding.

A look of pride crossed Aubrey's face, "Yes, indeed. I even supervised its construction."

Winston casually inquired, "And the labyrinth is part of the business property, I presume?"

"Most definitely. It's a showcase, so to speak," Aubrey said.

Winston continued the conversation but his attention was drawn by a box in a display case on Aubrey's desk. The box was labeled "Keepsake". "What's in the box?" he asked.

Aubrey looked slightly taken aback before he smiled, "Oh, that. It's a lock of hair from someone who owed me. This person owed me and this is my keepsake," he admitted with an air of nonchalance.

A brief silence followed. Breaking it, Winston continued, "The labyrinth. Pretty difficult to navigate, I assume. Any blueprints or maps for it?"

Aubrey half shook his head, "The labyrinth is an enigma, detective, designed to challenge and confound. There are no public maps or blueprints for it."

Winston couldn't help but notice a defaced picture in Aubrey's collection. It was a photo of a once close friend, the eyes had been scratched out thoroughly. "What happened to the picture?" Winston asked. 

Aubrey didn't take a second to respond, "A moment of rage. I was angry at betrayal by an old friend. I scratched the eyes out and after the argument, I put it back in there." 

Later on, Winston found out about a whispered overheard conversation Aubrey had about Lauren's betrayal as Aubrey was outside Lauren's house. Apparently, Aubrey had overheard a conversation between Lauren and a competitor. This lead to the argument and defacement of the photo.

After the conversation with Aubrey, Winston got a hint towards Aubrey's character. Before he left, Winston asked, "You have access to that labyrinth, correct?"

"Of course," confirmed Aubrey, "I have master keys to all parts of my property."

It was after Winston visited Lauren's residence that he found copies of confidential business documents clearly indicating her plans of betrayal. Lauren had planned to sell secrets to a known rival. 

"This case," muttered Winston, "is starting to look like a veritable labyrinth itself."

choices

• Rose
• Aubrey