MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the chilling underbelly of a secluded bunker, Donald's life was snuffed out by deadly snake venom and now, it's up to the sharp and relentless Detective Winston to shake the truth out of his prime suspects, Jay and Autumn.

Winston squinted in the dim bunker light, glancing around at the empty shelves and overturned furniture; the area decked with caution tapes. Something didn't sit right, there was always more to the story than what laid bare, Winston knew this. 

His latest lead led him to Autumn, the only person Donald would have willingly let inside his survival bunker. Before Donald’s unanticipated retreat to his bunker, he had mentioned his intent to her. The two of them were old acquaintances, sharing a history few knew of, having been in a criminal gang together. Donald was more trusting than most, in fact, Autumn was the only person he would trust when it came to sharing such a secluded spot. His survival bunker was his safe haven, where he was known to retreat when the world became too loud. 

Maybe it was her psychic abilities that drew him in - Autumn did have a knack for knowing things before they happened. Or maybe it was her unique collection of pets she so lovingly tended to. Her pets came with a singular bite, a serpentine collection that few dared to keep. As the sole caretaker of these reptiles, she also had intimate knowledge of their venom, which she knew could prove deadly for Donald.

Even fewer knew about Autumn's illicit past, dark secrets tangled up with crimes committed years ago; secrets that could have turned disastrous had they been revealed. She feared the consequences that awaited her, fearing her darkest secrets could be unveiled leading to her undoing.

And then there was Donald. He had always been a reliable man. A straight shooter who stood up for what he believed was right, even if it got in the way of his personal well-being.

"I'd heard a rumor, Autumn," started Winston, meeting her outside her reptile enclosure, "Heard that Donald found out you were back to your old tricks."

Autumn's eyes widened just a tiny bit, almost imperceptible, a reaction only someone with Winston's training would catch.

"Imagine his surprise," continued Winston, "down in the bunker alone, knowing his old friend is involved in illegal matters again." 

Autumn was silent, staring at the detective with an unreadable expression. 

Donald's fatal allergy to snake venom was not a widely known fact, but one that Autumn was well aware of. Yet, Winston couldn't help but notice, but Autumn's snakes seemed to be unfazed and peaceful in their glass enclosures. Unusual for creatures known for their deadly bite. 

It struck Winston odd as he mindfully stepped away from the enclosure, keeping Autumn under gaze, "I hope you aren't up to no good, Autumn, because secrets always find their way out."

Winston took another sip of his lukewarm coffee as he glanced upon the crime scene photos spread out on his desk. Donald's murder was an unusual one, a death by snake venom. He had always thought that underground bunkers were safe; this case was proving him wrong. 

Word on the street was that Jay was quite the character. A missionary, stationed in a region notorious for snakes, missionaries of that region were trained to extract snake venom due to the frequent encounters with these creatures. Winston lit a cigarette as he thought about Jay's training. It seemed unusual for a man of god, but Winston quickly reminded himself that his job was not to question, rather to understand. 

He stepped out of his office, coffee in hand, and made his way to the local church. He had arranged to meet Jay there, hoping to gather some insights to this peculiar case. 

Jay was adjusting the chairs in the church when Winston walked in. As he approached Jay helping his surroundings, Winston couldn't help but notice the lack of both vocal inflection and changing facial expressions in Jay's greetings. Adding to that, Jay never gave away a hint of his personal life during their meeting, always twisting the conversation towards his missionary tales. 

Despite this, Winston listened attentively. Jay's stories were filled with accounts of handling snakes, a talent he came to master during his time in the region. But as the detective prodded for more personal information, Jay grew restless and god forbid, began to show signs of emotion, expertly redirecting the conversation to a less personal level. 

Home from his meeting with Jay, Winston could not ignore the oddities. Jay was engaging but avoided personal questions. He was in a place full of snakes and had experience handling them. But could handling snakes lead to killing someone? 

A conversation with a certain Father McNulty led to a shocking revelation. Jay was allegedly smuggling drugs during his mission trips. It was a serious accusation, but if true, it could certainly pile on disastrous professional and personal consequences.

Snakebites remedies were common knowledge among missionaries, it became clear. A darker thought hit Winston, Jay had both access and expertise in handling snake venom--a fact that couldn't be overlooked. 

The final piece to the puzzle came from James, a local grocery-hand who had heard Donald confront Jay about the drugs. It hadn't gone too well. Consequently, this planted a seed of doubt in Winston's mind.

Jay had managed to combine what seemed like an altruistic role of a missionary with illicit activities. But the question remained--did he escalate these actions to murder? Winston stubbed out his cigarette and let out a tired puff of smoke. It would be a long night sorting through his clues.

choices

• Jay
• Autumn