MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

When Letti's lifeless body is found horrifically mutilated by a machete at a secluded mountain cabin, gritty Detective Winston faces a chilling whodunit featuring suspects Delilah and Eddie.

Winston glanced at the brightly lit neon sign. "Eddie's Oasis," it read, casting a dancing reflection in the rain-slicked pavement. He sighed, dipping under the awning and pushing open the heavy door. The dusky light spilling over worn floorboards greeted him, along with the riotous cacophony of live music. Eddie’s talent was known, not just as a musician but also for the dazzling machete tricks he had honed and perfected during numerous camping trips. Eddie had mentioned to Winston in their prior encounters how he relied on the machete for safety during these trips, and in the quiet evenings that followed, he would practice for his performances with it.

His gaze fell upon the figure of Eddie strumming his guitar on the small stage. The song ended and the crowd went wild with applause. As Eddie bowed, his eyes locked with Winston's. Recognizing the weathered detective, Eddie excused himself from the eager gathering of fans and beckoned him over. 

“Detective,” Eddie said, quelling the enthusiasm in his tone. 

“Glad to see you can take time away from your practice,” Winston said casually.

"I've got no other pressing engagements at the moment," Eddie replied. "This studio is away from my home. I like to keep my life separate. With no other roles or tasks, I spend my nights here working on my music and machete art. And when I'm not here, I'm out in the wilderness, camping."

Winston moved on. " I heard from Letti, she’d invited you for a song recording at her isolated mountain cabin, which you're staying at for the duration of the recording."

Eddie nodded. “Yes, it was a wonderful opportunity. Her mountain cabin is beautifully isolated, which makes it an inspiring place especially when you're used to the solitude of camping.”

"I heard you're someone who enjoys a robust collection of wildlife taxidermy," Winston shifted the topic.

Eddie’s face lit up, “Yes, I’ve got a whole room full of specimens at my place, even from endangered species. Interesting how life becomes art with death.”

The interview was interrupted by a growing chorus of fans demanding another performance. Eddie nodded to Winston, picked up his machete, and slipped away. The very same machete he used during his camping trips for safety, now became a prop in his spectacle. He showed the audience his machete tricks, with cheers accompanying each swift, practiced movement.

Winston withdrew from the place, drowned out by the cheering crowd. He left for the isolation of the night, knowing that his work here wasn't nearly done.

Winston pondered over the details of the case. The victim, Letti, had shared with friends about finding documents that implicated her godmother, Delilah, in illicit activities. She had even voiced her intent to go public, starting with confronting Delilah directly. Witnesses reported the last time anyone saw her, it was when Letti walked right into Delilah's cabin with an unflinching resolve. That forced his hand, leading him straight to Delilah's secluded dwelling.

Perched in a rural area with few other houses for company, the cabin was nestled within a copse of trees. As he approached, he saw Delilah outside. Delilah, who was the sole occupant of the cabin known to neighbours, was regularly seen practising with a machete for security purposes. True to the reports, there she was, swinging the machete with a practiced flair, the sun igniting its path before it landed in the trunk of a tree, vibrating under the force of her strike. Even a novice could tell she was someone who knew her way around a blade.

Having verified her identity, Winston started his interrogation casually, focusing on her peculiar hobby. The queries were about her familiarity with the machete and how she had become so skilled. Delilah responded, her accent echoing with local tones, "I've been using a machete since I was a teenager." She continued, reliving her past, "Father taught me. I've won a few of the local competitions, too. Helps living alone out here, one needs to keep sharp."

Winston noted down her history with the weapon and the regular practise for security. He then moved on to discuss Letti. "Did Letti come here often?" he asked.

She confirmed, "Letti did come often, yes. The last time she came was yesterday." Her face revealed a shift in emotion, recognising the motive behind Winston's questioning. Being keen, he paid heed but continued to be nonchalant.

He then prodded about her lifestyle. "You live all alone out here?"

With a nod, Delilah confirmed the solitary lifestyle as she retrieved her machete from the tree. Winston, in the following silence, surveyed the lush woodland around the cabin — offering privacy and seclusion. They marked a stark dichotomy between peace and potential criminal activity within an authoritarian mind like him.

Trying to read any hint of reaction, he brought up Letti's concern. "Your goddaughter," Winston started, "She was worried about you. She found some documents and directly confronted you about some suspicious activities. She even threatened to make it public."

Delilah went rigid, her gaze darting toward the cabin. Her cabin – Letti's statements to her friends made it clear. Winston caught the twitch in her eyes but decided not to press further. His main inquiries were done, and the cloak of night began to envelop the landscape. However, he didn't leave empty-handed. The information gleaned from Delilah filled in gaps of Letti's allegations, driving him closer to the incident's truth on the fateful night. They also confirmed that apart from Letti and Delilah, there was no one else reported at the cabin that night.

choices

• Delilah
• Eddie