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MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

Problem

Answer published by the source. Consult the official source to check your work against its answer.

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the quiet crevices of a local library, Stephen's life came to an abrupt end, impaled by a trident; now, it's up to the tenacious Detective Winston to unravel the mystery and discern if Sophie or Lowell are responsible.

After another tiring day of working the case, Winston parked his car in a quiet, dimly lit street outside of a popular local gym. Inside was Sophie, his latest person of interest, who had gained notoriety for expressing racist viewpoints at several social gatherings. Witnesses and victims had come forth, stating that Sophie, in her fury, had confronted and threatened individuals belonging to the groups she so openly expressed prejudice against.

Sophie, who was known for her athletic prowess as a professional trident thrower, was amid an intense workout when Winston entered the facility. She was preparing for an upcoming competition, her muscles rippling under the strain of each precise throw. Her unlimited access to the gym's professional equipment made this process much easier.

Winston approached her once she finished her practice throws. "Ms. Sophie," he greeted, his gaze unwavering.

She turned, her eyes blazing with a competitive energy. "Detective Winston," she replied. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe. I'm asking around about a gym guest, Stephen. He was part of your clientele, wasn't he?" He knew the answer, having found that Stephen visited this gym regularly.

Sophie's expression hardened. "Yes," she confirmed. "So what?"

"Stephen has been murdered in the library downtown." Winston noticed Sophie's eyes flicker with surprise, or guilt perhaps. Sophie knew Stephen's routine well. His unusual, long hours spent at the library coincided with the time of the crime, a detail Sophie was well aware of. 

Sophie looked genuinely shocked. "Library?" she echoed, her brows furrowing.

"Yes, the library. Quite an unusual scene, isn't it? Especially when we found a trident near his body. It happens to be identical to the kind here in your gym," Winston added.

Immediately, Sophie blanched. She swiveled her head towards the impressive array of trident equipment, nervously mimicking a laugh. “A trident?” she repeated, “Yes… we do have tridents here for… for our clients.”

Winston changed his line of questioning. "Stephen belonged to a particular minority group, didn't he? One I've heard which you've openly threatened and discriminated against at several social events. Isn't that so?"

Sophie, visibly taken aback, struggled to reply, "I...I have...expressed my views at some social gatherings," she stammered out, her face reddening. "But what's that got to do with Stephen?"

"Well, knowing when Stephen would be at the library," Winston began, "and considering your skill with tridents, the weapon implicated in the crime – I just thought it could be worth looking into."

With those parting words, Winston left the bewildered Sophie in silence inside the gym. This first encounter provided him with more than enough to investigate Sophie further.

Winston found himself at the local train station, a place he often found solace in the comings and goings of people from all walks of life. It was here he knew he would locate Lowell, his next interviewee in regards to Stephen's untimely demise.

Lowell had been the delivery driver for the library's regular book shipments for some time now, making the morning deliveries under the cloaking silence of the pre-dawn air. As Winston deployed his questions, Lowell casually mentioned that his route included the town where the library was. Winston noted the tired dullness in Lowell's eyes as he mentioned his raise from the delivery company - it seemed like the numbing monotony of the job had not changed, nor had Lowell's general lack of enthusiasm about it.

The topic of the recent train accident came up, and what Winston found peculiar was Lowell's nonchalant response to it. Despite the usual shock and upset that strikes most people after such incidents, Lowell appeared almost unfazed, as if it were just another everyday occurrence clashing against his jaded facade.

Winston followed up on an evening invitation for a soiree at Lowell's house. This wasn't his usual cup of tea, but he knew it was an opportunity to further explore Lowell's world. The conductor's soirées were known for their unique purpose - showcasing his collection of antiquities, curiosities of historical relevance, and one particular item that never failed to impress. 

Lowell's fascination with weapons was widely known, but his pride was his trident, an instrument whose history and significance he appeared to comprehend in great depth. The antiquated weapon was a focal point of fascination among his guests, a point of conversation that led to their visible amazement.

While at the soirée, Winston overheard a brief interaction between Lowell and another attendee. The person congratulated Lowell on his raise, expressed condolences for a colleague's recent loss, and inquired about his frequent early morning deliveries to the library. Despite the layered complexities of the conversation, Lowell appeared untroubled, revealing no physical signs of sadness or empathy, and mentioned the solitary nature of his early morning deliveries. Small talk it may have seemed, these snippets of conversation provided Winston with yet another view into the intricate, strange life of Lowell.

choices

  • Sophie
  • Lowell

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Source and history

task_id
42d8d8da-297c-5502-9342-6f6416c969bc
task_key
default--murder~5fmysteries--42d8d8da-297c-5502-9342-6f6416c969bc
task_revision_id
1
config / split
default / murder_mysteries

Official source

initial import