MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In a shocking twist of events, Charlotte is found lifeless in her kitchen, felled by a stun gun, and it's up to seasoned Detective Winston to unravel the mystery, with prime suspects being Letti and Deborah.


Winston lit up a fresh cigarette, the inky night a silent observer as he reviewed Charlotte's file. It wasn't a pleasant read - Charlotte was hardly a pleasant individual. A chunk of the file was dedicated to dozens of threatening messages Charlotte had sent to Deborah, each one more chilling than the last. It also documented instances where Charlotte had been physically and verbally abusive towards Deborah; hitting her in fits of rage and screaming profanities in her face. 

As he finished the last report, a woman - a shivering woman - approached him. Deborah, the local chauffeur, the singular and exclusive mode of transportation for Charlotte...the woman he had planned to interview next. She was scheduled to pick Charlotte up on the very day the incident had occurred. There wasn't much to her save for the noticeable fear in her eyes and the bruises discreetly hidden under her clothes. 

As he extended a sympathetic greeting to Deborah, he observed her clutching her mobile phone tightly. She always carried her phone with her, a silent reminder of the threatening messages she received. It wasn't in the moment, but quite often did she seem to retreat into it for respite, even mid-conversation. "The modern security blanket," he mused.

"Deborah, we need to discuss your last interaction with Charlotte," he began softly. As he brought up Charlotte's name, he saw Deborah flinch discernibly. There were scars of fear that were still fresh, some of them physical, it seemed, a weathered map of Charlotte's atrocities towards Deborah etched into her psyche and on her body.

Peering up briefly from the ground she had diverted her attention to, she confirmed in a whisper, "Yes detective, I was the last person to see her alive."

Winston, carefully noting Deborah's often downward gaze when discussing anything personal, led her gently into her house, promising to keep any discussion of abuse and threats brief. Even still, she could hardly keep focused. Any query about her encounters with Charlotte was met with a quick detour to safer topics. Winston sympathized; it was rare to come across a victim of abuse unwillfully enmeshed in the circumstances of their abuser.

Her phone buzzed with a new message, and she busily unlocked it, her eyes flickering eagerly for the change in attention. Friends, as Winston noted, often shared her focus with the frequent check of her phone.

A neighbor came by, offering her some comfort as well. Winston observed them interact - the perfect chance to bring up the witnessed incidents of abuse. From overheard insults to the occasional audible thud coming from the house when Charlotte would physically lash out, the neighbor painted a grim picture of Deborah's life with Charlotte.

Winston recognized the signs instantly, the clear dread of confrontation, the unwillingness to discuss personal matters. "It's obvious- she's trapped in an abusive relationship," he thought to himself. Deborah's reticence made sense - her life was challenging enough without raking over painful memories.

But it was clear more than ever - Deborah was cornered. Stranded in a world where she was the victim of Charlotte’s aggression. Her dependence on her mobile phone and career as Charlotte's sole driver showed a desperate attempt to anchor herself to something stable.

Sipping his lukewarm coffee, Winston listened more than he talked, realizing just how deep the story ran. In the heart of it was just a simple driver- trapped, abused, and scared. As he left, he hoped in earnest that the case would close soon. There was too much pain left unsaid.

A weary Detective Winston sat in the backseat of the unmarked patrol car, watching the home where Letti was currently residing. He still had questions about the murder of Charlotte, questions that were gnawing at him. 

He remembered speaking with Charlotte's housekeeper who confirmed that earlier that day, Charlotte had invited Letti over for dinner. Witnesses reported seeing Letti enter the victim's house. The housekeeper swore the two of them were alone in the kitchen. It was a space secluded from the rest of the house. Winston chocked it up to Charlotte's need for privacy. 

Ironically, privacy was something that was now being invaded by the media. They'd been hounding Charlotte, trying to pry the truth out of her. The truth that Letti had possibly wanted to keep in the dark. 

"Charlotte told Letti, 'I know what you did'," the housekeeper revealed during the interview. Winston wondered whether Charlotte knew something about Letti, something dangerous... something worth killing for. 

Letti's reaction to Charlotte's statement, according to the housekeeper, had been intense. "The outburst... it was as if Letti was cornered or threatened," the housekeeper claimed.

As he went over his notes, Winston's thoughts wandered to the security footage he had seen earlier. It was from a pawn shop, a shady establishment known to sell stun guns. The grainy footage dated back to earlier that day showed a woman matching Letti's description. The Pawn Shop's owner confirmed that she'd bought a stun gun.

Letti had been taking self-defense classes. After seeing footage from her at a concert, Winston knew Letti could use a stun gun effectively. She wasn't just a groupie; she was more than what she appeared to be, a fact that was becoming painfully clear. 

After a few more minutes, Winston made his decision. He needed to talk to Letti. He got out of the car, straightened his jacket, and walked towards the house, every fact etched deep into his mind.

choices

• Letti
• Deborah