MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the chilling depths of the swamp, Ricky was found silenced forever by a bottle of bleach, leaving Detective Winston the daunting task of deciphering the lethal motives of the prime suspects, Glenn and Tessa.

For Detective Winston, a seasoned investigator who had seen every shade of human nature, the affair of Ricky's murder seemed unusual. He detested the musky smell of the swamps where Ricky's body was found that same day. But of course, the repugnance a crime scene induces is not a criterion to be considered in investigations. 

His letters of introduction remarked that he would be received by Glenn, a local dentist. As Winston rounded upon the dental clinic, he couldn't fail to notice the tell-tale smell of sterilizing bleach that hung heavily in the air.

"Morning Doctor," Winston said as he walked into the clinic.

"Good Morning, How can I help you?" replied Glenn.

"My name is Winston. I am investigating the death of one Ricky," he explained.

Glenn visibly shuttered at the mention of Ricky's name, "I had seen him recently for a root canal."

Winston wasn't too surprised by this. Many victims' last known location turned out to be places where they had felt safe. He made a mental note of it but didn't engage in any further discussion about Ricky.

He noticed a desktop computer nearby where a dental science forum was open. Topics on toxicology and possible risk factors danced on the screen. "Is that what you were doing before I walked in?" Winston mused aloud.

"I was catching up on some forensic odontology discussions. It's my area of specialty," Glenn explained, sounding unusually enthusiastic about the subject. 

Tickets to Ricky's funeral were spread out on Glenn's desk, indicating that he'd likely be offering his last respects to the deceased individually. The dentist, a loner by appearance, never invites anyone to his remote house where he lives all by himself. This he didn't strike Winston as the kind to mingle at a social gathering.

Winston inquired about Glenn's whereabouts for most of the day Ricky was murdered, to which Glenn quickly responded, "I was out birdwatching at the swamp."

"But I heard you live in that isolated homestead," Winston said, diverting the conversation towards Glenn's personal life, "You don't usually invite anyone over?"

This time, Glenn didn't just show discomfort. He stammered and went pale. Clearly, his anxiety was rising at each personal question, 
and in an effort to divert the conversation, he interjected, "Do you know that prolonged use of teeth whitening treatment can cause oral cancer?" Winston was taken by surprise at the sudden change in conversation but chose not to question it any further. 

With that, his introduction to Glenn was over and his investigation continued.

Detective Winston pulled up to the prison, parking his car between the tall, barbed wire fences. Beyond them, he could see a swamp, the murky water shimmering with heat. Footsteps echoed through the sterile, concrete halls as he made his way inside, passing groups of colorfully uniformed prisoners on their way to and from various responsibilities. 

Brushing off some of the dust still clinging onto her orange jumpsuit, Tessa sat in the visiting room, the corners of her mouth curled into a hint of a smile. 

"Tessa," Winston began, "You work here on farms, correct?"

She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest, "Yeah, that's correct. We've got a swamp nearby too."

Winston wrote something down, answering with a nonchalant "Mmhhm."

"And before prison... you were a high school chemistry teacher, weren't you?"

"Yeah,” she grumbled, “From Bunsen burners to mop buckets."

"So, your current job here... cleaning, right?" to which Tessa confirmed. 

"And in turn, they provide you the cleaning supplies?"

"Yep,” she mused, “A mop, bucket, soap, gloves... bleach. Everything a good custodian ought to need." 

Winston scooted himself forward a bit, "You were disciplined once for using bleach incorrectly, right?"

Her face turned expressionless. "That was years ago. Nothing but some harmless experiments." Tessa asserted.

As minutes rolled into hours, the conversation moved onto the victim, Ricky. Ruffling in his seat, Winston asked about the dwindling debt between Tessa and Ricky. 

"He couldn't just wait, huh? Always pestering about the damn debt. I tried to repay him, but it just never seemed enough." Tessa confessed, clenching her fist, "He even threatened me over it."

Underneath the fluorescent lights, Winston could see her distress - unable to keep up with Ricky's demands despite her financial limitations. 

Remembering his autopsy briefing, Winston knew Ricky was found in the very swamp near the prison's farm. Perhaps, Tessa knew something...

"Ricky's body was found near the swamp, past the farm." Winston stated.

A flicker of shock passed through Tessa's eyes before her face returned back to its hardened, impassive state. She may not have expected anyone would find him, or for the news to reach her this quickly. "Near the farm, within the walking distance he murmured..."

He thanked her for talking and left, leaving Tessa alone in the visiting room. 

As he walked back through the dense crowd of prisoners, past the pungent smell of bleach cleaning the hallways, Winston realized, this was going to be a difficult case to crack. A life lost over a debt, and the swamp held many secrets yet to reveal.

choices

• Glenn
• Tessa