MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the eerie glow of a laser tag arena, Nelson's life tragically ended with an axe, leaving Detective Winston to navigate a web of deception spun by suspects Mackenzie and Erika.

Detective Winston stood still, observing Nelson's cold, lifeless body in the middle of the laser tag arena. The crime scene, a spectacle of spinning lights and eerie electronic music, was an unlikely backdrop for the gruesome scene laid before him. He watched as his team meticulously gathered evidence, his thoughts drifting towards the impending investigation.

Later, Winston found himself in the interrogation room across from Erika, the woman who was not only Nelson's companion on the day of his demise, but his travel companion for various journeys as well. Erika appeared distressed but managed to meet Winston's gaze.

"Feeling okay?" He began with a simple question, hoping to ease her into the conversation.

“Honestly, I don't know if I can survive this loft confinement, let alone prison" Erika's laugh came out dry and nervous, her deep-seated fear of prison evident in her statement.

Ignoring her comment, Winston probed further. "Erika, we found threatening messages from Nelson on your phone. He sounded angry. Was he?"

Erika nodded meekly, "Yes, he was... threatening to expose my past…” her voice trailed off.

"Incriminating evidence, perhaps?" Winston asked gently, implying the criminal past Nelson threatened to expose. 

Erika looked Winston in the eyes, "Yes, he was... he had something over me."

Shifting the topic, Winston questioned, "So, you two entered the arena together?"

"Yes, we did," Erika answered promptly, "Immediately, before the game started, I happened to notice a toolbox near the entrance. Strangely, there was an axe in it."

"You saw the axe?" Winston asked, eyebrows knitting together in surprise.

"I did," Erika answered, "I was a champion lumberjack, you know. A veteran of numerous competitions, exhibiting high axe-wielding skills. Never expected to see one in a place like this, though."

"A champion lumberjack?" Winston repeated, "That's an interesting profession."

"Prior to my travel gigs with Nelson, yes. I was quite good at axe-wielding. Those were a grueling couple of years," Erika replied.

But the clock was ticking, and Winston couldn't afford to delve into the suspect's past occupations. His only job now is to zero in on every detail around Nelson's untimely death, which occurred just minutes after they had entered the arena.

Winston left the room, jotting down his notes, and wondered, how did such an innocent game of laser tag turn deadly in mere minutes? He had a long night ahead.

Winston sat shoeless at the police station, his thoughts teaming with the heinous details of Nelson's murder. A few key points prodded at his focus, one of them being the placement of the body in a secluded area of the laser tag arena, an area Mackenzie was seen entering right before the murder.

First on his interview list for the day was Mackenzie, a seemingly harmless passenger until now, who just so happened to know of these tucked-away spots in the laser tag stalls due to her numerous visits there.

There were murmurs that she and Nelson had been opponents in a game right before the unfortunate event. It was also known that her artwork, particularly her realistic depiction of blood; its colour, its texture, drew attention and praise from fellow artists. Winston tied his shoes, collected his notes, and made his way to questioning.

"Good afternoon, Mackenzie," Winston greeted in his best attempt at a soothing tone. "May we discuss what happened on the day of the incident? We know you were playing laser tag with Nelson and were seen entering the secluded areas earlier."

"Ah. Yes. That day... I found refuge in the labyrinth area; it gave me a strategic edge. Not much of a gamer, detective?" Mackenzie asked, a coolness to her voice. She was known in the police station for the precise recreation of the color and texture of blood in her artworks that had won several art competitions, and had received accolades from fellow artists for it.

"Not often," Winston admitted, pausing to jot down a note. 

Mackenzie's composure was unnerving, especially given that she spends her free time in the morgue for... artistic inspiration. Moreover, despite her layoffs from the company and huge bills, her recent massive cash deposits and luxurious lifestyle way beyond her current earnings, were too suspicious to be ignored.

"I hear you've had quite the success in the art industry? Winning several art contests with your death scenes?" Winston approached the topic, keeping an even tone. "Other artists have been quite vocal in their admiration of your renditions of blood in your artwork."

"Seems you've been enjoying a lifestyle most can dream of but a lifestyle that doesn't match your means."  

"I make do," Mackenzie admitted with a shrug. "My art touches people, moves them. They appreciate my talent. Pays the bills and then some. In fact, I've recently made a few hefty deposits."

"Nelson, he was an auditor at your organization, wasn't he? We know he was investigating suspicious transactions in the company books, were you aware of that?" 

"No, not until the company memo following his... demise," said Mackenzie, her voice barely wavering.

Winston nodded, noting her response. It was time for him to wrap up.

"I see," he stated, standing to leave. "I believe that concludes our interview for now Ms. Mackenzie. Thank you for your time."

"Goodbye, detective," Mackenzie replied with a polite nod, her dark eyes unreadable.

Winston exited the meeting, his mind spinning with the given insights, and a long night of questionably solvable puzzles ahead.

choices

• Mackenzie
• Erika