MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the tranquil world of pirouettes and pliés, prima ballerina Giselle is found dead with a syringe at a dance studio and it’s up to the steely-eyed Detective Winston to interrogate two unlikely suspects - Fred and Imogen.

Winston stared at the dance floor of the studio, reflecting on the horrific incident. Giselle, who had been practicing late in the night, was found in this one spot, a syringe sticking out. The studio was eerily quiet.

The security guard for the night, Fred, was now on the detective's radar. Guarding the studio, running its lost and found, working around the property, Fred had a significant hold on the location. Among his responsibilities was to ensure the items on the premises were secure. Recently, a syringe was reported misplaced and entered into the lost and found - the very syringe that, as per the Coroner's report, had been used in Giselle's murder.

Fred seemed more nervous than an employee should be given the circumstances. Scheduled to check properties during the time Giselle was practicing, he would have had the opportunity to interact with her. 

"Giselle...she was a hell of a dancer," Fred said, stepping away to look the dance floor. "Here late most nights, always the last to leave."

He hesitated before continuing, "She...she threatened to go to the authorities, about...about some things."

Fred's discomfort with the subject was evident. Giselle had found out about a few security lapses in the studio, and Fred was aware she had the evidence. She had threatened to report him, to show up his glaring disregard for the job he was responsible for.

Reflecting on the evidence, Winston looked at Fred. He was a night guard, in charge of property management. He had access to the studio, the found syringe, knowledge of Giselle's plans. He was more connected to the case than he probably would have liked.

Glancing back at the dance floor, Fred stared long and hard at the place where Giselle's body had been found. "I hear her sometimes, you know. The tap of her dance shoes. It's like she's still here."

Winston gave him a nod, made his notes before stepping out of the dance studio, leaving Fred alone with the haunting echo of Giselle's dance.

Winston shuffled the crime scene photos into a neat stack and replaced them in their folder. The image of the dance studio – clear aside from the single syringe lying in the centre – was fresh in his mind. He traced the edges of the file with a thoughtful brow and stood, straightening his jacket. The victim's godmother was waiting for him at her current workplace - the local hospital where she works as a nurse in her effort to pay off her debts, despite having lost her nursing job at a different hospital recently.

Imogen's life hadn't exactly gone according to plan. She used to be a respected nurse at another hospital, with a stable income, but now, despite her job at a new hospital, she was still struggling with severe debt, worsened by medical expenses she could hardly afford. One day, someone noticed Imogen with a set of keys that had been laying around the hospital. They were of a decidedly peculiar design, matching those from her former hospital. According to some people’s reports, they were similar to the ones used in prisons.

His first meeting was with Imogen herself. She was a middle-aged woman with worry lines that were etched deep into her face, a contrast from her professional demeanor at the hospital. Despite her situation, her eyes held a fierce spark of determination and resilience.

"Giselle was saving up for her future, you know," Imogen began, after the pleasantries were over. "She was a tenacious dancer, no children to her name, but wealthy nonetheless."

Winston asked about her relationship with Giselle, about her financial circumstances. Imogen was upfront about her financial issues, about how she had asked Giselle for help, despite being her godmother. She didn’t hide the fact that she had recently lost her job at the other hospital. 

Imogen shared a story about an escape plan she cooked up once. It was detailed and quite intricate, considering it was made up on the spot during a party. It was said in jest over drinks, but the detail of the plan was plausible to say the least.

Winston left the woman with a curt nod, wondering if Imogen’s elaborate plan was simply the ramblings of a desperate woman or perhaps, more than that. Her life, after all, had not worked out the way anyone would have hoped. And life, he knew, had a tendency of pushing people to do things they never thought they could.

choices

• Fred
• Imogen