MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

When Roxanne drops dead at the local skate park, the unlikely cause of death being poison from a rare frog, Detective Winston finds himself mired in questioning two intriguing suspects, Stacey and Hector.

Winston sat in his well-worn desk chair, the room lit by the soft yellow hue of the lamp light. He leaned back, studying the sheet of information about Stacey, a known hiker, who had a unique interest in poison dart frogs. 

Glancing at Stacey's social media profile, he noticed posts about her numerous trips to the forests populated with these amphibians. Winston found himself flicking through various posts: an essay on the diet of poison dart frogs, vacation videos of her trips, and pictures of her hiking in the rainforest. 

During his investigation, he discovered that Stacey owned a collection of true crime documentaries. She spent much of her free time watching these documentaries, studying each event meticulously. Winston found it interesting to note that she discussed particular details from her notes with her friends during their local meetings. 

Next, he found a pet store receipt. A local pet store clerk had confirmed that Stacey had recently bought an unusual pet: a poison dart frog, one of the most venomous amphibians in the world.

She was also a former skater, well-known for her unique skating design which she seemed to have stopped after a certain point. He found some pictures of her in mid-flight, her moves elegant and effortless. 

Conversations had been had about a particular incident involving Roxanne, the victim. It seemed Roxanne’s rise to fame came shortly after Stacey stopped skating. It was public knowledge that Roxanne's sensational success was off the back of what appeared to be Stacey’s unique style. 

There was also talk about how Stacey faced ridicule from friends and acquaintances who used to adore her designs. Roxanne had managed to outshine her, using Stacey’s ideas for personal gain for which she took all the credit.

Winston closed his notebook, sighing deeply, and flicked off the lamp light. The pieces of the puzzle began to form a picture, but for now, the detective had to report back to headquarters, leaving the specimen under a magnifying glass, awaiting further analysis.

Squinting against the harsh sunlight, Detective Winston strolled through the bustling skate park frequently visited by both Hector and his victim, Roxanne. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a casually dressed man sitting on a wooden ramp, Hector.

Hector was a flight attendant, an occupation that requires frequent travel. Lately, his route was often to South America, a realm teeming with a wide range of amphibian species, including a certain frog species that produces lethal poison. Winston discovered this after studying his flight records which showed multiple trips to countries renowned for their amphibian diversity. He had no accountable alibi during the time of the murder. Despite the demanding schedule, he maintained a remarkable career in the industry.

"Hello, Hector," Winston greeted, careful not to reveal an ounce of suspicion.

"Oh! Detective Winston," Hector replied, appearing taken aback. "What brings you here?"

"Just passing through," Winston shrugged, casually observing the adrenaline-fueled stunts coming to life around them.

" I see," Hector's eyes followed Winston's gaze. "I often come here, it's a good distraction," he added, something approaching regret marring his features. Hector then mentioned his usual habit, "Whenever I come here, I always sign-in at the reception. Did the same on the day of the murder and thereafter stayed around the vicinity of the crime scene."

"I heard," Winston nodded, gliding his fingers over the smooth, worn-out surface of the ramp.

A peculiar thing about Hector was his educational background. He wasn't initially an aviation enthusiast; rather, he had a degree in biology, specifically amphibians.

"You studied frogs in school, didn't you?" Winston casually dropped the question, forcing himself not to observe Hector closely.

"Yes, that's right. Interesting creatures, they are. Lots of them in South America too," Hector affirmed with an enthusiastic nod. Winston noticed how he specifically mentioned the frogs, especially those indigenous to South America.

The chill of the evening began to set in, just as their presence near the crime scene did. This park was just a stone's throw away from where Roxanne, a promising young soul, met her untimely end due to a peculiar poison – derived from a specific frog, found solely in South America.

With this in the back of his mind, Winston focused back on Hector. He and Roxanne had history. A romantic history, to be precise. However, their affair was on the verge of exposure —Roxanne had threatened to tell Hector's wife about their infidelity. On the day Roxanne died, Hector, having no accountable alibi, had signed in at this very skate park.

"Well, Hector, it got colder. Time I get back home," Winston said, pushing away from the ramp. He left Hector sitting behind in the growing shadows, thinking about every fact he'd just learnt.

choices

• Stacey
• Hector