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MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?
Problem
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question
Who is the most likely murderer?
narrative · full text (6,019 characters)
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. The gray drizzle of afternoon enveloped the city as Detective Winston pulled his car into the driveway of the crime scene. The silhouette of a house loomed ahead. A grim thought etched itself into his mind as he thought about the unlocked front door, later found locked from the outside, and the lifeless body of Charlotte inside. Winston stepped out of the vehicle, reviewing the case notes. He needed to talk to the last person to see Charlotte alive - Deborah, the driver that Charlotte had recently hired and brought over explicitly for a job discussion. Through office gossip, Winston had heard about Charlotte’s demeaning behavior. Stories about how she continually undermined Deborah's skills and how she spread harmful rumors about Deborah echoed in his mind. He was aware of Charlotte’s public disdain for Deborah, paying no heed to the curious and concerned stares of onlookers. Spotting Deborah in the front yard, he noticed her clutching her phone. It was well-known that Deborah always had her phone with her, even while chatting with friends - a frequent sight in any social occasion. "Deborah," Winston greeted her as he approached. "Detective,” Deborah acknowledged, only sparing a quick glance before her eyes drifted back to her phone. "I hear you were here to work for Charlotte," Winston began. "Can you tell me about your last meeting?" Deborah, still fixed on her phone, shifted uncomfortably. "Charlotte invited me over. She had a job opportunity she wanted to discuss.” Her voice was quiet, barely a whisper above the rain. "We had some disagreements about my preparedness for the job," she added, "I questioned her assessment, but she was adamant, refusing to accept my objections." "Do tell," Winston poked, as he scribbled in his notepad. "She never missed a chance to spend me down, even in public places," Deborah vented, her eyes briefly meeting Winston's before dropping to the ground - a habit she exhibited when prodded about her private life. Winston decided to dive a little deeper into her relationship with Charlotte. Immediately, she averted her gaze and fiercely focused on her phone, a clear sign Deborah was uncomfortable with the subject. "Instead, allow me to share that her mistreatment didn't stop at belittlement. She also spread damaging rumors about me." “Makes sense," Winston sighed. "Would you mind telling me how you got in the house? The front door was found locked from the outside after.” Without a word, Deborah produced the keys to Charlotte’s house, jingling them in her hand. Her focus returned to her phone. “And you arrived just prior to the unfortunate incident?” "Yes," she swallowed hard, her downcast eyes not leaving the ground, "I was... I guess... the last to see her alive." The detective sensed the gravity of the situation weighing on her. He decided to give her some space, leaving Deborah to her continuous phone notifications and the rain-soaked yard. Winston sat quietly at his desk, fingers drumming on top of the Charlotte investigation file. On his screen was paused security footage from a well-known Pawn Shop around town. A woman resembling Letti was seen talking to the storekeeper, a transaction taking place that was later confirmed by the storekeeper to be the purchase of a stun gun. Suddenly, a buzz in his pocket. Picking up his ringing phone, he heard a shaken voice. Jane, Charlotte's housekeeper. "Detective Winston?" she sounded concerned, "It was only Charlotte and Letti in the kitchen that night." Winston thanked her and ended the call. His mind was already piecing together the day's events. A picture of Letti entering Charlotte's house emerged from a Putney slasher camera that was fortuitously pointing towards Charlotte's house. The day? The day Charlotte was found dead, dead in the secluded kitchen of her grand house. With thoughts swirling in his head, Winston pushed his chair back and walked towards his coat. His first stop was going to be a chat with Letti. He knew from her record that Letti had been taking self-defense classes where they taught her how to use stun guns and other weapons. In the lobby of a tall building, Letti acknowledged Winston's presence with a wave before walking towards him. In her early days, she was an energetic groupie. However, in the same lobby surveillance, Winston saw her effectively use a stun gun that she had likely learned from her self-defense classes when confronted by an over-zealous fan. "Good evening, Detective." Letti's melodious voice cut through the silent hall. "Let's talk about your visit to Charlotte on the day of her demise." Winston's eyes bore into Letti's, which blinked before answering. "She invited me over for dinner," Letti's voice was unwavered, "Call it a friendly chat." The conversation between Charlotte and Letti, as hinted at by Charlotte's friend, had turned into a confession session. Letti had given an account of a past crime, a delicate secret that now laid bare between both of them. Charlotte's friend also mentioned that Charlotte had expressed her worries about a nosy reporter persistently asking about Letti's secret and the potential damage it could do to her career if it became public. The direction of Winston's investigation was turning towards Letti. The focus of reporters - the constant probing about her relationship with Charlotte, the incessant questions about any potential controversies - further added a dimension of urgency to her. “I had to confess,” Letti offered up. “The news wasn’t pleasant, and I had to seek advice.” Charlotte's kitchen was secluded from the rest of the house. A personal sin bin where the victim met her tragic end. Winston could only nod. Listening and observing, his duty continued. He would leave the concluding to the ones seated on the jury.
choices
- Letti
- Deborah
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