MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the hushed sanctity of a bustling synagogue, Vanessa's life was abruptly ended with a common tool, and now Detective Winston must unravel the tangled threads of suspicion around Ivy and Clarence.

Winston wiped his sweat-covered brow with the back of his sleeve. It was a particularly hot day, and the endless rows of hardware supplies inside the store did little to relieve the heat.

From afar, he spotted Ivy, her expression soft, as she demonstrated how to properly use a screwdriver to a customer. The toolbelt around her hips, full of screwdrivers, signalled her daily routine. She handled the tool with such familiarity that it was almost intimidating. After a little while, the customer thanked Ivy and left, providing an opportunity for Winston to approach her.

"Miss Ivy, I presume," Winston said, donning a slight smile.

"That's me," She replied, her brow furrowing slightly. “Do I know you?”

“No, we've never met. I’m detective Winston.” He turned to see a toolbelt, a mirror image of Ivy's, containing the same make of screwdriver Ivy was demonstrating earlier, hanging near the counter.

Turning his attention back to Ivy, he asked, “Regular at the synagogue, aren’t you? The same one Vanessa used to attend with you every week?"

A slight wrinkle formed between her brows. "Yes, every week," she confirmed.

Her composure still intact, Winston continued, "You arrived before everyone else at the synagogue yesterday, correct? On the unfortunate day when Vanessa was murdered there?"

A shiver of what could have been fear, or maybe sadness, passed over Ivy's face. "Yes, I was," she admitted, her voice shaky.

“You were seen crying uncontrollably during the eulogy, despite not personally knowing Vanessa?”

“The community is close-knit and Vanessa was part of it,” Ivy replied. “Her murder was devastating.”

Winston nodded, “Her coffin was left unattended and open for a while. That's when you were observed rummaging through her belongings just after the murder. What were you looking for, Miss Ivy?”

Ivy looked away, unwilling to answer. Winston noticed, and continued questioning. His gaze eventually settled on an open sign that read, ‘Proud to serve this community since 1995’.

“I’ll be needing you for further questioning, Miss Ivy."

With that, Winston left the shop, trying to disregard the fact that he wore the same look of sorrow as likely everyone in the community.

Winston sipped on lukewarm coffee studying the report in his hands. The office bustled around him as officers ran to-and-fro, but he stayed focused. Vanessa, a local woman, had been found dead in the synagogue, a screwdriver found near her body.

His attention moved to his suspect, Clarence.

The interview room was stark with chilled silence. The man across from Winston was built like a truck, trucker strong. 

"You're Clarence?" Winston asked, breaking the silence.

"N-Yes", Clarence stuttered, nodding. His blue eyes held a look of a man seeing something he'd rather not.

"Your profession?"

"Truck driver," he answered, a bit more composed. He patted a hefty toolbox to his side. "Part of the trade. Us truckers always carry one."

"Your work takes you near the synagogue, doesn't it?”

"Yup," Clarence admitted, seemingly proud of his trucker life. "Often make deliveries in the area. Even do some minor repairs on my truck while I'm waiting for the businesses to open.”

Truck drivers usually carry a heavy-duty toolbox for such repairs. As he chuckled at Winston's lifted eyebrow, their conversation was interrupted by one of Winston's fellow officers walking in. Handing over Clarence's profile to Winston, he disappeared back into the station's chaotic rhythm.

Winston read it out in a clipped tone, one that showed no emotion, "Vanessa, your ex was found dead today at the synagogue.” He watched Clarence's reaction, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his forehead. "You were aware of her regular attendance at the synagogue?”

Clarence remained silent, only gave a solemn nod.

The detective carried on, "A restraining order, filed by Vanessa, was found in the report filed against you." His eyes never strayed from Clarence's face, noticing every twitch. "Your visitation rights to the children were in danger because of it. She reported multiple accounts of domestic violence."

To his surprise, Clarence didn't protest or flare up. He seemed... remorseful? "I..I... never denied them," he whispered. 

With a final scribble, Winston closed the file. The lights above buzzed as he walked out, leaving Clarence with his thoughts. The puzzle remained unsolved, for now.

choices

• Ivy
• Clarence