MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the tranquil solitude of a secluded chalet, Clyde meets an untimely death from snake venom; a case which sees the sharp mind of Detective Winston matching wits with two elusive suspects, Mack and Taylor.

Detective Winston was looking at the tailor-stitched files bundled together with papers on a desk in his office. The case puzzled him; a man named Clyde was found dead at his chalet, poisoned by snake venom.

Winston sipped his coffee, his thoughts turning to the list of witnesses. The intriguing one was Clyde’s adoptive mother, Taylor. Records indicated she owned a cleaning business, which surprisingly, did not require her or anyone else for that matter, to use different names for business operations. Interesting, Winston thought.

The cleaning business, however, brought Taylor in frequent contact with venomous snakes due to the locations she was often required to clean. In addition to this, upon further investigation into her past, Winston discovered she had once taken a course on reptile handling and first aid, where she had learned how to administer snake venom. This piqued Winston’s curiosity about Taylor's hobby - her interest in studying and handling snakes. 

Winston then took a drive across town to the café where Taylor often frequented. The barista, a young chipper man, recognized Taylor’s name instantly. 

“Yeah, big tipper. Always uses a new name when she orders though. Can’t keep up,” he admitted, making an apologetic face.

“Does she always order to-go?” Winston asked. 

“Yeah, never stays long."

As he left the café for a public park, Winston could not help but think how it was not just cafes she used different names in. One of the regular park goers also confirmed witnessing Taylor introduce herself with a different name every time she would meet someone new. There was no law requiring her not to, but it was unusual. 

To get a bit more insight, Winston then took a detour and checked her medical records at the local clinic. The records showed frequent admissions for different sort of injuries, seeming to be consistent with those of an abuse victim.

The final piece in this part of the puzzle was Clyde’s history of domestic violence. Clyde’s neighbours recalled his frequent violent outbursts and admitted that they had worried for Taylor's safety. 

One neighbour, an elderly woman by the name of Gertrude, stated, "That poor Taylor...she always seemed scared of him. Saying how she was worried about keeping up with his violent tendencies."

With these pieces of information, Detective Winston returned to his office to ponder the implications while the rain pitter-pattered against his window pane.

Winston, with his coffee in one hand and the morning's newspaper in the other, settled into the precinct's bustling atmosphere. Amidst his routine perusal of the adjoining snake-enthusiast article, Mack's name caught his attention. A brief yet impassioned mention of his reptile expertise and his recent acquisition of a venomous snake stood out. His hobby including keeping up to date on the latest snake discoveries was all over the article. An enigma wrapped in exotic scales.

Winston set off to pay Mack a visit at his quite aptly titled store, 'The Design Dwelling.' As he entered, Winston's eyes glimpsed over recent store receipts strewn on the countertop — snake food, terrarium equipment, and the marked receipt for the venomous snake purchase formed a large chunk of the billings. His gaze then shifted to the restless store-owner. 

"Mack?" Winston extended a handshake in greeting. 

"Yes, that's me," Mack offered a firm grip and an uncertain smile.

"I see you've got a fascination with the scaled creatures," Winston gestured towards the receipts. 

"Just a hobby of mine, detective. Studied reptiles quite extensively in college," Mack admitted casually.

Retracing his steps back a little, Winston recalled an interesting piece of information. He asked, "You worked at Clyde's chalet recently, correct?" 

"Yes, Clyde hired me for an interior redesign. I had just finished my work and left the chalet with the new layout in hand when I heard..." Mack faltered, recounting the events. "In fact, I was seen leaving the chalet clutching the plans, on the day Clyde passed, and the news hit me like a ton of bricks."

"Clyde's passing was unfortunate." Winston nodded solemnly, choosing his words with caution. "You were scheduled to work on his chalet the day he...passed."

A nod from Mack confirmed Winston's suspicions. He continued, "You reported an assault to us a while ago. You called us immediately, right?"

"Yes, I did. I didn't waste any time after I saw it," Mack replied. "I found letters at Clyde's place, threats aimed at my sister in his handwriting. I confronted him about it, and, surprisingly, he admitted it. I saw him assault her once, it horrified me."

Winston took note of the interior designer's steady gaze. The urgency in his revelation was palpable. He thanked Mack for his cooperation and moved towards the exit, with his mind etched on the detail that Mack had willingly brought a venomous snake recently. The snake-featured article from earlier that day lay folded inside his coat pocket, a puzzle piece found amidst the chaotic symphony of the morning grind.

choices

• Mack
• Taylor