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MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

Problem

Answer published by the source. Consult the official source to check your work against its answer.

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the wake of a gruesome flamethrower murder at a local soccer field, seasoned detective Winston steps up to investigate, with suspects Sophia and Larry under his watchful eye.


"Detective Winston," Sophia greeted as she shuffled her cardboard coffee cup in her hands nervously. They were standing on the edge of the football field where the murder had taken place.

"Sophia," Winston nodded, looking out at the half-time huddle of sweaty, tired players - the same scene where Savannah had taken her last breath. 

Sophia was a journalist. She'd been covering the match when Savannah was killed, following her usual line of reportage. Today, she'd been on the field, right where it all happened. Savannah's murder had occurred right at halftime and yet, nobody seemed to know anything. 

"So, it's been a while since your reports on the military exhibition, correct?" Winston asked, keeping his face calm but watchful to catch any change in her expression.

"Yeah,  it was a couple of months ago. I still have the flamethrower I'd managed to keep, for research and, you know... reminders," Sophia said, her gaze flickering toward the field. 

Winston nodded. He knew that keeping memorabilia wasn't uncommon in her trade. Did it provide Sophia with a flamethrower when she needed one?

"Savannah, were you two friends?" Winston asked, keeping an eye on the middle of the field where everything had happened.

"We knew each other... She threatened to reveal my source, ruin my credibility," Sophia sighed, staring at her untouched coffee. 

Sophia's job was at stake, Winston knew; in a field like journalism, credibility mattered.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about the threat?" 

Sophia shifted uncomfortably, "I had heavily invested time and energy in this article. I was protecting my...trust in the field. My source was my lifeline." 

Winston didn't reply but noted her skittishness in revealing her source even now.

"Look, the match is starting!" Sophia pointed out to the field as the whistle blew.

Winston just nodded, eyeing the field where the murder had taken place. If he was to solve this case, he had to sift through the evidence slowly and carefully. Even when it came from a journalist faced with the threat of losing her job and credibility. Even when it was wrapped up in the middle of a football game.

Winston crunched on a stale coffee flavoured donut while wiping away the grim remnants from the computer monitor in his rundown office. He had been staring at the sport section of the local newspaper that spoke about the location of the unfortunate demise of Savannah, a keen enthusiast and promoter of sports in the city, especially soccer who also happened to be a strong opponent of Larry in politics. 

The photograph of the soccer field was chilling, almost like a badly done modern graffiti that had charcoalled the grass in obscene patterns. A flamethrower had been the murder weapon and such a trait of weaponry could point to only a certain group of people who had the experience to operate such a complicated tool of destruction, typically war veterans, like Larry.

Larry lived in a secluded house surrounded by woods, and held his position as head of a local survivalist group. Very often, his colleagues complained of Larry turning off his phone and avoiding them after work. This lack of response to text messages, calls, or any other means of digital communication could only be explained by Larry's choice to retreat in solidarity and bare minimal social contact. 

Winston sighed, pushed away the paper, and prepared to visit Larry. As usual, in unsociable fashion, Larry declined Winston's invitation to join his colleagues. 

Winston knocked on the rustic door of Larry's eerie looking cabin. When Larry opened the door, he looked like he had just finished a drill. He was sweating, hair a disheveled mess, his posture was rigid and alert. His eyes darted to his wristwatch, hinting towards a habit that he exhibited during various events, checking time frequently. "Larry," Winston said.

Larry recognised him and invited him in albeit reluctantly. A quick glance around the room was enough to see survivalist instincts visible in every corner. In amongst the survival gear was a flamethrower, a common item found in survivalists tool kits. But Winston ignored it and tried to talk politics. 

Larry seemed keen to steer the conversation towards Savannah - his fiery political rival. Winston learned Larry had a habit of attending all the political rallies personally. Savannah's recent rally was public, held downtown at the center square, and as always, Larry had been present. 

Trying to make Larry more comfortable, Winston asked Larry about his social life and why he declined invitations to join others. Larry just shrugged, avoided Winston's gaze, and said he wasn't interested in what others were doing.

His answers lacked conviction, but Winston held his professionalism and didn't push any further. He thanked Larry for his time and left.

choices

  • Sophia
  • Larry

Discussion

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Source and history

task_id
de3a5e67-d131-5f85-8e02-cde1b1d61dd8
task_key
default--murder~5fmysteries--de3a5e67-d131-5f85-8e02-cde1b1d61dd8
task_revision_id
1
config / split
default / murder_mysteries

Official source

initial import