MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In the hallowed silence of a synagogue, a shocking murder unfolds as Derek is impaled by a harpoon, leaving Detective Winston with two unlikely suspects – Hailey and Angela.

Detective Winston was lost in thought as he navigated the misty city streets in his patrol car. He was headed towards the city's harbor, lost in the stories that swirled around Hailey, an employee on one of the many fishing vessels and a known member of a local gang.

A few moments later he found himself standing on the waterlogged wooden deck of a fishing vessel, amid the smell of fresh salt air and drying fish guts. His eyes were drawn to Hailey, who stood out from the rest of the crew. A young woman in an industry largely dominated by men. She was hauling heavy sacks of fishing lines with ease, her above-average strength clear. As she deftly tied the ends of the ropes into complex knots, her knowledge and skill were evident.

"Hailey, isn't it?" He called out to her.

Turning towards him, her sleeve momentarily pulled up, revealing a bold gang tattoo. "That's what they call me," she barked back.

She was known amongst her 'family' as 'sister', Winston remembered. There was talk of knots and ropes, and the way she skillfully maneuvered them, a testament to her knowledge and experience. The strong bond she held with her gang was clear. But, her love for her 'family' wasn't just talk. Her fierce effort to maintain her gang's reputation was evident.

Suddenly Winston’s cell buzzed in his pocket. His attention shifted to the illuminated screen. It was Derek's social media page. A devout Jew, and a controversial figure due to his blatant disrespect towards Hailey’s gang in his public speeches. Derek's life was an open book - his synagogue schedule, insightful thoughts, and opinions all laid bare on his public profile. Hailey, among countless others, followed him closely on social media channels.

"Your ship has harpoon, doesn't it?” Winston attempted to change the subject, pointing towards a gleaming pile of equipment on the far side of the deck.

"All the vessels here have them," Hailey answered, dropping her carefree façade for a moment.

Winston made his way back to the mainland, the image of the striking young woman on the fishing vessel etched in his mind, and the echo of a Jewish hymn from a nearby synagogue resonating in his ears. That synagogue, regularly attended by devout Jews like Derek, seemed oddly serene in the surreal evening glow.

His job was to compile evidence, not to form conclusions. But he could not ignore the threads weaving together in his mind, especially considering Hailey's knowledge of ropes and knots.

Winston looked down at his notes as he sat parked outside the synagogue. He was about to meet with Angela, a respected member of the local Jewish community and, somewhat surprisingly, a grandmother who had briefly been to jail. Her physical assaulting of a school bully, who she had been seen confronting, had certainly caused a stir in the neighborhood. Apparently, the bully had been tormenting her son for quite some time, and Angela had chosen to take matters into her own hands, leading to a charge and small stint in jail.

Before heading inside, Winston reminded himself to remain neutral... to let the facts guide him and not be influenced by her past actions. From his pocket, he produced a key, a symbol given only to trusted members of the synagogue, such as Angela, and stepped inside the grand synagogue.  

"Detective Winston," she said extending a hand as he entered, the worry lines on her face making her warm smile all the more prominent.

After walking through various hallways, Winston used his trusted member key to access a small, private room where Angela led him. Angela started at once, without any prelude, "Detective Winston, you must know... Derek confronted me accusing me of betraying him, and told me he was going to tell everyone."

Ah, the betrayal. Winston had been briefed on this. Derek had found hard evidence of Angela betting against him in the local fishing competition--a serious matter in the coastal community. 

"Is this true, Angela?" Winston asked, the weight of Derek's evidence looming in his mind.

"Yes," she admitted, her face streaked with guilt. "But I didn't want any of this to be exposed. I was overheard saying I would lose everything if this secret was discovered."

When Winston queried about her recent time in Jail, and whether the fear of the law crossed her mind before she punched the school bully, Angela responded just as sternly. "When it comes to my son, I would do it again without a second thought," her resolve echoing through the large synagogue.

He took in Angela’s admissions. This wasn't a simple investigation. But for now, he hoped that the clues he had gathered would bring him a step closer to solving the puzzle of Derek's mysterious death.

choices

• Hailey
• Angela