MuSR / Who is the most likely murderer?

question

Who is the most likely murderer?

narrative

In a seedy motel room, Frederick's life was cruelly punctuated with a corkscrew, leaving Detective Winston to unravel the twisted tales of two suspects, Tessa and Van.

Detective Winston wove his way through the patrons lingering from the night’s wine event. He had a job to do, clients to talk to, and informants to hear out, but his focus tonight wasn't on the cooperative adults and chatty patrons, it was on Van, the event’s planner.

Van has a reputation. Not only is he known for organizing these fancy soirees but also for ruthlessly pushing aside any competition. Van had an audacious knack of winning over some of Frederick's most valued clients, hence usurping his business. This was on top of threats aimed at Frederick, who was also an event organizer and who had recently acquired numerous contracts in the territory. Frederick's sudden upturn in business didn't exactly resonate well with Van, who allegedly had gone as far as threatening him to step down.

"Van...", Winston spoke out the minute he caught Van alone and away from his guests. "What's the hurry?', Van said with a laugh. But Winston had noticed Van leaving the gala earlier that evening, slipping out shortly before the tragic event had happened.

"I hear Frederick was quite a tough competitor, huh?" Van sarcastically laughed it off, "Competition is the spice of life, isn't it? Well, he had a thing for these tastings, and he managed to gain some of my clients. But, as they gradually realize his events lack the flair mine have, they’re coming back to me."

Winston moved forward with his inquiry, "What were you doing with this corkscrew?", pointing towards the table where Van was earlier seen opening wine bottles for thirsty socialites. Van shrugged. "I was merely pairing some fantastic wines for our attendees."

Winston kept his questions short, not to spook the suspect but enough to get a rough sense of his motives, "Taking this road home?", he hinted towards the road leading towards Frederick’s motel, conveniently a 5-minute drive from the venue. Van nodded. "Yeah, it's the quickest route home" he muttered.

With these statements, Winston departed from the event venue. A sigh escaped him as he made his way back to his car. The wheels in his mind turning constantly, going over the evening's events and the information gathered about Van. Van’s explanation of leaving the event early presented no other commitments, his constant threats to Frederick over contracts, and the fact that an autopsy had already confirmed that the puncture wounds on Frederick's body were indeed from a corkscrew; all this weighed heavy on Winston's heart. But he had to keep digging with potential leads yet to be explored. Despite the evening’s high society wine event, it was turning out to be a sobering beginning to their investigation into Frederick’s unexpected and gruesome demise.

Winston studied the paperwork laid out on his desk. It was puzzling- Frederick, an affluent man, ended up murdered in a motel with a corkscrew. The reports he had read clearly stated that Frederick was well aware of Tessa’s burdening financial circumstances, given that she often approached him for loans. His next interview was with Tessa, a waitress at an upscale restaurant known for its wine selection. From feedback he got from Tessa's coworker at the restaurant, she was often seen working late at the office, seemingly entering data that matched known individuals. He made a note of the odd details, like the fact that Tessa always carries a corkscrew for her job.

Upon arrival at the restaurant, Winston noticed Tessa. As he approached her, he saw her with a corkscrew in hand, opening a bottle of wine with practiced ease. "Hello, Tessa, do you have a moment?" Her fingers never stopped their diligent dance around the wine bottle.

She glanced up, unbothered by his interruption, "What can I do for you, Detective?"

"Just have some questions, I won't take much of your time," Winston said as he observed her deftness with the corkscrew.

As the talk proceeded, Frederick's friend divulged that it was not uncommon to see Tessa asking Frederick for loans. Tessa's reaction to this information was similar to her response when Frederick mentioned his intention to expose her secret. The anxiety painted on her face was enough to prompt Winston to dig deeper.

After wrapping up at the restaurant, he headed to her apartment. Noticing the illuminated screen of Tessa's computer, he quietly waited. The screen displayed a private investigator's database, hinting at her unusual extracurricular activities.

"Working late from home again, Tessa?" Winston probed as he made his way into her field of vision.

"Just going over some... Financial issues, Detective," she replied, her eyes darting away.

"Like loans?" Winston questioned further, recalling the pieces of information about her financial struggles and Frederick's awareness of her debt.

Once startled by the thought of being the suspect under arrest, Tessa reached automatically for something in her pocket, pulling out her own corkscrew. This time it seemed much more akin to a defensive tool than anything work-related. Winston motioned for the officers behind him, leading to Tessa's immediate arrest.

"Loans, yes," she finally confessed, her discomfort clear as handcuffs cinched around her wrists, her own corkscrew now a piece of evidence.

As Winston left, his mind buzzed with the new information. Tessa’s financial troubles, her striking familiarity with a corkscrew, and her late-night data entry pointed towards the upcoming climax of the investigation... which was far from clear just yet.

choices

• Tessa
• Van