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Post by Eyes on May 4, 2017 23:36:44 GMT -5
"Yes, your honor. He came because he looked almost exactly like Adolf Gunnarson."
"Oh really?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 4, 2017 23:41:23 GMT -5
"indeed- the surgery receipt was the result of reconstructive surgery- he wanted to ensure he looked as much like Gunnarson as possible, because that was the key" Hartley explained
"But why kill Gunnarson, who is the mastermind?" The judge asked.
"A good question your honor. The mastermind is someone who has had great resentment for Gunnarson, and yet is neither Taylor or Walton. They may not see eye to eye, but they are law-abiding citizens and still have the decency to follow the law. No, I submit to you, the murderer, the man who pulled the trigger, is none other than..."
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Post by Toz76 on May 5, 2017 0:11:21 GMT -5
"The man you charged with the crime."
"What?"
"Me?" Gunnarson sputtered from the stand. "That's bloody ridiculous!"
"Hear me out. There's no way Gunnarson would be ignorant to what was going on right next door. He's too observant for that. That's what clued me in." He pointed at Gunnarson. "This man is not the real Gunnarson. He's too observant not to hear a gunshot, sleep or radio or whatever his excuse was be damned. He keeps close tabs on all his neighbors. He would never say "bloody". And let's be honest. The evidence is irrefutable. This man fired that gun. The chemicals were on his hands, the gun in his pocket. Gunnarson is too light a sleeper not to notice that happening to him. Ergo, this man is clearly lying."
"Absurd!" Taylor interrupted. "Now you're telling me we've had the double in our clutches the whole time?"
"On the nose, Mr. Taylor. Nice work, Hartley." Said a voice from the entrance.
Everyone turned to see a dirty, bloodstained, limping, Gunnarson entering the courtroom.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 0:19:40 GMT -5
"Gunnarson? But, how?" A confused judge asked.
"Quite simple really. The night of the murder Gunnarson was in his apartment, when the double came in through the window. They fought for a while until at last Gunnarson was knocked out by a blow... from the bandaged neighbor, who was still blackmailed into cooperation. The real Gunnarson was then secretly removed from the apartment to be dumped elsewhere" Hartley explained.
"Wait a second. First of all, why would the double allow himself to get arrested? Second- where was Gunnarson dumped that no one found him for... I believe at this point it is 6 days? And thirdly- how could no one have known this man to be a fake? Weren't his fingerprints taken?" The judge asked.
"Ok, lots to unload here, so where do you want me to begin?" Hartley asked
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Post by Toz76 on May 5, 2017 0:21:35 GMT -5
"Let's start with the obvious. We never fingerprinted him during his incarceration. Gunnarson's prints are on file, and at no time did anyone suspect this wasn't the real Gunnarson" Hartley began with
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 0:21:36 GMT -5
"Well, what about the other things" the judge continued
"Alright. Why would the double allow himself to get arrested? The reason for that is..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 0:37:54 GMT -5
"...to ensure that no one suspected the real Gunnarson was missing" Hartley explained.
"Ok, that part makes sense. But it still doesn't explain why go through the effort to dump him if the double was the one who was going to prison" the judge said.
"It isn't obvious? They never wanted to throw Gunnarson in jail- that's why Mason was in on it- he would get Gunnarson acquitted so that by the time the real Gunnarson appeared, it would be too late- his reputation would be destroyed and no one would ever turn to him again. A fate worse than prison if you ask me" I noted
"Again though, why the effort to dump him?"
"because Gunnarson is one of the greatest detectives since Holmes- even if no one believed his story he would still find evidence that would clear his name at some point" I explained
"Then where did he end up?" the judge asked
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 0:39:28 GMT -5
"Well that was rather trickier to find out. However, I had a little luck on my side... I ran into an old friend of mine named Hastings who managed to help me out..."
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Post by Toz76 on May 5, 2017 0:41:08 GMT -5
"If I may." Gunnarson interjected. "I was in a crate on a ship bound for New York City labeled "Fierce Lion- Do Not Disturb". Luckily, I was able to sneak out at Liverpool 5 days ago and I've been making my way back ever since."
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 0:42:48 GMT -5
"How did you sneak out though?" asked the judge.
"Well..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 0:46:33 GMT -5
"I forced the crate open, then I quietly left the dockyard late at night" Gunnarson explained.
"You... you didn't just take a cab or go to the police?" The judge said.
"I had no money, and I'm not really familiar with Liverpool. Also, I was charged with murder; would I really go to the police and risk actually getting arrested?" Gunnarson pointed out.
"Yes, true" the judge pointed out. "Ok, so the murderer blackmailed the bandaged neighbor, but what about Mason? What's his stake in all this?" The judge asked.
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Post by Toz76 on May 5, 2017 0:49:30 GMT -5
"It's difficult to tell. Presumably, their goal was to acquit Gunnarson, earning him prestige as a lawyer, but there's some obvious holes in that plan, unless..."
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 0:50:21 GMT -5
"Yes?" asked the judge.
"Well it's just possible that..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 0:58:26 GMT -5
"Something went wrong and they had to change direction- he wanted to ensure Gunnarson would be found guilty; but the double would somehow escape at some point, change his appearance, and eventually the real Gunnarson would be caught and returned to prison" I explained "although I can't prove it, it's the only rational explanation that makes sense in this context" I continued
"This is pure nonsense! Why would I risk my career on something so risky? I've nothing to gain from such a farce!" Mason declared
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 1:00:45 GMT -5
"Have you no?" I said. "Why, if you had won the case and Gunnarson freed, you'd have become higher in the legal profession. If you had lost, you would have been paid a great deal by the men. It was a win-win situation for you."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 1:11:11 GMT -5
"You can't prove that!" Mason pointed out.
"Oh, but I can, with this!" And I produced a check from the box. It was for a considerable sum, to be paid to Mr. Mason.
"And the man who was to give the money? Why, this man right here" I said, indicating the false Gunnarson. "The fact that it is not signed yet shows that it was not to be used unless a certain condition had been fulfilled' I explained.
"Ok, but that leaves the biggest piece unsolved. What was all this about? Who is that man, and why was he willing to go so far to frame Gunnarson?" The judge asked.
I was shocked with how quickly the next event happened. The next thing I knew, fake Gunnarson had charged me, stripped me of my service revolver, and pushed me onto the floor, a good distance away.
"You'll never find out! The answers die with me!" He shouted, with a strong Welsh accent. He raised the gun to his own head and prepared to fire.
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 1:14:37 GMT -5
Suddenly Henry Taylor jumped up and tackled the false Gunnarson. "None of that now!" he said.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 5, 2017 1:18:47 GMT -5
"Get off me you fool! It's time for me to take a trip down the River Styx!" He screamed as, through sheer force of will, he was able to bring the gun up to his head despite Taylor's attempts to restrain him.
"Officers!! We need police officers!" Taylor screamed
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Post by Toz76 on May 5, 2017 1:25:24 GMT -5
Fake Gunnarson removed the gun from his temple and shot Taylor. I couldn't see immediately where he was hit, but there was a lot of blood and he cried out in pain. False Gunnarson returned the gun to his own head and just as quickly fired.
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Post by Eyes on May 5, 2017 1:27:58 GMT -5
In front of the whole court, a gunshot rang out. The False Gunnarson was shot through the head... and the bullet, passing through, imbedded itself in my leg... I fell...
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