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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on May 26, 2017 0:29:06 GMT -5
"Basically... this whole group."
"Well that doesn't help much."
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Post by Tug on May 26, 2017 0:32:51 GMT -5
"Specifically, who saw him last in, about the hour before he was killed?" asked Gunnarson
"That was you, Cricket, the nephew, the Gotharts, and I..." replied Hartley
"That's a start at least..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on May 26, 2017 0:34:55 GMT -5
"But then there is also the fact that the killer is among us now Gunnarson. So that means... Oh God, if the assumption of the intended victim wasn't the major is true, then someone here wants to kill one of us!" I said, suddenly terrified at the prospect that someone here may want to kill me.
"Calm yourself Hartley. That brings me to my next point. for someone to to want to kill another, there has to be reason. It's not as simple as, say, one of the missionaries wanting to kill me. No, there needs to be some sort of substantial relationship, or knowledge of the victim in order to warrant a death." Gunnarson explained
"But in that scenario... you are the most likely intended victim Gunnarson; everyone here knows of you, the detective. But without hard evidence this is just speculation" Picard concluded
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 2, 2017 3:29:52 GMT -5
"That is true... there is still a great deal to this case which I feel we need to figure out before we can arrive at a conclusion... I do not think it will be very easy to solve this one..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 3, 2017 22:53:38 GMT -5
"So let's take this step by step..." I proposed.
"Indeed. So, first thing- we know that Mrs. Gothart doesn't smoke, and several of us did not have cigarettes on our person. And then there is the knives. Only some of us had them" Gunnarson explained.
Indeed, none of the old maids had knives on them; and neither did the nephew. But Gunnarson, Cricket, Mr. Gothart, Picard and I did.
"That substantially narrows down the suspect pool" Gunnarson said, relieved. Then he continued to think.
"Now we aren't just talking about a cigarette or two- we're talking about smoking cigarette after cigarette. Someone here would have stunk of cigarette smoke. Now, does anyone remember who stank of cigarette smoke?" Gunnarson asked.
"Well, there was Robert... and I believe Picard had a bit of a smell to him and... well, so did Cricket" one of the old maids said.
"Now hold on, I think you are mistaken; like I said I did not have a lighter, so I couldn't light them even if I wanted to" Picard argued.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 3, 2017 23:22:56 GMT -5
"But," said Gunnarson, "if someone else had had a lighter, then you could have."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 3, 2017 23:42:31 GMT -5
"Well who here has a lighter then?" Gunnarson asked. Only Mr. Gothart, Cricket, one of the old maids and I raised our hands.
"Hmm... perhaps there was some sort of bigger plan going on here that I am not seeing... not only is it possible that the major wasn't the intended target, it's also possible that there was more than one person involved" Gunnarson observed.
"Are you sure?" Picard asked.
"I cannot rule it out until I find definitive evidence that says so" Gunnarson replied.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 7, 2017 23:24:40 GMT -5
So Gunnarson proceeded to inspect the immediate crime scene; where the Major was found dead. Then it occurred to him, "The killer had no reason to come down here, so he or she would have... of course" he realized.
Making his way up to the ledge where the rope was cut, slowly but steadily, what had happened was becoming all to apparent to Gunnarson.
"No way the rope was sabotaged ahead of time... the rope was cut right as he was hanging here" he observed. Then, he looked over and saw something shine against his flashlight.
"Wait a minute..." he thought to himself.
A while later, Gunnarson made his way back to the suspects.
"Picard... did you say you did not have your lighter with you?" Gunnarson asked.
"That is correct... I did not have it on me" he replied.
"Tell me this... is there anything special about this lighter?" Gunnarson asked.
"Oh yes; it's a rather vibrant red color, and has my initials on it. I wanted it to stand out so I don't lose it. Why?" Picard asked.
"Well..." Gunnarson said, as he held up an object, "take a look at what I found near the ledge where the Major fell" Gunnarson said.
To everyone's shock, there, in Gunnarson's hand, was a vibrant red lighter, with the initials "J.P."
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Post by Toz76 on Jun 7, 2017 23:27:47 GMT -5
"How is this possible?" Picard gasped, genuinely shocked.
"Where did you say you left it?" Gunnarson asked.
"If I recall correctly, it was somewhere very secure where no one could take it, specifically..."
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 7, 2017 23:28:45 GMT -5
"My hotel room."
"Where is that exactly?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 7, 2017 23:34:29 GMT -5
"Wait a minute... you weren't staying at the resort with us the night before he was murdered... are you trying to pull one over on Gunnarson?" Amelia pointed out.
Suddenly everyone was staring at Picard
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 8, 2017 0:06:01 GMT -5
"Now wait a minute..." said Picard.
"Hold off," said Gunnarson. "Accusations will get us nowhere right now. We want to get at the truth. What hotel are you staying in?"
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Post by Toz76 on Jun 8, 2017 0:16:06 GMT -5
"It's a few miles away. The Gray Eagle Inn. Room 39."
"Ah, the gray eagle inn. Yes, I know it well. Cricket, Hartley and I stayed there a few days ago so we could attend the annual festivals. I think I recall seeing you in the lobby, actually."
"Quite right. I saw you too."
"But that doesn't explain how your lighter got here."
"Truth be told, I lost it the day of the festival. I thought it was in my room somewhere, but now I'm not sure if I brought it back from the festival or if I lost it there." Picard furrowed his brow.
"Well, who else was at the festival?"
Everyone except the Gotharts and the Nephew raised their hands.
"Oh heck." I muttered.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 8, 2017 0:20:31 GMT -5
"Anyone want some coffee?" asked Cricket. "I could go for some right now."
"Maybe later," said Gunnarson. "(Coffee at a time like this, jeez.) Mr. Picard, another question for you..."
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 8, 2017 1:01:48 GMT -5
"Is there Anything else that has gone missing for you? Anything at all?" Gunnarson asked.
"No; just my lighter really. Can't say I've lost anything else" Picard explained.
"I see. Well then I guess the only thing left for me to ask is.."
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 8, 2017 1:05:02 GMT -5
"Why you came here."
"Huh? Isn't that an obvious answer?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 8, 2017 1:13:29 GMT -5
"...I came to explore the caves" Picard answered, as the others murmured that it made sense to them.
"Perhaps we need to rest for a while. Everyone; let us head back to the resort. The crime scene really shouldn't be tampered with while the police aren't around" Gunnarson explained.
As everyone left the caves, Gunnarson was treated to a rather... unwelcome sight.
"You!? What are you doing, bringing everyone into the caves like that?" The newly arrived detective fumed.
"It's good to see you too, Detective Walton" Gunnarson quipped.
"I should arrest all of you right now for interference with a police investigation and trespassing on a crime scene..." Walton began.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jun 8, 2017 1:42:22 GMT -5
"But you won't, because the plot doesn't call for that right now."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Why are you hear though? Can the local police not handle this case? What's Scotland Yard doing here?"
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Jun 8, 2017 1:56:47 GMT -5
"Hardstuckle here was feeling rather overwhelmed by the situation; he doesn't usually deal with murder cases. So Scotland Yard sent me over to assist and advise with this case- the low murder rate in this neck of the woods has caught the local police force off guard and they needed experienced help" Walton explained.
"And I am glad that you are here; so, what to do first?" Hardstuckle asked Walton.
"First- keep an eye on Gunnarson; his lack of respect for the procedures will cause problems in the long run" Walton warned.
"And then?" Hardstuckle asked.
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Post by Toz76 on Jun 9, 2017 1:14:33 GMT -5
"We've received intelligence that a dangerous foreign agent was staying at the resort, based on intercepted dispatches typed on resort stationery. I strongly suspect a connection." Walton explained.
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