A matter of murder

A matter of murder

Postby Tyralor » Sun Jul 27, 2003 10:20 am

He sighed as he leaned back in his seat. The questioning of the two prisoners had gone relatively well. A couple of details were definitely irking him however.

First and foremost, had been the breach of security, with at least one of the prisoners receiving an unauthorized visitors. Sergeant Otis had fortunately, picked up on that. A man described as a guardsman. Not, admittedly, that they could take a prisoner's word honestly on that account. That however, had been dealt with easily enough, with a relocation of the pair of them to alternative cells. They were within shouting range of one another now, but that couldn't be helped. Besides, if there were any collaboration of their stories as they shouted back and forth, someone would hear it, and report what was said. So it wasn't truly a concern anymore. He had the initial reports.

The initial reports with all their lovely discrepancies. Getting them organized was a little bit of a hassle, but there were enough to make him at least relatively confident of a few details.

For instance, there had been at least two other men lurking in the woods nearby. Sill had run straight towards them once the guards had made their appearance. She had claimed they were alone, repeatedly. Just her and her cousin. Yet one guard was nursing a bruised jaw, and three of them confirmed that two unidentified individuals had been present just out of immediate sight. That was definitely, one mark against Sill at the very least.

Then there was the matter of the dagger. Both of the women had stated that they had been the one to draw it. Both for the same reasons. Because the guard had been approaching, and they were uncertain who it might be. Of course there was only one dagger between the two of them. So they both couldn't have drawn one dagger.

The wound on the body had been made by a dagger. Of that there was no doubt. It hadn't been a sword, an arrow or other device. A dagger was what had killed the man. Sill and Calandra had been in possession of a bloody dagger. The murder weapon, of that there was no doubt.

Sill had a cut on her arm. Was it because they had struggled, her and Tyralor McDougal? Or was it because Calandra and Sill had argued afterwards? Or was it to provide them with a defense, an excuse to having a bloody dagger on their personage? Neither one had provided a clear explanation there.

Sill had been most vocal about Calandra's innocence too. Why would she draw a dagger and then drop it so that Calandra could conviently have it in her hands? That sounded remarkably far fetched. Calandra had made no reference to the dagger being Sill's. She'd even claimed that she had drawn it.

The mystery of the burns had been solved at the very least. The second pouch that they had recovered at the scene had been the source of that. Kilborn had been told that it had contained the remains of a dry dust, that reacted by bursting to flame when exposed to the moisture in the air. It was conceivable, that the contents had been thrown up, just as the man had been stabbed. Allowing the murderer to step back and outside of the immediate range of the effect, while burning the man's face. That much, the investigation of the scene had revealled. It wasn't much, but it explained one or two details.

And it would explain the "light" that Sill and Calandra spoke of. That they had described the light, meant either they -had- seen it from a distance, as they claimed, and moved to investigate. Or they had been on the edge of the burst, and knew they'd have to make mention of it.

As far as a motive travelled, that wasn't anything they admitted to, but there was a pool around the guards as to what it might have been. Calandra had admitted to living with Tyralor for several years. It was possible, that she had been his mistress, and enraged that he'd married recently. Sill, the cousin could have also played a part, helping to cover up the crime. She had been removing articles that might be used to identify the man, if they had just come across the body. A broach she'd recognized as Tyralor, the wedding band, and coin purse.

So far, no one he'd spoken to had any knowledge of where the man actually lived of course. One suggestion had been Ruann. It was suggested the man had coin. If it wasn't a jealous lover, it might have been greed that had driven the women.

A weary sigh was made, and for a moment the notes were set down. There were a few inconsitancies. Of that there was no doubt. A brief glance over the sheet he'd been scrawling on revealled that much.

Dagger. Who drew it. Who does it belong to?

Identification of the body. Was Sill robbing it, or was it to prevent identification?

Light. Seen before, or during?

Two men. Curiousity seekers? Other members that eluded capture?

Motive? Jilted Lover? Robbery? Greed? Where is Tyralor's will? House?

Sill and Calandra travelling together. Why was Sill several minutes ahead? Is one lying to cover for the other?

Inconsistancies in tale. Caught flatfooted by the guard? Poor liars?


There were still a few pieces that were missing. A few problems with the tale that he had been told by each woman. Overall though, they had sufficient cirumstantial evidence, that he was very certain that if desired, the Council would see to their hanging.

A slight twitch to his mouth, and a momentary consideration for a few other events. Just in case there was someone else out there that wanted Tyralor dead, and had just happened upon fortunate timing as far as these two women went, he would consider that.

So far, only two names had been suggested to him from sources though.

Audmathus
Suede


Why would Audmathus want Tyralor dead? The reasons were wide and varied there.

Reasons for Audmathus Killing Tyralor
Married to Quincy McDougal.
Known killer
Able to disappear quickly.

Reasons he was unlikely to have done so.
No other sightings.
Quincy already poisoned.
No note written in blood.
Easy to claim it was his fault, due to history of bloodshed.


Overall, that left Audmathus as much of a culprit as anyone else who randomly murdered people. Still, that claim felt very much like a cop out. It made no sense.

Reasons for Suede Killing Tyralor
Dhugal claims Suede made threats.
Rumours of Tyralor hitting Suede's wife.
Alibi? Opportunity?


Vaguely, Kilborn wondered if Suede had an alibi for the time frame in question.

Reasons Suede Likely didn't kill Tyralor
A tailor.
Alibi? Opportunity?


Overall, that had about as much weight as Audmathus, though at least, as far as determining if he did or did not, that should be sufficiently simple to accomplish. A note was given to one guard to ask Suede to come in to answer some questions. Ridiculous truly, but one had to do what one had to do.

For now though? It would come down to penning a missive to the Council, to determine if the Judiciary wished to question the murderers. So long as the bloody politicians didn't want to get involved, the way things stood right now.

Well...

Calandra and Sill would have their necks stretched sometime next week.
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