January is murder mystery month at Kathi Daley Book. The next four blogs will contain a mini mystery for you to solve. Please enter your answer in the rafflecopter and not in the comment section. We wouldn’t want everyone to have the advantage of your superior sleuthing skills.

 

Mini Mystery #1

There was a very rich man who was found by his housekeeper dead in his kitchen. He was bludgeoned the night before he was to announce a new will leaving a third of his estate to his nurse. The old will divided the estate between his nephews Homer and Andy, who were both present in the house at their uncle’s request.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Detective Ryan asked the housekeeper.

“I came to work same as I do every morning.”

“Did you notice anything odd when you arrived?”

“No sir. I’ve been keeping to the same routine for almost twenty years. I pick up the paper from the front stoop, fry one egg and toast one piece of bread, and then I take the paper and breakfast up to Mr. Bronson.”

“Would you say that you and Mr. Bronson were close?”

“Yes, very close. I’m not just a housekeeper. Mr. Bronson has been deaf the past few years and he relies on me to help him with many of his daily tasks.”

“Do you know who would want to kill him?”

“I suppose either of the young men who came about the will. That young nurse that he hired has managed to finagle her way into receiving a third of his estate after only two months of service. It ain’t right.”

“No I suppose it’s not. Can you tell me if the nurse was on the premises yesterday?”

“She wasn’t. I guess Mr. Bronson figured his talk with his nephews would go better if she wasn’t around.”

“And has she shown up today?”

“No. She has not.”

“Thank you for your time. I will let you know if I have additional questions.”

After he interviewed the housekeeper Detective Ryan interviewed the oldest nephew Homer.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Detective Ryan asked.

“How should I know. I hear the old broad who cleans the place yelling about something this morning so I stuck in my ear plugs and went back to sleep. Had no idea what had happened until one of your men came up and got me.”

“When was the last time you saw your Uncle?”

“Twenty years ago at least. The man was a tyrant. I avoided him like the plague. Anyone can tell you that.”

“Did you see him yesterday after you arrived?”

“No I did not. I went straight up to my room, took some sleeping pills, and went to sleep. I figured the verbal abuse I knew I was in for could wait one more day.”

“How do you feel about the fact that the nurse is going to get a third of the estate?”

“I’m pretty sure the threat of a new will was nothing but a trick to get Andy and me to visit one last time. I talked to Uncles lawyer before I made the trip and he said he didn’t know anything about a new will.”

“So you think the threat of a third heir was a ruse?”

“Yes, I think that is exactly what it was. The old man was nothing more than a pain in my backside. I can’t say I’m unhappy he is gone.”

“My sources tell me that you have suffered a recent decline in your own finances.”

Homer smiled. “Not anymore.”

After he completed his interview with Homer, Detective Ryan interviewed Andy.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“I was awakened this morning by the housekeeper shouting. I rushed downstairs to find Uncle dead on the kitchen floor. I called you immediately.”

“When was the last time you saw your uncle?”

“Last night. He was in the library reading. I poked my head in the door and said goodnight before I went up.”

“And did he respond when you said goodnight?”

“His back was to me and he didn’t look up from his book but he did return the sentiment and wished me a good night as well.”

“And who else was in the house at the time?”

“Just Homer. He was in the kitchen getting a snack when I went up for the night.”

“Homer told me that he went straight to his room when he arrived.”

“He’s lying. I saw him in the kitchen plain as day.”

“Prior to your arrival last night when was the last time you saw your Uncle?”

“It’s been quite a few years,” Andy admitted. “I do feel bad about not getting home to visit more often but I made sure to call him once a month, unlike Homer who has had no contact with the man for more than a decade. Homer and my Uncle have bad blood between them. I hate to think my own brother capable of murder but the last thing he said last night before turning in, was that he’d do anything to keep Uncle from giving away a chunk of our inheritance. I’m afraid he may very well be the killer you are looking for.”

Deputy Ryan made a few phone calls and then called the housekeeper, Homer, and Andy into the room. He sat them all down and looked at them one at a time. “I know who the killer is.”

 

Who do you think the killer is and why do you think this person is the killer? Enter your answer in the rafflecopter below. I will provide the answer in next week’s blog.

 

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