A Murder Mystery- Jenny Cooper

(I)

Every criminal leaves behind a clue, after doing a crime. This was not at all new to Ms Jenny Cooper. She had been introduced to this line 10 years ago and since then, have been meeting different types of culprits, those who were clear proof of the above-stated line.

Jenny was often questioned about her decision at the beginning of her career. But she proved herself as one of the most successful detectives of all time, in London. This 35-year-old lady is often referred to as 'Lady Holmes' which is the short form of the 'female version of Sherlock Holmes.

She had been awarded by the government for her splendid intelligence in solving the murder mystery of the most affluent man in the city. Since then she is eagerly waiting for another case for weeks.

"Looks like, all the culprits have fled from the town because they fear me!", said Jenny, in a sarcastic voice.

"It seems that now, you have to go in search of a criminal and wait until he does something", voiced Stella while entering Jenny's office.

Stella Romy was a 25-year-old girl who came to learn detective skills, as a student, from the renowned detective and had been claiming herself as Jenny's assistance, after helping her in two cases.

" By the way, did you get the news of the murder of James Catison, last night ?", asked Stella.

"Well, of course, I did, but don't you think I only told this news to you, first, on the phone yesterday ?", complained Jenny.

This struck Jenny. Yes! Of course, she did tell on the phone. Actually, Stella was so indulged in the dream of getting called as 'Lady Holmes- The second' after Jenny, by the people, that she did not leave the smallest chances to prove herself in front of the detective.

Putting this matter beside, Stella voiced, "Would you like to take this case in your hands?".

"Well as of now, I have to wait till Mr Catison's family or the government appoints me for this!", sighed Jenny

Suddenly a knocking sound on the door filled the room.

"May I come in?", asked a young girl.

"Yes, you may. But I couldn't recognize......."

Before Stella could finish her sentence, the girl took a fast pacing speed and said ---

"It's me, Laura Catison, sister of James Catison. I hope that you have come across the news of my brother's murder. Please, investigate it and give my brother justice".

"Don't be so nervous. Come. First sit here and have a drink".

"So you are saying that your brother had been murdered the last night. But how can you claim so?", asked Jenny.

"The autopsy report says that my brother had been poisoned by Strychnine", replied Laura, sobbing.

"Okay! So, you are appointing my madam for this case, right? ", a question by Stella, to is confirmed.

After Laura's approval, Jenny started to ask different questions about their family, friends, foes and about their past. More the things were revealed, the more the case became complicated but interesting.

"Well, to be truthful, my brother was not a socially active person ", voiced Laura. "But as he was a family man, I became his 'everything ' after we lost our parents ".

"My brother worked in a multinational company in London. And there is hardly a thing to tell about his friends. Although everyone was friendly with him in the office, he had only, David, who was very close to him, as a friend. Apart from that, there was also Robert, who was a school friend of James and was still in touch with him ".

"What about medical complications? ", asked Stella, on behalf of Jenny, who was about to ask the same.

"James was a healthy person but had optical issues. So he visited the doctor often ", answered Laura.

"I see. Well, it's good that you have told us all these things early. We'll inform you for further inspection if needed", informed Jenny.

With this, she ended the conversation and before leaving, Laura provided her phone number for contact purposes.

"It's very complicated ", said Stella in a lazy and fearful voice.

"A true detective never only sees the complications but also searches the complication-maker. Well, now, I shall leave for the murder spot and search for clues and evidence. If you want to come, do so and if not, then you are most welcome", voiced a fade up Jenny.

This made Stella angry, but she followed the lady because she did not want to lose any of her chances to become a successful detective.

(II)

Jenny, along with Stella arrived at the crime scene and was soon allowed permission to enter by the cops as she was a renowned, licensed, government-approved agent.

Nothing seemed terrifying at the murder spot. All the things were in their own places and also, as the dead body was already removed from the spot, Stella thought that it would be very difficult to solve the case as nothing seemed unnatural. But Jenny kept her patience and started examining every corner of the room.

"Seems like that the murderer is a very subtle minded person so 'he or she' has tried to leave, no clue, behind", voiced Jenny. " But I will find out the left-behind clue. Now, for my first step, I need to send the things to the lab for a test, which seems to be the pathway of the murder".

By that time, Laura had already arrived. She thanked both of them for their guidance and gave her consent, so that the things of suspicion could be sent, for a check, to the laboratory.

All the materials, used by Mr Catison, including medicines, toothbrushes and pastes, and every other thing possible, were sent for an examination. Meanwhile, Jenny and Stella also searched for other materialistic proofs, but found practically nothing, as it was very clear that the murder was fully well planned and the evidence was hidden.

"Hmm! Till now, I can only wait for the exam reports of the things sent to the laboratory. Now, before leaving, may I get a look at the prescriptions of Mr Catison? Because as of my memory, I remembered that you told that he suffered from eye problem. So the prescriptions can help me figure out the sequence of events that occurred before the murder", said Jenny.

"Yes of course", replied Laura.

Laura showed all the prescriptions to them. Stella thought, that of course, nothing can be found from the prescription. But Jenny somehow knew that something must be hidden there. She noticed a very strange thing. Among all of the prescriptions, most of them showed that Mr Catison had been visiting the same doctor for the past 2 months.

"Doctor Martha Merton. Strange !", claimed Jenny.

"Yes, it's definitely a very strange thing", said Laura. "She gave such medicines that got finished within few days but didn't work. So, my brother had to visit her very often. I asked him one day, that why can't shift to another doctor if her medicines were not working. But he had no reply".

This struck Jenny. She was now hundred per cent sure that, now, something or the other will be unveiled soon. She thanked Laura for her information and before leaving with Stella, took the phone numbers of all the people with whom, James Watson, had friendly relations.

The personal phone numbers were of 4 people mainly-- David, Mr Catison's office friend, Robert, his childhood friend, Dr Martha and his boss Mr Ollivan.

It took a whole long day for both of them, Jenny and Stella to complete all these tasks. They left for their homes as soon as possible as they were very tired and had to have to work the next day. A whole lot of surprises were waiting for them the next day.

(III)

According to some people, Ms Jenny Cooper had a very bad habit of searching the houses of the people who were somehow connected to the case that she was solving. So the next day while having her breakfast, she called up Stella and gave her the responsibility to call up all the four people and to tell them that they would be coming that day for interrogation. But she warned Stella to never tell that their houses might be searched through, as they can destroy any pieces of evidence if they were alarmed.

While Stella executed the command Jenny went to the police station and got prepared with some cops, so that they might help her to search the houses. Jenny picked up Stella and their first destination was David's house, which was actually only a few minutes away from Jenny's home.

Stella rang the bell and someone opened the door.------

"Welcome. I am Mr David. Please be seated".

Jenny didn't expect such a warm welcome as in murder cases, people act very nervously and peculiar.

"I hope that you know about your friend's death", voiced Jenny. "Well, we have come here to know more about Mr Catison and will be gleesome if you share something with us".

David shared the exact same things as Laura did. This proved that David, was really, a true friend of James. But among all the revelations, one thing really seemed suspicious.

"Although James was not a social man, he was in a fight with his childhood friend Robert", claimed David. "He borrowed €500 from Robert and failed to return him within time. He also told me that Robert had threatened to kill him if he failed to return the money".

"Strange! If he worked in a multinational company, then why did he borrows money and why didn't he ask help from you?", asked Stella, before Jenny could.

"James suffered a great loss in office due to poor performance and business strategies. He was on the verge of collapse. And as a friend, I have also helped him with €500, but never asked for the money to be returned".

Jenny found this answer incomplete as she expected something more to be revealed, but she thanked him for his cooperation and asked for his approval so that his house could be searched.

Nothing extraordinary was found during the search, but some things were taken so that they could be sent for examination.

Their next meeting was with Mr Ollivan, the boss of James. Their conversation was more like a business meeting where both of the clients were sharing information about a specified topic. Nothing was at all revealed except the failures and poor strategies of James.

On the way to Robert's house, Stella formulated a list of complaints before Jenny and unveiled that she had lost complete interest in the mystery.

"A true detective never loses interest in mysteries. Patience should be the first 'mantra' of every detective", answered Jenny.

Meanwhile, they reached Robert's house. The house looked very queer and old fashioned. They were soon 'allowed entry into the house as Robert was very harsh to them and didn't welcome them, like David. By a look at him, one can say that he was very cunning. He talked very little and only gave answers to the questions of the detective.

"Well, it was a very good QnA. But I would like to finish with the last question. Did you threaten James that you would kill him if he failed to return the money ?".

"No ! Ne....e.. ver! Why will I do so ?", stammered Robert while answering.

This was enough for Jenny to understand the psychology of Robert. Before leaving, they searched his whole house and took some materials of suspicion, although he hesitated to allow them.

Lastly, they went to Martha's chamber, where she was diagnosing patients. She welcomed them all without any hesitation. Jenny and Stella came out of their tired nest at once when they spoke to Martha. She was a sweet, charming lady of great intelligence. After a whole lot of conversation, they finally came to know that she was actually the childhood friend of James. That is why James visited his friend very often as he thought that her medical charges would be below.

"Yeah! I knew him from class1", claimed Martha. "We were friends but lost each other after we moved on to different parts to pursue our dreams".

"Then, why were your medicines not working ?" asked Stella.

"Well, I didn't give medicines of high power as my way of healing is slow and in large course of time", answered Martha.

They had some more conversation and before leaving they gathered all the things of suspicion as usual.

"The reports will help us to find out the truth", claimed Jenny, while they returned. "I am eagerly waiting for the reports".

When they returned to Jenny's office, the reports of the things of Mr Catison had already arrived in the letterbox. They opened the reports and what they saw was shocking!

"What!", exclaimed Jenny. Now everything began like crystal clear.

" Two more steps and we will be able to find the culprit", said Jenny.

Stella saw a spark of success in Jenny's eyes and was sure that something would happen the next day. She immediately called up David and took all the information which was left. Now everything became very clear to Jenny and Stella. Jenny and Stella estimated the time when the reports of the things taken from the suspects, would come the next day and according to that, ordered all the 4 suspects and Laura to be present the next day in the police station. A whole new surprise was waiting for all of them!

(IV)

The next day, the first thing Jenny and Stella did was to check the reports, but nothing was unnatural in the reports, as obviously, they had missed the most important evidence, without which nothing can be unveiled.

While the four suspects as well as Laura arrived at the police station, Jenny and Stella, along with the cops, raided the house which they had missed the last day and found such a thing, which was the most important and the last evidence of the case.

Now, it was the time for the most awaited part of the murder mystery.

"Good evening everyone! I hope that all of you have reached here without any complications", said Jenny, followed by Stella, while entering to the police station. "It's a great pleasure for me to work on this mystery, with you guys. Well is the time for the case to be ended, as, I have succeeded in finding out the criminal".

"Oh really! Thank you so much", said Laura in an excited manner.

"Keep patience, madam. It was a very complicated case but as I have solved, I will reveal it slowly".

"Well, Mr James Catison had an optical problem, right Ms Martha ?", asked Jenny in a sarcastic voice.

"Why are you, only asking me ?", questioned Martha in a disturbed manner. "Everybody present here knows it".

"You have provided with many medicines to Mr Catison. Well, do you know that Strychnine, has been found in the contact lens solution of Mr Catison", said Jenny.

"Good heavens! How will I know about all these things?", answered Martha in a fearful voice.

"Yes! You have to know about these things because you killed Mr Catison", claimed Jenny loudly.

This shook everyone from inside. After that, a great silence followed in the police station. Jenny continued---

"You have killed James, Martha. Strychnine, which is a strong poison, has been found in the contact lens solution of Mr Catison, according to the reports. And the same poison was found in your house by police, when you left today, for the police station. You had taken the advantage of Mr Catison's poor financial crisis and had been indirectly forcing him to come to you and take all the medicines, as you have given a huge discount on all the things. You had put the poison in the contact lens solution and insisted James use that. The poison entered his body through his eye and he died in the fraction of a minute".

As soon as Jenny completed her sentence, Martha tried to run away but was soon captured by the police.

"But I can't understand that why she killed him ?", asked Robert.

"I know the answer", said Jenny. "Martha was the childhood friend of James. James was always more successful than her, but once, Martha defeated James and got a scholarship with which she could complete her higher education in the most expensive institution. This was not at all accepted by James and he spread a rumour that she leaked the question papers before giving the tests. For this, she was ruined for her whole life and before leaving, she swore that she would return to take revenge. But as this happened many years back, James completely forgot about that and finally, he paid a lot for his dishonesty".

Soon Martha was taken away by the cops. Laura thanked Jenny and Stella wholeheartedly. But this time, besides paying Jenny, Laura also paid €100 to Stella. This was the first-ever income of Stella. She jumped like a deer in joy.

While returning home, Jenny asked---

"So what have you learned from this case till now ?".

"Two things. 'A true detective never sees the complications but searches the complication maker' and 'Patience should be the first mantra of every detective", replied Stella, while they returned home happily.