The Science of Deduction, Friday - 9/24

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

Today the danger shop was set up to look like, well, another classroom. Not terribly exciting compared to bodies and crime scenes.

"St. Luke's is well known for their academic honesty and the caliber of students attending." Meaning their parents weren't who's anymore, rather whom's now. "Unfortunately for them, a theft has occurred the day before the final examinations. Mr. Soames--"

As Sherlock pushed a button on his phone, an older man appeared in the classroom. Because he enjoyed this technology far, far too much.

"--left his office, locked, to pick up lunch. According to him, he'd only been gone an hour. But when he returned, the door was unlocked and someone had tampered with his computer, gaining access to the answers for the exam planned for the following day. The only evidence left at the scene was a smear of mud just inside the doorway and faint scratches on the floor in the same spot."

The corner of his mouth turned up in something like amusement. "Not wanting a scandal, they contacted me to solve the case."

Because he was the Goddamn Sherlock Holmes.

"They have narrowed the suspects down to three students." Another push of a button and the teacher disappeared, replaced by three young men. "These three were the only other people in this particular building during that hour. Your job is to partner off, question them and draw your conclusions as to who is guilty from that and the evidence I have given you."

Comments

Talk to the Suspects

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

When they tag in.

Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

Why he was even being questioned was completely beyond Daulat. He had no reason to steal anything, after all.

It was clearly the other two.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

Scully sat down at the table and nodded to Daulat. "Hello, Mr. Ras. I'm Dana Scully. This is my partner, Ben Skywalker. We've been tasked with questioning you regarding the theft of test answers from Mr. Soames' office." A nice neutral opening, which would hopefully give them a place to start from.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave her a slightly amused look. She sounded like she'd swallowed a book on police procedure. "What were you doing in the building?" he asked Daulat as he took a seat and a closer look at their first suspect.

You know, in case this was going to be easy and he had mud on his shoes or something.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

"Studying," Daulat replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "I've already told the headmaster this."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

Scully noted the answer, thinking, and asked, "Is there anyone else who can state that they were with you at the time the theft took place? And where you were?" If two of the suspects corroborated each other, that wouldn't eliminate them, but it would make a different approach necessary.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[momslilassassin]

Ben sat back and privately thought that if the three suspects gave each other as their collaborating witnesses, they'd have some problems.

"Or if you saw anyone else while you were studying," he added. "Even if they might not have seen you."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

Daulat snorted in amusement, shaking his head. "I don't think Gregory even knows how to study. He's the one struggling in class, not me."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

Scully looked considering, and checked to see if Ben had caught the same implication she had; that Daulat had indirectly answered his question. "What do you think Mr. Franks was doing in the building?"

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

"How should I know? Ask him." Ah, teenagers.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[momslilassassin]

"We will," Ben said. "What were you studying? The stuff Mr. Soames was going to test on, or since you're doing so well in it, a different class?" He smiled. "And why not outside?"

Maybe he'd come in from outside, which would explain mud in the office.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[3patchproblem.livejournal.com]

"Why would I study outside?" Daulat asked, giving Ben a look like he thought the boy was too dim to live. "I was studying for chemistry, if you really need to know. I can pass Mr. Soames' class easily."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - Daulat Ras

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

"Did you see Mr. Gilchrist at any point during that lunch hour?" Scully checked, not reacting to the attitude. "Or anyone go near Mr. Soames' office, from where you were?"

Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

James didn't think he had any reason to be a suspect. He worked hard for his grades. He didn't need to cheat on the pitch and he didn't need to cheat in the classroom.

It was obvious that it was one of the other guys.

[OOC: I'll try to pick up a couple pings in the morning if I have any, but otherwise nothing until I'm home from work! Alas!]

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[momslilassassin]

"Hi," Ben said, sliding into a chair across from Suspect #2. "I'm Ben, this is Dana--" he waved his hand toward Scully, "--and we have a few questions for you."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"Sure," James said. "Ask whatever you want."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

"What part of the building were you in during the lunch hour in question?" Scully asked, still sounding a little too cop-like. "And what were you doing there?"

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"I was over by the gym, getting some practice in with my mates," James said.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[momslilassassin]

"Which sport?" Ben asked, glancing around for a bag or something for sporting equipment to be stuffed into. "And if there were mates, why aren't they in here with you?"

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"Rugby," James said. "And they left to get some food, of course. It was lunchtime, after all."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

"Why didn't you go with them?" Scully asked, leaning back to (hopefully inobtrusively) check James' shoes. Rugby certainly would have gotten his feet muddy if he were wearing the same ones.

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"I take practice more seriously than them," James responded, following her gaze to his feet. "Like the shoes? I don't. Bloody uncomfortable, but they're part of the uniform, so I have to wear them for classes."

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[momslilassassin]

"Did you wear shoes with better traction while you were practicing, then?" he asked. "Spiked ones?"

That might mess up a floor, maybe?

Re: Talk to the Suspects - James Gilchrist

[willbethenight.livejournal.com]

"I do sometimes, I guess," James said. "But I'll play in whatever, you know?"

Talk to the Suspects - Gregory Franks

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

Gregory's mannerisms fluctuated between looking vaguely bored and vaguely annoyed at the proceedings.

He so had better things to do. Like go to a kegger. He didn't have time for this shit, couldn't they see that the guilty party was one of the other two?