Killing Game Quarter

Chapter 5: Burnt Bodies with No Clear Motive Part 4

“So you’re saying the culprit pickpocketed the lighter from Jambo to light the blowtorch to heat the vents?” Urkstin asked.

“That seems to be the logical course of events.” Mia confirmed.

“Ok… but why?” Urkstin shot back, “Why go through the trouble of doing that?”

His question made us all go quiet. Truth be told, I had no idea myself. The whole event seemed planned out meticulously, but why? What was there to gain from this?

“Maybe they wanted to make sure we couldn’t access Jambo’s body?” Akira thought out loud.

“But we had no idea that we could not access it until the Loudspeaker informed us, correct?” Liam responded, rubbing his chin.

“Ok well yeah, but do you have a better answer Einstein? Maybe some of that Historian knowledge can give you an answer!” Akira shot back, angered that no one else was thinking of possibilities.

“Well I-” Liam started, before cutting himself off, catching a glare like a deer in headlights. “Hm.”

“What is it?” Joseph asked, staring attentively at Liam.

“Well, it is just that… a possibility came to mind, however it is not for the faintest of heart.” Liam warned, closing his eyes in preparation.

“We’ve witnessed death and corpses Ikana, I think we should be fine with whatever this is.” Mia spat out, crossing her arms, “We don’t have all day.”

“Alright, I understand,” Liam started, opening his eyes, furrowing his brow, “Have any of you heard of the brazen bull?” 

We all collectively shook our heads, leading to Liam letting out a long sigh, before placing his arms on his stand and continuing.

“Predating Ancient Greece, the brazen bull was a torture devive, “He began, catching some gasps from a few of us before returning to his lecture, “It was a metal bull in which an inmate would be placed into. Once inside, a fire would be ignited below the bull, slowly heating the entire metal cage, and slowly burning the inmate until they could live no longer.”

“That’s-” Mia stammered, admittedly wide eyed in shock.

“That matches up dangerously close to Jambo’s body…” Urkstin finished what Mia was trying to say, looking increasingly worried at the insanity of this plan.

“Apparently we had a model version of one of the brazen bulls in our history museum, which is how I came to learn about this,” Liam explained, “The facts can speak for themselves though. This is a strong possibility for the reason behind the vent’s heating.”

“So, they dragged Jambo’s body into the vent, then lit the blowtorch in order to heat the vent, so they could burn Jambo to death?!” Joseph explained, partially questioning the entire plan.

“That seems to explain the entire plan, and the lack of a cause of death in the autopsy,” Mia affirmed, before looking towards the three people not at the meeting, “That means we just need to figure out the who in this whole mystery.”

“Wh-who are your suspects, hun?” Risa asked, sounding scared.

“Unfortunately, the suspects are the three people who never went to the meeting. That means that Risa, Joseph, and Urkstin are all suspects.” I explained, taking over charge from Mia. Urkstin seemed to be worried, but not surprised. Risa seemed extremely shaken up, and Joseph just laughed his awkward laugh.

“I guess I can’t argue with that,” He responded, laughing nervously, “But can I bring something up?”

“What is it?” Poppy asked, c*****g her head to the side.

“Well, if we confirmed that the blowtorch was in the vent leading to the library, does that mean that anyone in the library is a suspect?” He politely asked, before Mia and I both nodded our heads.

“You’re gonna bring up Risa’s alibi, right?” Mia questioned, beating Joseph to the punch. Joseph solemnly nodded in response, while Risa’s eyes widened as she stared at him.

“She was the only one that was confirmed to be in the library around the time of the murder.” He explained, looking down at the ground as he spoke. We all collectively turned to look at Risa, who was shaking, with tears rolling down her face already.

“Well, Risa?” Akira opened up the testimony, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“D-do you want my alibi?” She asked, backing up against the wall.

“If you are innocent that should be no problem, correct?” Liam rhetorically asked, as she nodded, and took a deep breath,

“Yes... you’re right, ok, I’ll try my best hun.” Risa replied, before starting her testimony.

“Right after breakfast had ended, I had gone to the library to read to myself, to try and calm my nerves. A couple minutes later however, I started to feel some kind of intense heat coming from behind me, and I went to go check where it was coming from. Unfortunately, when I turned and stood, my leg scraped up against something on the chair leg, which cut open my ankle pretty badly, so I went to the infirmary to wrap it up.”

As she explained herself, she pulled her leg up, showing off her bandaged leg, with her ankle a deep shade of red, from the blood.

“Once I had finished bandaging myself, I started to head back to the library, but bumped into Joseph on my left when I exited the cell block. He helped me walk down to the library, before the announcement was called. Once it was, we both went to the bathrooms, where the body was.”

“Can you confirm this alibi, Joseph?” I asked, turning to Joseph.

“I would like to hear your alibi as well, Lombardo.” Mia interrupted, adding onto the things Joseph needed to explain.

“Ah, right. Let me explain my side of the story.” He started, taking a deep breath in.

“After we all ate breakfast, I went to the gym to try and boost my physical strength. Being a History teacher doesn’t exactly give me the best muscles.” He explained, trying to stay lighthearted with a chuckle, “But anyways, while I was working out, I did happen to spot Risa walking past to go to the library, and after some time, I headed to the cafeteria to get myself a drink after working out. On my way there, I bumped into Risa, like she said, but…”

“But what?” Poppy chimed in, seeing Joseph physically stop in his tracks.

“Well, it’s just that… When I met up with Risa, I met with her right near the hallway leading to the bathrooms… not the cell block.” Joseph explained, turning his gaze more suspiciously towards Risa, who started to freak out.

“That- that's a lie! I know I saw him at the cell block!” Risa tried to explain, before Akira chimed in.

“But you’re already super suspicious Risa. I kinda trust Joseph more here.”

“That’s-” Risa tried to say something, but she seemed to be breaking down fast, more tears rolling down her face as we all started to suspect her. I continued to stare at the floor, waiting for the one thing I needed to convict. Someone would slip up, or give us information that we needed some time soon... I just had to wait for that moment, so I could hone in and convict this culprit.