Trigger Happy Equines

“NO, THAT’S WRONG!”

Swimming Area Windows <> through one of the windows

< Argument Break >

“You’re wrong, Button. Copper couldn’t have done that.”

“Oh yeah?” Button goaded. “You’re only saying that because you liiike her.”

“That’s not it at all!” I shot back. “Copper may have left the group but she would’ve been unable to pass through the swimming area windows. When Yoko, Dopple and I went swimming this morning they were open but by the time we found Pinkie’s body they were closed. Remember what you told me, Shetland?”

“Of course!” Shetland exclaimed. “The Doctor closed those windows while we searched the area. You can only open or close them from the inside so even if Copper had hidden Pinkie’s body up on the roof she would’ve been unable to take her to the swimming pool without flying through the whole hotel with Pinkie on her back.”

Button shrank back. “Well… then… Maybe that’s just what she did!”

“I don’t think so,” Dopple interjected. “Copper came back to us quickly, so unless she’s the greatest athlete on all of Equus it seems impossible. Plus, if she came to the roof and discovered that the windows were closed, wouldn’t she have chosen somewhere closer to display the body? Or not to have moved it at all? From that position the swimming area is literally the furthest possible point.”

Button growled furiously. “Fine! I was just trying to help but I’ll shut up forever if that’s what you want!”

“It’s not,” Dopple said softly. “You’re doing the exact same as everyone else here: trying to find the truth. You shared information that may have been important to this case. Even if you failed to find the culprit you still helped.”

“Dopple’s right,” Maribelle chimed in. “You’re being a very brave colt for speaking up and trying to solve the mystery.”

“I am?” Button wiped at his eyes and took a deep breath. “I guess so. Sorry, Copper.”

“It’s okay,” Copper replied, looking exasperated. “And Greyscale?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for backing me up.” Copper smiled wearily. “I was worried for a moment there.”

“Oh, no problem.” I felt my heart leap a little to hear such genuine appreciation. It might have even been the first time I’d experienced it in my life. Maybe that’s it, I thought to myself. I just need to keep chasing the truth and not doubt others on a whim.

“This raises a question,” Dish Panner said. “You say these windows could only have been opened from the inside, just like our room windows, correct? Well, what’s to stop a unicorn from opening them any side they want? If they can use levitation it should be no challenge for them.”

“That’s not actually the case,” Scalpel responded with, her horn lighting up. “You see, when we move objects with our magic it’s as if we’re sprouting a tendril from our horns – an extra limb, if you will – and forcibly using the tendrils to grab, lift, pull or push the objects.” She lifted her keycard slightly to demonstrate her point. “This is the most basic of magic and the only kind that is permitted here under Monobunny’s rules. However, opening a window from the outside does not fall into this category. Normally you would use a tendril to grab the handle but in this scenario the handle is obstructed by glass, by the window frame, by the walls. Of course, some unicorns would be capable of overcoming such obstacles but this would require a more advanced level of magic, a mastery of levitation that enables one to break through solid objects without disturbing them. Am I right in saying that, Monobunny?”

“Correct! As the rules state only basic levitation is allowed meaning no advanced breaching techniques, destructive or otherwise!”

“I see,” Dish Panner replied. “But what if the window was open and you tried closing it from the outside.”

“It would depend,” Scalpel said. “The swimming area windows, for example, have handles that need to be twisted from the inside to properly close them. You could try swinging the window shut and retracting or severing the tendril in the process, but the handles wouldn’t have been locked so the window could just be opened again from either side. I presume Sanscript, Mesmer and Elsie can attest to my words?”

The three other unicorns nodded in unison.

“Just to add,” Mesmer said, “in order to effectively move an object with magic you need to be able to see where it is. It’s possible to move objects out of one’s field of view but the result is akin to moving around in the dark with no sense of touch to guide you, meaning it would be essentially impossible for any of us to move objects down the hotel corridors without keeping an eye on them the entire time. That goes for dead bodies as well in case anyone thinks to throw around such accusations.”

“Oh, really?” Inky said blankly. “Damn! That was gonna be my next guess!”

Dish Panner sighed loudly. “It feels like we’re going in circles. Is there not a chance Pinkie was alone all this time and keeping away from us? That way none of us saw her, then she snaps her own neck out of desperation?”

“I don’t think so,” Shetland said. “There are easier ways to commit suicide. Plus, Monobunny already confirmed the existence of a killer among us.”

“Actually,” Yoko began, “Dish Panner brought up something I’ve been thinking about. Pinkie was missing for the entire morning, right? So there’s two possibilities: either she was killed earlier on and then had her body hidden by the killer, or she was hiding somewhere we couldn’t find during the search and then pounced upon by someone and killed in an instant!”

“If the latter is correct,” Sanscript stated, “the killer would have to be either Button Mash or Maribelle!”

“Oh goodness!” Maribelle exclaimed, holding a hoof to her mouth in surprise. “Please, that’s not the case, I swear!”

“Ah! I mean no offence,” Sanscript continued. “I’m just throwing out a possibility. But I think you’re right; the way this case is coming together it feels much more likely that Pinkie was killed before being hidden. That way the killer could have some control over when and where the body would be discovered. At least, that’s my thinking.”

“But where?” Inky exclaimed, flopping to the floor in frustration. “We checked everywhere and didn’t find anything!”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Dopple said. “We just need to think exceptionally hard about where it could possibly have been.”

“Okay!” Yoko roared, stomping his hooves into a wide, fight-ready stance. “Let’s put our heads together and solve this thing!”

Truth Bullets

Pre-Meeting Swim

Inflatable Ring

Male Lockers

Inky’s Account

Ladder

Yoko: Pinkie was missing before we found her body, but she had to be somewhere, right?

Scalpel: We searched the hotel and grounds thoroughly, but we couldn’t have all been everywhere at any one time.

Shetland: There’s only one place we didn’t search until after her body was found. Maybe she really was hidden on the roof before the killer got back to her body.

Inky: Maybe someone approached her with murderous intent so she ran and hid! Don’t forget she had the almighty Pinkie sense! She would’ve known for sure if someone was after her!

Button: Then maybe her death was a complete accident!

Inky: Maybe Yoko started fooling around with her and got so excited in the heat of the moment he snapped her neck like a twig!

Yoko: Hey! I may be strong but I would never mishandle a lady!

Inky: Then in a state of panic he hid the body and ran for it! Did we search Pinkie for bodily fluids!?

Yoko: You have an overactive imagination!

Dish Panner: What if she was hidden in a locker? You have to admit they’re rather spacious. She would’ve just about fit if she crammed herself in.

Sanscript: But could she have done that? I don’t think you’d be able to open them from the inside.

Dopple: I would’ve noticed an open locker when I went swimming with Greyscale and Yoko.

Reph: The killer might have kidnapped her last night.

Elsie: What if Mesmer did that? Then he hypnotized her into hiding from us and killing herself while we weren’t watching!

Mesmer: Ridiculous!

Maribelle: Maybe the killer was able to hide her in the extra room.No wonder we couldn’t find her!

A hiding place… Either one chosen by the killer or one chosen by Pinkie herself. Could there be some kind of clue? Something that would indicate where Pinkie was hidden?