Trigger Happy Equines

“NO, THAT’S WRONG!”

Copper’s room? <> flown back in through her window

< Argument Break >

“You seem to have made a grave error,” I said. “It’s true that if Copper had something she wanted to keep hidden, my search of her room wouldn’t have been sufficient. But still, what you’re suggesting is not only ridiculous, but impossible.”

Elsie’s left eye twitched. I could almost see her mask beginning to unfurl. “Oh? What do you mean?”

“What I mean, is that Copper couldn’t possibly have flown in through her window. Specifically, because she doesn’t have a window in the first place! It’s the same for you too, isn’t it, Dopple?”

“That’s right,” Dopple responded. “I have always thought it strange that the hotel would be designed in such a way, but then it’s not worth thinking about.”

“Whatever the reason,” I continued, “even if Copper could have retrieved a knife from the MonoMart during the search for Pinkie, she wouldn’t have been able to hide it anywhere. The only other window she might’ve had access to would be the swimming pool, but we know Lancet closed it before Copper could’ve even gotten there.

“Then there are the two other most likely places Copper might’ve thought to hide a knife – either concealed within one of her wings, or on the roof. Either way, she couldn’t have done either, since during the investigation she flew up to the roof along with Dopple, Shetland and Reph. Even if she’d thought to hide it on the rear-side of the hotel – a terrible hiding spot, mind you – it would’ve likely been seen by one of the other pegasi while they were flying around, especially since they were actively looking for clues at the time.” I glowered, staring into Elsie’s eyes with apparent spitefulness. “So tell me, Elsie, just where are you getting this idea that Copper is somehow the killer?”

In that moment, a sudden fear gripped me as I relayed what I'd just said. There was one possible location I hadn't spoken of. One potential port of entry for a would-be murder weapon. There was a chance Elsie would mention it...

The unicorn snorted angrily, readjusting her glasses. “Okay, I’ll admit that that was just a wild theory.”

“Stupid, more like,” Inky said jovially. “Even I know the two double-p’s have their rooms slap bang in the middle of the floor.”

“Double… peas?” Maribelle repeated in confusion.

“You know, not the vegetable, the letter. Double p’s for Dopple and Copper.” Inky shrugged. “That’s just what I call ‘em in my head.”

The location had gone unmentioned. I breathed a mental sigh of relief.

“Grey,” Copper muttered, looking to me yearnfully. “Thank you. I worried for a moment there, when you made it seem like I was suspicious, but I should’ve realized.” She smiled, emitting a light chuckle. “I should’ve had more faith in you.”

I smiled back. Nobody had mentioned the one place that could've given Copper the potential to smuggle in the murder weapon, a place that I, being an earth pony, had yet to see with my own eyes.

The chimney.

I had no way of knowing if it were possible to throw a knife down through it and into the fireplace. If so, it could be retrieved without anyone knowing. Maybe the slot was too small. Maybe it was covered with a metal grate. Maybe there wasn't actually a chimney at all, and the smoke from the fireplace was dealt with through a ventilation system. This would make sense considering the dome's enclosed environment. But I had no way of knowing for sure. Elsie hadn't brought it up as a possibility, which could've been because she was aware that such a plan were not possible, and any such theory would be quickly stamped out by Dopple and Reph. Or maybe the thought just hadn't crossed her mind.

I was tempted to bring it up out of sheer curiosity, but there was a chance Elsie could use it to steer the trial in a direction I didn't want it to go. I knew that my reasoning was sound. The possibility of the chimney being used to hide weaponry didn't contradict my deductions. There was yet more evidence I could use to prove Elsie's guilt. But still, I had to wonder...

“I’m confused,” Reph groaned, scratching his head. “Does this mean Elsie’s the killer or not?”

“If she is,” Dish Panner muttered, staring pensively into the floor, “then she’s a monster. Getting torn to shreds by a nail bomb? Having a leg amputated then stabbed to death? What a horrible way to die.”

“I disagree.”

Dish Panner reeled back in shock. She wasn’t the only one. “What!?”

“What I mean is,” Dopple said, “that whomever the killer is, they’re not the monster. They’re just a desperate fool who wants their life back. The real monster…” Dopple looked upwards at Monobunny. “…is whomever devised this game in the first place. They’re our real enemy here.”

Monobunny waved back playfully. “No use getting angry at me, dear. Everyone’s attention should be focused on the identity of the killer! If you want to stay alive, that is.”

“Yes.” Lancet nodded. “And although I feel Greyscale has shown his worth in deducing the killer correctly before, I’m still not ready to take his word for it.”

“Rightly so!” Elsie exclaimed. “Just because I was wrong about Copper doesn’t suddenly prove that I’m guilty. This whole case has been vague from the start, and I don’t know how anyone could claim to know for sure how Yoko was killed. Even Reph doesn’t know and it happened right outside his door! Greyscale also admits he can’t claim innocence on Dopple’s and Scalpel’s part, let alone anyone else in the hotel!” Elsie sneered mischievously. “In fact, can anyone say for sure that Greyscale himself isn’t the killer? Dopple, Doctor Scalpel, can you say for sure that Greyscale couldn’t possibly have been around to stab Yoko to death?”

“I don’t think he could,” Lancet replied, “but I can’t say for absolute certain. I met him in the corridor about a minute or so after the explosion, and we knocked on Dopple’s door just after that.” She paused for a moment, seeming to carefully weigh her words before continuing. “I suppose in that case, while I don’t have a particular reason to believe Greyscale is the killer, since it’s perfectly understandable that he would be searching for the source of the noise, I'm not sure if I can say with one hundred percent confidence that he is innocent.”

“Wait!” Copper cried. “You almost make it sound convincing that Grey was the killer, but there’s no way he is!”

“No, it’s fine,” I said. “Lancet spoke the truth, and that’s how it should be. Because in the end, the truth will win out.”

“And what truth is that?” Elsie asked, rolling her eyes. “That you convince others into believing you by spouting one-liners that sound meaningful? And all this for a theory that’s held up by strings. No, even less than that, by sheer accusation!? We have no clue who could’ve killed Yoko. Anyone could have done it!”

I know what you’re doing, I thought, letting Elsie continue her incensed tirade. But you’re only succeeding in pulling yourself deeper into the pit. These are nothing but your death throes. “What do you mean, anyone?”

“Just like I said.” Elsie took a deep breath and readied herself. “With the exception of Reph, we’re all equal suspects. How is that so difficult to understand?”

“Explain.”

“Fine then! I will!”

As the stage began to spin another though occurred to me: Elsie was doing everything she could to deny her guilt, even though it was unnecessary. I hadn’t even expressed my reasons for believing her to be the killer, so staying quiet and allowing me to make the first move would be preferable, since I hadn’t stated my theory. Instead, she was throwing accusations around at anyone she could, clinging onto the tiniest shred of possibility, even mistakenly asserting that Copper could’ve flown in through her window. As much as I could chalk it up to panicking, that just didn’t seem right – not for Elsie. She should’ve just demanded to hear my explanation. As much as I felt some enjoyment in watching her buckle under pressure, it was almost too easy. A shiver ran up my spine, as if I were missing something important that I couldn’t quite grasp.

I shook my head and focused. There was work to be done.

Truth Bullets

Fireplace Guard

Reph’s Account

Monobunny File #2

Piece of Rope

MonoMart Stock Check

Elsie: May I pose it to everyone, just how am I implicated in this trial!? So far, the only innocent one here is Reph!

Copper: But I thought I was cleared of guilt?

Elsie: That’s not true. Just because you couldn’t have taken the knife before the first trial doesn’t mean you couldn’t have done so after it!

Dish Panner: I did think it was odd that Elsie invited me to the MonoMart not long after the trial. Almost like she was creating an alibi for herself.

Inky: You think she was up to something while we were there?

Elsie: Let’s all think about how the murder actually happened. There wasn’t any evidence to suggest I was there!

Sanscript: Unless you managed to destroy it somehow…

Maribelle: As confident as Greyscale seems, the way I see it, there’s no link between the nail bomb and stabbingincident.

Elsie: Of course there isn’t! Anyone could’ve run up and stabbed Yoko in that state! It’s everyone’s word against everyone else’s!

Lancet: Can we be sure we haven’t missed something?

Button: The killer had to have been on the same floor, right?

Lancet: Are we sure Yoko died when he reached Reph’s door, not before?

Sanscript: Greyscale, you really should speak up and explain what you mean.

Elsie: He’s not going to. Greyscale, just admit you were wrong and that we have no clue who killed Yoko. You can still do the right thing.

Copper: Elsie?

Elsie: …

Copper: What’s wrong?

Elsie: Nothing’s wrong. Greyscale?

Dopple: …

Mesmer: Elsie, you…

Elsie: Please. Stop this. It’s not too late to save everyone.

What’s wrong with her? Why is she saying all this? What’s with that look? Whatever, I should just ignore it. I need to bring the truth to light! I need to prove myself!