Murder Will Out...Won't It?

"ooh! another mystery!" marian perked up upon hearing of spock's murder.

"how cool is that?" taylor grinned, showing off his fangs.

"bring us all a drink, danny!" Mysterious Lurker called out. "we've got some deducing to do."

benjamin franklin cracked his knuckles, his eyes twinkling. "i do enjoy a good puzzle."

the judge crashed his hand down upon the table. "people, a man was just murdered right before our eyes, and one of you did it! show some respect and try to be serious for once!"

tucker was already strumming his guitar.

his ears were pointy
and his mind was sharp...

"settle down, guys. there something funny going on here," cardigan announced, standing over the pool of blood. "look, he's holding a newspaper in one hand, and it's opened up to marian's column."

sierra turned to marian and grinned. "it's a clue--he's saying you killed him!"

marian made a repugnant face. "i did NOT kill him! it was probably dat. that icepick looks like it could have fit inside his blowgun."

the Lurker nodded, then sighed, and shook her head. "no, i doubt it. i mean, he actually hit him, in the dark, and that's a good 12 feet away. of course, he may have been aiming at one of us instead, so i still wouldn't rule him out."

dat's face was turning an interesting shade of red, similar to the blood at cardigan's feet. "it wasn't me! i don't shoot icepicks--i shoot darts."

"hmmm," danny mumured. "this is interesting. the brand name of this icepick is 'Franklin.'"

"is it?" mr. franklin seemed quite excited about this. "i say, i've never been a murder suspect before. do they hang murderers here, or shoot them?"

"benjamin franklin is not a murderer!" the judge exlaimed. "he's never seen spock before and has no more reason to kill him than i would!"

"it's interesting that you say that, your honor," cardigan noted. "look at spock's other hand. it's on his chest, his index finger pointing directly at the Star Fleet insignia there."

"so what?"

"that insignia looks like the hat that bishops wear," taylor stated.

"a mitre," marian said, helpfully. she shrugged. "it's a common crossword puzzle term."

"what do you have to say to that, judge st. bishop?" sierra asked.

"that's preposterous!"

marian snickered. "i knew he was going to say 'preposterous.'"

"say, what's that?" blake pointed at spock's neck.

cardigan peered closer. "it's two puncture marks."

"taylor!" marian looked indignant.

"it wasn't me," taylor protested. "i don't really bite people. i'm not that kind of vampire."

"what kind of vampire are you, taylor?" Mysterious Lurker turned her golden brown eyes on him.

"that's for me to know and you to hope you never find out," taylor replied ominously, then immediately spilled his beer on his lap. marian, sierra, and the Lurker exchanged high-fives all around.

"there's also a guitar pick on the floor over here," cardigan exclaimed.

"tucker?" the Lurker turned her sad blue eyes on him. "why, tucker? you have so much going for you."

tucker shook his head. "it wasn't me, man. i don't need material that badly." still, he started strumming.

why'd you do it, tucker?
why'd you kill that man?
did he steal your supper?
did he ruin your plan?

"wait a minute," blake interrupted. "i don't understand this. there are clues here pointing to just about everybody here, except sierra, cardigan, the Lurker, and me."

"sierra had motive," taylor reminded them. "unrequited love, a woman scorned, and all that."

"i didn't have a crush on spock!" sierra insisted. "i didn't!"

"gavin and danny could've been jealous of spock because sierra had a crush on him instead of them," marian theorized.

"i didn't have a crush on spock!"

cardigan turned to face them. "have you figured it out? it's all here for you."

"really?" sierra sounded surprisingly impressed. "you're good, cardigan. who did it?"

"yes, i'm quite intrigued," mr. franklin said, putting a coin on the table. "i bet it's this charming young lady with the ever-changing hair color."

"why thank you, mr. franklin," the Lurker blushed. "you're such a sweet man."

"i'll take that action," tucker said, placing a fiver on the table. "i think it was the darter."

"sierra," taylor added his money to the pile.

"i have given this matter much thought," marian declared. "and i think it was burkie!"

"m...me?" burkie spluttered. they all turned back to look at their handsome creator, whom they had all forgotten was there. "i have nothing to do with this. i'm just observing."

"you're writing all this; you control everything," marian said, rolling her eyes.

"if i controlled everything, my glass wouldn't be empty," burkie retorted, looking pointedly at danny.

danny glared at him, then shrugged and poured him another beer. "so who did it, cardigan?"

cardigan grinned and tipped his beer glass, pouring the contents down onto spock's face. spock sat up sputtering and cursing in a strange tongue, creating gasps around the room.

"it was a trick?" marian turned on burkie, who shook his head and pointed at spock.

"indeed," spock replied, pulling the fake icepick from his head. "you were getting bored and needed something interesting to happen. judging by the newspapers and tv shows and movies and bestseller lists here, murder seems to be very popular and interesting."

"and a bloody mess," danny pointed out, pointing at the stain on the floor. "you're fired."

"how did you figure it out, cardigan?" sierra asked.

cardigan pointed at the floor. "it's the bloody mess. what do we know about vulcan blood?"

"it's green," the Lurker slapped her forehead. "how could i have missed that?"

"bravo, young man. bravo!" mr. frankling applauded cardigan. "well done, indeed."

spock walked over to grab his coat, then turned to sierra. "i'm sorry, miss. i cannot return your feelings."

"i don't have a crush on you!"

"yeah, keep telling yourself that," spock muttered as he walked out.