Late into the night, Charles hunkered over the table in his rented room, diligently compiling his investigation summaries. A lone oil lamp wavered, shadows playing over his stack of documents. He strove to connect every clue and lead—each twisted thread of this grim puzzle overshadowing the once-peaceful village.
Scenes of Note
Mary Thorn's Bedroom: Her corpse was discovered in a horrifying state, only two days before she was to remarry. Autopsy results confirmed a massive dose of Ergot toxin and pre-mortem bruising.
Forest Near the Village: The remains of Thomas Wright, the ex-soldier's son, were found in equally brutal condition. Some injuries were inflicted after death, yet no traces suggested the body was dragged from elsewhere; the crime likely occurred on the spot.
Key Testimonies
Robert Thorn, the late headman's son, admitted he disapproved of Mary's upcoming remarriage and had conflicts with the Wright family in the past. He adamantly denied being the murderer.
Reginald Vineyard, Mary's new fiancé, insisted he loved her and had no motive to harm her. However, he admitted to arguing with Robert over inheritance issues.
Priest Gerard testified that Robert once had feelings for Mary before she married Edgar Thorn. Thomas Wright had also tried courting her on several occasions, even after she was wed—unlike Robert, who had seemed to give up.
Most villagers whispered among themselves that it was all due to some dark curse, pointing to the scandalous ties within the late headman's family. Fear and revulsion mingled in their eyes whenever they spoke of it.
Relationships
Edgar Thorn, the former headman, had a reputation for infidelity and multiple wives, which Mary allegedly endured until she could stand it no longer. Edgar had a history of disputes with Thomas's father.
Mary, Edgar's wife, planned to marry Reginald, which made Robert fear for his rights as the sole heir. He strongly opposed their union.
Robert Thorn, Edgar's only child, had strained relations with both his father and his father's wife. He also clashed with the Wright family. Moreover, Robert possessed specialized knowledge of herbs.
Thomas Wright was the son of Edgar's old enemy. He incurred debts everywhere and refused to repay; Reginald was apparently his biggest creditor. Thomas died mysteriously and horrifically in the forest.
Additional Point
Edgar Thorn died the previous year. Initially, his death was attributed to illness and old age, but the new autopsy indicated Ergot poisoning, just like the other victims.
Charles let out a long breath and studied his sheets of paper. In bold lines circling the main suspects sat the name Robert Thorn, who seemed central to the entire web. Most evidence pointed to him, yet that alone was insufficient to close the case without doubt.
"At first, everyone thought Edgar died of some odd illness," he mused aloud, "but Elias's findings showed he was poisoned with Ergot. That clearly ties his demise to Mary's and Thomas's."
Charles frowned. "Because of Robert's closeness to the family, his knowledge of herbs, and the issue of the estate, he's our prime suspect for poisoning them. If Mary remarried, he'd lose the chance to inherit everything. If Thomas discovered something incriminating, he might have become a liability—hence murdered."
He suspected that Robert wanted the village to blame curses or dark sorcery instead, diverting suspicion. As Edgar's only heir, Robert enjoyed a shield of respect or fear from the villagers. Petty grievances and personal vendettas further muddied the truth, allowing him to act with little scrutiny.
"We've got enough circumstantial evidence pointing to Robert," Charles concluded. "But for a watertight case, we need him to confess of his own accord—or at least find something more solid, like physical evidence or documentation. That would seal it."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "We might have to set a trap. If all goes well, we'll catch Robert red-handed and secure a confession."
His eyes steeled with determination. Charles grabbed his cloak and left his room. Descending the stairs, he spotted Edmund reading in the ground-floor sitting area.
"It's late. Going somewhere?" Edmund asked, lowering his book, curiosity in his gaze.
"I need to visit the temple."
Edmund nodded. "The headman announced today that all these bizarre deaths are linked to a poisonous fungus on rye. Do you truly believe something that small can be so deadly?"
"I'm certain. Doctor Harper's examinations confirmed it."
Edmund's expression turned somber. "A pity we didn't realize sooner. Five innocent lives might have been saved. I hope Mary was the last. But even though the truth is out, many villagers still won't accept it."
Charles sighed. "People often cling to long-held beliefs. Admitting you're wrong is hard. Over time, the facts should speak for themselves."
They chatted a bit more before Charles said goodnight and ventured out into the cold, damp darkness. A sharp wind bit at him through the gloom as he made his way to the village's old temple.
Two guards stood at the entrance, tasked with protecting Doctor Elias Harper—an important visitor from the capital. Once Charles explained why he had come, they escorted him to Elias's room in the temple's quarters.
A firm rap on the door. One of the guards announced, "Doctor Harper, Detective Ravencroft is here to see you."
Footsteps sounded inside, then the door opened to reveal Elias, austere as ever. His salt-and-pepper hair caught the glow of the lantern. His eyes were cold and distant.
"What is it, Detective? It's late."
"I believe I've identified our suspect and need your help."
Elias arched an eyebrow, then gestured for Charles to enter. The small space held little more than a bed, a desk, and a few chairs. The guard who had escorted Charles turned to leave, but Charles called him back.
"Hold on. I'd like you to hear this, too. I may need help from the city watch if we're to catch the culprit."
The soldier hesitated, then gave a silent nod. Charles laid out the results of his investigation and his suspicions. Though the evidence mostly pointed to Robert Thorn, a few odd details remained—like the postmortem injuries on Thomas Wright and Edgar's sudden death the prior year.
"In light of their past relationships, Robert has the strongest motive: inheritance, jealousy, even deep-seated resentment toward his father. Mary's engagement must have fueled that rage," the guard remarked.
"It stands to reason," Elias agreed. "From an emotional standpoint, killing his own father and his rival is not far-fetched. And those extra wounds on Thomas might be Robert venting his vengeance."
The guard folded his arms. "We have enough reason to charge him, but we want a decisive case—one free of bias."
"Exactly," Charles said. "Which is why I have a plan…"
He described his idea: using bait to draw Robert into attacking again—likely in the same poison-based manner. They would give him the chance to strike unseen, hoping he would spill his secrets to the intended victim. Then hidden reinforcements would swoop in to apprehend him, capturing both him and the evidence in one stroke.
"That's too dangerous!" the guard and Elias objected in unison. "Someone else could die."
Charles insisted they could minimize the risk by having soldiers ready to act, along with Elias on standby for medical treatment if something went wrong.
Elias asked quietly, "So who will the bait be? Someone Robert hates or sees as a romantic rival? Someone whose downfall he'd relish?"
Charles's eyes narrowed. "If my theory is correct, the best candidate is Reginald Vineyard. I'll convince him to help."
They set the plan and parted ways.
Late that night, Charles arrived at the grand mansion belonging to the Vineyard family. He found Reginald slumped in a chair by the hearth, grief-stricken over Mary's death. His eyes were bloodshot, face stained with tears, and he clutched an empty wine bottle.
Startled by Charles's footsteps, Reginald glanced over, though his butler introduced the detective first.
"Detective Charles Ravencroft is here to see you, sir."
Reginald replied in a hoarse voice, "I don't want to see anyone."
"Mr. Vineyard, I need to discuss Mary with you—"
At Mary's name, his grief flared into raw anguish. "She's gone! That cursed fungus took her! I should never have left her alone, never listened to the villagers' gossip!" He shouted, voice breaking before another flood of tears. "I wish witches were real—then I'd hunt them to avenge her!"
He drained the last drops from his bottle, hurling it into the fireplace. Glass shattered with a sharp crash.
"Bring me another!" Reginald demanded, but the butler shook his head sadly.
"You've had enough, sir. Please, don't harm yourself further."
Charles stepped nearer the devastated man, pulled up a chair, and spoke calmly. "If I offered you a chance for vengeance… a real chance to see justice done for her, would you take it?"
Reginald froze, the dull pain in his eyes sparking briefly. Slowly, he turned to Charles, suspicion warring with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I'll explain everything. But first, you have to promise me you'll follow my plan to the letter."
Charles locked eyes with him. He hoped Reginald's thirst for retribution would drive him to see it through.
For a long moment, Reginald hesitated. Charles's unflinching gaze bored into him. At last, the young man exhaled, his lips thinning into a firm line as he nodded, resolve glinting behind the tears.
Satisfied, Charles explained the case's findings, the overall plan, and Reginald's crucial role in luring Robert Thorn to confess his crimes. Though the idea of facing such a ruthless murderer made his skin crawl, Reginald vowed to do it—for Mary's sake, and for justice—no matter the risk.