Tuesday 28 October 2014

Hilary’s Who Done It – the answer …



Note the possible murderous characters: those in the post’s story, and at the Cluedo mansion …
This could be a Cluedo mansion


The setting:  the Cluedo mansion, an estate with industrial units and a Gatehouse.


Remember death came via the possibilities within the game of Cluedo.

 
A gatehouse

Nine words needed to be used in the original telling of the story see link to post above





Who did do it …

Mr Marchant, the old boy from the Gatehouse, seemed to be around rather more than necessary asking the Cluedo mansion residents more questions than they felt were necessary; 


... they noticed that he too was in and out of the industrial units questioning all and sundry about Timothy’s unseemly death.


Natural causes it seemed to them ... but Mr Marchant’s nose was smelling a rat – had the Cluedo players played too much ... had reality set in?


Marchant was an unknown – he’d been to dinner parties at the Mansion, he’d appeared very erudite and interested in their goings on, while the community activities he quietly participated in ... so he knew the inhabitants, but they, so self-absorbed, had asked little about him – knew even less!


What had happened to Timothy?


Was the typography business a goner .. as had been suggested?


Was Jerome covering up for Rena, his sister, while she escaped for some ............ space?


Marchant, his unfaltering features, giving little away ... probed and probed ... the Detective leading the case began to lean on him ... DC Stevens realised lines of enquiry were being followed and Marchant was doing a fine job – leaving him, the DC, to establish other facts – or fiction .. or dare I say it lies.


Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory had the dagger tucked into his belt as always – he stirred his Moutarde de Maeaux to keep the Pommery mustard fresh .. and he was stingy – no-one was allowed to share.  His moustache was twitching just slightly – would anyone notice ... he was a jittery fellow .....


Reverend Green spent most of his time in the Library reading, researching and refuelling his brain – that most were full of envy about  it– it contained so much  ... a wealth of information.  

But the spanner ... why did he bookmark with a spanner – in this day and age? ... to keep it in his possession?  Ah – now that was a question.


Professor Plum, with his bruised and rotting plum coloured florid face, spent a great deal of time in the kitchen twiddling with his bottles and brews of sloes, damsons, plums...


... all well slobbered over - when the alcohol went in ... far too much ... but did he admit that ... no – enjoying the slurps too too much.  He kept spilling the wax from the Candlestick when he sealed the bottles – so that was forever present …


Ah ah .. the ladies – Miss Scarlett .. she would need the revolver ... she was of the ilk that made that instant – pull the trigger decision ... bang bang and you’re dead – but Timothy didn’t die that way.  


Bang bang ... she was in the billiard room – bonging the balls around ... making that dreadful unpredictable noise – buffeted between the ballroom and the hall ... a muffled sound perhaps ...



Mrs White the all pristine ex housekeeper .. who abhorred all dirt, wove her cleanly ways through life – or was she ... the rope she used was always tattered ... she unwove it to tidy away dirty things ...

Not so pristine, but I couldn't resist her

... then rewove the rope after she'd cleared that mess away; she was thrifty – but ... Marchant felt there was a ‘but’ ... she lounged a lot ... in the lounge ...



Mrs Peacock .. now there’s ‘a one’ Marchant thought ... all splutter and not much body .. certainly not a body like Miss Scarlett ... but she was a home-maker ... 


... she was always in the Dining Room setting lunch or dinner ... ready for carving whatever joint might be served .. the dagger at the ready .. ah – what dagger – Colonel Mustard had the dagger .. didn’t he?


Marchant pondered on ... Stevens too – they both checked out the Typographical business ... Rena and Jerome were distraught at their father’s sudden demise – why? ... without warning ... how?  The answers didn’t immediately come …


Joe the typesetter was a sturdy fellow ... sure in his work, Amanda the glyph modifier – now there was something indecipherable about her ... did she know more than she let on about her craft; 

.... while Andrew the art director appeared to be managing the project rather than being artistic and, dare I say it, crafty?


Various items from the Mansion were sent away for analysis ...


Marchant went into the Library with the Reverend Green and they had long and quiet discursive musings ... the Reverend getting up and bringing books to be referred to ... what were they looking into ..



The modern way of instant research via the internet seemed the most satisfactory to the industrial unit and similar inhabitants ... but to the Cluedo residents .. what on earth was going on ... 


... the Mansion did not have WiFi ... so connection could not be made … nor were they interested in all things technical …


Marchant and Stevens conferred at the Gatehouse, WiFi was available ... everyone was held in thrall .. suddenly a meeting was called to the community hall on the estate ... everyone was rounded up to attend ... all were called away – no matter how inconvenient …


How did Timothy die?


The closet was off the Hall in the Cluedo Mansion ... why had Timothy been there at all?


Stevens began by welcoming everyone – to a murder investigation ... seemed strange ... while Marchant kept a wary eye ... the DC taking everyone through the events ...  then at last introducing Marchant ... 


... as Chief Superintendent Marchant of the Metropolitan Police – everyone’s mouths dropped and their eyes widened ... now they knew ... why he knew so much, but they knew so little ..


... Marchant summarised and then quietly looking at Colonel Mustard, the man with the feathering moustache, that occasionally twitched, - could he see the dagger – ah yes! a copy from the theatre props; 


... then Marchant suggested that the lead pipe had had a slice off it ... that slice being left in the mustard over the years ... causing Timothy a slow death ... Colonel Mustard was mean ... his Meaux was not to be shared ... even on Timothy’s sandwiches ... 



... so the generous offering at Christmas was not generous ... it was a poison threat over many years ... Timothy suffered as he regularly added Moutarde de Meaux to his lunchtime sandwiches ... which Colonel Mustard so ‘generously’ offered to refill – ensuring the poisoning went on.


Where was the lead pipe?  Had it ever had a slice removed ... well, we will never know – Joe the typesetter said he’d recently been given the lead pipe by Colonel Mustard to make some replacement typefaces ... 


... and yes it was about the time Timothy kept on being unwell ... the lead pipe had been flattened in the process ...


Colonel Mustard started blustering and blabbering ... but to no avail ... he’d been caught out ... in the end in the Closet with the leadpipe ... 

Tea, drinks shortly .... still playing games

.... off with his head – as the saying goes.


Then they all went home for tea ... or a drink ... 


Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories


41 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Very clever how you brought it all together with the Clue characters. Darn Colonel Mustard and his poison.

Unknown said...

Clue in a story! Brilliant! I loved playing that game as a child. I also wanted to say that I read your comment on Alex's blog about blogging and I thought it was really insightful. I think that your really make the effort to make each of your posts unique and educational. That's why I continue to follow your blog.

Chatty Crone said...

I think you are a genius the way you did that.

I don't like a lot of games - but I loved CLUE! I use to play that all the time!

Fil said...

Brilliant! Who'da thunk it? :)

Suzanne Furness said...

Colonel Mustard, I suspected him! What a great story, well done, Hilary. Makes me want to get the game out right now and play.

Davina said...

Ah yes! Of course! Now I remember, Hilary. This was as much fun to read today as it was back when you first unveiled who dunnit.

Very clever indeed. Not something I would have ever guessed. And, it's fun reading about all the suspects. One could in fact make up a story that has each of them responsible for Timothy's death :-)

Inger said...

I just came in on this at the end here and, of course, I don't have a clue as to what this is all about. I love games and murder mysteries and I am sure this was as always very well done.

With that in mind, let me just say thank you for stopping by and leaving yet another encouraging comment on my blog. You are a brilliant woman and a good friend.

Janie Junebug said...

This is great! That darn Col. Mustard. You wrote this piece so well. You are a very clever lady.

Love,
Janie

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I never got to play the game, but if it was even half as fun as your story, it must've been a blast.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

A very interesting twist indeed. Cheers !

Christine Rains said...

Love it! Clue was one of my favorite games as kid. I was good at figuring out the mystery!

Bossy Betty said...

You are so creative!

dolorah said...

Brilliant; this was clever Hillary. You have such a way with words and setting.

Paula said...

The kids and I still play Clue. We love it

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alex – thanks: the dreaded Colonel flustery blustery Mustard.

@ Clarissa – glad the clue story gelled in … and appreciate the note re my comment about blogging on Alex’ site. I certainly try to creative interesting blog content.

@ Sandie – appreciate the thought … it doesn’t seem to be a game of choice now .. but was fun

@ Fil – many thanks …

@ Suzanne – I quite fancy a game … I had trouble working out how and who could do it .. as it had to relate to the industrial units and typography somehow.

@ Davina – well it was your challenge to us with a set of words … yes I’ve thought about reinventing the Cluedo telling story idea in a few ways – just never got there …

@ Inger – thanks so much .. and yes I’ll be thinking of you today – I did love your last post … beautiful scenery and just setting the scene perfectly …

@ Janie – I appreciate it if you enjoyed the story .. I quite enjoyed writing it .. but thinking about the overseas readers makes things somewhat tricky …

@ Diane – it’s a good kid’s game .. colours, numbers, rooms, weapons and dice … and am glad you think it’d have been fun – thanks.

@ Munir – good to see you.

@ Christine – it’s a fun game for the youngsters and we can play along …

@ Betty – good to see you .. and thanks

@ Donna – glad you could visualise the estate and people, so appreciate your thoughts ..

@ Paula – that’s lovely to read Clue/do is still being played and your family enjoy their games …

Thanks everyone .. I appreciate your supportive comments .. cheers Hilary

Shannon Lawrence said...

I love how you incorporated the Clue characters. Nicely done!

Juliet said...

I used to play that game when I was a child. You've taken me back!

Patsy said...

That was a lot of fun!

Lynn said...

Love this - what fun!

Miranda Hardy said...

Those are some great characters. Brings back fond memories.

Luanne G. Smith said...

Yay! You solved it. I always loved that game as a kid. So much satisfaction when you figure it out. :)

Crystal Collier said...

Ah, all's well that ends well. =) I LOVE the movie Clue. We used to watch it over and over when I was younger.

Unleashing the Dreamworld

Anonymous said...

What an interesting ending to the Who Done It. Poor Timothy!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Shannon - many thanks .. it was an interesting exercise ..

@ Juliet - yes it is an early game isn't it - we didn't come across it til I was a bit older ...

@ Patsy - thanks, glad you enjoyed it

@ Lynn - that's great, so pleased you enjoyed it ..

@ Miranda - thankfully I had the basics - Cluedo provided me with some good ideas .. and as you mention - fond memories ...

@ Luanna - yes it got solved ... and I enjoyed playing it and that satisfaction when you get it right ..

@ Crystal - yes, all's well that ends well .. I've never seen the movie - perhaps I should take a look sometime soon .. seeing you were hooked as a kid.

@ Susanne - glad you enjoyed it .. and yes poor Timothy ..

Cheers to you all - thanks - Hilary

Brian Miller said...

ha. how fun...I used to love playing clue....we got it again this summer at a yard sale for our boys...have also done live action clue games which is pretty cool....

Sara said...

oh, Hilary you outdid yourself with this story. It is cleverly written and you should know I love a good story.

This one didn't disappoint:~)
As I read everything out loud...you captured the "Clue" mood perfectly! What a delight and thank you for sharing this story!

You need to write more of these stories:~)

Sara said...

I almost forgot. I loved this line, "Bang bang ... she was in the billiard room – bonging the balls around..." LOL It's hard to say it fast:~)

klahanie said...

Hold on to your hat, Hilary! Yes, the wandering minstrel doth finally return.

I got myself totally immersed in this. Considering I'm using Clueless, this is progress. Nicely done, my kind friend.

Methinks I see "Mrs Peel" in one photo.

Cheers and thanks for your ongoing support.

Gary

loverofwords said...

What is fun is can you begin all over and have a completely different ending, the creative mind never stops.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Brian - isn't that fun .. I hope the kids will enjoy playing it. I haven't seen the live action games being set up - but sounds an interesting take ...

@ Sara - just delighted you enjoyed it .. and reading out loud can bring a story to life can't it ... and I've been thinking about writing more (perhaps!) ...

Miss Scarlett - needed to make decisive choices hence the pistol she was holding ... but didn't use

@ Gary - welcome back and it's good to see you ... I'm just happy you were able to join in the game - even being clueless (I can't get my head round that programme - thankfully it's on early).

You're right about Mrs Peel - I nearly mentioned our Dame Diana - then decided the story needed to be left unsullied with mention of "The Avengers".

@ Nat - yes I realised there were lots more threads here - but so far they've remained just thoughts .. but thank you ... my creative mind doesn't stop ..

Cheers to one and all - thank you - Hilary

Gattina said...

I can't comment except that it is a well written story ! I don't know anything about this !

Deniz Bevan said...

This is brilliant, Hilary! I missed your original Cluedo post but I love the story you've woven out of it. Such a neat twist on the lead pipe as a weapon.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Oh I love a good mystery!! So cleverly done Hilary :)

Michelle Wallace said...

I've never played this game... so I have to declare that I'm 'clueless'
But I DO love mystery/suspense, and this sounds like loads of fun!
Hilary, being so smart & creative, you should write and publish a mystery story...

mail4rosey said...

You gotta watch those jittery fellows. ;) My husband and second oldest ALWAYS win Clue here. The rest of us don't even stand a chance...but we play anyway. :)

H. R. Sinclair said...

Very clever. (I love the gatehouse.)

Jo said...

Never played the game so really didn't follow this at all. Very complicated and involved. Way to go.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Gattina - thanks for your positive comment ..

@ Deniz - appreciate your thoughts re my thoughts on solving this mystery ..

@ Keith - many thanks .. I too love a good mystery ...

@ Michelle - really thoughtful of you to suggest I should write more .. it's a fun game for all ages ...

@ Rosey - yes 'jittery fellows' ... someone always wins these sorts of games don't they - love the competitive spirit to them .. and glad you continue to play with the kids!!

@ Holly - many thanks .. and glad you like the look of the Gate House ..

@ Jo - sorry you couldn't get your head round the mystery story, even if you didn't understand it ...

Thanks for your positive thoughts everyone - good to read you enjoyed my murder mystery solving .. cheers Hilary

Julie Flanders said...

This was such fun to read. I cracked up at the "pristine" pic of Mrs. White!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Julie ... glad you picked up on Mrs White - such an appropriate 'joke' photo for the post ... glad you enjoyed the read .. cheers Hilary