As I said before, I do think we're getting a lot closer. As mixed up as it is, reading over the public evidence and testimony, there are, I would say a few examinations/questions that can help push us over that edge. We have a lot of the important evidence/testimony on file, just need to press a bit on a few things.

Good luck, detectives!

Examine:

Outside of study window for footprints in snow and a statue with gold coins.
Lounge to see if there's a window.
Living Room window.
Bathroom window.
What type of shoes is everyone wearing? Do they match any footprints outside study window?
What does the 3rd burnt letter contain? Does anyone's handwriting match?

No footprints outside.

The Judge discovers a statue, weighing over 1 lb., inside the bushes. Inside are several gold coins. The edges of the statue are sharp to the touch, and nearly cut him when he picks it up at the wrong angle. There is a window here. You tap it, and it flies open. Apparently it was not shut carefully. Two windows here, dusty. They have not been opened (or cleaned) recently. There is a 6 inch by 6 inch window in the bathroom. You can't figure out how to open the damn thing up! Heavy boots:

Dr. Peter Morris
Alexa Costa
Maggie Donnelley

Light boots/sneakers:

Everyone else. No footprints outside. LETTER 3 (Matches the handwriting of letter 2, does not match any *collected* samples.)

The letter is burnt and torn, from what you can make out, it reads:

6, a mere 16 years of age, entrusted to my c
or what? So, I could en life throug my re
havior? If I just had one less, that's what I
f. But one is never enough, it bec es 2, it b
ore I know it, I'm lying facedown promi
r to do it again. Now t sad specter wi
ague my career ever, because I had t
the procedure. But not only my career, b
life. If ever there should be eater curs
a secret.

Dr. Morris is taken aback, and does all that he can to avoid giving you the sample. The room eyes him suspiciously, forcing him into a corner.

"Alright, alright. No need to... play this game. It is my writing, both of them... I wrote it, yes...it's... I can explain.... I mean, I can't explain, I don't want to explain, but you know me, you know I'm a good person!" No cuts are visible on anyone's hands. Only the deceased has a cut on his hand.

Question:

Charlie: "Was Horace in the kitchen with you when you heard the scream?"

Dr. Morris: "What was in your letters to Joseph?"
Horace: "What was in your letter to Joseph?"

Charlie: "Yes." Dr. Morris: "They weren't, uh, letters... those are bits of my journal. Apparently, he.. took them. Stole. I'd appreciate them, uh... back. They have no place in this crime...surely." [LIE DETECTED]

Dr. Morris is beginning to recall events... not big picture events of the night, just.. flashes. Horace: "Joey, damned fool. Always a bit too honest. Told him, you can't do business like that. I was planning a move, needed his financial backing. The old bugger wouldn't go along, heh, just because there were some 'ethical' concerns. Stubborn, stubborn man."

Question:

Dr. Morris: "Don't lie to me. I'm a judge and I can easily tell when someone is lying. They were letters. You've taken up drinking again, haven't you? Lost your job? Tell me the truth. I can also see that you're getting flashes of your memory back. Tell me what you remember."

Morris is startled, "Please," he says, "back up, let me breathe."

"You are right, my friend, you are right.

I wasn't lying about the journal part, those were entries in my journal. From many, many years ago... if you don't believe me, just look at the paper for yourself. See how old it is?

It's all from back when I was drinking. You know I haven't touched a glass in years...that was all true. But, I don't want you to misinterpret what they say... please don't, we've known each other too long for that. I was a different person.. you know that, different. You know what it's like to change your life!

Oh, what's the use!

I just, I somehow feel like they are.. that my journal entries are a part of the case. That was what I was lying about. Only, it's a half-lie, because.. whether they are truly involved or not, I can't tell you.. I just FEEL it.

I don't know what I remember. I'm telling you the god's honest truth, right now, I don't know what I remember.. it's just flashes.

I remember the thud... my head.. it aches. I think I was hit on the head in the... in the study. Not the hallway, not the lounge. Is it possible?

Owwwwwww," he cried, grabbing his head, as if at war with his memory.

Question:

CC Morris: "If your husband was attacked right here in the study like his memory suggests, how did he end up back in the hallway without you seeing who attacked him. I know that you lied to me earlier about seeing who attacked your husband and now you are at least an accomplice to murder if not the killer. Confess!!!"

CC: "Nonsense, pure, unadulterated nonsens...sense. [still inebriated]. I had nothing to do with the murder. Period. Didn't see a-a- thing. Perhaps it was my husband that did it all!"

Dr. Morris interjects: "CC? Are you serious? Why-- how could you say such a thing??? My head...my head... no, I insist, it wasn't me, Michael! I know nothing about this... it's... Billy, Billy had everything in the world to gain from this crime!"

______________


Note: signing off for the night, will see what happens tomorrow.

Anyone who guesses, remember, it's kinda subjective for me to judge if it's right but you need to account for most of the facts of the case to my satisfaction. If it's missing KEY elements, even if it's close, it's incorrect.

Guess:

1) Murderers are CC and Dr. Morris

2) Joseph had discovered secrets in Dr. Morris's journal.

3) Dr. Morris's memory of getting hit on the head in the study. A piece of navy blue cloth was found next to the stairs belonging to CC.

4) Here's how I believe the crime took place. CC attacked Paul outside of the house. After dinner, CC and Dr. Morris went to the study to confront Joseph about the journal. Dr. Morris grabbed the letter opener off of Joseph's desk and stabbed him with it. As Joseph fell back, he grabbed the statue from the mantle (cutting his hand while knocking other items off the mantle) and hit Dr. Morris on the head, giving him short term memory loss. CC dropped the knife she had brought from home to kill Joseph (she's a homemaker don't you know) threw the papers off the desk into the fire and tore off a piece of her navy blue clothing, using it to grab the statue before rushing to the window and throwing the statue outside. She grabbed the letter opener and her husband, pulling him out into the hallway before running for the stairs. Passing Alexa she accidentally dropped the piece of clothing she had while heading up the stairs looking for a place to hide the murder weapon. Realizing she had no time, she hid the weapon and rushed back to her husband.

Excellent guess.

Two things:
1. One very, very crucial element is wrong.
2. Motive needs more specifics.

Guess:

1) Murderer is CC

2) Joseph had discovered secrets in Dr. Morris's journal involving his wife having an affair with the doctor. Either Alexa or Billy, maybe both, are the Dr.s offspring. CC more than likely killed Joseph's wife years ago.

3) A piece of navy blue cloth was found next to the stairs belonging to CC.

4) Here's how I believe the crime took place. CC attacked Paul outside of the house. After dinner, CC and Dr. Morris went to the study to confront Joseph about the journal. Joseph attacked Dr. Morris with the statue. Dr. Morris stumbled back into the mantle, knocking items off onto the floor. The doctor got short term memory loss from the blow to the head. CC grabbed the letter opener when her husband was hit, and stabbed Joseph. She dropped the knife she had brought in her purse from home, threw the papers off the desk into the fire and tore off a piece of her navy blue clothing, using it to grab the statue before rushing to the window and throwing the statue outside. She grabbed the letter opener and her husband, pulling him out into the hallway before running for the stairs. Passing Alexa she accidentally dropped the piece of clothing she had while heading up the stairs looking for a place to hide the murder weapon. Realizing she had no time, she hid the weapon and rushed back to her husband.

[I know I said I was signing off, but...]

You are so insanely close it would be hard not to give it to you at this point! The problem is the motive, it's WAYYYYYY off, but I fear my evidence may not have been sufficient... hopefully you can plug in the missing details...

I would re-examine the journal, and re-look at the doctor's character sheet. Sometimes even the most basic elements of something are the words you shouldn't skip... Find some key words on that and the journal? Perhaps...

Anyway, now I really DO have to go, so I will see what's happened later. :)