WHODUNITS

Twenty-six...

I am inspector Harry and I will tell you about the series of murder witch happened in the village of Saint Catherine.

In this town, everything was quiet and peaceful until a horrible murder broke the inhabitants' happiness.

It started on the 21^st of December 1986, I was called for a crime which occurred on Main Avenue at Mrs. Cramble’s house. She found a charred corpse in her oven in the morning at approximatively 11 a.m.

The room had a smell of charred flesh, Mrs Cramble didn’t remark it because of her cold. There weren’t any sign of a clash, no blood, nothing. All the room and the entire house were clean. Perhaps the murder had happened in another place or maybe the killer was a cleaning lady. When I discovered the scene of the crime I knew that it would be difficult to find the murderer.

I started the investigation and I rapidly found clues left by the murderer. My discoveries were the following:

• There were some fly eggs on the corpse and I concluded that the death dated back to the previous day.
• There was a finger missing on the dead body. Perhaps the murderer had taken it.
• And my best discovery was the paper left back in the mouth of the victim. We could read the two letters “B.K”.

After two or three days we knew that the victim was Mrs. Cramble's daughter, Julia Cramble. Then I decided to question the poor mother. She couldn’t say a word, she was crying all the interrogation long. She just told me the name of some of her daughter’s school friends.

I went to their high school to ask them some questions; they were on the verge of tears. I asked them if they knew if Julia had had some troubles with anybody some time ago and they told me she had had a recent ex boyfriend but they said he was such a nice boy. His name was Tom Brady. Suddenly, the superindentant gave me a ring:

• “Inspector Harry!”
• “Hi Jacky!”
• “There is a new murder on Parker Street number 8. It is very similar to the one of Julia Cramble’s !”
• “Okay I’m coming !

Then I left Julia’s friends and took my car to go to this new scene of murder !! When I arrived, the house was full of people. All of the family was here. The corpse was in the oven. There was a smell of charred flesh in the house and the same atmosphere as if the cleaning lady had just left the house. There was still a finger missing on the dead body and I found a new paper in the mouth of the corpse. The death dated back to about 3 or 4 hours ago, there was no fly on it. At this moment I thought of the little paper found in the mouth of the first victim “B.K”. The murder had occurred at the Kingdown’s house, I asked the wife if she had a daughter. She answered she had got one of 22 called Barbara. I immediately realized that the corpse found in the oven was Barbara Kingdown but I didn’t inform the family… The initials corresponded and the two women were approximately the same age. I was sure that it was a serial killer. I read the message left by the murderer, we couldn’t easily read it because it had been written in the great haste, after several minutes of deciphering I understood the message, it was written “C.P you will never arrest me until I’ve killed all the 26”.

I asked Mrs.Kingdown to tell me the name of some of Barbara’s friends. (In every investigation the friends of the victims are the best spring of information and it’s very useful in most investigations).

Barbara’s friends didn’t tell me very interesting things about Barbara except that her last boyfriend was Tom Brady. They told me that he was such a nice boy and I wanted to know if it was the true. Then, I summoned Tom Brady, the lover, at the police station.

When Tom Brady arrived in my office, he nodded politely. I offered him a chair and he sat down. He looked like a serious man, polite, smart, he corresponded to the description given by the friends of the two victims. I started my questioning:

• Hello Tom Brady! Do you know why you’re here, in my office?
• No sorry, I’m a little anxious.
• You’re here because we have found Julia Cramble and

Barbara Kingdown dead, in the oven of their houses. Do you know those two girls?

Shocked by this piece of news his look went blank. He seemed really distraught. He stammered “yes”. He was on the verge of tears. But I continued questionning him.

• What type of relation had you got with the two girls?
• They were my ex girlfriends.
• Very good and had you got any trouble with them?
• Never! Sometimes I still talked to them! I haven’t killed them!!

It’s not me! I’m not a murderer!

• I want to believe you but for the moment you’re suspected

because you were acquainted with the two victims! But do you know anybody, who could want to kill Julia and Barbara?

• I swear I am innocent! Yes there is a man, Jack Proutfit, he was

one of my friends, he loved Julia so much but she loved me. He was so jealous. He said to me that he would have a revenge but I didn’t believe him!

• Okay and have you got his phone number or his address?
• Yes I have his phone number, but I think he has moved because I haven’t seen him since he threatened me.
• Thank you for your help Tom.
• Thank you too inspector Harry!

Tom was such a charming boy. He was too perfect to be trustworthy but he was very convincing. I was sure he was the murderer but I couldn’t prove it for the moment as he had told me about Jack Proudfit, so I decided to meet him the next day.

But at first, I needed to look for the next victim, because I thought I had understood the craft of the murderer. Thus, I was sure the next victim – if there was one! - Would have the followings initials: C.P. but there were a lot of people with a name which began with those letters. I looked for it during all the night but to finish, I fell asleep…

So I decided to meet Jack Proudfit…

He lived in a dark and narrow street, the door of his house was worm-eaten and a smell of rot came out… It was a little scary...

Nevertheless, I mustered my courage and knocked at the door. After 2 minutes Richard opened. He was as I had thought: a beard of several days on his face, dirty clothes, about 21 years old…

• What? He said.
• Hi! I am inspector Harry and I want to ask you some questions about Julia Cramble…
• Why? he asked me on the defensive.
• Hum... Because she has been killed…

He didn’t look really affected.

• So, she is dead… I said, trying to get answers.
• Yes, I got it !
• … Will you let me in or do you plan to continue this discussion in the cold?
• Yes, do come in.

I started asking him the same questions I had asked Tom. He answered with brief vague and imprecise sentences…

When I got home, I thought about all I had learnt:

Richard Proudfit was extremely strange, he seemed violent, yet I thought he really could not have killed Julia because he seemed to hate Tom so much. But could he have killed her just because of his hatred? Yes, that was possible…

It was necessary to conduct an inquiry

So at first, I had to get some rest! … Unfortunately, a new crime woke me up during the night…

The victim was Colinda Prinstown. I was sure there was a link with Tom; she was certainly his ex girlfriend or related to him in some way. She was in an oven too, and one of her fingers was missing. It was exactly the same type of murder.

After investigations and interviews, there was a link again with Tom Brady: she really was his ex girlfriend too!!!!

So, deep inside I knew he was the killer, but I hadn’t got any evidence to arrest him…

And murders followed one another…

To conclude there were 25 victims and no suspect… (Yes there was Tom but no evidence…) I began to get depressed…

No doubt there would be a 26^th victim…

It was Jessica Fitch, she died as the others, needless to tell you her corpse was found in an oven.

This was it, the 26^th victim had been killed and I hadn’t arrested the killer…

But I was surprised: there was a paper in the mouth of Jessica. It was written: T.B. That’s it, all the 26 have been killed”

Now, everything was clear in my mind, I understood the entire story and I ran to Tom’s house…

…but it was too late. He was dead, he had hanged himself in the living room.

The 26 fingers were in the oven, an awful smell of decomposition was in the air. He was smiling, and a shiver ran down my spine.

I got away very fast, I felt quite bad…

I didn’t sleep well…

During the night the telephone woke me up.

-Inspector, there is another victim in an oven…

Chloé Coruzzi and Hugo Jaillet

WHODUNITS

The merry-go-round

It was in 1987, in the small town of Hessel, there was an orphanage for little girls where they received a Catholic and a strict education. We rarely saw one of them leave the dismal building where they spent all their childhood.

That year, several strange events happened in the establishment. Some girls asked question to the Sisters but nobody had any answer . Lena was among the most inquisitive girls of the orphanage. As a result she absolutely wanted to know why several of her friends had mysteriously disappeared.

Indeed, Lena was a really curious girl ans she was very intelligent. Recently, she had celebrated her 12^th birthday and had arrived in that school 8 years before. She had never known her father, moreover her mother had been suffering from cancer. She had died not long after Lena's birthday. Consequently Lena had only one member in her family: her grand father Barry. She loved him, but after they spent one year together, Barry didn't have enough money to deal with his granddaughter so he decided to send her into an orphanage. Actually they saw each other every week-end. The little girl quickly made friends, particulary Alina with whom she was used to playing with.

Alina was the first girl who disappeared. It was on a Wednesday afternoon, that day the girls could go to the merry-go-round near the florist's . She was sitting on a horse that was going round. Lena was looking at her. She was seeing her, not seeing her, seeing her, not seeing her … The merry-go-round did many turns but suddenly Alina didn't reappear. Lena didn't understand it. And back to school, indeed she didn't find her at all. In the evening she asked one sister:

-Do you know where Alina is ? I haven't seen her since this afternoon, we were together yet!

The sister answered after a hesitating moment.

-Oh Alina ? Didn't she inform you ? She was really sick, therefore she went back home with her parents !”

Lena didn't understand. How could Alina disappear in a few seconds ? She thought that she didn’t have any reason to be worried thus she just believed the adult.

The following month ,where days were all similar, went by slowly. Nothing changed. Nothing seemed strange any more except one thing : Alina hadn't come back to school. “Maybe she will be returning soon” thought Lena.

One day in February, Lena using one of these few moments of relaxation was playing with friends in the playground, when suddenly she saw one of the Sister crying . She sat next to her and asked her why she was feeling bad. In fact, the Sister explained to Lena that the establishment had many problems. A couple of minutes later, the girl said “I'm sure you'll find a solution, don't be so anxious.” The Sister burst into tears, she stuttered something like “I'm very much afraid we have already found a horrible solution” and she ran away before Lena had time to say anything.

A few weeks later, the twins disappeared just after leaving school. The headship justified these disappearances by an epidemic. In their opinion it was all right, the nurse just explained the girls all the precautions they had to take.

Lena noticed there was a heavy atmosphere in the orphanage especially between adults. She was pretty sure there were serious problems, they didn't concern only money.

She decided to talk to Sidy who was a trustworthy friend. They exchanged their points of view and their fear. Sidy admitted that not long before the twin's disappearance she had seen the headmaster give a big sum of money to the owner of the merry-go-round.

It was too much for Lena. This week-end she would confide this story to her grand-father. Barry could probably help her.

He immediately took the events seriously. A few weeks previously he had heard that the school had problems and had been suffering from a supposed epidemic. Moreover Barry was a gossip in the small town . On Wednesday afternoons, he played bowls with his long-time friends. They often talked about the news of the neighbourhood. All of them were grand-fathers and were very attentive at Lena. Together they decided to resolve the enigmatic situation. First Barry took the decision to keep her at home. He called the orphanage to inform them that his granddaughter was sick. But the epidemic was a pretext invented by the school consequently the Sisters supposed Lena had discovered something.

One night, they hid next to the main square of Hessel, in order to observe the owner of the merry-go-round. They saw the Sister who had given clues to Lena, on a bench in front of the attraction. They approached her slowly; when she saw them she cried out. The grand-fathers led by Lena, talked to the Sister. Luckily she cooperated.

They climbed on the horses, fish and other animals of the merry-go-round. There was a room above where they could enter by a trapdoor.

First, the grand-fathers couldn't react, they were so shocked and surprised by the dramatic vision of the scene. Alina, the twins and six other girls where lying on the floor. They were probably drugged because they were unrecognizable! Barry thought that they were victims of child trafficking. Fortunately they had arrived on time.

When Lena entered the room, she fainted at once.

by Anouk Durocher and Jeanne Crouan

WHODUNITS

Short story : A cigar never lies

Jane got out of the swimming pool and began to dry herself when she heard a stifled noise. She asked :

«  Daddy ? Has anything fallen down ? 

As he wasn't answering anything, she repeated louder :

- Daddy ? Daddy ! Are you allright ?

- ... »

As she was running towards the house, she felt more and more anxious. She rushed up the stairs and opened at once her father's bedroom door. Usually, after breakfast, her father would go to his bedroom to have a rest.

But this time, he wasn't in his bed. Between that bed and the window, there was a blood stain on the floor. There was a smoking cigar on the desk. She went to the balcony and found a bloody knife. She had a look at the ground, 12 meters below. Her father was lying down. She screamed and fainted.

Jack Vermee was doing his crosswords when Sergeant Bracks knocked at his door.

“Come in!

-Hello, inspector Vermee…

-Hi, Bracks. How are you?

-Fine, thank you…

-Something new?

-Maybe, yes. Lady Mac Ewan called 15 minutes ago. Apparently, her husband had an accident and... he’s dead.

-You’re talking about Richard Mac Ewan, the billionaire?

-Yes, of course!

-Damned, where's my suit?”

Half an hour later, Vermee and Sergeant Bracks were on the road to the Mac Ewan’s manor, the inspector was driving with one hand, holding a cup of coffee in the other one and a cigar between his teeth. It was a really sunny afternoon, which was very rare in Norfolk. It took them more than an hour to go to the manor which was remote, lost in the middle of nowhere. Finally, he stopped in front of a huge house totally made of rough black stone.

”Why do they live there? They are one of the richest families in England but they have to live in a dark castle without heating… said Vermee to Bracks who was standing next to him.

-It’s the family manor, sir. They have been living there for more than 300 years…

-I know that but it’s totally stupid. Like all billionaires, they are totally crazy…”

They walked to the entrance and rang. At once, a tall butler in tail coat opened the door and told them that Lady Mac Ewan was going to receive them. After a while, a tall blond 50 year old woman joined them in the library where they had had to wait. She was holding a tissue in her hand and there were traces of tears on her cheeks. Vermee took off his hat and said to the lady:

“Mrs Mac Ewan, please accept my condolences. Your husband was one of the most appreciated personality in the county and…

-Thank you, officer, that’s really nice… You want to see the bedroom, I suppose?

-Yes, you’re right.

-Follow me, please…”

They climbed up the main stairs and turned right, then left. Finally, they arrived in front of a big wooden open door. Vermee entered the room and, immediately saw the blood on the floor and on the bed. He bent to look under it and said:

-Bracks, I would need gloves.

-Here they are, sir.

-Thank you”

He took on the gloves, and picked up something under the bed.

“Well, I think we’ve got the crime’s weapon…

-That’s not an accident? asked Lady Mac Ewan.

Vermee looked at her as if she was joking.

-An accident, with this blood and this knife? Are you making fun of me? Well, just think about it: Mr. Mac Ewan was playing with a 15 centimeters long knife when he hurt himself. He was afraid of his own blood, so he moved back to the balcony and fell in spite of the rail. No, I’m afraid your husband has been murdered… and you’re the first suspect!”

Back in the library, Vermee and Lady Mac Ewan were having a small conversation:

“So, what were you doing when your husband was killed?

- I was here. I enjoy reading a bit after breakfast.

-Which book were you reading?

- The sign of four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I’m crazy about this kind of literature!

-I see… Did anyone see you and could testify?

-Well, in fact, I don’t think so. I am used to locking the door to be quiet.

-Mrs. Mac Ewan, do you know what is in your husband’s will?

-Yes, of course.

-So, you know that you’re going to receive 50% of his fortune? How much does it represent?

-About 600 million pounds, I think.

-Hmm… personally, I think that it’s enough to commit a crime.

-Are you telling me that I’m the murderer?

-No, of course no…

-I prefer that. And why don’t you think so?

-Mrs. Mac Ewan, I saw the body of your husband. He was taller than a basketball player and stronger than a wrestler. You’re thin and old. You weren’t able to kill your husband with that knife and you couldn’t push him over the balcony… You can go; I have to talk to your daughter Jane. Could you show me her room, please?

-Of course officer”

They got up, left the library and climbed up the stairs again. They turned on the left, then on the right.

-“It’s the red door, just over there, said Lady Mac Ewan.

-Thank you”

Vermee knocked quietly.

“You can come in, inspector.

-Hi, Miss. I would like to ask you a few questions.

-I’m listening to you.

-What were you doing when the murder happened?

-The murder?

-Yes, your father was murdered.

-Oh! I thought it was an accident…

-Sorry about that…

-I was in the swimming pool.

-Did anyone see you?

-Yes, Mr. Kalasha, the gardener. I talked to him just before I heard the noise.

-Thank you. I’m going to see him. One last question… what are you going to do with your money?

-I’m going to move to the USA, L.A. I think.

-Ok. Bye, miss.”

Five minutes later, Vermee was in the garden, looking for M. Kalasha.

-“ Hello ? Mr. Kalasha ?

- I'm just over there.”

Kalasha was an old Indian gardener. He held clippers and he wore gardening gloves.

- I'm the inspector in charge of the investigation about the death of Richard Mac Ewan.

- How can I help you ?

- I'd like to ask you some questions.

- Listening to you.

- Miss Mac Ewan told me that you talked to her before the murder. Yes, it's a murder.

- Yes, I remember that. It was maybe one minute before the noise.

- Can you prove it ?

- You should check with the cameras.

- OK. One last question. Where is the son of Richard Mac Ewan ?

- John is in the kitchen. He is crazy about cooking.

- Really ?

- Yes, he has been very famous since he did Masterchef in France, don't you know him ?

- No, no … See you later.

- Good bye, inspector.

Vermee walked to the castle's kitchen. There was a smell of roasted chicken with a curry sauce. He pushed the door open and went in. A tall young black haired man was cutting carrots on the table. Vermee immediately saw that he was using the same kind of knife as the one which had been used to kill Richard Mac Ewan. The man was using it incredibly quickly and precisely.

“John Mac Ewan, I presume ?

- Yes, that's me.

- It smells good, said Vermee, talking about the chicken in the oven.

- It's an Indian meal. Kalasha gave me the recipe.

- I should maybe taste it.

- Sorry ?

- Nothing. What were you doing when your father was killed ?

- I've been cooking all morning.

- Could you prove it ?

- No, I am used to cooking alone.

- Kalasha told me that you were a good cook. Is it true ?

- I've been working for more than six years ...

- And what are your specialties ?

- Meat, fish ...

- How were your relations with your father ?

- Bad. He didn't want to let me go working in a restaurant in London.

- I see … Would you like to follow me in the library, please ?

Half an hour later, Bracks, Lady Mac Ewan, Jane, John and Kalasha were sitting in the library, listening to Vermee :

“ Ladies and Gentlemen, it's maybe one of the easiest case I've ever met. Three people had reasons to kill Richard Mac Ewan. His wife because of the inheritance, his daughter for the same motive and his son because of the money and because of his projects. His wife wasn't strong enough to kill him and his daughter didn't go to her father's room. I checked with the cameras. But John, you know how to use a knife, you are strong and you had good grounds to want your father's death. More than that, you don't have any alibi.

- Are you mad ?

- No, I think that 300 million pounds is enough for a murder … You are under arrest John Mac Ewan. You are allowed to keep silent …

There was something strange in this case. Too easy, too simple. For the first time of his career, Vermee had a doubt. He was sitting in front of the fire place, thinking about it. For three hours, he tried to remember everything about the crime scene, but he couldn't find anything. Finally, he got up, took a cigar and began to smoke. He looked at it, and, at once, he understood. He took his phone and called the manor :

“ Kalasha ? Sorry to wake you up.

- What can I do for you, inspector ?

- Just say to Lady Mac Ewan that I was wrong and that I found what really happened. I will come tomorrow with John.

- OK, I'll tell her.”

The next day, everybody was in the library again. Vermee got up and said :

- First, I'd like to apologize to John.

- You are totally excused, inspector.

- Since the moment I arrested you, I have been thinking that this case wasn't as simple as it seemed to be. In fact, it's one of the most complicated I've ever seen. There were too many clues but I didn't see them, because I was sure it was a murder. First, the knife. Why didn’t the murderer pick it up ? Then, the blood. Too much for an accident, not enough for a murder. But the most important thing in this case is the cigar. A totally burnt cigar …

- What does it change ? asked Jane.

- It changes everything. Who finishes his cigar as he is being killed ?

- Maybe he smoked it before ? Said Lady Mac Ewan.

- No, because there was blood on it, and it was put in a place where we didn't find any blood. Strange, isn't it ?

- But what does it mean ? Asked Kalasha.

- In fact, despite everything we could think, this death isn't a murder, but a suicide.

- Oh my God ! whispered Lady Mac Ewan. But why did he do that ?

- I think he discovered that John wasn't his son.

- How ... How do you know that ? said John.

- Because of your hair. Lady and Richard are blond, but you've got dark hair. In fact, he tried to simulate a murder to accuse his wife and to have a revenge. Everybody knows that he had a cancer. He was going to die and he tried to punish you, Lady Mac Ewan !

François Mottais and Charles Coudour

Dance to the Earth, an explanation

Dance to the Earth

Our dance is meant to show the relationship we have as human beings with our Earth, the environment and each other. The Statue of Liberty represents our freedom to take responsibility for the present and future, working together to change the pollution, contamination, and destruction of our natural environment.
The first part of the dance shows us tossing rings, having fun but also working as a team with one another. In the second part we drift in as individuals who then come together, and go our separate ways. The duet which follows begins with a person who litters everywhere. The second person picks up her litter to be recycled. The recycler then teaches the litterer to recycle as she does. This illustrates how we have the freedom to recycle and that we should teach others to do so.
The last part shows us starting off in unison actions with one another. Enter the Statue of Liberty. We celebrate her presence by acting out elements of the environment through streamers---water clean enough to swim in, soil on which we can play baseball, air in which we fly like birds, and then the waste of trash. In the end we represent our friendship with France, who gave us the Statue of Liberty, as some others toss a ball (imprinted as a globe of the world), showing how we are all tied together as a global society.

Dance to the Earth for the Transatlantic Competition Rock the Statue Green--Francais 3

Find more videos like this on Rock The Statue Green: A Transatlantic Art Contest

L'histoire de la Petite Fadette

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Une courte histoire de la pauvre Jeanne d'Arc