By Sarah Khan
Detective Barry Chuckleson was known for solving the weirdest cases in the small town of
Jesterville. His reputation spread like wildfire after he cracked the baffling "Case of the Lost
nose," where a clown’s nose was stolen by a mischievous mime with a penchant for pranks.
He cracked this case by employing Old Stinker, a man of heart renowned for possessing the
extraordinarily smelliest fart in town which could travel long meters. He brought him to the
place of suspicion that was circus where Mr Old Stinker was provided a delicious plate of
beans and lentils with a bottle of soda. Then he produced the magic in the air. The mime,
when sniffed, he quickly sneezed and the stolen nose came off. Although, the clown had felt a
moment of blessing for few seconds for not having the nose to avoid sniffing Mr Stinker’s
magical air. He still felt happy that the thief was caught.
But this time he encountered the most tricky case ever. A man came to him and said that
somebody had been murdered in his street. On asked about who was murdered, he couldn’t
answer. Detective Barry had to find out the murderer without knowing who was murdered or
rather find out who was murdered, first. What the man said next left him to more
bewilderment. He said, “If you find who was murdered, you won’t be able to find the
murderer. And if you find the murderer, then you won’t be able to find who was murdered.”
This was perhaps the hardest case in his history to solve.
Detective Barry scratched his head contemplating the conundrum. He questioned the
residents of the street regarding the murder.
“Yes, there has been a murder,” one of the residents had agreed. “But I’m not sure who it is.”
Disappointed again, Barry approached the other person. “I don’t know who is murdered,” she
replied. The moment Barry was about to leave, she stopped him. “Wait, but I know something
was told to me about this case.” Barry asked her to tell with a light of hope in his eyes.
“I was informed by someone that you can bring back the murder victim.”
“What?” Barry said, shockingly. “How can someone murdered be brought alive?”
The lady left.
Barry felt like this case was making him lose his senses. It was driving him crazy and he had
no way to get closer to the murder mystery.
He decided to throw a party inviting some of the most prominent residents of the town to
figure out who might have been the murderer or atleast clues regarding the case.
String lights adorned the porch, casting a warm glow across the front yard. The air buzzed
with anticipation as the eclectic mix of guests gathered, each wearing a mask of curiosity,
wondering what the evening held in store. As the crowd was dancing and gossiping, the
detective, ever the astute observer, gauged reactions and noted subtle nuances that hinted at
concealed truths.
While sipping a glass of lemonade, Detective Barry subtly steered conversations toward the
elusive murder.
“Oh, has it still not been solved?” the lady asked.
Detective Barry nodded in despair, observing any hints on her face.
He then slid from the scene and stealthily texted his companion to lock the hall door from
outside so that none can leave until his order. The companion did as he was told.
As a posse of boys held the knob of the door, they realised that it was locked. They turned
back and saw Detective Barry smiling at them, wittingly.
“Not you Mr Barry, making us an object of your new case,” one of the boys said. The shouts
in the hall turned to a huge silence.
On asked to the boys what the actual matter was, the boys told that the door was locked.
“What have we done, now?” a lady said.
“I want to know the murderer before you leave this party,” Detective Barry said, sternly. “It is
probably among you.”
As Detective Barry stared at one face at a time, each of them said, “I’m not the murderer,”
one after the other.
Mr Barry was perplexed as not even a single person could show any hints through his or her
body language. He was an aggressive man and, in a moment, he got into extreme anger.
As a result of his anger, he threw a bottle of lemonade and shouted “If you don’t open your
mouth regarding this case, I know other ways of spitting those words out.”
Then Detective Barry pulled a man by his collar. He then said that he’s counting till 5, he
wants the murderer to accept his or her crime at that moment otherwise he’d try dangerous
ways.
Everyone stared at each other in fear.
The moment Mr Barry’s countdown was over, the majority of the crowd said in unison “I’m
the murderer.”
Detective Barry had gone nuts now. Everyone who denied being the murderer had accepted
to be the murderer now. On asked who they murdered, none of them could answer. As a
result, Mr Barry realised that the public wanted him to close the case which made them take
charge of the crime falsely. He contemplated carefully.
“What if”, he wondered, “The victim isn’t a person but an intangible concept?”
At the moment, a boy asked, “What’s on your mind, Mr Barry?”
Detective Barry mischievously smiled and said, “The only thing in my mind right now is that
who stole the last slice of my cheesecake. I wouldn’t spare him!”
The silent crowd suddenly broke into laughter.
“You cracked the case, Mr Barry!” a man shouted from behind.
Detective Barry looked with surprise.
“You brought back the laughter lost in the street of Mirthlane,” the boy shouted, cheerfully.
The revelation hit Barry like a punchline to a long-awaited joke. He realized he wasn't
dealing with a traditional murder but a symbolic one – the death of “laughter” in Mirthlane.
“Now I understand why detectives never get bored at parties,” a jolly woman said.
Mr Barry and the woman together said in unison, “Because they always know how to crack a
case!” They all laughed.
The town celebrated with a laughter-filled festival, honouring Barry for solving the most
unconventional case in Jesterville's history. Detective Barry, true to his name, had once again
brought light to the darkest corners of the quirky town, leaving behind a legacy of joy and
laughter.
The next evening, Detective Barry heard a knock at the door.
“Sir! A red velvet cake has gone missing since the morning.”
And Detective Barry had another case to solve.
By Sarah Khan
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