Detective Tinsel drove his car along the winding lane through Santa's reindeer farm. The large complex consisted of six large stables, several barns for storing feed and supplies, and twelve cottages to house the hired farmhands. As he approached the stables, he saw the flashing red and green lights of the North Pole Elf Police car reflecting off the third stable ahead. He parked behind the squad car and got out to meet Inspector Garland. His pointed felt shoes crunched through the snow as he walked to the stable entrance.
“Good evening, Detective,” said Inspector Garland. “Thanks for coming. I have an officer inside with the body and the farmhand that found him. My other officer is at one of the cottages getting the other elf that works at this stable.”
The two walked through the barn doors and into the stable. Stalls the barn on either side. Reindeer occupying the stalls stamped and grunted as Tinsel and Garland walked past. Detective Tinsel wrinkled his nose at the barn smell, but overall everything seemed clean and tidy. Harnesses, blankets, ropes, and other tack hung beside the stall doors. Antlers decorated the other wall space. At the back of the barn, an officer stood with a stunned looking elf.
Inspector Garland introduced the elf. “This is Finn. He found the body in that empty stall.” He pointed to the left. Detective Tinsel stood on his tip toes to look over the half stall door. Inside, an elf lay face down in some bloody hay.
An officer opened the stall door and walked inside. He picked up a large antler with blood on several of the pointed tines.
“This is the murder weapon.” He handed it to Detective Tinsel. “He was hit over the head from behind with this. When he fell forward his forehead crashed into the water bucket which caused a second wound and all that blood.”
Detective Tinsel turned to Finn. “Is this how you found him?”
“Yeah.” He shook his head and swallowed hard before continuing, “Bell was the coolest elf to work with. I just started working here last month, and he really helped me learn the ropes. Bell and Sven have been in charge of this stable for years. I was lucky to get to work with them. They keep a clean barn and work magic with the reindeer. In fact, Bell just got promoted to Stable A. Everyone knew Santa would choose either Bell or Sven.”
Detective Tinsel raised an eyebrow to question Finn. “Stable A?”
“Stable A is where Santa's sleigh team is kept. You know…Dasher and Dancer and --”
“Yeah, I know,” interrupted Tinsel.
Just then, the barn doors opened, and an officer walked in with the other farmhand.
Finn looked up. His cheeks still had a faint sparkle, but he was very pale. “There's Sven.”
The officer and Sven stopped when they reached Inspector Garland.
“What's going on? This officer won't tell me anything,” said Sven.
“I'll be with you in just a moment,” said Detective Tinsel. He turned to the officer standing beside Finn. “Can you take Finn to the squad car? We will need him to make a statement.”
The officer nodded and led Finn through the barn and outside.
“Is someone going to tell me what's going on?” said Sven.
“Your partner Bell was murdered tonight with this,” said Detective Tinsel and he held up the antler with the bloody points.
“Bell was murdered? I had no idea. But if you’re looking for the elf that would clobber Bell with that antler, you just had him escorted out. I haven't trusted Finn since the day he started. He's always acting suspicious.”
“Well, he isn't as suspicious as you, Sven,” said Tinsel. “Inspector, you can arrest this elf for the murder of his partner Bell.”
How did Detective Tinsel know that Sven was the murderer?
Answer: Detective Tinsel already knew Sven had the motive to kill Bell so he could get a chance at the promotion to work in Stable A, but he couldn’t be sure until Sven accused Finn. Tinsel never mentioned the cause of death, he only showed the weapon. Most elves would see a sharp, bloody object and assume the victim had been stabbed, but Sven knew that the victim was hit over the head.
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