Jeff Twinkle had been plotting the murder of his wife Marcy Jingle-Twinkle since the Annual Elf Season’s Greetings Gala on the first of November.
Marcy’s father, who invented and trade-marked the Jingle Bell, had died earlier that year, leaving his fortune and Jingle Manor to her, his sole heir. Marcy immediately started spending the inheritance on extravagant parties and insisted on hosting the Elf Gala at Jingle Manor. Marcy hired the finest vendors to plan the party. She spared no expense on lavish decorations. Christmas lights, fresh-cut garland, jewel covered ornaments, and towering ice-sculptures sparkled and adorned the entire estate. She hired gingerbread house contractors, hot cocoa baristas, and Santa’s personal chef to cater the event. While Marcy dazzled her guests and danced the night away, Jeff counted receipts and resented how quickly the money was being spent. He wanted control of the funds, but according to the Jingle will, the only way Marcy lost control of the fortune was in the event of her death.
Jeff waited for an evening with a steady snowfall and invited Marcy to go for a drive around the North Pole to look at Christmas lights. Jeff drove far out of town to a remote road where he pulled over and strangled his wife with her own expensive fur scarf. He put on his mittens, reached across to open her door, and pushed her body out into a snowbank. He drove home and was happy to see that the snow had already covered the tire tracks from when they left. He knew that his tracks back to the house would be covered long before anyone found her body.
***
The next afternoon, Detective Tinsel received a call from Inspector Garland with news that the body of Marcy Jingle-Twinkle had been found at the north end of Peppermint Stick Road.
“Good afternoon, Inspector,” said Tinsel as he crunched through the thick snow in his pointed elf shoes. He looked at the blue, frozen face of Marcy. Her body was still covered in snow, but the Inspector’s team had brushed the snow off her face to identify her.
Inspector Garland shook his head. “Well, Detective Tinsel, I am stumped. I don’t have a thing to go on at this crime scene. There are no fingerprints, the snow has covered any tracks that could be followed, and there are no witnesses. Her body was spotted by the road maintenance elf driving the snowplow this morning.”
“Can you think of anyone that would have any motive?” asked Tinsel.
“These wealthy socialites do tend to make enemies. Since becoming the heiress to the Jingle fortune, Marcy has certainly made a splash at all the major holiday functions and become the talk of the town. I’m sure there are a lot of jealous elves and drama that we need to investigate. I’ve also heard rumor that the workers of the Jingle jingle bell factory haven’t been thrilled with her new leadership. She is much more interested in spending the Jingle fortune than managing it.”
“Have you contacted her husband?” asked Tinsel.
“No, I was just about to. I hate that part of my job,” said Garland as he pulled a phone out of his pocket.
“I’d like to make the call if you don’t mind,” said Tinsel.
“Be my guest,” Garland said. He dialed and handed the phone to the detective.
Tinsel put the phone to his ear and waited for a “hello.” “Mr. Jeff Twinkle? This is Detective Tinsel of the North Pole Police. I’m afraid I have some terrible news. This morning we found your wife frozen and lying in a snow bank. I’m very sorry.” There was a pause as Detective Tinsel listened to Jeff’s reaction of surprise and grief. “Mr. Twinkle, could you meet us at the crime scene and identify your wife. We will need to ask you a few questions as well to try to identify who might have done this.” Another pause. “Thank you. We will be waiting for you.”
Detective Tinsel hung up the phone and handed it back to the Inspector.
“Inspector, you can arrest Jeff Twinkle when he gets here,” said Detective Tinsel.
“What?” Inspector Garland asked in shock. “What did he say to you to make you think he did it?”
“Nothing.” said Tinsel
How could Detective Tinsel be sure Jeff was responsible for the murder of his wife?
Detective Tinsel asked Jeff to come to the crime scene, but he never told him the location of the crime scene. Jeff agreed, but never asked for directions. Detective Tinsel knew that if Jeff would only already know the location of the murder if he was responsible for it.
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