Brain Teasers
An Unbearable Mystery
It was Detective QuickWit's first day on the job in Middleboorn MD. He had been called down to "Uncle Walt's Traveling Circus Fantastic" to investigate the deaths of two local teenagers.
Bill and Ben Brook had been found dead, locked inside of Willy Bearish's Dancing Bear Chuck's cage. Both boys were covered in bite and claw marks, leaving them nearly torn to shreds. Upon approaching the crime scene, the detective noticed two local cops accosting Mr. Bearish rather savagely.
"Now wise up, Bub, and just confess, we know ya did it!"
The old man shook his head. "No no, it wasn't me. Sure, them kids bothered the livin outta me but I'd never lock 'em in there with Chuck!"
The detective walked over calmly. "Alright, now what is all this?"
"This here old man, he's the one ya want. He locked those two kids in there so his bear could maul 'em! People heard him threaten the kids on several occasions."
"But, officer, they were threatening me too! And I never once said I'd lock em up with Chuck to get mauled! You think I'd wish that on anyone?"
"Now hold on here, let me get the whole story before I hear you flinging accusations, officer," the detective interrupted.
The officers calmed down to explain to Quickwit exactly what the situation was. It seems that Bill and Ben belonged to an animal rights group. This group had been organizing protests against the circus months before it came into town. They were all up in arms about the pony rides and the trick dogs but what really lit their fire was Chuck, the dancing grizzly bear.
Chuck had been hand-raised since he was a cub by Willy and had been trained to dance and perform tricks for the circus. Willy insisted that not only was Chuck well-cared for but that he LOVED performing. Still, the protests continued.
Bill and Ben had been not only harassing but outright threatening Willy if he didn't let the bear go. Willy tried to explain to them that Chuck wouldn't last too long in the wilderness being hand-raised and all, but they would have none of it. Several workers at the circus had witnessed these confrontations, although none could say for sure if Willy had threatened to harm the kids in any way. However, it was said that the boys seemed determined to free Chuck with any means possible.
The detective pondered over what he had heard for a moment, before continuing. "What evidence, aside from threats, have you discovered that lead you to believe that Willy here locked the kids in deliberately?" he asked.
"Well, we already figured the kids had died some time around 11-12 pm last night. Now the whole circus was out celebrating the bearded lady's thirtieth
birthday last night and old Willy here was seen leaving at 10 last night."
"I already told you officers that I wasn't feeling well at all. I had a bad reaction to the shrimp served at the party. I went home to lie down."
"And you didn't hear anything when you got here?"
"Nope, my trailer is all the way in the front of the lot. All the animals are kept here in the back, plus I took some heavy meds to help me sleep, and with my age and all, I can hardly hear anything anymore!"
"Cut making excuses, old man, and tell the detective about the key."
"What key?" asked the detective.
"The key to the bear cage. Seems our friend here just had to get a new one for the brand new lock on it and he hasn't had time to make a copy for anyone."
"Is that true?"
The old man sadly nodded. "Yep, Chuck nearly chewed the old lock off once. Had to replace it yesterday. I didn't have time to make a copy what with the party and all."
"What did you do with the old key?"
"I threw it out, detective. No reason to keep it."
"Did you see anyone else on the grounds?"
"Nope, detective; there's no way to get in the front anyway. The back, maybe, but you'd need a ladder to get over the fence but there's an electric one out front. No getting in there.
Quickwit nodded once more. "Alright officers, you escort Mr. Bearish back to his trailer and wait outside it for me. I'm going to check out the crime scene now."
The officers left with Mr. Bearish while Quickwit went to the bear's cage. Chuck had been sedated and moved by animal control already, but the bodies of Ben and Bill were left in place.
Quickwit looked around in disgust. The boys were ripped apart and blood was splattered all over, even the bear's water pool was filled with bloody water. Both boys were laying near the still locked cage door; near them lay a bent and filthy key and a pair of wire cutters.
Quickwit looked up at the roof of the twenty foot high cage. While the sides were constructed of metal bars, the top of the cage was covered in metal mesh and some of the mesh was bent around the middle. Outside the cage a large ladder lay against the back.
After this quick glance around, Quickwit strode back to the officers.
"I think you owe Mr. Bearish an apology, " he said.
"What? Why?"
"What we have here, officers, is a sad and ironic accident, but no murder. And I think speaking to some of Ben and Bills' animal activist friends will confirm what I think."
What clues did Detective Quickwit find?
And what really happened to Ben and Bill?
Bill and Ben Brook had been found dead, locked inside of Willy Bearish's Dancing Bear Chuck's cage. Both boys were covered in bite and claw marks, leaving them nearly torn to shreds. Upon approaching the crime scene, the detective noticed two local cops accosting Mr. Bearish rather savagely.
"Now wise up, Bub, and just confess, we know ya did it!"
The old man shook his head. "No no, it wasn't me. Sure, them kids bothered the livin outta me but I'd never lock 'em in there with Chuck!"
The detective walked over calmly. "Alright, now what is all this?"
"This here old man, he's the one ya want. He locked those two kids in there so his bear could maul 'em! People heard him threaten the kids on several occasions."
"But, officer, they were threatening me too! And I never once said I'd lock em up with Chuck to get mauled! You think I'd wish that on anyone?"
"Now hold on here, let me get the whole story before I hear you flinging accusations, officer," the detective interrupted.
The officers calmed down to explain to Quickwit exactly what the situation was. It seems that Bill and Ben belonged to an animal rights group. This group had been organizing protests against the circus months before it came into town. They were all up in arms about the pony rides and the trick dogs but what really lit their fire was Chuck, the dancing grizzly bear.
Chuck had been hand-raised since he was a cub by Willy and had been trained to dance and perform tricks for the circus. Willy insisted that not only was Chuck well-cared for but that he LOVED performing. Still, the protests continued.
Bill and Ben had been not only harassing but outright threatening Willy if he didn't let the bear go. Willy tried to explain to them that Chuck wouldn't last too long in the wilderness being hand-raised and all, but they would have none of it. Several workers at the circus had witnessed these confrontations, although none could say for sure if Willy had threatened to harm the kids in any way. However, it was said that the boys seemed determined to free Chuck with any means possible.
The detective pondered over what he had heard for a moment, before continuing. "What evidence, aside from threats, have you discovered that lead you to believe that Willy here locked the kids in deliberately?" he asked.
"Well, we already figured the kids had died some time around 11-12 pm last night. Now the whole circus was out celebrating the bearded lady's thirtieth
birthday last night and old Willy here was seen leaving at 10 last night."
"I already told you officers that I wasn't feeling well at all. I had a bad reaction to the shrimp served at the party. I went home to lie down."
"And you didn't hear anything when you got here?"
"Nope, my trailer is all the way in the front of the lot. All the animals are kept here in the back, plus I took some heavy meds to help me sleep, and with my age and all, I can hardly hear anything anymore!"
"Cut making excuses, old man, and tell the detective about the key."
"What key?" asked the detective.
"The key to the bear cage. Seems our friend here just had to get a new one for the brand new lock on it and he hasn't had time to make a copy for anyone."
"Is that true?"
The old man sadly nodded. "Yep, Chuck nearly chewed the old lock off once. Had to replace it yesterday. I didn't have time to make a copy what with the party and all."
"What did you do with the old key?"
"I threw it out, detective. No reason to keep it."
"Did you see anyone else on the grounds?"
"Nope, detective; there's no way to get in the front anyway. The back, maybe, but you'd need a ladder to get over the fence but there's an electric one out front. No getting in there.
Quickwit nodded once more. "Alright officers, you escort Mr. Bearish back to his trailer and wait outside it for me. I'm going to check out the crime scene now."
The officers left with Mr. Bearish while Quickwit went to the bear's cage. Chuck had been sedated and moved by animal control already, but the bodies of Ben and Bill were left in place.
Quickwit looked around in disgust. The boys were ripped apart and blood was splattered all over, even the bear's water pool was filled with bloody water. Both boys were laying near the still locked cage door; near them lay a bent and filthy key and a pair of wire cutters.
Quickwit looked up at the roof of the twenty foot high cage. While the sides were constructed of metal bars, the top of the cage was covered in metal mesh and some of the mesh was bent around the middle. Outside the cage a large ladder lay against the back.
After this quick glance around, Quickwit strode back to the officers.
"I think you owe Mr. Bearish an apology, " he said.
"What? Why?"
"What we have here, officers, is a sad and ironic accident, but no murder. And I think speaking to some of Ben and Bills' animal activist friends will confirm what I think."
What clues did Detective Quickwit find?
And what really happened to Ben and Bill?
Hint
Think about what Quickwit saw at the crime scene.Answer
Quickwit's first clue was the damaged mesh roof of the cage. His second clue was the wire cutters."Why would Mr. Bearish cut open the top of his bear's cage to throw in Ben and Bill? Didn't he have a key of his own? He could have pushed the boys in the front door, and since Chuck was used to him, most likely he would have attacked the boys first."
Quickwit's next clue was the ladder against the cage back.
"Any ideas how it got there, and why it was there in the first place officers?"
They had no answer.
"Simple," continued Quickwit. "The old man himself said you'd need a ladder to get in the back over the fence. The front wasn't safe because of the electric, and besides, the boys wanted to get into the cage so it made sense that they go in through the back.
"Say what, detective?"
"This was my last clue," said the detective holding up the bent key.
"Why, that's my old key!" cried Bearish, "But I threw it away!"
"You did, which may have been a mistake, but you could not have known the boys would do something so foolish."
"Detective, are you saying that Ben and Bill put themselves into the bear cage?"
"Yes, I am, officers. They used the ladder to safely get over the fence in the back, and then used it to climb on top of the bear's cage. They used these wire cutters to get into the cage and were going to use this key to open the front door to set Chuck free."
"But that key doesn't work for that new lock," cried Bearish.
"Yes, you and I know that, but Bill and Ben did not. They must have found the key near your trailer while visiting the circus and planned to use it to free Chuck.
"You mean they locked themselves in with the bear?!"
"I'm sorry to say, but yes they did. Chuck, being a very territorial grizzly bear, must have been woken up by the sounds of Ben and Bill trying desperately to open the lock which is why the key is bent. Chuck smelled the strangers and attacked them. No one was back here to hear them cry for help and they foolishly did not bring a rope to help them get back out of the cage, because they thought they could get out through the front door."
Quickwit and the officers excused Mr. Bearish and went to speak to Ben and Bill's animal activists friends. They admitted they knew about the boy's plan, but foolishly did nothing to stop them.
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Comments
WAAAAYYYY too long for the giveaway ending. Get to your point quicker if you're going to practcally dump the answer in our laps at the end.
I disagree. It was a well thought out story, and it deserves the priviledge of being the third teaser to go on my favorites list. Extremely good job.
I personally like long mysteries. It's much more exciting then just having to read one "giveaway" paragraph for the quick answer.
I do have a question about the boys' methods. From my perspective, the electric fence was at the front of the circus grounds, not the cage. All they would have to do to get to the cage is enter the grounds from the back using the ladder and walk to the front of the cage! I would have personally kept the ladder at the back wall so we could make a quick exit if the bear woke up during the unlocking. As it was, the boys would have found that the key didn't work and would have had to make a hasty exit before anyone showed up.
Maybe they were crazy daredevil activists, and the front-door method would've bored 'em. Oh, well!
I do have a question about the boys' methods. From my perspective, the electric fence was at the front of the circus grounds, not the cage. All they would have to do to get to the cage is enter the grounds from the back using the ladder and walk to the front of the cage! I would have personally kept the ladder at the back wall so we could make a quick exit if the bear woke up during the unlocking. As it was, the boys would have found that the key didn't work and would have had to make a hasty exit before anyone showed up.
Maybe they were crazy daredevil activists, and the front-door method would've bored 'em. Oh, well!
Excuse me! Hold the phone, Mik. Was you on drugs when you was writing this! Because that would explain why this teaser is so LONG. Next time, keep it short and sweet, yeah.
IMHO, I find reading to be an enjoyable experience. Especially when it's a great mystery like that, too!
silly goose u r an idiot get over urself...a little too long to give the answer away at the end
tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.
way to long and really confuzzing.... i had to read it to times to understand it
I have to agree with triskit. Boring.
Well-written, but obvious and way too long.
great mystery teaser, but 1 question...why on earth did the boys go through the inside of the bear cage just to unlock the door? I mean couldn't they just walk up to the outside of the cage and unlock it from the outside? Isn't that how most cages are unlocked?
It was so loooooooooooonnnnnnnggggggggggggg I forgot what I was doing before I started to read it
Ugh! I hate how these words are strechted out. I don't care what anyone else says, your mystery was cool. They say it was too long, I say their answer's are too long. If you write more, I'll read 'um!
Nice one, M. Nice story, the details set out in an orderly fashion. Well written. We need the long ones too, keep up the good work! Loved it!
ps. I actually got it! yay!
ps. I actually got it! yay!
This teaser is way too long. And yes why give it away at the end after you took so much time to write it. I rarely critize because my teasers don't get accepted but come one you could have shortened that just a tad
2 long, 2 ez.
um.....dont little kids read these?
no offence but its a little gruesome and waaaaay too long for its ending but i can say it was very well thought out and deserves some praise
no offence but its a little gruesome and waaaaay too long for its ending but i can say it was very well thought out and deserves some praise
I got it! On a roll! And all those who said that it was too long make a teaser of your own and have people comment on it!
way too easy
and also long
I like the longer mysterys when they're well written, like Irishthistle's becasue the clues are actually scattered so u can feel like its a real sotry that u can figure out...no offnese i realise maybe this is a riddle for some people and all that...but wth, it was soooo frikin easy! from the start i was thinking "oh ok so the kids let themselves in to free the bear and got mauled" and then kept reading smiling waiting for the part that was suppose to trick me or actually make the mystery...instead i was just left thinking "wth, it just gave a heap of obvious clues, and ended. how stupid! thats not a riddle!"
again i like the long ones, thats not what im saying...and i know it was a good effort. but then long ones only work, and riddles for that matter only work when they have substance and a good mystery or riddle in them.
again i like the long ones, thats not what im saying...and i know it was a good effort. but then long ones only work, and riddles for that matter only work when they have substance and a good mystery or riddle in them.
i agree with sily goose readins great and i love it truly exalint
Very fun to read and truly, it was too easy, but I'll still take a great mystery like yours any day over some of the other silly teasers I've read on this site! (Especially in the situation category!)
I totally agree with Birdman Ben. Why make the teaser so long and then just give it all away in the last few paragraphs? I was very disappointed that this teaser was not more challening. Also, it was a little on the too-gory side, wasn't it?
Better luck next time.
Better luck next time.
ehhhh i didnt get it.
too long.
too long.
I think this teaser is an appropriate length. I personally find it enjoyable to be sucked into the world of mystery teasers.
That said, I knew what the answer would be the moment I read "animal activist." Unfortunately, it seems that many who claim to help animals end up in situations where in their attempts at "rescue" end in tragedy for either the animal or themselves.
That said, I knew what the answer would be the moment I read "animal activist." Unfortunately, it seems that many who claim to help animals end up in situations where in their attempts at "rescue" end in tragedy for either the animal or themselves.
... Nice one. (?)
too long and too easy. there wasnt even a mystery to it.
I was disappointed that the answer was basically handed out at the end and do not understand why they went through the top instead of just unlocking the door in the first place. However, in general it was NOT too long and you had some cute characters. (I realize this was posted quite some time ago, but sometimes comments can be useful to someone else who wants to create their own.)
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