100 Ways to Solve a Murder-Chapter 173: The Wilson’s Double Murder Case IV

20 years ago, Murdoch Household

13-year-old Sam sat on the bed with her laptop, her eyes glued on the image of her on the screen. She had watched that video, only god knows how many times since she discovered it, and again and again she watched herself lie to the camera.

She had done some more digging and had come up with a few conclusions.

One, it all started sometime before her Selective Mutism. That was 9years ago; she was 4.

Oddly, what occurred during those times was her parent’s untimely demise. The cabin burned to the ground, along with her parents.

One other thing that she found odd was that she was living with them with her brother in the UK before their deaths. Soon after, she was shipped off to America, and her brother was sent to boarding school.

If only she could talk to him, she thought. Maybe she’ll learn a thing or two.

"Sam, dinner is ready!"

Sam heard her Nana shout from downstairs. "I’ll be right down," she answered as she closed her laptop. She looked down at her feet, noticing Ludwig wagging his tail as he followed after her walk out the door.

The redhead crossed the hall and climbed down the stairs. Monica turned as she entered the kitchen table; she had been wondering what was keeping the teenager busy this past week since she came home from her Break. She hoped it wasn’t boys, "Busy?" Monica asked as she poured water on each of their glasses.

"Just some research," Sam answered, taking a seat next to her grandfather at the dining table. Her doing research on different things that caught her eye was nothing uncommon. She had done far more unusual things before.

The group ate silently till Sam spoked during dessert. "Did Ivan call?" she asked, wondering. They had briefly spoken weeks before about him popping by for a visit. A visit she was looking forward to, for more reason than one.

Carl, her grandfather, shot Monica a look. "Not since last time, dear. Anything in your mind?" he asked, watching his granddaughter finish her pie. Sam shrugged, "No." she answered. After helping with the dishes, Sam went back to her room, shutting the door behind her.

The young redhead quietly reviewed the different news reports she had gathered about her parent’s death;

’Officials found two bodies in a cabin fire, yet to be identified.’

By: Michael Rogers

Published On: March 16

Spindlewood, Somerset -

Fire officials have yet to identify the two bodies found.

According to dispatchers, after a fire damaged the cabin in Spindlewood, the two bodies were found early Tuesday in the burned structure.

Spindlewood County Deputy Fire Marshal Ansford on Thursday.

Ansford said the two died of smoke inhalation.

County Emergency Operations Center dispatchers said the fire at the cabin on Spindlewood was reported just after midnight Tuesday. The couple’s bodies were found shortly after firefighters responded.

Neighbors from Spindlewood called 999 and reported looking out the window and saw a glow.

Deputy Fire Marshal Ansford said it took 30-45 minutes to bring the fire under control.

He said the cabin was a big, four-room cabin used as a Summer home.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Ansford said.

The fire is being investigated by the Somerset Police, the Spindlewood County Arson Task Force, and the fire marshal.’

’Cabin Fire Mystery: Wife and husband Identified.’

By Jillian Thompson

Published On: March 17

Authorities identified the fire victims as Christian Murdoch, 37, and Lilian Murdoch, 34, of London.

’Tragedy: Fredricksen HEIRESS DEAD?’

By Michael Rogers

Published On: March 18

Fredricksen Family confirms speculation, victim Lilian Murdoch as the daughter of Denise Fredricksen, heiress to Fredricksen richness.

The Family states the happily married couple left for Spindlewood a week before to celebrate their Wedding Anniversary. Unfortunately, the couple was later found dead in Cabin Fire earlier this week.

’Denise Fredricksen: Pleads authorities to check for foul play.’

Published On: March 19

’Fredricksen Heiress Death: Police checking for any Foul play.’

Published On: March 20

’Dead couple for DNA testing for Proper Identification.’

Published On: March 21

And lastly,

’DNA RESULT: Positive.’

By Michael Rogers

Published On: March 23

’It was March 16 when Heiress Lilian Fredricksen was found dead with husband Christian Murdoch in Cabin Fire, on Spindlewood. The family states they were happily married and left a week before to Spindlewood to celebrate their wedding anniversary. However, they were later found Tuesday, March 16, dead in their Summer Home due to a fire.

Authorities confirm no Foul play; the couple died of smoke inhalation.

Fredricksen Family request for DNA testing resulted in positive confirming victims as

Leila Fredricksen-Murdoch, 34 and Husband Murdoch, 37. They had two children, Ivan Gregor Fredricksen, 13, and Samantha Camille Fredricksen, 3.

The Family asks for everyone’s prayers in such difficult times, as they grieve privately. Lilian and Christian will both be buried in the Fredricksen Graveyard, where they will rest in peace.

Sam felt her arms tremble, and she couldn’t understand why as she looked upon her parent’s photos on the newspaper covers shown on the screen. She had the same shade of copper hair as she did. And she was an undeniable beautiful woman; her features were youthful, making her look younger than she was, something people say to even herself. Sam looked at her mother’s eyes; she noted that she seemed kind and understanding, motherly, loving. Someone she reckoned was easy to trust. However, she didn’t know her or her father. She had no memories of them.

Her eyes bounced to her dad’s green eyes, she had his eyes, but he looked more like her brother with his blonde hair, she noted.

And she kept scrolling bars after bars, reading articles, papers, anything she could get her hands on. But everything spoke the same thing: they were a happily married couple who died too early in a cabin fire during their Anniversary. It was a Tragedy.

So, Sam furrowed her brows; why were her hands shaking as she scrolled her Mouse down? Why was her body reacting so badly to the sight of her parents smiling?

’Where they will rest in peace.’

And why deep inside her, she didn’t agree with this statement.

Will they Rest In Peace, as everyone claimed?

Sam pondered on; there was something that wasn’t adding up. Something was bothering her, and it wasn’t just her heartbeat elevating as she looked at the photos on the screen. Photos of the cabin burning while the fire department attempted to put it out. Why did it feel like there was more to the story? She wondered to herself. Why did she lie? Worse was, how come she can’t remember? Was it possible the sudden death of her parents was the trigger? The reason why her memory became photographic? But that was highly unlikely; she debated herself.

She had easily found answers; however, it all led to more questions in her mind. She had to know. She couldn’t bear the fact of not knowing.

Finally, Sam closed her laptop, and she crawled under the covers of her bed, Ludwig hopping on the bed and crawling beside her.

"Good boy," she said, petting the dog’s head as he snuggled close to her, sensing her confused and upset state.

She decided seconds before dozing off, she had a plan.

......

Next morning

Sam’s finger danced over the keys of the piano, playing Slavische tanze no. 2 opus 72 by Antonín Dvorak. The heartbreaking tune filled the air, sadness resonating in the whole house. Both grandparents could hear it too, Carl in his Study and Monica in her Greenhouse both paused to listen at the beautiful but forlorn-filled melody.

Carl removed his reading glasses, placed them on top of the book he was reading, and walked towards the Parlor where Sam continued to play a sad tune, this time; she was playing Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata.

"Something in your mind, dear?" He asked, slightly concerned. She had been very quiet lately, too quiet, and she had been spending too much time in her room also ---which was suspicious; cause most of the time she’ll be running off to attend some Seminar.

Sam turned to her grandfather, standing a few feet behind her, "Just wondering when Ivan will pop by." Sam said.

"Anything else?" Carl pressed. Sam frowned at the expression on her grandad’s face; he was worried, she could tell, causing her to sigh, "Can you call Kevin for an appointment? I’ve been having difficulty sleeping." she said, earning a nod from the old man, accepting that it may just be it. She always had difficulty sleeping; it must have been one of those times.

Her fear of the dark, her fear of sleeping alone.

Carl Murdoch called Dr. Martin that same afternoon and agreed to an appointment the next day at 2 PM.

It was quarter to two in the afternoon the next day when the two arrived at the child psychologist’s clinic; the two gentlemen exchanged pleasantries before Carl left them to talk.

Kevin sat behind his desk, leaning forward, his elbows on the table holding a pen as he looked at Sam sitting on the opposite chair. "So, difficulty sleeping, your Grandad tells me?" he asked.

Sam shook her head, "No, I’m actually here about something else. I just said that so he’d drive me here." she admitted, earning a curious look from her longtime doctor. "What is it then?" He asked, still taking notes.

"Well, I’ve been rather curious about my case... I’ve been doing my research on human psychology. And had come across triggers of ’selective Mutism’" she started, causing Kevin to stop writing on his notes and to look at her.

"I want to know, after years of studying me. What do you think caused it?" she asked; Kevin, considered for a moment. "May I know what had caused this particular sudden interest?" He asked, wanting to know the reason behind it.

"I want to know why I, the child that I was, would suddenly stop talking. I want to know why I am afraid of the World, Dr. Martin." Sam confessed, looking at the eyes of one of her oldest friends.