The police in Busby finally got their man. Even though they had advance knowledge that a crime was going to be committed, they couldn’t prevent acclaimed poetess and author of Life of Poems, Charity Homes, from being murdered on Valentine’s Day at the Busby Community Hall.
Fortunately for Homes, the crime was fictional and a part of the Dunstable School’s parent council effort to raise money to build an outdoor classroom for Dunstable School.
In the fictional scenario, the Busby Poets Turntable meet at the community centre to hear original works from eleven area poets, including world renowned poet Charity Homes.
After they read their poems, Poets Turntable president, Harriet Heartly, asked all of the poets to come back on stage for a final bow, but one was missing, Charity Homes.
Eventually, Homes appeared to take her final bow, but something was amiss. Homes had a large orange-reddish stain and was screaming like she was in pain. Then, in true vaudevillian fashion, she collapsed dead, apparently the victim of foul play. However, before the murderer could leave the scene, the chief constable arrived, sealing off the building.
Tracy DeZaeger, parent council vice-president and chief constable, enlisted the aid of the more than 200 audience members to help find the killer.
DeZaeger set up a number of different stations where the attendees could interview the 10 poets/suspects.
“All the actors who were playing the various roles were provided a script with a bunch of different answers,” she said.
At the same time the audience were given random envelopes, each containing two different clues.
Throughout the night, the would be detectives were given additional information by the chief constable.
“It was really a great night. We raised about $5,000 for Duntable School’s outdoor classroom project and were able to bring a killer to justice, with the help of my junior detectives,” DeZaeger said, adding that some of the detectives were more helpful than others pinning the blame on the wrong person.
“Most people thought the killer was Seymour Lee, owner of Won Tun Tree’s Chinese restaurant.”
For the record the actual killer was Rose Prettel, the local florist.
However, for those people who didn’t pick Prettel as the killer, DeZaeger said they will get another chance to redeem themselves.
“The evening went so well, we are planning another one for next year. This time in a high school,” she said.
