The Locked Room
A Mystery Puzzle Story from Twist & Solve
“The door was locked from the inside. The windows were barred. No secret passage. And yet, a man lies dead.” — Welcome to another thrilling tale where your mind is the key. Can you crack the case?
A Rainy Morning in March
It was a gloomy Tuesday morning when Inspector Ravi received a call from Cedar Heights Apartments, Block B, Room 308. A man named Arun Mehta, 46, was found dead inside his flat, which was locked from the inside.
Ravi sipped his half-finished chai, grabbed his coat, and made his way through the misty roads of Bangalore. Rain tapped on his windshield like impatient fingers.
The Scene of the Crime
Room 308 was still. The silence inside felt unnatural.
The victim, Arun, lay slumped on the carpet near the study desk. A single gunshot wound was visible at his temple. Blood pooled beside a fallen pen. A revolver rested next to his right hand. Suicide?
But wait…
- The windows were bolted and had rusted shut.
- The front door was double-locked from the inside.
- No hidden exits. No fire escape access.
- No signs of forced entry.
The neighbors hadn’t seen or heard anything unusual — just a muffled thud around 3 AM.
The Little Details
Ravi scanned the room, noting the smallest things:
- A cup of cold coffee on the table, half drunk.
- The calendar had a red circle on today’s date.
- The victim’s laptop was missing, but the charging cable remained plugged in.
- A torn photo in the trash bin, with just half a face visible.
- The bullet came from Arun’s own gun, which was registered legally.
Was this a suicide after all? Why tear a photo before taking your own life? And where was the laptop?
The Puzzle Deepens
A quick background check revealed:
- Arun was a freelance journalist known for exposing shady real estate deals.
- He had received threats, anonymously, through email.
- His last known article draft was titled “The Syndicate Behind The Skyline.”
So who would want him dead? And how could they have done it?
Ravi examined the revolver again. Only one shot had been fired. No fingerprints — not even Arun’s.
Strange. If Arun had pulled the trigger, why weren’t his prints on the gun?
Clue: The room was truly locked from the inside — or was it made to *look* that way?
Your Turn to Investigate
You’ve got the clues. You’ve heard the story. Now, dear reader, it’s your turn.
- Was it murder or suicide?
- How was the room locked from the inside?
- Who could’ve taken the laptop, and why?
Think Deeper: Sometimes, the truth isn't in how the door was locked, but in who *wanted* it locked.
🕵️♂️ Solution: What Really Happened in Room 308
Spoiler Alert: If you haven't tried solving the mystery yet, stop here and scroll back!
Let’s break it down step by step:
🔐 The Locked Room Illusion
The room appeared to be locked from the inside, but the key detail was overlooked: the **windows were bolted and rusted shut**, not locked manually. This could have been faked. The killer could’ve loosened and re-tightened the bolts after leaving via the window using an external ladder or rope — especially in an older building with poor maintenance like Cedar Heights.
🔍 The Missing Laptop
The fact that Arun’s laptop was missing, but the charger remained, suggests **a struggle or intentional removal**. The killer likely took it to destroy or steal his investigative article “The Syndicate Behind The Skyline.” That was the motive — silence the journalist before the truth was published.
🖼️ The Torn Photograph
The torn photograph in the trash might’ve shown someone Arun was about to expose — perhaps even the killer. He may have torn it during an argument or tried to destroy it when he sensed danger.
🔫 The Gun with No Fingerprints
If it were suicide, **Arun’s fingerprints would be on the gun**. The absence of any fingerprints suggests it was wiped clean. A real suicide leaves some trace, even unintentionally.
The Truth: Arun was murdered. The killer made it look like suicide by staging the scene. They escaped through the window, wiped the gun, and took the laptop — locking the door behind them from inside using a trick like a string and latch-pull (a classic locked-room misdirection).
This wasn’t just a clever crime — it was a message. Arun got too close to the truth. But now, you know what really happened in Room 308.
💬 What do you think? Do you agree with this solution or have a better one? Share your version in the comments — let's compare deductions!
Comment below with your theory! The most brilliant idea will be featured in next week’s Reader Spotlight.
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