A Shocking Development

**A Shocking Development** is the twenty-first case in Murderworlds: Zorro Island. It takes place in Saint's Valley, and Axelle assists in the investigation.

## A Shocking Development

### Partner(s)

Axelle Vasquez  (Chapters 1-3)
 Javier Hernandez  (Lost In The Valley 1/5)

## Plot

Arriving outside Wellgrove Asylum, Axelle informed the player that Saint's Valley was very famous for it's relationship with religion and prosperity, but being outside a mental health hospital didn't feel very prosperous. Upon arriving, they were greeted by the hospital's owner, Madeleine Vorrhmann, who took them on a guided tour. She then allowed the pair to walk around on their own, as they made their way to the underground therapy room, where they found Dr. Alan Gilbert dead after being tied to an electric chair.

Mid-investigation, Axelle and the player broke up a disagreement between past killers Zoe Leung and Jacinta Harmer as they fought over which of them murdered Dr. Gilbert. Later on, Sutton Foster taunted the team from inside his holding cell, as Madeleine apologised for his behaviours. Also, the team was forced to flag Pedro Garcia as a suspect following him leaving the Education Area early in the last case. In the end, however, everybody was floored, as Pedro turned out to be the killer.

Axelle was too stunned to speak as she and the player approached Pedro's lab, as he confessed instantly to the crime. He explained that what he hadn't told the team was that years earlier, Dr. Gilbert served as his father Alejandro's therapist, since his father dealt with bipolar disorder. Pedro then went on to say that after several sessions, it appeared that Alejandro was doing better, before Pedro came home one day to find that his father had killed himself with drugs prescribed to him by Dr. Gilbert. After hearing Dr. Gilbert had been released, Pedro rushed to the asylum to confront him, as Dr. Gilbert had actually forgotten who he was, causing Pedro to sedate him and tie him to the electric chair, turning it up to maximum voltage and electrocuting Dr. Gilbert to death. As Axelle finally regained her words, Pedro pulled out a gun and put it to his head, saying that he couldn't live having betrayed the thing he swore he'd serve: justice, as he whispered a prayer to God before pulling the trigger, killing himself and traumatising both Axelle and the player.

Two days after the case, Chief Mendes and Javier Hernandez visited the player, as they informed them that they had been invited to Pedro's funeral, organised by the mayor in honour of his life. Javier then explained that while Pedro's suicide was a difficult one to cope with, he had died an honourable man and deserved to be celebrated. Getting ready for the funeral, Javier and the player then investigated the memorial garden, where they found the headstone commemorating Alejandro Garcia's life, taking it to the cemetery to be placed next to Pedro's. Rosa said a few words at the funeral, as everybody was saddened by the loss, and Alita Mandelio and Francesco Lobo are holding hands.

After the funeral, the detectives gather in the office to hang a photo of Pedro on the wall, as Rhea mentions that they are going to need a new lab analyst, as Axelle snaps at her to be respectful, with Juan calming her down and taking her into the next room with Ignacio Rubio and Bonita Esquella. Chief Mendes then says that they have arranged for quite a famous lab analyst to take Pedro's place, as they were quite close friends with Pedro, and it was explicitly mentioned in Pedro's suicide note (which he had written prior to confessing) that he wished for them to take his place. Javier offers to take the player home following the eventful day, as the pair drive to the player's house and Javier says that he cannot believe Pedro is gone, beginning to cry over the fact his best friend is dead and pulling over eventually. Nevertheless, Javier says that they cannot give up now, wanting to stop the crime in the city in Pedro's honour. Finally arriving at the player's home, he gives them a hug and tells them not to go dying on them, before leaving, ending the case and allowing the player to go inside and reflect on what the future holds.

## Suspects

* Madeleine Vorrhmann - Asylum Owner - The suspect knows first aid, reads *Hobby* magazine and wears a lanyard.
* Pedro Garcia - Lab Analyst - The suspect knows first aid, plays the guitar, reads *Hobby* magazine, is blood type AB+ and wears a lanyard.
* Zoe Leung - Hospital Patient - The suspect plays the guitar and is blood type AB+.
* Sutton Foster - Hospital Patient - The suspect knows first aid, plays the guitar, reads *Hobby* magazine and wears a lanyard.
* Jacinta Harmer - Hospital Patient - The suspect reads *Hobby* magazine.

## Crime Scenes

 Victim's Office
 Memorial Garden