An old lady is terrified at night by a mysterious trespasser.
"That was an unusual burglary. Someone entered the old lady's house at night and rummaged through her things, and stole her pet fish."
Solution[]
Hannah Gardner: My friend, Leo Forester, told me you are, I quote, "one hard-boiled gumshoe" I reckon that's a compliment, so I came to you for help.
Hannah Gardner: My friend, Leo Forester, told me you are, I quote, "a lady as brilliant as stubborn". I reckon that's a compliment, so I came to you for help.
Detective: Naturally. What happened, madam?
Hannah Gardner: There was an intruder in my home. A ruckus at nigh woke me up. The whole room was a mess and my pet fish went missing. Why would someone steal a fish?
Detective: Indeed, that's very bizarre. No need to worry, madam. I'll check it out.
Witnesses[]
Detective: Stolen fish and a scared old lady... This case seems highly unusual.
- 3 photos
- 4 maps
- 2 fingerprints
- 1 police badge
- 3 photos
- 2 fingerprints
If you fail:
Detective: Even if there was a break-in, I don't have any leads. And with nothing missing, the police probably won't help either.
If you win:
Detective: Despite the mess, nothing vanished from the house, apart from the fish. And no one could tell me why it was stolen - it wasn't rare, exotic or anything!
Detective: I must admit, this is getting weirder and weirder.
Crime scene search: The Looting Lunatic[]
Detective: Here it is, Ms.Gardner's house. I need to search for some clues. Maybe I'll be able to deduce how the trespasser entered the house?
If you examine the fish on the right window in the bedroom:
Detective: It seems I found the poor fish. It was lying lifeless on the windowsill.
Detective: I don't see any more clues about the intruder here. I'd better check outside.
If you fail:
Detective: It's no use. The intruder left no clues behind...
If you win:
Detective: Hmmm, what's this? The intruder left small amounts of soil and[sic] the windowsill. And it doesn't look like the kind of dirt that comes from this alley. Maybe I can analyze it and deduce where it came from.
City search: Dig It[]
Detective: This rare soil probably comes from a garden and can be found in only one neighborhood of the city. Perhaps I can pin-point the exact location?
The source of the soil is:
- not on water
- exactly 4 from a barber
- more than 2 from churches
- more than 2 from cafés
- On the map there are 2 cafés
If you fail:
Detective: I'm no geologist, that's for sure. It's just plain dirt for me. I won't be able to trace the place of origin.
If you win:
Detective: An old, expensive residential building with a garden. The soil from it looks exactly like the one from Hannah Gardner's windowsill.
Suspect identification: Soiled Soles[]
Detective: I need to check who, from all the people who live and work nearby, was near Ms. Gardner's house that night.
- Katty Rose
- John Bravucci
- Liz Montague
- Olivia Pasqual
- Lana Quay
- Fanny Bao
- Blake Richardson
- Lucy Gordon
- Malcolm King
- Perry J. Jameson
- Patience de Monde
- Jessica Kevor
- Alphonse Covet
- Martin Sugarstein
Solution: Patience de Monde
If you fail:
Detective: No luck. There are so many people coming here, that tracing a single one of then to Ms. Gardner's house is impossible.
If you win:
Detective: Patience de Monde? She's the intruder? That can't be right...
Detective: Excuse me, Ms. de Monde. Do you know Hannah Gardner?
Patience de Monde: We meet for a cup of tea from time to time. I was even passing by her window the last day, bit didn't have the time to stop by.
Detective: Oh? Why, if I might ask?
Patience de Monde: I was looking for Dolores, the rat-catcher. Luckily she came back in the middle of the night.
Detective: Oh dear. Ms. de Monde, I'm afraid your cat snuck into Ms. Gardner's house, made a mess and... sent Ms. Gardner's pet fish to the big fish bowl in the sky.
Patience de Monde: Poor Hannah! She must be upset. I need to apologize to her.
Finale[]
If you fail:
Detective: I'm sorry, Ms. Gardner, but I cannot find the intruder. Maybe you should tighten the security at your house.
Hannah Gardner: Oh dear. Maybe I'll get myself a dog? It should keep burglars at bay, and I have a garden for him to play in.
If you win:
Hannah Gardner: Hello, detective! I talked with Patience and she told me all about your investigation.
Detective: So you know the culprit was one Dolores, the rat-catcher?
Hannah Gardner: Oh yes, of course! I invited Patience over for tea. She apologized and reprimanded the cat. It was nice of her, but I doubt I'll help a lot. And I think I'm done with fishes for now.