Blackwood Manor Constabulary. Summons.
To the bearer of this file,
You are summoned to Blackwood Manor on Saturday, October 31, where a murder is expected at about nine o'clock.
Arrive at eight. Come as a suspect. Trust no one, least of all your host.
Inspector Vivienne Hale, your host
Enclosed: particulars, five suspects, the evening, a floor plan, the evidence, and one blank statement for your reply.
The Blackwood Affair
Opened October 6. Status: unsolved.Particulars
- Arrive
- Saturday, October 31, at 8:00 pm
- Time of death
- About 9:00 pm
- Scene
- Blackwood Manor, 12 Hemlock Row, Sleepy Hollow
- Dress
- As a suspect from this file, or one of your own
- Weapon
- Unknown. Bring an alibi.
- Reply by
- October 24
The suspects
Come as one of them, or invent your own. The best alibi of the night wins a bottle from the cellar.
The widow
Lady Agatha Blackwood
Motive: Inherits everything. Already in black.
The butler
Mr. Crane
Motive: Saw nothing, he says. Twice.
The medium
Madame Orla
Motive: The deceased still owes her a reading.
The heir
Rupert Blackwood
Motive: Owes money to everyone in the room.
The doctor
Dr. Ilse Varga
Motive: Signed the certificate a little early.
You
Suspect no. 6
Motive: To be decided at the door.
The evening, as it will be reported
- 8:00 pmArrivals. Cocktails in the library.
- 9:00 pmA body is found in the study.
- 9:30 pmSupper, and the questions begin.
- 10:45 pmAccusations, sealed in envelopes.
- 11:30 pmThe culprit is unmasked. The best alibi wins.
- 12:00 amDancing on the scene of the crime.
The scene
Blackwood Manor
12 Hemlock Row, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
- Exhibit AThe decanterVintage port, poured generously.
- Exhibit BArsenic sourGin, lemon, egg white, a bitter secret.
- Exhibit CThe alibiRosemary and tonic, no alcohol, for the sober witness.
- Exhibit DSupperServed at half past nine. Tasted first by the butler.
Evidence
Taken from the lane, 11:52 pm. Nobody was upstairs.
Lifted from the decanter. Not the butler’s.
The culprit is among the guests. The best alibi is crowned at half past eleven, by the inspector, whose decision is final and probably wrong.
Witness statement
Kindly reply by October 24. Statements are read by the inspector alone.
Case 1031 stays open until midnight.