Jean took off her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. Gods, but that had been a mess. So many people, it was a surprise that the crime scene wasn't completely ruined with all their tramping and poking. Still, she and her friends had obtained a number of clues. It was time to review them, before moving on to questioning the suspects.

Wilhelmina and Frieda looked at the cues that they had amassed and shook their heads. They had chosen to look carefully at the cell phone, the handbags and the teddy bear on the bed, but these clues proved less informative then they had hoped. Frieda was especially disappointed about the teddy bear, it didn't talk as she had suspected it might. She had known some teddy bears that had talked before, and though they scared the everliving bejeezus out of her when she was a child and still caused her to have reoccurring nightmares, anything that talked might have proven useful in a crime investigation. This one was apparently stuffed with white bread or something.

After some debate, Frieda decided that she needed more clues then what they had been given by their first request. She was able to convince Webby's Watsons to share with them information about the diary by the jacuzzi, the Fellowship traded information about the laptop on the desk, Team Nightowl had information about the rug on the floor, and the Cosmic Sleuths shared information about the music box, to share with them information that they had gleaned. The Mischievous Misfits volunteered information about the window and the tree. She had to sweeten the deal with quite a few of the groups by bribing them with PEZ and bacon that she had swiped from the refreshment table.

Wilhelmina wasn't to happy with having to pay so much for giving up her precious clues, but when the data started pouring in, both weasel-girls were pleased with the results. They had managed to weasel their way into viewing all nine clues.

Finally, one of the maids comes up to tell all of you that refreshments are ready and Bacina is waiting for you downstairs. All the guests or missing family members have arrived as well, along with one Woodrow Woodchuck, who seems to be another family friend and who claims he was with Utah in the library at the time of the murder.

Yes, the suspects are gathered, but you find yourself confined to the room with the refreshments as the Chief-Inspector-In-Charge-Of-Rodent-Affairs, Roquefort G. Brie, a large rat with bushy whiskers and a sullen expression refuses to let you pass.

"No admittance yet!" he snaps. "Before I allow amateurs to start meddling and questioning suspects, I'll need to know your reputations are valid. I also need the case solved by 11:59 Subeta time on January 21st."

He hands you a sheet of paper with a neatly typed summation of another mystery:

"Here," the Inspector adds. "have a blank work sheet from my pad, and tell me Whodunnit!"

(( these. I LOVE THESE!))

:D I'm ready - i think to get down and share/be shared with the answers. I'm pretty sure I'm not right giggles but that's still fun too!

I've been working on the puzzle but I can only find 4 weapons and 4 clues listed. Am I missing something? Perhaps something was left out of the instructions?

(( OOC: I noticed the same thing - it looks like we're short 1 weapon and 1 clue in the puzzle.))

I was talking about this with one of my teammates and I ended up smailing GR earlier because I thought I was somehow missing the 5th weapon and 5th piece of evidence. Glad to know it isn't just me :) (she has not replied btw)

I think it may be possible to solve without the fifth clue and weapon. While we cannot complete the grid, we can assign a question mark value, and we only need to know the culprit, not the full grid.

The Inspector turns back to you, and chuckles. "If you need this, and you really don't, but there was a blank note stabbed into the desk. Looks like someone was mad at the old coot. And no one said he couldn't have been dead before some of them got there. It's so difficult to murder a corpse when someone else already has. Picky lot, ain't ya?"

*turning to her team , , * I don't know about you guys, but with this inspector withholding information from us on this side case, makes me have to wonder what he may hide with the real case. Do you think anyone would notice if he "disappeared"?

I was thinking that, but...UGH! flails I think I got it wrong. goes to do it again Curse you for making me draw a second grid! T.T!

The large rat turns once more and chuckles again. "Bring it on, little lady. I doubt ya'll get the drop on me, but you may have to hike yer pretty self out the door quickly when the rest of these private eyes here find out that they don't get access to my deputy's report if I ain't around." He walks off, muttering under his breath. "Those spunky ones are pretty dang cute!"

See that everyone the inspector secretly likes me. I always knew cops had a thing for danger. winks

, :

Frieda looked with disdain at Chief-Inspector-In-Charge-Of-Rodent-Affairs, Roquefort G. Brie and snorted, "Lookie here Bub, on my home-world, your kind is lunchmeat, SPAM on four legs, don't block my way." The nerve of some rodent making demands on her. Frieda wasn't usually this impatient with anybody, even potential prey, but having to be subjected to a 'test?' Really now, did the family of the deceased seriously go to all the trouble of hiring Sparrow Detective Services, transport them halfway across the Subetaverse for the purposes of subjecting them to a test?

Furthermore, it was a 'logical' test, was this the best test that this hairy Detective could do? Pfft!" Frieda turned to Wilhelmina and smirked, "The vermin gives us a logical test..." She looked back down her nose at Roquefort, "Wilhelmina here will have this so-called test hammered out in no time whatsoever, you'll see. Don't hassle her, she's logical. Then we'll see who the real amateur is!" She snatched the neatly typed list of clues from the rat's paw and gave it to Wilhelmina. Without turning to acknowledge Detective Brie, she flicked her tail at him, "Worksheet! We don't need no stinking worksheet." She sauntered toward the refreshments with a petulant swing of her rump and followed her nose toward the cookies.

Nobody had to tell her she was overcompensating for nearly blowing it on the last deadline, she knew perfectly well that she was acting like a brat. He mother certainly would give her a tongue-lashing for being so rude, 'young females' should always treat all 'free creatures' with respect. Once they had solved this logical problem, she would ask the nice rat-person for forgiveness.

After Frieda and Wilhelmina had fretted over the clues to the test for an hour, the Detective casually mentioned that there was a couple of missing clues. He seemed pleased with himself for confounding them and made a rude off-the-cuff remark aimed in their general direction. Frieda muttered under her breath for Wilhelmina's benefit, "I'm either going to have to ask his forgiveness for being rude, or I'm going to ask forgiveness for biting him."

It might be just me, but I'm so confused about the times in the puzzle you gave us. I just don't get it...

you and me both! :(

it's confusing, yes. it stumped me for a long time too...but then again, it's a puzzle for a reason. I do believe it's completely solvable (and I think I did solve it) but it requires a lot of thinking XD

Don't get frustrated! It took me over an hour to realize my mistake!

Chief Inspector Brie, casually passing the time by admiring from a safe distance, chuckling at 's bratty frustration, and enjoying a particularly fine Roquefort from the buffet table, is approached by the League of Whovians, followed quickly by Webby's Watsons.

He examines the solutions they present to him carefully.

"Ah, I see you have not been praised without cause. Very good. So decide who you want to see and where you want to go and prepare your interview questions. No more than three per suspect, remember. Have a head start. Off you go, then!"

(OOC)

Thank you! It is a puzzle for a reason. :D It's not an easy one either.

It is completely solvable, and don't get so hung up on times. 10:30 is what's important. Two teams have already solved this, so hang in!

watches the inspector carefully to make sure he doesn't realize that she has tied to another table to force him to work on the puzzle Sorry dear, tried and she only go so far, time to use those brains of yours. Your looks aren't going to help with this one. When it is done...maybe a little sliver of cake?