The Night Desk · Season 2 · Case 48 · Alibi web ·
The Cracked Note
A carol contest against Saltholm, a solo in O Holy Night, and a top note that came out like a gull.
The case file
Saturday, 9:30 pm. The Port Merrow Silver Band was beating Saltholm at the carol contest in the Assembly Rooms until the second half, when young Jem Tamblyn rose for the solo in O Holy Night and his top note came out like a gull. Afterward he found a sweet wedged in his second valve. In the interval his cornet had lain in its open case in the bandroom.
Four people were out of the hall in the interval, one each in the bandroom, the wings, the tea room and the yard. Each had something small and sweet or dry about them: sugared almonds, cough drops, dried peas or chewing gum. Three of them are telling the truth. One is lying, and the liar did it.
Who was there
- Wilfred Tamblyn, second cornet, and the soloist's uncle. Solo cornet for twenty years until his nephew took the chair in September.
- Cuthbert Moon, bandmaster of the Saltholm Town Band. A baton in his breast pocket, chewing gum from a tour of America, and a cup to win.
- Mrs. Prudence Bassett, band Ladies' Committee. Urn, cups and saucers, and a tin of cough drops for any bandsman who so much as clears his throat.
- Jabez Mewton, band secretary. A ledger, a pencil, and a bag of dried peas he counts the committee's votes with.
The places: the bandroom, the wings, the tea room and the yard.
The means: sugared almonds, cough drops, dried peas and chewing gum.
Case 48 · Saturday, December 12
The questioning room
This case's night is Saturday, December 12, from midnight your time. The questioning room plays here with JavaScript on; the case file above reads without it.
The inspector's note: Three collisions make a certainty
One collision between two claims gives you two names. A second gives you two more, and if one name is shared, you have the liar. A third collision that points to the same person is not wasted work: it is your proof that you read the board right, and it costs nothing to check before you accuse.
How to solve a Night Desk case, with a worked example.
The solution
The night desk's write-up appears here once you solve the case, or from Sunday, December 13, the night after it opens.