THE COLD HEARTH

A canal lock-keeper's cottage, Edwardian, a sea-fret, the cold water, the cut below.

Decode each statement, then name the one liar. The cipher is the same for all five.

INCIDENT REPORT. Edwin Stannard, editor of the County Courier for thirty years, was found dead in the parlour of the lock cottage at Wexcombe, where he had come to meet a source who never showed. One fact stands settled: the sweep had cleared and blacked the parlour grate that very afternoon, his docket signed, and the ash pan sat empty with the brush marks undisturbed, photographed cold at dawn. No fire was lit in that room all night. Five were about the cut that evening. One account will not hold.

TODAY'S CIPHER

A1Z26

FIELD MANUAL ▸

CASE FILED · PRACTICE — DOESN'T AFFECT YOUR STREAK

STATEMENT No.01 ENCRYPTED

— R.M.— Reuben Mercer

STATEMENT No.02 ENCRYPTED

— B.P.— Bernard Pike

STATEMENT No.03 ENCRYPTED

— G.M.— Geoffrey Marsh

STATEMENT No.04 ENCRYPTED

— B.D.— Beatrice Dunn

STATEMENT No.05 ENCRYPTED

— A.R.— Agnes Reed

A revealed letter files the case as assisted.

A pulled lead files the case as assisted.

Who's lying?

Four stories hold. One won't. Name the liar.

One verdict. The case locks for the day.

ANALYZING

VERDICT IN

KEY EVIDENCE

×0STREAK

—DECODED

—PLAYED

—WIN %

—BEST STREAK

CASE FILE No.950 · STATUS: OPEN · CLASSIFIED — EYES ONLY

The Cold Hearth

Edwin Stannard, editor of the County Courier for thirty years, was found dead in the parlour of the lock cottage at Wexcombe, where he had come to meet a source who never showed. One fact stands settled: the sweep had cleared and blacked the parlour grate that very afternoon, his docket signed, and the ash pan sat empty with the brush marks undisturbed, photographed cold at dawn. No fire was lit in that room all night. Five were about the cut that evening. One account will not hold.

STATEMENT 01 · R.M.

18-1-3-11-5-4 20-8-5 23-1-18-5-8-15-21-19-5 2-1-18-18-5-12-19 1-14-4 20-1-12-12-9-5-4 20-8-5-13 2-25 3-15-21-14-20

STATEMENT 02 · B.P.

16-18-9-3-11-5-4 15-21-20 23-9-14-20-5-18 7-18-5-5-14-19 21-14-4-5-18 7-12-1-19-19 20-9-12-12 13-25 2-1-3-11 7-1-22-5

STATEMENT 03 · G.M.

3-12-15-3-11-5-4 13-25 18-15-21-14-4-19 1-20 5-22-5-18-25 16-15-9-14-20 1-12-15-14-7 20-8-5 23-8-1-18-6

STATEMENT 04 · B.D.

23-5 19-1-20 2-25 20-8-5 16-1-18-12-15-21-18 6-9-18-5 21-14-20-9-12 23-5-12-12 16-1-19-20 20-23-5-12-22-5

STATEMENT 05 · A.R.

12-5-7-7-5-4 20-8-5 14-1-18-18-15-23-2-15-1-20 20-8-18-15-21-7-8 20-8-5 12-15-14-7 20-21-14-14-5-12 23-9-20-8 13-25 19-15-14

CIPHER: A1Z26

You're given the cipher type. The key is yours to find.

Name the killer. — murdcrypt.com

MURDCRYPT — Dossier 01

Created by A.J. Cardew.

murdcrypt.com · Printed from the daily case. For personal use.