Whodunnit ND

In case any of you were wondering what all the answers to the final riddle were, here you go.

1. 11 (Don’t forget Hotchkiss!)

2. 4

3. 100

4. 74

5. x 10

6. 4

7. 3

8. 8

9. 24

10. x 9

11. 435

12. 8

13. x 3

Grand total: 53,412

The riddle was now over. Hotchkiss called the three men to come have a seat in the main tent. They followed silently behind her, not daring to speak or look at one another. Hotchkiss stood at the entrance and let them walk inside first. There were three chairs in the middle of the room, so they each took a seat and waited for Hotchkiss. Only she never came in. Wade stood to go look for her. He peeked outside and immediately tensed up.

“Look. I know you both know I’m the killer. But there’s something you don’t know. I’m being forced to do all of this, against my will. There isn’t enough time to explain anything. Both of you have to leave right now,” Wade said urgently. Kit and Henry stared at him, frozen by confusion.

“Get up and run! Now, or you’ll die. Get on a camel and head east, you should find a small town five miles from here. GO NOW,” he said and the others finally stood and ran from the tent. Wade watched them reach the camels and escape. He walked back inside the main tent and sat down, dreading what was coming next. He didn’t have long to wait.

A hand pulled back the flap of the tent, and Wade checked his pocket for his small hand gun he was afraid he would need.

“Well well well, is the job finished?” Dwayne Powers asked as he entered the tent.

“Yes. I’ve..killed them both. They’re buried with the others,” Wade lied.

“Excellent. That means all of our plans have worked.”

“What about Hotchkiss?” Wade asked, concerned for the elderly scholar.

“She’s been taken care of,” Dwayne said with a careless wave of his hand. He noticed Wade flinching, and added, “Oh don’t worry, she’s still alive. The old bag thought this was some tv show or something,” Dwayne said and laughed. Wade faked a laugh then stood up.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Dwayne asked in a dangerously low voice.

“Look, I did everything you said. Every awful, hideous thing. I’ve paid you my debt now let me go.”

“Paid your debt? You think that you can just walk away from this? We’re not done here, until Nancy Drew has been accused of these crimes. Then your debt to me will be paid in full.”

“I thought you were gonna plant all the evidence after we all left.”

“You’re going to help. Just like I helped you plant evidence for the game. Well, me a few others. They’ve been paid and should be gone any minute now. It’s just you and me left. Together again, just like we were in prison.”

Wade repressed a shudder at the memory. He had gone to jail and got out. He met Nancy Drew shortly after that. And that changed his life forever. He wanted to settle down with his sweetheart, Savannah. But he didn’t have any money. He had no head for business and no interest in the family company. So, stupidly, he stole money from the family business and thought he could get away with it. Well, he hadn’t. He was sent to prison and there met Dwayne Powers, who had been transferred to a prison in the south. He and Dwayne had formed a friendship of sorts, and Wade had confided to him about his past. Dwayne went berserk when he found out Wade knew Nancy Drew too.

One day Wade woke up and Dwayne was gone. He had found some way to escape. Wade thought he would try to find Nancy Drew, since he wanted so much revenge. What Wade hadn’t expected, was Dwayne to find a way to get Wade of prison. He paid for the best lawyer in the country to file an appeal and got Wade out on a technicality. Then Dwayne paid Clara back for the money Wade had stolen, and even set Wade up with a nice home and the promise for a monthly income. All Wade had to do in return was help Dwayne get his revenge on Nancy.

Of course, Wade had nothing against Nancy. But the choice between a life with Savannah or a life in prison, was no choice at all. He hadn’t known then what the cost would be.

“Wade, I said, let’s go.” Dwayne said, clearly not for the first time. Wade looked at him and nodded. He followed Dwayne outside.

“Okay, there’s too much evidence against you as of right now. Even though you always wore gloves, there’s too much chance that you missed something. So, here’s what we’re going to do…” Dwayne said as he pulled out a scrolled piece of paper from his back pocket. He unfurled it quickly and smiled in delight. His plan was basically to explode the entire site and surrounding areas. The bodies were all buried in a mass grave back behind the tomb site. There they would plant the evidence against Nancy.

The next fifteen minutes were spent with Wade and Dwayne covering everything in sight with gun powder. Even all of the tunnels and tents were covered. Dwayne led Wade to the grave site. There he put the large metal box from Izzy’s death. Inside were all kinds of weapons and tools, used by Wade as he was forced to kill people. Each one had Nancy’s prints on it, faked of course by Dwayne. There were faked papers that incriminated Nancy as well. Dwayne buried the box with the bodies. As he did so, he realized two people were missing.

“Where are Kit and Henry?” Dwayne asked. He turned around and saw Wade pointing a gun at his chest.

“Wade?” Dwayne asked, gritting his teeth in anger.

“I let them go. They were innocent, just like everyone else. And besides,” he added as an afterthought, “they tied on the riddle.”

“Nooooooooo,” Dwayne yelled, in a fair imitation of Luke after finding out Vader is his father.

“Now, I’m leaving here on that helicopter,” Wade said, pointing the distance to a chopper. “You’re not invited.”

“Wade, don’t you dare do this to me. After all I’ve done for you! After all I’ve sacrificed!” he screamed.

“I have to,” he said. Out of nowhere came Hotchkiss came on a camel.

“Hop on Wade. The chopper is ready to go!” Wade got on the back of the camel, gun still pointed at Dwayne the whole time.

“You won’t get away with this! There’s still all the evidence against you! And the witnesses!” Dwayne hissed.

“I’ve got that taken care of,” Wade said, and pulled out a match. He lit it and tossed it on the trail of gunpowder that led to the site.

“I”ll find you!!” Dwayne screamed after the retreating figures of Wade and Hotchkiss. They reached the helicopter and took off, just as the explosion started. It was so big that it shook the helicopter. Wade could feel the heat of the giant fireball that encased the entire site. The flew out of sight soon, but Wade thought for just a moment, that he had seen a small figure creeping away from the explosion.

Kit and Henry arrived at the small town. They didn’t know what to do, or where to go. Their lives had been spared, but what if they were being followed?

“We have to stick together,” Kit said. Henry nodded in agreement. They found a small hotel and used the phone. Henry called Ned Nickerson. He was a good guy and would probably try to help. Ten minutes later, they had flights booked to go home, thanks to the help of Ned.

“We’re going home,” Henry whispered. He felt like he had just woke up from a nightmare, and it was suddenly a brand new day. Kit hugged Henry, both men trying not to cry. The next day they arrived in their respective homes, and both found identical notes and presents waiting for them.

“Sorry for all the trauma I’ve put you through. I was forced to do everything by a crazy man I owed a debt to. I know you can’t really forgive me, and I understand. Take this as a token of my good will towards you. Saving you was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. -Wade”

In the present they both found $10,000. Somehow their nightmare had turned into some kind of dream.

Wade and Savannah were on a beach in a small island in the middle of nowhere. Wade still hadn’t told her about what happened, but he knew one day he would have to. How Savannah would react, he didn’t know. He would cross that bridge when they got there.

Hotchkiss was at home, sipping hot cocoa and watching the news. She stared in amazement at the screen. “Nine bodies have been found buried in a mass grave, at a tomb site in Egypt. Police are still investigating, but an explosion destroyed most everything that could have been evidence. More details will come as we find them,” the news reporter said.

“What a coincidence. I was just there doing a theater piece. Weird,” Hotchkiss said, and took another sip of cocoa.

Henry, Wade, and Kit looked expectantly at Hotchkiss. They were all in a large, newly built tent. Hotchkiss was standing near the back, her hands clasped together in front of her.

“It’s time for the final riddle. Each of you will enter one of these partitioned rooms,” Hotchkiss said, gesturing to the three sections of the tent. “Inside you’ll find the written riddle. When you have solved it, submit your answer via the SUBMIT button, NOT IM/ASK. The first person to submit the correct answer will be the winner! Take your positions,” Hotchkiss said. Each person stepped inside a different part of the tent and approached the podium with the riddle on it.

“On your mark, get set, begin!”

The Final Problem

Solve each answer and add them up (as you go) to get your final answer. Remember you may only submit ONCE.

1. At the beginning of our journey, how many people were standing in the Main tent? (2 digits)

2. In murder one, how many people went to the crime scene? (one digit)

3. Anja wore gloves, a hat and a long sleeve shirt in well over what degree temperature? (three digits)

4. Add together all the clues for riddle 2 (two digits)

5. Multiply your current answer (the sum of the first four answers) by the size of the circle drawn in the dirt (two digits)

6. After murder three, how many people accused Rentaro? (one digit)

7. How many refrigerators are in the kitchen building? (one digit)

8. How many E’s were in the answer to riddle 4? (one digit)

9. Add to your current total the time of dinner in murder five times the number of people who went to the LKW and Morgue (one digit x one digit)

10. Multiply your current total by the number of hints given out in riddle five (one digit)

11. Add the exact time murder six began (three digits)

12. The number of victims mentioned in riddle six (one digit)

13. If Kit is the killer, multiply your answer by 2. If Wade is the killer, multiply your answer by 3. If Henry is the killer, multiply your answer by 4. If Hotchkiss or someone else is the killer, multiply your answer by 5.

Part 1

Everyone was in various stages of shock the next day, after the big reveal the night before. Suspicions and tension had never been higher. Hotchkiss of course was enjoying her waffle, though no one else seemed very interested in eating. “Today is the beginning of the end of our stay here in Egypt. What a grand time we have had. And still, it’s not over yet! We have a very special game to play today, courtesy of the killer,” Hotchkiss informed them. “You’ll each be given a map with different location on it. Upon reaching your location, you’ll find a new map and a piece of a puzzle. When you get to the final location, you’ll see your puzzle board and then you’ll solve your puzzle. Come find me after solving your puzzle for a special surprise!” Maps were handed out and then Hotchkiss said, “Oh your marks, get set...GO!” The race was on. Everyone quickly opened their maps and began trying to figure out where they were supposed to go. Each person’s map had a different color X to mark the spot, signifying the color of puzzle pieces they were looking for. The map said at the top, “Only find your own colored pieces.” Kit headed off towards his first location. The map had very few details, so he wasn’t sure where to go exactly. He got to the water tank and saw a small blue bag and map. He grabbed it and found a puzzle piece inside. “That’s one down,” he thought and began reading his next map. Simone’s first location seemed to be the camel station. She arrived but couldn’t find any puzzle pieces. She kept looking around, and even started digging in the sand. Frustrated, she pulled out her map again and saw that she had read it wrong. She turned and headed off in the right direction. Wade looked over his map for a few minutes before running off to the tomb site. He turned down tunnel three and saw a green bag and map hanging from the ceiling. The only problem was he couldn’t reach it. He looked around for something to stand on and finally found some rocks that he could stack. He grabbed the objects and began reading his next map. Henry was lucky and could tell right away where his first location was. He headed to the kitchen building and began looking around. Inside the oven he found his orange bag and map. His next location seemed to be in the main tent. Feeling like this was too easy, Henry headed to the tent, worried about a trap as he entered. This continued on and on for over half an hour. The first person to finish came back to find Hotchkiss standing beside a plate of chocolate chip cookies. “As the winner, you get these cookies!” Hotchkiss said. “That’s the prize?” Henry asked. “Yes, my very own secret recipe. Don’t tell the others, but I add just a pinch of cinnamon...Mmmm!” Henry looked unimpressed. He was thoroughly disappointed that the surprise was cookies. However, he became slightly less disappointed after trying one. He ate another as he waited for someone else to show up. Finally Wade did. “Where are the others?” Henry asked. “I didn’t see anyone,” Wade said, helping himself to one of Henry’s cookies. “We’ll wait a few more minutes, then go look for them,” Hotchkiss said. Five minutes later they began their search. They heard something from deeper inside the tomb site, and went to investigate. There they saw Kit, lying on the ground. He was clearly in pain, judging by the sound he was making. Henry ran to his side and leaned over him. “Kit, are you okay?” “I…” he started, but then stopped. Henry looked very worried, but he couldn’t see any injuries. “I..fell,” Kit finally said, and started holding his knee. “You fell?” Henry asked. He glanced around and saw a rock nearby. “Well are you okay or not?” “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Help me up,” Kit said, trying to stand. Henry helped him hobble over to a nearby chair to sit down. “So you fell and that’s it?” Hotchkiss asked, clearly unimpressed. “Yes, I tripped on the rock and fell and hurt my knee. It hurts really bad,” Kit said defensively. “Okay, what about Simone?” Wade asked, looking worried. “The last time I saw her she was over by the camel station,” Kit said. The four of them began heading in the direction. Before they got there, to the left of the station they could see Simone’s purse, lying in the sand. There was a strange hissing sound coming from very nearby. As they took a few more steps, a deep pit came into sight, filled with poisonous snakes. “AHHH!” Hotchkiss screamed as she saw Simone’s dead body in the snake pit. Snakes slithered all around the pit, hissing dangerously. “Oh no!” Kit said, as Henry and Wade looked on with fear and worry. Nobody wanted to look any closer, as it was very clear Simone was a goner. They turned around and started slowly walking away, not knowing what to do. “Well,” Hotchkiss said, smoothing her hair down in an attempt to cover up her reaction, “now that’s over with. I guess the three of you will be competing in the final riddle.” She looked at Henry, Wade and Kit. Just those three men left. One was the killer, one would be the winner, and one would be the last victim.

 The four remaining guests sat nervously in the main tent. None of them felt very confident about their case. Hotchkiss seemed to notice this. “What are you all so worried about?” she asked, as she stood in the front. “Oh wait, never mind. You’re worried about being scared and dying, I remember now.” “You are the worst host ever, you know that?” Henry said, clearly tired of Hotchkiss’s lack of sympathy. “Well, I wouldn’t say worst ever, I mean, have you ever seen American Idol?” Hotchkiss said. “Can we just hear the note already?” Simone asked, annoyed. “I was about to start reading. Ahem.” Hotchkiss cleared her throat theatrically and then began. “Dear guests, first I would like to congratulate you on making it to the finale. It’s sure to be quite the experience. In case you didn’t realize, there was a lot of deception this round, which has greatly affected all of your cases. So, here is the actual truth. You each went to a different location, and I’m going to discuss each one in turn. The last known whereabouts were in the Main tent. Wade went there and discovered a few clues that Elisabet might have been poisoned due to cyanide. I got the idea from Hotchkiss’s ‘famous’ almond cake.” Hotchkiss made a little annoyed sound at that, but kept reading. “Since cyanide is known to taste of bitter almonds, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. I had her slice served on a plate that said, ‘you’ve been poisoned.’ I wrote down the chemical formula for an antidote, and dropped it in the tent. All of this was of course, a red herring. There was no poison, surprise. Now the next bit I had to do a little research on. I searched how to make a pipe bomb and left out all the leftover supplies on the workbench in my secret work room, buried deep in the tomb site. Henry was led there, blindfolded. There were pipes and metal caps, gunpowder and fusing wires, and also pieces of broken glass, which I added to the pipe bomb for a little extra something. Along the walls of my hidden room were all the weapons and tools at my disposal. One of them, a large knife, was red with blood. Which leads me to the next location. Kit went to the crime scene. Of course, most of the evidence there was destroyed by the bomb. There was Elisabet’s invitation to the s’mores extravaganza, which had the time an hour later. Her journal was also found, with her notes on who she thought the killer was. After it was dark, I  snuck to her tent and found her sleeping. Things might have gone a little different if she was awake, but luckily, this was not the case. I stabbed her in the heart with my large knife, and planted the bomb, complete with a clock timer. I planned for the bomb to go off five minutes after the s’mores party started. The half-melted timer was taken away from the scene, and used as one of the riddle clues. Last we have the morgue. The autopsy on Elisabet proved there was no poison in her system, and that the stab wound to the heart was fatal. How many people do you know that have survived a stab wound the heart? Anyway, there were bits of glass and metal from the pipe bomb and other various wounds from the explosion in general. And that is how Elisabet died. If you feel confused, don’t worry. You’re probably not alone. Your cases this week were not up to par. Therefore, you are all scared. This means any one of you can be the first to die in the finale.” Hotchkiss looked up from reading and saw various expressions. Some looked confused, others angry. But all were looking rather scared. “That’s it for tonight, see you in the morning,” Hotchkiss said in hearty voice. “I’ll make waffles!” she called out as everyone left the tent.

Okay, if I haven’t already told you, here’s how the rest of the game will work. On Sunday I’ll post the reveal for Murder 6, including who is scared/spared. No accusations will be posted, but please still submit them.

On Monday I will post the beginning of the finale, where one of the scared people will die. There will be no clues or case to solve. The remaining three people will compete in the final riddle. We have to pick a time that works for everyone left. I was thinking we could do it either Monday or Tuesday, I know Christmas is coming up so I don’t want to interfere with that. The final riddle will include clues from all the deaths in the game, so I recommend reviewing those if you have time.

There are a few differences for the final riddle besides the length. You will only be able to submit one answer. If more than one person sends in the correct answer, whoever sent it first wins. If no one sends in the correct answer, whoever is closest to the correct answer is the winner. You will not be immediately notified of the results. You may not seek help from other contestants. The killer must participate in the riddle and send in an answer, but they cannot be the winner. A post will be made shortly after all three answers are sent in. The results will be revealed by Wednesday at the latest (depending on when we do the riddle), where everything will be explained, the last person will die, the winner will be announced and the killer revealed!

I would like to pick a riddle time asap, because I want it solidified that everyone can be there. I can do almost any time because I’m off of work the whole week. So let me know if Monday or Tuesday is better, and what times you’re available.

State your case will be due by Sunday 3pm C