Mark CMG
Creative Mountain Games
So, you're on a boat (sans flippy-floppies) for five days with a bunch of aristocrats and a crew. As far as anyone seems to know, no one has boarded or left. There was a big first night party and there has been a final night party. At the first night party, one of the high ranking honored guests wore an expensive necklace which was then stashed in the cabin at the end of the first evening and presumed safe. Several days and nights of lounging around intervene then there is the final night party which is enjoyed by all.
The next morning while packing the honored guest discovered that the necklace is missing. You are appointed by the patron to investigate and the boat will arrive in port in a few hours. Without some lead or evidence, no one can be detained. You certainly cannot detain everyone without something fairly substantial except perhaps the crew who could be paid for an extra day or two to stay on board if needed. The patron and you decide to make it generally known that something has been stolen then to question individuals and gauge their reactions hoping something will slip or that someone will have information they either know or do not know is important.
As you question the thirty guests and crew about half are immediately offended at being accused and will give no further information stressing only their denials of guilt. Another seven have clear alibis for the full voyage either without access to that compartment or being in sight of yourself, the patron, or the honored guest for every portion of the trip when the guest was not in their cabin or wearing the necklace at the first night party. Four more deny guilt but seem understanding of the need to investigate and do not begrudge your questioning. Two others (separated at the time of questioning) deny guilt but suggest each other might have something to do with the theft. One denies guilt and says he was at the closing night party where anyone could see him. And the last refuses to even accept the premise claiming the honored guest obviously has some reason for staging the theft.
How do you proceed?
The next morning while packing the honored guest discovered that the necklace is missing. You are appointed by the patron to investigate and the boat will arrive in port in a few hours. Without some lead or evidence, no one can be detained. You certainly cannot detain everyone without something fairly substantial except perhaps the crew who could be paid for an extra day or two to stay on board if needed. The patron and you decide to make it generally known that something has been stolen then to question individuals and gauge their reactions hoping something will slip or that someone will have information they either know or do not know is important.
As you question the thirty guests and crew about half are immediately offended at being accused and will give no further information stressing only their denials of guilt. Another seven have clear alibis for the full voyage either without access to that compartment or being in sight of yourself, the patron, or the honored guest for every portion of the trip when the guest was not in their cabin or wearing the necklace at the first night party. Four more deny guilt but seem understanding of the need to investigate and do not begrudge your questioning. Two others (separated at the time of questioning) deny guilt but suggest each other might have something to do with the theft. One denies guilt and says he was at the closing night party where anyone could see him. And the last refuses to even accept the premise claiming the honored guest obviously has some reason for staging the theft.
How do you proceed?
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