Open Case File · DAILY-PRESS-RUN
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At the Colbrook Mercury's print hall in Colbrook, England, just before three o'clock on a Thursday morning, Arthur Wetherell—who'd been keeping the night watch—was found collapsed on the basement stairwell landing. He was a man from the founding family, someone who went down to the basement every night to wipe the press rollers himself, and his body bore no marks of struggle or fall. The autopsy found cleaning-solvent compounds in his system—the kind used in that room—and his heart had only quivered finely, unable to push blood. Three positions in that building could have stopped the machines that night, and the presses ran straight through to deadline.
Scene
A working regional newspaper's night print hall and basement ink-and-solvent supply room · February, a week when rain froze before dawn
5 suspects
Roger StanbridgeColbrook Mercury director, advertising and business operationsAnswers with numbers first, and when people come up, converts the talk to tables. Never says the same thing twice.
Enid CobdenColbrook Mercury night editing deskListens to questions to the end and answers one beat later. When stating her own judgment, she prefaces it with 'I think.'
Dylan ParkhurstColbrook Mercury night print-hall supervisorAnswers only what is asked and adds nothing else. Takes one breath before answering.
Bertram HenshawColbrook Mercury day-shift facilities maintenanceSpeaks slowly and trails off at the ends of sentences. His voice only becomes clear when talking about others.
Terry KnowlesColbrook Mercury night press operatorBefore being asked, first says what he pressed. Often refers to people by machine number instead of name.
Exhibits
Basement cleaning workbench and solvent drum
On the workbench, one solvent drum with its lid open and wet rags piled up. Above the workbench is a hood that draws air, and the switch is in the On position. One glove has fallen to the floor.
Supervisor position control panel and that night's alarm log
One desk with two screens and one red stop button. A black handset sits beside it, and a radio handset is docked in its cradle.
Print log and delivery schedule
The No Issues stamp is pressed in that night's entry. The stamp is shared by the night shift. On the next page, the time the first delivery truck leaves is written.
No. 1 operator position and basement stairwell landing
The operator position has two screens, one showing paper tension, one showing ink. On the landing floor, marks where someone collapsed and a dropped rag. The stairs are eighteen steps.
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Field Guide
One question = one turn. Examine the clues, shake statements with confrontations, question everyone, then accuse — there is no undo.
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