cases/prebaked/CASE-0010.json

{
  "case_id": "CASE-0010",
  "seed": 51010,
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "title": "The Paper Fortune",
  "briefing": "A swindle went tragically wrong, leaving the victims with shattered trust and a haunting silence.",
  "knobs": {
    "setting_hint": "",
    "era_hint": "",
    "tone_hint": "",
    "n_suspects": 4,
    "n_red_herrings": 2,
    "alibi_tightness": 0.6,
    "difficulty": "standard",
    "crime_kind": "fraud"
  },
  "crime_kind": "fraud",
  "setting": {
    "name": "Mansion of Ravenswood",
    "description": "",
    "locations": [
      {
        "loc_id": "L1",
        "name": "Hall",
        "description": "",
        "adjacent_to": [
          "L2",
          "L3",
          "L4"
        ]
      },
      {
        "loc_id": "L2",
        "name": "Kitchen",
        "description": "",
        "adjacent_to": [
          "L1"
        ]
      },
      {
        "loc_id": "L3",
        "name": "Study",
        "description": "",
        "adjacent_to": [
          "L1"
        ]
      },
      {
        "loc_id": "L4",
        "name": "Master Bedroom",
        "description": "",
        "adjacent_to": [
          "L1"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "murder_window": {
      "start_min": 1260,
      "end_min": 1320
    }
  },
  "victim": {
    "vic_id": "V1",
    "name": "Lena Thompson",
    "role": "Trustee of Ravenswood Trust",
    "found_at_loc_id": "L4",
    "found_at_min": 1325,
    "cause_of_death": "Found dead in her study, a note pinned to the window, hinting at betrayal.",
    "time_of_death": {
      "start_min": 1280,
      "end_min": 1310
    }
  },
  "weapon": {
    "weapon_id": "W1",
    "name": "Rusted antique pen nib with bloodstain on end grain",
    "kind": "Instrument of murder",
    "origin_loc_id": "L4",
    "requires_strength": false,
    "leaves_trace": ""
  },
  "suspects": [
    {
      "sus_id": "S1",
      "name": "Evan Jenkins",
      "role": "Business Partner and Trustee's Husband",
      "persona_summary": "Evan is the loving husband, but his secret obsession with control has poisoned their relationship.",
      "demeanour": "rattled and evasive, voice tightening under pressure",
      "is_culprit": false,
      "physical_capability": {
        "strength": true,
        "mobility": true
      },
      "personality": {
        "composure": 0.32,
        "aggression": 0.55,
        "evasiveness": 0.68
      },
      "tells": [
        "I've been telling you this all along, but now it's too late."
      ],
      "knows_facts": [
        "F_sec1"
      ],
      "secrets": [
        "He was once a professional forger who committed the swindle."
      ],
      "true_whereabouts": [
        {
          "window": {
            "start_min": 1260,
            "end_min": 1320
          },
          "loc_id": "L1",
          "activity": "going about the evening",
          "co_present_sus_ids": []
        }
      ],
      "stated_alibi": {
        "claim_text": "I was in Hall the whole time.",
        "claimed_segments": [
          {
            "window": {
              "start_min": 1260,
              "end_min": 1320
            },
            "loc_id": "L1",
            "witness_sus_ids": []
          }
        ]
      },
      "must_lie_about": [
        "F_sec1"
      ],
      "anchored_lies": [
        {
          "lie_id": "LIE_sec1",
          "topic": "He was once a professional forger who committed ",
          "claimed": "I'm just trying to help you become more successful. Please trust me on this one!",
          "truth_ref": "F_sec1",
          "breaks_on": [
            "C_h1"
          ],
          "fallback": "Fine, that part is true - but it has nothing to do with the fraud."
        }
      ],
      "voice": null,
      "visual": {
        "subject_type": "suspect",
        "palette": "noir",
        "gender": "male",
        "age_band": "50s",
        "build": null,
        "hair": null,
        "attire": "A pair of sharp trousers and a conservative shirt",
        "mood": "guarded",
        "accent_color": "#b8860b",
        "location_tags": [],
        "prop_tags": [],
        "prompt_hint": "Casually dressed in suits, middle-aged with a stern expression, A pair of sharp trousers and a conservative shirt"
      }
    },
    {
      "sus_id": "S2",
      "name": "Sophie Johnson",
      "role": "Lena's Sister-in-Law",
      "persona_summary": "Sophie is the kind-hearted woman who believes in her niece's integrity.",
      "demeanour": "guarded and weary, giving away as little as possible",
      "is_culprit": false,
      "physical_capability": {
        "strength": true,
        "mobility": true
      },
      "personality": {
        "composure": 0.6,
        "aggression": 0.25,
        "evasiveness": 0.55
      },
      "tells": [
        "I always trusted my niece, but I can't live with the guilt anymore."
      ],
      "knows_facts": [
        "F_sec2"
      ],
      "secrets": [
        "She was once a professional forger with no criminal record but lost everything due to this swindle."
      ],
      "true_whereabouts": [
        {
          "window": {
            "start_min": 1260,
            "end_min": 1320
          },
          "loc_id": "L2",
          "activity": "going about the evening",
          "co_present_sus_ids": []
        }
      ],
      "stated_alibi": {
        "claim_text": "I was in Kitchen the whole time.",
        "claimed_segments": [
          {
            "window": {
              "start_min": 1260,
              "end_min": 1320
            },
            "loc_id": "L2",
            "witness_sus_ids": []
          }
        ]
      },
      "must_lie_about": [
        "F_sec2"
      ],
      "anchored_lies": [
        {
          "lie_id": "LIE_sec2",
          "topic": "She was once a professional forger with no crimi",
          "claimed": "I'm just worried about your welfare. I've never been a thief, trust me!",
          "truth_ref": "F_sec2",
          "breaks_on": [
            "C_h2"
          ],
          "fallback": "Fine, that part is true - but it has nothing to do with the fraud."
        }
      ],
      "voice": null,
      "visual": {
        "subject_type": "suspect",
        "palette": "noir",
        "gender": "female",
        "age_band": "30s",
        "build": null,
        "hair": null,
        "attire": "A classic blazer and a soft skirt",
        "mood": "guarded",
        "accent_color": "#3a6ea5",
        "location_tags": [],
        "prop_tags": [],
        "prompt_hint": "Soft-spoken, middle-aged with a kind expression, A classic blazer and a soft skirt"
      }
    },
    {
      "sus_id": "S3",
      "name": "Mark Davis",
      "role": "Lena's Personal Chef",
      "persona_summary": "Mark is the devoted servant who has been secretly working alongside his employer for years.",
      "demeanour": "cool and self-assured, almost amused by the questioning",
      "is_culprit": true,
      "physical_capability": {
        "strength": true,
        "mobility": true
      },
      "personality": {
        "composure": 0.88,
        "aggression": 0.3,
        "evasiveness": 0.35
      },
      "tells": [
        "I've been doing this for years, I'm just now revealing the truth."
      ],
      "knows_facts": [
        "F_scene",
        "F_sec3"
      ],
      "secrets": [
        "He was a professional forger hired by the swindler to deliver forged documents."
      ],
      "true_whereabouts": [
        {
          "window": {
            "start_min": 1260,
            "end_min": 1280
          },
          "loc_id": "L1",
          "activity": "mingling in plain sight",
          "co_present_sus_ids": []
        },
        {
          "window": {
            "start_min": 1280,
            "end_min": 1310
          },
          "loc_id": "L4",
          "activity": "at the scene of the fraud",
          "co_present_sus_ids": []
        }
      ],
      "stated_alibi": {
        "claim_text": "I was in the Hall at all times.",
        "claimed_segments": [
          {
            "window": {
              "start_min": 1260,
              "end_min": 1320
            },
            "loc_id": "L1",
            "witness_sus_ids": []
          }
        ]
      },
      "must_lie_about": [
        "F_scene"
      ],
      "anchored_lies": [
        {
          "lie_id": "LIE_alibi",
          "topic": "where you were during the fraud",
          "claimed": "I was in the Hall at all times.",
          "truth_ref": "F_scene",
          "breaks_on": [
            "C_b1",
            "C_b2"
          ],
          "fallback": "All right - I stepped out for a moment, but I had nothing to do with this."
        }
      ],
      "voice": null,
      "visual": {
        "subject_type": "suspect",
        "palette": "noir",
        "gender": "male",
        "age_band": "40s",
        "build": null,
        "hair": null,
        "attire": "A traditional chef uniform with a bow tie",
        "mood": "guarded",
        "accent_color": "#9a9aa0",
        "location_tags": [],
        "prop_tags": [],
        "prompt_hint": "Polite, middle-aged with a gentle expression, A traditional chef uniform with a bow tie"
      }
    },
    {
      "sus_id": "S4",
      "name": "Liam McCarthy",
      "role": "Rival Trustee with a Hidden Rivalry",
      "persona_summary": "Liam is the ambitious rival who feels threatened by their success.",
      "demeanour": "visibly frightened and on edge, dreading every question",
      "is_culprit": false,
      "physical_capability": {
        "strength": true,
        "mobility": true
      },
      "personality": {
        "composure": 0.2,
        "aggression": 0.3,
        "evasiveness": 0.7
      },
      "tells": [
        "You're all too trusting, just like me!"
      ],
      "knows_facts": [
        "F_sec4"
      ],
      "secrets": [
        "He was secretly funding this swindle to gain the trust of the victims and take over the trust."
      ],
      "true_whereabouts": [
        {
          "window": {
            "start_min": 1260,
            "end_min": 1320
          },
          "loc_id": "L1",
          "activity": "going about the evening",
          "co_present_sus_ids": []
        }
      ],
      "stated_alibi": {
        "claim_text": "I was in Hall the whole time.",
        "claimed_segments": [
          {
            "window": {
              "start_min": 1260,
              "end_min": 1320
            },
            "loc_id": "L1",
            "witness_sus_ids": []
          }
        ]
      },
      "must_lie_about": [
        "F_sec4"
      ],
      "anchored_lies": [
        {
          "lie_id": "LIE_sec4",
          "topic": "He was secretly funding this swindle to gain the",
          "claimed": "I'm just trying to protect you from your own greed. Trust me on this!",
          "truth_ref": "F_sec4",
          "breaks_on": [
            "C_h4"
          ],
          "fallback": "Fine, that part is true - but it has nothing to do with the fraud."
        }
      ],
      "voice": null,
      "visual": {
        "subject_type": "suspect",
        "palette": "noir",
        "gender": "male",
        "age_band": "20s",
        "build": null,
        "hair": null,
        "attire": "A sharp business suit with a pocket watch chain",
        "mood": "guarded",
        "accent_color": "#6b8f71",
        "location_tags": [],
        "prop_tags": [],
        "prompt_hint": "Confident, 30s young man in blazers and suits, A sharp business suit with a pocket watch chain"
      }
    }
  ],
  "culprit": {
    "sus_id": "S3",
    "true_motive": {
      "motive_id": "M1",
      "category": "revenge",
      "summary": "Mark Davis defrauded Lena Thompson by using a Rusted antique pen nib with bloodstain on end grain. He did this from the Master Bedroom between 21:00 and 22:00, claiming he never left the Hall."
    },
    "method_narrative": "The fraudster planted evidence of his presence in the Master Bedroom during the time of the theft.",
    "alibi_lie": {
      "claimed_loc_id": "L1",
      "actual_loc_id": "L4",
      "contradicted_by_clue_ids": [
        "C_b1",
        "C_b2"
      ]
    }
  },
  "relationships": [],
  "facts": [
    {
      "fact_id": "F_scene",
      "statement": "Mark Davis was in Master Bedroom during the fraud.",
      "true_value": true,
      "loc_id": "L4",
      "at_min": 1280
    },
    {
      "fact_id": "F_sec1",
      "statement": "He was once a professional forger who committed the swindle.",
      "true_value": true,
      "loc_id": null,
      "at_min": null
    },
    {
      "fact_id": "F_sec2",
      "statement": "She was once a professional forger with no criminal record but lost everything due to this swindle.",
      "true_value": true,
      "loc_id": null,
      "at_min": null
    },
    {
      "fact_id": "F_sec3",
      "statement": "He was a professional forger hired by the swindler to deliver forged documents.",
      "true_value": true,
      "loc_id": null,
      "at_min": null
    },
    {
      "fact_id": "F_sec4",
      "statement": "He was secretly funding this swindle to gain the trust of the victims and take over the trust.",
      "true_value": true,
      "loc_id": null,
      "at_min": null
    }
  ],
  "clues": [
    {
      "clue_id": "C_b1",
      "name": "Snagged thread",
      "reveal_text": "A torn thread of dark cloth snagged on the master bedroom doorframe.",
      "discoverable_at_loc_id": "L4",
      "discovery_method": "forensic",
      "supports_fact_id": "F_scene",
      "points_to_sus_id": "S3",
      "contradicts_alibi_of": "S3",
      "is_red_herring": false,
      "weight": 1.0
    },
    {
      "clue_id": "C_b2",
      "name": "Smudged tumbler",
      "reveal_text": "A tumbler abandoned at the scene, its rim marked with a recent lip-print.",
      "discoverable_at_loc_id": "L1",
      "discovery_method": "forensic",
      "supports_fact_id": "F_scene",
      "points_to_sus_id": "S3",
      "contradicts_alibi_of": "S3",
      "is_red_herring": false,
      "weight": 0.7
    },
    {
      "clue_id": "C_h1",
      "name": "Rusted pen nib with bloodstain",
      "reveal_text": "The note pinned to the window was a clue: 'Trustworthiness is an illusion.'",
      "discoverable_at_loc_id": "L2",
      "discovery_method": "search",
      "supports_fact_id": "F_sec1",
      "points_to_sus_id": "S1",
      "contradicts_alibi_of": null,
      "is_red_herring": true,
      "weight": 0.3
    },
    {
      "clue_id": "C_h2",
      "name": "Old photograph",
      "reveal_text": "A worn photograph they would rather no one had seen.",
      "discoverable_at_loc_id": "L3",
      "discovery_method": "search",
      "supports_fact_id": "F_sec2",
      "points_to_sus_id": "S2",
      "contradicts_alibi_of": null,
      "is_red_herring": true,
      "weight": 0.3
    },
    {
      "clue_id": "C_h4",
      "name": "A letter signed 'Trustee's Wife' with a postmark indicating a distant address",
      "reveal_text": "The letter was not addressed to the victims, but to Liam.",
      "discoverable_at_loc_id": "L1",
      "discovery_method": "search",
      "supports_fact_id": "F_sec4",
      "points_to_sus_id": "S4",
      "contradicts_alibi_of": null,
      "is_red_herring": true,
      "weight": 0.3
    }
  ],
  "solution": {
    "culprit_sus_id": "S3",
    "weapon_id": "W1",
    "motive_id": "M1",
    "minimal_clue_set": [
      "C_b1"
    ],
    "deduction_chain": [
      "The Rusted antique pen nib with bloodstain on end grain was found in the Master Bedroom.",
      "A fingerprint analysis shows that the stain matches the fraudster's prints.",
      "Dust particles from the pen nib were collected and matched to furniture fibers in the Hall.",
      "Witnesses noticed a monogrammed object, which turned out to be part of the breakfast table setup for dinner time."
    ]
  }
}