The Lighthouse Keeper

I know who did it
CASE NO. 15 · LEVEL 2 · MURDER

THE LIGHTHOUSE
KEEPER

CLUE
1
OF 6
SCAN TO ANSWER
On a storm-bound island, lighthouse keeper Ewan MacLeod has been found dead at the foot of the lamp-room stairs. No boat can land until morning. Find all 6 clues, compare the statements and the evidence, and work out who did it.
Fiona MacLeod
Ewan's wife
”Our dog Bran sleeps by the tower door and barks at anyone he doesn't know. He barked like mad when that journalist arrived at ten. After that – not a sound all night.”
WITNESS STATEMENT · FIONA MACLEOD
EVIDENCE #1 · SCENE REPORT
Scene report – the lighthouse tower
Found
23:55, at the foot of the lamp-room stairs
Time of death
Between 23:10 and 23:40
Cause
A fall – bruises on his arms, as if grabbed
Last logbook entry
23:05, in Ewan's hand: ‘Rory late for watch AGAIN.’
Only way in
The tower door, past Bran's basket
The dog was there all night.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Find all 6 clues, then scan the code to name the culprit.
NEXT CLUE IS HIDDEN …
Read the clues as plain text
Clue 1 of 6

Fiona MacLeod Ewan's wife

”Our dog Bran sleeps by the tower door and barks at anyone he doesn't know. He barked like mad when that journalist arrived at ten. After that – not a sound all night.”

Evidence #1 · SCENE REPORT

Scene report – the lighthouse tower
Found
23:55, at the foot of the lamp-room stairs
Time of death
Between 23:10 and 23:40
Cause
A fall – bruises on his arms, as if grabbed
Last logbook entry
23:05, in Ewan's hand: ‘Rory late for watch AGAIN.’
Only way in
The tower door, past Bran's basket
The dog was there all night.
Clue 2 of 6

Jean Murray Journalist

”That dog nearly took my leg off at ten o'clock! I came to write a story about the last manned lighthouse. I was in the guest room with my laptop until midnight.”

Evidence #2 · BOAT RADIO LOG

Coastguard radio · Supply boat Morven
TimePositionSkipper
21:30Leaving the island jettyC. Ross
22:15Moored in mainland harbourC. Ross
23:30Moored – storm warning, no sailingC. Ross
Clue 3 of 6

Hamish Bell Birdwatcher

”I'm camping on the cliffs to film puffins. The keepers barely know me – I've only been here two days. I was out with my camera all night.”

Evidence #3 · NIGHT CAMERA

Hamish's infrared trail camera – cliff burrows
CAM_041
23:05
Puffin at the burrow entrance.
CAM_044
23:20
Hamish adjusting the camera, rain jacket on.
CAM_047
23:35
Hamish again, checking the screen.
Clue 4 of 6

Dr Isla Grant Island doctor

”I visit every month, so Bran knows me well. Tonight Fiona had a terrible migraine – I sat with her in the cottage from eleven until half past.”

Evidence #4 · DOCTOR'S NOTES

DR GRANT – VISIT NOTES
23:00 F. MacLeod, migraine, in cottage. Gave tablets.
Stayed with patient until 23:30.
Ewan looked in at 22:50 – said he was off up the tower.
– I.G.
Clue 5 of 6

Calum Ross Supply boat skipper

”I left the island at half past nine and was stuck in the harbour by the storm. Ewan gave me a letter to post this afternoon. I didn't read it – but it's here.”

Evidence #5 · EWAN'S LETTER

LETTER TO THE LIGHTHOUSE BOARD (NOT YET POSTED)
I request the dismissal of my assistant, R. Bain.
He sleeps on watch and has falsified the logbook.
I will tell him tonight.
– E. MacLeod, Keeper
Clue 6 of 6

Rory Bain Assistant keeper

”I overslept – I was asleep in the bunkhouse until midnight and missed my watch. I never went up the tower. Bran can tell you, he didn't bark, did he?”

Evidence #6 · BUNKHOUSE

Search of the bunkhouse at 00:10
Rory's oilskin coat
Soaking wet, rainwater still dripping
Rory's boots
Wet, with sand from the tower path
Rory's bed
Not slept in – sheets still folded
Weather
Heavy rain from 22:30
Somebody was out in the rain.