The Murder at Chimneys

The Secret of Chimneys

This thread follows the discovery and investigation of Prince Michael Obolovitch’s murder, from a staged crime scene to the exposure of its killer.

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A Midnight Shot A Midnight Shot from "The Secret of Chimneys". A Shot in the Dark Anthony Cade reaches the grounds of Chimneys at the time written on a scrap of paper and hears a shot from the house.

A Midnight Shot from "The Secret of Chimneys". A Shot in the Dark Anthony Cade reaches the grounds of Chimneys at the time written on a scrap of paper and hears a shot from the house.

A Shot in the Dark Anthony Cade reaches the grounds of Chimneys at the time written on a scrap of paper and hears a shot from the house. He tests the windows, finds them apparently fastened, and leaves without knowing that a murder has occurred. A Time Becomes Evidence The victim’s broken watch later fixes the killing at the same approximate hour. Anthony Cade’s presence near Chimneys makes him suspicious, while his account of the locked windows complicates the apparent outside-intruder theory.

The Morning Discovery The Morning Discovery from "The Secret of Chimneys". A Guest Is Found Dead A housemaid discovers a foreign guest shot in the council chamber.

The Morning Discovery from "The Secret of Chimneys". A Guest Is Found Dead A housemaid discovers a foreign guest shot in the council chamber.

A Guest Is Found Dead A housemaid discovers a foreign guest shot in the council chamber. Lord Caterham tells the police that the victim was known as Count Stanislaus, concealing the dead man’s identity as Prince Michael Obolovitch. A Political Crime Scene The open window and footprints point toward an intruder, while George Lomax fears the scandal’s consequences for the proposed royal restoration. Superintendent Battle begins by collecting facts rather than accepting the convenient explanation.

Cade Under Suspicion Cade Under Suspicion from "The Secret of Chimneys". The Inn Guest Police connect muddy bootprints at Chimneys to Anthony Cade, who has taken a room at the Jolly Cricketers.

Cade Under Suspicion from "The Secret of Chimneys". The Inn Guest Police connect muddy bootprints at Chimneys to Anthony Cade, who has taken a room at the Jolly Cricketers.

The Inn Guest Police connect muddy bootprints at Chimneys to Anthony Cade, who has taken a room at the Jolly Cricketers. Anthony Cade comes forward voluntarily and gives an account of hearing the shot while trespassing in the grounds. A Doubtful Exoneration Superintendent Battle notices that the evidence against Anthony Cade is almost too conspicuous. The suspect’s cooperation helps his case, but Battle does not treat a plausible story as proof of innocence.

The Window Contradiction The Window Contradiction from "The Secret of Chimneys". An Unlatched Window Anthony Cade says he tested all three council-chamber windows and found them shut.

The Window Contradiction from "The Secret of Chimneys". An Unlatched Window Anthony Cade says he tested all three council-chamber windows and found them shut.

An Unlatched Window Anthony Cade says he tested all three council-chamber windows and found them shut. Superintendent Battle points out that the middle window was unlatched when the body was discovered, creating a sharp contradiction. An Interior Possibility The discrepancy leaves two explanations: Anthony Cade is lying, or someone inside the house opened the window after he left. Battle’s refusal to force a conclusion keeps the investigation alive and unsettles every apparent clue.

The Governess Exposed The Governess Exposed from "The Secret of Chimneys". A False Lead in the Library Anthony Cade uses a fabricated library hiding place to draw the killer into searching for the diamond.

The Governess Exposed from "The Secret of Chimneys". A False Lead in the Library Anthony Cade uses a fabricated library hiding place to draw the killer into searching for the diamond.

A False Lead in the Library Anthony Cade uses a fabricated library hiding place to draw the killer into searching for the diamond. Mademoiselle Brun is caught in the act, and Boris attacks her after recognizing her as Prince Michael Obolovitch’s murderer. The Case Resolves The supposed governess is revealed as the surviving Queen Varaga, who shot Prince Michael after he recognized her. The apparent intruder’s death, the planted evidence, and the false identity finally converge into a coherent explanation.

Thursday at 11:45 p.m.

Friday morning at Chimneys

Friday morning, after the body is found

Friday, during Battle’s inspection

The night of October 13