Thanksgiving Murder Mystery Party Kit - Mysteries on the Net
Thanksgiving Murder Mystery Party Kit - Mysteries on the Net
Thanksgiving Murder Mystery Party Kit - Mysteries on the Net
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1<br />
Written and developed by<br />
Jack Pachuta<br />
Management Strategies, Inc.<br />
(MSI Internet Sales)<br />
PO Box 191<br />
Cedarburg, WI 53012<br />
262/377-7230<br />
jack@pachuta.com<br />
www.mysteries-<strong>on</strong>-<strong>the</strong>-net.com<br />
Copyright, 2006. All rights reserved.
2<br />
How to Organize “Gobble, Gobble Death and Trouble”<br />
Thanks for purchasing this murder mystery. You and your guests will enjoy <strong>the</strong> challenge of<br />
solving a crime that will test every<strong>on</strong>e’s powers of deducti<strong>on</strong>. Here is what you should do to<br />
coordinate your murder mystery event.<br />
STEP 1: Review <strong>the</strong> materials in this mystery packet. But ... please do it in a very specific<br />
way. Remember - you have ALL of <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong>, including <strong>the</strong> soluti<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> mystery. If<br />
you decide to participate in <strong>the</strong> mystery as a role player or an investigator, you’ll want to keep<br />
yourself in <strong>the</strong> dark about WHO DONE IT.<br />
All page numbers in this packet are in <strong>the</strong> upper left-hand corner of <strong>the</strong> pages as you look at<br />
<strong>the</strong>m vertically. That way you can run off <strong>the</strong> material without having <strong>the</strong> page numbers<br />
interfere with <strong>the</strong> format. The entire packet includes:<br />
• Instructi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> how to organize <strong>the</strong> event. They’re <strong>on</strong> pages 2 through 5. (You’re reading<br />
<strong>the</strong>m right now.)<br />
• Instructi<strong>on</strong>s for <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> who will facilitate <strong>the</strong> event. Informati<strong>on</strong> for <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> who<br />
will take charge of <strong>the</strong> murder investigati<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong> page 6. If <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people are invited to <strong>the</strong><br />
event, you may want to assign this duty to <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> portraying Grant Barry Soose.<br />
• Role Player Informati<strong>on</strong>. These pages serve as a “cover letter” for <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> you’ll<br />
send to <strong>the</strong> six individuals who will be in character as <strong>the</strong> suspects. Run off six copies of<br />
pages 7 and 8 back to back. You may want to use better quality stati<strong>on</strong>ery for this letter.<br />
• The Roles. Pages 9 through 20 c<strong>on</strong>tain <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> you’ll send with <strong>the</strong> cover letters.<br />
Each role is designed as a two-sided two-fold document. Again, run off this informati<strong>on</strong><br />
back to back. Each role player gets <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> that applies to <strong>the</strong> role that he or<br />
she is playing. Your role players should know ONLY what’s in <strong>the</strong>ir individual packets.<br />
• The Invitati<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> Celebrati<strong>on</strong>. The invitati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> page 21 will be sent to each guest. It<br />
is designed to be run off as a two-fold. Or, if you decide to use heavier stock, <strong>the</strong> left side of<br />
<strong>the</strong> page can be run off back-to-back with <strong>the</strong> right side of <strong>the</strong> page.<br />
• Sheriff’s Letter. The letter <strong>on</strong> page 22 will be given to each guest by <strong>the</strong> facilitator up<strong>on</strong><br />
arrival. Run off enough copies so that each pers<strong>on</strong> receives <strong>on</strong>e.<br />
• Clues about <strong>the</strong> Crime. You’ll find 24 clues about <strong>the</strong> mystery <strong>on</strong> pages 23 through 25.<br />
Cut <strong>the</strong>m out. Since each guest receives a clue, you can invite up to 24 investigators.<br />
However, by running off two or three copies of each clue, you can organize a larger event.<br />
• The Horn of Plenty. Every<strong>on</strong>e will receive a copy of <strong>the</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Thanksgiving</str<strong>on</strong>g> Editi<strong>on</strong> of The Horn<br />
of Plenty <strong>on</strong> pages 26 and 27. Run <strong>the</strong> pages off back to back.<br />
• Investigative Report. Each team will receive a copy of <strong>the</strong> report <strong>on</strong> page 28. Make <strong>on</strong>e<br />
copy for each team.<br />
• C<strong>on</strong>tents of Safe Deposit Box. The facilitator will follow <strong>the</strong> instructi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> page 29.<br />
• Last Will and Testament of Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>. Make a copy of <strong>the</strong> will <strong>on</strong> page 30 for each<br />
investigative team.<br />
• The Golden Gobbler’s Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Thanksgiving</str<strong>on</strong>g> Menu. The restaurant’s menu and<br />
instructi<strong>on</strong>s for using <strong>the</strong> menu are <strong>on</strong> pages 31 through 33.<br />
• The Answer Sheet. Run off <strong>on</strong>e answer sheet <strong>on</strong> page 34 for each investigative team.<br />
• The Denouement. This is <strong>the</strong> soluti<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> crime. Run off pages 35 through 39. The<br />
facilitator will read <strong>the</strong>se pages at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> evening.
3<br />
STEP 2: Plan your event. Pick a date <strong>on</strong> which to c<strong>on</strong>duct <strong>the</strong> murder mystery event. The<br />
“acti<strong>on</strong>” takes place <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> day after Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong> died. Gobble, Gobble Death and<br />
Trouble will take two to two-and-a-half hours to solve using <strong>the</strong> recommended format. A<br />
buffet meal is recommended.<br />
STEP 3: Select your role players. Review <strong>the</strong> scenario and <strong>the</strong> brief descripti<strong>on</strong>s of <strong>the</strong><br />
suspects <strong>on</strong> page 7. Select guests who would fit into <strong>the</strong>se roles. Send <strong>the</strong> role players <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> and a copy of The Horn of Plenty (pages 26 and 27) approximately 7 to 10 days<br />
before <strong>the</strong> mystery event. The role players should bring <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> with <strong>the</strong>m and use it as<br />
a reference when <strong>the</strong>y are questi<strong>on</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> investigators.<br />
If you have <strong>on</strong>ly 6 guests, <strong>the</strong> role players will also be <strong>the</strong> investigators. This means you will<br />
send <strong>the</strong> invitati<strong>on</strong>s with <strong>the</strong> roles so that all of <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> arrives at <strong>the</strong> same time.<br />
STEP 4: Invite your guests. In advance of <strong>the</strong> event, send invitati<strong>on</strong>s to <strong>the</strong> event to <strong>the</strong><br />
guests who will not be role players.<br />
STEP 5: Select a pers<strong>on</strong> to facilitate <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong>. The facilitator should read <strong>the</strong><br />
Instructi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> page 6, and review <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> packet to keep <strong>the</strong> event moving so<br />
that <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>ducted effectively. If <strong>on</strong>ly six people are at <strong>the</strong> mystery, Grant<br />
Barry Soose, as maitre’d, would make an excellent choice as facilitator.<br />
Here’s what to do at <strong>the</strong> mystery event.<br />
STEP 6: The facilitator greets <strong>the</strong> guests. The facilitator gives each guest who is<br />
investigating <strong>the</strong> crime a Sheriff’s Letter with a Clue attached and The Horn of Plenty<br />
inserted. (You can put <strong>the</strong>m in envelopes marked “Official Informati<strong>on</strong> from <strong>the</strong> Sheriff.”)<br />
If you have <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people at <strong>the</strong> event, and <strong>the</strong> role players are also investigating <strong>the</strong> crime,<br />
every<strong>on</strong>e receives a letter. If your event separates <strong>the</strong> role players from <strong>the</strong> investigators, <strong>the</strong>n<br />
role players DO NOT receive letters. Tell <strong>the</strong> investigators <strong>the</strong>y can share clues with each o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
at any time during <strong>the</strong> evening.<br />
STEP 7: Recollecti<strong>on</strong>s and comments. The facilitator asks every<strong>on</strong>e to sit down as <strong>the</strong><br />
suspects speak to <strong>the</strong>m. Ensure that it is staged in this way:<br />
• Remind every<strong>on</strong>e that Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong> died yesterday when his private oven exploded.<br />
One of <strong>the</strong> six people who are ga<strong>the</strong>red here committed <strong>the</strong> crime. They’ve been asked to<br />
share <strong>the</strong>ir feelings and recollecti<strong>on</strong>s with every<strong>on</strong>e.<br />
• The facilitator asks <strong>the</strong> six role players to speak in <strong>the</strong> order indicated <strong>on</strong> page 6 of <strong>the</strong><br />
role player instructi<strong>on</strong>s. They read <strong>the</strong> secti<strong>on</strong> headlined, “Say this when asked to speak.”<br />
STEP 8: The investigati<strong>on</strong> starts. The facilitator briefly reviews what happened, including:<br />
• Gord<strong>on</strong> opened The Golden Gobbler three years ago and is famous for his turkey recipe.<br />
• Only <strong>on</strong>e pers<strong>on</strong> committed <strong>the</strong> murder. Five of <strong>the</strong> suspects will reveal everything. One of<br />
<strong>the</strong> suspects will not be telling <strong>the</strong> ENTIRE truth and could even be LYING.<br />
• MOTIVE, MEANS and OPPORTUNITY must be c<strong>on</strong>sidered to solve <strong>the</strong> case.
4<br />
STEP 9: Form investigative teams. Have <strong>the</strong> guests who are investigating <strong>the</strong> murder form<br />
three-to-five-pers<strong>on</strong> investigative teams who will work toge<strong>the</strong>r to solve <strong>the</strong> case.<br />
If <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people are at <strong>the</strong> event, you may (at your discreti<strong>on</strong>) form two-pers<strong>on</strong> teams who will<br />
work toge<strong>the</strong>r to solve <strong>the</strong> case.<br />
STEP 10: Break for dinner or refreshments. The teams may trade clues to obtain as much<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> as possible while <strong>the</strong>y are eating, but <strong>the</strong>y cannot questi<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> suspects yet.<br />
If <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people are involved, distribute <strong>the</strong> remainder of <strong>the</strong> 24 clues at regular intervals during<br />
<strong>the</strong> meal until all clues have been used.<br />
STEP 11: C<strong>on</strong>tinue <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong>. At <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> meal, tell <strong>the</strong> teams that it is time to<br />
start <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong> again. Each team should find an area to use as an “interrogati<strong>on</strong> room.”<br />
If <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people are present, every<strong>on</strong>e stays toge<strong>the</strong>r and <strong>on</strong>e suspect at a time is questi<strong>on</strong>ed.<br />
STEP 12: Coordinate <strong>the</strong> questi<strong>on</strong>ing. Have <strong>on</strong>e role player rotate to each interrogati<strong>on</strong> room<br />
at seven-minute intervals. If you have fewer than six teams, work out a rotati<strong>on</strong> that gives role<br />
players breaks between some of <strong>the</strong> rounds of questi<strong>on</strong>ing. The investigators may ask <strong>the</strong><br />
suspects ANYTHING.<br />
The suspects should use <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> provided in <strong>the</strong> Role Player Informati<strong>on</strong> to answer <strong>the</strong><br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s. Suspects should not withhold any bits of informati<strong>on</strong>, but <strong>the</strong>y should not offer<br />
informati<strong>on</strong> unless <strong>the</strong> investigators specifically ask for it. Good investigators must ask <strong>the</strong> right<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s to get <strong>the</strong> correct informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
STEP 13: Distribute <strong>the</strong> Investigative Report. After <strong>the</strong> fourth round of questi<strong>on</strong>ing, give<br />
each team a copy of <strong>the</strong> Investigative Report <strong>on</strong> page 28.<br />
STEP 14: Read <strong>the</strong> Last Will and Testament of Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>. After <strong>the</strong> sixth round of<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>ing, <strong>the</strong> facilitator follows <strong>the</strong> instructi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> page 29, <strong>the</strong>n distributes a copy of<br />
Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>’s will (page 30) to each investigative team.<br />
STEP 15: C<strong>on</strong>duct open questi<strong>on</strong>ing. Place <strong>the</strong> suspects in different parts of <strong>the</strong> facility. For a<br />
seven-minute period, investigators from any team may go to <strong>the</strong> suspects and ask final<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s. WARNING: Some investigators will try to pull <strong>the</strong> suspects back to <strong>the</strong>ir teams.<br />
D<strong>on</strong>’t permit this. Several different teams may questi<strong>on</strong> a suspect at <strong>the</strong> same time.<br />
With <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people, any<strong>on</strong>e can ask any o<strong>the</strong>r role player anything.<br />
STEP 16: Distribute Answer Sheets. Give teams 10 to 12 minutes to write out <strong>the</strong>ir soluti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
by answering <strong>the</strong> questi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Answer Sheet.
5<br />
STEP 17: Teams give <strong>the</strong>ir soluti<strong>on</strong>s. The facilitator asks <strong>the</strong> questi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Answer Sheet<br />
to each team, <strong>on</strong>e at a time. The teams read <strong>the</strong> answers exactly as <strong>the</strong>y were written <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Answer Sheet. NOTE: Often, a team will want to change its mind after hearing <strong>the</strong> answers<br />
from ano<strong>the</strong>r team. D<strong>on</strong>’t let this happen.<br />
If you have <strong>on</strong>ly 6 people, each role player (or two-pers<strong>on</strong> team of role players) gives an<br />
individual soluti<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> case.<br />
STEP 18: Read “The Denouement.” The facilitator opens <strong>the</strong> envelope in which “The<br />
Denouement” was placed. The facilitator reads it aloud to <strong>the</strong> guests. It will take 6 to 8 minutes.<br />
STEP 19: Award prizes. You may want to award prizes to <strong>the</strong> investigative team that did <strong>the</strong><br />
best job of solving <strong>the</strong> crime. Let your creativity run wild in selecting <strong>the</strong> prizes.<br />
Special role player informati<strong>on</strong> …<br />
(The facilitator may want to review <strong>the</strong>se with <strong>the</strong> suspects prior to <strong>the</strong> start of <strong>the</strong> mystery.)<br />
• Because this mystery is crafted with intertwining facts, <strong>the</strong> role players are provided with an<br />
abundance of informati<strong>on</strong> that may or may not be used during <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong>. Since <strong>the</strong><br />
suspects will undergo interrogati<strong>on</strong> by <strong>the</strong> investigative teams, <strong>the</strong> extensive number of<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al facts will enable <strong>the</strong>m to answer most questi<strong>on</strong>s that are asked. If role players are<br />
asked questi<strong>on</strong>s not specifically addressed in this informati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong> role players should<br />
answer in character based up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r facts available to <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
• Role players MUST read <strong>the</strong>ir comments about Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong> exactly as <strong>the</strong>y are written.<br />
THIS IS IMPORTANT. It enables <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong> to begin with <strong>the</strong> correct data.<br />
• The <strong>on</strong>ly relati<strong>on</strong>ships that <strong>the</strong> suspects know about are those written into <strong>the</strong> roles. If asked<br />
by investigators about relati<strong>on</strong>ships that are not menti<strong>on</strong>ed in <strong>the</strong> roles, <strong>the</strong> suspects should<br />
say, “No, we’re not related.”<br />
• All of <strong>the</strong> suspects are telling <strong>the</strong> truth with <strong>the</strong> excepti<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> murderer whose<br />
recollecti<strong>on</strong>s and resp<strong>on</strong>ses will c<strong>on</strong>tain lies and half-truths – this is intenti<strong>on</strong>al and part of<br />
<strong>the</strong> murder investigati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
• Since a good investigator must ask good questi<strong>on</strong>s, suspects must <strong>on</strong>ly offer informati<strong>on</strong><br />
that is asked for by <strong>the</strong> investigators. They should NOT offer informati<strong>on</strong> that has not been<br />
directly requested.<br />
The murderer DOES NOT know he or she committed <strong>the</strong> crime. This means <strong>the</strong> suspects d<strong>on</strong>’t<br />
have to be good liars. The soluti<strong>on</strong> is c<strong>on</strong>tained in “The Denouement.”<br />
Happy Turkey Day Sleuthing!
6<br />
Instructi<strong>on</strong>s for <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> who will facilitate <strong>the</strong> event<br />
If you are a role player, <strong>the</strong>n you already have a formal part in <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong>. Your role as<br />
facilitator means you will have to stay in character while ensuring that <strong>the</strong> investigati<strong>on</strong> is<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted effectively.<br />
If you are not <strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> six role players, you may want to create your own character and<br />
come in costume. You could be, for example, Lawrence Law, <strong>the</strong> Sheriff who signed <strong>the</strong> letter<br />
<strong>on</strong> page 22. To facilitate <strong>the</strong> mystery event, do <strong>the</strong> following:<br />
1. Review all of <strong>the</strong> informati<strong>on</strong> in this packet so that you are familiar with <strong>the</strong> mystery.<br />
REMEMBER: If you are attempting to solve <strong>the</strong> crime, do NOT read “The Denouement”<br />
in advance. It c<strong>on</strong>tains <strong>the</strong> soluti<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> case.<br />
2. As <strong>the</strong> guests arrive, hand <strong>the</strong>m a copy of <strong>the</strong> letter, al<strong>on</strong>g with a clue and a copy of The<br />
Horn of Plenty. Tell <strong>the</strong>m to talk with as many people as <strong>the</strong>y can to acquire informati<strong>on</strong> about<br />
Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>.<br />
3. The suspects have been told to arrive 15 minutes early. When <strong>the</strong>y do, take <strong>the</strong>m aside<br />
and review <strong>the</strong> Special role player informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> page 5. Answer any questi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>the</strong>y may have.<br />
It will be up to you to get people seated so that <strong>the</strong> role players can each say a few words about<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> and <strong>the</strong>ir recollecti<strong>on</strong>s of yesterday.<br />
4. Keep <strong>the</strong> event moving by following <strong>the</strong> instructi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> pages 2 through 5. Make sure<br />
everything happens at <strong>the</strong> right time.<br />
5. If you are not <strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> role players, after you read “The Denouement,” lead <strong>the</strong><br />
guilty party away to jail. If you want to, you can use toy handcuffs to make <strong>the</strong> arrest. If you<br />
want to stage <strong>the</strong> arrest in this way, let <strong>the</strong> suspects know you will do this.<br />
6. Take a bow for a job well d<strong>on</strong>e!
7<br />
5<br />
You were were just pulling up in fr<strong>on</strong>t of <strong>the</strong> cafe when,<br />
about 9:50am, Sue ran out trying to hail a cab. You<br />
drove over to <strong>the</strong> restaurant and she said she’d just<br />
received a call that her mo<strong>the</strong>r had been taken to <strong>the</strong><br />
hospital. You offered her a ride. She accepted. When<br />
you got to <strong>the</strong> hospital, you discovered <strong>the</strong> call was a<br />
hoax. When <strong>the</strong> two of you returned to The Golden<br />
Gobbler, <strong>the</strong> fire department was <strong>the</strong>re. Gord<strong>on</strong>’s oven<br />
had exploded and he was dead. You called your<br />
restaurant staff and told <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> news.<br />
You knew that The Fabulous Feast was <strong>the</strong> next stop<br />
for Gabby, so at 9am, you left <strong>the</strong> cafe so that you<br />
could be at your restaurant when Gabby arrived. He got<br />
<strong>the</strong>re about 9:20am and started unloading turkeys. You<br />
left him <strong>the</strong>re with your staff and returned to <strong>the</strong> cafe<br />
about 15 minutes later.<br />
At 8:30am, Winifred arrived in her delivery van. About<br />
five minutes later, a pers<strong>on</strong> from Stopda Press delivered<br />
a box inside. At 8:45am, Lily de Valle of Flowers and<br />
More made a delivery to <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> restaurant.<br />
Then, something strange happened. About 8:55am, a<br />
car pulled up in fr<strong>on</strong>t of <strong>the</strong> restaurant and Grant Barry<br />
Soose went to speak to <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong> in <strong>the</strong> car. The driver<br />
looked like Thomasina Torquay.<br />
You watched from <strong>the</strong> cafe as deliveries were made to<br />
The Golden Gobbler. At 8:10am, a truck from Hank’s<br />
Heritage Turkeys pulled in. At 8:20am, Gabby Goble<br />
of Goble’s Turkey Acres arrived. A few minutes later,<br />
Hank’s truck left.<br />
You parked your car in fr<strong>on</strong>t of The Golden Gobbler<br />
about 7:55am. At 8am, as usual, Sue’s bus stopped in<br />
fr<strong>on</strong>t of The Golden Gobbler. She got off and you<br />
grabbed her arm. You pulled her to <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong><br />
building and offered her <strong>the</strong> job as <strong>the</strong> chef at The<br />
Fabulous Feast. She hesitated to give you a resp<strong>on</strong>se.<br />
You said you would be in <strong>the</strong> cafe across <strong>the</strong> street,<br />
awaiting her decisi<strong>on</strong>. She went into <strong>the</strong> restaurant.<br />
Your recollecti<strong>on</strong>s of yesterday . . .<br />
Menu last night. You knew something memorable would<br />
happen.<br />
1<br />
Say this when asked to speak:<br />
It’s a sad day when any member of our local<br />
restaurant community dies. And, I feel a<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al tie to Ramsey. After all, he came to<br />
Plentyt<strong>on</strong> from New Metro six years ago to<br />
work at my place, “The Fabulous Feast.”<br />
His turkeys were succulent and delicious. No<br />
w<strong>on</strong>der he kept <strong>the</strong> recipe a secret. No <strong>on</strong>e<br />
seems to know for sure if it’s written down<br />
somewhere.<br />
I’ve lived here all my life and I understand<br />
how much Plentyt<strong>on</strong>ians like a fine-dining<br />
experience. That’s why it’s good to have<br />
people like Gabby Goble and Winifred Nerry<br />
in town. Winifred and I have been friends for<br />
a l<strong>on</strong>g time. I d<strong>on</strong>’t see how any<strong>on</strong>e could<br />
questi<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> quality of her wines.<br />
Ramsey is a hard act to follow. I’ve been<br />
trying for years to find some<strong>on</strong>e who could<br />
take his place at “The Fabulous Feast.” But, I<br />
think my search for a new chef may be over.<br />
Yesterday, I made a job offer to some<strong>on</strong>e in<br />
whom I have a great deal of c<strong>on</strong>fidence. I’m<br />
waiting for an answer and, after what’s<br />
happened, I d<strong>on</strong>’t see any reas<strong>on</strong> why that<br />
offer w<strong>on</strong>’t be accepted. When it is, you can<br />
expect food critics to, <strong>on</strong>ce again, rave about<br />
<strong>the</strong> cuisine at “The Fabulous Feast.”<br />
Copyright, 2006<br />
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, Inc.<br />
PO Box 191 Cedarburg, WI 53012-0191<br />
262/377-7230 jack@pachuta.com<br />
www.mysteries-<strong>on</strong>-<strong>the</strong>-net.com<br />
6<br />
Gobble, Gobble Death and Trouble<br />
Your Role: Halliday Feast<br />
You, Halliday Feast, are <strong>the</strong> owner of The Fabulous<br />
Feast, a restaurant that was <strong>on</strong>ce thought to be <strong>the</strong> finest<br />
eating establishment in town. Born 46 years ago, your<br />
parents, Bess and Hugh Feast, ran a small diner that was<br />
known for <strong>the</strong> quantity, if not <strong>the</strong> quality, of its food.<br />
In high school, you met and dated Winifred Nerry. The<br />
two of you were “an item” for a few years. After<br />
graduati<strong>on</strong>, you told her that you had decided to become a<br />
force in <strong>the</strong> Plentyt<strong>on</strong> circle of dining establishments.<br />
You purchased a small diner and named it Halliday’s<br />
Grill. Winifred helped you out, waiting <strong>on</strong> tables. Her<br />
parents had owned a local florist shop, Plentyt<strong>on</strong><br />
Plentiful Plants. With <strong>the</strong> business acumen she’d<br />
acquired from her parents, she often suggested ways to<br />
improve your cash flow.<br />
Your business began to grow and you regularly<br />
advertised for waitstaff in <strong>the</strong> local newspaper, The Horn<br />
of Plenty. One of <strong>the</strong> waiters you hired was a native<br />
Plentyt<strong>on</strong>ian named Grant Barry Soose. Soose was an<br />
excellent waiter and you realized it probably wouldn’t be<br />
l<strong>on</strong>g before he’d be moving <strong>on</strong> to bigger and better<br />
things. Grant’s older sister, Christina, had ambiti<strong>on</strong>s of<br />
running a catering business. Sure enough, after two years,<br />
Soose got a new job in Gourdville, about 30 miles away.<br />
Winifred’s ambiti<strong>on</strong>s were in a different directi<strong>on</strong>. By<br />
working in <strong>the</strong> diner, she’d acquired an interest in fine<br />
food and beverages. When she was 23, her parents died in<br />
a boating accident. The florist shop building was boarded<br />
up and sat <strong>the</strong>re unoccupied.<br />
When a small winery <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> outskirts of town went up for<br />
sale, she took her savings and <strong>the</strong> insurance m<strong>on</strong>ey that<br />
her parents had left her and put down a deposit <strong>on</strong> it. That<br />
was <strong>the</strong> start of Mayflower Vineyards. Winifred named it<br />
that because she had ancestors who had traveled to North<br />
America aboard that fabled ship. You and Winifred went<br />
your own ways, but you remained good friends. Her<br />
entire winery is <strong>on</strong>ly 30 acres in size, but she grows<br />
several varieties of grapes and purchases additi<strong>on</strong>al <strong>on</strong>es<br />
to produce quality gewurztraminers, sauvign<strong>on</strong> blancs,<br />
rieslings and cabernets.<br />
1
8<br />
After a slow start, her winery started producing<br />
award-winning wines. She now employs a<br />
winemaster and hires seas<strong>on</strong>al employees as<br />
needed. Some of <strong>the</strong> area’s finer restaurants began<br />
purchasing her wines.<br />
You also moved <strong>on</strong> to bigger and better things,<br />
opening a restaurant, The Fabulous Feast, that<br />
became very popular in Plentyt<strong>on</strong>. The word was,<br />
though, that <strong>the</strong> quality of your cuisine was suspect<br />
because you kept hiring and firing chefs in an<br />
attempt to formulate <strong>the</strong> perfect menu.<br />
You c<strong>on</strong>tinually advertised for chefs in The Horn of<br />
Plenty and couldn’t believe what happened six<br />
years ago. Every<strong>on</strong>e in town was surprised (but no<br />
more surprised than you) when Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>,<br />
<strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> most-prominent chefs in <strong>the</strong> large city of<br />
New Metro, applied for <strong>the</strong> positi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> had made a reputati<strong>on</strong> as an outstanding<br />
cook and had been a guest lecturer at several<br />
famous cooking schools, including Brett Pudding’s<br />
Premier Cooking School and <strong>the</strong> Gourmet Delight<br />
School of Cooking. In additi<strong>on</strong>, he’d made many<br />
radio and TV appearances.<br />
You had no idea why he’d suddenly decided to<br />
move to Plentyt<strong>on</strong>, away from all of <strong>the</strong> bright<br />
lights and c<strong>on</strong>tacts he’d made in <strong>the</strong> big city, but<br />
you quickly hired him.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> had built his reputati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> his recipe for<br />
turkey. Only he knew <strong>the</strong> secret ingredients and, at<br />
his insistence, you were forced to c<strong>on</strong>struct a<br />
special kitchen that <strong>on</strong>ly Gord<strong>on</strong> had access to so<br />
that no <strong>on</strong>e could learn his secrets.<br />
The Fabulous Feast flourished. Your old flame,<br />
Winifred, supplied you with wine and you got your<br />
poultry from Gabby Goble, owner of Goble’s<br />
Turkey Acres. Gord<strong>on</strong> insisted <strong>on</strong> using <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
Heritage turkeys and Goble was <strong>the</strong> sole local<br />
supplier. The colorful Heritage breeds have almost<br />
disappeared because of <strong>the</strong> commercial<br />
development of <strong>the</strong> comm<strong>on</strong> white turkey. Goble<br />
doesn’t c<strong>on</strong>fine his birds in pens. Instead, <strong>the</strong>y are free to<br />
roam. The meat from his turkeys has a very distinctive<br />
flavor.<br />
You and Gord<strong>on</strong> had an uneasy relati<strong>on</strong>ship. He was<br />
temperamental and abrasive, demanding that everything<br />
be d<strong>on</strong>e his way. You agreed because <strong>the</strong> customers<br />
loved his turkey. But in private, you often see<strong>the</strong>d at<br />
some of <strong>the</strong> things he said and did.<br />
Three years ago, Winifred’s parents’ old florist shop was<br />
sold to some<strong>on</strong>e at a very low price. Winifred didn’t<br />
realize until <strong>the</strong> closing that <strong>the</strong> buyer was n<strong>on</strong>e o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
than Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>. Shortly after <strong>the</strong> purchase, he left<br />
your restaurant and began remodeling <strong>the</strong> old shop into<br />
The Golden Gobbler. The most-celebrated dish <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
menu was to be his turkey. In remodeling, Gord<strong>on</strong> took<br />
special care with <strong>the</strong> design of <strong>the</strong> kitchen area.<br />
As with The Fabulous Feast, you heard Gord<strong>on</strong> had a<br />
private area built with a large oven that <strong>on</strong>ly he was<br />
allowed to use. It was in that oven that he baked <strong>the</strong><br />
turkeys that had established his reputati<strong>on</strong>. A door from<br />
his private kitchen led to his office where he kept all of<br />
his paperwork and financial records. Winifred told you<br />
he’d approached her about being his exclusive wine<br />
supplier. He would, he told her, feature Mayflower<br />
Vineyards <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> menu, an arrangement that would make<br />
her a lot of m<strong>on</strong>ey.<br />
Shortly after opening, Gord<strong>on</strong> hired a sous chef, Sue<br />
Shafinski. She was <strong>on</strong>ly in her 20s and was raised in<br />
Plentyt<strong>on</strong>, but had g<strong>on</strong>e to cooking school in New Metro<br />
before coming home to live with her mo<strong>the</strong>r, Cher. Sam<br />
Shafinski, Cher’s husband, had died many years ago.<br />
You heard from Gord<strong>on</strong>’s customers that Gord<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Shafinski argue a lot (sometimes <strong>the</strong> arguments are heard<br />
in <strong>the</strong> fr<strong>on</strong>t of <strong>the</strong> restaurant) but, for some reas<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> usually backs off and lets her win.<br />
Two years ago, Grant Barry Soose was hired to be <strong>the</strong><br />
maitre’d. When he worked for you, he was quite friendly,<br />
but later seemed to develop <strong>the</strong> aloof attitude that is<br />
expected of some<strong>on</strong>e in that positi<strong>on</strong>. Before joining<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>, he’d worked at Gourdville’s best restaurant, The<br />
Pilgrim Room at <strong>the</strong> Stilt<strong>on</strong> Hotel.<br />
Your business began to slowly drop off. Without<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>’s turkey <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> menu, your clientele began<br />
drifting away to The Golden Gobbler. You went<br />
through several more chefs and are now, <strong>on</strong>ce again,<br />
without some<strong>on</strong>e to run your kitchen.<br />
Now, a new supplier of Heritage Turkeys has opened<br />
its doors called Hank’s Heritage Turkeys, owned by<br />
Hank Harvester. Hank used to raise chickens<br />
exclusively. You have no idea why he switched to<br />
turkeys.<br />
You can’t believe that Gord<strong>on</strong>’s secret recipe has<br />
never been made public. After all, every<strong>on</strong>e seems to<br />
want it. Last year, a new book, The Tantamount<br />
Turkey Cookbook, hit <strong>the</strong> bookstores.<br />
It was compiled by a food critic and author,<br />
Thomasina Torquay and had many superb turkey<br />
recipes in it. But Gord<strong>on</strong>’s recipe was, of course,<br />
absent. You bought <strong>the</strong> book and tried several of <strong>the</strong><br />
recipes, but n<strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong>m measured up to Gord<strong>on</strong>’s.<br />
Then, you had an idea. Gord<strong>on</strong>’s sous chef, Sue<br />
Shafinski, had now been working with him for over<br />
two-and-a-half years. Surely she had learned a lot<br />
from him. Perhaps she even knew <strong>the</strong> secret turkey<br />
recipe. You decided you would offer her <strong>the</strong> job as<br />
chef at The Fabulous Feast.<br />
You wanted to make <strong>the</strong> job offer in pers<strong>on</strong>. For a<br />
few days, you sat in your car outside of <strong>the</strong><br />
restaurant, making note of which bus Sue took to get<br />
to work, and trying to figure out <strong>the</strong> correct approach<br />
to take.<br />
A few days ago, you saw Grant Barry Soose leave<br />
The Golden Gobbler and talk to some<strong>on</strong>e in a car<br />
parked <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> street. You did a double-take because<br />
<strong>the</strong> woman in <strong>the</strong> driver’s seat looked like<br />
Thomasina Torquay. (You knew this because you’d<br />
seen her picture <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> book jacket.)<br />
Yesterday, you decided to make <strong>the</strong> job offer to Sue.<br />
When she got to <strong>the</strong> restaurant, you made your move.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> was featuring his Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Thanksgiving</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
2 3 4
9<br />
Your Clue #1<br />
A friend of yours was dining at The Golden<br />
Gobbler last week and said that every<strong>on</strong>e in <strong>the</strong><br />
restaurant could hear Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong> carrying<br />
<strong>on</strong> a loud argument with sous chef Sue<br />
Shafinski. Sue threatened to quit. O<strong>the</strong>r people<br />
have told you that <strong>the</strong>se arguments are frequent<br />
occurrences.<br />
Your Clue #2<br />
Until recently, Gabby Goble’s turkey farm was<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly supplier of Heritage turkeys in <strong>the</strong> area.<br />
Recently, though, ano<strong>the</strong>r turkey breeder in<br />
Gourdville, about 30 miles away, has started<br />
raising <strong>the</strong> birds.<br />
Your Clue #3<br />
Sources in <strong>the</strong> publishing business tell you that<br />
Thomasina Torquay is a pen name. The<br />
Tantamount Turkey Cookbook author’s real<br />
surname is “Pudding.”<br />
Your Clue #4<br />
It’s apparent to every<strong>on</strong>e that The Fabulous Feast<br />
restaurant is <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> verge of going out of<br />
business. Rumor has it that owner, Halliday<br />
Feast, would do anything to improve his cash<br />
flow.<br />
Your Clue #5<br />
Grant Barry Soose’s sister, Christina, owns<br />
Christina’s Charismatic Catering, <strong>the</strong> same place<br />
where Sue Shafinski worked before taking <strong>the</strong><br />
positi<strong>on</strong> as Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong>’s sous chef.<br />
Your Clue #6<br />
You’re not sure if this means anything, but<br />
you’ve discovered that <strong>the</strong> building in which The<br />
Golden Gobbler is housed was <strong>on</strong>ce a florist shop<br />
owned by <strong>the</strong> parents of Winifred Nerry. It had<br />
been boarded up for two decades before Ramsey<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> purchased it.<br />
Your Clue #7<br />
An employee of <strong>the</strong> feed store where Gabby<br />
Goble is a regular customer told you that,<br />
recently, Gabby has been buying cheaper, less<br />
nutritious turkey food. The employee said this<br />
can’t help but affect <strong>the</strong> quality of his birds, even<br />
if <strong>the</strong>y are “free range.”<br />
Your Clue #8<br />
Grant Barry Soose is in charge of ordering <strong>the</strong><br />
flowers for The Golden Gobbler. He always buys<br />
<strong>the</strong> arrangements from Flowers and More, owned<br />
by Lily de Valle.
10<br />
Plentyt<strong>on</strong> - The area around The<br />
Golden Gobbler restaurant shook<br />
early yesterday when <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>al<br />
oven of chef and owner, Ramsey<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>, 55, exploded. Gord<strong>on</strong> was<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly casualty of <strong>the</strong> 10am blast<br />
that apparently occurred as he was<br />
lighting his gas oven to cook turkeys<br />
for his Special <str<strong>on</strong>g>Thanksgiving</str<strong>on</strong>g> Menu.<br />
It was to have been served last night<br />
in <strong>the</strong> restaurant. While <strong>the</strong> blast was,<br />
at first, assumed to be a tragic accident,<br />
police believe that evidence<br />
could point to homicide.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>’s establishment has been a<br />
fixture in Plentyt<strong>on</strong> for <strong>the</strong> past three<br />
years, specializing in serving his secret<br />
turkey recipe. Gord<strong>on</strong> had built a<br />
worldwide reputati<strong>on</strong> for fine dining<br />
based up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> unique flavors of this<br />
signature dish. Only he knew <strong>the</strong> ingredients<br />
and <strong>the</strong> process that produced<br />
a turkey entree receiving critical<br />
acclaim from gourmets everywhere.<br />
Before starting his own<br />
restaurant, Gord<strong>on</strong> had been <strong>the</strong> chef<br />
at The Fabulous Feast, owned by<br />
local restaurateur and Plentyt<strong>on</strong> native<br />
Halliday Feast.<br />
It was c<strong>on</strong>sidered a major coup for<br />
Feast when he was able to attract<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> here from New Metro six<br />
Chef Ramsey Gord<strong>on</strong> served <strong>on</strong>ly Heritage turkeys<br />
like this <strong>on</strong>e in his restaurant, The Golden Gobbler.<br />
years ago. In that big city, Gord<strong>on</strong><br />
had been <strong>the</strong> chef at <strong>the</strong> Restaurant<br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> Green. In additi<strong>on</strong>, he had<br />
lectured at many prominent cooking<br />
schools in <strong>the</strong> city and made regular<br />
appearances <strong>on</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>al radio and<br />
televisi<strong>on</strong> shows.<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>’s private kitchen was located<br />
in <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> building next<br />
to <strong>the</strong> rear entrance. Officials investigating<br />
<strong>the</strong> incident believe that <strong>on</strong>ly<br />
two o<strong>the</strong>r pers<strong>on</strong>s were in <strong>the</strong> restaurant<br />
at <strong>the</strong> time. Maitre’d Grant Barry<br />
Soose reportedly was at his stati<strong>on</strong><br />
near The Golden Gobbler’s fr<strong>on</strong>t<br />
door. “Except for about 10 minutes, I<br />
was in <strong>the</strong> restaurant from about<br />
eight o’clock until I heard <strong>the</strong> explosi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Luckily, a fire stati<strong>on</strong> is <strong>on</strong>ly a<br />
block away, so it didn’t take l<strong>on</strong>g for<br />
firefighters to get here. That’s why<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly room in <strong>the</strong> restaurant<br />
that was damaged was Gord<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
private kitchen.” Soose<br />
told reporters. “Gord<strong>on</strong> always<br />
liked to get in about about<br />
seven o’clock, and I d<strong>on</strong>’t<br />
know what happened before I<br />
got here.”<br />
Turkey farmer Hank Harvester<br />
was in <strong>the</strong> freezer, across<br />
<strong>the</strong> hallway from Gord<strong>on</strong>’s<br />
kitchen when <strong>the</strong> oven exploded.<br />
“If I hadn’t been in <strong>the</strong><br />
freezer delivering turkeys, I<br />
might have been injured,” reported<br />
Harvester. “I would<br />
have been in that kitchen if it<br />
weren’t for <strong>the</strong> hand-written<br />
DO NOT DISTURB sign that<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong> must have posted <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
door. When Gord<strong>on</strong> told you to stay<br />
out, you’d better do what he said or<br />
else,” stated Harvester, “Lots of peo-<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tinued <strong>on</strong> back page<br />
Cookbook Author<br />
Spotted in Plentytown<br />
Plentyt<strong>on</strong> - Many local residents<br />
have reportedly seen Thomasina<br />
Torquay, author of The Tantamount<br />
Turkey Cookbook, at area restaurants.<br />
“She was wearing a disguise,”<br />
stated Etta Meel, “but I knew it was<br />
her. I recognized her from <strong>the</strong> picture<br />
<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> book. I’ve tried some of <strong>the</strong><br />
recipes and <strong>the</strong>y’re great, but Ramsey<br />
Gord<strong>on</strong>’s recipe is much better. I<br />
w<strong>on</strong>der why it isn’t in <strong>the</strong> book.”