# The Illusion of Christmas

Case file PM-01. Christmas Eve, 1996. At eleven o'clock the great Nutcracker of Sterling & Co. comes crashing down, and under it lies no one at all.

- Players: 2–6
- Time: 120–240 minutes
- Difficulty: medium
- Age: 18+

At eleven o'clock on Christmas Eve 1996, after closing, the great mechanical Nutcracker of Sterling & Co.'s Christmas display came crashing down in the middle of its bow. In the wreck the night crew found Arthur Vance's cashmere coat, his red scarf caught in the gears and a wide pool of red on the snow, but not Arthur Vance. In the basement the box incinerator was roaring. Detective Sergeant Nora Whitlock of the Port Meridian Police has sent you her file as she builds it, envelope by envelope. Work it with her through the night.

## What's in the file

- 3 envelopes, opened one at a time
- 27 papers: reports, letters, statements and photographs
- About 35 pages to print at home, on A4 or US Letter
- Hints and the full solution, read on screen

## Inside the envelopes

### Envelope 1: Closing Time

- Briefing letter
- Crime-scene photograph
- Police report
- Evidence photographs
- Floor plan
- Security-camera still
- Tape log
- Witness statements
- Receipts and tickets
- Map
- Newspaper

### Envelope 2: The Night Crew

- Investigator's note
- Technical drawing
- Store flyer
- Typed papers
- Coded message
- Witness statements
- Logbook pages
- Inventory
- Timetable

### Envelope 3: Christmas Morning

- Investigator's note
- Medical report
- Logbook pages
- Photograph
- Time card
- Witness statements
- Timeline sheet

Content: Crime and violence, reported without gore; whiskey, gambling debts and a slap

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Written and illustrated with the help of AI tools, from our own story, prompts and edits, and checked by us.