Chapter 4 |
Chapter 4: In-tree-guing Evidence[]
| 4-1. Something Doesn't Add Up | ||
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The mystery was solved so fast.
The chain of events followed my story... | |
 Linzer Cookie |
And  Crème Brûlée Cookie...
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| ... in my manuscript, the pianist was the culprit.
He took revenge on a Cookie who ruined his performance but, in the end, confessed the truth. Unlike Crème Brûlée Cookie... | ||
| It is true that no one can confirm Crème Brûlée Cookie's alibi.
And yet, why is this sense of uncertainty gnawing at me...? | ||
|
Linzer Cookie |
What am I missing... I have to go back to the beginning. | |
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Pen Scribbling |
SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE | |
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Linzer Cookie |
After supper, Crème Brûlée Cookie and I switched rooms. | |
| Later, Crème Brûlée Cookie's sheet music disappeared.
Crème Brûlée Cookie suspected Old Jolly of the theft and confronted the Sugar Gnome. | ||
| At midnight, most Cookies gathered for the Tree-Lighting Ceremony.
The conductor was in the electrical room working on the illumination. | ||
| At the same time, Old Jolly was preparing the gifts in the suite.
That's when the Gnome was confronted by Crème Brûlée Cookie once more. | ||
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| Crème Brûlée Cookie finds the sheet music in Old Jolly's suite and,
in the heat of passion, hits the Gnome with the candy cane. |
Linzer Cookie | |
| Old Jolly is out cold, and Crème Brûlée Cookie decides to leave the body and hide in his own room... | ||
| This narrative is completely logical,,, in all but one thing. |
Linzer Cookie | |
| Why would Old Jolly steal the notes?
They don't present any value whatsoever. |
Linzer Cookie | |
| Besides, I have no doubt that Crème Brûlée Cookie can preform without the sheet music.
He knows his pieces by heart. | ||
| The disappearance of the notes could have come across as a nuisance, but...
could it really lead Crème Brûlée Cookie to committing the unthinkable? | ||
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Linzer Cookie |
Something here doesn't add up... | |
| I'm out of paper.
I think I had some left right there... | ||
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 Linzer Cookie |
Oh? Isn't this... Crème Brûlée Cookie's sheet music?
Did I bring it here from his suite? | |
 Linzer Cookie |
No wonder: the envelope is just like the one I keep my manuscript in.
I should bring it ba-... But look! | |
|
Linzer Cookie |
The sheets are all shuffled up!
And there are no marks of jam... | |
| Evidence Updated:
"Linzer Cookie's Manuscript Envelope," "Crème Brûlée Cookie's Sheet Music Envelope" |
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Knocking |
KNOCK KNOCK | |
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Miss Linzer Cookie? | |
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Linzer Cookie |
Ah, Royal Bear Jelly! How may I help? | |
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I'm offering hot, fragrant tea to the passengers!
Would you like a cuppa? |
 Royal Bear Jelly |
|
Linzer Cookie |
How nice of you! Thank you! |
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Who would have known such a horrible thing could happen aboard our Holiday Express!
Miss Linzer Cookie, you have my thanks for helping to solve this gruesome mystery! |
 Royal Bear Jelly |
| Ahem. Are you comfortable in your suite?
Can I do anything for you, Miss Linzer Cookie? |
Royal Bear Jelly | |
| This is Crème Brûlée Cookie's room, after all.
We could find you another one, if you would like! |
Royal Bear Jelly | |
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Linzer Cookie |
...? Oh, no need! I'd like to rest for a while, that is all! |
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Of course, of course!
I will not bother you further! Have a good evening! |
Royal Bear Jelly |
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Linzer Cookie |
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| (I never informed the conductor about the fact we switched our suites...) | ||
| (Moreover, when Royal Bear Jelly went to wake up Creme Brûlée Cookie in the morning, he found the switched room without any trouble!) | ||
| Evidence Updated:
"Royal Bear Jelly's Statement" |
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| 4-2. Talk With Crème Brûlée Cookie | ||
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Something doesn't add up.
I need to talk to Crème Brûlée Cookie. | |
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Linzer Cookie |
Crème Brûlée Cookie, are you in-... What's going on? | |
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Ah... Linzer Cookie. |
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 Linzer Cookie |
What are you trying to do...? You may escape from the car, but you can't jump off a moving train! |
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... Don't look at me like that, I'm begging you! I'm not a fool.
I simply was trying to reach you. |
 Crème Brûlée Cookie |
|
Linzer Cookie |
Reach me? What for? |
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I didn't do it! I had to make you trust me!
The true culprit is still at large! |
Crème Brûlée Cookie |
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Linzer Cookie |
But I'm not a detective.
Besides, why would I believe your words? |
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Of course, not. But I've seen the look in your eyes back there.
That look when you can't make sense of your story! |
 Crème Brûlée Cookie |
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Linzer Cookie |
What? My novels are impeccable!
And such is my deduction! |
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Linzer Cookie |
... And yet you see right through me.
This is why I'm here. | |
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Linzer Cookie |
(The Crème Brûlée Cookie I know wouldn't do something like this.) | |
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Linzer Cookie |
Here. Your notes. Take a look. | |
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 Crème Brûlée Cookie |
Who shuffled the order of my sheet music?
Aside from the cover, they're in utter chaos! |
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Linzer Cookie |
(As suspected, it wasn't Crème Brûlée Cookie. A professional pianist would never leave their sheet music in disorder.) | |
| (Especially a perfectionist like Crème Brûlée Cookie.) | ||
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Linzer Cookie |
Another thing... Did you, by any chance, inform the conductor about switching our rooms? | |
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I didn't? I had no time, running around chasing my notes.
Also, why would I? |
Crème Brûlée Cookie |
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Linzer Cookie |
(In that case... How did Royal Bear Jelly know?) |
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| (Switched rooms... Shuffled notes...) | ||
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
... Linzer Cookie, did you hear what I just said? | |
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Hm? I'm sorry? |
Linzer Cookie |
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
Lost in thought again, huh?
I said that it's very hot in this car. |
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Oh... indeed.
I know that you prefer lower temperatures. |
Linzer Cookie |
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
Only cold cream can make the perfect crème brûlée.
Cold air makes me more focused before going on stage. |
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I will ask Royal Bear Jelly to lower the heating. |
 Linzer Cookie |
|
Linzer Cookie |
...?! | |
 | ||
| Hm... Was the Sugar Gnome feeling cold...?
This room is intolerably hot. My cheeses will positively melt away. | ||
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Linzer Cookie |
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| (The room was all heated up, and much hotter than here.
Too much for Old Jolly wearing the hat and gloves.) | ||
| (But why the temperature... Did something have to be melted...?) | ||
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
... LINZER COOKIE! | |
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Ah, do forgive me! |
Linzer Cookie |
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
Do you know who the culprit might be? |
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... Even if I knew, I couldn't tell.
At the moment, everything points at you. |
Linzer Cookie |
| But possibly not you alone... And I will discover the truth.
Meanwhile, stay here and don't attempt to escape. |
Linzer Cookie | |
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
I never tried! But fine, I will be here playing the piano. |
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Crème Brûlée Cookie |
I still believe I will be able to preform at the Grand Holiday Concert. | |
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Unless you are the culprit, that is. |
Linzer Cookie |
| 4-3. Detective's Hunch | ||
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Detective, are you sure we came to the right conclusion? | |
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Hm, is something bothering our brilliant sleuth? |
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 Macaroni Cookie |
I just have a hunch we're missing something...
But I don't know what just yet... |
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A hunch, huh. Spoken like a true detective. |
Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
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Macaroni Cookie |
I AM a true detective! But unlike you, Detective Cheddar Cheese,
I'm more used to operating on facts, rather than intuition! |
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| But now, my gut tells me something else is at play here!
And once we've arrived at our destination, I'll turn this train upside down if that is what is needed to find the conclusive evidence! | ||
| ... but can we request help? | ||
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Uh-huh. I'm sure HQ would just LOVE that.
Two CBI detectives were not enough to crack one measly case? |
Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
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Macaroni Cookie |
Yes, you're right... And we can't reveal who we work for to the civilians.
Especially while this case is ongoing. |
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Macaroni Cookie |
But I just know it... | |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
What's this? There is something under the tree, between the gift boxes.
Bring it here! |
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But you're closer than-... Huh?! |
Macaroni Cookie |
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Macaroni Cookie |
What's this? A remote control? | |
| CLICK! | ||
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Macaroni Cookie |
It turned on the lights on the tree! | |
| CLICK! CLICK! | ||
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Macaroni Cookie |
Whoah... There are so many elaborate light settings on this thing!
The timing, the order... it's pretty advanced! | |
| Heh, I wouldn't expect less from a luxurious train like this...
Now wait a minute! | ||
| With a remote like this... You don't really need to be in the electrical room! | ||
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And look at the Holiday Tree, Macaroni Cookie. |
 Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
Doesn't it seem like a particular ornament is missing? | |
| 4-4. Investigating the Conductor's Quarters | ||
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| There's something suspicious about Royal Bear Jelly...
I need to check his room. |
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| ... I suppose that's it for now. | ||
| 4-5. Conductor's Quarters | ||
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Well, well, well. Miss Novelist!
Looks like the cues brought us all to the conductor's quarters. |
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Yes. Would you take a look at this?
I think it's a manual for... |
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... the state-of-the-art Holiday Tree Remote Control!
With a toy like this, one can set the program, press a button, and sit back watching it do it's thing! |
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And for an hour, no less.
Coincidentally, the entire duration of the ceremony. |
 Linzer Cookie |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
Looks like our esteemed conductor's alibi just went out the train window! |
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Macaroni Cookie |
But why was it lying under the tree?
The conductor would't leave such a crucial thing lying around. Unless in a great hurry... |
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Was there anything missing from the Holiday Tree? |
Linzer Cookie |
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Macaroni Cookie |
Yes, it looks like an ornament was missing?
Do you know which one? |
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Why do I have a feeling we will find said ornament in Old Jolly's suite? |
Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
| 4-6. The Truth Revealed | ||
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Jeez... is it hot in here or what? | |
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Indeed, it's significantly hotter inside than in other parts of the train...
But what for... |
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Macaroni Cookie |
What could be the purpose of cranking up the thermostat?
To melt something? |
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!!! |
Linzer Cookie |
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| "Gah! Of course, it's cherry jam!
I'm no Cookie, and I have cherry jam flowing inside!" | ||
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Linzer Cookie |
... Of course. Old Jolly is a Sugar Gnome, not a Cookie. | |
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I'm sorry? |
Macaroni Cookie |
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What Linzer Cookie is trying to say is... |
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Macaroni Cookie |
Detective! You can't just pick up the weapon!
Let alone wipe the strawberry jam off of it!!! |
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Indeed, it would be most foolish of me to disturb the crime scene before the forensics.
Only it's not "real" strawberry jam. |
Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
The thermostat has been cracked up to melt something.
And the answer is right under our noses! | |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
So... this is what you get from melting the ice cream cake. | |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
The jam on the candy cane isn't Old Jolly's...
We have all the answers we need. | |
| SQUEAK SQUEAK | ||
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Macaroni Cookie |
Huh? I remember Old Jolly carrying a slightly different candy cane...? | |
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Of course! The missing ornament! |
Linzer Cookie |
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Cheddar Cheese Cookie |
Precisely!
The culprit used fake strawberry jam to disguise the candy cane! This cane is neither as polished, nor as scuffed as the real one! |
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But why would the culprit disguise the cane?
And where is the real one? |
Macaroni Cookie |
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Linzer Cookie |
I believe I have the answers to these questions, detectives. | |
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Linzer Cookie |
After all, I take pride in my ability to connect the dots. | |
| The fake jam and the candy cane, the missing sheet music...
They all might seem random, but, in fact, these are all pieces of the same puzzle. | ||
| And only with all the gaps filled, these pieces form a complete picture. | ||
| Evidence Updated:
"Candy Cane with Strawberry Jam" |
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