The Golden Queen Gambit
A chess tournament in a grand hotel
The briefing
You arrive at the Marlowe Regent to find players whispering in corridors and the manager pale with worry. Three people had the run of the hotel during the tournament, and the owner wants the thief named before the guests leave.
The Golden Queen, the solid-gold trophy of the Marlowe Regent Chess Open, has been stolen. Only an empty velvet-lined case was left when the cloth was lifted for the closing ceremony at nine o'clock.
The suspects
- Arlo Whitcombe, Chief arbiter
- Beatrix Lorne, Grandmaster and runner-up
- Cormac Dray, Hotel concierge
Places and items in the file
Places: Grand Ballroom, Hotel Library, Wine Cellar, Rooftop Conservatory.
Items: Master Key Card, Glass Cutter, Brass Luggage Trolley, Silk Opera Cloak.