A Reno divorce ranch, a frozen trust account, and a visitors' book signed at 9:40.
Saturday, 23 August 1958. Reno is the divorce capital of America: six weeks' residence and a judge will end any marriage. Peggy Van Alstyne, 38, a New York heiress, is on day forty-one at the Flying M, a guest ranch on the Truckee where wealthy women wait out their residency. Her decree is set for Monday.
On Sunday the cook finds her on the floor of Cabin 4, struck from behind with a bronze bookend while writing a letter to her brother. The letter says she has discovered withdrawals from her trust that she never signed, has wired the bank to freeze the account, and will tell the judge on Monday.
Her husband is in Reno to contest the settlement. Her lawyer holds the power of attorney over the trust. A wrangler has been in her cabin most nights. A casino holds her markers. A fellow guest owes her money and needs her alive to swear an affidavit. The ranch visitors' book, the Reno Cab Company, Western Union, the telephone exchange and the bank wrote down what each of them did.
Read all 24 documents and name the person who killed Peggy Van Alstyne. One accusation. Right or wrong, the solution file opens and shows every document that convicts. There are no hints and nothing is marked.
Press play and choose Create a room. Up to eight of you read the file on your own phones, see what the others have opened, vote in secret and let the host reveal. Only the host needs to own the case; guests play free.