Murdok case library
Objects After Dark
Twenty cases about ordinary objects that do not fit their surroundings: a dry umbrella, an empty cage and a clock without its hand. Every room holds a position to recover.
CASE 014Rain Lane Cloakroom
The Dry Umbrella
A cloakroom attendant found a missing claim ticket and called its owner. Before they met, the attendant was killed. Among wet coats lay one completely dry umbrella.
CASE 015Wax Finch Workshop
A Candle Too Short
A candle maker was killed before meeting a buyer over a copied design. A witness used a short candle to claim an hour's wait, although the shop had only just opened.
CASE 016Ribbon Street Parcel Shop
The Unopened Parcel
A postal clerk was killed before opening a returned parcel. Its seal was intact, and a matching silver object sat on the counter. Nobody had checked what was inside.
CASE 017Bellflower Shop
The Wrong Bouquet
A wedding bouquet arrived with a memorial card. The courier was killed while checking the mix-up. The florist had taken full payment for both ceremonies.
CASE 018Dawn Spoon Cafe
The Second Breakfast
A cafe had a booking for one, but the cook was asked to set two breakfasts. The cook was killed before the meeting, and nobody claimed the second place.
CASE 019Copper Key Repair Shop
The Key in the Glove
A deed custodian was killed after reporting a missing key. It turned up inside a glove, coated with wax. The deed cabinet had no sign of forced entry.
CASE 020Feather Court Aviary
The Silent Canary
An aviary keeper was killed before showing a canary to its buyer. Birdsong still came from behind the curtain, but the cage was empty when the curtain was drawn.
CASE 021Willow Lending Library
The Book Returned Tomorrow
A reader returning a book was killed at the library. The return stamp bore tomorrow's date, and a folded blank sheet had replaced the map inside the book.
CASE 022Plaster Lane Studio
A Footprint on the Ceiling
An inspector was killed while checking new ceiling panels. Muddy footprints crossed one panel overhead, although no ladder reached it. The panel had just been fitted.
CASE 023Blue Clay Pottery
The Cold Kiln
A kiln worker was killed before buyers inspected a freshly fired batch. The pots felt warm, but the kiln was cold and its old ash lay undisturbed.
CASE 024Mirror Lane Tailor
The Backward Receipt
A tailor was killed while checking a charity production's bills. Donated cloth had been charged for, and one receipt showed both its figures and signature in reverse.
CASE 025Pearl Arcade Aquarium
The Empty Aquarium
An aquarium keeper was killed during a closed-door inventory. Water still hummed in the darkened exhibit, but behind its curtain the display tank stood empty and dry.
CASE 026Pendulum Watch Shop
The Missing Minute Hand
An appraiser was killed before an antique clock changed hands. The clock ran, but its minute hand lay beside it. The shop called it a minor unfinished repair.
CASE 027Lantern Picture House
The Ticket Without a Seat
A theatre usher was killed after reporting tickets with no seats. The tickets were genuine and numbered in sequence, but their row did not exist on the seating plan.
CASE 028Tide Cabinet Shop
The Singing Shell
A collector heard a recorded conversation inside a returned shell. He was killed before its borrower explained it. A familiar music-box tune accompanied the voices.
CASE 029Quill Corner Reading Cafe
Ink in the Sugar Bowl
A writer was killed before confronting an editor over a reused signature. On the tea tray, a sugar bowl held an uncapped ink bottle instead of sugar.
CASE 010South Sculpture Gallery
The Borrowed Shadow
A museum custodian was killed during inventory. A bronze statue was missing, yet its familiar shadow remained behind the empty plinth under the display lamp.
CASE 011North Quay Customs
Salt on the Ledger
A warehouse bookkeeper was killed while comparing dispatch records. Salt water soaked the ledger, but the windowsill was dry. Only a few columns of figures were ruined.
CASE 012Old Meridian Tower
The Thirteenth Chime
A clock repairer was killed before an inspection of the bell mechanism. Witnesses heard a thirteenth sound after midnight, although the hands had barely moved.
CASE 013Frostline Observatory
The Last Weather Balloon
Snow trapped six people at the weather station. The observer was killed. A balloon was still tied indoors, yet the receiver logged clear-weather data under its ID.