Smoke Before the Morning Rush
The Helm Diner, Caldmere
At 4:17 a.m. on Friday, a grease fire at The Helm Diner jumped its pan and became something far worse. By the time the trucks arrived, the kitchen was gutted — and Tomas Breck, the owner's nephew who cleaned the diner each night, was on his way to St. Clair with burns on his arms and smoke in his lungs.
Everyone has something to hide.
52. Retired commercial fisherman, blew out his back at 40. Massive, quiet, runs his bar like a deck — with authority and minimal words. His moral code is simple and absolute. Banned-for-life list is long.
Liang's star pupil and the department's unofficial fixer. Smart, ambitious, and increasingly aware that her mentor isn't who she thought he was.
The night shift belongs to Aggie. Twenty-eight years at St. Clair. She runs the floor with absolute authority and a dry humor that softens nothing.
Can you name the culprit?
Read the case file, interrogate the suspects, and make your accusation — five guesses to crack it. The deduction board and the solution are for detectives only.
Caldmere, Maine.
A small town on the Maine coast where everyone knows everyone, and nothing is quite what it seems. Explore the locations and characters behind every case.