The Blackridge Lodge

File #CO-2024-0119 · San Juan Mountains, Colorado

A tech founder dies in his bed during a whiteout that sealed the lodge for the night. No tracks in the snow means the killer never left — because they were already inside.

Difficulty: HARD · Play time: 30–40 MIN · 1–2 players, in the browser.

The suspects

• Tessa Brandt, 42 — Co-Founder & COO. Motive: 'Shotgun clause' hands her full control of Vale Systems on his death
• Miriam Vale, 46 — Wife. Motive: $5M life policy; he had drafted divorce papers
• Reuben Sato, 39 — CTO (Type-1 Diabetic). Motive: Vale was forcing him out and seizing his patents

The evidence

• EXHIBIT A: Insulin Pen — Reuben's pen — one cartridge short. Tessa's prints on the barrel.
• EXHIBIT B: Shotgun Clause — On a founder's death, the survivor buys out the estate at a fixed low price. Tessa takes the company.
• EXHIBIT C: Deleted Message — Tessa→Adrian, 22:48: 'Take that deal to the board tomorrow and we both end.'
• WITNESS 1: Caretaker Testimony — 'I came up for the storm shutters past two. Ms. Brandt was in the master hall — said she heard a noise.'
• EXHIBIT D: Smart-Lodge Log — Master-suite door opened 02:11, 02:23. Tessa's room sensor active 02:08–02:30.
• LAB: Toxicology: Insulin — Lethal insulin, C-peptide near zero — exogenous. Vale was not diabetic.
• EXHIBIT E: Life Policy — $5M on Adrian Vale — beneficiary Miriam. Taken out 14 months ago.
• EXHIBIT F: Divorce Draft — Adrian's unsent draft to his attorney — names Miriam, dated Jan 9.

No tracks in the snow doesn't mean no killer — it means the killer never had to make any. The Blackridge Lodge traps three people with everything to lose inside during a whiteout, and asks you to work out who was already exactly where they needed to be before the storm ever closed the road. One of our harder cases, built for a pair willing to re-check every alibi twice.

One of you reads the crime scene. The other reads the people. Play The Blackridge Lodge free — or browse all cases.