
THE COFFEE CAKE CAPER: SOLUTION

- The first part of the story is essentially linear, to familiarise the player with the layout of the carnival and the background of the case. The choices begin once Anna leaves the tent and hears the birdsong.
- Find Edwina in her office near the stalls and pick up the charcoal
- Go to Dorian's dorm at the carousel and deliver the charcoal, talk to him, then confront him
  - You are lying about: stomachache
  - What you ate: dough
  - Why: shift schedule
  - How I know: rainbow frosting, costume, paper baking cups
- Go back to Edwina's office and confront her
  - Anna needs to have figured out whose cars are in the parking lot (see below)
  - You are lying about: car
  - How I know: snow, blanket, dark circles, phone
- Go to the guardhouse and talk to Barnaby, then confront him
  - Anna needs to have confronted Edwina
  - You have not been honest about: mess
  - How I know: Edwina
- Go to the tent
  - Talk to Diffany to find out about the tripod, but don't confront her
  - Talk to Cornie, then confront her
    - Anna needs to have talked to Barnaby
    - You are lying about: Barnaby
    - How I know: photograph, Cornelia
- Go back to Edwina's office and watch the stream on her laptop
- Go back to the tent and confront Diffany
  - You are lying about: preparation
  - How I know: livestream, coffee liqueur, pretty dress
- Go back to Edwina's office and set things in motion
  - What was the crime? Someone vandalised the coffee cake
  - Who vandalised the coffee cake? Cornie. Chocolate truffles, judging criteria, competition
  - Who took the cake? Barnaby. Oversized baking pan, uniform, garbage truck

Soft answers/deductions

- Whose cars are in the parking lot? Barnaby and Dorian both stay on-site, and Cornie takes the bus. That leaves Diffany and Edwina. The colours of the cars match their tastes in clothing.
- Cornie comes from a long line of bakers. She says that she runs the family business. Her initials are C. C., and her apron says Crumpet Bakes. She has an heirloom starter from her grandmother named Mabel (the starter, not the grandmother!). Her baking equipment is worn out, whereas Diffany's is all new.
- Why was Dorian so hungry? The shift schedule has no gaps after lunch, due to bake-off. Dorian is also the only employee at the carousel: it's closed because he is ill, and Edwina refers to him as "the" carousel barker. Anna guesses from this that he hasn't had time for a proper meal in 9 hours.