A Salinas Valley Whodunit · Case No. 0626

The Valley Baptist
Mystery

The offering plate is gone. The casseroles are getting cold. Somebody knows something.
The case: Between services, the offering plate — money and all — vanished. Somewhere in the building it's hidden, along with a signed confession. Four suspects. One culprit. And one of the four is lying.

Search the brass magnifier markers in every room. Most hold lint and church history; a few hold real clues.
Talk to everyone. Helpers tell the truth. Of the four suspects, three give statements that match the physical evidence — one gives a statement that quietly contradicts it. Nobody will point the liar out. Cross-reference.
Find the offering plate and a 3:00 countdown begins — race to find the signed confession, then accuse.
Accuse right, you win. Accuse wrong, the thief eats free at the potluck forever.

Note: the liar isn't necessarily the thief. The thief isn't necessarily lying. Welcome to church politics.

Everything reshuffles every game: the thief, the liar, both hiding spots, and the trail of clues.
VALLEY BAPTIST

3:00

Detective's Notebook

Casefile: The Missing Offering

The Moment of Truth

Who took the offering?

📱 Text — Deacon Nick