Inspector Vance found the victim slumped over a desk. In the victim's stiff right hand, a fountain pen rested pointing directly at the framed calendar on the wall, which showed the month of July flipped open. On the desk sat three unopened letters dated January 14th, April 9th, and October 21st. Vance immediately arrested the victim's business partner, Arthur. How did Vance know Arthur did it?
Arthur
The calendar was flipped to July, but July has not happened yet in a sequence where January, April, and October have already passed/arrived. More importantly, Arthur is the victim's business partner, and the letters spell out a hidden clue or the victim was pointing to 'July' because Arthur's name is hidden in the dates? Wait, look at the months: January (Jan), April (Apr), July (Jul), October (Oct). The victim was pointing to the missing fourth quarter month, July, but July is in the third month slot? Actually, the letters are Jan, Apr, Oct—missing July. The victim pointed to July, revealing Arthur (whose name starts with A? No). Let's look closer: Jan, Apr, Oct. The initials of the months spell J-A-O... wait. Arthur's name is encoded in the months or the pen points to July because Arthur's birthday is in July? In standard logic puzzles of this type, the calendar shows July, but the letters are Jan, Apr, Oct. The missing month is July, which connects to Arthur.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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