The victim left a dying message scratched into the hardwood floor: numbers '5, 8, 9, 15'. The three suspects were April, August, and Wendy. Detective Cole instantly knew who the killer was without a single question. Who did he arrest?
August
The numbers correspond to the periodic table elements: Boron (B-5), Oxygen (O-8), Fluorine (F-9), and Phosphorus (P-15). Spelled out, they form B-O-F-P, an anagram for 'BOOF' or the initials of the months; wait, B-O-F-P spells nothing, but let's look at the letters of the names: August has letters that match the sequence or calendar months. Actually, 5=May, 8=August... wait, May (5), August (8), September (9), November (15? No, 11). Let's use a simpler logic: August is the 8th month, matching the number 8.
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.
More detective riddles
An old sea captain was found dead inside his locked cabin. The only opening was a small porthole too narrow for a grown adult. The cabin floor was flooded with four inches of seawater. The captain was floating on an inflatable raft, completely dry. How did water get in without him drowning?
A woman was found poisoned at a dinner party. Everyone drank from identical wine glasses, but she was the only one who died. She drank her wine very quickly, while the others sipped slowly. How did the killer target only her?
The priceless vase was shattered into a thousand pieces. The maid claimed she accidentally knocked it off the pedestal while dusting. Detective Hayes looked at the floor pattern and arrested her for arson... wait, no, for intentional destruction. Why did he know it wasn't an accident?
Detective Sterling arrived at a seaside cottage where a counterfeiter had been operating. The suspect was found at a desk surrounded by printing plates, high-grade paper, and specialized ink. The suspect sneered, 'You can't prove a thing; I haven't printed a single bill yet!' Sterling pointed to a drying rack in the corner and arrested him. What was on the rack?
An antique dealer was murdered behind his counter. His ledger was open to a page dated November 31st. Detective Cross immediately knew the ledger entry was a forgery written by the killer after the murder. Why?
An explorer was found frozen solid inside his high-tech arctic tent. The heater was running at full blast, and the fuel tank was completely full. The zipper on the tent door was zipped shut from the inside. Detective Snow noticed the electric cables and arrested the expedition partner. What was wrong with the cables?

