This case introduction is quick and to the point. It opens with a glimpse of a man in a room, folding paper into an origami shape. As the camera pulls back, we see him surrounded by flocks of origami cranes. This man looks familiar: his hat and figure are the ones we’ve seen earlier in other mysterious glimpses.
The scene switches to Captain McKelty’s office at the Wilshire Police Station. Detectives Phelps and Biggs enter to grim news: another deadly house fire, with four more victims like the Sawyer family in the previous case.
Objectives
- Investigate the Morelli Fire.
- Interview Dudley Forman (Neighbor).
- Investigate Rancho Escondido.
- Interview Leland Monroe at Elysian Fields.
- Investigate Chapman’s Apartment.
- Apprehend Herbert Chapman.
Case Report
Total Number of Key Clues 13
Total Number of Interview Questions 8
Fail Conditions
- Phelps dies.
- Chapman escapes.
Location: Morelli House Fire
Talk to Lynch.
Travel from Wilshire Station 
to the site of the house fire 
on North Hobart. Approach Coroner Carruthers at the front door of the burned house and follow him inside to a disturbing sight: the charred remains of the Morelli family, burned black yet somehow kneeling on the living room floor.
Chief Investigator Albert Lynch believes they were moved to the spot after the explosion, but before the fire, adding Bodies Moved to your Clue list. He believes
the cause of death was asphyxiation from gas inhalation—the Morellis died without feeling a thing. According to Lynch, the fire damage to the bodies was post-mortem.
Inspect the site.
Examine the bodies at evidence marker A for a close-up of the family. Then find the Family Photograph at evidence marker B. After examining both evidence markers, another cut-scene is triggered: Phelps sees links between cases again. Biggs is skeptical, but both the coroner and the chief investigator find his theory plausible. Phelps thinks the arsonist feels guilt because he meant to burn houses, not families.
After Mr. Morelli’s collapse, Biggs gets spooked and rushes out of the house. Carruthers suggests checking on Biggs, but there are a few more items of interest (no key clues) in the house if you’re interested. Down in the cellar, for example, you can examine the hole blown out by the heater explosion.
Step outside the house to trigger a cut-scene between the partners: Phelps learns that the ghosts of war and fire haunt Biggs, too. His service was at brutal Belleau Wood in World War I, 20 days of hell known as the deadliest battle in U.S. Marine Corps history. Then Phelps points out that the Morellis were also on the list of contest winners at Gulliver’s Travel Agency. They decide to canvass the neighborhood.
Find the water heater.
Before checking with the neighbors, walk around the house to the debris near the hole blown in the foundation. Find and examine the Water Heater by evidence marker C to look at the service log. It’s the same model you’ve seen at the other house fires: an InstaHeat Model 70.
Search the neighbor’s yard.
Now step over the low wall on the left side of the Morelli yard. Walk to the front corner of the neighbor’s yard near the tree to find Boondocker Boot Prints and a pile of Calderon Cigarette Butts. Phelps notes that someone was here keeping watch for quite a while.
Interview the neighbor.
Approach the man standing near his front porch and press Talk to trigger a cut-scene: Phelps asks about the fire. The neighbor mentions that the Morelli family had just won a Weekend Away. He gives his name as Dudley Forman, and an interview sequence begins. This adds Dudley Forman as a P.O.I.
Key Clue Checklist: Morelli House Fire
- Bodies moved
- Family photograph
- Water heater
- Boot prints
- Cigarette butts
- Weekend away
Interview: Dudley Forman
Topic: Morelli fire witness report
Phelps starts to ask a simple question, but Forman cuts him off, stating he was asleep when the explosion occurred. It’s an odd reaction, and calls for a follow-up response.
Correct Assessment: Bad Cop
Phelps suggests that Forman didn’t like Morelli. Forman mentions that all the Houses (are) to be Demolished for a new subdivision, and admits that Morelli was being “difficult” about selling his property to the developer. This adds a pair of new topics to your Questions list.
Topic: Suspicious activity
Phelps asks if anyone was hanging around before the explosion and Forman promptly answers, “Nope”. But again, his reaction is strange: he glances off to the side as he answers, and then avoids eye contact.
Correct Assessment: Bad Cop
When Phelps presses a bit and mentions signs of someone lurking by the fence, Forman suddenly remembers a guy hanging around and describes him in detail. He thought the fellow was the pest exterminator. This adds “Smoking Man” to your P.O.I. list.
Topic: Planned demolitions
Phelps asks about the home demolitions. Forman says the housing developer is Elysian Fields, and is surprised that the detective hasn’t seen the billboards of Leland Monroe, the owner, “beaming down” at him. But when Phelps asks if Morelli had taken an offer, Forman looks uncomfortable and says he doesn’t know.
Correct Assessment: Bad Cop
Phelps tries guilt and it works. Forman admits that Morelli built his own house and refused to sell to Elysian Fields, adding “Stubborn fool was ruining it for all of us”.
Topic: Promotional travel contest
Forman says the Morelli family was supposed to be away for the weekend at Catalina Island as winners of a travel contest. But when Phelps asks who was running the competition, Forman says, “What? I don’t know”. The way he answers seems odd, but in this case it’s just because Forman is an odd duck. He’s actually telling the truth. Note the way he looks directly at Phelps.
Correct Assessment: Good Cop
Forman says the competition was an incentive for homeowners still thinking about selling.
Key Clue Checklist: Dudley Forman Interview
- Houses to be demolished
Examine the clue from Biggs.
After your interview with Dudley Forman, he offers to give you one of the competition flyers; he has it in his kitchen. But Biggs finds one on the ground by the mailbox. It’s been folded up into an Origami Crane. Examine it closer to unfold it and see that it’s one of the Elysian Fields Flyers. This gives you a new objective and a new P.O.I., Leland Monroe. Forman returns with his flyer, which includes the “Win a Trip” attachment.
Use a gamewell.
You need an address for the Elysian Fields development company, so use the gamewell just behind the coroner’s wagon to call in for it. The KGPL operator also connects Phelps to Captain McKelty, who sternly warns against any inquiry into Leland Monroe. After Phelps hangs up, Biggs suggests checking out the big Rancho Escondido blaze. He knows the area, so it pops onto your locations page.
Key Clue Checklist: Morelli House Fire
- Origami crane
- Elysian Fields flyers
Location: Rancho Escondido
Disperse the riot.
Travel to Rancho Escondido 
. You arrive in the middle of a tense situation: G.I. homeowners who lost houses in the huge blaze angrily confront police officers at the scene. Soon a riot breaks out. Step in and K.O. two rioters to bring the situation under control.
Inspect the nearby wall.
After the fight, walk toward the brick chimney of the nearest burned house to get a chime; Phelps plucks a brick out of the wall. Examine it more closely to discover the Poor Cement Quality between bricks. Biggs notices no wall ties either… and then the wall suddenly collapses! Not very well constructed. This discovery adds a topic to your Questions page when you interview Leland Monroe later. You’ve seen all you need to see here.
Key Clue Checklist: Rancho Escondido
- Poor cement quality
Location: Elysian Fields
Interview Leland Monroe.
Travel to Elysian Fields 
and enter via the front doors. Approach the lobby receptionist to trigger a cut-scene: She sends you up to Monroe’s secretary, who tries to put off the detectives. But when Phelps threatens to get a warrant, Monroe himself steps out of his office and calls them inside.
You can examine the housing models and posters in the office if you want. Then approach Monroe to trigger an interview sequence.
Interview: Leland Monroe
Topic: Elysian linked to arsons
Phelps points out the fact that Elysian Fields flyers keep showing up at houses that subsequently burn down. Monroe says he advertises everywhere, so there’s no explanation needed. Then he gives Phelps a wary look.
Correct Assessment: Bad Cop
Phelps notes that each of the burned houses he’s investigated has belonged to a family that wouldn’t sell to Elysian Fields.
Topic: Promotional travel contest
Phelps asks about the Catalina Island promotion, but Monroe claims he’s not familiar with it. His company runs many such promotions. Monroe’s features are hard to read; his eyes seem to be permanently squinting, so they’re difficult to see. Of course, you have flyers for the contest that feature his smiling face.
Correct Assessment: Accuse
Evidence: Elysian Fields flyers
Again, Phelps points out that the prizes are given to holdouts—people who won’t sell to Elysian. Monroe explains that his face is “the brand” on all advertising. He also pointedly mentions that the mayor and chief of police are members of the Suburban Redevelopment Fund, as well.
Topic: Local land acquisitions
Phelps asks what happens to development plans when a family like the Morellis holds out. Monroe says they work around the holdouts. “Business finds a way”, he says.
Correct Assessment: Bad Cop
When Phelps presses the point, Monroe claims he’d build around any holdout, but that “progress is an inexorable process” and eventually most people see sense.
Topic: Rancho Escondido fire
This topic appears only if you found the “poor cement quality” clue at Rancho Escondido earlier. When Phelps asks if the new development that burned met building code regulations, Monroe replies, “Absolutely! Only the best for our returning heroes!”
Correct Assessment: Accuse
Evidence: Poor cement quality
Phelps and Biggs point out the shoddy workmanship at Rancho Escondido. Monroe responds that the buildings were fully inspected and insured by California Fire & Life. Then he offers to give you a list of the contractors he uses for waybills.
Monroe directs the detectives to his secretary. As Biggs exits, Monroe halts him… and delivers a little message about Monroe’s position on the board of the police pension fund.
Pick up the contractor list.
Approach the secretary and pick up the List of Contractors. Notice anybody familiar? Tap on the name “Herbert Chapman”, the firebug you chased down in your previous case, “The Gas Man”. This adds Herbert Chapman to your P.O.I. list and gives you the objective to find him.
Find a telephone.
Go downstairs to the lobby receptionist and turn right, going through the big green doors on the wall opposite her. Use one of the phones on an office worker’s desk to call dispatch. Phelps learns that Chapman has been released, so he puts out an A.P.B. (all points bulletin) on the firebug. The dispatcher says KGPL will get back to you on Chapman’s last known address.
The end of the phone call triggers a fade to black, followed by a cut-scene at The Blue Room later that evening.
Key Clue Checklist: Elysian Fields
- List of contractors
Location: The Blue Room
At the jazz club, Roy Earle stops by Phelps’ table to deliver a warning to stay away from Elysian Fields. He says Homicide is taking over the Morelli case. Then the scene switches again, this time to outside Elsa’s apartment the next morning.
Location: Elsa’s Apartment
Detective Biggs waits for Phelps at their car outside Elsa’s apartment building. When Phelps joins his partner, he learns that Biggs got the same hands-off message from Captain McKelty. When the cut-scene ends, you get a KGPL radio call with Herbert Chapman’s last known address. This puts the location on your map.
Location: Chapman’s Apartment
Search Chapman’s van.
Travel from Elsa’s apartment 
to Chapman’s 
. Your arrival triggers a short cut-scene: Phelps meets the landlord working on the lawn; he says Chapman isn’t home. Chapman’s van is parked on the lawn, however. Open the van’s rear door and look inside.
Pick up and examine the box of Mosquito Coils; examine it further to open it and remove a coil. Inspect the box of .45 Caliber Ammunition; Phelps points out that Chapman is clearly armed. Finally, pick up and unfold the Elysian Fields flyer.
After setting down the third item, Biggs suddenly spots Chapman coming out of the Superior Laundry down the street. The suspect also spots the detectives, then pulls out his handgun and jumps aboard an electric trolley car. The chase is on!
Key Clue Checklist: Chapman’s Apartment
- Mosquito coils
- .45 caliber ammunition
Location: City Streets
Apprehend Herbert Chapman.
Follow that trolley! Chapman takes control of the car and starts plowing recklessly through traffic as he flees east on Melrose Avenue. Pull up alongside and slam into its middle section to knock off the side panel (at the word “Electric”), thus exposing the wheels.
Continue pulling up next to the exposed wheels until Biggs can shoot them out. When the trolley finally halts, exit your vehicle. When you do, Chapman jumps out of the trolley and starts shooting. Take him out quickly!
Learn about Elsa’s insurance settlement.
After Captain McKelty commends his detectives, watch the cut-scene that sets up the next case. Elsa Lichtmann receives a generous insurance settlement for the death of her friend, Lou. But Phelps suggests that she should have an insurance investigator look into the matter: his old wartime rival, Jack Kelso.