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The Rise and the Fall
TSC45TRaF
General information
Season 1
City Easthaven
District Velvet Avenue
Case # 45
Initial release date 28th June 2020
Partner(s) Nancy Miller (All Chapters)
Case chronology
← Preceded by Succeeded by →
Off to a Fine Art Red Nemesis
(in Rusanov Square)
The past and present collide as the Chessmaster makes a fateful move across the chessboard that will decide the world's future. The rise... and the fall.
—Case Teaser

The Rise and the Fall is a case featured in Criminal Case, it appears as the forty-fifth case in The Syndicate and the forty-fifth case overall. It takes place as the fifth and final case in the Velvet Avenue district of Easthaven.

Plot[]

One week ago. A cloth is placed over Noah’s mouth and nose as he struggles to breathe, tears slowly beginning to fill his eyes. Help. Help. Help. He thinks, over and over, as he feels himself becoming weaker, tired, and heavier. He sees the videotape on the side, desperately trying to get to it, but to no avail, as he’s held tightly - his neck bent - the cloth placed closer to his face. Weakly he looks up at his attacker, the darkness concealing the Chessmaster’s face. His eyes slowly shut… and then he drifts away.

Now. The team race to the Eastington Estate to stop Edgar Murdoch, the traitorous Mayor, from fulfilling BISHOP’s plan and turning Rusanov Square into their kingdom. As Grayson and Nancy rush to the doors, they find Mildred hurrying to the manor. The pair try to stop her from confronting Edgar, but she insists she knows her grandfather, describing how he raised her when her parents were away, how he’s a good man, and telling them to let her speak to him. Nancy pleads with her to the listen, but, in her denial, Mildred turns on her heels and rushes around a corner.

Then, she lets out a bloodcurdling scream, scattering the birds. The team hurry to her side, only to find a pool of blood leading to her mother, matriarch Grace Murdoch’s body, broken and shattered from a fall – bones protruding from her limbs. Mildred tearfully rushes to her side, begging the team to help her mom, but it’s too late... Grace’s blank eyes looking to the sky. Daphne then concludes Grace was burned, stabbed, and even had her fingernails removed - confirming she was tortured - before the pair are forced to suspect Mildred. They also question CEO Jackson Pratt, handmaiden Bellona Fortuna, and First Lady Leila Stainton. As Nancy frets that they haven't heard from E.E. yet, a nervous Barbara approaches and explains that, after searching Grace's bedroom, she found proof Grace was E.E.

Barbara then hands them Grace's diary, which recounts how she discovered BISHOP's plans when overhearing Edgar and Seth. However, due to the danger, she kept herself an anonymous informant. Determined to solve the murder of their ally, Nancy and the player set to work, suspecting Vice President Easton Ellis, Soviet Ambassador Ilya Rusanov, and Lab Chief Matthew Moreau, who was following Grace. After learning Mildred resented her mother for sending her away to boarding school - only to learn it was to give Mildred a normal life - Matthew approaches them. He explains that he was following Grace because he had discovered the truth: she was his birth mother. He sighs, explaining Grace fell pregnant after a short-lived affair, and, knowing her husband would treat him badly, she made the gut-wrenching decision to give Matthew to her friend, Eloise Moreau, who was infertile.

Matthew starts to sob, admitting Grace even paid for his tuition in secret, and that he'd always regret not reuniting with her. As Mildred and Matthew learn they're siblings, it is also discovered Leila and Easton planned to arrest Grace in connection to Edgar, despite the lack of evidence, and that Ilya blames the Murdoch's for barricading Rusanov Square. Bellona was discovered to be indebted to Grace after the matriarch gave her a family after her suicide attempt, before learning Jackson ousted Grace from his company. Eventually, they expose Bellona as the murderer.

They confront Bellona by the balcony, where she places her hands to her chest with a coy smile, telling them she’s just a shy schoolgirl, not a murderer. Nancy soon demands her to cut the crap, presenting the evidence. Though Bellona tries to swerve the accusations, she snaps, declaring she did torture and kill Grace, but Grace made the mistake of getting in their way. Bellona sighs, admitting that after her family’s business went under, she felt lonely, with nobody, not even her girlfriend being able to comfort her – resulting in her suicide attempt. However, when she was approached by BISHOP for the recruitment scheme, she finally felt seen. Wanting to create a new world order where what happened to her family wouldn’t happen again, she joined BISHOP - confessing her lie when she said she hadn't - soon falling under their spell as promises of a better world were made to her. She further reveals that the information given to them by her was done to destroy team morale, not aid their fight against the Chessmaster.

She became entangled in the spider’s web further and further – to the point she’d do anything for them. Bellona then reveals BISHOP knew Grace was E.E., deciding to use her as an asset. They then tasked Bellona with getting close to Grace, prompting the student to rise through her ranks until she became her personal handmaiden. When BISHOP sent word to Bellona that Grace had Gregory’s videotape, she jumped into action. She attacked the matriarch, torturing her for the videotape’s location. Though Grace tried to resist, she eventually gave in. As Bellona went to retrieve the videotape, Grace was able to escape her restraints and rushed to inform the team. Bellona, however, knew this couldn’t happen, grabbing Grace and throwing her from the top floor. With the job done, Bellona went back to being a handmaiden, with nobody the wiser. They then order Bellona to confess the videotape’s location, but she refuses to say, telling them BISHOP will soon collect it and it will be too late for Easthaven. With a deflated sigh, they arrest Bellona, with Nancy stating the young student was only fed lies. After Judge Watson sentences Bellona to fifty-years imprisonment with psychological counselling, an angry Grayson insists they can’t let Grace die for nothing: declaring they had to discover the Chessmaster’s identity – now or never.

Margot then approaches them with Europa, vowing that, since they knew Bellona, they could reach her. Grayson, with no other options, agrees to the idea, but tells them to be armed. The duo starts to speak to Bellona, who refuses to listen. Eventually, Europa takes her hand, telling Bellona that she doesn’t need BISHOP, because she has her. Bellona slowly snaps out of her trance, beginning to sob. Bellona reveals she hid the videotape beneath the floorboards in Grace’s bedroom, ordering them to go quickly. Nancy and the player rush to Grace’s bedroom and crack open the floorboards, eventually finding the videotape hidden. They load the tape, finding Gregory’s final video. The late songwriter thanks them one last time, before revealing he had remembered more about BISHOP… telling them Jake Coleman was the Chessmaster. In shock, the team insist it isn’t true, before Mildred confesses she saw Jake enter the chapel earlier.

Armed, they approach the chapel. Matthew enters first, finding Jake at the altar, praying for forgiveness. Jake comments on their long faces, before an angered Matthew orders him to confess. Confused, Jake continues to claim innocence, but Matthew presses on. Backed into a corner, Jake’s expression changes to that of nothing – not revealing his emotions. He confesses, declaring he was the Chessmaster. He recounts how, after escaping Russia, he arrived in Easthaven to begin his game, creating Jake Coleman, a reckless daredevil, so they would never suspect him. He followed the team by cashing in favours with BISHOP members, while also planting seeds he wanted to join them, in hopes of gaining their trust, as he believed they were too close to betray one another – and he needed knowledge on his enemy.

Once he had saved Raymond Henderson’s life, he was in. A hurt Barbara insists they were good to him, which Jake agrees to - even stating he wishes things could’ve been different - but couldn’t let sentiment stand in his way, not again. They start to remember how Jake shot Octavio, had nobody outside the team, deciphered Soviet messages, failed to catch Miranda, insisted they follow BISHOP’s distraction, and had expert memory – a key trait of spies. As Grayson realises BISHOP were always one step ahead, Jake asks them to imagine a world without borders, countries, difference – one world of peace.

All he needed to accomplish that was a nuclear war, which would wipe the superpowers off the face of the Earth, allowing BISHOP to reshape society. An angered Matthew tells him he’ll get revenge for Noah – infuriated he was taken over a videotape – prompting Jake to confess Noah was alive – that sentiment got the better of him. Matthew runs at ‘Jake’. Jake pulls out his gun, holding it to Matthew’s forehead. Gritting his teeth, Matthew dares him to do it. He dares Jake to shoot him, saying “shoot me. Shoot me. Shoot me”. Mildred begins sobbing and screams at Matthew to listen to reason, though he’s too blinded by rage. She then cries out that she can’t lose him too, snapping him out of his trance and causing him to fall to the ground – a muzzle-sized mark in his forehead. Jake then tells them that they’ll lower their guns and let him walk out, or he will kill Noah. Reluctantly, Grayson agrees, and they lower their guns. Once the team reject his invitation to join him, he takes off his police jacket, exposing his blood-red shirt below. He walks into the night - and into the unknown.

Back at the station, a stressed William paces, asking if they caught Jake. Grayson, however, confesses they let him go. Angered, William tells the Chief he had one job, insisting they let his boyfriend’s killer go. He storms off. Left shell-shocked by the revelation, Margot reveals Edgar had finished barricading Rusanov Square – BISHOP’s kingdom created. With no choice, Grayson orders the team to BISHOP’s kingdom... their final stand against evil swiftly approaching.

Years ago, the Chessmaster chips away at the wall, having wasted away in his cell for years. His mind was hellbent on revenge – and atonement – vowing to create a better world without the threat of war. He continues to chip away at the wall, slowly, slowly, slowly, before breaking free. He stumbles into the wilderness, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his chess set in his hand. The world needed a great game, and he would give it to them... and thus, Jake Coleman was born.

Summary[]

Victim[]

  • Grace Murdoch (thrown from the top floor; bones protruding from her broken limbs)

Murder Weapon[]

  • Pushed

Killer[]

  • Bellona Fortuna

Suspects[]

Mildred Murdoch
Historian
Height 5'3"
Age 23
Weight 151 lbs
Eyes Blue
Blood AB-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect has an earring.
Jackson Pratt
CEO
Height 6'0"
Age 49
Weight 185 lbs
Eyes Brown
Blood A-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect wears a fleur-de-lys.
Bellona Fortuna
Handmaiden
Height 5'2"
Age 19
Weight 134 lbs
Eyes Blue
Blood AB-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect has an earring.
  • The suspect wears a fleur-de-lys.
Leila Stainton
First Lady
Height 5'6"
Age 38
Weight 142 lbs
Eyes Blue
Blood AB-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect has an earring.
Easton Ellis
Vice President
Height 5'10"
Age 44
Weight 159 lbs
Eyes Blue
Blood AB-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect wears a fleur-de-lys.
Matthew Moreau
Lab Chief
Height 6'0"
Age 36
Weight 171 lbs
Eyes Blue
Blood AB-

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.
Ilya Rusanov
Soviet Ambassador
Height 5'10"
Age 40
Weight 212 lbs
Eyes blue
Blood AB+

Suspect's Profile

  • The suspect hunts.
  • The suspect eats oysters.
  • The suspect drinks Chateau Margaux.

Suspect's Appearance

  • The suspect wears a fleur-de-lys.

Quasi-Suspect(s)[]

Europa Cummings
University Student
Height 5'6"
Age 19
Weight 119 lbs
Eyes Black
Blood O-
Gregory Charles
Late Songwriter
Height 5'7"
Age 19
Weight 140 lbs
Eyes Brown
Blood A+
Jake Coleman
The Chessmaster
Height 5'9"
Age 27
Weight 160 lbs
Eyes Green
Blood AB-

Killer's Profile[]

  • The killer hunts.
  • The killer eats oysters.
  • The killer drinks Chateau Margaux.
  • The killer has earrings.
  • The killer wears a fleur-de-lys.

Crime Scenes[]

Estate Foyer Foyer Fountain Estate Foyer Bonus
Haunting Chapel Angel Statue Haunting Chapel Bonus
Crimson Bedroom Luxurious Bedding Crimson Bedroom Bonus

Steps[]

Chapter 1[]

  • Investigate Estate Foyer. (Clues: Victim's Body, Broken Clock, Business Card; New Suspect: Mildred Murdoch)
  • Examine Business Card. (Result: Jackson's Card; New Suspect: Jackson Pratt)
  • Interrogate Jackson on his business card. (New Crime Scene: Haunting Chapel)
  • Investigate Haunting Chapel. (Clues: Broken Choker, Confessional Box)
  • Examine Broken Choker. (Result: Crucifix; New Suspect: Bellona Fortuna)
  • Confront Bellona about the choker in Grace's church.
  • Examine Confessional Box. (Result: Confessional)
  • Analyze Confessional. (07:00:00; New Suspect: Leila Stainton)
  • Confront Leila over asking for forgiveness.
  • Examine Broken Clock. (Result: Clock Hand)
  • Analyze Clock Hand. (06:00:00; Attribute: The killer eats oysters)
  • Autopsy Victim's Body. (18:00:00; Attribute: The killer hunts)
  • Go to Chapter 2. (No stars)

Chapter 2[]

  • Investigate Crimson Bedroom. (Clues: Diary, Satchel, Broken Brooch)
  • Examine Diary. (Result: Diary Entries)
  • Analyze Diary Entries. (06:00:00; New Suspect: Easton Ellis)
  • Speak to Easton about appearing in Grace's diary. (Attribute: Easton hunts; New Suspect: Ilya Rusanov)
  • Confront Ilya about threatening Grace. (Attribute: Ilya eats oysters)
  • Examine Satchel. (Result: Map)
  • Confront Matthew over following Grace. (Attribute: Matthew hunts and eats oysters)
  • Examine Broken Brooch. (Result: Grace's Brooch)
  • Examine Grace's Brooch. (Result: Red Liquid)
  • Analyze Red Liquid. (09:00:00; Attribute: The killer drinks Chateau Margaux; New Crime Scene: Foyer Fountain)
  • Investigate Foyer Fountain. (Clues: Torn Contract, Broken Frame)
  • Examine Torn Contract. (Result: Contract)
  • Analyze Contract. (05:00:00)
  • Confront Jackson about ousting Grace from the company. (Attribute: Jackson hunts, eats oysters, and drinks Chateau Margaux)
  • Examine Broken Frame. (Result: Boarding School Graduation)
  • Speak to Mildred about her resentment. (Attribute: Mildred hunts, eats oysters, and drinks Chateau Margaux)
  • Go to Chapter 3. (No stars)

Chapter 3[]

  • Question Matthew about being the victim's birth son. (Attribute: Matthew drinks Chateau Margaux; New Crime Scene: Luxurious Bedding)
  • Investigate Luxurious Bedding. (Clues: Faded Poster, Broken Statuette, Torn Tapestry)
  • Examine Faded Poster. (Result: Arrest Warrant)
  • Analyze Arrest Warrant. (07:00:00)
  • Confront Easton about the arrest warrant. (Attribute: Easton eats oysters and drinks Chateau Margaux, Leila drinks Chateau Margaux)
  • Confront Leila about issuing the arrest warrant. (Attribute: Leila hunts and eats oysters)
  • Examine Broken Statuette. (Result: Statue of Pandora)
  • Analyze Pandora Statuette. (05:00:00)
  • Speak to Bellona about being indebted. (Attribute: Bellona hunts, eats oysters, and drinks Chateau Margaux)
  • Examine Torn Tapestry. (Result: Murdoch Tapestry)
  • Speak to Ilya about blaming the Murdochs. (Attribute: Ilya hunts and drinks Chateau Margaux)
  • Investigate Angel Statue. (Clues: Fire Poker, Rosaries)
  • Examine Fire Poker. (Result: Blood)
  • Analyze Blood. (07:00:00; Attribute: The killer wears earrings)
  • Examine Rosaries. (Result: Nails)
  • Analyze Nails. (07:00:00; Attribute: The killer wears a fleur-de-lys)
  • Take care of the killer now!
  • Go to Hearts of Greed (5/5). (No stars)

Hearts of Greed (5/5)[]

TSAI9

  • Hear Europa Cummings' idea. (Reward: 20,000 Coins)
  • Speak to Bellona about not needing BISHOP. (Reward: Burger)
  • Investigate Crimson Bedroom. (Clue: Pile of Floorboards)
  • Examine Pile of Floorboards. (Result: Videotape Discovered)
  • Listen to Gregory Charles's confession about the Chessmaster's identity.
  • Speak to Mildred about what she saw.
  • Confront Jake about being the Chessmaster.
  • Tell Matthew to stand down. (Reward: Jake's Leather Jacket)
  • Go on to the next case! (No stars)

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