Clue Chronicles: The Inn at Death's Door

***Clue Chronicles: The Inn at Death's Door*** was a four-part, free online mystery prequel to the 2000 point-and-click computer game *Clue Chronicles: Fatal Illusion*. The text-based detective mystery mini-series' chapter titles were "Episode One: The Magic Box"; "Episode Two: Chasing the Fox"; "Episode Three: One Death Less, One Death More", and "Episode Four: Race for the Truth". Its premise was "an assortment of eccentric guests gather[ing] at a Swiss inn", wherein a series of mysteries take place. Mystery website Mysterynet.com held a Clue Chronicles Mystery Weekend Contest from November 22 to December 3, 1999, sponsored by site owner Newfront Productions. The contest asked participants to read the four-part story, correctly answer four questions related to the mystery on the online entry form and explain how they solved the case in 500 words or less. The judges, Newfront and MysteryNet staff, selected a winner on January 15, 2000. The prize was a Murder Mystery Weekend for Two at the Austin Hill Inn in West Dover, Vermont. A judges' note accompanied the winning entry:

> Nearly 1,000 viewers submitted their own solutions to "The Inn at Death's Door". Reading through them was a treat. One of my favorites, from a viewpoint of pure imagination, was Janis Ebrecht's solution involving Hitler and the Duke of Windsor. William Drennan also provided a highly rated entry, the only correct solution to conclude with the patented "Clue" ending (killer, room, weapon). The winner was finally chosen on the basis of accuracy, sticking to the clues as provided, composition and style. Bonus points were given for staying within the 500-word limit. Congratulations to Elizabeth Dupke of Kent, Washington. Her final chapter, reprinted below, has been edited slightly.
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## Characters

* Fritz Thurgau: The blind innkeeper at the mountain chalet where you and the other party guests are spending the night. A strict and remote man, Fritz manages the inn with only the help of his cousin, Bertha.
* Bertha Thurgau: Fritz's cousin. A greedy and petty woman who notices everything and knows how to keep her secrets.
* Calvin Fox: An American cabaret performer, now living and working in Vienna. A large, ordinary looking man with a nervous tick that occasional afflicts his left eye.
* Mr. Green: Mr. Green lost his family fortune in the great crash and, from all reports, has been strugging to keep up appearances ever since. Though he looks and acts the aristocrat, rumor has it that he is desperate for something, anything to turn around his financial life.
* Ian Masque: Little is known about Masque except that he owns the amazing chateau built atop the alpine mountain -- scene of this New Year's Eve party, 1938. He is rumored to be fabulously wealthy with an interest, and even a belief, in the supernatural.
* Miss Scarlet: Scarlet had some kind of career acting, first in the West End, then to Hollywood. But apparently her chance at the big-time career slipped alway from her, and she is mostly known Ň if at all Ň for her work in a series of B-pictures. She is beautiful, but is she talented?
* Marina Popov: Popov, a beautiful Russian expatriate, is a trained hypnotist. Popov participated in the Soviet Union's notorious experiments in ESP. It would take a mind reader to know why she is here at Masque's party.
* Ms. Peacock: Mrs. Peacock left London after being involved in a messy romantic triangle with key political figures. Fleeing to America, the papers there reported on her affair with a businessman who was shot by his wife. Now she's back -- but is she just looking for more fun? .
* Dr. Julia Kell: Kell is a German psychiatrist, one who obviously felt comfortable remaining in the Third Reich. Does she, in fact, work for the German government? There is no evidence that points to that yet. .
* Colonel Mustard: Colonel Mustard held major commands in the First World War and, earlier, in Africa. His exemplary leadership was tainted with the accusations of profiteering that hit the tabloids at the end of the war. Rumor has it that any "profits" he stashes away have long since been consumed by his expensive lifestyle.
* Martin Urfe: Martin Urfe is the heir to the busted Kent 'fortune' of Bloodworth Estates. He is also an accomplished amateur magician. Urge performs his elaborate (and impressive) illusions for his wealthy friends, including the host of the party -- Ian Masque.
* Professor Plum: Professor Plum, formerly the Curator of the Egyptian Wing of the British Museum, published a series of articles in the Sunday London Times, which caused quite a stir. He claimed that there are major unexplained holes in the Egyptian historical record -- holes that he believes will be filled by major discoveries still to come.
* Sabata: This single-named Spanish artist's hallucinogenic paintings are world famous. Ian Masque has acquired a lot of Sabata's most bizarre works. His behavior is eccentric, often even irrational -- as befits an artist.
* Mrs. White: Mrs. White has had a long career as a nanny and maid, working for a number of high-profile families where discretion is valued almost as much as the necessary skills. Like most women who have worked at her craft, she has little, if anything, to show for it.