The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the bustling campus of Crestwood High. The campus, a sprawling mix of red-brick buildings and lush green lawns, seemed to hum with the energy of students. Laughter echoed from the courtyard as groups of friends gathered, chatting about the latest gossip or the upcoming weekend plans. The air was crisp, with just enough of a breeze to send a few stray leaves skittering across the sidewalk.
The school was alive with the usual chatter of the lunch break. Some students were lounging beneath the shade of the large oak trees, while others hurried toward the vending machines or the nearby library. A few were huddled around the basketball courts, practicing shots or making plans for the next game. The quiet hum of distant conversations blended with the occasional bursts of laughter, creating a sense of normalcy and routine.
Inside the classroom, the atmosphere was slightly different. The desks were neatly arranged, and the blackboard at the front still bore the remnants of the morning's lesson. The air inside was a little cooler, with the faint scent of chalk lingering in the corners. A few students had remained behind, packing up their things or finishing last-minute assignments before the bell rang. The room itself felt like a safe haven in the midst of the chaos outside—calm, collected, and orderly.
But as the bell signaling the end of recess rang out across the school, the peaceful atmosphere was shattered. The murmurs of students shifted to whispers, and the tension that suddenly filled the air was palpable. Something had changed. And as the door opened and Shuan walked in, frantic and clearly upset, the cause of that shift became clear. The theft had occurred.
The classroom, once filled with the ordinary sounds of school life, had now become a stage for suspicion and uncertainty.
The Framed Thief
The weight of responsibility settled on your shoulders as you stepped into the classroom, the murmurs of your classmates filling the air. As the Student Council President, it wasn't just your duty to keep order—it was expected. When problems arose, everyone turned to you.
Today was no different.
Shuan, the vice-president, stood near her desk, her face a mix of frustration and panic. "My phone is gone," she said, voice tight with anxiety. "I had it before the break, but now it's missing."
A lost phone wasn't uncommon. But the way everyone shifted in their seats, casting glances toward Drac, Curtin, and Sarah, made it clear. This wasn't just a lost item. It was theft.
You folded your arms. "Alright. Let's go over what happened."
The Timeline
The school's recess break ran from 12:00 PM to 1:20 PM. During that time, almost everyone was outside the classroom.
Drac entered at 12:55 PM, supposedly to slip a love letter into Shuan's bag.
Curtin followed at 12:58 PM, just three minutes later.
Sarah was the last to enter at 1:10 PM.
Shuan returned at 1:15 PM, searched for her notebook, and realized her phone was gone.
The CCTV footage confirmed that the hallway leading to the classroom was two minutes long—meaning anyone who entered had to spend at least two minutes getting inside and another two minutes leaving.
The three suspects sat in front of you, watching your every move. Drac, fidgeting, his face red. Curtin, relaxed but smirking as if this were a joke. Sarah, arms crossed, annoyed but firm.
They all suspected each other, but you knew that was the perfect way to cover their own tracks.
"Let's find out who's lying," you said, scanning the evidence.