Welcome back, Detective. You cracked the last case — this one's harder.
This morning, Tilly the tortoise was gone from her pen. The gate was open, a few lettuce leaves were scattered on the path — and Tilly was nowhere to be found. She was happily munching breakfast at 7:45am. By 8:15am, she'd vanished.
Four people were around that morning. One of them is not telling the whole truth. Examine the scene, weigh up the alibis, and — when you're sure — name the culprit.
⚠️ Watch out: the person who seems most helpful isn't always the most innocent.
🔍 Tap each clue to examine it.
🔒 The pen gate +
Open, undamaged. The latch sits high up on the gatepost — easy for a tall grown-up to reach, but far too high for a child or an animal. Whoever opened it was an adult, and knew the latch.
🥬 The lettuce trail +
A trail of Tilly's favourite lettuce leaves leads from the pen towards the car park. It looks like someone tempted her along — calmly, not in a panic.
📦 The crate by the van +
An empty wooden crate lined with straw sits by the delivery van. Just the right size for a tortoise! But the delivery log shows this crate was emptied and signed off at 7am — an hour before Tilly vanished.
📄 A dropped flyer +
A bright flyer, dropped near the pen: "GIANT TORTOISE CONTEST — TODAY ONLY — £500 PRIZE for the biggest tortoise!" Someone wanted to enter a tortoise today, of all days.
📸 A timestamped photo +
A photo posted online at 8:30am shows one of the suspects at the Tortoise Show — 40 minutes' drive away. To be there by 8:30, they'd have had to leave well before Tilly disappeared at 8:15.
🕵️ Four suspects. Read carefully — and remember, a solid alibi means they couldn't have done it.
🧑🌾
Marcus
Rival sanctuary owner
Motive
Always wanted Tilly for his own sanctuary. Was turned down.
Alibi
"I was at the Tortoise Show — here's my photo, 8:30am, forty minutes away."
"I'd have loved to own her, but I was miles away. Check the photo."
🚚
Jade
Delivery driver
Motive
None, really. Her crate just happens to be tortoise-sized.
Alibi
"My delivery was signed off at 7am. The crate's been empty since. I was loading the van out front."
"That crate's for parcels, not tortoises! It was empty an hour before she went."
👨🏫
Mr Hill
Visiting teacher
Motive
None.
Alibi
"I arrived at 9am with thirty children. Tilly was already gone by then — ask any of them."
"We turned up after all the fuss had started. The whole class saw."
🧑
Sam
Cheerful volunteer
Motive
Loves POTG. Always raising money for it.
Alibi
"I was, um, just tidying round the back. Then I noticed Tilly was gone and shouted for everyone to help look!"
"Let me help search! I'll look everywhere! It's awful, just awful!"
Stuck? The Hints tab (④) has three clues that get stronger.
💡 Unlock in order. Fewer hints = higher rank.
Hint 1 — A nudge
Who could even reach that high latch? It rules out children and animals straight away. You're looking for a grown-up who knew the pen.
Hint 2 — Cross them off
Marcus has a timestamped photo 40 minutes away. Mr Hill arrived at 9am, after Tilly vanished. Jade's crate was empty and signed off at 7am. Three alibis hold. Who is left — and whose story is the vaguest?
Hint 3 — Almost there
Why would anyone take a tortoise this morning? Look at that flyer — a £500 contest, today only. And ask yourself: who was suspiciously eager to "help search" the moment Tilly went missing?
Hints used: 0 of 3
⚖️ Name the culprit. You can try again if you're wrong.
PETS ON THE GREEN · ANIMAL ACADEMY · CASE FILE 015
PawSteps