BRINDLEWOOD Reap What You Sew

BAY While Melody runs to phone the police, Penelope corners the
A Brindlewood Bay mystery by Ben Mansky

Quote: “Did I want her dead? I mean… no, no. Sure, she could
Complexity: 7 Mavens. She knows their reputation, and she tells them that the be a bit difficult to work with on occasion, and yes, she did make
last thing Katherine would’ve wanted is for the police to stand some pretty unusual requests. But no. She was an incredible
Presenting the Mystery in the way of the Satin Soirée. Perhaps they could help resolve woman. And I would never abuse a pair of fabric scissors that
this mess quickly, without the sheriff getting his nose too deep way.”
The Mavens have gathered for their weekly stitch n’ bitch in the into her business.
back of Creation Station, a local fabric and crafts chain. The at-
Establishing Question: You once had a notably unpleasant Janie Cassidy, a cashier
mosphere is more hectic than usual, as the staff sets up for the
annual Brindlewood Bay Satin Soirée. Thrown in collaboration encounter with Katherine Mink while window shopping in her Space buns. Athleisure. Wannabe model. Calvin convinced
with Savoye & Mink, the boutique next door, this celebration store. What did she say or do to leave such a strong impression? Melody to hire his daughter after Janie was fired from another
of all things fabric is Creation Station owner Penelope Harper’s job. She is so confident it crosses the line into delusion. She’s
pride and joy. Suspects desperate for her “big break” and never stops talking about it,
though it’s not clear she knows what it means.
Paint the Scene: You’ve spent many hours perusing the shelves Penelope Harper, a businesswoman
at Creation Station, but today the store is taking on a new shine. Quote: “If the thing is canceled, how am I supposed to get my
Calls the shots. Big crucifix, bigger hair. Powder blue skirt suit. She
What tells you the Satin Soirée will be an event to remember? big break? I don’t want to do the checkout register forever, girly.
owns Creation Station, but she rarely sets foot in it these days. She
Like, ‘ding ding, here’s your… paint – painting brush,’ that’s not
In the first scene, the Mavens may be knitting or embroidering, was once a friend and business partner of Katherine’s, though ru-
me. I’m the most famous fashion model‘s cousin to ever be asked
but first and foremost they are there to gossip. Go around the mor has it they might have been more. Things grew chilly between
to leave Fashion Week! For being too hot.”
table and prompt each player to share a short anecdote about them around the time that the chain of hobby shops took off.
the town or its inhabitants, starting with “I heard that…”,
Quote: “Kill her? Now, what would I gain from that? It’s been Alonso Marchesi, the husband
“You’re not going to believe this…”, or something similar. After
strictly business with Katherine for a good long time. As for her
each piece of gossip, the player should describe the fiber arts Boisterous. Leaps between topics. Luxury Italian suit. Part-
personal …affairs, you know as much as I do. The rest is between
project they’re working on, as an afterthought. If a Maven’s ner of the deceased, he’s also the brand director and graphic
Katherine and God.”
cozy activity is knitting, quilting, or otherwise fiber-arts-re- designer at Savoye & Mink. He seems shocked that Katherine’s
lated, they should instead describe their project in elaborate dead, but most of all, he’s devastated that she died wearing that.
Melody Jacobs, the manager
detail.
Quote: “You know, she always wanted a dramatic death. But ah,
People-pleaser. Skittish. Hand-knit cardigan. Melody has
Once they’ve done so, Creation Station manager Melody Jacobs in a penthouse, or a museum, or on a lovely bridge, not like this.
worked at Creation Station for a decade and treats the store like
approaches the Mavens. She tells them they’re very short-hand- Che peccato, a sad way to go. Red was not her color.”
a second home. She’s very intimidated by Katherine, and only
ed, and Savoye & Mink co-proprietress Katherine Mink has
slightly less intimidated by Penelope.
made some extravagant demands for the décor. Would they be Emmeline Savoye, the visionary
able to help out while Melody runs next door? Quote: “Ugh, Penelope is not gonna be happy if we have to post-
pone this. Though, I’ll be honest, it does take a bit of pressure Stares into your soul. Pseudo-philosophical tangents. Long red
Describe a brief scene in which the Mavens interact with nails. Co-owner of Savoye & Mink, she is almost theatrically
off. Katherine is – was – so demanding. She kind of scared me. I
Penelope, Calvin Cassidy, and Janie Cassidy, who are prepar- bereaved. She started as a fashion forecaster for the boutique,
hope she doesn’t become a ghost.”
ing for the Soirée. Eventually, Helen Lei should storm in with and when Penelope left the business, she took her place by
Melody and Sam Darlington in tow, each dragging a begowned Katherine’s side.
Calvin Cassidy, the dressmaker
mannequin behind them. Helen will explain that Ms. Savoye is
furious because Ms. Mink is nowhere to be found. As if on cue, Brilliant designer. Starving artist. Single father. A longtime Quote: “Alors, I changed into my mourning gown as soon as
an ear-splitting shriek rings from the back of the store: Janie friend of Penelope’s who maintains a small studio in the back of I heard the news. She was… tres spéciale. Together we created
has discovered the body of Katherine Mink, sprawled over a Creation Station, in part because he depends on her patronage. a sphere of possibility, a world where anyone could realize a
pile of boxes in a storage closet, a pair of fabric scissors buried He works closely with Katherine, and has produced some of her beautiful dream, an exquisite rebirth of the self. And imagine!
in her neck. most inspired looks. For twenty percent off.”
Helen Lei, a saleswoman Clues
Outwardly ruthless. Secretly soft. Cooler than you. The lead
Paperwork to launch an independent fashion label, torn to
sales associate at Savoye & Mink, Helen is always a step ahead
pieces
of the latest trend. She is extraordinarily devoted to retail fash-
ion as a concept, and even more so to Emmeline Savoye. She A fashion school yearbook featuring an unexpected face
thinks Katherine was losing her touch. A broken red acrylic fingernail in a suspicious place
Quote: “Not to speak ill of the dead, but it’s honestly a bit of a An invitation to meet at Creation Station at midnight
blessing. Ms. Savoye has a vision for this place, a vision bigger
A secret passage connecting the scene of the crime to
than all of us. Fashion moves fast, and it seems to me that Ms. another location
Mink couldn’t keep up.”
A newspaper clipping about ancient artifacts washing up on
Sam Darlington, the antiques dealer local beaches
An overheard romantic overture, rejected
Kind eyes. Nervous thumb-twiddling. Plaid scarf and long
coat. Sam both runs the jewelry-and-trinket counter at Savoye An old catalog from the boutique, bearing the name Harper
& Mink and manages new acquisitions. He is an expert in & Mink, defaced
precious objects of dubious provenance. Katherine, Penelope, A dress with a valuable item sewn into the lining
and Sam all go way back.
A shouting match over unpaid wages
Quote: “This is the worst thing that could’ve happened. I just
A sewing kit with a pair of scissors conspicuously absent
don’t understand why anyone would kill her! She may not always
have been nice, exactly, but she was a good person, deep down. A photograph of two well-dressed young women, one’s face
Like, really, reeeaally deep down. I know it.” scratched out
A folder of shipping manifests, each altered in the same way
Paint the Scene A lucrative job offer from a major fashion house
Savoye & Mink A commission for an extravagant “revenge dress”
Wall to wall, floor to ceiling, Savoye & Mink boutique clothing A lengthy rant posted on social media
emporium simply screams style. What details of the interior A valuable artifact nestled in a crate of fabric
make it feel like a temple to all things retail? A box of old love letters, postmarked but never opened
The Studio A note threatening to go public about a smuggling
operation
Tucked in the back of Creation Station, the studio is in a state
A sizeable invoice, long past due
of (barely) organized chaos. How do you know that an artistic
genius is at work?

The Mink Maisonette Void Clues

Located just above the boutique, Katherine and Alonso’s apart-
For an instant, every mannequin is draped in a long, black
ment is small but extravagantly decorated. What gives you some
robe
insight into the unconventional relationship these two shared?
A piece of cloth that twitches and bleeds when cut
The Warehouse A garment that pulls itself apart at the seams, howling in
A flimsy divider splits this surprisingly cavernous space between agony
Creation Station and Savoye & Mink. What makes you suspect Fashion illustrations depicting garments that disfigure the
the warehouse is used for more than just storage? wearer in gruesome ways
Thread that slithers and writhes, grasping for anything
within reach
Mannequins’ heads swivel to follow you wherever you go