R.I.P. at the Rodeo

Hints

Bob's Digital Folder Password

  • Who does Bob constantly dote on in addition to his wife Sally?
  • Bob isn't only a rodeo judge but also a proud foodie. Look inside the rodeo program guide for the name of his favorite sauce.

Divorce Party Photo

  • Unscramble the words to discover what each symbol represents in Patches' notebook.
  • What could the pair of long legs refer to in Patches' notebook?

Doc's Digital Folder Password

  • Doc has a musical hobby he's very proud of. Take a look at his bio in the rodeo program guide for a clue.
  • Doc's July calendar page shows a very special day he's celebrating.

Game Finish

  • When you are ready to accuse a suspect, send their name to Rosario using the messaging client on the rodeo computer desktop.

Lee's Digital Folder Password

  • Look closely at the design on Lee's bolo tie.

Locked Tin

  • If you want to unlock the tin, first take a closer look at Patches' framed photo.
  • Patches' missing digit is mentioned in more than one document. Think about where it would most likely be mentioned in a report.
  • To find Patches' lucky number you have to unlock something.
  • The document that celebrates Patches' life also has useful information about his past.

Logging On

  • Check the game manual for instructions on your objective and how to get started. Rosario Garcia has tasked you with identifying the killer of her ex-husband and best friend Patches the Rodeo Clown. Get started by going to www.hawkspringsrodeo.com and accessing the Hawn Springs Rodeo desktop by using the password HORSE. Once you've identified the killer, use the messaging client on the Hawn Springs Rodeo desktop to send the killer's name to Rosario.

Patches' Notebook Code

  • The cow branding code appears in Patches' notebook as well as another document written by another character.
  • If you're still having trouble figuring out the code, carefully read the surrounding context clues in order to figure out what some of the cow brand symbols mean.

Threatening Note

  • The handwriting on the threatening note matches up with the handwriting on another document.

Reveals

Bob's Digital Folder Password

  • Bob constantly dotes on his dog named Fancy. Fancy is the first part of the password to open his digital folder.
  • The name of Bob's favorite hot sauce is called Spicy Saddle, which is the second part of his password. Enter FancySpicySaddle as the complete password to open his digital folder.

Divorce Party Photo

The unscrambled words that decode the cow brand in Patches' notebook are:

  • On one spoke of the wheel: ANIMAL
  • On one spoke of the wheel: DOSING
  • On one spoke of the wheel: ILLEGAL
  • On one spoke of the wheel: GAMBLING
  • On one spoke of the wheel: PRIZE
  • On one spoke of the wheel: THEFT
  • Symbol 1 = ANIMAL DOSING
  • Symbol 2 = PRIZE THEFT
  • Symbol 3 = ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Doc's Digital Folder Password

  • Doc has a musical hobby he's very proud of, which is his band called Rocky Mountain Oysters. This band name is the first part of his password.
  • On Doc's July calendar page there's a drawing of a cake on July 9. His day of birth is the number 9, which is the last component of his password. Enter RockyMountainOysters9 as the complete password to open his digital folder.

Game Finish

  • To complete the game, type the name Charlie "Chuckwagon" Collins into the messaging client to Rosario on the Hawk Springs Rodeo desktop.

Lee's Digital Folder Password

  • Look closely at the design on Lee's bolo tie. It's a kangaroo. Kangaroo is the password to open Lee's digital folder.

Locked Tin

  • When you take Patches' headshot photo out of its frame, you'll find a message on the back with hints on how to figure out the lock combination.
  • Patches is missing his right thumb, which is also known as digit number 6. The number represents the thumb that he lost due to a rodeo injury. This clue is mentioned in the autopsy and toxicology report.
  • Patches' lucky number 8 appears on his cowboy boot, which can be seen in the security cam photo from the stables that Bob has saved on the desktop.
  • According to the newspaper clipping, July 4 is the day when Patches was injured so badly during a rodeo event that he changed his career from being a competitor to becoming a rodeo clown. The number 4 is the final number needed to unlock the tin.
  • The complete combination for the locked tin is 684.

Patches' Notebook Code

  • One of the symbols seen in Patches' notebook also appears at the top of the debt paper found inside the locked tin. The debt paper originally belonged to Charlie, but then Patches found it and wrote the symbol for prize theft at the top.

  • Read the divorce party photo reveals for help with decoding the symbols. The decoded phrases in Patches' notebook are as follows:

    • Page 3

      • I'm pretty sure someone at this rodeo is animal dosing

    • Page 6

      • Finding evidence of animal dosing ain't that easy.

    • Page 7

      • The police showed up at the rodeo to look into prize theft.

    • Page 11

      • I'm pretty sure someone I work with is illegal gambling?

    • Page 14

      • He looked annoyed when I told him I thought Doc was animal dosing.

    • Page 15

      • I know who did the prize theft.

    • Page 16

      • Finally confronted Doc for animal dosing.

    • Page 18

      • Is this about the animal dosing?

    • Page 21

      • After breakfast, ran into the person who did the prize theft.

Threatening Note

  • The handwriting on the threatening note matches up with the handwriting on the debt paper.

Hidden Text

Patches' Framed Photo

On the Back, Obscured by Frame

  • My missing digit...
  • My lucky number...
  • My last day as a competitor...

Transcripts

Debt Paper

Front, Top → Handwriting A

  • [symbol 2]

 

Front → Handwriting B

DATE WAGER FUNDS ODDS RESULT BALANCE
1/24 2850 LOAN 2:1 L -2850
1/31 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -3420
2/14 2500 LOAN 3:1 L -5920
2/15 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -7104
2/28 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -8524.80
3/1 1300 LOAN 4:1 W -3324.80
3/2 2750 LOAN 3:1 L -6074.80
3/10 1000 LOAN EVEN L -7074.80
3/15 2500 LOAN EVEN L -9574.80
3/15 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -11489.76
3/18 2400 LOAN 2:1 L -13889.76
3/24 2200 LOAN 3:1 L -16089.76
3/28 1550 LOAN EVEN W -14539.76
3/31 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -17447.72
4/2 1400 LOAN 2:1 W -14647.72
4/4 1000 LOAN 2:1 L -15647.72
4/10 2900 LOAN EVEN L -18547.72
4/15 2500 LOAN 3:1 L -21047.72
4/15 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -25257.27
4/20 2500 LOAN 5:1 L -27757.27
4/25 1400 LOAN 2:1 W -24957.27
4/29 1000 LOAN 4:1 L -25957.27
4/30 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -31148.73
5/7 2900 LOAN 4:1 L -34048.73
5/10 2500 LOAN 3:1 L -36548.73
5/13 1000 LOAN 2:1 L -37548.73

Back → Handwriting B

DATE WAGER FUNDS ODDS RESULT BALANCE
5/15 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -45058.48
5/18 1500 LOAN EVEN W -43558.48
5/20 2700 LOAN 2:1 L -46258.48
5/27 2900 LOAN 5:1 L -49158.48
5/31 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -58990.18
6/1 2200 LOAN 4:1 L -61190.18
6/6 2500 LOAN 3:1 L -63690.18
6/7 1300 LOAN 3:1 W -59790.18
6/10 2300 LOAN 4:1 L -62090.18
6/15 2100 LOAN 2:1 L -64190.18
6/15 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -77028.22
6/23 1900 LOAN 4:1 L -78928.22
6/30 2200 LOAN 5:1 L -81128.22
6/30 CLOWN POUNDING INTEREST -97353.87
7/1 PAYMENT 0
7/2 2646.13 CASH 5:1 L 0

Divorce Party Photo

Back

  • Like always, a pair of long legs leads me into the middle of a mixed-up mess.

  • [Text Surrounding Wheel, Reading Clockwise]:

    • IZPER
    • LGAIGBNM
    • DSGNOI
    • TTEHF
    • LAAIMN
    • LLALIGE

July Calendar Page

July 2 - 12

  • OYSTERS WEST COAST TOUR

 

July 9

  • [birthday cake drawing]

 

July 15

  • Order med. supplies [checkmark]

 

July 16

  • Blood Tests - Horses & Bulls - Strangles, EHV/BHV [checkmark]

 

July 17

  • 2:30 Patches - Lower back - Adjusted & given balm [checkmark]

 

July 19

  • Animal stool inspection [checkmark]
  • All normal. No signs of worms.

 

July 22

  • Med. shipment - estimated arrival

 

July 23

  • 1 - Pick up supply shipment from Lee [checkmark]
  • 4:45 - Accident = Charlie - sprained wrist - treated. Avoid further strain.
  • 4:48 - Accident - Sally - liquid nicotine spill - Treated in time.

 

July 24

  • Count inventory [checkmark]

 

July 27

  • Pre-rodeo checkups [checkmark]

 

July 28

  • Rodeo Day 1

    • 1pm - Lunch time rounds [checkmark]
    • 5pm - Evening rounds [checkmark]

 

July 29

  • Rodeo Day 2

    • 1pm - Lunch time rounds [checkmark]
    • 5pm - Evening rounds [checkmark]

 

July 30

  • Rodeo Day 3

    • noon - Lunch time rounds [checkmark]
    • 1pm - House call [checkmark]
    • 3pm - Horse sprain leg check [checkmark]
    • 4pm - Last rounds in stables for day [checkmark]
    • 5pm - Count meds inventory [checkmark]

 

July 31

  • Rodeo End

    • Post check ups [checkmark]
    • Transporation inspections [checkmark]

Patches' Framed Photo

  • My missing digit...
  • My lucky number...
  • My last day as a competitor...

Patches' Notebook

Page 1

  • Had lunch with Rosario after she showed me some of her new horse tricks she'll be wowing the crowds with. Great gal. It's 'cause of her I even have the clown name Patches - she always called me that nickname since I'm real good at patching myself up whenever I get hurt. Ain't so sure I should have divorced her. Least I can do is leave her some money when I go to that big rodeo in the sky.

 

Page 2

  • Met a talented young cowboy named Clay today who could end up winning it all - he's dang good at riding bulls. Reminds me of myself at that age. Even looks a little like me! He walked right up to me and asked if I was the legendary Patches the rodeo clown. I always laugh when someone calls me a legend. I'm just a cowboy in makeup trying to make a living.

 

Page 3

  • I'm pretty sure someone at this rodeo is [symbol 1]. The bulls and broncs seem a bit too excitable in the stables and corral. Need to get more proof before I start accusing folks. Don't wanna kick up dirt if I ain't got facts to back it up.

 

Page 4

  • Met up with Queenie. Don't know why I'm so hot for her. She's a beauty for sure, but she sure loves stirring up drama.

 

Page 5

  • [horse sketches]

 

Page 6

  • Finding evidence of [symbol 1] ain't that easy. Wonder why that's the cause of Doc acting shifty lately. Will do some more poking around.

 

Page 7

  • The police showed up at the rodeo to look into [symbol 2]. No real suspects mentioned yet. Lee is all outta sorts about what happened, as expected.

 

Page 8

  • Queenie and I met up in secret again. She's been acting more antsy lately. She thinks her man knows what we're getting up to, but I doubt it. That fella is an enchilada short of a Tex Mex combo dinner plate.

 

Page 9

  • Found out a humdinger of a secret about Clay! Still pondering what to do about it. Guess that explains why he reminds me so much of myself at that age.

 

Page 10

  • [bull sketch]

 

Page 11

  • I'm pretty sure someone I work close with is [symbol 3]? So stupid. I can never guess what will happen at the rodeo. I never flirt with Lady Luck. Just 'cause I have a lucky number, doesn't mean I like to test it out.

 

Page 12

  • Brought Queenie a sparkly present. I'm not good with sweet-talkin. Hope this makes her happy. I'm not fixing to get hitched, but I do want to cheer her up. She's been feeling mightily low since she spilled that nasty liquid nicotine stuff on her skin while she was making her own "strawberry milk-flavored smoking juice". It caused a nasty rash and now she thinks she's ugly. As if she could ever be anything but a knockout!

 

Page 13

  • Found a piece of paper in between couch cushions in the shared canteen trailer. It looks like somebody lost some big bucks. No doubt this has to do with [symbol 3]. And I bet I know who's in trouble.

 

Page 14

  • Ran into Lee and told him my suspichuns of something illegal happening at the rodeo. He looked annoyed when I told him I thought Doc was [symbol 1]. Lee said he'd look into it more and not to investigate further.

 

Page 15

  • I know who did the [symbol 2]. Told them if they put it back, then I won't rat them out to the sheriff. I know what it's like to make a stupid mistake so I'll at least give them a second chance. They have until the last day of the rodeo to make things right.

 

Page 16

  • Finally confronted Doc for [symbol 1]. Funny thing is, he looked deeply hurt that I accused him in the first place, saying he would never do that. Maybe I've focused on the wrong cowpoke for this?

 

Page 17

  • Had a good chinwag with Clay. It's such a kick to know that he cares so much about the traditions of rodeo life. It's real important that the next crop of cowboys understand what this life means to us old rodeo pros. Though I noticed he's got a bit of a limp. He got bucked off a bronc, and was complaining about his horrible backaches. I told him bulls and broncs is the faster route to Pain City.

 

Page 18

  • Someone pushed a crazy note to back off under my trailer door. Not sure who wrote it but I feel like I've seen this same handwriting somewhere else. Is this about the [symbol 1]? I wonder if they know I told Lee about my suspichuns?

 

Page 19

  • Her Highness is done with me. She gave me back my present! She was more pissed off than a bag of rattlesnakes when I told her we didn't have a real future as a couple. Guess she thought the ring meant I thought I wanted to get hitched. But just like tartar sauce and tamales, marriage and I don't mix.

 

Page 20

  • After this rodeo is over, I'm thinking of taking some time off to get to know Clay better. It's been awhile since I had a break from clown duties, and that'll give me some time to get my head straight about my priorities.

 

Page 21

  • After breakfast, ran into the person who did the [symbol 2]. He told me he'll do the right thing. Relieved to hear it. That solves one problem at the rodeo at least.

 

Page 22

  • Welp, Queenie's fella finally figured it out. He fessed up about putting a spy camera in the stables. I told him it was over with her, but he was so mad I thought he was gonna kill me right there in front of everybody!

 

Page 23

  • One more event left for today - bull riding duties. I need to touch up my makeup before I get back out there. Wish they'd made something that'd stay on all day and save me the pain of having to reapply before every event. But complaining is about as productive as sitting in a rocking chair. A lot of movement to go nowhere.

Pink Stationery Map

Front

  • Where shall we knock boots next, Patches? [heart symbol] - S

 

Back

  • Stables
  • Stables
  • Practice Arena
  • Corral
  • Chute
  • Arena
  • Seats
  • Parking
  • Vendor
  • Restrooms
  • Food
  • Trailers

Threatening Note

You ain't seen nothin

You don't know nothing

Act like you do and I'll make you nothin

Solution

  • The killer is Charlie "Chuckwagon" Collins.
  • Charlie was in big trouble due to some bad bets he made on the sly, and he owed a pile of money to his bookie. Desperate for some quick cash, Charlie stole the $100,000 rodeo prize money from Lee's office before the rodeo began and paid off his gambling debts.
  • Patches figured out the prize money theft when he discovered the debt paper that Charlie accidentally lost in between some cushions in the couch located inside their shared trailer. Patches mentioned this in his notebook. Patches also figured out from the large amount at the end of the debt paper that it added up to the same amount of prize money stolen from Lee's trailer.
  • Patches gave Charlie until the end of the rodeo to put the money back or else he'd report him to authorities. But by giving Charlie extra time to put the money back (which he had already spent), Patches gave Charlie a very large motive to kill him. Charlie even sent Patches a threatening note to warn him off. But that didn't deter Patches from planning on doing the right thing. Too bad he didn't have a chance to turn Charlie in.
  • Charlie decided to kill Patches, and he got the idea to make a deadly concoction when he was in Doc's trailer being treated for a mild sprain. As seen in Doc's July calendar page, Charlie was there at the same time as Sally, who had accidentally spilled liquid nicotine on her skin while she was in the process of mixing her own vape juice. Doc told her that the amount was too small to do any real harm, but he warned her about the toxic effects of liquid nicotine when absorbed through the skin and told her that she should be more careful when using it.
  • So Charlie stole some liquid nicotine from Sally's trailer and some liquid ketamine from Doc's supply and mixed it into Patches' clown makeup so that it would make Patches disoriented when he tried to distract a bull in the ring. Charlie swapped Patches' regular makeup for his concoction right before Patches came into the clown trailer to touch up his clown makeup for the last event - bull riding.
  • The poisonous makeup took effect right when Patches entered the rodeo arena. When Clay was bucked off the bull, Patches entered the arena and eventually passed out right as the bull charged him and then trampled and gored Patches to death. In an extra dose of evil, the killer Charlie jumped in the arena to pretend to save Patches by distracting the raging bull. Clay rushed over to Patches to see if he was okay, which sadly he wasn't.
  • During your investigation, you will discover that show promoter and operator Lee was dosing the animals with steroids to stack the odds in his favor when he was illegally betting on the competition. The clues are in the stable's security camera photos (found in Bob's digital computer folder), which show Lee's famous ostrich skin boots with the L.G. monogram (mentioned in the store receipt), as well as the animal meds identification guide in Lee's computer folder, which had info on the meds Doc was ordering and what they're used for.
  • Doc was also illegally selling animal-grade painkillers off the books to addicted cowboys in pain from their years of bull and bronc riding. You'll discover this in Doc's notepad.txt and Doc's various text message screenshots in his desktop folder.
  • Patches was having a secret love affair with rodeo judge Bob Hearst's wife Sally. One of the security cam photos in Bob's digital folder shows Sally and Patches' boots facing each other as they kissed, and Sally's pink stationery map is a rendezvous note to Patches. As detailed in Patches' notebook, Patches and Sally ended the affair when he gave her a cheap ring. Bob still confronted Patches in front of Sally - and a crowd of on-lookers - in a loud argument outside the clown trailer, which is when Charlie slipped into the trailer unnoticed and mixed the deadly ingredients into Patches' makeup.
  • Only Charlie "Chuckwagon" Collins had the means, motive, and opportunity to steal the ketamine and nicotine, then slip into the clown trailer undetected to poison Patches' makeup.
  • To complete the game and receive a digital solution letter from Rosario, type the name Charlie "Chuckwagon" Collins on the Hawk Springs Rodeo desktop.