Case File: The Missing Gopher

Level 4 Clearance Required // Narrative Analysis Quest

Name:

Date:

Agency Briefing

The Golden Gopher Trophy has been stolen. Six witnesses and one direct address (Statement G) have been compiled. Detect the Point of View and evaluate the reliability of each narrator to find the truth.

Statement A: Alex (Rival Athlete)

"I was in the training room until exactly 3:30 PM. I saw Sarah lurking near the trophy case around 3:00 PM. She’s always been jealous of my stats. I wouldn't put it past her to take the trophy just to ruin my celebration. She’s sneaky, and that blue hoodie of hers is hard to miss. I bet she has it hidden in her locker right now."

Statement B: Coach Miller

"The Coach paced the hallway, his mind racing with play strategies for the championship. He felt a sudden pang of anxiety as he passed the empty trophy case. His eyes caught a glimmer on the floor—a silver key glinting under the fluorescent lights. He wondered if the theft was an inside job, but he was too worried about his star player's grades to investigate further."

Statement C: Security Log #402

"3:10 PM: Subject enters frame from the West Wing. Subject wears a navy blue hooded sweatshirt. 3:12 PM: Subject approaches the glass display. Subject inserts a key into the lock. 3:14 PM: Subject removes the golden trophy. 3:15 PM: Subject exits frame toward the Athletic Wing. Subject drops a small piece of paper during the exit."

Statement D: The Staff

"The Principal sat in his office, silently thrilled that the old trophy was gone; he had been looking for an excuse to buy a more modern one for years. Down the hall, the Janitor scrubbed the floors with shaking hands. He knew he was the one who had accidentally left the spare key in the lock, and he was terrified that the Principal would find out and fire him on the spot."

Remaining Evidence

Statement E: Sarah (Debate Captain)

"I’ve been in the library since 2:30 PM. I have the checkout slip to prove I was getting a book on Rhetoric at exactly 3:10 PM. Besides, I lost my navy blue hoodie during practice yesterday. Someone probably stole it from the bleachers. I was so upset because I worked hard for that Debate Team patch on the sleeve."

Statement F: Forensic Report

"Physical Evidence recovered from crime scene: One library checkout slip for 'Rhetorical Analysis' time-stamped 3:10 PM today. One navy blue thread snagged on the case lock. One gym locker key found in the hallway, labeled 'Locker 44'."

Statement G: The Anonymous Tip

"You think you’re so smart, Detective. You walk past the lockers every day, but you never look inside Locker 44. You’ll find exactly what you’re looking for there, along with the proof that some athletes aren't as fast as they claim to be."

Narrative Investigation Matrix

Statement	POV Type	Subj / Obj?	Reliable? (Yes/No)	Reasoning / "Red Flags"
A: Alex
B: Coach
C: Security
D: Staff
E: Sarah
F: Forensic
G: Tip

The Verdict

1. Culprit Name:

2. Reliability Defense: Why is Statement A considered an Unreliable Narrator?

3. POV Conflict: How does Statement G (2nd Person) change your perspective on the mystery?

Narrative Detective Agency

POV Investigation Slides

Detective Manual Handout

Mystery Quest Worksheet

Case Closed Answer Key

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