Our Ladies of Safe Harbor

Complexity: 6
Presenting the Mystery
Storm clouds gather as the bells of Brindlewood Bay’s historic
Little Chapel of Safe Harbor ring. For decades, boats would
shuttle tourists to the chapel’s home, a tiny island two miles
off shore. Wealthier families would book the chapel — and its
magnificent gardens — for their weddings and galas.
Suspects
Nick Junior, cabin cruiser captain
Burly. Handsome. Very chill. Technically Captain Nick, but
that’s his father. His demeanor, sunglasses, and extra-large
coffee seem to indicate a hangover of some strength.
Quote: “This route used to be a big moneymaker for me and Dad, but
travel’s been way down since Brother Benjamin let the chapel get
into such a state of disrepair.”
Abraham Castro, leader of the Historic Preservation Com-
mission
A busy-body. Speaks mostly in stage whispers. Expensive
shoes. Abraham serves as the point person for today’s fund-
raiser and is driven by his love of local scandal.
Quote: “There’s no mystery here. We all know that Brother Benjamin
was pretty clumsy when he drank … which means he was pretty
clumsy in general. What? We all knew he drank, didn’t we?”

The chapel has fallen into disrepair in recent years, so the
local Historic Preservation Commission has organized a fund-
raiser to support the chapel’s restoration.
Aboard a cabin cruiser grumbling through choppy waters,
the Mavens travel to the chapel to help Brother Benjamin
and Sister Jeffreys prepare for the afternoon’s auction and
rummage sale.
Go around and have the Mavens share one lovely little item or ser-
vice they plan to donate.
When their boat reaches the island’s rickety pier, the Mavens
are met by an emotional Sister Jeffreys. She informs the Ma-
vens of a terrible accident: Brother Benjamin was ringing the
chapel bells and became tangled in the ropes. His neck was
broken as he swung.
Sister Jeffreys has already contacted the police, who have in-
structed her to keep everyone on the island. Their patrol boat
has broken down, so they’re trying to find a captain before
the impending storm makes transit impossible.
Establishing Question: Complaints and rumors have circled
Brother Benjamin for years. What have you heard about his leader-
ship and moral character?
Note: A torrential storm will keep the Mavens on the island
and police officers away from it. Perhaps the ladies are forced
to sleep in the chapel overnight. Perhaps a determined depu-
ty braves the tempest to disrupt the investigation.
Sister Jeffreys
Jodi Knox, low-level bureaucrat
Direct. Hurried. Perfumed. Sister Jeffreys is always on the
move, putting out fires and attending to the chapel’s guests. Wrinkled blazer. Baggy eyes. Exhausted. Jodi has spent
months coordinating the fundraiser and managing the per-
Quote: “All we wanted was to be blessed with a pleasant little day. sonalities.
Lord, I’m disappointed.”
Quote: “All this work. All the headaches. What I wouldn’t give to…
sorry, gotta take this call.”
Daniel, groundskeeper
Soft-spoken. Slight. Terrible posture. Daniel pulls away from Olivia Russell, celebrated local chef & today’s caterer
any physical contact, and his eyes never stop studying the
flowers nearby. Surprisingly hip. Tattooed. Hints of a sensational haircut
underneath a bandana.
Quote: “Brother Benjamin is a kind and devout man. He yells, but
only when I truly deserve it. His punishments are always fair, and Quote: “I’m happy to help a good cause, but if I didn’t know better, I
swear I’d think the fundraising committee was actively working to
he brings me little sweets and snacks as I tend the gardens.”
screw me. As soon as I said the words ‘pro bono,’ pigs-in-a-blanket
turned into steak tartare, you know?”
Kent MacKenzie, auctioneer
A true showman. Self-important. Spiffy. Even in the slight-
est of conversations, Kent speaks as if he is in front of an audi-
ence of hundreds.
Quote: “I enjoy keeping the art of auctioneering alive. Dedicated
study! Humiliating stumbles! But mastery only comes through
sacrifice.”
Clues Paint the Scene Keeper Notes
F Sleeping pills in the rectory Chapel interior

F A hymnal with a mysterious sigil roughly carved into Despite everything, you get a warm sense of welcome as you enter
its leather cover the chapel. What makes you feel this way?

F A half-burned document from Brindlewood building

commission, condemning the church
F Broken lock on donation box, now empty
F A cat-of-nine-tails, haphazardly stuffed into a dark
corner
F A letter from Brother Benjamin to a Suspect expressing
concern for their sinful ways
F A shattered stained glass window
The gardens and grounds
The chapel’s landscaping is truly lovely and verdant, but its physical
structure is in obvious disrepair. Which detail of the chapel’s decay-
ing exterior seems to be in the worst shape?
The groundskeeping shack
You’re taken aback by the state of things. Is this because things are
supremely organized or unimaginably filthy?

F A Suspect’s initials are carved into the back of a pew

F A thank-you card with an anonymous note: “Brother

Benjamin — Rot in hell.”

F Empty wine bottles in a brown paper bag

Void Clues
F A crown of thorns — perhaps once made of roses from F A mob of gray amphibians scuttles across a nearby wall
the chapel’s gardens
F A trio of dead and decaying sparrows, carefully
F A secret door arranged, their mouths stuffed with pages of a hymnal
F A wooden spanking paddle F Lightning strikes and takes the unmistakable shape of a
large sea creature
F A unopened packet of zinnia flower seeds
F A human tooth falls from a flower’s petals
F An elegant stone carving of a chubby man felating a
goat F A soggy, rain-saturated spot of soil belches a wretched
odor
F A silken serviette; stained, crumpled, and crusty
F An unholy chorus can be heard through the wind
F A map of Brindlewood Bay; a conspicuous X over the
chapel’s location F A pile of dead, desiccated honeybees
F A length of twine clearly used for knot-tying practice

F A blank page torn from an old ledger with a Suspect’s

name on the heading

F A highly detailed pencil drawing of the chapel

Credits
F Soiled underwear
Written by Sean Patrick Cain
spc.itch.io
twitter.com/seanpatrickcain

This Brindlewood Bay mystery was released with permission

from Jason Cordova, but the material is not otherwise associ-
ated with Jason Cordova or Gauntlet Publishing.