Currently on Off the Record...

Frannie figured out that the true culprit behind the Copper Cliffs car crash was Thomas Ford Cross, and after learning that Lewis Vanzetti was the last person Ashley spoke to before she died, Frannie thought she was closing in on the killer. But just as all the pieces were falling into place, Lewis Vanzetti was found dead in his apartment.

With more people getting killed, Frannie needs to learn the true identity of the killer before it is too late.

Hints

Ashley's Blog Password

• The kill switch message Frannie set up leaves instructions that direct you to look at the letters Frannie sent in Episodes 4, 5, and 6. How might this information be useful in learning Ashley's blog password?
• The letter from Frannie in Episode 4 contains a square symbol and a line of encoded text. How might one cross-reference this information with other documents and items in this episode to learn the password to Ashley's blog?
• The letter from Frannie in Episode 5 contains a star symbol and a line of encoded text. How might one cross-reference this information with other documents and items in this episode to learn the password to Ashley's blog?
• The letter from Frannie in this episode contains a circle symbol and a line of encoded text. How might one cross-reference this information with other documents and items in this episode to learn the password to Ashley's blog?

Good Fences Cipher

• The comment from Ty Wei on the final Good Fences post features a cipher. The cipher text is divided into five-character groups that each represent a single letter.

• The message is encoded using a Baconian cipher alphabet of:

  • A = aaaaa
  • B = aaaab
  • C = aaaba
  • D = aaabb
  • E = aabaa
  • F = aabab
  • G = aabba
  • H = aabbb
  • I/J = abaaa
  • K = abaab
  • L = ababa
  • M = ababb
  • N = abbaa
  • O = abbab
  • P = abbba
  • Q = abbbb
  • R = baaaa
  • S = baaab
  • T = baaba
  • U/V = baabb
  • W = babaa
  • X = babab
  • Y = babba
  • Z = babbb

• The cipher text is divided into five-character groups that use capitalization to represent the binary characters (a = lowercase; b = uppercase).

Killer Identification

• The note found near Lewis's corpse gives a motive from his killer. Does the motive sound similar to any other motives in the season?
• Ashley's autopsy from Episode 2 and Lewis's autopsy in this episode include partial fingerprints from Ashely's killer. Is there something in this episode that can be used in conjunction to help identify the killer or eliminate a suspect?
• The documentary materials from the week of Ashley's death include stills from the days around Ashley's murder. Do any include something mentioned somewhere else in the episode?
• Ashley's autopsy reveals that the killer injected Ashley with fentanyl before killing her. The controlled substance records from the week of Ashley's death reveal the records of fentanyl access through Copper Cliffs. Do any of the records reveal any information that might be useful in tracking and identifying the killer?
• The town map from Episode 1 notes that the Center for Convalescence's extended visiting hours for resident relatives are as early as 7 AM on Wednesdays. How might one cross-reference this information with anything else learned about the remaining suspects?

Logging On

• Check Frannie's letter for the specific task Frannie assigns you. Frannie asks you to identify the killer. Sending the person's full name to Frannie through the messaging feature on keep-safe-pro.com will advance the story and complete this objective.
• The password for the KeepSafe Pro app is REB00T.

Reveals

Ashley's Blog Password

• For the last three episodes, Frannie has left reminders to hold on to her last letters. They include ciphers that, when cross-referenced with the instructions, provide information on the password to Ashley's blog.
• The instructions Frannie left in the sealed envelope contain three symbols and describe how these symbols are to be used to decipher the messages left on the last remaining letters from Frannie.
• The letter from Frannie in Episode 4 contains a square symbol and a line of encoded text. Cross-referencing with the instructions Frannie sent in the sealed envelope reveals that in order to decipher the coded text, one must go "two forward, one back, and repeat". The code is a repeating shift cipher of two letters forward then one letter backward.
• The encoded message at the bottom of Frannie's letter from Episode 4 reads: "RXM GMSUBPE DSMN PJEIR LCZ".
• The red text represents the number to shift forward for the individual letter. The blue text represents the number to shift backward for the individual letter.

• Using the shift cipher of two letters forward then one letter back reveals the message: "TWO FORWARD FROM RIGHT KEY".
• The letter from Frannie in Episode 5 contains a star symbol and a line of encoded text. Cross-referencing with the instructions Frannie sent in the sealed envelope reveals that in order to decipher the coded text, one must shift one letter backward for every letter within the word then unscramble it.
• The encoded message at the bottom of Frannie's letter from Episode 5 reads: "STGUJ OBE ISPUVG GP SHTFJFH MPSFGX".
• Subtracting every letter by one reveals the message: "RSFTI NAD HROTUF FO RGSEIEG LOREFW".
• Unscrambling each word reveals the message: "FIRST AND FOURTH OF REGGIE'S FLOWER".
• The letter from Frannie in this episode contains a circle symbol and a line of encoded text. Cross-referencing with the instructions Frannie sent in the sealed envelope reveals that in order to decipher the coded text, one must single out every other letter within the encoded message.
• The encoded message at the bottom of Frannie's letter from this episode reads: "RAECVSEXRHSFE IOLFQ LBANSIT MTSHVREECEK FWRZOUMO TBHAIPRPD KWYOHRBD EOJN KALSIHOLSERYOST GHIRFET".
• Noting every other letter reveals the message: "REVERSE OF THE LAST THREE FROM THIRD WORD ON ASHLEY'S GIFT".
• Two letters forward from the right key of Frannie's key gives the letter "H", as the letter on Frannie's key is the letter "F".
• The first letter of Ashley's blog password is "H".
• The first and fourth letters of Reggie's flower are "A" and "E", as Reggie's flower is an aster.
• The next two letters of Ashley's blog password are "A" and "E".
• The reverse of the last three letters from the third word on Ashley's gift is "E", "T", and "I", as the third word of Ashley's gift is the word "favorite".
• The next three letters of Ashley's blog password are "E", "T", and "I".
• Combining all three pieces of information gathered from following the symbol instructions gives the letters H-A-E-E-T-I.
• The password to Ashley's blog is "HAEETI".
• To complete the episode, type the password "HAEETI" into Ashley's blog and use the dropdown menu to upload the evidence onto the blog.

Good Fences Cipher

• The encoded message revealed is: "HAHA MADE YOU LOOK". 

Killer Identification

• In the message from the killer at the end of Episode 3, the killer explained that they were trying to kill whoever was posting on Ashley's blog. The note from the killer found near Lewis's corpse explains that the killer was after Lewis for the "stunts" they assumed Lewis had been "pulling with the blog". Ashley and Lewis have the same killer.
• Ashley's autopsy from Episode 2 and Lewis's autopsy in this episode include partial fingerprints from Ashley and Lewis's killer. Cross-referencing with the fingerprint records reveals a fuller image of the killer's fingerprint. Out of the remaining suspects, TFC is the only suspect whose fingerprints do NOT match the fingerprints found in the autopsies at all. TFC did not kill Ashley.
• Ashley's autopsy in Episode 2 reveals that Ashley as killed between 7:45 PM and 8:15 PM on a Wednesday. In the documentary stills from Wednesday, there is a clock in the background of Harold's study that reads 10 PM. In Judith's email thread to Harold, Judith mentions that the clock in Harold's study is two hours fast. This proves Harold was at home during the time Ashley was killed. Harold did not kill Ashley.
• Cross-referencing the information revealed in the autopsies with the information found in the controlled substance records reveals that there were 5 5mL bottles of fentanyl stolen from the Center of Convalescence the morning Ashley died.
• The town map from Episode 1 notes that the Center for Convalescence's extended visiting hours for resident relatives on Wednesdays are as early as 7 AM. Ashley's blog in Episode 1 mentions Kim's mother is a long-term patient at the Center, suggesting Kim Barton is the only suspect who could have stolen the fentanyl.
• Kim Barton killed Ashley. Kim is the only suspect whose fingerprints match the partial fingerprints found at Ashley and Lewis's murder scenes and had the opportunity to steal fentanyl from the Center for Convalescence.
• To continue the episode, type the name "Kim Barton" in a message to Frannie through the messaging feature on keep-safe-pro.com.

Transcripts

Controlled Substance Records

Top of Page 1 → Frannie's Handwriting

• From the week of Ashley's murder

Documentary Materials

Top of Page 1 → Frannie's Handwriting

• From the week of Ashley's murder

Frannie's Letter

Page 1 → Above Paragraph 1

• You know the drill: open this one first.

 

Page 1 → Beside Paragraph 3

• And no one else was going to get justice for Ashley if we didn't try.

 

Page 1 → Beneath Paragraph 4

• !

 

Page 1 → Beneath Final Paragraph

• Might speak to Harold's current state of mind

 

Page 2 → Above Paragraph 1

• I repeat: do NOT open unless I say so!

 

Page 2 → Beneath Final Paragraph

• Keep-Safe-Pro.com | PW is REB00T

 

Page 2 → Bottom of the Page

• [circle symbol] RAECVSEXRHSFE IOLFQ LBANSIT MTSHVREECEK FWRZOUMO TBHAIPRPD KWYOHRBD EOJN KALSIHOLSERYOST GHIRFET

Frannie's Video

[KIM'S OFFICE - TIME OF DAY UNCLEAR]

 

[Frannie's camera begins to transmit a live recording. The nature of the recording is indicated by a small "LIVE" button similar to that of Instagram's live feature, which is located in the upper corner of the video.]

 

[Frannie is in Kim's office, on the ground hiding next to Kim's desk. The bottom drawer is all the way open, as Frannie has just forced it open to look inside and take pictures.]

 

[The blinds are drawn behind her (if blinds are present) and the office door is only open a sliver, letting only a small amount of light into the dark room. We can hear the clack of high heels coming from the hallway outside.]

 

[Frannie pulls herself together, moves behind the desk, and slides the drawer closed, hoping that whoever's in the building will pass her by. No such luck. Kim walks into the office and turns on the light.]

 

[Frannie gets up from the floor. Her phone catches a glimpse of Kim's face before Frannie drops the phone down to her side so that she can record the exchange without Kim being aware that she's recording it. Kim's hair and clothing are askew. She's just been woken up from a nap, and she's concealing suspicion and angry paranoia that's usually locked firmly away under a veneer of professionalism.]

 

[Once Frannie lowers the phone, all we can see is the office floor and Frannie's shoes.]

 

Kim (extremely suspicious and guarded): Frannie? What are you doing here? What was that sound just now?

Frannie (nervous): Um. Nothing. Work stuff. I thought I left something on your desk. Some paperwork. And I was looking around for it, but I dropped my phone, and when I bent down to pick it up I hit my head on your desk really hard. That was the noise. Sorry about that.

Kim (not buying it, trying to intimidate Frannie into confessing her true motives): You hit your head so hard that the noise woke me up in the breakroom? If that were true your skull should've been cracked open. But you look fine.

 

[Frannie lets out a peal of nervous laughter.]

 

Frannie (nervous): Dumb luck, I guess.

Kim (suspicious, putting the pieces together): It almost sounded like you were trying to force open my locked drawer.

 

[Out of sight of the video, Kim crosses her arms. She doesn't move from her position in the doorframe, blocking off the room's only exit. Neither woman moves or speaks for a long, tense, moment.]

 

Kim (intimidating): Did you open my drawer?

Frannie (successfully intimidated): Kim. LIsten, I think we should sit down and talk about this -

 

[Kim advances a step toward Frannie. Frannie backs away slightly, but there's not much room for her to go.]

 

Kim (quiet, low, figuring it out): So you're the one who's been updating Mendoza's blog.

Frannie (trying to get a full confession; half bold bravery, half desperation): It - It must be hard to run a campaign on your own... while taking care of your mother. He - He made you do it, right? Did TFC make you kill Ashley and Lewis?

Kim (sizing Frannie up, knowing what she feels she has to do): TFC didn't make me do anything.

Frannie (scared, and desperate to keep Kim talking to stay alive, AND for confession evidence): You still made a choice.

Kim (numb, cold): I'm sorry. I don't have choices anymore.

 

[Kim grows angry. Frannie's breath is slowly increasing in pace. She tries to make a run for the door, shoulder-checking Kim aside, but Kim grabs her shirt collar as she falls and they both tumble to the ground. The camera/phone falls and lands face-up on the ground. It doesn't film the struggle that ensues, but from off-camera, we can hear Kim pin Frannie down and strangle her. We hear someone break through the door. There is the sound of multiple people charging in as -]

 

Police Officer 1: Freeze! Put your hands up. Now!

Kim: Officer, I can exp-

Police Officer 1: Stand up. Keep your hands up.

Police Officer 2 (to dispatch): We are going to need a medic at the mayor's office. 5 Coulter Road.

Kim: Just let me exp-

Police Officer 1: Keep your hands up!

 

[The video cuts out and there is a message on the phone/in the video that says RECORDING IS ENDING DUE TO LOW BATTERY.]

Instructions

Above Paragraph 1 → Frannie's Handwriting

• Bad!

 

Beneath Paragraph 1 → Frannie's Handwriting

• Worse!

 

Beside the Final Paragraph → Frannie's Handwriting

• They're probably my killer, too.

 

At the Bottom of the Page → Frannie's Handwriting

• [square symbol] Two forward, one back, repeat
• [star symbol] -1 all, then unscramble
• [circle symbol] Every other

Lewis's Autopsy

Page 3 → John Yazzie's Handwriting

• Latex dust found throughout area but especially concentrated around area of fingerprint, suggesting that the person who left the fingerprint wore latex gloves.
• Partial fingerprint that does not match the victim found in right antecubital area.
• Cluster of three oblong perimortem bruises, each approximately 2.5 cm in length.
• Depressed fracture of the skull, 0.5 cm in depth.
• Nine puncture wounds consistent with needle injections of narcotics into the median cubital vein.
• 3 cm wide line of perimortem bruising encircling the right bicep, consistent with length of the rubber tubing.

Reggie's Letter

Hi Detective,

The past few days and weeks have been tough. I'm terrified. We're terrified. There's a killer on the loose, and it seems no one is doing anything. What happened to Lewis can happen to us, and Frannie and I both know it. I'm exhausted. I just want the murderer to be caught. I just want this to be over. For all our sakes.

Frannie said she was going to send you a present to thank you, which I thought was a great idea, so here's one from me, too. When I had time, I used to like making resin flower knickknacks in the back of my parents' flower shop. This one's an aster, which signifies love and wisdom. It's a hardy little wildflower, but it does best in full light. It reminds me of Ashley. I hope it will remind you of us.

I'd also like you to have one more thing, on Ashley's behalf. It's a quill pen I gave her when she went independent. She was so proud of standing on her own, and doing work that wasn't beholden to a big corporation. I think she'd want you to have it. I think she'd admire your determination and conviction. And, really, it's the least I can do to thank you for continuing the word Ashley started.

Frannie thinks we're moving towards some sort of end game. I hope she's right, but I'm not sure. If you can do it, if you can find justice for Ash, then it will be like she's back with us. This will all have been worth it.

 

Be safe,

Reggie

Sealed Envelope

Frannie's Handwriting

Don't open until you get my say so over KeepSafe! Hopefully it won't even come to that. -F