L'Étoile's Last Service
In the aftermath of a head chef's death within a Michelin-starred kitchen, an independent investigator is called to untangle a web of conflicting statements from a terrified staff. Each professional harbors secrets—a hidden affair, a forged health log, a case of missing wine—and their panicked attempts at self-preservation have contaminated the scene with a noise of secondary felonies.
Initial Crime Scene
A sharp, astringent chemical odor cuts through the lingering scent of charred grease, clinging to the back of your throat. The low, metallic hum of the primary hood vent vibrates through the stainless steel. Your gaze travels across the glistening prep tables, past the carbon scoring on copper pans, and settles on the grease traps in the floor drains, where a faint, yellowish film is visible beneath the grate.
Crime Scene Environment
The lighting is a flat, harsh fluorescent glare that casts no shadows, bleaching all color. The air is hot and heavy with a humidity that feels greasy, pressing in from all sides. The acoustic density is a low, constant hum of refrigeration and ventilation fans, punctuated by the occasional drip of water in the dish pit.
Investigation Constraints
Smartphones for group chats and deleted messages, digital reservation systems, social media accounts, kitchen timers, commercial-grade chemical cleaning agents, security cameras with limited and often poorly-maintained recordings, encrypted supplier invoices.
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