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Spoiler Warning |
| Plot details follow, read at your own risk. |
The Studio Secretary Murder is a Homicide case in L.A. Noire.
Persons of Interest[]
- Evelyn Summers - Murder victim.
- Nelson Gaines - Railway switchman, reporting witness.
- John Ferdinand Jamison - Pacific Electric railyard employee, potential suspicious witness.
- Grosvenor McCaffrey - Known associate of murder victim Evelyn Summers.
- James Tiernan - Rawling's Bowling Alley employee and friend of victim.
- Walter Robbins - Liquor store owner and friend of victim Evelyn Summers.
Objectives[]
- Investigate Globe Loan & Jewelry
- Investigate Railyard Crime Scene
- Investigate Mensch's Bar
- Trace Address of Levine's Liquor
- Investigate Levine's Liquor Store
- Investigate Rawling's Bowling Alley
- Return to Central Station
- Trace Address on Grosvenor McCaffrey
- Investigate McCaffrey's Apartment
- Apprehend Grosvenor McCaffrey
- Return to Central for Interrogations
Detailed Walkthrough[]
Pawnbroker[]
This mission, as with all cases, opens with a cutscene. Following this, head to the pawnbroker and speak to the man at the counter. He will hand you two rings to examine.
The wedding ring on the right has a hallmark whilst the engagement ring on the left has a maker's mark. You will automatically talk to the man again, and he will give you a false name and address left by the Black Dahlia killer, which Cole Phelps instantly identifies as false due to its relevance to Shelley, the author of the previously discovered poem excerpts.
Railyard Crime Scene[]
Now head to the Railyard crime scene, where you'll meet Officer Clyde Hart. Speak to Nelson Gaines, the railway switchman, first. After he is done, speak to the coroner to get the victim's details and then search the green railroad car behind him for blood stains. Finally, search the body.
| Stencil | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Found by examining the victim's head. | ||
| Description | Victim's body shows signs of vagrant lifestyle | |
 Clues |
Vagrancy | |
| Found by examining the victim's right hand. | ||
| Description | Missing ring evident from marks on victim's skin | |
| Clues |
Missing ring | |
| Found on an evidence blanket near the body. | ||
| Description | Ladies handbag containing personal effects | |
| Clues |
Handbag | |
| Found inside the victim's handbag. | ||
| Description | Part of torn letter addressed to 'Evelyn' | |
| Clues |
Upper half of torn letter | |
| Discovered by examining the ID card in the victim's handbag. | ||
| Description | Movie lot employee ID found among victim's personal effects | |
| Clues |
Movie lot job | |
Although not clues, also examine the matchbox and slip of paper next to the handbag to discover two locations and update objectives.
Next, talk to John Ferdinand Jamison, who is sitting on some planks near Officer Hart. After a cutscene, you will get a new clue and begin questioning him.
Interview John Ferdinand Jamison[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interference with evidence | Truth | Good Cop | ||
| Discovery of victim's body | Doubt | Bad Cop |
After he is arrested, use the nearby gamewell to get the address for the nearest Levine's Liquor store. Visit Levine's before you go anywhere else, otherwise you will miss out on a small clue that is useful later on in the case.
Levine's Liquor Store[]
Once you arrive, you will walk in and talk to the owner, Walter Robbins. He will lead you to the victim's bedroom.
- Next to the bed is a Book. Open it for a new P.O.I., Grosvenor McCaffrey.
- Turn around and find a bowling pin; zoom in to receive the Rawling's Bowling Alley location.
Return to the front of the store to talk to Mr. Robbins.
Interview Walter Robbins[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with victim | Truth | Good Cop |  Liquor purchase |
|
| Relationship with victim | Truth | Good Cop | ||
| Knowledge of McCaffrey | Doubt | Bad Cop |
Mensch's Bar[]
Head to Mensch's Bar and talk to the bartender, who will tell you to talk to the patrons. Turn around and talk to Grosvenor McCaffrey, the man with the waistcoat and white shirt, who is sitting in a booth. Make sure you go to the bar BEFORE the bowling alley.
Interview Grosvenor McCaffrey[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal History | Doubt | Bad Cop | ||
| Relationship with victim | Lie | Accuse | Book | Victim last seen |
| Last Contact with victim | Doubt | Bad Cop |  James Tiernan Rawling's Bowling Alley Investigate Rawling's Bowling Alley |
You'll only get the last question if you go to Mensch's Bar first. The last question may not appear on PC (Steam version), but does not count against the total questions.
Rawling's Bowling Alley[]
Make sure that you drive the car. If your partner drives, you will not be able to go to the bowling alley first.
You'll get a message on the radio that the Captain has some concerns with the murders and needs to see you back at the station. Ignore this; go to the bowling alley for James Tiernan first. Inside, the old woman behind the counter, Florence Jenkins, will tell you that "Jimmy" is resetting pins in the back. Go through the door in the left wall of the building and cue the chase scene. There will be a Cisitalia Coupe waiting for you at the end of the foot chase; get in and chase him. Once caught, there is another cut scene of Jimmy being loaded into a paddywagon for a trip downtown. Now, you may proceed to the police station.
Central Police Station[]
Back at the station, head downstairs and talk to the Captain. He'll tell you that there are some concerns about the previous arrests for the murders. He will give you a bit of new information and tell you to keep the info under your hat for now. You will also learn that the coroner has had to fire one of his men for being associated with Jamison.
Before leaving the station, use a phone to call in for McCaffrey's address if you haven't done so already.
McCaffrey's Apartment[]
Check the mailboxes for the apartment number. He is on the second floor in apartment six. Kick the door in.
- Find the second half of the torn piece of paper on the table to the left of where you enter.
- Find the tire iron right next to the table where you found the note.
A short cutscene will trigger when one of McCaffrey's neighbors, Elinor Hopkin, walks in. She notifies you of his location -- a pigeon coop above the apartment. Take the stairs to the roof.
Once on the roof, Grosvenor starts to run. Chase him down. You should be able to tackle him, but if he manages to evade you, he will eventually hide behind a wall and attack you, leading to a fistfight.
- Note: If you go to the roof first, the chase will also start. After tackling Grosvenor down, Rusty takes you to his room, telling you to search it for evidence.
Central Police Station[]
Now you'll be able to interrogate James Tiernan and Grosvenor McCaffrey.
You must start with James Tiernan, so head on over to Interrogation Room 1.
Interview James Tiernan[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with victim | Lie | Accuse | Victim Last Seen | |
| Victim's book found | Doubt | Bad Cop | ||
| Alibi for James Tiernan | Lie | Accuse | Liquor purchase | |
| Access to murder weapon | Doubt | Bad Cop | Tiernan's accusation |
Do not charge him. Leave the interrogation room.
- Note: Depending on the order in which you followed up on leads, you may not have the "Victim Last Seen" evidence necessary when questioning him on his relationship with the victim. In that case, simply skip that question entirely; you can still get five stars by following up on the remaining questions and proceeding to McCaffrey from there.
Next, head on over to Interrogation Room 2 and interrogate McCaffrey.
Interview Grosvenor McCaffrey[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alibi for McCaffrey | Lie | Accuse | Torn Letter (Note: This will only work if you found the other part of the letter on McCaffrey's desk) | |
| Access to tire iron | Lie | Accuse | Tiernan's Accusation | McCaffrey's accusation |
Do not charge him. Leave the interrogation room.
- Note: In the Remastered Edition of the game, if you have found all the clues and responded correctly up to this point, you will not be given an option to charge McCaffrey. Cole will stand up and leave the room automatically and the telephone icon will appear.
Use the telephone to receive a clue about McCaffrey's criminal record.
- Note: A glitch in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions may prevent Phelps from phoning about McCaffrey's criminal record until after the second Tiernan interview.
- Note: A glitch in the PC (Steam) version may prevent Phelps from phoning about McCaffrey's criminal record at all.
Now head back over to Room 1, and talk to James Tiernan again.
Interview James Tiernan[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Events prior to murder | Lie | Accuse | McCaffrey’s accusation |
Do not charge him. Leave the interrogation room.
- Note: If the glitch mentioned above occurred, use the phone now to receive the clue. If you are unable to do so, simply go and charge McCaffrey; doing so at this point will allow you to receive five stars, even if you haven't gotten the clue about his criminal record.
Head back to Room 2 one last time and force McCaffrey to break.
Interview Grosvenor McCaffrey[]
| Question | Response | Response (Remaster) | Evidence | Clue/Location/P.O.I/Lead/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Military service | Lie | Accuse | McCaffrey's criminal record |
After the interrogation, Charge Grosvenor McCaffrey with First Degree Murder. Case closed.
Case Briefing[]
"Yet another white female, forty years old, the body recovered in the rail freight depot on Santa Fe Avenue, East Downtown. But before our new investigation can even begin, we have old business to attend to. Personal effects belonging to one Deidre Moller were recently pawned for cash and it sounds as though the DA is desperate that something be done before the story hits the newspapers."
Case Notes[]
- "Grosvenor McCaffrey can write a tell-all memoir from his cell on Death Row."
- "Diminished responsibility or not, James Tiernan will have to face up to his crime."
Collectibles[]
- The crime scene is your best opportunity to unlock the Chevrolet Coroner's Van, International Police Wagon, and the Crime Scene Investigator's Studebaker Commander for the Auto Fanatic Achievement/Trophy. Enter them as soon as you arrive at the Railyard. If you wait until after interviewing Jamison, the Police Wagon will drive away before you can enter it, though the van and Studebaker will still be available.
Video Walkthroughs[]
Trivia[]
- This case is loosely based on the real-life 1947 murder of Evelyn Winters. For information about the real case and the scene as it appears today, see the 1947 project time travel blog.
- One of the suspects in this case, James Tiernan, is loosely based on the real-life James Tiernan , who did work at a bowling alley and was charged with the murder of Evelyn Winters. Both witnesses at the murder scene, Nelson Gaines and John Jamison, are loosely based on railroad worker George Wickliffee, who both found Winters' body and confessed to having kissed it.
- This is the first case in which you can see the Black Dahlia killer's face in the opening cutscene when he murders his victim, though it is darkened by the shadow of his hat.
- During the conversation at the Central Police Station with James Donnelly, Ray Pinker and Malcolm Carruthers, Malcolm is visibly upset about something. When Phelps asks what is wrong, Carruthers mentions he just had to fire one of his assistants because he was a friend of John Ferdinand Jamison, implying the assistant may have also been a necrophiliac.
- When Phelps and Galloway are talking about the Moller case, Galloway refers to Hugo Moller as "our guy", implying that Moller was charged with the the murder of his wife during the events of "The Golden Butterfly"; however, he also says that Moller was "identified by the school's groundskeeper", something that is never shown to happen. There are two possible interpretations of this: either Moller's arrest is canon, (and thus so is the resulting three-star rating), or Galloway was supposed to be talking about Eli Rooney, (who was identified by the groundskeeper,) and that a mistake occurred at some point during the production of the game.
- This discussion occurs regardless of whom the player chose to accuse of the crime, indicating that there was, in fact, a canonical choice between the two suspects.
- There are several logical problems with the evidence in this case:
- According to Tiernan, Evelyn stole McCaffrey's book on the evening of her death. But if, as Robbins testified, she had not returned to Levine's Liquors since that morning, how did the book get there? The only possible explanation is that she sneaked in to place it there.
- As part of the overarching Black Dahlia sub thread, Garrett Mason planted the murder weapon and letter - but both Tiernan and McCaffrey admit that the lug wrench and letter were in McCaffrey's appartment. A possible explanation is that McCaffrey genuinely thought Tiernan had brought in the condemning evidence. Tiernan also could have believed in his guilt and actions while inebriated, deep down inside.
- The ring you retrieved from the pawnbroker is originally bought in Hartfield's Jewelry Store, where you arrested Edgar Kalou in the case "Buyer Beware".
- If you return to McCaffery's apartment after he is arrested, Elinor Hopkin can be found standing around inside the apartment.
- At Mensch's Bar, a second unnamed patron can be questioned, but doesn't reveal any useful information.
- Present in the railyard are several locomotives. The one nearest to the body is roughly patterned after a General Electric 44 ton switching locomotive, while further away is a long-hooded type with a cab at one end. This locomotive has a trolley pole located on the front of it. This pole did not deliver power to the engine but was used to activate signals when the train travelled down street tracks. Pacific Electric was unique among railroads for having this feature. However, the pole is facing the wrong way.
- In the beginning cutscene showing the murder of Evelyn, a locomotive which passes by her is shown spewing steam. However, the locomotive, a Baldwin VO-1000 locomotive from Pacific Electric, was a diesel engine so should not emit steam. Even during the game, when the vehicle passes by, the train does not emit steam, so why it does here is rather strange.
- If Tiernan is charged, Donnelly will say "I'm going to assume that you both have very good excuses for what happened in my station today? You had a perfectly good candidate for a capital case, and somehow managed to choose a weak-willed sob sister while the murderous Red walked scot free. I'm having doubts about what you are prepared to do to make a case, Phelps. If ever there was a time for manufacturing evidence or extracting a confession, this was it. Now get out of my sight. Run down pickpockets and fruit flies and leave the real work for men of substance."
- Rusty sometimes won't drive for you even after you've investigated a crime scene. If this happens, it means that Rusty will not drive for you when you interrogate Walter Robbins at the Levine's Liquor Store. Only after investigating Mensch's Bar, will Rusty drive for you.
- At Mensch's Bar, Grosvenor McCaffrey is reading a book from the future: the softcover version of "The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes" (2001) ISBN 9780785813255.
- During the cutscene with the pawnbroker, he mentions that the man who sold the rings left an address to London, Tulare County. In this interaction, he mispronounces the name of the county. In the scene he says Tulare phonetically as "Tool-Air", when the name is actually pronounced as "Tuu-Lair-ee".
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