Should dogs even be eating cupcakes in the first place?
The long-awaited Dog Pageant Contest is finally here, but sadly, the murder of Molly Robinson and her dog has halted its progress until further notice. Now it's up to you to catch the killer and save the Historical Center's most important event of the year.
Tropes:
- Accidental Murder: Margaret didn't intend to kill Molly, only her dog, but unfortunately she decided to taste the tainted cupcake too.Margaret: I never intended to kill her, you know. But I should have known that fat loaf could not resist eating the cupcake I'd given to her dog!
- All for Nothing: In the end, Margaret's dog would've won even if she didn't kill any of the other dogs, so she became a murderer and a dog killer for nothing.Jones: And to think Margaret could have won without those murders... That's definitely awful!
- Assassination Attempt: Margaret tries to murder Jones with one of her poisoned cupcakes to stop your investigation.
- Back for the Dead: Molly Robinson and her dog return in this case as the victims.
- Back for the Finale: Desmond Galloway, Charles Parker, Margaret Littlewood, Gertrude Piccadilly, and James Savage all return as suspects for this case, which is the last one set in the Historical Center.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: After only being an eccentric yet helpful old lady, Margaret Littlewood finally reveals her true colors as this, killing Molly, three dogs, and even attempting to murder Jones just so she can win the Dog Pageant Contest.
- Also, it's heavily implied that she has done this before, given that in previous episodes some have told that during this time of the year some dogs get poisoned.
- Call-Back:
- James' shack reappears as a crime scene.
- Mayor Howard Johnson also appears both to encourage you to solve the murder and also to promote you to the University at the end of the case.
- The Climax: For the Historical Center district.
- Continuity Nod:
- Grace mentions that she has entered the Dog Pageant with the dog she adopted back in Case 6.
- Dr. Andy Choi returns as the medic treating Jones for being poisoned.
- Chronic Pet Killer: Throughout the case, Margaret kills Molly's, James', and Gertrude's dogs with her poisoned cupcakes. Fortunately, you manage to catch her before she also poisons Desmond's and Grace's dogs.
- A Day in the Limelight: Ramirez gets to be your partner during the second half of the case when Jones falls sick due to poisoning.
- Easily Forgiven: After Jones is healed from the poison and Ramirez tells him that Margaret asked him to take care of her dog Astrid.Jones: Astrid? What do you mean? Margaret has been put to jail, right?Ramirez: Of course, but she asked us a favor: she wants you to take care of Astrid for the show. She even told us to give you this book as an apology.Jones: After everything she did! As if her super-secret-recipe-book could make up for poisoning m-... Wait! Is that a recipe for raspberry cookies? Alright then!
- Foreshadowing: Throughout the case, Margaret keeps throwing accusations left and right, something she didn't in the previous cases she appeared and even Jones notices to be strange. Guess who turns out to be the killer?
- Additionally, Jones accepts carrot cupcakes from Gertrude, Margaret, and Desmond throughout the case. Out of the three of them, Margaret is the most insistent that he take one, and even guilt trips him by acting hurt and saying that he's never turned down her baked goods before. At her arrest, she admits that she intentionally poisoned him to halt the player's investigation.
- Glory Hound: The reason why Margaret killed Molly and the contesting dogs.Margaret: Why? I'll tell you why! You try growing old on your own, with grandchildren who never come to visit you, and nothing to do all day but wait for night to come!This Dog Pageant is the one moment in the year when I can shine! If I won, then there'd be no more "Dear old Margaret, with her dog and her cookies". They would have respected me!
- Lampshade Hanging: Jones remarks how absurd is that James keeps popping up as a suspect during their cases in the Historical Center.
- Obsessed with Food: When Chief King mentions that a tragedy has occurred in the Dog Pageant Contest, Jones' first thought is that something happened to the buffet.
- Oh, No... Not Again!: James' reaction when he, for the fourth time, gets suspected for murder.
- Never Mess with Granny: Sweet, kindly Margaret Littlewood turns out to be the killer just because she wanted to win the Dog Pageant Contest.
- No Social Skills: In the Additional Investigation, James asks if his hunter attire isn't good enough to attend the funeral wake being held for Molly and the dead dogs. Ramirez' response is to take him out for some formal wear shopping.
- Not What I Signed on For: Nathan also has this reaction after you send him Gertrude's dead dog.Nathan: How many dogs are you planning to send me? This is not what I signed up for!
- Pun: While describing the cause of death, Nathan says that both Molly and her dog ate a "deadly-icious" carrot cupcake.
- Race Against the Clock: The second half of the case becomes this due to Jones being poisoned, as only the killer has the antidote that can save his life.
- Serious Business: The Dog Pageant Contest proves to be this for Margaret, who's willing to commit murder in order to ensure victory in the competition.
- Shout-Out:
- Jones states how "until they prove the existence of zombies, dogs are plants' worst enemies", the former referring to Plants vs. Zombies.
- In the Dog Pageant Arena scene, there is a familiar spider symbol in an unfamiliar blue color.
- In the Shack Floor scene, the names "Hanz" and "Gretel" are carved in the walls.
- In the Washing Stations crime scene, a Grumpy Cat can be seen.
- Skewed Priorities: Grace seems more concerned about someone killing Molly's dog that Molly being murdered.Grace: I can't believe someone did this! Killing a harmless dog, the monsters!Jones: They've also killed a human being...Grace: Yes, of course, that's tragic too.
- Tampering with Food and Drink: How Molly and the three dogs were killed. Jones also falls victim of this, though he manages to recover.
- Tempting Fate: After you discover the victim was killed by a poisoned cupcake and Gertrude offers Jones one of hers, he says this little gem:Jones: I know what you're thinking, <Player's Name>, but who would be foolish enough to try and poison a Police Officer?
