alibi in ashes

good morning. i am playing as George, junior detective, at the antiques store with the black and white leafed thing. the hints tell you how to open the thing and get the key, but i can't find how to get INTO the thing in the first place! can you help, please. robert.

Hi robert,

Did Alexei mention the new arrivals shelf in dialogue? It won't be active if he hasn't.

A couple of tips from MaG in an older thread with the same issue:

Talk to him after Nancy eavesdrops about losing the evidence locker key and asking the others to follow the detective. Then after following him - end up at the antiques store.

Did you follow the trail or stopovers of the detective starting at Pancake City?

hi rushes. how do i get alexei to mention the new arrivals shelf if the dialogue with George is predetermined? robert.

It might be that you haven't triggered the dialogue with Alexei that you need for the puzzle to become active.

It's the detective trail that triggers this -- so be sure to have followed that trail back to the antiques store. Check the section of MaG's walkthrough that relates to this, and see what you still need to do there.

hi Rushes, at the Scoop ice cream parlor, where is the map showing a legend of all the businesses in town? is there a prerequisite for this? i can't find it, robert.

The map is a large one -- it's fixed to the wall directly opposite the counter. You should be able to examine it without needing to trigger anything else first.

dang me Rushes, i don't see it. is this when the door says 'CLOSED'? i don' t have a hotspot and i have looked everywhere. i don't expect Mag's w/t to be incorrect. that's why i ask prerequisite. if so, i must be missing a step - so early into the game. robert

Enter the ice cream shop.
Go forward to the back wall with a close door.
To the right of that door are the game machines.
To the left is the area or entrance to the ice cream counter area.

Okay - now from the game machine at back wall - turn right to face the wall at right.
You will see a map on the wall.
Look close at that map and see the businesses.

hi Mag. i have restarted the game, called dad, then George, went to Scoops ice cream parlor, but i can't get inside - the door still says CLOSED! how do i proceed? robert.

hi Mag. i don't think you saw my post of 15 oct. robert.

In your replay, did you finish the evidence locker check and have read all the documents?
Have you gotten the fire sample?


Also see if you can change to Bess and let her check the ice cream shop (not George).

Check your To Do list and see what else you need to do.

hi Mag. where do i see reference to the fire sample. i can't remember that one. robert.

Robert,

I am not sure where you are in the game; whether the ice cream shop should be opened or not already. It might not be triggered yet. You can ignore it for now.

To get the places in town be opened - another character has to drive there after Nancy has asked them to check for a charred note at the town hall.
Do that first.

So please read the walkthrough and go through and see.

hi mag. the only thing i can say is i am stuck here at Scoops facing a closed door looking for a businesses map. how can i see a map if the Scoops door isn't even open in your w/t? robert.

Just continue on and go back later when you are Bess.

Just drive to go to the Town hall and do what Nancy wants you to do.

hi Mag. how do i get Pancake City on the map? is there something i had to do? robert.

Yes - here:

hi Mag. where do i go to follow detective ryan's trail? i can't remember that being on your w/t. robert.

Sorry for the delay. Got too busy.

As I posted above - eavesdrop and learn than Ryan thinks that he lost the key at Pancake City.
So go to Pancake City as mentioned above.
Each place will tell you where to go next.

hi Mag. after listening to all interviews on MP3 player, when i ask Ned, via cell phone, to CHECK ACCELERANT SAMPLE, i end up in a channel 9 van in front of the antiques store with Brenda Carter. she doesn't mention Town Hall alarm. is this correct??? robert.

No, Robert.

Before you can get an accelerant sample - you have to have a container to place it on.



The antique shop is just across from the van.

You can continue on the walkthrough from here.

hi Mag. i wonder if you can help? after entering the antiques store and to solve the numbers puzzle, before taking the free glass vial which i inadvertently thought was the prize for winning the numbers puzzle, i went into windowed mode to aid speed things up, and now i can't get back. the alibi in ashes icon for 'options' is not available now. HELP please, robert.

Can you see the gear icon at bottom of screen?
Try ESC key and see if another menu appears.

If not - close the program; then open it again and see if the main menu has the gear icon or options.

hi Mag. i think i have done it this time! i can't see a gear icon, the ESC key doesn't help any neither does turning off/on. i have tried what you say - NOTHING. any other ideas? robert.

I'm not sure if I should tell you this.

- Open C drive; open Users folder, open your computer's name folder, open My Documents folder.
- Open Alibi in Ashes folder.
- Open "Alibi" text paper with a gear icon.
- Check what is written on the second paragraph.
It should be - WindowMode=2

If it is not - change it to WindowMode=2. You might just need to change the number
Then be sure to SAVE the text file.

much appreciated Mag for the idea. if i uninstall/reinstall the game and start from scratch again, will that serve the same purpose? your alternate solution seems a wee tad complicated to me although i will try it - duffer that i am! robert.

Don't try it if you are nervous. Please.

You can just uninstall and install again. See if that helps.

hi Mag. i tried your solution and it worked! thanks, robert.

Mag. i have tried 5 or 6 times, 9 minutes plus each attempt, but the timer is supposed to allow me to win the numbers punch game but it doesn't. i'm running out of patience. robert. i gave it 1 more shot - i won!

Hahaha. Great!

hi Mag. when i use the vial on thermostat to get a town hall sample, i can't take the vial and does not go into inventory automatically as was the case previously when taking items. something must be wrong. do you know where i went wrong and i think i followed all conversations faithfully? robert.

Robert,

Be sure that Nancy has asked you to get a sample.
Be sure also that you are at the correct place to get a sample.
Be sure that you are at close up of the sample and have identified it first before you try to get the sample.

hi mag. how do i talk to Nancy to ensure i get a sample? after it is discovered the fire alarm has been turned off? Ned says to tell Nancy. robert.

You should have:
- Read Nancy's booking report. Learn that they found that Nancy's clothes taken during the home search have gasoline, an accelerant. Nancy wants to know what really started the fire.
- Read that Toni Scallari reported the fire. The detector-alarm failed to operate due to unknown reason.
- Use the cell phone and call Dad.
- Ask either George or Ned to get a sample as close to the point of origin from Town Hall fire. It should be collected in a glass sample container.
- Check the display on the table across from the New Arrivals shelf. Take the free glass vial.
- Go to the thermostat at far wall. The point of origin must be found and stated by the character.
- Use the glass vial-sample container taken from the antique store on thermostat to get Town Hall sample.

As for the fire alarm:
- Call Nancy and tell her about the alarm.

thank you Mag. first of all to get me started on your recommendations, where in your w/t, do i find Nancy's booking report? robert.

It's from the evidence locker at the police station. In MaG's walkthrough, that's under the header: "Find a way to open locker 205"

thanks Rushes. now where do find an MP3 player to use the suspects interviews disk? is this the media player? robert.

Yes - that is the one, Robert.

Mag. i don't really understand what you say 'the point of origin must be found and stated by the character'? what does this mean? robert.

The point of origin of the fire.
The character (Ned or George) that goes to collect the sample should click on the source of the fire and says that is what is found.
Then you can get a sample.

i have the town hall sample. thanks for guiding me, Mag. robert.

hi Mag. as Ned, i spoke to Deirdre at Scoop, spoke of Alexei, but she did not give me a note which i am supposed to drop off at the police station. under what circumstances would she fail to give me the note? robert.

It can be because you have not done or talked to someone that triggered that action.

Has Bess talked to Deidre and not get anywhere?
Did Bess tell Nancy about it?
Did Nancy ask Ned to talk to Deidre to get information?

hi Mag. i fiddled around with NED, Nancy, Deidre etc. please don't ask me what i did, but eventually i got Deirdre's note but when i tried to drop it off at the police station drop-off point Ned said 'i can't do it now'. i don't know how to proceed. can you help? robert.

Be sure that Ned has finished talking to Deidre.
Then drive to the police station after you got the note.

Mag. when i try finishing the conversation with Deirdre, she says 'bye' so i can't. robert.

Call Nancy and see what happens.

Try again drive to the police station.
Click the note on the drop off box.
See what happens.

hi mag. nothing happened boohoo! robert.

Can you read Deidre's note?

hi mag. i think i could, before i saved into inventory but not now. robert.

Just curious\; has Nancy asked anyone to get a fingerprint kit?

What is still in your To Do list?

hi mag. here are answers to your questions: no, nobody has asked for a fingerprint kit yet. to-do tasks: find a way to dust Deirdre's note for fingerprints. find my own fingerprinting kit. get Nancy out of jail. explore Drew house. explore Scoop. look around antiques shop. meet the reporter from right of fire. robert.

Scoops is always open I thought?

If fingerprinting is in your to do list - then maybe Nancy already asked someone to get the kit.

Get Nancy's house key from the drop box.
Go to her house and get a kit.
Then talk to Nancy and see what she says.

hi mag. i can't get Nancy's house key from the drop box - it's empty - and the police station door is locked. i can't get in. plus, i can't remember anyone asking for a fingerprint kit. robert.

Nancy tells them to get prints. Then the other characters get their kit from her home.

Please check the inventory of Nancy if she has the keys and also the other characters if they have Nancy's keys.
If not anywhere, check the evidence locker and see if the keys are still there.

hi mag. i will go back to a saved game somewhere to pick up the story RELIABLY and not get into this mess again. where do you think is good point to pick up from? i am reluctant to restart from the beginning. robert.

Since you're not far into the game; try when you just opened the evidence locker.

In the walkthrough, it starts with heading: Find a way to open locker 205.

Good luck.

thanks, Mag. robert.

hi mag. am i supposed to enter a citation number into tigershark? i don't think so, but you never know. just checking. robert.

Hi robert, yes you need to enter Deirdre's traffic ticket number into it, using your own keyboard.

hi Rushes. frankly, i am surprised. no wonder i had trouble with Deirdre at SCOOP. where do i find Deirdre's traffic ticket? robert.

This is from the walkthrough:



Hope this helps.

hi Becky. for my own edification, in Mag's walkthrough, where do i change to Bess to check out Deirdre's notebook? robert.

Hi robert -- it looks like it's about two thirds of the way into the game, after running a fingerprint analysis and calling Dad.

Here's more of the walkthrough (I haven't played the game myself, so I'm just posting what's in the walkthrough).

hi Becky. you are wayyyyyy ahead of me. Mag suggested i pick up the game at the evidence locker so i haven't yet reached that point. i am still fooling around with the suspects MP3 disk. in the meantime, the police database tells me the number you gave me is not in database. it's too early i suppose. robert.

Sounds like you're right. Sorry to be so unhelpful!

Thanks, Becky.

hi Rushes. i've done everything 'by the book' from the evidence locker on and yet the drop-box at the police station still won't accept Deirdre's note. drat!! robert.

Robert,

Check this walkthrough and see if there is anything that might get you through.

hi mag. thanks. i gave the Mirrors of Albion a really good shot, playing from the start. i got as far as deirdrie NOT giving me the note before i was forced to say 'bye'. i am sure i completed all conversations but i MUST have done something wrong. i am now perplexed. starting somebody else's w/t but still endng up stuck! robert.

Robert,

Mirrors of Albion is a hidden object game.

My saves for Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes are only for major puzzles. If you want all of them, I can send it to you.
They follow the walkthrough.

hi mag. i was only quoting from the heading. i didn't know Mirrors of Albion was a H.O.G. and i really don't like hidden object games. yes please, send me a saved game of Deirdre's note being accepted by the police station package drop. thanks, robert. p.s. that is if i can figure out how to load a saved game into Win7.

I do not have the spot you want to be. As I mentioned above post - I only have saved games for major puzzles.

If you want the major puzzles saved games - tell me. I don't have after Deidre's note saved game.

hi mag. surely Alibi in Ashes is a major puzzle. if you don't have post Deirdre saved games, so let it be. robert.

hi mag. here we try again, for the 4th time. i am trying aRdNeK's w/t. similar to yours but with minor differences. after Ned is kicked out of Alexei's shop, he is supposed to drive to the police station and get Nancys house-keys from the drop box. how is this possible as the items retrieval point is INSIDE the station! robert.

That must be it then. I wondered why your Ned can't get to it.

There is a cabinet type cover outside the police station. It is on the wall.

Any character can drive to the police station and click on the building to get a close up.

The characters pick things up from that box outside while Nancy places and gets items from inside the station.

hi mag. you described it well but i cannot find this 'cabinet type cover' outside the police station. is it accessible only after hitting or pushing something? is it left or right of the package drop? do you have a picture of what i am looking for? robert.

It is the package drop.

hi mag. got the housekeys. thanks for the guidance, mag. now, how do i open the fingerprint dusting kit to get brush, powder and tape. i am sure it's covered in your w/t but i haven't reached it yet. robert.

When you see an item to take print from - use the kit on it.
You should see the items then.

hi mag. that's what i am asking. how do you open and use the kit? robert.

Try and click the kit on an object you want to take a print on and see if the kit automatically spreads out the item in the screen.

dear mag. when you say in your w/t 'open the bottom drawer and see the lock pick codes', do you mean just CLICK or just LOOK. in view of all the mistakes i seem to make, clicking and mearly looking seems to make a difference to the outcome. robert. p.s. i'm trying to decypher what you really mean the result to be. we are always misconstruing what you say in your walkthrough.

Do you know that they are codes? Find out if they are codes then.
If you are in doubt anything in a game - click it or learn what it is.
You can also check other walkthroughs and not use mine.

hi mag. i am at 'see an ether bottle' but what do you mean by 'if caught'? caught at what? robert.

What you have been doing at the antique store is behind Alexei's back. That is why you sent him to the backroom to get something - out of the way.

So he might come back early and you will be caught doing things that you should not.

hi mag. i have Alexei's print, opened the trunk, read newspaper, found the ether etc. but i can't get him to talk about the alarm key. what am i missing? robert.

You should ask first about Brenda and about his past.

BTW - did you get the alarm keys already?

hi mag. no! the question asks i can't get Alexei to talk about the alarm key. robert.

Is that no - you don't have the alarm keys yet or no - you have not asked him about Brenda?

You should have gotten the alarm key by the trunk earlier in the game and have given it to Nancy via the package drop. That is if you're following the GB walkthrough.

Then you can ask Alexei about it.

mag. i will repeat the question. i can't get Alexei to talk about the alarm key. what am i missing? robert.

You might be missing getting or picking up the key (that I asked about).
You might be missing giving the alarm key to Nancy.
Or you might be missing some other steps before this - check the walkthrough or your To Do list.

hi mag. here is my to do list after Alexei at antique shop. would you so good as to check and advise? get Brenda's fingerprint. get Deirdre's fingerprint. find a way to examine Toni's supply closet. explore Brenda's van. explore Scoop. take a good look around antique shop. get Nancy out of jail. robert.

I can't even try to guess your problem since you don't answer my questions so that I can cross off possibilities.

Better finish the To Do - "take a good look around antique shop" first and then go from there.

mag. the answer to your question re. alarm key is no. i thought this was obvious as i can't get Alexei to even talk about the alarm key in his dialogue. that's why i am asking you. meantime, i will search the antique shop for ... i don 't know what. thanks, robert.

No - you didn't reply about the key nor is it obvious to me.

It would be best if you follow A walkthrough and then you can pinpoint what you missed.

Then get Alexei out of the way and pick the key up beside the antique store's trunk and proceed from there.

mag. i had repeated my question about 4 or 5 posts ago. the w/t does not answer my question, that's why i asked you directly. robert.

If you followed the GB walkthrough - you should have picked up the key beside the trunk at the Antique store.

Your question at above post is that you can't get the dialogue about the alarm key.
That is why I asked if you have the alarm key already?
If you have it - the dialogue will occur; if you don't have the key - then no dialogue because the characters don't know about it.


From the walkthrough; under Check accelerant sample (this is when you did the number punch puzzle):

Trunk: Check the trunk at the corner left of the counter at the back of the room. Alexei is here and we can't work on the trunk.

Look close at trunk and pick up the alarm keys on the floor right of the trunk. Exit the shop.

mag. yes, i already picked up the alarm keys. that doesn't explain why Alexei doesn't talk about it later on when i had my problem at the fingerprint business. should i go back to picking up the alarm keys and replay? if yes, what should i look out for to ensure i don't run into the same problem again. robert.

This is your post at 10:58 AM today stating that you did NOT pick up the key.




This is your post at 6:05 PM today


Does this mean that you just now picked up the key?

If so - then follow the walkthrough and give the alarm key to Nancy at the station.
Then continue with the steps in the walkthrough.

mag. the 6.05PM post is true. the earlier post i was talking about Alexei AFTER the fingerprint business. sorry, i did not mean to confuse you. i must have, with my contradictory answers. robert. p.s. i have NOT just now picked up the key.

There are several ways you can go from here:
1. Give the key to Nancy if you haven't yet.
2. Continue on with the game and then come back later and try to talk to Alexei about the alarm key.
3. Go back to an earlier saved game and replay from there following someone's walkthrough.

thanks for the options, mag. i think i will replay from picking up the alarm key and give aRdNeK's walkthrough a go and see what happens. i have nothing to lose. at first glance it seems to be basically the same w/t as yours with minor differences, robert.

Mag. after opening Alexei's trunk and reading Bennington's accusation, where do i go after being caught and getting the 'fatal error' message? p.s. Mag, please remember, i am following aRdNeK's w/t at this point. robert.

If you haven't finished what you were doing when you got caught - then do the second chance and do it over.
If you have finished - Continue with the next step of the walkthrough then.

Mag.i went through all of the 'gift' business with Alexei but i couldn't actually get him to throw me out. does this affect the w/t any and if so, please tell me where. robert.

Good that he didn't throw you out. We discussed this also in the GB wt - just continue on and just talk to him later.

In fact - talk to everyone until the dialogues repeat.

Mag. after progressing, i consider well, in the game and after reading the Dust and Dirt book and going out to the van, Brenda just says Hi/see you later, and does not talk further. where have i gone wrong? robert.

Robert,

Check your To Do list and see what you haven't done.

Have you checked Brenda's van completely?
Have you taken her business card?
Has Toni told you why Brenda doesn't like Nancy?

Mag. the to do list. - town's tunnels. find out what Deirdre s saying on tape. catch culprit. questions: checked Brenda's van - can't remember - taken business card- yes. why Brenda doesn't like Nancy - can't remember. robert.

As far as your To do list - the one that you might finish is: find out what Deirdre's saying on tape.

Check the GB wt on this part: "Explore the van:".

Please help me out with this game. I'm stuck, have redone this game 3 times and am stucin the same spot. I have gotten the book from Alexei about the Tunnels. What am I missing here, I can't seem to confront Brenda inside the Van. I go in to talk and all I get is bye. I try to get the battery but can't pick it up. Please somebody help me before I pull all my hair out!! Thanks!

Tasha,

It looks like you have not examine everything in the van.
The closest saved game I have is just before doing the jammer and suspect board done.
Tell me if you want any or both of those.

hi Mag. i am once again reading Dust and Dirt book. i am also playing as Junior Detective. does that mean i have to click C option to navigate the tunnels later in the game? please explain this part of the W/T as i don't quite fully understand. robert.

No - you do not need to click on it - just remember what is stated for Option C.


At the back of the Dust and Dirt book you saw 2 pieces of paper.
The first one is a puzzle. The solution for junior mode is C.
You then check the second piece of paper and see several statements or criteria for your selection/solution.

You keep these criteria in mind for later in the game.
At the last puzzle you will have to logically deduce where you need to go based on these criteria.

thanks, Mag. my real question should have been, do i have to solve the puzzles written on the 2 pieces of paper to navigate the tunnels as per your walkthrough or is just reading the book enough? robert.

Reading the "whole" book and clicking on the puzzle solution on first paper are enough.

Just remember those criteria.

hi Mag. i am negotiating the tunnel maze to get out and according to the w/t i am supposed to 'forward to', but i come against a wall with no forward icon. where do i go?

If that happens that might mean that you made a wrong turn in the maze. Best to start over.