Blood and Ink

Welcome to Blood and Ink Hints and Reveals!

How to Use the Hints and Reveals

1. If you’re looking for spoiler-free help on a code or puzzle, navigate to the HINTS section. 
2. If you’re looking for the answer to a code or puzzle, navigate to the REVEALS section.
3. If you want to make sure that you’ve discovered everything in the box, navigate to the INVENTORY, HIDDEN ITEMS, AND HIDDEN TEXT section. 
4. If you’re having trouble reading a handwritten document or require audio captioning, navigate to the ACCESSIBILITY section. 
5. If you would like a step-by-step walkthrough of the game’s solution, navigate to the SOLUTION section.

Keep in mind, this game has layers. These hints and reveals WILL NOT expose all answers or possibilities that exist within the game. Your time and effort are rewarded with a richer experience — the more you put in, the more you get out.

HINTS

• +Evidence Access Hint

  Don’t forget to check out any URLs or phone numbers you find amongst your evidence, Detective.

  
  

• +Window of Opportunity Hint #1

  The Autopsy Report is a great place to start crunching the numbers for this case.

• +Window of Opportunity Hint #2

  According to the Autopsy Report, Tony’s postmortem anchor tattoo is 2.5 inches across. Is there anything Jenny sent that might help you learn more about tattooing?

  
  

• +Window of Opportunity Hint #3

  The Pricing Standee states that a 2.5-inch tattoo takes about 30 minutes to complete.

• +Locked Box Hint #1

  Tony’s Locked Box has a couple of flags in the background of the design. Where else have you seen some background flags?

  
  

• +Locked Box Hint #2

  The Letter from Jenny mentions that Tony’s tattoos were in memory of his late sister. Luckily, you have photos of his arms. What can you learn from these sentimental tattoos?

  
  

• +Locked Box Hint #3

  Locked Box Hint #3
  Unexpectedly, the Tattoo Magazine Article may prove helpful in understanding Tony better.

  
  

WARNING! Spoilers ahead if you have not yet opened the Locked Box!

• +Identifying Means Hint #1

  Tony’s puncture wounds described in the Autopsy are a bit unusual. What sort of tool could have caused such wounds?

  
  

• +Identifying Means Hint #2

  Refer back to the shop’s website, Illustrated Gift, Flash Day Flyer, Order Form, Jenny’s Witness Statement, and Tattoo Magazine Article to identify the significance of the Tattoo Outline in the Locked Box.

  
  

• +Identifying Means Hint #3

  The Tattoo Outline is Tank’s signature anchor that Tony mentioned taking off the wall in his notebook, and then Jenny explained in her statement that she refused to tattoo it. Take a closer look at Tony’s postmortem anchor. Is that how Tank draws it?
  
  

  
  

REVEALS

• +Evidence Access Reveal

  The back of the Temporary Tattoo lists the shop’s website. Head to ahigherexpression.com to view all the evidence for this case.

  
  

• +Window of Opportunity Reveal #1

  Cross-referencing the Autopsy Report and Pricing Standee, you’ll discover that the killer must have had the opportunity to remain at the scene of th

• +Window of Opportunity Reveal #2

  You’ll need to carefully read the Witness Statements and reference the map on the back of the Practice Tattoo to start building a timeline of events and eliminating suspects based on lack of opportunity.

  
  

• +Locked Box Reveal #1

  Each of Tony’s tattoos, aside from the postmortem anchor, is designed in a way to represent a letter in the semaphore alphabet. Take a closer look at the position of the half-black-half-white-shaded diamonds in each tattoo and compare with the semaphore alphabet poster in the background of Tank’s photo on the Tattoo Magazine Article.

  
  

• +Locked Box Reveal #2

  Tony’s tattoos spell out the three-digit combination to his Locked Box using the semaphore alphabet, reading from his right arm’s wrist up to his right elbow, and then from his left arm’s wrist up the elbow.

  
  

• +Locked Box Reveal #3

  Tony’s tattoos spell JULY on his right arm and TEN on his left arm.

• +Locked Box Reveal #4

  The combination to the Locked Box is 710.

  
  

WARNING! Spoilers ahead if you have not yet opened the Locked Box!

• +Identifying Means Reveal #1

  Your close attention to detail will notice that the SN4795 piercing needles that Suzi mentions are in surplus in her note to Donna on the back of the Flash Day Flyer match the diameter and description of Tony’s wounds in the Autopsy Report.

• +Identifying Means Reveal #2

  Tony’s postmortem tattoo doesn’t match the Tattoo Outline, but it does match someone else’s art style.

• +Killer Identity Reveal

  Suzi’s art style matches Tony’s postmortem tattoo, she had access to the murder weapon, she was upset with Tony for breaking off her business deal with Fritz, and her alibi cannot be confirmed by anyone else. Suzi is the killer.

  
  

INVENTORY, HIDDEN ITEMS, AND HIDDEN TEXT

• +Physical Documents and Items

  • Start Guide
  • Letter from Jenny
  • Temporary Tattoo
  • Tony Restaurant Article
  • Tattoo Magazine Article
  • Practice Tattoo
  • Illustrated Gift
  • Bank Letter
  • Police Report
  • Autopsy Report
  • Witness Statements (6)
  • Flash Day Flyer
  • Pricing Standee
  • Order Form
  • Spider Figurine
  • Locked Box (4 items inside)
  • Solution Envelope (spoilers inside!)

• +Digital Documents

  • ahigherexpression.com

• +Hidden Items/Documents (WARNING! Spoilers!)

  • Tattoo Outline (hidden within Locked Box)
  • Tony’s Photo (hidden within Locked Box)
  • Tony’s Sister’s Obituary (hidden within Locked Box)
  • Tony’s Notebook (hidden within Locked Box)
  • Solution Letter (found within Solution Envelope)
  • Bang Bang Temporary Tattoo (found within Solution Envelope)

• +Hidden Text (WARNING! Spoilers!)

  There is no hidden text in the box or on the website for this game.

ACCESSIBILITY

• +Letter from Jenny Handwriting Transcript

  [Bottom of page, signature in Jenny’s handwriting]

  Jenny

  
  

• +Practice Tattoo Handwriting Transcript

  [Back of tattoo, in Jenny’s handwriting]

  [Clockwise, from upper left corner]

  Higher Expression

  The Bar

  Tony’s Restaurant

  Tank’s place

  [Labeled path between Tony’s restaurant and Higher Expression] 10 min walk

  
  

• +Illustrated Gift Handwriting Transcript

  [In Auri’s handwriting]

  It’s me

  Auri Malone

  
  

• +Bank Letter Handwriting Transcript

  [Bottom of page, signature in Abigail’s handwriting]

  Abigail T. Holl

  
  

• +Police Report Handwriting Transcript

  [Bottom of page, signature in Lester’s handwriting]

  Lester George

  [illegible date]

  
  

• +Autopsy Report Handwriting Transcript

  [Top of first page, illegible date in Jennifer’s handwriting]

  [Bottom of first page, signature in Jennifer’s handwriting]

  Jennifer N.H. Smith

  [Third page, labeled diagram]

  Puncture

  Puncture

  Puncture

  Puncture

  Tattoos 1 – 4

  Tattoos 5 – 8

  
  

• +Flash Day Flyer Handwriting Transcript

  [Front of page, in Suzi’s handwriting]

  NO [arrow pointing to circled figure in trench coat]

  [Back of page, in Suzi’s handwriting]

  Donna— Please fix this flyer. And you’ve over ordered supplies again. SN4795 and CN560.

  Please find your center and begin to focus. Have you tried the fasting routine I recommended?

  —S

  [Bottom of back of page, in Donna’s handwriting]

  TONY

  TONY

  TONY

  [Doodles in Donna’s handwriting]

  
  

• +Hidden Document 1 Handwriting Transcript (WARNING! Contains spoilers!)

  [On the back of Tony’s Photo, in Tony’s handwriting]

  Me and T.

  Christmas

  
  

• +Hidden Document 2 Handwriting Transcript (WARNING! Contains spoilers!)

  [Tony’s Notebook, in Tony’s handwriting]

  [Page 1] 

  #748

  Hey Tina Dancer

  What do German people even like? I can’t get a read on this guy. He seems like a big shot but he also seems like a horrible person. I gotta make sure Jibbons is good. I think she’s clueless about the whole thing. Suzi is the worst. I’ll figure it out. 

  [Page 2]

  Remember my 10th birthday at Charles E Cheeks (that pizza place with the hampster mascot). You didn’t want to go because you were too cool but mom made you. You sat there with your head on the table the whole time. Then, at the end of the party, I said something stupid and you popped up and hit me in the face? 

  [Page 3]

  That was the best. 

  Love,

  T

  [Page 4]

  #749

  Hey Tina Mutant Ninja Turtles

  Tank is really pissed with me. I actually feel bad. I’m not sure about the expansion. But this is what I’ve been working towards and it’s not my fault he can’t pay the bills. He reminds me of that gym teacher, Mr. George. Sadder though and more beard. 

  [Page 5]

  I know what you’d tell me to do. I never really listened to you though. I’ll figure it out. 

  Turtle Power

  T

  [Page 6]

  #750

  Hey Tina Turner

  I told Jibbons to start writing to Andy like I do with you. She’s not into it. It helps me. She gets so closed off. I try not to push. You know me though.

  Speaking of shutting things down I finally told Donna to just stop. 

  [Page 7]

  Sometimes it’s funny and I don’t try to lead her on. I finally just made it really clear and I don’t think she took it well. I could have been nicer I think. All I said was that I didn’t like her or her face. It was a bad joke. 

  What’s love got to do, got to do with it

  T

  [Page 8]

  # 750 751

  Hey Tina Toon Adventures

  I had a really direct talk with Auri. Told her it was a job. I’m really trying to be a good boss but I think I’m making it worse. She didn’t say a word. She just stared at me and then made an angry cat noise and walked away. 

  [Page 9]

  Oh yea bowling! Fritz likes bowling. He said something about how he is amazed by Americans’ desire to repeat pointless actions. I tried pretty hard to turn him off of the shop. I think it’s working. 

  Love

  T

  [Page 10]

  #752

  Hey T

  Real quick— I saw Tank kick a pigeon today. The bird was fine. But who does that?

  T

  [Page 11]

  #753

  Hey T Money

  Went to the shop today to chat with Jibbons. Suzi and I got into it again. She walked right up to me and said You bring in negative energy. And then got really upset. I didn’t even do anything.

  Except that I might have said 

  [Page 12]

  that her birkenstocks bring in negative smells. That’s when she got angry. I think that’s where I went wrong.

  She’s so fake. I know it. Jibbons should know it, but she doesn’t seem to get it. 

  Remember when I didn’t clean my room for like a month, so mom decided 

  [Page 13]

  to stop doing my laundry. Then I started putting my dirty socks under your bed? I was brilliant.

  Smell ya later

  T

  [Page 14]

  #754

  Hey T

  I started thinking about that time that Bobby kid dumped you. He was a douchebag. But you like cried in your room for a week and it really freaked me out. Finally you let me in and we just watched a bunch of movies but we didn’t 

  [Page 15]

  say a word. At least you stopped crying. So that got me thinking about Donna. And it was a different situation for sure but I wanted to talk to her about it. And it went really well. I apologized for the dumb joke and I told her she’d find someone who deserves her and 

  [Page 16]

  that it just wasn’t me. I hope she took it ok. 

  Heart breaker out.

  T 

  [Page 17]

  #755

  Hey T Dog

  Suzi is gonna freak out. I’m 98% sure I convinced Fritz not to buy Suzi’s studio. She’ll need so much meditation to get over this one. Do you think she’ll know it was me? Probably. Doesn’t matter. Jibbons’ job is safe 

  [Page 18]

  and the world is right again.

  Huzzah!

  T

  [Page 19]

  #756

  Hey

  I came up with this awesome saying — “Stuck in Chucks” because people think this town is so bad. Jibbons says people have said that for years, but I think I’m gonna make t-shirts anyway and sell them at the shop. 

  I told her she needs 

  [Page 20]

  to get out of here. At least travel if not move completely. She’s really talented and too cool for this place. 

  I like it here. But I told her it’d be cool for her to live somewhere I’d want to visit. So this is really about me.

  Stuck in Chucks!

  T

  [Page 21]

  #757

  Hey Hey Tina Fey

  You me mom Chelsea Park. I think it was spring. We had a picnic or something. And it was warm enough to take our shoes off. You were chasing butterflies or some crap and I decided to grab every wolf spider I could and put them in 

  [Page 22]

  your shoes. I was surprised they stayed until we were ready to leave. 

  But you didn’t put them back on!

  So we got in the car mom’s already driving and you’re in the front seat and all of a sudden they started pouring out of your shoes and 

  [Page 23]

  crawling up your legs. You screamed so loud mom almost wrecked. 

  Looooooveeee YOUUUUU

  T 

  [Page 24]

  #758

  Hey Tina Bonita

  I don’t think I’m going to follow through with Tank’s half of the building. You’re in my head, or maybe I have a conscience. Either way, I think Tank needs his shop more than I need a dining room. I’m going to let it drag on a bit 

  [Page 25]

  though. Mess with him a little more. Like today I snuck in his shop and pulled some art off the wall. I’m gonna get Jibbons to tattoo it for me. It's funny to see him all pissy. 

  Maybe I should take a vacation soon. I could hire someone else, or maybe Auri would take 

  [Page 26]

  more on. I know she’s capable. She’s really smart. Still weird. 

  Stop haunting me.

  Love

  T

  
  

• +Hidden Document 3 Handwriting Transcript (WARNING! Contains spoilers!)

  [Front of Solution Letter, in Jenny’s handwriting]

  Thank you, Detective! I included a temp tattoo for you from this cool artist I met in NYC!

  Tony,

  
  

  So you were murdered. It’s crazy. And I’m writing to you which is also crazy. I really miss you.

  Suzi did it. You were right about her. All that karma-centered crap was fake. It was because you convinced Fritz to not buy the shop. You messed up her deal. I really didn’t think she was capable of killing someone. And then she gave you a tattoo after you were dead. How messed up is that?

  This detective helped me out. They figured that Suzi didn’t have an alibi and that she was pissed about the deal. And the crazy thing was they looked at that tattoo she gave you and saw it was her style. It looked like Tank’s anchor but the lines were too straight and it didn’t look like his work at all. I don’t know if she was trying to frame him, or me, or what. 

  Tank was at your funeral by the way. I was a little shocked. Despite you being you, I 

  [Back of page]

  think he kind of liked you. And he ended up hiring your favorite employee. Auri is finally getting a chance to tattoo. Good for her, right? Can you imagine the two of them having a conversation, though?

  Donna met a guy from the police department. I gave him this horrible tattoo and they started chatting. I think she’s happy. But she did ask me to give her this tiny sardine tattoo on her ankle. 

  And your buddy Fritz is gone. Once the investigation ended he went to some town in Illinois. Chestnut Falls I think. He said he was still searching for “the right American canvas” for his art. Yuck. They can have him. 

  I left town too. Stuck in Chucks no more. You told me I should just get out there and I did it. I don’t really know where I’m going but that’s ok. I’ll figure it out. And I’m writing to Andy like I’m writing to you. It still feels weird but also kind of good. 

  I love you, you idiot. I miss you a lot. I’ll write again soon. 

  —Jibbons

SOLUTION

• +Click to Reveal Solution

  According to the Letter from Jenny, whoever gave Tony the postmortem anchor tattoo is the person who killed him. The Autopsy Report gives a time of death of 7:30 pm and indicates that the anchor tattoo is 2.5 inches across. The Pricing Standee confirms that a tattoo of that size would take 30 minutes to complete. Therefore, the murderer was at the scene of the crime from at least 7:30 pm until 8 pm.

  
  

  The Witness Statements can help you start to build a timeline of events:

  6 pm – power goes out at Tank’s shop (Auri and Tank Statements)

  6:41 pm – Auri quits and leaves for the bar (Auri’s Statement) 

  6:47 - 6:52 pm – Auri arrives at the bar (Auri’s Statement, Map confirms travel time should be about 5 minutes)

  7 pm – Tony is at the tattoo shop, has a fight with Jenny, and then leaves (Jenny and Suzi Statements)

  7:30 pm – Tony is murdered (Autopsy)

  7:30 or 7:45 pm – Donna leaves the shop and goes to the bar (Donna says she left at 7:30; Jenny says 7:45)

  8 pm – Jenny leaves the shop (Jenny Statement)

  8 pm – Suzi leaves, talks to Fritz on the way out (Suzi Statement; Fritz cannot verify the time)

  8:02 pm – Donna gets to the bar (Auri Statement, might not be 100% accurate as she seems to be screwing with the cops)

  Sometime after 8 pm – Fritz leaves after finishing with his client and talking to Suzi (Fritz Statement)

  
  

  Looking at the map on the back of the Practice Tattoo, you can see the walk from A Higher Expression to Tony’s restaurant is 10 minutes, and then another 5 minutes from Tony’s to the bar. The earliest Donna left the tattoo shop was 7:30 pm, which means she would have gotten to the crime scene at 7:40, which is already too late. In addition, giving Tony a tattoo for another 30 minutes and then walking another 5 to the bar would mean Donna would have met Auri at 8:15 pm. Since this is later than the 8:02 pm arrival time that Auri claims, Donna can be excluded as a suspect.

  
  

  Auri can be eliminated for similar reasons. Donna doesn’t say that Auri was late, so she was already at the bar when Donna got there. If Donna left at the later time of 7:45 pm, she would have gotten to the bar at 8 pm. For Auri to kill Tony at 7:30, complete a 30-minute tattoo, and then walk another 5 minutes, she would have arrived at 8:05 pm, after Donna. Auri is also innocent, as she did not have the opportunity to kill Tony.

  
  

  You can safely eliminate Jenny for the same timeline issue. If she left the shop when Donna did, the earliest she could have gotten to Tony is 7:40 pm, after the time of death. 

  
  

  This leaves Tank, Suzi, and Fritz as the remaining suspects. Fritz doesn’t have a strong motive, but his alibi cannot be verified. Suzi and Tony do not like each other, and her timeline has not been verified by other suspects. Tank claims he was in his shop alone, and the Bank Letter suggests he might have had a motive with Tony trying to buy out his shop. 

  
  

  To open the Locked Box, you need to look at the images of Tony’s tattoos in the Autopsy Report. Each has a distinct shape that lines up with flag formations in the semaphore alphabet. This alphabet can be seen on a poster in the Tattoo Magazine Article. Another way to get this connection is to notice the flags on the Locked Box.

  
  

  After matching up each of Tony’s arm tattoos to a letter, you’ll spell out the words “JULY” and “TEN.” The combination 710 opens the Locked Box. Tony’s Sister’s Obituary in the Locked Box confirms that 7/10 is the date Tony’s older sister died, indicating that his tattoos were an homage to her.

  
  

  Tony’s Notebook reveals a lot of information about the various relationships Tony had with each of the suspects. Tony and Fritz were friendly, and Fritz didn’t really have a strong motive to kill Tony. Tank’s potential motive is dispelled, as Tony wrote in his notebook that he decided not to buy Tank’s shop after all. However, Suzi does have a potential motive, since Tony convinced Fritz not to buy Suzi’s shop, undercutting her plans to get out of Chuckstown.

  
  

  The last item in the Locked Box is a Tattoo Outline of an anchor. Tony writes in his notebook that he took this off of Tank’s wall, and then, according to Jenny’s Statement, he took it to Jenny to get it tattooed on his leg. Jenny refusing to do this is what they fought about when Tony left the shop. 

  
  

  The Tattoo Outline is how Tank draws his signature anchor, which doesn’t match the style of the final tattoo on Tony’s arm. On Tony’s arm, the rope passes behind the anchor rather than going in front, and there are additional geometric lines on the bottom of the design.

  
  

  A Higher Expression’s website, the URL for which can be found on the Temporary Tattoo, features the art style for Jenny, Suzi, and Fritz. Additionally, you can find Auri’s art style on the Illustrated Gift and Donna’s art style in the doodles on the back of the Flash Day Flyer. Comparing all of these artistic styles, Suzi’s is the one that matches the anchor on Tony. 

  
  

  Finally, the Autopsy Report gives the dimensions for the stab wounds. On the Flash Day Flyer, Suzi tells Donna that Donna ordered too many of certain item numbers. Cross-referencing with the Order Form reveals that some of these items are piercing needles with the same 10 mm diameter as the puncture wounds. 

  
  

  Means – Tony was stabbed to death with piercing needles that Suzi had access to, and the postmortem anchor tattoo on his arm matched her art style.

  Motive – Tony talked Fritz out of buying Suzi’s shop, which hurt her financially.

  Opportunity – Suzi claims she was in her office at the time of death, but no one saw her. The only person who saw Suzi at the shop was Fritz. Suzi claims this was at 8 pm, but Fritz doesn’t recall the actual time that he talked with Suzi, so Suzi does not have an alibi.

  
  

  Suzi is the killer. Open the Solution Envelope to read the resolution of the case and to receive a congratulatory temporary tattoo from Bang Bang!