A Bowling Pin Has Vanished… Can You Solve the Mystery?
Time to dust off your magnifying glass, sharpen your wits, and channel your inner detective. A crime has been committed at Tenpin, and it’s no small fry. A beloved bowling pin has mysteriously vanished mid-game. One minute it was standing tall and proud in lane 7, the next… gone. Poof. Not even a wobble left behind.
Your job? Solve the case. You’ll meet the suspects, inspect the clues, and piece together what really happened in this late-night caper. Was it jealousy? Mischief? A snack-related accident? You decide.
But beware: not everything is as it seems…
Scene of the Crime: Lane 7, 8:36 PM
The air smelled of nachos and victory. A birthday party was in full swing. The birthday boy, Finley (age 10), had just bowled a glorious strike, the kind you'd tell your grandchildren about. Everyone cheered. Confetti popped. Then came the next round.
But as the pins reset… something was off. Lane 7 only had 9 pins. Cue gasps. Cue chaos. Cue Karen from the front desk running over with her walkie-talkie.
“Code 9!” she yelled. “We’ve got a pin on the loose!”
Security footage was blurry. The pin reset machine glitched. And now, you’re here to uncover the truth.
Meet the Suspects
There were five key players at the scene of the crime. All acting a bit… suspicious.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Terry the Technician
Motive? He’s been working overtime and muttered “These pins don’t pay me enough” more than once.
- Always carries a big toolbox.
- Was “fixing something” by the lane when the pin went missing.
- Smelled vaguely of WD-40 and rage.
He claims he didn’t see anything because he was “elbow-deep in grease.” Hmm…
Ruby the Raging Competitor
Motive? She was losing badly. The missing pin could’ve changed everything.
- Threw a bowling ball so hard earlier it bounced into another lane.
- Kept accusing everyone of “sabotage.”
- Has a suspiciously pin-shaped item in her gym bag (she says it’s a foam roller).
Ruby says she only cares about the game, but she sure had motive to even the odds…
Finley the Birthday Boy
Motive? Fame. Glory. Or maybe just cake-fuelled chaos.
- Had been eyeing the “Strike King” badge all night.
- Was overheard whispering, “What if one just… disappeared?”
- Covered in sprinkles. Possibly cake drunk.
Is it possible the pint-sized party animal snuck off with the pin in a sugar-fuelled heist?
Brenda the Snack Bar Queen
Motive? Unknown. But she’s always around. Watching. Listening.
- Said she saw “nothing” even though she has a direct view of Lane 7.
- Was serving a suspiciously lumpy nacho tray at the time.
- Keeps a broom behind the counter… and a mop. And possibly secrets.
Could the pin have ended up in a hot dog cart? Stranger things have happened.
Malcolm the Mysterious Regular
Motive? He’s got one, we just haven’t figured it out yet.
- Bowls every Friday at 8:00pm sharp. Never misses it.
- Has his own ball. And towel. And very intense stare.
- Muttered, “Pins weren’t made like they used to be” before sipping a suspicious flask.
Malcolm says he saw nothing but the glint of nostalgia. But his locker has a padlock. Why?
The Clues Left Behind
Detective, here’s what we know. Examine the evidence carefully:
One Fingerless Glove
Found tucked behind Lane 7. Smells like cheese dust and ambition.
Black Skid Mark
Under the pinsetter. Possibly rubber. Possibly foul play.
Smeared Frosting Trail
Leading from the birthday table… to the arcade.
One Extra Bowling Shoe
Left near the arcade. Adult-sized. Malcolm wears size 9. Coincidence?
A Crumpled Note
Found behind the score monitor. Scribbled in ALL CAPS:
“I’LL STRIKE WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT.”
Was that a pun? Or a threat?
Your Turn: Who Dunnit?
Now it’s time to piece it all together.
Let’s recap:
- Terry was under the lane, but his tools looked suspiciously shiny (not used).
- Ruby was desperate to win, and her foam roller looked oddly shaped…
- Finley was unsupervised and sugar-hyper with a sprinkle trail leading to the arcade.
- Brenda has full view of the lane, yet missed the entire thing? Really, Brenda?
- Malcolm is a mystery man with nostalgic rage and a locker that clinks.
So… what do you think?
Bonus Challenge: Spot the Red Herring
One of the clues is totally fake. A plant. A misdirection. Can you figure out which one?
- Was it the glove?
- The skid mark?
- The spare shoe?
- The cryptic note?
The Real Suspect Revealed (Spoiler Below… Highlight to Read)
Spoiler Alert!
It was Finley.
Caught on arcade cam, trying to trade the pin for extra tokens. He thought it was worth “at least 500 tickets.” Security caught him mid-bargain, trying to shove the pin into the prize counter. Cake made him do it.
Case closed.
Fancy Solving More Mysteries?
The only mystery at Tenpin should be “who's buying the next round of nachos.”
Whether you’re into bowling, laser tag, karaoke, escape rooms, interactive darts or soft play, we’ve got games, snacks, and enough laughs to keep even Finley entertained (without stealing).