The Echo Bay Murders – Chapter I
Hello everyone, and welcome to our walkthrough for Chapter 1 of “The Echo Bay Murders” another game in the series of AE mysteries, developed and published by Haiku Games.
In this game, your character is the detective Kate Gray. She is traveling to Echo Bay, which was a small, quiet town until some of the women went missing. Our task is to investigate the missing person reports.
At the start of the game, Kate is driving towards Echo Bay, when she receives a call from her friend, Murphy. Murphy asked her out for a dinner at a new sushi place, but Kate had to decline because she will be out of town for a week. She explained, that she is working on a case in a small town called Echo Bay, and she’s traveling there right now.
As she was talking to Murphy, Kate received another call, from Darius. He informed her that 5 women from Echo Bay went missing, during the past 10 years, and another case has just been reported. Darius also informed her that all women went missing in early March, so he thinks that there’s a pattern. Well, Kate and Darius believe that they should be able to solve this mystery because the local police force doesn’t have the experience to solve such a high-profile case. Finally, Kate informs him that she will arrive shortly, and that’s how this story begins.
Well, Kate and Darius arrived before the local police, and they decide to start the investigation without them. Darius promised Kate that he will introduce her to the local authorities, once they arrive. In the meantime, Kate would like to start by questioning the witnesses.
We will start by picking up the “Brush”.
Also, if you take a look inside the trash can on the right, you will notice a “Keypad button”. Tap on it to pick it up.
Let’s interrogate the witness. Tap on the woman in the blue shirt to start the conversation.
The woman’s name is Mila, and she works at the gas station. Mila explains that, a couple of hours ago, a woman came in and asked for a bathroom key. After some time, Mila decided to check on the woman and make sure that she was alright. However, there was no answer when she knocked on the bathroom door. Also, Mila noticed that the woman’s car was still at the gas station, so she presumed that the woman didn’t leave. With all that said, she decided to call the police.
Kate wants to know if there’s another bathroom key so that she can check what’s going on in the bathroom. Mila informed her that the other key is in the garage, but the garage door is locked. Mila doesn’t know the code for the garage door, only mechanics and her boss have this information. Unfortunately, she can’t reach her boss because he’s on the vacation. So, we will have to find a way to get into the garage.
Ok, if you pay attention to the “ECHO BAY FUEL STOP” sign you will notice that the light on some of the letters is flickering. Let’s identify these letters.
First, we have “C” (in “ECHO”)
Second, we have “Y” (in “BAY”)
Third, we have “E” (in “Fuel”)
Fourth, we have “O” (in “STOP”)
When we put the flickering letters together, we will get “CYEO”. Memorize/ write down these letters, because they are a hint for the next puzzle.
After that, tap on the keypad, on the right side of the garage door, to start the interaction.
Ok, we can see that button number 2 is missing. So, select the “Keypad button” from the inventory and tap on the empty slot to insert it.
Let’s tap on the flickering letters “CYEO” that we saw on the gas station sign. We can see,
“C” on button number 1
“Y” on button number 9
“E” on button number 2
O on button number 5
So, enter the code “1925” and you will open the garage door.
Let’s go into the garage.
We are now inside the garage, and the spare keys should be somewhere in this room. But first, let’s tap on the “Step Ladder” below the car to pick it up.
Next, tap on the bottom door on the blue cabinet on the right to open it.
Inside the cabinet, you will see a green item. Tap on it to pick it up and a “Fuse” will be added to your inventory.
You can also open the top door on the cabinet, and here you can collect one star.
At the back of the room, we can see a large, red locker, locked by a padlock. Tap on the padlock to start the lockpicking process.
In order to open the lockpick the padlock, we will have to solve the next puzzle. Our task here is to move all the balls to the gears of the matching color. Red, Yellow, and Blue gears are larger and we can rotate them by tapping on them. We have one empty slot to transfer the balls between the gears. Besides the three larger gears (each can hold 4 balls) we have 4 smaller, green gears, and each can hold one ball. We will do this puzzle in multiple steps. Let’s begin.
Step 1
Tap three times on the yellow gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the blue ball in the upper-right green gear to transfer it to the yellow gear.
Step 2
Tap two times on the yellow gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the green ball on the yellow gear to transfer it to the green gear.
Step 3
Tap once on the yellow gear, then tap twice on the blue gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the yellow gear.
Step 4
Tap twice on the yellow gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the blue ball to transfer it to the blue gear.
Step 5
Tap once on the yellow gear, then tap three times on the red gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the yellow gear.
Step 6
Tap twice on the red gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the red gear.
Step 7
Tap twice on the red gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the green ball to transfer it to the green gear.
Step 8
Tap three times on the red gear, then tap once on the blue gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the red ball to transfer it to the red gear.
Step 9
Tap three times on the blue gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the red ball to transfer it to the blue gear.
Step 10
Tap once on the blue gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the green ball to transfer it to the green gear.
Step 11
Tap three times on the blue gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the blue gear.
Step 12
Tap twice on the blue gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the green ball to transfer it to the green gear.
Step 13
Tap twice on the blue gear, then tap once on the red gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the blue ball to transfer it to the blue gear.
Step 14
Tap once on the blue gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the red ball to transfer it to the red gear.
Step 15
Tap twice on the red gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the blue ball to transfer it to the blue gear.
Step 16
Tap once on the blue gear, then tap once on the yellow gear, and lastly tap three times on the red gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the red ball (on the yellow gear) to transfer it to the red gear.
Step 17
Tap three times on the red gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the yellow gear.
Step 18
Tap twice on the yellow gear to rotate it. After that, tap on the red ball to transfer it to the red gear.
Step 19
Tap three times on the yellow gear, then tap once on the blue gear to rotate them. After that, tap on the yellow ball to transfer it to the yellow gear, and you will solve this puzzle.
Well, we managed to lockpick the padlock, and the locker is now open. Inside the locker, you will see a key. Tap on it to pick it up and “Spare Keys” (should be for the bathroom) will be added to your inventory.
Ok, let’s go back outside. Tap on the arrow in the upper left corner of the screen.
Let’s go into the bathroom, and figure out what happened to the woman. Select the “Spare Keys” from the inventory and tap on the bathroom door (behind the blue car) to unlock it.
As Kate was about to enter the bathroom, it seems that someone took a photo from the woods, because we could see the flash.
Darius decided to go to the woods and check it out, while Kate searches the bathroom.
In the next scene, Darius will leave to do a perimeter check, and we should head into the bathroom.
We can immediately see that the bathroom window is broken, the woman isn’t inside, so she was probably kidnapped.
Ok, select the “Brush” from the inventory and tap on the handle (below the broken window) to attach it. “Broom” will be added to your inventory.
Next, tap on the “Rag”, in the blue bucket, to pick it up.
Next, tap on the door on the right to open it.
Yup, the woman definitely isn’t in the bathroom. Tap on the toilet lid to put it down, and you will find a cellphone on the water container. Tap on it to pick it up and “Uncharged Phone” will be added to your inventory.
Next, select the “Broom” from the inventory and use it to sweep the broken glass.
Below the glass, you will find a key. Tap on it to pick it up and “Small Key” will be added to your inventory.
Next, select the “Rag” from the inventory and tap on the sink to soak it in water. “Damp Rag” will be added to your inventory.
Ok, now let’s take a closer look at the broken window. Detective Kate, our character, can’t reach it, so select the “Step Ladder” from the inventory and tap below the broken window to place it.
Tap on the bloody rag on the left side of the window to take a closer look at it.
Well, since there are bloodstains on the torn piece of clothing, Kate thinks that somebody broke into the bathroom and dragged the woman through the broken window. A logical conclusion. Tap on the arrow to continue.
We found the first piece of evidence, but we will have to wait for forensics to analyze it. Let’s continue.
Tap on the pink item by the broken window to take a closer look at it.
It appears that we found the victim’s wallet. We found her driver’s license, and her name is Ava McWilliam. Tap on the driver’s license to pick it up.
The driver’s license is another key piece of evidence because we now know the victim’s identity.
Tap on the upper part of the wallet to examine the small note.
On the note, we can see three numbers. Memorize/ write down the one in the upper-right corner “83516” because we will need it in order to open the car.
There are two more cards in the wallet, but they aren’t really important, so tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to go back.
Ok, let’s go back outside. Tap on the bathroom door to exit.
Tap on the car door to take a closer look at it.
Select the “Damp Rag” from the inventory and place it on the door.
Drag the “Damp Rag” and use it to clean the car door.
We can see that the door is locked by a five-digit code. Let’s enter the code that we saw in the note inside the wallet. It was “83516”.
So, tap on the fourth (left to right) button, second, third, first, and finally the third button, and you will open unlock the car door.
Let’s get into the car.
Tap on the “USB Cable” to pick it up.
Select the “USB Cable” from the inventory and tap on the slot to plug it in.
Select the “Uncharged Phone” from the inventory and connect it to the USB cable.
Ok, the phone is now charging. Select the “Small Key” from the inventory and use it to unlock the glove box.
Tap on the “Fuse” inside the glove box to pick it up.
Before we leave, tap on the button in the upper-left corner of the glove box to open the trunk.
Well, Kate thinks that we should take a look inside the trunk, so let’s do that. Tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to exit.
The trunk is now open, so tap on the “Extension Cord” in the trunk to pick it up.
As soon as you take the extension cord, Darius will come back. He will inform you that he didn’t find anyone in the woods, but he did see a broken window, and apparently, somebody disabled one of the security cameras.
Kate thinks that she should attempt to gain access to the surveillance room. In the meantime, Darius will try to find out how long one of the security cameras has been out of order.
Ok, let’s go back into the garage.
Select the “Extension Cord” from the inventory and attach it to the cable.
Next, tap on the blue button to lower the car.
After we lowered the car, we can see the panel on the wall on the left. Tap on the “Duct Tape” and “Screwdriver” to pick them up.
Ok, we should now go back to the car. Tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to go back.
Get into the car.
Select the “Screwdriver” from the inventory and use it to open the small panel, located just to the right of the steering wheel.
Tap on the “Fuse” to pick it up. Now, we have three fuses in our inventory.
Ok, let’s go back to the garage. Tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to exit.
Tap on the garage door to enter.
Select the “Screwdriver” from the inventory and use it to remove the lid on the fuse box.
After that, tap on the fuse box to take a closer look at it.
If you take a look at the right side of the fuse box, you will notice that three fuses are missing. So, select the “Fuses” from the inventory and insert them into the empty slots.
Our next task is to move the sparks to the slot of the matching color. We will do this puzzle in several steps. Let’s begin.
Step 1
Tap on the green spark to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it to the right.
After that, tap on the green spark again to select it, then tap on the down arrow to move it down.
Step 2
Tap on the pink spark to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it to the right. The pink spark’s path to the right will be blocked by the green spark, so it will stop at the pink slot – right where we want it.
Step 3
Tap on the green spark to select it, then tap on the up arrow to move it up.
After that, tap on the green spark again to select it, then tap on the left arrow to move it to the left.
Step 4
Tap on the orange spark to select it, then tap on the left arrow to move it to the left.
Step 5
Tap on the blue spark to select it, then tap on the left arrow to move it to the left.
After that, tap on the blue spark again to select it, then tap on the up arrow to move it up.
Step 6
Tap on the orange spark to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it to the right.
After that, tap on the green spark again to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it to the right. The orange spark will block the path of the green spark, so the green spark will stop at the green slot.
Step 7
Well, the next steps should be obvious.
First, tap on the blue spark to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it on the blue slot.
Second, tap on the orange spark to select it, then tap on the right arrow to move it on the orange slot.
Well, it seems that we managed to restore power to the surveillance room. Tap on the computer to take a closer look at it.
Select the “Duct tape” from the inventory and use it to repair the wires.
Well, we have access to the surveillance cameras, but we still have to determine the exact date and time when the victim arrived at the gas station. Tap on the arrow in the upper-left corner to go back.
Tap on the calendar on the wall on the left to take a closer look at it.
We can see that the garage will be closed from the seventh of March 2021. until the thirteenth of March 2021. Memorize/ write down this information, then tap on the arrow in the upper-left corner to go back.
Ok, we should now go back to the car and check Ava’s (victim) phone. Tap on the arrow in the upper-left corner to go back.
Tap on the car door to get in.
Tap on the “Charged Phone” to pick it up.
Tap on the magnifying glass, next to the phone, to examine it.
Let’s start at the bottom.
All messages are from Ryan.
The last message was at 6:38 PM “Great! Tomorrow is Tuesday, so we can make tacos.”
The next message was at 6:45 PM “Since you’re there now, grab a thing of salsa if they have it”.
7:10 PM Missed Call from Ryan.
7:35 PM “Hey, haven’t heard from you. Everything ok?”
Conclusions. If Ryan messaged Ava saying that tomorrow is Tuesday, that means that it was Monday when he sent the message.
Next, he told her to grab a thing of salsa (probably from a gas station) at 6:45 PM, and never heard from her since.
So, what can we conclude from this? Well, first of all, buying food at the gas station is a terrible idea, unless you really have to.
Jokes aside, this means that Ava arrived at the gas station at 6:45 PM, and was probably kidnapped shortly after that.
So, we have a day and time – Monday, 6:45 PM. Memorize/write down this information, then let’s go back to the garage.
Tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to exit.
Tap on the garage door to enter.
Tap on the calendar again to take a look at it.
Ok, Mila said that she couldn’t open the garage door for us (and give us the spare bathroom key) because the garage will be closed this week, and only the mechanics know the code.
Well, since we know that the woman has gone missing on Monday (today – in-game time), we just have to look at the calendar, and we will discover the date.
So, Monday is the eighth of March 2021. Memorize/write down this information.
After that, tap on the arrow in the upper left corner to go back.
Tap on the computer again to start the interaction.
Well, by going through the victim’s phone and looking at the calendar, we discovered when the victim arrived at the gas station. Enter
Month: 03 (March) / Day: 08 / Year: 2021
Hour: 18 / Minute: 45
Once you’re done, tap on the “SEARCH” button.
On Camera 1, we can see Ava stopping in front of the gas station, and leaving her vehicle.
Next, we can see her on Camera 2. She went inside and asked for the bathroom key, just like Mila told us, and then went into the bathroom.
However, on Camera 3, we can see that someone followed her when she went into the bathroom… Kate concludes, that this man probably broke through the window, and dragged Ava into the forest.
We found another piece of evidence. Our suspect is male, athletically built, and wearing camo.
Kate thinks that the suspect was probably in a hurry when he kidnapped Ava, and that’s why he left evidence in the bathroom. He probably intended to come back later and clean up. Luckily, Mila decided to inform the police as soon as she realized that Ava stayed in the bathroom too long, so the suspect didn’t have enough time to come back and remove the evidence.
Kate thinks that she should go back to Darius and inform him about the progress of the case. So, go back, and tap on Darius to start the conversation.
Kate informs Darius that she saw the suspect on the footage from the security cameras. She also thinks that the flash in the woods that she saw earlier might be from the suspect who was coming back to clean up all the evidence from the bathroom that he left behind.
At this moment, the sirens can be heard in the distance, and it seems that the local police will finally arrive. Darius explains that he will inform the police about their findings, and organize the search party. In the meantime, Kate will head back to her hotel room to get some rest.
On her way to the hotel, Kate is pleased about seeing Darius after a long time. She thinks about calling Murphy but decides against it because she realized that it’s late, and he’s probably asleep.
At that moment, she saw a car coming from the other direction, but this driver didn’t want to shut down his high beam lights…
When she got closer, she saw a man armed with a rifle, just as he fired a shot through her windshield…
Kate lost control over her car and crashed by the side of the road.
The man was now looking at her, with his handgun pointed through the broken windshield. He looks very similar to the suspect that we saw on the security footage.
He says that Kate should have stayed home this night. With that words, the man kidnapped her, and that’s the last thing she remembers…
Well, that’s the end of the first chapter. Will Kate manage to escape? And who is this mysterious man? I guess we will find out in the continuation of the story.
You can check out the second chapter by tapping on the “Chapter II” button.
Thank you for reading.