Real-life Cluedo

This morning I was called to an impromptu meeting downstairs, where it was reported that a laptop had been stolen from the office yesterday during working hours. Everyone sat around discussing people's movements yesterday and what guests had been coming in and out of the office. We checked the guard's log book and talked with the receptionist about guests and any periods when she had been away from the desk and unable to keep an eye on visitors.

As everyone gave their spiel and tried not to say what they were really thinking, I had trouble taking it seriously. It felt like one of those Murder Mystery weekends that people go on, or like a game of Cluedo. Was it the driver with the suspiciously full rucksack, the visitor with the inconspicuous briefcase, or the pasty looking westerner with a wobbly moral compass (me)?

After a fair bit of discussion one member of staff put forward his considered view on the matter. He felt that this should be handled by people who are trained to conduct investigations and who are experienced in the relevant procedures. This went down quite well, it was a thoroughly thought-out and eloquently phrased view. It's hard to disagree with him on this point, but the fact that it requires discussion to conclude that the police should be the ones to conduct any investigation is quite revealing.

Although I've only heard one person say it explicitly, there's a distinct undertone that it was someone within the office who took it. This is manifesting itself in general suspicion and, particularly given the recently announced redundancies, a slightly fractious working environment.