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MITMH2022
Public Access

Solution to Cemetery Boys

The Ministry

Answer: BROKENHEARTED
by Mark Halpin

Each clue is answerable with a phrase in the form of a trio, typically "A, B and C". The three elements of the trio can be found in three separate papeles picados, after changing one letter in each word of the entry. The three papeles picados thus form a specifically ordered trio of colors that can be found exactly once within the array of decorations. Each such array has one index number on one papel picado; using that index on the word associated with that papel picado for that trio in clue order spells the answer phrase, BROKENHEARTED, as shown.

LOCKSTOCKBARREL
ROCKSTORKBARRES (1) B
   
LEFTRIGHTCENTER
LIFTCENSER (6) R
   
HOPSKIPJUMP
TOP (2)SHIPPUMP O
   
HOOKLINESINKER
ROOK (4)LIMESINGER K
   
BLOODSWEATTEARS
BLOOMSWEET (3)BEARS E
   
MANWOMANCHILD
FAN (3)CHILI N
   
GAMESETMATCH
GATESEAWATCH (5) H
   
WINPLACESHOW
FINPEACE (5)SHOE E
   
TOMDICKHARRY
TOPDUCK A
   
EATPRAYLOVE
HATTRAY (2)DOVE R
   
PETERPAULMARY
METER (3)PAILMARE T
   
SHAKERATTLEROLL
CATTLEDOLL E
   
BELLBOOKCANDLE
BILLROOKHANDLE (4) D