Navigating the treacherous halls of Holden’s villa in Act 2 requires more than just a mop and a bucket; it requires a keen eye for detail. To achieve a 100% completion rating, players must unearth all the crime scene cleaner circle of friends secrets tucked away in this sprawling, 14-body map. This mission is widely considered one of the most complex in the game due to its verticality and the sheer number of interactable puzzles that block your progress.
Whether you are hunting for the elusive "Night Fest" cash stash or trying to unlock the chained coffin in the vampire-themed room, understanding the crime scene cleaner circle of friends secrets is essential for any professional cleaner. This guide provides a step-by-step breakdown of every collectible CD, secret room trigger, and puzzle solution available in the 2026 update.
Mission Overview: Circle of Friends
Before diving into the hidden depths of the villa, it is important to understand the scale of the task. This mission is a significant step up from the early levels of Act 1, featuring a mix of indoor luxury spaces and outdoor terrace environments.
| Mission Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Act / Mission | Act 2, Mission 3 |
| Body Count | 14 Bodies |
| Base Payment | $12,500 |
| Primary Setting | Holden's Private Villa |
| Unique Hazards | Blood-wine mixture, vertical parkour |
💡 Tip: The blood in this level is often mixed with spilled wine, making it darker and more difficult to spot on wooden surfaces. Use your specialized detergents and the "Sense" ability frequently.
All CD Collectible Locations
There are four CDs hidden throughout the Circle of Friends map. Collecting these is required for the "We Are the Sound" achievement.
| CD Number | Location | Unlock Method |
|---|---|---|
| CD #1 | Garage Area | Located on top of a cabinet in front of the sink, through the door left of the red car. |
| CD #2 | Secret Painting Room | Adjust the three paintings in the hallway to match the reference over the fireplace. |
| CD #3 | Holden's Son's Room | Destroy 5 black rubber ducks hidden around the room to open the chained coffin. |
| CD #4 | Upper Terrace | Found lying on the ground next to one of the greenhouses in the Golden Terrace area. |
How to Unlock the Chained Coffin (CD #3)
The vampire-themed room contains one of the most creative crime scene cleaner circle of friends secrets. To open the coffin, you must locate and destroy five black rubber ducks.
- Duck 1: Sitting directly on top of the coffin lid.
- Duck 2: Located on a shelf in the same room.
- Duck 3: Hidden inside a chest to the right of the room's entrance.
- Duck 4: Found inside the bottom-left drawer of the desk.
- Duck 5: Resting on the bookshelf next to the record player.
Once all five are destroyed, the chains will fall away, allowing you to collect the CD inside.
The Wine Cellar Secret Room
The wine cellar is a maze of barrels and bloodstains, but it also houses a major secret room. Many players overlook this because the trigger is physically obscured by the environment.
The Hidden Brick Trigger
To access the secret room in the wine cellar:
- Locate the area with the faucet and the large wine barrels.
- Look for a wall covered in thick cobwebs.
- Use your mop or a cleaning utility to swipe away the cobwebs.
- Interact with the loose brick revealed behind the webs.
This will slide open a portion of the wall, revealing a hidden stash of evidence and valuables. This is a critical step for those aiming for a perfect cleaning score, as blood often spills into the threshold of this secret area.
The Red Door and the "Night Fest" Secret
One of the most lucrative crime scene cleaner circle of friends secrets involves a hidden key and a mysterious red door on the upper floor.
Finding the Hidden Key
The key to the red door is not found on a body or a desk. Instead, it requires a bit of environmental navigation:
- Go to the upper floor of the garage.
- Hop out of the first window onto the small ledge.
- Perform a small jump to the niche located above the hidden garage entrance.
- Pick up the key resting in this niche.
Accessing the Red Door
With the key in hand, return to the first-floor area of the mansion and head up the main stairs. At the end of the corridor on the left, you will find a door that is painted entirely red, blending into the wall. This door leads to a storage room filled with a massive amount of cash—approximately $100,000—and additional evidence.
⚠️ Warning: Entering the "Night Fest" room may trigger dialogue from Big Jim. Don't let the voiceover distract you from collecting the stacks of money on the floor!
The Painting Puzzle Solution
In the main villa, you will encounter a hallway with three large paintings that can be rotated or adjusted. This is a classic logic puzzle that blocks access to CD #2.
| Painting Position | Required Image |
|---|---|
| Left Painting | Adjust until it shows the figure in the red cloak. |
| Center Painting | Adjust to match the portrait above the fireplace. |
| Right Painting | Adjust to complete the landscape scene. |
Once the combination is correct, a trapdoor in the floor or a wall segment (depending on your current patch version) will open to reveal the collectible.
Tips for 100% Completion in Circle of Friends
Cleaning this map is an endurance test. Follow these professional strategies to ensure no spot is missed:
- Axe the Furniture: The villa is filled with large tables and barrels that are considered "trash." Use your axe to break these down into smaller pieces so they fit into your trash bags.
- Check the Ceilings: The violent nature of the "Circle of Friends" incident means blood often splatters onto the chandeliers and high ceiling corners. Use the long-reach mop or the pressure washer to clear these spots.
- The Grappling Hook: Take advantage of the grappling hook points in the garage and terrace to find hidden money bags on the rafters.
- Oil vs. Blood: Some black spots in the garage are oil, not blood. These require a different detergent (usually the green bottle) to clean efficiently.
For more information on the game's mechanics and updates, visit the Crime Scene Cleaner Steam Page.
FAQ
Q: How many secrets are in the Circle of Friends mission?
A: There are four major secrets including the Wine Cellar hidden room, the Red Door storage room, the Painting Puzzle room, and the "Night Fest" cash stash. Finding all of these is necessary for a total completion of the crime scene cleaner circle of friends secrets.
Q: I can't find the last piece of trash. Where is it?
A: Check the bushes in the outdoor terrace and the small alleyways behind the garage. Small items like shurikens or cigarette butts often count as trash and are very difficult to see without using your "Sense" ability.
Q: Does the "Night Fest" money count toward my mission pay?
A: The money found in secret rooms is considered "stolen" cash. It is added to your total career earnings but does not change the base $12,500 payment listed on the mission computer.
Q: Where is the mysterious key used?
A: The mysterious key found on one of the bodies is used for the locked door in the wine cellar area, which leads to a small sub-basement containing evidence.