The cases for 2026-06-30

The power failed at ten; by the time the candles were lit, the display case stood open and empty. The guests swear they never left their rooms off the great hall. The hall remembers otherwise — map who was where. 4 guests, 4 rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Felix Marsh.

1. 1. The guest drinking the claret was in the room right before the guest drinking the espresso.
2. 2. Felix Marsh was right next to the guest drinking the espresso.
3. 3. Clara Voss was in the room right before the one carrying the fountain pen.
4. 4. Kit Lawrence and the guest drinking the mulled wine are the same person.
5. 5. Felix Marsh was in the room right before the one carrying the silk gloves.
6. 6. The guest drinking the absinthe was somewhere before the one carrying the silk gloves in the line.
7. 7. The guest drinking the absinthe was right next to the one carrying the fountain pen.
8. 8. Lavinia Crane was in the room right before the guest drinking the absinthe.
9. 9. The one carrying the monocle was in the room right before the one carrying the fountain pen.
10. 10. Lavinia Crane was right next to the one carrying the silver flask.
11. 11. The guest drinking the absinthe and the one carrying the silver flask are the same person.
12. 12. The guest drinking the absinthe was in the room right before the one carrying the silk gloves.
13. 13. The guest drinking the espresso was in the room right before the one carrying the silver flask.

Somewhere between the coast and the end of the line, a compartment went quiet. The conductor's passenger list survives, but the names have slid loose from the compartments. Put every remaining passenger back behind the right door. 5 passengers, 5 compartments, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Pavel Novak.

1. 1. Stefan Iverson and the passenger with the leather satchel are the same person.
2. 2. Stefan Iverson was in the compartment right before the passenger with the map tube.
3. 3. Pavel Novak was somewhere before the passenger with the violin case in the line.
4. 4. Iris Calloway was in the compartment right before the one headed to Windmere.
5. 5. The passenger with the violin case was right next to the one headed to Eastgate.
6. 6. The passenger with the map tube was somewhere before the passenger with the violin case in the line.
7. 7. Ruth Calder was in the compartment right before the one headed to Ashport.
8. 8. The passenger with the birdcage was right next to the one headed to Pinehurst.
9. 9. The passenger with the violin case and the one headed to Saltcliff are the same person.
10. 10. Iris Calloway and the passenger with the medical bag are the same person.

The curator noticed the brushwork first — too clean, too new. By then the room had emptied and the sign-in sheet told half the story. Walk the wall and pin every patron to a spot. Statements were taken from all 5 patrons; Delphine Roux's is the first page.

1. 1. Hugo Marchetti and whoever arrived at 7:35 are the same person.
2. 2. The one looking at the mobile was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 7:35.
3. 3. Imogen Frey and whoever arrived at 7:10 are the same person.
4. 4. The one looking at the triptych was right next to whoever arrived at 6:40.
5. 5. Delphine Roux was right next to the one holding the iced tea.
6. 6. Delphine Roux and the one looking at the woodcut are the same person.
7. 7. Hugo Marchetti was somewhere before whoever arrived at 8:50 in the line.
8. 8. The one looking at the woodcut was somewhere before whoever arrived at 7:10 in the line.
9. 9. The one looking at the woodcut was somewhere before the one holding the iced tea in the line.
10. 10. Beatrix Hale was right next to the one holding the kir royale.
11. 11. The one looking at the charcoal sketch was right next to whoever arrived at 8:50.
12. 12. The one looking at the woodcut and whoever arrived at 8:30 are the same person.
13. 13. Beatrix Hale was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 8:50.
14. 14. The one looking at the glass sculpture was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 6:40.
15. 15. The one looking at the charcoal sketch and the one holding the lemonade are the same person.
16. 16. The one looking at the triptych and whoever arrived at 8:50 are the same person.
17. 17. Freya Holt and the one holding the whiskey are the same person.