The cases for 2026-07-12

The auction lot tasted wrong to the first nose that tried it. Overnight, the estate's finest went from cask to nowhere, and every vintner had a vault to themselves. Work the chalk tunnel, vault by vault. The file names 4 vintners; Pilar Navarro's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The one using the tasting pipette was in the vault right before the one using the glass demijohn.
2. 2. Cosima Ricci was in the vault right before Gustave Roux.
3. 3. Cosima Ricci was right next to the one blending the viognier.
4. 4. Pilar Navarro was somewhere before Cosima Ricci in the line.
5. 5. Rafe Sterling was in the vault right before the one blending the viognier.
6. 6. The one blending the syrah and the one using the tasting pipette were exactly 2 vaults apart.
7. 7. Rafe Sterling was in the vault right before Pilar Navarro.
8. 8. The one blending the syrah was in the vault right before the one using the cork press.
9. 9. Pilar Navarro and the one blending the pinot noir were exactly 2 vaults apart.
10. 10. Rafe Sterling was right next to the one using the cork press.
11. 11. The one blending the viognier was right next to the one using the tasting pipette.
12. 12. Rafe Sterling was somewhere before the one using the cork press in the line.
13. 13. The one blending the viognier was in the vault right before the one blending the sangiovese.
14. 14. Cosima Ricci and the one using the copper still were exactly 2 vaults apart.
15. 15. Pilar Navarro was right next to the one blending the syrah.

Night on the dig is black as the tomb itself. When the lamps were lit, the find box stood open and every member of the expedition was in a tent — or says so. Set the line of tents straight. 5 diggers, 5 tents, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Margot Ashford.

1. 1. Saffron Bell and the digger guarding the silver ankh are the same person.
2. 2. Rashid el-Amin was somewhere after Idris Faulkner but before Saffron Bell.
3. 3. The digger guarding the silver ankh and the one drinking the spiced chai were exactly 4 tents apart.
4. 4. Margot Ashford was in the tent right before the digger guarding the silver ankh.
5. 5. The digger guarding the ivory comb was somewhere before the one drinking the date wine in the line.
6. 6. The digger guarding the carved ushabti was in the tent right before the one drinking the goat's milk.
7. 7. Rashid el-Amin and the one drinking the arak are the same person.
8. 8. The digger guarding the bronze dagger and the one drinking the black coffee were exactly 2 tents apart.
9. 9. Rashid el-Amin was right next to the one drinking the black coffee.
10. 10. The digger guarding the ivory comb was somewhere after the digger guarding the carved ushabti but before the digger guarding the silver ankh.
11. 11. The digger guarding the bronze dagger was somewhere before the one drinking the arak in the line.
12. 12. Nadia Sokolova was somewhere before the one drinking the black coffee in the line.
13. 13. The digger guarding the gold scarab was right next to the one drinking the date wine.
14. 14. Nadia Sokolova was in the tent right before the digger guarding the ivory comb.

A storm, a sealed manor, and a missing heirloom. Each guest spent the evening in a different room along the great hall. Work out who was where — and with what. Statements were taken from all 5 guests; Ivo Blackwood's is the first page.

1. 1. The guest drinking the black coffee was right next to the one carrying the brass key.
2. 2. Ivo Blackwood was in the room right before the guest drinking the mulled wine.
3. 3. Hollis Tate was in the room right before Esme Hart.
4. 4. Bennett Cole was in the room right before Ivo Blackwood.
5. 5. The one carrying the brass key was in the room right before the one carrying the sealed envelope.
6. 6. Whoever was last seen at 3 am was somewhere before whoever was last seen at 8 pm in the line.
7. 7. The guest drinking the madeira and whoever was last seen at 3 am are the same person.
8. 8. The guest drinking the port and whoever was last seen at 3 am were exactly 3 rooms apart.
9. 9. Esme Hart and whoever was last seen at 1 am are the same person.
10. 10. The guest drinking the sherry was in the room right before whoever was last seen at 11 pm.
11. 11. Ava Sterling and the one carrying the riding crop are the same person.
12. 12. Hollis Tate and the one carrying the silk gloves are the same person.
13. 13. Ava Sterling was somewhere before the guest drinking the port in the line.