The cases for 2026-07-21

The bloom they waited a decade for lasted one night. By morning the stem was cut and the glasshouses stood quiet along the path. Fix each botanist to a glasshouse before the curator's inventory. 4 botanists, 4 glasshouses, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Petra Vance.

1. 1. Camille Dubois was right next to the one tending the passion vine.
2. 2. Ingrid Solveig was right next to the one carrying the grafting knife.
3. 3. The one tending the moon cactus was in the glasshouse right before the one carrying the brass mister.
4. 4. Ingrid Solveig was somewhere before Niko Petrakis in the line.
5. 5. Ingrid Solveig was in the glasshouse right before the one carrying the grafting knife.
6. 6. The one tending the moon cactus and the one carrying the soil trowel are the same person.
7. 7. The one tending the passion vine was right next to the one carrying the plant ledger.
8. 8. The one tending the passion vine was somewhere before the one tending the night orchid in the line.
9. 9. Camille Dubois and the one carrying the soil trowel are the same person.
10. 10. Camille Dubois and the one tending the moon cactus are the same person.
11. 11. The one tending the passion vine was right next to the one carrying the soil trowel.
12. 12. Niko Petrakis was in the glasshouse right before Camille Dubois.

A diamond brooch went missing the night the Aurelia steamed out of port. Each first-class passenger settled into a different cabin along the promenade deck, numbered front to back. Reconstruct the deck, cabin by cabin. 5 passengers, 5 cabins, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Maxim Volkov.

1. 1. Maxim Volkov was in the cabin right before the passenger in the white dinner jacket.
2. 2. The passenger in the fur stole was right next to whoever spent the evening at the promenade rail.
3. 3. The passenger in the lace mantilla was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.
4. 4. Theo Marchetti was right next to whoever spent the evening at the observation deck.
5. 5. Marguerite Bell was in the cabin right before Maxim Volkov.
6. 6. The passenger in the white dinner jacket was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the promenade rail.
7. 7. Theo Marchetti was right next to the passenger in the white dinner jacket.
8. 8. The passenger in the beaded shawl was somewhere before the passenger in the fur stole in the line.
9. 9. Maxim Volkov was somewhere before the passenger in the captain's blazer in the line.
10. 10. Marguerite Bell was in the cabin right before the passenger in the beaded shawl.
11. 11. The passenger in the fur stole and whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase were exactly 3 cabins apart.
12. 12. Vivienne Aubert was somewhere before whoever spent the evening at the observation deck in the line.
13. 13. Whoever spent the evening at the smoking room was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.

On Stage Nine they shot the ending twice — once on film, once for real. The reel is gone and the crew is scattered down the backlot row, each with a stage and a story. Match them up. Statements were taken from all 5 crew members; Ruby Marsh's is the first page.

1. 1. Vera Sokolova was right next to the one holding the fake telegram.
2. 2. Whoever wrapped at half past seven was somewhere after whoever wrapped at 5 pm but before whoever wrapped at 6 pm.
3. 3. Otto Lindqvist was right next to the makeup artist.
4. 4. Otto Lindqvist and whoever wrapped at half past seven are the same person.
5. 5. Sid Brennan was somewhere before the lead actress in the line.
6. 6. Dolores Vane was right next to whoever wrapped at 6 pm.
7. 7. The one holding the fake telegram was in the soundstage right before the one holding the prop diamond.
8. 8. The makeup artist was somewhere before the one holding the fake telegram in the line.
9. 9. The dialect coach and whoever wrapped at 9 pm are the same person.
10. 10. Vera Sokolova was in the soundstage right before Dolores Vane.
11. 11. Whoever wrapped at half past seven was somewhere before whoever wrapped at 10 pm in the line.
12. 12. Otto Lindqvist and the dialect coach were exactly 2 soundstages apart.
13. 13. The stunt double was somewhere after the makeup artist but before the dialect coach.
14. 14. Vera Sokolova was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at 9 pm.
15. 15. The stunt double was in the soundstage right before the one holding the feather boa.
16. 16. The lead actress was somewhere before the script girl in the line.
17. 17. The one holding the prop diamond and whoever wrapped at 6 pm were exactly 2 soundstages apart.
18. 18. The dialect coach was right next to the one holding the feather boa.
19. 19. The makeup artist and the one holding the glass goblet are the same person.