The cases for 2026-07-26

The reel of the final scene vanished from the lot the night the picture wrapped. Each member of the crew waited out the search on a different soundstage down the backlot row. Trace the row, stage by stage, and find who took it.

1. 1. Nina Castile was somewhere before the one holding the clapperboard in the line.
2. 2. The prop master was in the soundstage right before the one holding the clapperboard.
3. 3. Dolores Vane and the clapper loader are the same person.
4. 4. The best boy was right next to the one holding the prop revolver.
5. 5. Greta Lamont was right next to the clapper loader.
6. 6. The prop master and the one holding the wax candle were exactly 2 soundstages apart.
7. 7. Faye Okonkwo was somewhere before the one holding the feather boa in the line.
8. 8. Greta Lamont was right next to the one holding the prop revolver.
9. 9. Dolores Vane and the costume cutter were exactly 2 soundstages apart.
10. 10. Nina Castile was in the soundstage right before the prop master.
11. 11. Dolores Vane was right next to the prop master.
12. 12. Greta Lamont was in the soundstage right before the clapper loader.
13. 13. Faye Okonkwo and the best boy are the same person.
14. 14. The clapper loader and the one holding the clapperboard are the same person.
15. 15. Faye Okonkwo was somewhere before the prop master in the line.
16. 16. Nina Castile was right next to the best boy.

The night the band played its last set, a book of marked bills disappeared from behind the bar. Every regular sat with a drink in a different booth running the length of the wall. Reconstruct the row, booth by booth.

1. 1. Otis Brennan and the one drinking the whiskey sour are the same person.
2. 2. Inez Montoya was in the booth right before the one drinking the ginger highball.
3. 3. Carmine Russo and the one drinking the ginger highball were exactly 2 booths apart.
4. 4. Ruby Calhoun was right next to the one flashing the pearl choker.
5. 5. Carmine Russo and the one flashing the jeweled garter are the same person.
6. 6. Carmine Russo and the one flashing the pearl choker were exactly 3 booths apart.
7. 7. Inez Montoya was in the booth right before the one flashing the diamond cufflinks.
8. 8. The one drinking the soda water was in the booth right before the one flashing the alligator wallet.
9. 9. Marcus Trent and the one flashing the pearl choker are the same person.
10. 10. Ruby Calhoun was right next to the one flashing the alligator wallet.
11. 11. The one drinking the french 75 was somewhere after the one drinking the bee's knees but before the one drinking the whiskey sour.

The night manager of the Hotel Meridian was found slumped over the register, and the guest book had been altered. Each suspect took a different suite along the tower's top corridor, front to back. Sort out who stayed where.

1. 1. Whoever ordered the eggs benedict was in the suite right before whoever ordered the grilled tomatoes.
2. 2. Cassius Lange was somewhere before Julius Renard in the line.
3. 3. The guest pretending to be the perfumer was right next to whoever ordered the cured ham.
4. 4. The guest pretending to be the art dealer and whoever ordered the cured ham were exactly 2 suites apart.
5. 5. Cassius Lange was right next to whoever ordered the crepes.
6. 6. Rosalind Carver and the one carrying the copper key tag were exactly 3 suites apart.
7. 7. The one carrying the brass key tag was in the suite right before whoever ordered the fruit compote.
8. 8. The one carrying the crystal key tag was right next to whoever ordered the grilled tomatoes.
9. 9. The one carrying the mother-of-pearl key tag was right next to whoever ordered the cured ham.
10. 10. Oscar Dunne was somewhere before the guest pretending to be the art dealer in the line.
11. 11. Lillian Royce was somewhere before the guest pretending to be the travel writer in the line.
12. 12. The guest pretending to be the film producer and the one carrying the mother-of-pearl key tag are the same person.
13. 13. Julius Renard was in the suite right before the guest pretending to be the art dealer.
14. 14. The one carrying the pewter key tag was in the suite right before whoever ordered the grilled tomatoes.