The cases for 2026-08-09

On closing night the lead singer's diamond hair-clip vanished between the second-act bow and the final blackout. Each member of the company waited out the chaos in a separate dressing room down the backstage corridor. Walk the corridor, door by door, and place them. Statements were taken from all 4 performers; Della Fontaine's is the first page.

1. 1. Thaddeus Crowe was in a lower-numbered dressing room than the performer holding the paper rose.
2. 2. Della Fontaine was in the dressing room right before the performer holding the prop goblet.
3. 3. The performer in the emerald shawl was in the dressing room right before the performer holding the wooden dagger.
4. 4. Thaddeus Crowe was in the dressing room right before the performer holding the paper rose.
5. 5. The performer holding the paper rose was in the dressing room right before the performer holding the wooden dagger.
6. 6. Della Fontaine was in the dressing room right before Emil Sandoval.
7. 7. The performer in the mourning veil and the performer holding the lute are the same person.
8. 8. Emil Sandoval was right next to the performer in the feathered mask.
9. 9. Thaddeus Crowe was right next to the performer in the emerald shawl.
10. 10. Thaddeus Crowe and the performer in the silver tunic had exactly 2 dressing rooms between them.
11. 11. Emil Sandoval and the performer holding the prop goblet are the same person.
12. 12. Emil Sandoval and the performer in the emerald shawl had exactly 1 dressing room between them.

Chalk dust, cellar cold, and a cask that rings hollow. The vintage was switched by someone who knew the tunnel like their own hands. Pin every vintner to a vault before the gavel falls. The file names 5 vintners; Odette Blanc's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The vintner blending the sauvignon blanc was in the vault right before the vintner using the bottling cradle.
2. 2. Sylvie Laurent was in the vault right before the vintner blending the sangiovese.
3. 3. The vintner blending the sauvignon blanc was in the vault right before the vintner blending the sangiovese.
4. 4. Sylvie Laurent and the vintner using the tasting pipette had exactly 3 vaults between them.
5. 5. Cosima Ricci was in the vault right before the vintner blending the riesling.
6. 6. Sylvie Laurent was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the bottling cradle.
7. 7. Odette Blanc and the vintner using the bottling cradle had exactly 1 vault between them.
8. 8. The vintner blending the chardonnay was in the vault right before the vintner using the mixing paddle.
9. 9. Cosima Ricci was right next to the vintner using the mixing paddle.
10. 10. The vintner blending the sangiovese was in the vault right before the vintner using the stoneware jug.
11. 11. Henri Faure was right next to the vintner using the copper still.

Someone knew exactly when the orchid would open — and exactly which pane to jimmy. Every botanist worked a glasshouse down the garden path that night. Sort out who tended where. Statements were taken from all 5 botanists; Harriet Bell's is the first page.

1. 1. Auguste Roy was in the glasshouse right before whoever was sipping the lemonade.
2. 2. The botanist tending the climbing fig was right next to whoever was sipping the barley water.
3. 3. The botanist tending the flame protea and the botanist carrying the grafting knife had exactly 1 glasshouse between them.
4. 4. Camille Dubois was right next to the botanist carrying the grafting knife.
5. 5. The botanist tending the climbing fig was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the soil trowel.
6. 6. Camille Dubois and the botanist tending the ghost fern are the same person.
7. 7. Harriet Bell was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the moon cactus.
8. 8. The botanist carrying the soil trowel was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than whoever was sipping the elderflower cordial.
9. 9. Whoever was sipping the rose water was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than whoever was sipping the elderflower cordial.
10. 10. Ingrid Solveig was right next to the botanist tending the bonsai pine.
11. 11. Ingrid Solveig was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than Harriet Bell.
12. 12. The botanist tending the bonsai pine and whoever was sipping the barley water had exactly 1 glasshouse between them.
13. 13. The botanist tending the bonsai pine and the botanist carrying the pruning shears are the same person.
14. 14. Camille Dubois and the botanist carrying the soil trowel are the same person.
15. 15. The botanist tending the flame protea and whoever was sipping the mint water are the same person.
16. 16. The botanist tending the flame protea was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.