The cases for 2026-08-10

A priceless star map disappeared the night of the eclipse. Each astronomer worked through the dark in a different dome along the ridge. Walk the domes, one by one, and name the thief. The file names 4 astronomers; Wendell Frost's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Wendell Frost was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the lunar crater.
2. 2. Pieter Aldous and the astronomer tracking the double star had exactly 1 dome between them.
3. 3. Wendell Frost was in a lower-numbered dome than the astronomer tracking the lunar crater.
4. 4. The astronomer using the prism box and the astronomer tracking the lunar crater are the same person.
5. 5. Pieter Aldous was in a lower-numbered dome than the astronomer tracking the red planet.
6. 6. The astronomer using the field glasses was in a lower-numbered dome than the astronomer using the prism box.
7. 7. The astronomer using the field glasses was in the dome right before the astronomer using the celestial globe.
8. 8. Soren Vaughn and the astronomer using the field glasses had exactly 1 dome between them.
9. 9. The astronomer using the sextant and the astronomer tracking the new star are the same person.
10. 10. Pieter Aldous and the astronomer using the sextant are the same person.
11. 11. Wendell Frost was in the dome right before the astronomer using the prism box.
12. 12. Soren Vaughn and the astronomer tracking the lunar crater are the same person.
13. 13. The astronomer tracking the double star was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the lunar crater.
14. 14. Pieter Aldous was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the red planet.
15. 15. Ottoline Grey and the astronomer tracking the red planet are the same person.

The Coastal Line runs express after dark — no stops, no excuses. When it braked at dawn a compartment stood empty and nobody would say whose. Rebuild the carriage from the engine back. 5 passengers, 5 compartments, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Jonah Webb.

1. 1. Katya Brandt was in the compartment right before the passenger with the jewelry box.
2. 2. Quinn Sutherland was somewhere after Leo Fontaine but before Jonah Webb.
3. 3. The passenger with the medical bag was somewhere after the passenger with the typewriter case but before the passenger with the leather satchel.
4. 4. The passenger with the leather satchel and the passenger headed to Crestfall are the same person.
5. 5. The passenger headed to Dunmore was in the compartment right before the passenger headed to Harborview.
6. 6. The passenger with the typewriter case was in the compartment right before the passenger headed to Dunmore.
7. 7. The passenger with the typewriter case was right next to the passenger headed to Dunmore.
8. 8. Quinn Sutherland was right next to the passenger with the medical bag.
9. 9. The passenger with the jewelry box was in the compartment right before the passenger headed to Pinehurst.
10. 10. Katya Brandt was right next to the passenger with the jewelry box.
11. 11. Katya Brandt was in the compartment right before Quinn Sutherland.
12. 12. Tilda Moreno and the passenger headed to Pinehurst are the same person.
13. 13. Quinn Sutherland was in a lower-numbered compartment than the passenger with the medical bag.

The Verlaine does not lose — so when the books came up light, the house locked the doors. A row of private rooms, a floor of practiced faces, one forged chip. Unmask the forger, room by room. 5 players, 5 rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Dashiell Crane.

1. 1. The hearts player was in the room right before the player drinking the vermouth.
2. 2. Dashiell Crane and the mahjong player are the same person.
3. 3. Jasper Quaid was right next to whoever stacked the cobalt chips.
4. 4. Émile Tournier and the player drinking the brandy sour had exactly 1 room between them.
5. 5. Whoever stacked the amber chips was in the room right before whoever stacked the pearl chips.
6. 6. Ingrid Halvorsen was in a lower-numbered room than the player drinking the absinthe.
7. 7. Émile Tournier was in a lower-numbered room than the dominoes player.
8. 8. Jasper Quaid was right next to the player drinking the brandy sour.
9. 9. The craps player was somewhere after the mahjong player but before the high-card player.
10. 10. Ingrid Halvorsen was right next to whoever stacked the violet chips.
11. 11. Whoever stacked the amber chips was in the room right before the player drinking the champagne.
12. 12. Vivienne Laroche was right next to the player drinking the champagne.
13. 13. Whoever stacked the pearl chips was in the room right before the player drinking the absinthe.
14. 14. Whoever stacked the pearl chips was right next to the player drinking the absinthe.
15. 15. The dominoes player and the player drinking the cognac had exactly 1 room between them.
16. 16. The dominoes player was in a lower-numbered room than the craps player.