The cases for 2026-08-17

Word is the marked bills never left the building. The row of booths kept its regulars close and its secrets closer. Work the wall, booth by booth, before the place is padlocked for good. 4 regulars, 4 booths, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Fay Delacroix.

1. 1. Inez Montoya was in the booth right before the regular flashing the ostrich-feather fan.
2. 2. The regular flashing the diamond cufflinks was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch.
3. 3. The regular drinking the gin rickey and the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch had exactly 1 booth between them.
4. 4. The regular drinking the mint julep was right next to the regular flashing the ostrich-feather fan.
5. 5. Sal Brigante was right next to the regular drinking the soda water.
6. 6. The regular drinking the gin rickey was in the booth right before the regular drinking the mint julep.
7. 7. Fay Delacroix and the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch are the same person.
8. 8. Vivienne Marlowe and the regular drinking the mint julep are the same person.
9. 9. The regular drinking the soda water and the regular flashing the diamond cufflinks are the same person.
10. 10. Fay Delacroix was right next to the regular flashing the gold cigarette case.
11. 11. The regular drinking the soda water was in the booth right before the regular flashing the ostrich-feather fan.
12. 12. Inez Montoya was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular flashing the gold cigarette case.
13. 13. Vivienne Marlowe was right next to the regular drinking the gin rickey.
14. 14. The regular drinking the bathtub gin was right next to the regular flashing the gold cigarette case.
15. 15. The regular drinking the gin rickey was right next to the regular flashing the diamond cufflinks.

The books don't add up — five figures short, one long night. Every employee was at a different desk down the office floor. Figure out who sat where before the auditor arrives. The file names 5 employees; Wes Porter's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The employee with the drip coffee was right next to the employee from legal.
2. 2. The employee with the sparkling water was right next to the employee from facilities.
3. 3. The employee with the chai was somewhere after the employee with the lemon tea but before the employee with the sparkling water.
4. 4. The employee from facilities was in the desk right before the employee from accounting.
5. 5. Priya Nair was in the desk right before Yusuf Demir.
6. 6. Abel Mwangi was right next to the employee with the drip coffee.
7. 7. Priya Nair was in the desk right before the employee with the double espresso.
8. 8. The employee with the drip coffee was in the desk right before the employee from legal.
9. 9. Sam Okafor and the employee with the double espresso had exactly 1 desk between them.
10. 10. Sam Okafor and the employee from facilities are the same person.
11. 11. Wes Porter and the employee from payroll are the same person.
12. 12. The employee with the drip coffee was in a lower-numbered desk than the employee from accounting.
13. 13. The employee with the lemon tea was in the desk right before the employee from facilities.
14. 14. Sam Okafor was in a lower-numbered desk than the employee from IT.

The pass is buried, the wires are down, and the lodge strongbox has been picked clean. Nobody has left the ridge — nobody can. Pin every visitor to a cabin before the thaw gives someone a way out. The file names 5 visitors; Dietrich Vahl's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Annika Frost was right next to whoever was warming up with the cocoa.
2. 2. Jorah Klein was right next to whoever was warming up with the dark rum.
3. 3. Annika Frost was in the cabin right before the visitor who came up on the dog team.
4. 4. Elsa Norgaard and the skier in the fox stole are the same person.
5. 5. The skier in the grey wool coat was in the cabin right before whoever was warming up with the cocoa.
6. 6. The skier in the fox stole and whoever was warming up with the eggnog had exactly 1 cabin between them.
7. 7. Henrik Dale was in a lower-numbered cabin than whoever was warming up with the eggnog.
8. 8. Elsa Norgaard and the visitor who came up on the horse sleigh had exactly 1 cabin between them.
9. 9. Henrik Dale was in a lower-numbered cabin than whoever was warming up with the dark rum.
10. 10. Dietrich Vahl was right next to whoever was warming up with the cocoa.
11. 11. The skier in the fox stole was in the cabin right before whoever was warming up with the buttered grog.
12. 12. The skier in the fox stole was right next to whoever was warming up with the buttered grog.
13. 13. The skier in the sealskin jacket was right next to the visitor who came up on the ski lift.
14. 14. Jorah Klein was in the cabin right before the skier in the quilted vest.
15. 15. The skier in the sealskin jacket was in the cabin right before the visitor who came up on the horse sleigh.
16. 16. Elsa Norgaard was in the cabin right before the visitor who came up on the pack mule.