The cases for 2026-08-26

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. 4 vintners, 4 vaults, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Pilar Navarro.

1. 1. Cosima Ricci was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the mixing paddle.
2. 2. The vintner blending the merlot was in the vault right before the vintner blending the syrah.
3. 3. The vintner blending the syrah and the vintner using the cork press are the same person.
4. 4. The vintner blending the merlot and the vintner using the tasting pipette are the same person.
5. 5. The vintner blending the riesling and the vintner using the mixing paddle are the same person.
6. 6. Cosima Ricci was in the vault right before the vintner using the cork press.
7. 7. The vintner blending the syrah was in the vault right before the vintner blending the riesling.
8. 8. The vintner blending the chardonnay was right next to the vintner using the mixing paddle.
9. 9. Pilar Navarro was right next to the vintner blending the chardonnay.
10. 10. Pilar Navarro was in the vault right before the vintner blending the chardonnay.
11. 11. Cosima Ricci was right next to the vintner blending the syrah.
12. 12. Henri Faure and the vintner using the funnel and hose are the same person.
13. 13. The vintner blending the chardonnay and the vintner using the tasting pipette had exactly 2 vaults between them.
14. 14. Rafe Sterling and the vintner blending the syrah are the same person.

A gold scarab vanished from the dig the night the tomb was broken into. Each member of the expedition bedded down in a different tent strung along the excavation trench. Work the line of tents, tent by tent, and name the thief. Statements were taken from all 5 diggers; Bram Halloway's is the first page.

1. 1. Yusra Kassab was in the tent right before the digger drinking the cold cocoa.
2. 2. Margot Ashford was in a lower-numbered tent than the digger drinking the spiced chai.
3. 3. The digger drinking the hibiscus tea was somewhere after the digger drinking the goat's milk but before the digger drinking the cold cocoa.
4. 4. Saffron Bell and the digger drinking the pomegranate juice are the same person.
5. 5. Bram Halloway and the digger drinking the pomegranate juice had exactly 1 tent between them.
6. 6. Idris Faulkner was in a lower-numbered tent than the digger guarding the sealed papyrus.
7. 7. The digger guarding the silver ankh and the digger drinking the goat's milk had exactly 3 tents between them.
8. 8. Saffron Bell and the digger guarding the gold scarab are the same person.
9. 9. The digger guarding the gold scarab was in the tent right before the digger guarding the sealed papyrus.
10. 10. The digger guarding the clay tablet was right next to the digger drinking the pomegranate juice.
11. 11. The digger guarding the clay tablet was right next to the digger drinking the goat's milk.
12. 12. Margot Ashford was in the tent right before the digger guarding the gold scarab.

Midnight, and the storm still has not broken. Somewhere between the first toast and the last thunderclap, the Blackwood heirloom walked out of its case. Every guest kept to a room along the great hall — pin each of them to theirs. Statements were taken from all 5 guests; Hollis Tate's is the first page.

1. 1. The guest carrying the riding crop was in a lower-numbered room than the guest carrying the silver flask.
2. 2. The guest drinking the absinthe was right next to whoever was last seen at 2 am.
3. 3. Dorian Pike was right next to the guest carrying the pocket watch.
4. 4. The guest drinking the cocoa and the guest carrying the brass key had exactly 3 rooms between them.
5. 5. The guest carrying the candlestick was right next to whoever was last seen at midnight.
6. 6. Hollis Tate was right next to whoever was last seen at 2 am.
7. 7. The guest drinking the black coffee was right next to the guest carrying the pocket watch.
8. 8. The guest drinking the black coffee and whoever was last seen at quarter to one are the same person.
9. 9. The guest carrying the riding crop was in a lower-numbered room than whoever was last seen at 11 pm.
10. 10. Clara Voss and whoever was last seen at 9 pm are the same person.
11. 11. The guest drinking the absinthe and the guest carrying the pocket watch are the same person.
12. 12. The guest drinking the cocoa was in the room right before the guest drinking the red wine.
13. 13. The guest drinking the cocoa was in a lower-numbered room than the guest carrying the candlestick.
14. 14. Dorian Pike was in the room right before whoever was last seen at 11 pm.
15. 15. Felix Marsh was right next to the guest drinking the port.
16. 16. Juniper Shaw and the guest drinking the black coffee are the same person.
17. 17. Felix Marsh was in a lower-numbered room than the guest carrying the candlestick.