The cases for 2026-08-29

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; Idris Hawke's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The astronomer using the hourglass was in the dome right before the astronomer using the field glasses.
2. 2. Soren Vaughn was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the ringed planet.
3. 3. The astronomer using the field glasses was right next to the astronomer tracking the star cluster.
4. 4. Soren Vaughn was in the dome right before Idris Hawke.
5. 5. The astronomer using the pendulum clock and the astronomer tracking the star cluster had exactly 1 dome between them.
6. 6. Cassia Moreau was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the pole star.
7. 7. The astronomer tracking the pole star was somewhere after the astronomer tracking the double star but before the astronomer tracking the ringed planet.
8. 8. Cassia Moreau was right next to the astronomer tracking the star cluster.
9. 9. Soren Vaughn was in the dome right before the astronomer using the brass telescope.
10. 10. The astronomer using the pendulum clock and the astronomer tracking the pole star are the same person.
11. 11. The astronomer using the field glasses and the astronomer tracking the ringed planet had exactly 1 dome between them.
12. 12. The astronomer using the hourglass was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the double star.
13. 13. Soren Vaughn and the astronomer tracking the pole star are the same person.
14. 14. The astronomer using the brass telescope and the astronomer tracking the ringed planet are the same person.

Somewhere between the coast and the end of the line, a compartment went quiet. The conductor's passenger list survives, but the names have slid loose from the compartments. Put every remaining passenger back behind the right door. Statements were taken from all 5 passengers; Leo Fontaine's is the first page.

1. 1. The passenger with the jewelry box was in the compartment right before the passenger with the leather satchel.
2. 2. Katya Brandt was in the compartment right before the passenger with the wicker hamper.
3. 3. Odette Laurent was in a lower-numbered compartment than the passenger headed to Larkspur.
4. 4. The passenger headed to Larkspur was somewhere after the passenger headed to Harborview but before the passenger headed to Saltcliff.
5. 5. The passenger with the medical bag was in a lower-numbered compartment than the passenger headed to Saltcliff.
6. 6. The passenger with the leather satchel and the passenger headed to Windmere are the same person.
7. 7. The passenger with the leather satchel was right next to the passenger headed to Eastgate.
8. 8. The passenger with the leather satchel was in the compartment right before the passenger with the medical bag.
9. 9. The passenger with the jewelry box was in the compartment right before the passenger headed to Windmere.
10. 10. Katya Brandt and the passenger headed to Harborview had exactly 2 compartments between them.
11. 11. Nils Berg and the passenger headed to Eastgate are the same person.
12. 12. Quinn Sutherland was somewhere after Nils Berg but before Katya Brandt.

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 Lev Ostrovsky.

1. 1. Whoever stacked the cobalt chips and the player drinking the dry martini are the same person.
2. 2. Whoever stacked the bronze chips was in the room right before whoever stacked the scarlet chips.
3. 3. The player drinking the vermouth was in a lower-numbered room than the player drinking the brandy sour.
4. 4. Whoever stacked the turquoise chips was in the room right before whoever stacked the cobalt chips.
5. 5. Anselm Berger was in the room right before the player drinking the vermouth.
6. 6. The roulette player and whoever stacked the cobalt chips are the same person.
7. 7. Anselm Berger and whoever stacked the cobalt chips had exactly 1 room between them.
8. 8. Anselm Berger was in a lower-numbered room than the blackjack player.
9. 9. The poker player was right next to whoever stacked the cobalt chips.
10. 10. Whoever stacked the cobalt chips was in the room right before the player drinking the brandy sour.
11. 11. The hearts player was in the room right before the player drinking the dry martini.
12. 12. Ingrid Halvorsen was right next to whoever stacked the onyx chips.
13. 13. Romy Castellan was right next to whoever stacked the scarlet chips.
14. 14. The poker player was in the room right before the player drinking the absinthe.
15. 15. Lev Ostrovsky was in a lower-numbered room than Bianca Reymond.