The cases for 2026-09-09

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 4 botanists; Auguste Roy's is the first page.

1. 1. Auguste Roy was right next to the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.
2. 2. The botanist tending the night orchid was right next to the botanist carrying the brass mister.
3. 3. Tobias Crane and the botanist tending the blue lotus had exactly 2 glasshouses between them.
4. 4. Marisol Vega and the botanist tending the blue lotus are the same person.
5. 5. Tobias Crane was right next to the botanist tending the night orchid.
6. 6. The botanist tending the silver moss and the botanist carrying the watering can had exactly 1 glasshouse between them.
7. 7. The botanist carrying the brass mister was in the glasshouse right before the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.
8. 8. Lorne Maddox was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than Auguste Roy.
9. 9. The botanist tending the passion vine was right next to the botanist carrying the wire trellis.
10. 10. The botanist tending the silver moss was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the night orchid.
11. 11. Auguste Roy was in the glasshouse right before Marisol Vega.

Days from the nearest port, the Aurelia is a locked room with an ocean for a moat. The brooch left its cabin; its owner did not. Chart the promenade deck, front to back. 5 passengers, 5 cabins, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Honoria Pratt.

1. 1. Honoria Pratt was in the cabin right before the passenger in the white dinner jacket.
2. 2. Beatrice Lyle was right next to whoever spent the evening at the smoking room.
3. 3. Maxim Volkov and whoever spent the evening at the smoking room are the same person.
4. 4. The passenger in the fur stole was somewhere after the passenger in the silk evening gown but before the passenger in the white dinner jacket.
5. 5. The passenger in the captain's blazer was in the cabin right before the passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat.
6. 6. The passenger in the captain's blazer was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the ballroom.
7. 7. The passenger in the fur stole was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.
8. 8. The passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the wireless office.
9. 9. The passenger in the fur stole was right next to whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.
10. 10. Marguerite Bell was in a lower-numbered cabin than Maxim Volkov.
11. 11. Beatrice Lyle was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the wireless office.
12. 12. Beatrice Lyle was right next to the passenger in the captain's blazer.

The picture wrapped at midnight; the final reel never made it to the vault. The backlot row held the whole crew while security swept the lot. Trace the soundstages and find who palmed it. Statements were taken from all 5 crew members; Nina Castile's is the first page.

1. 1. The crew member holding the spotlight gel was in a lower-numbered soundstage than whoever wrapped at 11 pm.
2. 2. Lars Aberg was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at 8 pm.
3. 3. The film loader and the crew member holding the glass goblet are the same person.
4. 4. Lars Aberg was right next to the sound mixer.
5. 5. Nina Castile was in a lower-numbered soundstage than whoever wrapped at 11 pm.
6. 6. Sid Brennan was right next to the crew member holding the megaphone.
7. 7. Sid Brennan and whoever wrapped at 11 pm are the same person.
8. 8. Otto Lindqvist and the crew member holding the glass goblet are the same person.
9. 9. Lars Aberg and whoever wrapped at midnight are the same person.
10. 10. Sid Brennan and the crew member holding the clapperboard are the same person.
11. 11. The script girl was right next to the crew member holding the megaphone.
12. 12. Lars Aberg and the costume cutter are the same person.
13. 13. The sound mixer and whoever wrapped at 8 pm are not the same person.
14. 14. The crew member holding the spotlight gel and whoever wrapped at 8 pm had exactly 1 soundstage between them.
15. 15. The film loader and whoever wrapped at 9 pm are the same person.
16. 16. Sid Brennan was somewhere after Marcus Kemp but before Otto Lindqvist.
17. 17. Nina Castile was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the clapperboard.