The cases for 2026-09-17

The chief steward logged every first-class passenger to a cabin on the promenade deck. Then the lights dimmed for the captain's toast, and a diamond brooch vanished mid-ocean. The log is torn. Restore it, cabin by cabin. The file names 4 passengers; Desmond Clay's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Desmond Clay and the passenger in the naval greatcoat are the same person.
2. 2. Vivienne Aubert and whoever spent the evening at the cocktail bar are the same person.
3. 3. Cordelia Ashe was in a lower-numbered cabin than whoever spent the evening at the card lounge.
4. 4. The passenger in the fur stole was right next to whoever spent the evening at the smoking room.
5. 5. The passenger in the naval greatcoat was right next to whoever spent the evening at the library.
6. 6. The passenger in the fur stole was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the card lounge.
7. 7. Theo Marchetti was right next to whoever spent the evening at the library.
8. 8. Cordelia Ashe was right next to the passenger in the naval greatcoat.
9. 9. Vivienne Aubert was in a lower-numbered cabin than the passenger in the naval greatcoat.
10. 10. Theo Marchetti was in a lower-numbered cabin than whoever spent the evening at the card lounge.
11. 11. Theo Marchetti was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the library.
12. 12. Vivienne Aubert was in a lower-numbered cabin than the passenger in the lace veil.

By the time the chapel bells rang, every story matched: locked library, missing volume, a corridor of scholars who saw nothing. The rooms know better. Place every professor before the college calls its hearing. Statements were taken from all 5 professors; Dr. Rosendale's is the first page.

1. 1. Sister Beaumont was right next to the professor reading the Greek primer.
2. 2. Magister Finch was in a lower-numbered room than the professor who claimed to be at the lecture theatre.
3. 3. Magister Finch and the professor who claimed to be at the archives had exactly 1 room between them.
4. 4. The professor reading the star chart and the professor who claimed to be at the chapel had exactly 1 room between them.
5. 5. Bursar Quill was in the room right before the professor who claimed to be at the lecture theatre.
6. 6. Dr. Rosendale was in the room right before the professor reading the star chart.
7. 7. Chaplain Sykes was right next to the professor reading the star chart.
8. 8. Chaplain Sykes and the professor who claimed to be at the lecture theatre are the same person.
9. 9. The professor reading the treatise on optics and the professor who claimed to be at the chapel are not the same person.
10. 10. The professor reading the volume of sonnets and the professor who claimed to be at the boathouse are not the same person.
11. 11. The professor reading the Greek primer was in the room right before the professor who claimed to be at the boathouse.
12. 12. Sister Beaumont and the professor reading the treatise on optics are not the same person.
13. 13. Chaplain Sykes and the professor reading the Greek primer are the same person.

Between the toast and the closing bell, someone traded a canvas for a forgery worth nothing but trouble. The guests drifted, but each ended the night at one spot on the gallery wall. Fix every patron to their spot. 5 patrons, 5 spots, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Greta Lindqvist.

1. 1. Imogen Frey was in the spot right before the patron looking at the marble torso.
2. 2. Imogen Frey and the patron looking at the bronze bust are the same person.
3. 3. Greta Lindqvist was right next to whoever arrived at 8:30.
4. 4. Greta Lindqvist and whoever arrived at 7:00 are the same person.
5. 5. The patron holding the vermouth was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 8:10.
6. 6. Otto Krane was in a lower-numbered spot than Ezra Bloom.
7. 7. The patron looking at the oil portrait was in the spot right before the patron looking at the bronze bust.
8. 8. Greta Lindqvist was in the spot right before the patron looking at the oil portrait.
9. 9. Otto Krane was right next to the patron looking at the fresco panel.
10. 10. The patron holding the amaretto was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron holding the sherry.
11. 11. Imogen Frey was in the spot right before the patron holding the iced tea.
12. 12. The patron holding the vermouth was right next to whoever arrived at 8:10.
13. 13. The patron holding the amaretto was in the spot right before the patron holding the red wine.
14. 14. Otto Krane and whoever arrived at 8:30 are the same person.
15. 15. Ezra Bloom and whoever arrived at 9:40 are the same person.
16. 16. Otto Krane was in the spot right before the patron looking at the fresco panel.
17. 17. The patron holding the sherry was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 9:40.