The cases for 2026-09-28

The reel of the final scene vanished from the lot the night the picture wrapped. Each member of the crew waited out the search on a different soundstage down the backlot row. Trace the row, stage by stage, and find who took it. Statements were taken from all 4 crew members; Ruby Marsh's is the first page.

1. 1. Dolores Vane and the crew member holding the wax candle are the same person.
2. 2. Faye Okonkwo was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the wax candle.
3. 3. The crew member holding the script binder was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the wax candle.
4. 4. Dolores Vane and the camera operator are the same person.
5. 5. Ruby Marsh and the dialect coach had exactly 2 soundstages between them.
6. 6. Otto Lindqvist and the film loader had exactly 1 soundstage between them.
7. 7. The costume cutter was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the script binder.
8. 8. The costume cutter was in a lower-numbered soundstage than the dialect coach.
9. 9. Dolores Vane was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the reel canister.
10. 10. Ruby Marsh and the crew member holding the fake telegram are the same person.
11. 11. The costume cutter was right next to the crew member holding the script binder.

The night the band played its last set, a book of marked bills disappeared from behind the bar. Every regular sat with a drink in a different booth running the length of the wall. Reconstruct the row, booth by booth. Statements were taken from all 5 regulars; Marcus Trent's is the first page.

1. 1. Hazel Quartermain and the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch are the same person.
2. 2. Hazel Quartermain was right next to the regular drinking the bathtub gin.
3. 3. The regular drinking the bathtub gin was right next to the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch.
4. 4. Inez Montoya was somewhere after Marcus Trent but before Ruby Calhoun.
5. 5. Otis Brennan and the regular flashing the emerald ring are the same person.
6. 6. The regular drinking the bee's knees was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular flashing the emerald ring.
7. 7. Inez Montoya was in the booth right before the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch.
8. 8. The regular flashing the engraved lighter was in the booth right before the regular flashing the emerald ring.
9. 9. Otis Brennan and the regular drinking the brandy alexander are the same person.
10. 10. The regular drinking the gin rickey was right next to the regular flashing the ruby stickpin.
11. 11. The regular drinking the mint julep and the regular flashing the gold cigarette case are the same person.
12. 12. The regular drinking the gin rickey was in the booth right before the regular flashing the engraved lighter.
13. 13. Marcus Trent was right next to the regular flashing the ruby stickpin.
14. 14. The regular drinking the bathtub gin was in the booth right before the regular flashing the platinum pocket watch.
15. 15. Marcus Trent and the regular flashing the emerald ring had exactly 3 booths between them.

Every guest on the top floor signed the book under a name that is not theirs. The bell captain kept his own count — suites, keys, and lies, front to back. Reconcile the corridor. 5 guests, 5 suites, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Nathaniel Brandt.

1. 1. Nathaniel Brandt was in the suite right before the guest pretending to be the perfumer.
2. 2. The guest carrying the silver key tag was in the suite right before the guest carrying the pewter key tag.
3. 3. Philippa Drake was in the suite right before the guest carrying the crystal key tag.
4. 4. Whoever ordered the fruit compote was in the suite right before whoever ordered the croissants.
5. 5. The guest pretending to be the perfumer was right next to whoever ordered the coddled eggs.
6. 6. The guest pretending to be the antique dealer was in a lower-numbered suite than whoever ordered the brioche.
7. 7. Rosalind Carver was in a lower-numbered suite than whoever ordered the grilled tomatoes.
8. 8. Whoever ordered the croissants was in the suite right before whoever ordered the brioche.
9. 9. The guest carrying the ebony key tag and whoever ordered the brioche are the same person.
10. 10. The guest pretending to be the film producer was somewhere after the guest pretending to be the antique dealer but before the guest pretending to be the retired colonel.
11. 11. Rosalind Carver was in the suite right before whoever ordered the coddled eggs.
12. 12. The guest pretending to be the art dealer was right next to the guest carrying the ebony key tag.
13. 13. Julius Renard was in the suite right before Rosalind Carver.
14. 14. The guest pretending to be the perfumer and whoever ordered the grilled tomatoes are the same person.
15. 15. Julius Renard was in a lower-numbered suite than the guest pretending to be the retired colonel.
16. 16. The guest pretending to be the film producer and the guest carrying the ivory key tag had exactly 1 suite between them.