The cases for 2026-10-03

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. 4 passengers, 4 cabins, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Maxim Volkov.

1. 1. Sterling Fox was in a lower-numbered cabin than Marguerite Bell.
2. 2. Whoever spent the evening at the smoking room was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe.
3. 3. Maxim Volkov and whoever spent the evening at the card lounge are the same person.
4. 4. The passenger in the captain's blazer was right next to whoever spent the evening at the smoking room.
5. 5. The passenger in the silk evening gown was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe.
6. 6. The passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat was right next to whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe.
7. 7. Ingrid Solberg was right next to whoever spent the evening at the smoking room.
8. 8. Sterling Fox and the passenger in the beaded shawl are the same person.
9. 9. Marguerite Bell was in the cabin right before the passenger in the captain's blazer.
10. 10. Ingrid Solberg was in the cabin right before the passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat.
11. 11. The passenger in the captain's blazer and whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe are the same person.
12. 12. Maxim Volkov and whoever spent the evening at the smoking room had exactly 1 cabin between them.
13. 13. Whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe was somewhere after whoever spent the evening at the library but before whoever spent the evening at the card lounge.

A priceless old book vanished from the college library the night of the founder's feast, and the night porter's keys went with it. Each professor turned in for the night in a separate room along the old stone corridor. Reconstruct that night, room by room, before the college calls a hearing. The file names 5 professors; Provost Crewe's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The professor reading the legal codex was somewhere after the professor reading the alchemical manual but before the professor reading the volume of sonnets.
2. 2. Dr. Rosendale and the professor who claimed to be at the pantry had exactly 2 rooms between them.
3. 3. The professor reading the legal codex was somewhere after the professor reading the star chart but before the professor reading the book of hours.
4. 4. Dr. Albright and the professor who claimed to be at the chapel had exactly 1 room between them.
5. 5. The professor reading the volume of sonnets was in a lower-numbered room than the professor who claimed to be at the chapel.
6. 6. Dr. Albright was in the room right before the professor reading the volume of sonnets.
7. 7. Don Whitlock and the professor who claimed to be at the music room are the same person.
8. 8. Don Whitlock and the professor reading the alchemical manual are the same person.
9. 9. Don Whitlock was in a lower-numbered room than the professor who claimed to be at the chapel.
10. 10. The professor reading the alchemical manual was in a lower-numbered room than the professor reading the book of hours.
11. 11. The professor reading the volume of sonnets was in the room right before the professor reading the book of hours.
12. 12. Provost Crewe and the professor who claimed to be at the boathouse had exactly 3 rooms between them.
13. 13. Dr. Albright was right next to the professor who claimed to be at the pantry.

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 5 crew members; Sid Brennan's is the first page.

1. 1. The stunt double was in a lower-numbered soundstage than whoever wrapped at 1 am.
2. 2. The crew member holding the boom mic was right next to whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
3. 3. The stunt double was right next to whoever wrapped at 7 pm.
4. 4. Whoever wrapped at 2 am was in a lower-numbered soundstage than whoever wrapped at 7 pm.
5. 5. The makeup artist was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the prop revolver.
6. 6. The lead actress was right next to whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
7. 7. Greta Lamont was right next to whoever wrapped at 5 pm.
8. 8. The best boy was in the soundstage right before the lead actress.
9. 9. The crew member holding the wax candle was right next to whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
10. 10. The sound mixer and whoever wrapped at 1 am are the same person.
11. 11. Greta Lamont and whoever wrapped at 2 am had exactly 1 soundstage between them.
12. 12. The crew member holding the wax candle was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
13. 13. Marcus Kemp was right next to the crew member holding the prop revolver.
14. 14. The crew member holding the prop revolver was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at 5 pm.
15. 15. Nina Castile was right next to whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
16. 16. The makeup artist was right next to the crew member holding the script binder.
17. 17. Marcus Kemp was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the prop revolver.
18. 18. Hal Ridley and whoever wrapped at 1 am are the same person.