The cases for 2026-10-05

A fake high-value chip worth a fortune slipped through the cashier's cage just before the house closed the books. Every suspect sat in a different private gaming room set out in a single long row. Trace the row and unmask the forger. 4 players, 4 rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Anselm Berger.

1. 1. Salvatore Greco was in the room right before whoever stacked the cobalt chips.
2. 2. Anselm Berger was in a lower-numbered room than Lev Ostrovsky.
3. 3. The blackjack player was in a lower-numbered room than whoever stacked the amber chips.
4. 4. Anselm Berger and whoever stacked the amber chips are the same person.
5. 5. The blackjack player and whoever stacked the bronze chips are the same person.
6. 6. The poker player and whoever stacked the amber chips are the same person.
7. 7. The poker player was right next to whoever stacked the silver chips.
8. 8. The roulette player was in a lower-numbered room than the baccarat player.
9. 9. Vivienne Laroche was in a lower-numbered room than the baccarat player.
10. 10. The baccarat player was right next to whoever stacked the silver chips.
11. 11. Vivienne Laroche was in a lower-numbered room than Salvatore Greco.
12. 12. Anselm Berger was right next to the blackjack player.
13. 13. Vivienne Laroche and whoever stacked the cobalt chips had exactly 2 rooms between them.
14. 14. Whoever stacked the bronze chips was in the room right before whoever stacked the amber chips.
15. 15. The roulette player was in the room right before whoever stacked the cobalt chips.
16. 16. Vivienne Laroche and whoever stacked the bronze chips are the same person.
17. 17. The poker player was somewhere after the blackjack player but before the baccarat player.

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. The file names 5 botanists; Marisol Vega's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Harriet Bell was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the carnivorous lily.
2. 2. Tobias Crane and the botanist carrying the plant ledger are the same person.
3. 3. Marisol Vega was in the glasshouse right before the botanist carrying the pruning shears.
4. 4. Niko Petrakis was right next to the botanist tending the carnivorous lily.
5. 5. Ingrid Solveig was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than Niko Petrakis.
6. 6. Marisol Vega was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist tending the silver moss.
7. 7. Tobias Crane was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the flame protea.
8. 8. Ingrid Solveig was right next to the botanist carrying the grafting knife.
9. 9. The botanist tending the passion vine was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the glass bell jar.
10. 10. Marisol Vega was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the silver moss.
11. 11. The botanist tending the passion vine was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist tending the blue lotus.
12. 12. The botanist tending the passion vine and the botanist carrying the grafting knife are the same person.
13. 13. The botanist tending the flame protea and the botanist carrying the glass bell jar are the same person.

A fake painting surfaced at last night's opening. Each guest stopped at a different spot along the gallery wall. Trace their evening, spot by spot. The file names 5 patrons; Imogen Frey's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Imogen Frey and the patron looking at the tapestry are the same person.
2. 2. The patron holding the club soda was in a lower-numbered spot than whoever arrived at 9:00.
3. 3. Delphine Roux and whoever arrived at 8:30 are the same person.
4. 4. The patron holding the whiskey and whoever arrived at 8:30 had exactly 1 spot between them.
5. 5. The patron looking at the still life was in a lower-numbered spot than whoever arrived at 9:00.
6. 6. Lena Moreau and the patron holding the red wine had exactly 2 spots between them.
7. 7. The patron looking at the marble torso was in the spot right before the patron looking at the miniature.
8. 8. Beatrix Hale and the patron looking at the seascape had exactly 3 spots between them.
9. 9. The patron looking at the seascape and the patron holding the amaretto are the same person.
10. 10. Lena Moreau was in a lower-numbered spot than whoever arrived at 6:40.
11. 11. The patron looking at the still life was in a lower-numbered spot than whoever arrived at 8:10.
12. 12. The patron holding the champagne and whoever arrived at 9:00 had exactly 2 spots between them.
13. 13. The patron holding the champagne was in the spot right before whoever arrived at 8:30.