The cases for 2026-10-17

Every dome on the ridge logged the eclipse; only one logged a theft. The star map was there at totality and gone by dawn. Place each astronomer under the right dome. 4 astronomers, 4 domes, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Wendell Frost.

1. 1. Wendell Frost and the astronomer using the pendulum clock had exactly 1 dome between them.
2. 2. Pieter Aldous was right next to the astronomer using the sextant.
3. 3. Dr. Halley Vance was right next to the astronomer tracking the pole star.
4. 4. The astronomer using the sextant was right next to the astronomer tracking the pole star.
5. 5. Wendell Frost was in a lower-numbered dome than the astronomer using the sextant.
6. 6. The astronomer using the spectroscope and the astronomer tracking the double star are the same person.
7. 7. Bram Sutcliffe was right next to the astronomer using the pendulum clock.
8. 8. The astronomer using the pendulum clock was right next to the astronomer tracking the double star.
9. 9. Wendell Frost was in a lower-numbered dome than Bram Sutcliffe.
10. 10. Bram Sutcliffe was in a lower-numbered dome than the astronomer tracking the double star.
11. 11. Wendell Frost was in the dome right before the astronomer using the sextant.
12. 12. The astronomer using the reflector scope was right next to the astronomer tracking the meteor shower.
13. 13. Pieter Aldous was right next to the astronomer tracking the meteor shower.
14. 14. Bram Sutcliffe was in the dome right before the astronomer tracking the pole star.
15. 15. Pieter Aldous was in the dome right before the astronomer using the spectroscope.

Word is the marked bills never left the building. The row of booths kept its regulars close and its secrets closer. Work the wall, booth by booth, before the place is padlocked for good. The file names 5 regulars; Lena Kowalski's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Hazel Quartermain and the regular flashing the emerald ring are the same person.
2. 2. The regular drinking the soda water was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular flashing the ostrich-feather fan.
3. 3. Vivienne Marlowe was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular drinking the old fashioned.
4. 4. Sal Brigante was in the booth right before the regular drinking the southside.
5. 5. The regular drinking the southside was somewhere after the regular drinking the soda water but before the regular drinking the old fashioned.
6. 6. Sal Brigante was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular drinking the old fashioned.
7. 7. Vivienne Marlowe and the regular flashing the engraved lighter are the same person.
8. 8. The regular flashing the ostrich-feather fan was in the booth right before the regular flashing the emerald ring.
9. 9. The regular flashing the pearl choker was in a lower-numbered booth than the regular flashing the emerald ring.
10. 10. Vivienne Marlowe was in the booth right before the regular flashing the pearl choker.
11. 11. Inez Montoya and the regular drinking the southside had exactly 1 booth between them.
12. 12. The regular drinking the soda water and the regular flashing the silver hip flask are the same person.
13. 13. Hazel Quartermain and the regular drinking the old fashioned had exactly 1 booth between them.
14. 14. The regular drinking the sidecar and the regular flashing the emerald ring are the same person.

Security says nobody left between the last badge-in and midnight. The ledger says a small fortune did. Pin every employee to a desk before the auditor takes the elevator up. The file names 5 employees; Tess Whitman's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Ximena Cruz and the employee with the sparkling water are the same person.
2. 2. The employee with the americano was at a lower-numbered desk than whoever badged out at 9:30.
3. 3. The employee with the cold brew was at a lower-numbered desk than whoever badged out at 10:10.
4. 4. Tess Whitman was at a lower-numbered desk than the employee with the sparkling water.
5. 5. Priya Nair was at the desk right before the employee from IT.
6. 6. The employee with the americano was right next to whoever badged out at 9:30.
7. 7. Ximena Cruz was right next to whoever badged out at 5:50.
8. 8. Abel Mwangi was at the desk right before the employee with the matcha latte.
9. 9. Tess Whitman was right next to whoever badged out at 9:30.
10. 10. Priya Nair was at a lower-numbered desk than the employee with the matcha latte.
11. 11. Abel Mwangi was right next to whoever badged out at 8:40.
12. 12. The employee with the sparkling water and whoever badged out at 10:10 are the same person.
13. 13. Priya Nair was at a lower-numbered desk than the employee with the cold brew.
14. 14. The employee with the matcha latte and the employee from facilities are the same person.
15. 15. The employee with the cold brew was at a lower-numbered desk than the employee from marketing.
16. 16. The employee from security was at a lower-numbered desk than the employee from sales.
17. 17. Priya Nair was somewhere after Sam Okafor but before Abel Mwangi.