The cases for 2026-10-18

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 4 botanists; Tobias Crane's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. Dr. Fern Whitlock was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the night orchid.
2. 2. The botanist tending the moon cactus was right next to the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.
3. 3. The botanist tending the silver moss was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the potting fork.
4. 4. The botanist tending the flame protea and the botanist carrying the glass bell jar are the same person.
5. 5. Dr. Fern Whitlock was in the glasshouse right before the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.
6. 6. Marisol Vega was in the glasshouse right before Dr. Fern Whitlock.
7. 7. Tobias Crane and the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe are the same person.
8. 8. Lorne Maddox was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist tending the night orchid.
9. 9. The botanist tending the silver moss and the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe had exactly 2 glasshouses between them.
10. 10. Dr. Fern Whitlock was right next to the botanist tending the flame protea.
11. 11. The botanist carrying the watering can was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the potting fork.
12. 12. The botanist tending the silver moss was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the flame protea.
13. 13. The botanist carrying the glass bell jar was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the magnifying loupe.
14. 14. Lorne Maddox and the botanist carrying the potting fork had exactly 1 glasshouse between them.

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. Statements were taken from all 5 patrons; Ezra Bloom's is the first page.

1. 1. The patron looking at the miniature was right next to the patron holding the martini.
2. 2. Beatrix Hale was in the spot right before the patron looking at the seascape.
3. 3. The patron looking at the seascape was in the spot right before the patron looking at the miniature.
4. 4. The patron looking at the miniature and the patron holding the vermouth had exactly 2 spots between them.
5. 5. Cyrus Vane was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron looking at the woodcut.
6. 6. The patron looking at the woodcut and the patron holding the champagne are the same person.
7. 7. Beatrix Hale was in the spot right before Otto Krane.
8. 8. The patron looking at the fresco panel was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron holding the martini.
9. 9. Hugo Marchetti and the patron holding the vermouth are the same person.
10. 10. The patron looking at the woodcut was in the spot right before the patron holding the martini.
11. 11. The patron looking at the charcoal sketch was right next to the patron holding the champagne.
12. 12. The patron holding the sherry was in the spot right before the patron holding the vermouth.

A cask of the estate's finest vintage was drained and switched the night before the auction. Each vintner worked alone in a different cellar vault along the chalk tunnel. Work the tunnel, vault by vault, and name who swapped the wine. 5 vintners, 5 vaults, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Henri Faure.

1. 1. Henri Faure was in a lower-numbered vault than whoever jotted down vanilla and spice.
2. 2. Whoever jotted down citrus peel was somewhere after whoever jotted down ripe pear but before whoever jotted down vanilla and spice.
3. 3. The vintner blending the tempranillo was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the cork press.
4. 4. The vintner using the funnel and hose was in a lower-numbered vault than whoever jotted down vanilla and spice.
5. 5. The vintner using the wax sealer and whoever jotted down wet stone are the same person.
6. 6. The vintner using the cork press was in the vault right before the vintner using the funnel and hose.
7. 7. Pilar Navarro and whoever jotted down wet stone are the same person.
8. 8. Henri Faure was right next to the vintner blending the grenache.
9. 9. The vintner blending the grenache was in the vault right before the vintner using the tasting pipette.
10. 10. Pilar Navarro was in the vault right before Henri Faure.
11. 11. Gustave Roux was right next to the vintner using the tasting pipette.
12. 12. Dmitri Volkov and the vintner using the bottling cradle are the same person.
13. 13. The vintner blending the chardonnay was in a lower-numbered vault than whoever jotted down green apple.
14. 14. Pilar Navarro and the vintner blending the chardonnay had exactly 2 vaults between them.
15. 15. The vintner blending the chardonnay was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner blending the zinfandel.