The cases for 2026-10-19

A diamond brooch went missing the night the Aurelia steamed out of port. Each first-class passenger settled into a different cabin along the promenade deck, numbered front to back. Reconstruct the deck, cabin by cabin. 4 passengers, 4 cabins, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Honoria Pratt.

1. 1. Ambrose Whitby was in a lower-numbered cabin than the passenger in the velvet cloak.
2. 2. The passenger in the emerald sash was right next to whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.
3. 3. Ambrose Whitby was in the cabin right before Honoria Pratt.
4. 4. The passenger in the velvet cloak and whoever spent the evening at the observation deck are the same person.
5. 5. Sterling Fox was right next to whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe.
6. 6. Honoria Pratt was right next to whoever spent the evening at the promenade rail.
7. 7. The passenger in the tweed suit was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the observation deck.
8. 8. Whoever spent the evening at the promenade rail was in the cabin right before whoever spent the evening at the grand staircase.
9. 9. Sterling Fox and the passenger in the velvet cloak are the same person.
10. 10. Honoria Pratt was in the cabin right before the passenger in the tweed suit.
11. 11. The passenger in the emerald sash and whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe had exactly 1 cabin between them.
12. 12. The passenger in the velvet cloak was right next to whoever spent the evening at the verandah cafe.
13. 13. Ambrose Whitby was in the cabin right before the passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat.
14. 14. Ambrose Whitby was in a lower-numbered cabin than the passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat.
15. 15. The passenger in the pinstripe waistcoat was right next to whoever spent the evening at the promenade rail.

The founder's feast ended early; the library's rarest volume left earlier still. Every professor turned in to a room off the old stone corridor, each with an alibi the porter cannot quite confirm. Reconstruct that corridor, room by room. 5 professors, 5 rooms, and no two accounts that quite agree — start with Reader Vane.

1. 1. Don Whitlock and the professor reading the star chart had exactly 1 room between them.
2. 2. Reader Vane was in the room right before the professor reading the psalm book.
3. 3. The professor reading the star chart was right next to the professor who claimed to be at the dining hall.
4. 4. Reader Vane and the professor reading the star chart are the same person.
5. 5. Reader Vane was in the room right before the professor who claimed to be at the dining hall.
6. 6. Provost Crewe and the professor who claimed to be at the rose garden had exactly 3 rooms between them.
7. 7. Chaplain Sykes was in the room right before the professor reading the Greek primer.
8. 8. Bursar Quill was right next to the professor reading the alchemical manual.
9. 9. Provost Crewe and the professor who claimed to be at the bell tower had exactly 1 room between them.
10. 10. Reader Vane was in a lower-numbered room than the professor who claimed to be at the rose garden.
11. 11. The professor reading the star chart was in a lower-numbered room than the professor who claimed to be at the rose garden.
12. 12. The professor reading the book of hours and the professor who claimed to be at the dining hall had exactly 1 room between them.
13. 13. Bursar Quill and the professor who claimed to be at the observatory are not the same person.

The picture wrapped at midnight; the final reel never made it to the vault. The backlot row held the whole crew while security swept the lot. Trace the soundstages and find who palmed it. Statements were taken from all 5 crew members; Vera Sokolova's is the first page.

1. 1. Whoever wrapped at midnight was in a lower-numbered soundstage than whoever wrapped at 2 am.
2. 2. The best boy was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at 1 am.
3. 3. The best boy was right next to the crew member holding the glass goblet.
4. 4. Sid Brennan and the crew member holding the spotlight gel are the same person.
5. 5. Vera Sokolova was in a lower-numbered soundstage than the crew member holding the wax candle.
6. 6. The best boy was somewhere after the script girl but before the stunt double.
7. 7. The set painter and whoever wrapped at midnight are the same person.
8. 8. Lars Aberg was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at 6 pm.
9. 9. Lars Aberg and the set painter are the same person.
10. 10. Vera Sokolova was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the wax candle.
11. 11. Cyril Dunne was in a lower-numbered soundstage than the costume cutter.
12. 12. Lars Aberg was in the soundstage right before the crew member holding the boom mic.
13. 13. The crew member holding the wax candle was right next to whoever wrapped at 1 am.
14. 14. The crew member holding the glass goblet and whoever wrapped at 1 am are the same person.
15. 15. Cyril Dunne was in the soundstage right before whoever wrapped at quarter to ten.
16. 16. Cyril Dunne and the crew member holding the glass goblet are the same person.