The cases for 2026-11-03

A rare orchid worth a small fortune was cut and stolen the night it finally bloomed. Each botanist tended a different glasshouse along the garden path. Sort out who worked where before the curator counts the pots. The file names 4 botanists; Emeka Osei's statement sits on top of the pile.

1. 1. The botanist tending the dragon tree and the botanist carrying the seed tray are the same person.
2. 2. Auguste Roy was in the glasshouse right before the botanist tending the bonsai pine.
3. 3. The botanist tending the climbing fig was right next to the botanist carrying the soil trowel.
4. 4. Auguste Roy and the botanist tending the climbing fig are the same person.
5. 5. Camille Dubois was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist carrying the seed tray.
6. 6. The botanist tending the dragon tree was in the glasshouse right before the botanist carrying the glass bell jar.
7. 7. The botanist tending the climbing fig and the botanist carrying the glass bell jar are the same person.
8. 8. Dr. Fern Whitlock was right next to the botanist tending the climbing fig.
9. 9. Auguste Roy was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than Emeka Osei.
10. 10. The botanist tending the climbing fig was right next to the botanist carrying the seed tray.
11. 11. Camille Dubois was in a lower-numbered glasshouse than the botanist tending the dragon tree.

Between the toast and the closing bell, someone traded a canvas for a forgery worth nothing but trouble. The guests drifted, but each ended the night at one spot on the gallery wall. Fix every patron to their spot. Statements were taken from all 5 patrons; Imogen Frey's is the first page.

1. 1. Hugo Marchetti was right next to the patron looking at the still life.
2. 2. The patron looking at the woodcut was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron looking at the tapestry.
3. 3. The patron looking at the still life was in the spot right before the patron holding the white wine.
4. 4. Lena Moreau and the patron looking at the still life are the same person.
5. 5. The patron looking at the still life was right next to the patron holding the white wine.
6. 6. The patron looking at the charcoal sketch was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron holding the amaretto.
7. 7. The patron looking at the still life and the patron holding the champagne had exactly 2 spots between them.
8. 8. Delphine Roux and the patron looking at the still life had exactly 2 spots between them.
9. 9. The patron looking at the charcoal sketch was in a lower-numbered spot than the patron holding the club soda.
10. 10. Imogen Frey was right next to the patron looking at the still life.
11. 11. Lena Moreau was in the spot right before the patron looking at the miniature.
12. 12. The patron looking at the miniature and the patron holding the white wine are the same person.
13. 13. Delphine Roux was in the spot right before the patron holding the negroni.
14. 14. The patron looking at the woodcut and the patron holding the club soda had exactly 2 spots between them.
15. 15. Imogen Frey and the patron looking at the tapestry are the same person.

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 Sylvie Laurent.

1. 1. The vintner blending the cabernet and whoever jotted down crushed violets are the same person.
2. 2. Whoever jotted down ripe pear was in a lower-numbered vault than whoever jotted down vanilla and spice.
3. 3. Cosima Ricci was right next to the vintner using the oak barrel.
4. 4. Gustave Roux was in a lower-numbered vault than Cosima Ricci.
5. 5. Pilar Navarro was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the oak barrel.
6. 6. Sylvie Laurent was right next to the vintner blending the cabernet.
7. 7. The vintner blending the grenache was somewhere after the vintner blending the merlot but before the vintner blending the cabernet.
8. 8. The vintner using the bottling cradle was in a lower-numbered vault than whoever jotted down dark berry.
9. 9. Cosima Ricci was right next to the vintner blending the grenache.
10. 10. Cosima Ricci and the vintner blending the sauvignon blanc are the same person.
11. 11. Rafe Sterling and whoever jotted down crushed violets are the same person.
12. 12. The vintner blending the tempranillo was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner blending the cabernet.
13. 13. The vintner using the glass jug was in the vault right before the vintner using the mixing paddle.
14. 14. Cosima Ricci was right next to whoever jotted down citrus peel.
15. 15. The vintner blending the tempranillo was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the mixing paddle.
16. 16. Pilar Navarro and the vintner blending the sauvignon blanc had exactly 1 vault between them.
17. 17. The vintner blending the merlot was in a lower-numbered vault than the vintner using the bottling cradle.
18. 18. The vintner blending the merlot and the vintner using the oak barrel are the same person.