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Case 38: who took the Inca Quipu?
This morning, the staff at the museum found that the Inca Quipu, kept in the Restoration Room, is no longer where it should be. No one remembers seeing a stranger come in, so the thief must be one of the people already inside. Help the police unmask them.
The board
- 1Storage Room
- 2Exhibition Hall
- 3Office
- 4Restrooms
- 5Security Room
- 6Lobby
- 7Main Hall
- 8Reception Area
- 9Café
- 10Inner Courtyard
- 11Workshop
- 12Restoration Room
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Seat: anyone can be on it.
- Shelf: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Table: nothing can be on its cell.
- Screen: nothing can be on its cell.
- Window: the blue line on a wall.
Suspects and clues
- HHana
She's right next to the Café. - AAisha
She's in row 3. - EEsteban
He's 5 rows away from the Reception Area and 2 columns away from the Storage Room. - BBoris
He's in the Lobby. - OOmar
He's in a corner. - FFarah
She's 6 columns away from the Inner Courtyard and 5 columns away from the Restrooms. - GGustavo
He's next to a seat. - CChidi
He's in column I. - XXiomara
She's not in the Reception Area. - IInca Quipu (stolen item)
It's next to a window.
Remember the rules: no two suspects (nor the item) ever share a row or a column, each character is in a different room, and the thief is the only one sharing a room with the stolen item. Unsure? Read how to play and the clue types.
Solution
Try it yourself first: pen and paper are enough. When you want to check, open the reasoned solution.
Show the step-by-step solution
- Hana's clue: She's right next to the Café. 7 cells remain possible.
- Aisha's clue: She's in row 3. 10 cells remain possible.
- Esteban's clue: He's 5 rows away from the Reception Area and 2 columns away from the Storage Room. It leaves a single cell: F9.
- Boris's clue: He's in the Lobby. 4 cells remain possible: F5, F6, E7 and F7.
- Omar's clue: He's in a corner. 51 cells remain possible.
- Farah's clue: She's 6 columns away from the Inner Courtyard and 5 columns away from the Restrooms. It leaves a single cell: G5.
- Gustavo's clue: He's next to a seat. It leaves a single cell: B4.
- Chidi's clue: He's in column I. 8 cells remain possible.
- Xiomara's clue: She's not in the Reception Area. 56 cells remain possible.
- The stolen item's clue: It's next to a window. 8 cells remain possible.
- Esteban can only be on F9. No one else can be in row 9 or column F, and no other character can be in the Office.
- F5, F6 and F7 have already been ruled out, so Boris can only be on E7. No one else can be in row 7 or column E, and no other character can be in the Lobby.
- Farah can only be on G5. No one else can be in row 5 or column G, and no other character can be in the Security Room.
- Gustavo can only be on B4. No one else can be in row 4 or column B, and no other character can be in the Restrooms.
- Every cell still open to Hana is in column A, so no one else can be in that column.
- Every cell still open to Aisha is in row 3, so no one else can be in that row.
- Every cell still open to Aisha is in the Reception Area, so no other character can be there.
- I1, I2, I3, I4, I7, I8 and I9 have already been ruled out, so Chidi can only be on I10. No one else can be in row 10 or column I, and no other character can be in the Storage Room.
- B8, A9, B9, C9, A10 and B10 have already been ruled out, so Hana can only be on A8. No one else can be in row 8 or column A, and no other character can be in the Inner Courtyard.
- Every other cell the clue allowed has already been ruled out, so Omar can only be on C2. No one else can be in row 2 or column C, and no other character can be in the Main Hall.
- Every other cell the clue allowed has already been ruled out, so Xiomara can only be on D6. No one else can be in row 6 or column D, and no other character can be in the Restoration Room.
- E1, I1, A2, J3, A5, H6 and J7 have already been ruled out, so the Inca Quipu can only be on H1. No one else can be in row 1 or column H.
- Every other cell the clue allowed has already been ruled out, so Aisha can only be on J3.
Conclusion: Aisha is the only person sharing the Reception Area with the Inca Quipu, which is on H1. She is the thief.