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Case 7: who took the Miniature Anchor?
Amid the chaos of a school visit at the aquarium, someone took advantage of the confusion to make off with the Miniature Anchor, on display in the Restrooms. For once, the suspect list doesn't include any nine-year-olds. Help the police unmask the thief.
The board
- 1Terrace
- 2Tank Room
- 3Reception Area
- 4Gift Shop
- 5Children's Room
- 6Diving Room
- 7Lobby
- 8Restrooms
- Plant: no character can stand on its cell, but the stolen item can be there.
- Seat: anyone can be on it.
- Table: nothing can be on its cell.
- Screen: nothing can be on its cell.
- Window: the blue line on a wall.
Suspects and clues
- CCarla
She's next to a seat. - KKenji
He's right next to the Terrace. - EElena
She's next to a window and 1 column away from the Children's Room. - BBilal
He's 4 rows away from the Terrace. - HHugo
He's in the Diving Room. - MMiniature Anchor (stolen item)
It's in row 3.
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
- Carla's clue: She's next to a seat. It leaves a single cell: C5.
- Kenji's clue: He's right next to the Terrace. 3 cells remain possible: F1, E2 and F2.
- Elena's clue: She's next to a window and 1 column away from the Children's Room. It leaves a single cell: A4.
- Bilal's clue: He's 4 rows away from the Terrace. It leaves a single cell: F6.
- Hugo's clue: He's in the Diving Room. 8 cells remain possible.
- The stolen item's clue: It's in row 3. 5 cells remain possible: A3, B3, C3, D3 and E3.
- Carla can only be on C5. No one else can be in row 5 or column C, and no other character can be in the Tank Room.
- Elena can only be on A4. No one else can be in row 4 or column A, and no other character can be in the Lobby.
- Bilal can only be on F6. No one else can be in row 6 or column F, and no other character can be in the Restrooms.
- F1 and F2 have already been ruled out, so Kenji can only be on E2. No one else can be in row 2 or column E, and no other character can be in the Gift Shop.
- The item must share its room with one character: the thief. No character can be in the Children's Room any more, so the Miniature Anchor isn't there either.
- A3, C3, D3 and E3 have already been ruled out, so the Miniature Anchor can only be on B3. No one else can be in row 3 or column B.
- A1, B1, C1, B2, C2, D2 and C3 have already been ruled out, so Hugo can only be on D1.
Conclusion: Elena is the only person sharing the Lobby with the Miniature Anchor, which is on B3. She is the thief.