The Case of the Vanishing Heirloom
In the quaint town of Willowdale, the priceless family heirloom, the "Sapphire Serpent" brooch, has disappeared during a dinner party at the esteemed Willow Mansion. The Lady of the house, Mrs. Penelope Willow, is distraught and has called you to deduce who among her four guests could have taken it. Each guest was observed in different parts of the mansion during the time the brooch was discovered missing.
The Suspects:
- Sir Reginald, a distant cousin known for his gambling debts.
- Miss Eliza, a close friend of Mrs. Willow and a known jewelry enthusiast.
- Professor Archibald, a historian with a fascination for antique items.
- Doctor Harriet, the family physician who always admired the Willows' wealth.
The Alibis:
- Sir Reginald claimed he was in the library, browsing through the collection of first editions.
- Miss Eliza stated she spent the whole time in the conservatory, admiring the exotic plants.
- Professor Archibald insisted he was in the study, examining ancient maps.
- Doctor Harriet affirmed she was in the parlor, engaged in a conversation with the butler about a medical journal.
The Clues:
- The butler confirms that Doctor Harriet left the parlor briefly, stating she needed to fetch her stethoscope from her bag in the foyer.
- A torn page from a book on "The History of Gambling" was found in the library.
- Water from an overturned vase with fresh soil was found near a window in the conservatory.
- A piece of paper with a sketched map route marked with an "X" was discovered in the folds of a thrown pillow in the study.
The Evidence:
- The "Sapphire Serpent" is small enough to fit into a pocket or a small bag.
- The house was securely locked, and no outsider could have entered or left during the dinner party.
- All the guests were present before the brooch was discovered missing, and none had left the estate.
Additional Information:
- The brooch was last seen in Mrs. Willow's private chamber, which is adjacent to the study.
- The conservatory has a newly installed security system that takes a photo whenever the door to the room is opened.
The Photograph:
- The security photo from the conservatory's system timestamps do not align with Miss Eliza’s timeline, indicating she left the room at some point.
Your Task: You must use logic to determine who is the most likely suspect to have taken the "Sapphire Serpent" brooch.
Who do you believe took the brooch?
Now, take on the role of the detective and unravel this mystery! |
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