The Detective’s DeskBen Oak
Passenger
“I left the express lift at floor 5.”
EASY · CASE FILE
The floor that wasn’t a stop
Easy · SKYLINE HOTEL
A guest’s hat was found inside the hotel’s express lift. Three passengers describe leaving that lift during normal operation. Its verified stop list was unchanged throughout their journeys.
Read the case file below, or open the interactive desk to examine records, keep notes and submit your reasoning. These are the case materials, without the solution.
Your assignment
Inspect, test and record the finding. What does the verified record establish?
- The source records are verified and their stated conditions apply to every account.
- Find the account contradicted by a record. A contradiction alone does not establish wrongdoing.
People and accounts
Dina Hart
Passenger
“I got out at floor 10.”
Asha Gray
Passenger
“I stepped out of the express lift on floor 3.”
Case records
Read each record on its own terms. A claim made by a person is different from a fact established by an independent record.
LIFT OPERATING RECORD
Express stops only
This express lift opened its doors only at floors 0, 5 and 10. It could not be stopped or opened at another floor. There were no faults, emergencies or overrides.
This is a verified source record for this case. Compare its stated facts with the exact question.
DESK RECORD
The hat label
The hat has the initials AG sewn inside. The owner’s identity is not the question.
The hat has the initials AG sewn inside. The owner’s identity is not the question.
LOCATION SKETCH
The staircase plan
A separate staircase connects every hotel floor.
A separate staircase connects every hotel floor.
Questions to resolve
Audit all three statements against the verified record.
- Ben Oak — “I left the express lift at floor 5.”
- Dina Hart — “I got out at floor 10.”
- Asha Gray — “I stepped out of the express lift on floor 3.”
Use the interactive case desk to select your finding and cite the records that support it. The answer is checked there, and your progress stays in your browser.
Build your finding
Compare the records with each account. Work out what the evidence establishes, then separate that finding from anything it does not prove.