The Detective’s DeskKeira Wood
Key owner
“My key has a round bow and four teeth.”
EASY · CASE FILE
The key with three teeth
Easy · WILLOW BOATHOUSE
A key was found beside a borrowed boat. The caretaker recorded its features before sealing it in a bag. Each owner’s key description has been verified. Find the matching owner, without guessing who borrowed the boat.
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 candidate descriptions and supplied records are verified.
- Use the stated rules and records; no outside knowledge is needed.
People and accounts
Iman West
Key owner
“My key has a round bow and three teeth.”
Joel Lake
Key owner
“My key has a square bow and three teeth.”
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.
DESK RECORD
The boat register
The register lists several boats but does not link any boat to a key shape.
The register lists several boats but does not link any boat to a key shape.
LOCATION SKETCH
The waterside map
The sketch shows where the key was found. No owners were seen there.
The sketch shows where the key was found. No owners were seen there.
RECOVERY SKETCH
A distinctive little key
The recovered key has a round bow and exactly three teeth. These features were recorded directly from the unmodified key.
This is a verified source record for this case. Compare its stated facts with the exact question.
Questions to resolve
Whose key matches the recovered one?
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.