A famous ruby was stolen from a glass pedestal during a torrential rainstorm. The night guard reported hearing glass shatter, running to the room, and finding the window wide open with rain pouring onto the hardwood floor. The detective noticed the puddle of water was completely dry around the edges, yet soaked in the center. What did the guard lie about?
The window
If rain was pouring onto the floor during a storm, the edges of the puddle would be expanding and wet, not dry, indicating the water was poured there hours earlier.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Medium. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
More detective riddles
Ana's stocking hangs left of Tom's, and Tom's hangs left of Sam's. Whose stocking is in the middle?
Three kids race to build the tallest wave tower. Noah finished before Kai. Kai finished before Zoe. Who finished last?
A courier was ambushed in a barren desert highway. He told Detective Shaw that two masked men on bicycles chased him down and forced him off the road at 60 miles per hour. Shaw immediately knew the courier was lying. Why?
Detective Lane found a victim slumped over a desk. In the victim's stiff, cold hand was a pen, and on the paper was a single written sentence: 'Jane did this to me at noon.' Lane checked the room thermostat; it was set to a freezing 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Why did Lane doubt the dying declaration?
Inspector Barnes entered the suspect's kitchen and found a pot of coffee still warm on the stove. The suspect claimed he hadn't been home in three days. Barnes noticed condensation on the inside of the glass coffee pot lid. Why did this disprove the alibi?
A priceless golden artifact vanished from a museum exhibit surrounded by a moat of water. The guard on duty swore no boat crossed the water, no one swam across, and the drawbridge stayed up the whole night. The detective looked across the empty moat, spotted a thick layer of winter ice, and solved the case. How did the thief get across?

