A wealthy eccentric was found dead in his greenhouse during a scorching summer afternoon. The cause of death was severe dehydration. His loyal butler stated he left his master watering the exotic orchids at noon. Detective Vance inspected the greenhouse: the automatic sprinklers were dry, the soil was bone dry, and the orchids were thriving with dewdrops on their leaves. Vance arrested the butler. Why?
Orchids with dewdrops in a dry greenhouse
If the soil was bone-dry and sprinklers were dry during a scorching afternoon, orchids wouldn't magically have fresh dewdrops. The butler lied about watering them at noon, or the scene was artificially misted much earlier in the morning before the butler claimed to have seen him.
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.
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