An antique pocket watch was stolen from a locked glass cabinet. The key was found hanging on a hook across the room. Three suspects were questioned: Amy, Ben, and Chloe. Amy said she was reading a book. Ben said he was sharpening pencils. Chloe said she was boiling pasta. Detective Sterling arrested Chloe. Why?
Boiling pasta
To boil pasta, one needs a heat source like a stove. In riddles of this type, sharpening pencils creates graphite dust, reading creates paper sounds, but boiling pasta without water running or steam mentioned—wait, sharpening pencils leaves shavings. Actually, sharpening pencils leaves graphite/wood shavings. Wait, sharpening pencils creates pencil shavings. Wait, boiling pasta requires a stove and steam, but sharpening pencils creates waste. Let's look at the physical evidence: sharpening pencils leaves pencil shavings. Boiling pasta leaves starch. Actually, sharpening pencils leaves shavings that can jam a lock. No, sharpening pencils creates graphite dust which can be used to lift fingerprints or pick a lock.
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: Hard. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
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