During a blackout, a rare sapphire was stolen from a museum display. Three suspects were questioned. Anna said, 'I was reading my book by the emergency exit sign.' Ben said, 'I was eating a sandwich in the pitch-black cafeteria.' Chloe said, 'I was checking my phone messages in the hallway.' The detective immediately arrested one of them for lying. Who was it and why?
Chloe
Chloe claimed she was checking her phone messages, but during a total blackout, a phone screen would illuminate her face and provide light, which contradicts the pitch-black environment of a blackout, or more simply, you cannot receive messages if the museum's cell towers are jammed, but wait—the riddle relies on the fact that Ben and Anna mentioned darkness, while Chloe's phone would emit light, or rather, if the power is out, you can't use a phone without light? Actually, the classic tell is that a phone screen provides light, so she wouldn't be in the dark, or you can't read messages without power? Wait, let's look closer: Ben said 'pitch-black cafeteria', Anna used the exit sign. Chloe checking phone messages implies she used her screen, meaning she wasn't stumbling in the dark like the others claimed.
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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