Nobody Leaves the Office

The killer was Olive (the mayor) — the only other person in the Kitchenette with Otto. Olive: B1 · Kiki: C5 · Hugo: A3 · Rufus: D4 · Nell: F6 · Otto: E2.

How to solve it, step by step

1. Rufus and Nell were alone together, so they share a room — and the only room(s) where both can still stand: Meeting Room and Rooftop.
2. Olive and Hugo can only stand in rows A and B — 2 people for 2 rows, so those rows are theirs and nobody else can use them.
3. Row B still needs someone, and Olive is the only one who can still stand in it. In row B, “She was beside a sink.” fits only B1.
4. Column 2 still needs someone, and only Otto can still stand in it — so Otto is somewhere in column 2.
5. Row D still needs someone, and only Rufus can still stand in it — so Rufus is somewhere in row D.
6. Otto, the victim, has no statement — but only one square is left in a free row and column: E2, in the Kitchenette.
7. Column 4 still needs someone, and Rufus is the only one who can still stand in it. In column 4, “He was alone with Nell.” fits only D4.
8. Nell: “She was beside a plant.” And Rufus said: “He was alone with Nell.” With Rufus on D4, only F6 still fits — the others are in rows or columns already taken.
9. Hugo: “He was beside a desk.” Of the squares that fit, only A3 is still open — the others are in rows or columns already taken.
10. Kiki: “She was beside a plant.” Of the squares that fit, only C5 is still open — the others are in rows or columns already taken.
11. Everyone is placed. Otto lies in the Kitchenette, and the only other person in there is Olive. Olive is the killer.

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