The case notes
Counting a numbered room
The first digit seen from an outside clue gives the position, counted inward, where that clue digit appears. Watch a worked example, then try the idea in a puzzle.
Put it into practice
Outside clue: 7
A numbered room begins outside the grid. This seven looks into the second row from the left.
First digit: 4
The first digit it meets is four. That four tells us how far to count, starting with this very cell.
Count 4 cells inward → place 7
One, two, three, four. The fourth cell is where the outside seven belongs.
First digit = position of outside clue
Read the first digit to get the distance. Then put the outside clue at that position, counting from the clue side.
Read the transcript
A numbered room begins outside the grid. This seven looks into the second row from the left. The first digit it meets is four. That four tells us how far to count, starting with this very cell. One, two, three, four. The fourth cell is where the outside seven belongs. Read the first digit to get the distance. Then put the outside clue at that position, counting from the clue side.
