Plead the Fifth (Solution)
by Eli Bogart and R.M. Baur, based on an idea by Eric Wofsey
The answer to each clue appears in another clue. (More precisely, each clue has one good answer among the words of the other clues.)
Rearranging the clues following this cycle (as shown below) and taking the index of the answer of each clue in the next clue, starting from zero as hinted, gives 26 base-5 digits. One of the two possible groupings of these digits into 13 two-digit pairs gives thirteen numbers from 1-24, spelling out (some cyclic permutation of) TAKE THE P CLUES.
There is one clue starting with each letter of the alphabet. Five contain words starting with P: one in the first position, one in the second, etc. Reading the first letters of those clues in that order gives PLUTO, the answer.
| Five-word clue phrase (without punctuation) | Answer | Base-5 digit | Base-5 letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question opener for the lost | WHERE | 4 | T |
| Where indexing ought to start | ZERO | 0 | |
| Zero in Kelvin's temperature scale | ABSOLUTE | 0 | A |
| Feeling absolute confidence about something | CERTAIN | 1 | |
| Make like certain noted fathers | FOUND | 2 | K |
| Item found under a tree | PRESENT | 1 | |
| Like present yes or guilty | VOTE | 1 | E |
| Vote early and this way | OFTEN | 0 | |
| Element of murder mysteries often | ARSENIC | 4 | T |
| Arsenic and Old Lace star | GRANT | 0 | |
| Potential grant source or cervid | DOE | 1 | H |
| Names like John Doe typically | FAKE | 3 | |
| Create fake money ineptly maybe | XEROX | 1 | E |
| Xerox alternative for the astute | SHARP | 0 | |
| Jab with a sharp object | KNIFE | 3 | P |
| Your knife might live here | KITCHEN | 1 | |
| Kitchen for Cowboy Nate Newton | NICKNAME | 0 | C |
| Uninspired family pet nickname traditionally | SPOT | 3 | |
| Genial meeting spot for rivals | MIDDLE | 2 | L |
| Bravo in Middle Eastern state | BET | 2 | |
| Half of a sports bet | OVER | 4 | U |
| Out over or for partner | DONE | 1 | |
| Shakespeare done by Japanese filmmaker | RAN | 1 | E |
| Ran a long con on | PLAYED | 0 | |
| Team Red Grange played for | BEARS | 3 | S |
| Drama series with improbable bears | LOST | 4 |