Mockup of the Case Board narrative timeline: acts as a vertical spine, fired beats revealed, later ones redacted, with the operation assembling.

The Operation
act 3 of 5 · the story so far
The board fills in as you close cases. It never nags — come back when you want the thread.
Act I · The Pattern  ·  fired
"Same knife work. Different men."
Two cons, one method. The board opened.
Act II · The Crew  ·  fired
"Nobody in this town freelances."
The families are a crew. The gallery became an org chart.
Act III · The Workshop  ·  just now
"There's only one method."
You built a trap that shipped. You've seen the workbench now.
Act IV · The House  ·  sealed
Retire your first con to unseal. ████ prints more ████
Act V · The Walk-In  ·  sealed
Set a test date. ████ which rooms fight back ████
acts fire in order, on what you do — never on a clock