The bell above the bakery door jingled softly as the first customer of the morning stepped inside, the scent of freshly baked bread and cinnamon swirling in the air. The baker, kneading dough at the back, looked up and smiled. "Good morning! What can I get for you today?" "I'll take a slice of that apple pie, and a cup of your strongest coffee, please." The customer's voice was tinged with a mixture of fatigue and anticipation. "Long night?" The baker asked, cutting a generous piece of pie. "You could say that. The Garcia place was robbed last night. I was up till dawn with the sheriff, giving my statement." The baker paused, a frown creasing her flour-dusted brow. "Oh no, were they hurt?" "Fortunately, no. But it's the second break-in this month. Everyone's on edge. You should keep your doors locked, even during the day." The baker nodded, sliding the pie into the oven to warm. "I heard about that. Such a shame. Mrs. Garcia makes the best tamales in town." "She does," the customer agreed, accepting the steaming coffee with a grateful nod. "And you make the best pie. Speaking of which, have you noticed anything odd around here lately?" "Odd? Well, there was a stranger lurking around yesterday. Seemed out of place, not one of our regulars. Kept glancing at the cash register." "Did you get a good look at him?" The customer leaned in, their eyes sharp. "Not really. He was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, even though it was overcast. I figured he might be from out of town, looking for directions or something." "Hmm. Maybe it's nothing, but with the robberies..." The customer trailed off, sipping their coffee thoughtfully. The baker placed the warmed pie on the counter, topped with a dollop of whipped cream. "I'll keep an eye out. We've got to look after each other in a town this small." "Absolutely. And I'll make sure the sheriff knows about your visitor. Can't be too careful." With a final nod of agreement, the customer picked up their fork and dug into the pie, a contented sigh escaping their lips. Outside, the small town continued to stir, unaware of the clues being shared over breakfast in the cozy bakery.