The bell above the door jingled cheerfully as the scent of cinnamon filled the air. "I heard about Mrs. Witherspoon's garden gnome. Vanished into thin air, they said. Quite the mystery, isn't it?" "Indeed, and right before the annual garden show. How convenient. You think it's a case of garden rivalry gone too far?" "Perhaps. I heard from Judy that Mr. Franklin has been trying new enhancements on his roses. Maybe fear of losing got the best of him." "Mmm, these scones are fantastic! But on that note, hasn't Lily been acting odd around the Post Office? Keeps checking for something." "Could be she’s waiting for a clue or a hidden message. Imagine if it’s all connected—the gnome, the roses, and her strange behavior?" "Connected? Now, that’s a thought. A grand conspiracy over a gnome seems a bit over the top though, doesn't it?" "True. Then again, we are talking about the same town where last year’s pie baking contest ended in a flour fight. Nothing seems too outlandish." Laughter melded with the clinking of coffee cups. "Well, if anyone can get to the bottom of it, it’s us. More coffee?"