The scent of burnt sugar and rising yeast filled the small shop, doing little to mask the tension hovering over the glass display case. "I’ll take the cinnamon knot, please. Extra icing. I need something to settle my nerves." "Rough morning? Or did you finally hear about the disturbance at the library last night?" "Heard it? I saw the whole thing from my kitchen window. A dark sedan, idling right under the streetlamp. Then, a bundle went into the trunk. A heavy bundle." "You don't think it was..." "I know what a rolled-up carpet looks like, and that wasn't a rug. And the silhouette? Distinctly familiar." "Like the Mayor? He was supposed to be at the town hall meeting until he ran out early with a 'migraine'." "He was, wasn't he? Now, isn't it funny that his secretary hasn't shown up for work today either?" "Here’s your knot. Eat it fast. If anyone sees us conspiring instead of buying bread, we’ll be the next mystery in this town." "One more thing before I go. I found this in my azaleas this morning. It looks like it came from a very expensive tweed jacket." "Put it in your pocket. And don't mention the azaleas."