Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXQ7TTEKDKVAHRDDEBY7B6B

The bell above the door jingled as the morning rush began to thin. The scent of cinnamon and butter hung thick in the air, mingling with the low hum of conversation. “You’re out early for a Tuesday.” “Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind.” “That new case keeping you up?” “Something like that. Though I’d rather talk about your famous apple turnovers. How do you get them so flaky?” “Trade secret. But I’ll tell you this—it’s all in the butter. And patience.” A pause. The clink of a spoon against a porcelain cup. “You know, I’ve been thinking about that old mill again. The one by the river.” “Oh? What about it?” “Just that it’s been empty for years. Strange, isn’t it? No one’s ever said why.” “Some places are better left alone.” “Maybe. But secrets have a way of bubbling up.” A sigh. The creak of a chair as someone shifted. “You’re not thinking of poking around, are you?” “Just doing my job. But if you hear anything…” “You’ll be the first to know.” The bell jingled again, and the conversation dissolved into the murmur of the bakery.