Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYAP9SCCPHX7F4RHJKT6TEZ

The bell above the bakery door tinkled softly as the afternoon sun slanted through lace-curtained windows, casting warm patterns on the scarred wooden counter. The air hummed with the scent of cinnamon scones and rising dough, a comforting embrace in the heart of Willow Creek. "Another one gone missing? That's the third customer this week who's vanished from town without a trace." "Shh, not so loud. Mrs. Hargrove's ears are sharper than her knitting needles. But yes, it's odd. All of them bought that special elderberry tart the day before." A pause, the clink of porcelain as a teapot was lifted. Steam curled lazily upward. "You don't think... the tart? But your recipes are harmless, aren't they? Passed down from your gran?" "Mostly. Though Gran did have a knack for secrets. Remember how she always said elderberry hides more than just its sweetness? I found an old note tucked in her journal last night—something about a hidden ingredient that could make a person... forgetful." The teaspoon stirred slowly, scraping against the saucer. Outside, leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, but inside, the warmth felt a touch cooler. "Forgetful enough to skip town? We should check the orders. If it's poison, not even the judge's sweet tooth will save the culprit." A soft laugh, then the rustle of an apron. "Pass the scones, then. Solving mysteries on an empty stomach is no fun at all."