Run: 2026-02-24-01KJ8VFAXCD2KB37TC15S4097B

The bell above the door chimed, letting in a gust of autumn air and Constable Lewis. His boots tracked a few leaves onto the scrubbed floorboards. “One of your cherry danishes, please. And a large coffee.” “Rough morning?” “You could say that. We’ve been over at the old Henderson place since dawn. The new owner found something peculiar bricked up behind the pantry.” “Is that so?” “A tin box. Full of letters dated 1947, and a single, very fine pearl earring.” “Goodness. I wonder how long that’s been there.” “Sixty years, at least. Funny thing, though. The dust in that cavity? It was disturbed much more recently. Someone else has been looking for it.” A long pause was filled only by the hum of the display case cooler. A pastry box was folded with deliberate care. “Well. Some secrets don’t like to stay buried. More coffee?”