Run: 2026-02-25-01KJBFJ2WK1YBDMKP2ZEFZCWEE

The bell above the door jingled, cutting through the hum of the mixer. Flour motes danced in the morning light, settling on the display case. "You're open early." "Always. The sourdough doesn't wait for the sun." A mug was set down. It clinked against the wood, quiet in the shop. "I heard about the mayor's cat." "The one who vanished?" "Found in the dumpster behind the library. With a ribbon tied around its neck." She wiped her hands on her apron. She didn't look up. "That's unfortunate. Did they catch the culprit?" "Not yet. But the ribbon was blue. Silk." "Blue silk is popular this season." "Not in Oakhaven. Only the mayor wears blue silk." Silence stretched, filled only by the cooling fans of the ovens. "I'll have a black coffee. And keep the change." "It's not about the money, is it?" "No. It's about knowing who bought the ribbon." The baker paused, her hand hovering over the cash register. "I might know someone. But that costs extra." "Name your price." "Just tell me who found the cat." "Mrs. Higgins. She loves gossip nearly as much as she loves your scones." The customer slid a newspaper across the counter. "Then we have a deal."