Run: 2026-03-18-01KM09CM94SGEGCMBXRN6HM6F6

The bell above the door gave a tired little jingle as the evening rush slowed into a hush. Cinnamon still hung in the air, caught between the ovens’ warm breath and the cooling tray racks. Mara leaned over the counter, smoothing powdered sugar into a neat snowfall on a berry tart. Theo hovered beside the display case, peering at the empty spot where the “missing” wedding cake tier was supposed to be. “They say it was an inside job,” Theo said, voice low like it might wake the dough. “Inside job, outside mess,” Mara replied, tapping the case gently. “Tell me what you saw.” Theo swallowed. “When I came in this afternoon, the back door was unlocked. The delivery stamp was on the wrong invoice, too.” Mara’s gaze flicked to the ledger under her elbow. “Wrong invoice means someone knew exactly where to look.” Theo nodded toward the register drawer, where a single envelope sat beneath a stack of receipts. “And that envelope wasn’t there this morning.” Mara slid the tart toward a customer, then waited until the customer had left. “Open it,” she said. “But slow. We don’t want fingerprints—on the evidence or on the frosting.” Theo carefully lifted the flap. “It’s a receipt,” he breathed. “For marzipan. Two bags… and a bag of black cocoa.” Mara’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Black cocoa,” she echoed, like she was tasting a clue.