Run: 2026-05-10-01KR91MQPQQNEXFHNAA9QVV94N

The scent of cinnamon and yeast hung heavy in the air, a warm embrace against the morning chill. Rain streaked the front window of The Crumb & Kettle, blurring the cobblestone streets of Willow Creek into a watercolor smear. "I heard the Mayor’s prize-winning hydrangeas weren't the only thing wilting yesterday." "Oh, don't start. It was a complete catastrophe. I nearly dropped the entire batch of lemon tarts." "Was it the tea party argument, or did the postman finally lose his temper?" "Neither. It was the letter. The one with the wax seal. It arrived right between the scones and the sourdough." "A wax seal? In this day and age? That sounds dreadfully ominous." "It felt ominous. It felt like trouble wrapped in creamery paper." "Well, if trouble is coming, it might as well have a blueberry muffin to go with it. Is that the sourdough ready?" "Just out of the oven. Careful, it’s still steaming." "Perfect. If we’re going to solve a scandal, we’ll need our strength. And perhaps a little extra jam."