Run: 2026-05-22-01KS86VJPTRB09DG8J46DHGEMH

The warm scent of cinnamon and browned butter hung thick in the predawn air of the sleepy bakery. Fine white flour dusted the scarred butcher block like fresh snow, settling softly over the wooden rolling pins and polished copper bowls. "Did you hear about the mayor’s prize-winning marigolds?" "Trampled? I heard they were completely uprooted in the night." "Worse. Bleached. Every single petal stripped of color." A heavy iron baking sheet clattered against the wire cooling rack, sending a cloud of powdered sugar into the air. "That takes harsh chemicals. Strong ones." "Exactly the kind kept in the locked back room of the hardware store." "But old Higgins has the only key to that door." "Higgins was in my shop at midnight, buying a dozen stale scones and looking over his shoulder." "Then who was in the hardware store?" A silver bell chimed brightly above the front door, cutting through the low hum of the industrial dough mixers. Heavy boots scuffed against the checkered linoleum floor. "Looks like we’re about to find out. Hide the ledger." "Under the flour bin?" "Just do it. And smile. We don't want him knowing we found the poison."