Run: 2026-07-25-01KYD7HSAHEGY2TAZSNKC1NKQH

The morning sun spilled across the flour-dusted counter of Butter & Crumb, and the bell above the door jingled as the last of the regulars drifted out. "You're polishing that display case like it owes you money." "It might. Half the town's fingerprints are on it. Including Harold Pemberton's, and he hasn't bought a scone in three days." "Harold buys a scone every morning. Every single morning for eleven years." "Exactly. So where is he?" "Maybe he's on vacation." "Harold thinks a vacation is eating his scone on the bench outside instead of at his table." "Alright, that's fair. But you can't go snooping around a man's house because he skipped breakfast." "Who said anything about snooping? I'm delivering scones. A neighborly gesture." "You're holding a flashlight." "It gets dark early this time of year." "It's nine in the morning, Maisie." "Better safe than sorry. Are you coming or not?" "I shouldn't. I have croissants proofing." "The croissants will survive. Harold might not." A pause. The untying of an apron. A sigh. "If we find him napping, you're explaining why we broke in." "We're not breaking in. He leaves the spare key under the gnome." "You know where his spare key is?" "I notice things. It's a blessing and a curse." "It's mostly a curse." "Grab the scones."