Run: 2026-07-25-01KYD7RXQDA6BC3B7J4YS7MQX3

The bell above the door jingled as flour dust swirled in the morning light. Maple & Crumb Bakery smelled of cinnamon and secrets. "You're kneading that dough to death. What's bothering you?" "Nothing's bothering me." "Liar. You've been staring at the order book for ten minutes." "Fine. Did you see who picked up the lavender cake yesterday? Mrs. Pemberton's birthday order?" "Tall fellow. Wore gloves. In June. I thought that was odd." "Odd? It was peculiar. And the cake—she never came for it. Her party was last night. I drove by her house this morning and the lights were off, curtains drawn." "Maybe she went to visit her sister." "She hates her sister. You know that. Everyone in Willow Creek knows that." "So what are you saying?" "I'm saying somebody ordered a cake in her name, paid cash, and now Margaret Pemberton isn't answering her door." "Maybe she just slept in." "Margaret hasn't slept past six in forty years. She waters her petunias at dawn like clockwork." The oven timer dinged. Neither of them moved. "We should call someone." "We should check on her ourselves. Bring muffins. If she's fine, we're just being neighborly." "And if she's not?" "Then we were right to worry."