Run: 2026-09-03-01M1K4WAZC9ZE2J89FQC71RRTG

The bell over Maple Street Bakery gave its sleepy morning jingle, and the smell of butter and cinnamon folded around the display case. Morning light dusted the flour in the air, and a tray of apple turnovers steamed by the register. "You're early. The sourdough isn't even cool enough to slice." "I couldn't sleep. Mrs. Gable thinks someone rigged the pie contest again, and I need sugar to think about it." "Oh, not this again. Last year it was the missing blueberries. Take a cinnamon roll, on the house." "You always say that, and then you charge me anyway." "Only because you always tip in gossip. So, who stole the blue ribbon?" "No one stole it. Her crust was soggy on the bottom. I saw it when she set it down by the window." "You looked at her crust?" "I look at everyone's crust. It's a curse." "Well, put that curse to good use. The Harvest Festival committee meets here at ten, and they'll want answers with their coffee." "Then I'd better have another roll. For research." "That's the spirit. Just wipe the crumbs off the suspect list." Outside, Main Street woke up slow, and the coffee pot gurgled like it knew everything.