Run: 2026-09-23-01M36W8DVC612K9GY08ZM23JKC

The bell above the door jingled as a woman stepped inside, the warm scent of cinnamon rolls wrapping around her like a shawl. She approached the counter where a plump woman in a flour-dusted apron was arranging apple turnovers. "Two of those turnovers and one chocolate croissant, please. And maybe some answers while you're at it." "Oh, honey, you've come to the right place. The turnovers have the truth baked right in. The croissants, however, are full of lies." "You knew Margaret, didn't you? She used to come here every Thursday morning." "Every Thursday. Ordered the same thing — lemon poppy seed muffin and a black coffee. Sweet as pie, that one. But last Thursday she asked me something strange. She said, 'Bev, what would you do if you found out your best friend was stealing?' Just like that, right between the scones and the sourdough." "And did you tell her what you'd do?" "I told her the truth. I said I'd bake her a special pie and let God sort out the rest." The apron strings were untied and draped over the counter's edge. "Funny thing is, she never got to bake that pie." "Someone else got to her first." "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."