Run: 2026-09-23-01M37HF122KXM3XN241ECQ9B70

The bell above the bakery door gave its usual cheerful jangle, though at half past six the street outside was still dark. Nora set a tray of cinnamon rolls on the counter and found Elsie peering into the display case. “Don’t tell me you’re buying breakfast. You never arrive before the rolls are iced.” “I’m looking for Mrs. Bell’s locket.” “In the pastry case?” “She lost it here yesterday. And someone left this under her usual table.” Elsie held up a blue button. Nora knew it at once: Mr. Pike’s coat had been missing one when he collected his sourdough. “He was here after Mrs. Bell.” “He says he wasn’t. Says he spent the afternoon fixing the town hall clock.” Nora glanced toward the window. Across the square, the clock’s hands stood at three. “That clock’s been broken since Tuesday.” “I know.” The oven timer chimed. Nora pulled out the lemon buns, their tops golden and fragrant, then noticed a glint beside the cooling rack. “Elsie. Come look.” A little gold locket rested in a drift of flour. Beside it lay a folded receipt, marked with Mr. Pike’s neat handwriting: *For Mrs. Bell. Please don’t tell her I remembered.* Elsie’s smile softened. “Then why lie about being here?” Nora looked again at the stuck clock. “Perhaps he didn’t want anyone asking why he’d promised to fix that, too.”