Run: 2026-10-07-01M4ATP0K29HJAQDJ3VDX3PN79

The morning light filtered through lace curtains as the bell above the door chimed. Margie stepped inside, cinnamon dusting her cardigan. Behind the counter, Mrs. Peabody arranged a tray of scones, her spectacles perched on her nose. "Did you hear about the library?" "Hear what, exactly?" "Someone slipped a ransom note inside a cookbook. Page one-thirty-seven, tucked between the raspberry tarts and the scones." "Ransom? In a culinary mystery?" "That's what the note says. 'I have your secret ingredient. Meet me at dawn, or the recipe dies.'" "Who would threaten a baker over a scone recipe?" "That's what I'm trying to figure out. The handwriting looks like Mrs. Henderson's, but the paper smells like lavender and old books. Very distinctive." "You think it's a prank?" "I think someone's hiding something sweet. Literally. The librarian found crumbs inside the book—shortbread, I think, with a hint of almond." "Should we call Sheriff Joe?" "Not yet. Let's investigate ourselves. We're good at mysteries, aren't we? We solved the case of the missing pie last summer." "We're excellent at gossip." "Same thing, really. Now, pass me that cinnamon, would you? We'll need it for the stakeout."