Run: 2026-10-13-01M4TAYXZCNXY4JRKHXNKJFX06

The bell over Butter & Crumb jingled at seven sharp, though the sign still read Closed. Flour hung in the morning air, sweet with cinnamon, vanilla, and something faintly burnt. “You're late, and you smell like a crime scene.” “I do not. That's lavender soap and poor life choices.” “Lavender doesn't usually come with police tape. In the pantry again?” “Not the pantry. By the ovens. Very dead, I'm afraid. And holding your rolling pin.” “My good rolling pin? The one with the loose handle?” “The very one. Your initials are carved right into it, clear as day.” “I carve them into everything. Once, even a pumpkin pie.” “That pie won the county fair. This is hardly the same. Please tell me nothing else was touched.” “Only the blueberry muffins. Stress eating isn't tampering.” “It is if the muffins were evidence.” “Then we have a problem, because I ate two. And the third is in my purse for later.” “We need to call someone.” “We need to frost something first. If word spreads before the church social, half of Maple Hollow will cancel their orders.” “And the other half will order extra, just for the gossip.” “Exactly. Now hand me the powdered sugar. If we're going down, we're going down beautifully.”