Run: 2026-11-11-01M753MGSRCFAD9DXK0RQ3008E

The light in Maple Hollow Bakery was butter-yellow at seven, and the air smelled of cinnamon, yeast, and rain coming over the hills. Behind the glass case, a tray of cardamom rolls glistened, and the bell over the door had not yet rung for the first customer. "You're early." "Could not sleep." "Because of the note?" "Because of the flour on your sleeve. You have been here since four." "I wanted to be here when no one else was." "Did you find anything?" "Under the counter, where Mrs. Ellis keeps the receipts. It was not there yesterday." "What was not?" "The missing butter order. But the new one... it lists vanilla extract we never bought." "And initials. Those initials." "J. P. again. Same as the library card." "Which points to Pastor James, but he does not bake." "He does not lie about sugar either. Someone wanted us to think he did." "The storm cleared the alley cameras." "Not the bakery window. Look. Reflection." "There. A bicycle. With a basket." "Whose?" "Ask me after I taste that roll. If I am wrong, the mystery is solved anyway." "Then we will know who is sweet on stealing, and who is simply sweet."