Run: 2026-11-11-01M75PVRABCVZC45F8QA162YFW

The brass bell above the bakery door jingled, letting a draft of crisp autumn air mingle with the warm scent of cinnamon and dark roast. Outside, Maple Street was waking up, mostly unaware of the yellow crime tape fluttering three blocks over. "A blueberry scone, please, and tell me everything." "Keep your voice down. Sheriff Miller just left." "Did he buy a bear claw?" "Two. That only happens when there’s foul play. He asked if Arthur Pendelton came in yesterday morning." "Right before Arthur was found face-down in his prize-winning petunias?" "Precisely. Do you want butter, or just the gossip?" "Both, obviously. Was Arthur here?" "Seven sharp, like clockwork. Except instead of his usual sourdough, he bought two chocolate éclairs." "Arthur was allergic to chocolate." "Exactly. Which means he was entertaining a guest with a sweet tooth." "A secret breakfast date? Scandalous." "Deadly, more like. Whoever ate those éclairs at seven-thirty likely poisoned his Earl Grey by eight. That’ll be four-fifty." "Keep the change. Consider it a contribution to your bail fund when the Sheriff catches you withholding evidence." "I’m not withholding. I’m just letting the facts proof before I bake a theory." A white paper bag crinkled as it slid across the flour-dusted counter, sealing the pact.