The Mayor's Missing Muffins

Amelia sighed, pushing her spectacles further up the bridge of her nose. The morning sun streamed through the window of her cozy bakery, illuminating the rows of freshly baked bread, glistening croissants, and towering cakes. But Amelia wasn't interested in any of them today. Her gaze was fixed on a single empty tray where a batch of her famous blueberry muffins should have been.

It wasn’t just any missing muffins; these were destined for the annual Founders' Day Picnic, an event she'd catered for years. The picnic was a cherished tradition in their small town of Oakhaven, a chance for residents to celebrate their history and enjoy each other's company. And Amelia's blueberry muffins were practically a requirement for any successful picnic.

“Gone? But they were right here last night,” she muttered to herself, checking the oven again as if expecting them to have magically reappeared. There was no sign of forced entry, no crumbs leading out the door, just an empty tray and a growing sense of panic in Amelia's chest.

She quickly contacted Mayor Thompson, her longtime friend and a devout fan of her blueberry muffins. He arrived shortly after, his brow furrowed with concern.