Page 46 of Pumpkin Patch Peril

“Not even close,” Ruth laughed. “Though I have to admit, this one had me scratching my head for a while.”

As they walked toward the exit of the tent, arm in arm, Mona looked back once at Brenda, who was being comforted by several other townspeople. Even Gertrude was still there, offering kind words.

“You know,” Mona said thoughtfully, “I almost feel sorry for her.”

“She did try to deceive us,” Helen pointed out.

“True, but think about the pressure she must have felt. Three years of winning, and then facing the possibility of losing...” Mona shook her head. “Competition can make people do strange things.”

“Well, at least now she can start fresh next year,” Ida said. “Maybe she’ll actually grow a real giant pumpkin.”

“Or maybe she’ll discover she’s good at something else entirely,” Ruth suggested. “Sometimes losing teaches us more than winning ever could.”

Another case closed. Another mystery solved. And the undefeated streak of Mona’s little detective club remained unbroken.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The familiar warmth of Cup and Cake wrapped around them as they stepped inside, still buzzing from the festival. The café was nearly empty, the air sweet with coffee and sugar.

“Corner table,” Ruth declared, steering them to their usual spot. “Detectives need proper headquarters.”

Lexy came over with the coffeepot, smirking. “Well, you ladies look mighty pleased with yourselves. What’s going on—did you finally solve that pumpkin case?”

“We did,” Ida said proudly, dropping her enormous purse on the table with a thud.

Lexy poured coffee, eyes dancing. “Don’t keep me in suspense. Spill.”

“Brenda never had a giant pumpkin,” Ruth said, reaching straight for a scone. “The whole theft was a story she made up because she couldn’t stand to lose to Gertrude.”

Lexy let out a low whistle. “No kidding. So she hired you to investigate a pumpkin that never existed?”

“That’s about the size of it,” Mona said, stirring cream into her coffee.

“Pride does strange things,” Helen added gently.

Before Lexy could respond, the café door chimed. Jack walked in. He grinned when he saw them. “There’s my troublemakers. I hear you caused quite the scene at the festival.”

“We solved the case,” Ida announced, sitting straighter.

Jack looked puzzled. “Case? What case?”

“The missing pumpkin,” Ruth said casually, as if that explained everything.

Jack blinked. “Pumpkin?”

“Exactly!” Ida said, jabbing her finger in the air. “That’s why Brenda never called in a police report—because there was no real crime to report.”

Jack chuckled, pulling up a chair. “Well then, who needs the police when we’ve got the Brook Ridge Falls Ladies Detective Agency solving all our crimes?”

The four women beamed at each other.

“To the Ladies Detective Agency!” Ruth declared, raising her cup.

“To good friends,” Mona added warmly.

“To snacks and science!” Ida said, patting her purse full of “evidence.”

“To never letting a mystery go unsolved,” Helen finished.

Their cups clinked together, the sound ringing cheerfully through the cozy café. Jack just shook his head with fond exasperation.

“You’re all going to give me gray hair,” he muttered.

“Too late,” Ida said sweetly. “You already have some.”

Their laughter rose again, filling the café. Outside, Main Street glowed in the golden light of late afternoon. Inside, with coffee, pastries, and a mystery wrapped up, the Ladies Detective Agency was already half-joking about the next case.

And in Brook Ridge Falls, there was always a next case.