Page 135

I tap the page without touching the ink. “If this is the same green ledger that disappeared from Theo’s cabinet, then whoever searched the cemetery wasn’t grabbing random records. They took a book historically tied to route florals and the caretaker house.”

I look back at the J.V. notation. “Whether they know about Jessamine specifically is still a question.”

Honey leans over my shoulder. “Do we know where they took it?”

“No.” My stomach turns. “That’s the problem. They have the original now.”

Junie’s eyes widen. “That feels like it could be really bad.”

“It’s bad,” Scarlet says.

I force myself to look back at the receipt instead of panicking. “But it says there was a copy.”

Scarlet’s face has gone pale in the way that says something just clicked. “My grandmother used to write in her notebooks backwards when she wanted to hide things from casual readers. Family recipes and weather notes in the front. The dangerous stuff in the back.”

I write fast. Missing green cloth book equals stolen keeper ledger. Original likely with Saints. Possible second copy or copied notice sent to J.V. Check back pages of Jessamine notebook.

“Then we have two questions,” I say. “How do we get the stolen ledger back, and where is Jessamine’s copy?”

Scarlet’s mouth tightens. “Wes and Roman can work the first question.”

“And I can work the second.”

Honey points at me. “With snacks.”

“Obviously with snacks.”

Junie lifts her doughnut. “Where would old papers go? If an omega had a copy made for herself, where would she have kept it?”

That lands in the room with the soft, terrible weight of a real lead. I look at Scarlet. She looks back at me.

“Families,” we say at the same time.

Honey snaps her fingers. “Sweet Tooth girls’ table. Tomorrow morning. We call every aunt, cousin, retired church secretary, and woman with a garage full of boxes who has ever said, ‘I might have kept that.’”

Scarlet nods. “We can start with your mother, Pepper, and see what your family knows. Maybe someone has kept Vines records.”

“Yes!” I say, writing again. “We need the shortest path to Jessamine’s notebook, not thirty women emptying attics before lunch.”

Junie sighs. “An attic party would have been fun. Think of all the cool dresses and stuff people have.”

“This plan sounds less dusty,” Honey says.

My phone buzzes.

Theo.

Out front when you’re ready. No rush.

I smile before I can stop myself.

Scarlet raises a brow. “Do I want to know?”

“I like having someone waiting for me.” I take photos of the receipt, the back notation, and the damaged page beneath it.

Scarlet gives me a rare full smile. “Yeah. It’s the best. I’m happy for you, Pepper.”

Honey puts two scones in a bag and presses them into my hand. “You’ll need both. Come back tomorrow morning. Girls’ table. We’ll make a list.”