Marla's Sweet Treats

-MLD

I counted the tiles in the third row of the floor. At the eleventh, I lifted the tile, revealing a turquoise box, in which the Thompsons, the family who owned the bakery, hid their recipe book. Carefully, I took it out and opened the lid, which had a golden whisk painted on it. I noticed immediately that something was different. The box somehow felt different in my hand- lighter. And I was right; I opened it just to find it empty. Empty.

I started looking around frantically. Had I left it on the kitchen counter, or perhaps in a cupboard? I checked and simply could not find it. I even looked it in the fridge and under the tables.- no luck. I started to panic and checked the box once again. Just as I opened it, a folded piece of paper fell to the floor. I grabbed it and unfolded it. A note, written in black ink stood out against the white paper:

The recipe book is mine!

If you want it back come to the national baking contest in Paris

And Challenge me! Win first place, or you will never see it again.

-MLD

In disbelief, I read it over and over again. Who was "MLD", and why would he steal the recipe book? There was no way the Thompsons could fly to Paris during this busy time. I quickly ran out of the kitchen and towards Marla Thompson, who was handing a customer a piece of wake-me-up strawberry pie. Her short, caramel hair was messy but she still looked pretty. As I reached the counter, she looked at me in relief, and said "Mornin' Lou." Then she added in a more quiet voice, "could you take over for just a second, I need to go get some more milk for the coffee. 

Thanks!" She turned around and headed to the kitchen. "Marla!" I shouted and ran after her. "I need to talk to you". She looked at me, slightly perplexed at my loud voice.

"Can't you see that I'm busy?" She responded. "Mr. Atkinson has been waiting in line for way too long."

"The recipe book is gone" I shouted.

She looked at me, first confused then appalled, as if she just had an epiphany. "What did you just say?"

"The recipe book is gone and I found a note in the box. It says tha-"

Before I could finish my sentence, she was running towards the kitchen, and I heard her mumble something that sounded like "Magnus". Quickly, she picked up the tile, took out the box and opened the lid with such force that it almost broke.

"Oh no, no, no! Lou, did you say there was a note?"

I took the note from my back pocket and she ripped it out of my hand. Her eyes had a look of distress in them as they were skipping from line to line.

"MLD- Oh, no, this is bad. Magnus" she mumbled.

I looked at her a little and asked her: "Who is Magnus?"