A shrill ringing startled Detective Tinsel out of a sound sleep laced with visions of dancing sugar plums. He rolled in the direction of his night stand and hit the snooze on his alarm. When the ringing continued, Tinsel rubbed sleep sparkles from his eyes and looked at the clock. It was five o’clock in the morning. Too early for his alarm to go off. Another ring and Tinsel realized it was his phone.
He answered the phone with a groggy, “Hello?”
“Detective, I’m in danger! Please come quickly,” a panicked voice whispered into the phone.
“Who is this?” asked Tinsel.
"Dash, from the Gingerbread Bakery.”
“And you think you’re in danger?”
“Yes, I came in early before my employees to make the secret recipe for my famous gingerbread batter. Tonight is the annual gingerbread house display. I think someone has been following me.”
“Do you think someone is trying to steal the secret recipe?” asked Tinsel.
“I have managed to keep this family recipe secret and locked away from everyone. Some elves would certainly kill for it. It’s locked in the safe box, and I only bring the key to the bakery once a year to unlock it.”
“All right, Dash. I’ll leave right away,” said Tinsel already pulling his pants on with his free hand.
“Thank you, please hurry. I’m sure I’ve seen a shadow move across the snow through the window. Detective, if anything should happen to me, I’m hiding the key in my flour.”
***
Detective Tinsel arrived at the Gingerbread Bakery. Inspector Garland pulled up right behind him.
“I’m glad you called me, Tinsel. Maybe I should check the perimeter while you go meet Dash,” said Garland.
Just as Tinsel was about to ring the doorbell, a frazzled elf flew through the door and froze at the sight of the detective.
“Oh, Detective, thank goodness! It’s Dash…he’s been murdered!” said the elf. Tinsel followed the frantic elf back inside. “I just got here to open the bakery. When I came in, I saw Dash lying there dead.”
Inspector Garland came in behind them with a tablet and pen. “And what is your name?”
“Douglas. I’m Dash’s cousin. I’ve been working here for three years. I came in early today because we have the annual gingerbread house display to work on. Dash must have come in early to make the secret dough recipe.” He motioned to the counter where canisters labeled sugar and flour were open. Spices, molasses, and other ingredients sat near a large mixing bowl.
Dash lay in front of the counter, face down in a pool of blood. A rolling pin was on the floor beside him.
“It looks like the rolling pin was used to hit him over the head,” said Inspector Garland.
“This is awful, Detective. Dash was the only one with the key to the secret recipe lock box.”
“You were family. Weren’t you allowed to know the recipe?”
“No, Dash wouldn’t share it with anyone. Now he’s gone. If I had the key, I could keep the family tradition going and make the display.”
Tinsel picked up a measuring cup and started digging through the canister of flour. Inspector Garland and Douglas watch with confused expressions. “Hmm,” said Tinsel. “Dash called me this morning. He said he had hidden the key in his flour.”
Douglas’s eyes lit up. He rushed to Dash’s body and rolled him over. A large red carnation was pinned to the lapel of Dash’s jacket. Douglas poked the flower until he found a small key tucked into the petals. “You’ve saved the day, Tinsel! I’ll get the recipe and get to work! At least we can keep the tradition alive for Dash.”
“Well, I hope someone does, but it won’t be you,” said Tinsel. “Inspector Garland, arrest this elf for the murder of Dash.”
How did Detective Tinsel know Douglas was the murderer?
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Answer
Dash said the key was in the flour. Most, like Tinsel, would first assume a baker meant the baking flour, but Douglas went straight for the flower pinned to his shirt. Unless he had seen Dash before he died, he wouldn’t have known he was wearing a flower because he was lying face down on the floor.
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