Chapter 21 A Little Favor
Mia Rossi had learned a lot since the morning Harrison Finch was found dead at The Honeycomb Bakery.
She had learned that secrets could hide behind the kindest smiles.
That the past could refuse to stay buried.
That friendship could be tested by fear—and made stronger by forgiveness.
And she had learned that sometimes, the smallest pair of golden eyes could notice what everyone else missed.
Gingersnap had certainly earned his salmon.
Mia smiled as she watched him sleeping peacefully in his favorite window.
The bakery was quiet.
The ovens were off.
The last customer had gone home.
Outside, Crystal Cove shimmered beneath the evening sky.
For a moment, Mia simply stood there.
She thought about the first day.
The lavender.
The honey.
The laughter.
Then the scream.
She remembered the fear that followed.
The questions.
The suspects.
The secrets.
The threat on her doorstep.
The moment she thought she had lost Chloe's friendship.
And finally, the truth.
It had been quite a journey.
Mia walked over to the window and gently scratched Gingersnap behind the ears.
He opened one eye.
"Don't worry," she whispered.
"The worst is over."
Gingersnap closed his eye again.
Mia laughed softly.
Maybe he believed her.
Maybe he didn't.
She looked around the bakery.
This little place had survived.
And so had she.
But there was one thing Mia wanted to know.
She wondered about the person who had been following her story from the very beginning.
The person who had walked through every mystery with her.
The person who had watched Harrison's murder unfold, followed the clues, suspected the wrong people, discovered the truth, and stayed until the very end.
You.
Mia smiled.
"If you've made it this far..."
She paused.
"...thank you."
Thank you for stepping into Crystal Cove.
Thank you for visiting The Honeycomb Bakery.
Thank you for meeting Chloe.
Thank you for giving Julian, Greg, Beatrice, and everyone else a chance—even when you weren't sure who to trust.
And thank you for following Mia and Gingersnap through every twist, every secret, and every suspicious crumb along the way.
Mia looked toward the sunset.
"There's something I'd like to ask."
She smiled.
"Just a little favor."
If Death at the Dessert Counter gave you a few hours of escape...
If you enjoyed trying to solve Harrison Finch's murder...
If Gingersnap made you smile...
If you found yourself rooting for Mia...
Or if you simply enjoyed spending time in the warm, cozy world of Crystal Cove...
Would you take a moment to leave the book a rating?
It doesn't have to be long.
Even a few stars would mean more than you might realize.
For an author, a rating isn't just a number.
It's a little sign that says:
I was here.
I read your story.
I enjoyed the journey.
And that small gesture can help another reader discover Mia, Gingersnap, and The Honeycomb Bakery.
Maybe somewhere out there is another reader who needs a cozy mystery tonight.
Someone who wants a warm bakery, a clever cat, a handful of suspects, and a murder mystery to solve from the comfort of home.
Your rating might be what helps them find this story.
Mia smiled.
"So, if you enjoyed our little adventure..."
She glanced at Gingersnap.
"...would you leave us a rating?"
Gingersnap opened one eye.
Then gave a quiet meow.
Mia laughed.
"Even he agrees."
She gently stroked his head.
"Thank you for reading."
The bakery lights glowed warmly behind her.
The ocean reflected the final colors of the sunset.
And somewhere inside Crystal Cove, another mystery was waiting to be discovered.
But for tonight, Mia was content.
The case was closed.
The bakery was safe.
Gingersnap was happy.
And one last little favor remained.
If Death at the Dessert Counter made you smile, surprised you, or kept you guessing until the very end, please leave a rating and help this story find its next reader.
Mia would be grateful.
Gingersnap would probably expect another piece of salmon.
And The Honeycomb Bakery would always have a warm light waiting for you.
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Copyright ? 2026
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, places, and incidents are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.