As paramedics attended to the stricken contestant, Sammy, Lily, and Max discreetly slipped away from the crowd, their minds racing with questions. They found a quieter corner of the town square to regroup and discuss their next steps.

“Any ideas on what just happened?” Max asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Lily pondered for a moment before replying, “It looked like some sort of sudden illness, maybe a food allergy or something more sinister. But why now, in the middle of the contest?”

Sammy glanced back towards the stage where the contest had come to an abrupt halt. “Do you think it could be related to our case? The missing Cherry Delight?”

“It’s possible,” Lily mused, “but we need more information. Let’s talk to the other contestants. Maybe they noticed something unusual.”

They approached the other contestants who were still milling around, some chatting animatedly about the unexpected turn of events, while others looked disappointed about the contest’s premature end.The trio started with the pepperoni-hat-wearing contestant who had been leading the competition. They introduced themselves politely and asked if they had noticed anything unusual before the incident.

The contestant, still recovering but looking slightly better, shook their head. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was just focused on winning. It felt like a sudden stomach cramp, and then I couldn’t continue.”

Sammy nodded thoughtfully. “Did you eat anything different today? Or maybe notice anyone acting suspiciously around the contest area?”

The contestant frowned, thinking hard. “Actually, now that you mention it, there was someone hanging around earlier. They were wearing a trench coat and sunglasses, which seemed odd for a day like today. But I didn’t think much of it at the time.”

Lily exchanged a glance with Max. “That does sound suspicious. Did you see where they went?”

The contestant shook their head again. “Sorry, I was focused on my pizza. But they were lingering near the stage before the contest started.”

Sammy thanked the contestant for their help and turned back to his friends. “A mysterious figure in a trench coat and sunglasses. Definitely sounds like someone we should track down.”

As they discussed their next move, a sudden commotion from the crowd drew their attention back to the stage. The emcee was making an announcement, his voice grave with concern.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I regret to inform you that the prized Cherry Delight dessert, which was meant to be the highlight of today’s festivities, has gone missing from the judging table!”

Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd as people exchanged bewildered looks. Sammy, Lily, and Max exchanged a knowing glance—this was no coincidence.

To be continued…