Image description: The YeastEnders village of Walnutford, with baked-goods characters gathered in Almond Square outside The Queen Victoria Sponge.
“Proof that Bruno Brioche isn’t the person you should be worried about.”
Parker Pastry started up the cellar steps.
Ronnie Roly-Poly called after him.
“You’re doing that annoying thing again.”
Parker stopped.
“What annoying thing?”
“Saying something terrifying and then trying to leave.”
“I find it saves time.”
Peggy Cherry Bakewell pointed at the black symbol on the wall.
“You know what that means.”
“Yes.”
“Then start talking.”
Parker came back down.
“The Buttered Bunch existed long before Bruno took charge. Different names, different people, same idea. Deliveries, storage, businesses that asked no questions.”
Rye-vita pointed at the black circle.
“And that?”
“Someone above them.”
Sticky Nick shook his head.
“There was nobody above Bruno.”
“Not when you were involved.”
Nick folded his arms.
Roxy Rhubarb pointed towards the old BB markings.
“So Bruno’s been rebuilding the Bunch for somebody else?”
“That’s what I came to find out.”
Peggy folded her arms.
“And?”
Parker tapped his leather case.
“I found out.”
“Well?”
Before he could answer, a heavy thump came from upstairs.
Then another.
Phil the Pudding called down.
“Mum?”
“What?”
“There’s a brioche in the bar.”
Peggy marched upstairs.
Bruno Brioche was waiting beside the blue tin.
“You really should lock your doors.”
“You really should learn when you’re not welcome.”
Bruno ignored her.
“Where’s Parker?”
“Who’s asking?”
“I am.”
Parker appeared at the cellar door.
“You’ve got a problem, Bruno.”
“I’ve got several.”
“I’m one of them.”
Bruno laughed.
“You’ve always thought you were more important than you are.”
Parker placed his leather case on a table.
“Interesting. That’s exactly what they said about you.”
Bruno stopped laughing.
Ronnie whispered to Roxy.
“Oh, that’s hit something.”
Roxy whispered back.
“Definitely.”
Bruno pointed towards the door.
“Everybody out.”
Peggy laughed.
“You’re standing in my pub.”
Bruno tried again.
“Parker. Outside.”
“No.”
Bruno said nothing.
Rye-vita broke the silence.
“Who’s giving you orders?”
“Nobody.”
Parker opened his case.
“Then you won’t mind seeing this.”
He placed a single sheet of paper on the table.
At the top was the black circle with three horizontal lines.
Below it were instructions concerning Almond Square, the old mill and the Queen Victoria Sponge.
At the bottom were four words.
SECURE THE PROPERTY. WAIT.
Peggy read them.
“Secure my property?”
Bruno reached for the paper.
Peggy slapped his hand away.
“I don’t think so.”
Sticky Nick stepped forward.
“Who’s behind this, Bruno?”
“Leave it alone, Nick.”
“Who?”
Bruno turned on him.
“You think because you walked away once, you understand how this works?”
“I understand you.”
“No, you understand the Buttered Bunch.”
Bruno tapped the black symbol.
“You don’t understand them.”
Parker closed his case.
“So there is someone above you.”
Bruno headed for the door.
Roxy called after him.
“What do they want with the Queen Victoria Sponge?”
Bruno stopped.
“That’s the problem.”
Peggy held up the paper.
“What is?”
“I don’t think even they know yet.”
Bruno left.
Ronnie picked up the sheet.
“That’s comforting.”
“Very,” said Roxy.
Rye-vita spread the maps across the table again.
“The pub. The mill. The old storage room. They’re all connected.”
“And somebody wants them,” said Nick.
Peggy took the paper bearing the strange black symbol.
“Well, they can’t have them.”
Parker picked up his case.
“You might not get a choice.”
Peggy pointed at him.
“If you’re about to say something mysterious and leave again, don’t.”
Parker put the case back down.
“Fair enough.”
Dot Crumble adjusted her icing-sugar glasses.
“So what do we call whoever’s above Bruno?”
“The Buttered Bunch have a name for them,” said Parker.
Roxy tapped the table.
“And?”
Parker tapped the black symbol.
“The Extra Layer.”
Blindman Makes 