Image description: The YeastEnders village of Walnutford, with baked-goods characters gathered in Almond Square outside The Queen Victoria Sponge.
Bruno Brioche stood in the middle of Almond Square.
Behind him, three members of the Buttered Bunch waited beside the first van.
The second van was empty.
Sticky Nick still held the message.
THE LEDGER IS SAFE. YOU’RE NOT.
Bruno snatched it from him.
“Give me that.”
Nick let him take it.
“Bit late to pretend everything’s under control.”
“It is under control.”
Peggy Cherry Bakewell looked around Almond Square.
“Doesn’t look it.”
Bruno turned towards his men.
“Get in the van.”
Nobody moved.
“I said get in the van.”
One of them shook his head.
“We weren’t told to.”
Bruno stared at him.
“I’m telling you.”
“Not by you.”
Silence spread across the square.
Phil the Pudding leaned towards Grant.
“I think he’s been demoted.”
“I think he’s just found out.”
Bruno marched towards the van.
“You work for me.”
“Not anymore.”
The three Buttered Bunch members climbed into the van.
Bruno reached for the passenger door.
It locked.
The engine started.
Then the van drove out of Almond Square without him.
Peggy watched it disappear.
“Well, that’s awkward.”
Bruno spun around.
“This changes nothing.”
Rye-vita stepped forward.
“It changes quite a lot.”
She held up her notebook.
“False businesses. Threats. Storage sites. The old mill. Marzipan Lane. Unit Three. I’ve got enough here to keep several people very interested.”
Parker Pastry cleared his throat.
“And I have the paperwork.”
Bruno laughed.
“You think paperwork frightens me?”
“No,” said Parker. “But the people whose names are on it might.”
That wiped the smile from Bruno’s face.
Sticky Nick stepped closer.
“The Bunch is finished, Bruno.”
“You don’t decide that.”
“No. Whoever sent that message already did.”
Bruno looked towards Ye Olde Crumb and Butter.
The café door was closed.
Chantelle Chia Bun had not come back out.
Ryean Crust noticed.
“Where’s Chantelle?”
Peggy pointed at Bruno.
“One problem at a time.”
Bruno backed away.
“You haven’t won anything.”
Peggy picked up her rolling pin.
“You’ve lost your vans, your Bunch and whoever was giving you orders.”
“And the ledger,” added Phil.
Bruno glared at him.
“Just helping,” said Phil.
Bruno turned and walked away across Almond Square.
Nobody stopped him.
At the corner he looked back.
“This isn’t finished.”
Peggy called after him.
“It is for today.”
Bruno disappeared from sight.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Grant pointed towards the Walnutford Village Notice Board.
“So, are we still having Elvis Parsley?”
Peggy stared at him.
“Of course we’re still having Elvis Parsley.”
“Good.”
“I’m not losing the deposit as well.”
The square erupted into laughter.
Later that evening, the Queen Victoria Sponge was packed.
Roxy Rhubarb stood beside Ronnie Roly-Poly at the bar.
Sticky Nick sat with Dot Crumble and Dotty Crumble.
Fatbread had returned to eating.
Sharon Scone considered this an excellent sign.
Parker Pastry was gathering his papers when Rye-vita stopped him.
“The ledger.”
“What about it?”
“You said it contains everything.”
“If it still exists.”
“We know it exists.”
Parker glanced towards the cellar.
“And somebody knew exactly where to find it.”
At the other end of the bar, Peggy was attempting to explain to Phil why defeating a criminal organisation did not entitle him to free crisps for life.
Nobody noticed the door open.
Chantelle came in.
Ryean looked relieved.
“Where have you been?”
“Sorting out the café.”
“You disappeared.”
“We had a busy afternoon.”
Chantelle joined him at the bar.
Peggy handed her a glass.
“On the house.”
Chantelle smiled.
“Thanks.”
Outside, the Walnutford Village Notice Board moved gently in the evening breeze.
COMING SOON TO THE QUEEN VICTORIA SPONGE:
ELVIS PARSLEY
PERFORMING HIS NEW HIT
RETURN THE LEDGER
Beneath the village, Unit Three was empty.
The tunnels were quiet.
And somewhere beyond Walnutford, an old brown ledger lay on a table.
A gloved hand opened the cover.
Inside were names that had been hidden for decades.
The hand turned one page.
Then another.
And stopped.
Across the top of the page were three words.
QUEEN VICTORIA SPONGE.
The Buttered Bunch was finished.
But Walnutford’s secrets were only beginning.
Blindman Makes 
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