CHAPTER SIXTY ONE – A FALSE FINISH

The mystery of the missing items continued to cast a shadow over the café, despite Rebecca and Zaya's discovery of the rat infestation. While the exterminator had dealt with the initial problem, food continued to disappear at an alarming rate. Rebecca couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than just rodents. One particularly tense morning, Rebecca arrived early to start her shift. As she entered the staff room, she overheard a heated conversation between Sofia and Chiara. "I know it was you," Sofia hissed, her eyes flashing with anger. "I saw you near my locker yesterday, and now my lunch is gone. Again!" Chiara's face flushed red. "How dare you accuse me! I was just getting my apron. Maybe if you didn't leave your food lying around, it wouldn't disappear!" Rebecca cleared her throat, causing both women to jump. "Is everything okay?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral. Sofia turned to Rebecca, her expression a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "Re