The Case of the Missing Martian MacGuffin

Previously

…As they ate, Mia found herself watching Marcus, his face alight with the simple joy of a good sundae and a successful case. He was clumsy, prone to outlandish theories, and sometimes exasperating, but he was also brave, loyal, and possessed an uncanny knack for stumbling into solutions. And in that moment, surrounded by the comforting glow of the diner and the sweet, chaotic explosion of popping candy, Mia knew she wouldn't trade her quirky partner for anything in the galaxy. Even if he did have a penchant for causing minor temporal anomalies. The universe, after all, was far too interesting to be entirely predictable.