The Case of the Missing Martian MacGuffin

Previously

…The case was closed, the artifact was safe, and her partner, bless his optimistic heart, was happily devouring a dessert that threatened to topple over. It wasn't a quiet victory, and it certainly wasn't neat, but it was theirs. And as she took another spoonful of vanilla, Mia realized that sometimes, the most satisfying part of solving a mystery wasn't the meticulous planning or the sharp deduction, but the messy, joyful aftermath, shared with the one person who made even the most outlandish adventures feel like home. The Cosmic Chronometer was safe, and for now, so was Earth. And that, she decided, was more than enough to celebrate.