Sleepover Sleuths (7 page)

“Hi,” Deirdre said. “I'm going to tea soon—” Madison pulled the doll out from behind her back. Deirdre took one look at it and her mouth dropped open.

“You found her!” Deirdre cried. She grabbed Hollywood Heather from Madison and held her tight. “Where was she?”

“I … I … I,” Madison started to say.

“It's okay, Madison,” Nancy whispered.

Madison took a deep breath. “Hollywood Heather fell into my bag,” she blurted. “I didn't tell you because I thought you'd think I took her on purpose.”

Deirdre stared at Madison. But then she smiled. “So
that's
why you've been too busy for me,” Deirdre said. “Thanks for telling me the truth, Madison.”

“So … you're not mad?” Madison asked.

“I'm just happy you're still my friend,” Deirdre said. “Ever since Hollywood Heather went missing, you've been running away from me. I thought I did something wrong!”

“Sorry,” Madison said. “But if it weren't for Nancy, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to say anything.”

“I knew Nancy would find Hollywood Heather,” Deirdre said.

“You mean Nancy, Bess, and George!” Nancy said.

Deirdre hugged Hollywood Heather. “Now I can take Hollywood Heather to tea with me,” she said. “Just like my dad said I should.”

Then she looked up and said, “Why don't you
all
come to tea? There'll be sandwiches and little cakes and minty tea—”

“I love little cakes!” George said.

“And big cakes!” Bess said, licking her lips.

It sounded good to Nancy, too. But she wanted Deirdre and Madison to fix up their friendship together.

“Thanks, Deirdre,” Nancy said. “But we have to go home.”

“I know!” Madison said. She turned to Deirdre and smiled. “Let's ask Trina to come with us. She's our second-best friend.”

“Okay!” Deirdre said. “And guess what?”

“What?” everyone asked at the same time.

“There
is
a City Girls doll called Indianapolis Ivy,” Deirdre said. “So I was wrong and Trina was right!”

Deirdre and Madison walked Nancy, Bess, and George to the door. As the three friends left the house, Madison called after them, “You guys should solve more mysteries. You're great at it!”

Walking down Acorn Street, Nancy thought about what Madison said. Maybe she was right….

“You guys,” Nancy said. “Maybe we
should
solve more mysteries!”

Bess and George stopped walking.

“You mean like a team?” George asked.

“Like a
club
!” Nancy said excitedly. “We can meet in my room to talk about our cases. And we can put all of our clues in my desk drawer just like we did for this case!”

“And I can write everything on your computer!” George said, her dark eyes flashing. “That was awesome!”

Bess gave a little excited hop. “And I can fix whatever breaks,” she said. “And build some neat spy gadgets, too.”

Nancy smiled. Their new detective club was
sounding better and better. But one thing was missing. Something very important …

“We need a name,” Nancy said. “How about … the Mystery Girls?”

“Too old-fashioned,” George admitted. “How about … Case Crackers?”

“We'd sound like a crunchy snack!” Nancy giggled.

“Let's see,” Bess said. She twirled a lock of her hair as she thought. “What about … the Clue Gang?”

“Hmm,” Nancy said. “Something that rhymes might be nice.”

“Like what?” George asked.

“Like the Clue … the Clue …” Nancy started to say. Her eyes lit up. “The Clue Crew!”

The girls high-fived.

“Our own detective club!” Bess cried. “How cool is that?”

“Supercool!” Nancy agreed. “But do you want to know the best part?”

“We're going to be solving all kinds of cool cases?” George asked.

“No,” Nancy said.

“What?” Bess asked.

“We're going to be solving all kinds of cool cases …
together
!” Nancy said with a smile.

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew could hardly wait!

Head-To-Toe PJ Fashion Show!

Go glam at your next sleepover with a pajama fashion show! But before you strut down the runway in your favorite pj's, top off the look—and the fun—with hats made by you and your friends!

Get started with these cool chapeaus …

1. Hearts and Flowers Crown:

You will need:

1 paper plate

Construction paper

Paint, markers, or crayons

Scissors

Glue

Cut a slit down the middle of the paper plate. Leave about an inch around the edges of the plate. Cut three more slits the same size. These slits should cross the first one. Bend the points out to look like a crown. Using glue—and your imagination—attach paper hearts and flowers to points and sprinkle with glitter all around. You glow, girl!

2. Paper Bag Hat

You will need:

1 large paper grocery bag

Scissors

Stapler

Markers or crayons

Glue

Feathers, ribbon, buttons, glitter, etc.

Draw a hat shape on the grocery bag. Cut out two of the shapes. Staple two pieces together. Using glue, go wild with feathers, ribbons, glitter—whatever you want to decorate! From supermarket to supermodel—your grocery bag hat will rule the runway!

Now you're ready to wear it … and work it!

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Text copyright © 2006 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Macky Pamintuan

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

ALADDIN PAPERBACKS, NANCY DREW AND THE CLUE CREW, and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

NANCY DREW is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Designed by Lisa Vega

The text of this book was set in ITC Stone Informal.

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Aladdin Paperbacks edition June 2006

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Control Number 2005931092

ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-1255-2
ISBN-10: 1-4169-1255-X
eISBN: 978-1-439-10335-7