I help you?â
The person stopped and stepped out of the shadows. It was Heather!
âOh, itâs you two,â she said.
âWhat are you doing here?â AJ asked.
Heather let out an exasperated sigh. âYou know, we all had a life before Aly and AJ came to town. I know everyone here, remember? I came to see how they did in the competition.â
Aly shook her head. âI didnât think you were tight with any of them,â she said.
âWe are a small community of poets and songwriters. I was curious to see who made it to the next round,â Heather said. âAnd you know what? I still think Iâm better than all of them. You had the chance to sing one of my songs. Too bad you blew it. Later.â She turned and stalked off the stage and toward the theater doors.
âForget songwriting. She should really enter a Miss Congeniality contest,â Aly said sarcastically. âI hope this is the last time we run into her!â
AJ looked thoughtful. âDid you believe thatâs why she was here? I think she might be trying to cause trouble.â
âShe definitely seems to have it in for this competitionâand you and me!â Aly said.
Just then, a loud cry filled the air.
âWhat was that?â Aly asked. They pushed open the door and walked backstage.
Claire was standing over her open guitar case. In her hand was a purple notebook!
âMy notebook!â she said. âSomeone put it back in my guitar case!â
Aly and AJ hurried over.
âAre you sure itâs yours?â AJ asked.
Claire opened the book and flipped through the pages. She looked up and smiled at the sisters.
âIt is!â she said. âAll the pages are here, too.â
Austin patted Claire on the back. âIâm glad it turned up,â he said.
Everyone began to talk as Amber and Josh came over to see what was going on.
âMaybe you just misplaced it,â Josh suggested. âLike, it was stuck in the lining of your guitar case or something.â
Claire shook her head no. âThere are no holes in the lining and no room for something to get lost. Whatever the reason, Iâm just glad itâs back!â
âIâm so happy for you, Claire,â Aly said.
âEven though I was able to remember my songs, Iâm glad to have it back,â Claire said. She smiled at Aly and AJ. âThanks for all your help. Maybe whoever stole it got nervous when they heard you guys were helping me look for it, so they returned it.â
âI really think it just must have been stuck in your guitar case,â Josh insisted. âI donât think any of us would have taken your notebook.â
âWeâre just glad itâs back,â AJ said. âWeâve got to get going. Weâll see you guys at the studio tonight, right?â
The finalists had been invited to watch the girls rehearse for their concert and share their songs with Aly and AJâs band.
âIâll be there,â Austin said with a big smile. âI wouldnât miss it for anything in the world.â
After saying their good-byes, Aly and AJ walked out of the theater and caught a cab.
âThatâs a relief,â Aly said as she sank back into the seat.
âEven if Austin did take it, the notebook was returned, so there is really no crime, is there?â AJ asked hopefully.
âOr maybe thatâs what Heather was doing there sneaking around,â Aly said. âReturning the notebook.â
âEither way, the problem is solved,â AJ said. âAnd we can concentrate on the contestâand our concert!â
After they relaxed for a little bit at the hotel, Jim dropped Aly and AJ off at a rehearsal studio for practice.
âHey, guys!â Aly greeted the band as she walked into the room. âDid you miss us?â
âThe bus was empty without you,â the bassist, Malcolm, said. âBut luckily we had Hello Kitty to
Major Dick Winters, Colonel Cole C. Kingseed