Chapter 1

Claudia raced across the backyard just in time to get the lemonade glass before her sister, Abby reached for it. Claudia had dropped the hose, leaving water flying everywhere. Claudia had always felt that she was a normal girl.

"Claudia! I've been outside here 30 more minutes than you. At least let me have the lemonade first," Abby said.

"Too slow, and just because you were out here longer, doesn't mean you did more work than me. You were on your new phone texting half the time. So you can wait 10 seconds. Maybe you can text some more!" Claudia teased. She loved teasing her older sister. Claudia gulped down the lemonade, and left the ice to melt.

Abby rolled her eyes. She finished her lemonade and went back to texting. Meanwhile, Claudia went back to watering the plants. She loved to do things by herself because it gave her time to think about all sorts of things. Today she was thinking about the mystery novel she had started the day prior to today and was trying to figure out what might happen next. She thought that it might have been the butler who stole the watch or maybe an inside case. She had realized from the start that Mrs. James would get insurance money for the watch and then she would also have the watch.

"Abby, Claudia, come inside now." called their mom. Claudia adored her mom. She thought that she was perfect in every way, well, except when she got angry. Claudia and Abby did as they were told and came inside. Claudia thought that she was getting a surpriseBut when she saw the look on her mom's face, she immediately knew something was wrong. Her eyebrows were furrowed, "I want you guys to be more careful when you go outside. I was just watching the news and it said that two young girls have been kidnapped. I don't want you guys to be next."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Mom. I'm 15, I can take care of myself. Tell that to Claudia, she's still 10."

"Abigail Frankweiler! This is something serious. No matter what age you are, you need to be careful. These people can be very dangerous. Remember, strangers can always be dangerous."

Abby rolled her eyes again. Claudia wondered many times whether Abby would get a headache one day with all that eye rolling. "Okay mom, I'll be careful." Claudia said obediently. "But what if they put a bag over my face? Then I won't be able to yell."

"Don't worry honey. Remember, just try to be as safe as you can."

Abby went back out and started texting again. Claudia got the shivers but pretended to be as brave as possible. Claudia finished watering the plants and went to take out the garbage when she stopped in her tracks. A bunch of questions filled her head. Why would they kidnap twins? Who are they? Who are the people that they kidnapped? What do they want? Where are they keeping the twins? When will they give them back? Will they even give them back? Claudia tried to swat the questions away, but more just kept coming.