Lost City

by Tracey West

  Aly and AJ couldn’t stop laughing. They’d met all kinds of fans before, but none like this.

  “That is one of the craziest things that’s ever happened to us,” Aly said. “Just wait until we tell Mom.”

  They were still laughing when they crossed the street. Then AJ caught sight of a flyer posted on a lamppost on the corner. She stopped to read it.

  “Aly, look at this,” AJ said. “It’s a poster for a rock school. The School for Girls Who Rock!”

  “That’s weird,” Aly said. “Gigi just opened her girls’ rock school a few blocks from here. This isn’t a flyer for her school, is it?”

  “I don’t know,” AJ said. “But look up ahead. It looks like someone is putting up more of these flyers. Let’s find out.”

  A young woman was attaching more flyers to every lamppost and telephone pole on the street. She had on worn jeans with holes at the knees, a pair of lace-up boots, and an old concert T-shirt with a fitted blazer over it. Her long, straight black hair was parted in the center of her thin face. A pair of cat’s-eye-shaped black glasses completed her look.

  The girls walked up to her.

  “Hey,” Aly said in a friendly way. “Do you know Gigi from the Girls Rock Academy?”

  The girl slowly stopped what she was doing and turned to face Aly and AJ. With a sneer on her face, she slowly looked them over from head to toe.

  “Aren’t you two supposed to be at the school opening?” she asked.

  “It was postponed,” Aly answered.

  “Hmmm,” she responded, arching an eyebrow. Then, without saying another word, she turned and walked off.

  “Well, that was pretty rude!” AJ said. “What do you think that was all about?”

  “I’m not sure,” Aly said as she plucked one of the posters off a pole. “But we should take this with us. Obviously, whoever that girl was, she knew who we were—and knew we were supposed to be at the grand opening of the Girls Rock Academy.”

  AJ took the flyer from Aly. “Maybe it has something to do with the missing guitars,” she said.

  “What a long, strange day it’s been!” Aly said.“And I know exactly what we need—some retail therapy.”

  Luckily, they happened to be standing in front of a fabulous shop that sold shoes and handbags. There were some awesome wedges, totally cool boots, and the latest flats displayed in the window.

  “You know,” Aly said, “we could really use some new shoes for our tour. They’re practically a necessity.”

  They headed into the store and began oohing and aahing over the selection.

  “Look at these,” Aly held up a pair of classic Mary Janes with a twist—they had super long stiletto heels.

  “Those are so cool,” AJ said. “But we could break our necks on stage wearing something like that. What about these?” She held up a pair of brown buckled ankle boots.

  “Now we’re talking,” Aly said as she grabbed a pair of Converse slip-ons with a design of pink and black checks. “I’ve never seen them in this color before.”

  But it was a pair of black knee-high boots that really grabbed their attention. The sleek and shiny boots zipped up and had a nice heel—tall, but not so tall that they’d have to worry about maneuvering safely on the stage.

  “They will look great with that black skirt you have,” AJ told Aly.

  “And they’ll look terrific with some skinny jeans, too,” Aly said.

  The girls left the shop with their packages and the glow of a successful shopping trip. It had grown dark while they were inside the shop and they passed a candy store, brightly lit inside. It seemed to be beckoning to Aly.

  “I almost forgot how hungry I am,” she said. “But now we can get something to eat!”

  “Are you crazy?” AJ said. “You’ll be bouncing off the walls and won’t be able to sleep. Let’s get some real food.”

  Aly sighed. “You’re right. But the only other thing that will satisfy me right now is sushi!”

  AJ grinned. “You’re on.”

  They only had to walk a few more blocks until they spotted the perfect place: Sushi Island. The beautiful restaurant had a koi pond with a waterfall all around the dining area. They had to cross a little bridge to get to their table. It was a relaxing place to sit and talk about the day’s events.

  While they waited for their sushi rolls, Aly and AJ sipped green tea and looked at the flyer.

  “This is not the same school as Gigi’s,” AJ said. “The address is different. And so is the contact information. This one says to call Melanie.”

  “Two girls’ rock schools opening at the same time? That’s some coincidence,” Aly said. The waitress brought over their sushi. The girls thanked her and picked up their chopsticks.

  “I wonder what Gigi will do after we leave New York,” AJ said. “The police don’t seem to have much hope of recovering the stolen equipment.”

  “Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye,” Aly said, as she dipped a spicy tuna roll into a tiny bowl of soy sauce. “This might not have been a random crime. Someone might have wanted to put Gigi out of business.”

  “Someone like that Melanie, you mean?” AJ asked. “If that’s the case, then maybe we can help find out what happened.”

  “Hey—we’re musicians—not detectives!” Aly laughed.

  “But we’ve got to try and help,” AJ said, as she picked up another sushi piece with her chopsticks. “Gigi will have to close the school after we’re gone if she doesn’t get her stuff back.”

  Aly nodded. “I know we only just met Gigi, but I really like her. And when I think of all those little girls, ready to play guitar, getting their hearts broken…”

  “It’s tragic,” AJ agreed. “That’s why I think we should help, if we can.”

  “I’m not sure what we can do, but we can try,” Aly said. “Maybe we can look around the school tomorrow—maybe the thief left some clues behind.”

  AJ smiled. “Now you’re talking. Aly and AJ are on the case!”

  “Then we’d better eat some more sushi,” Aly said. “Fish is supposed to be good brain food.”

  AJ happily picked up some more sushi. “No problem. It’s also way delicious!”

  CHAPTER FOUR:

  ON THE RADIO

  “You’ve been listening to ‘Insomniatic,’ the title track from Aly and AJ’s latest album!” The radio deejay, a guy named Manic Mike with bleached blond hair and sunglasses, shouted the words into the microphone at super speed. “If you’re an Aly and AJ fan, today’s your lucky day, because I’ve got these two lovely sisters right here in the studio this morning! Hey there, girls!”

  “Hi, Mike,” Aly and AJ replied.

  “That’s Manic Mike, and don’t you forget it!” the deejay replied. He pressed a button, and a loud whistle blew inside their headphones as he made his point.

  Aly and AJ turned to each other and smiled. It didn’t matter what city they were in—every city had a morning radio deejay with a wacky name and even wackier sound effects. It could be a little hard to take at eight o’clock in the morning.

  “So, Aly and AJ, help me out. How am I supposed to tell you two ladies apart?” Manic Mike asked. “Which one of you is older?”

  Aly and AJ had heard this question a million times. Many people thought they were twins because they looked so much alike. AJ liked to joke that they were the first twins born two years apart.

  Aly raised her hand. “I’m Aly, and I’m older,” she said. “But in a weird way, AJ’s kind of like the older one. She’s got the personality of a leader, and she’s a lot more organized than I am.”

  “Aly might be messier than me, but she’s really creative,” AJ added. “We might have different ways of doing things, but we always end up in the same place, if you know what I mean. We’re on the same page.”

  “And I’m on the same page with your music. This new album is hot, hot, hot!” Manic Mike said. He pressed another button, and the girls heard the sound of sizzling bacon. “Do you
have any words for your fans in the Big Apple?”

  “Thanks for all your support,” Aly said. “We’re having a great time in New York City. So come on out to our concert Friday night at Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be fun!”

  “We also want to help out our friend Gigi at the Girls Rock Academy,” AJ added. “If anybody has information about the theft at Gigi’s school, come forward and let Gigi know.”

  “Fabulous, girls!” Manic Mike said. “Thanks for coming to the studio. Let’s send you out with another track from Insomniatic!”

  Mike pressed a button, and another song began to play. Aly and AJ took off their headphones. Mike gave them a nod.

  “Great job, guys. Have a terrific show on Friday,” he said.

  The girls thanked him and left the cramped studio. Outside the door, a guy in his early twenties paced back and forth. He wore jeans and an official Aly and AJ tour shirt. His short brown hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in a few days, but the effect was kind of cute.

  “Hey, Jim!” The girls greeted their new tour manager. Fresh out of college, Jim was frantic most of the time. Managing the Insomniatic tour was his first big job.

  “Aly, AJ,” he said. “Nice job. I’ve got the tour bus downstairs. Are you sure about lending equipment to this rock school? Without the equipment, we can’t have a show.”

  They walked down the hallway of the radio station as they talked. “It’ll be fine, Jim,” AJ assured him. “It’s only for a few days.”

  “But you hardly even know this Gigi person,” Jim said, pressing the button for the elevator. “For all you know, this could be some kind of scam.”

  “Gigi’s cool,” Aly said. “Call it sisterly intuition. You really need to learn how to relax, Jim.”

  “Relax. Sure.” But Jim’s foot tapped on the elevator floor all the way to the building lobby. They walked outside, where the tour bus was parked and waiting for them. The huge bus didn’t look like anything special on the outside, but inside was a Hello Kitty explosion—the beds were covered with Hello Kitty sheets and pillows; the kitchen area had Hello Kitty dishes and placemats; even the bathroom had a Hello Kitty shower curtain.

  Aly and AJ flopped on the Hello Kitty couch in the middle of the bus. Jim sat across from them and flipped open a handheld wireless device.

  “We need to wrap up this grand opening thing by this afternoon,” Jim told them. “You have rehearsal with the band tonight. I had to reschedule a photo shoot so you could be at the rock school today.”

  “That’s why you’re the best tour manager in the world,” Aly teased, and Jim blushed.

  “Really? You think I’m doing a good job?” he asked.

  “We wouldn’t have hired you if we didn’t have faith in you,” AJ said. “You’re doing great.”

  “Thanks,” Jim said, blushing some more. He seemed to relax a little for the first time all morning.

  A few minutes later the tour bus stopped in front of the brownstone building that housed the Girls Rock Academy. Gigi waited for them outside, and a young man stood next to her. He wore a tie-dye T-shirt; his long, brown hair was tied in a ponytail that hung down his back.

  Gigi greeted the girls with a hug. “You guys are so awesome for doing this!” she gushed. She nodded to the tie-dye guy. “This is Miles. He’s the other instructor here at the school.”

  “Hey,” Miles said.

  Jim climbed out of the bus, carrying a heavy amp. “All right, where does this go?” he asked, panting heavily.

  “Oh, gosh, let me help!” Gigi said. She grabbed the other end of the amp. Miles held the door open for them as they carried the amp up the stairs into the building.

  “Might as well grab some guitars,” AJ said. She and Aly climbed back into the bus and came back holding two guitar cases each. Miles was still holding the door open. He seemed to have decided that was his job for the morning.

  Aly was chatting excitedly as they walked through the door. “I can’t wait to meet the little girls who want to rock out,” she told AJ. “They’ve got to be so cute. Oh!”

  Aly bumped into someone coming through the opposite side of the door. She looked up to see a boy with sandy blond hair and the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. The boy was carrying a big instrument case. Aly recognized the shape—it was the case for a cello, a stringed instrument played with a bow.

  “Sorry,” Aly said.

  “That’s okay,” the boy replied. “I can’t see past this thing sometimes.”

  He looked down at the girls’ guitar cases. “Are you students at the Girls Rock Academy?” he asked.

  “Not exactly,” Aly said. “We’re here for the grand opening.”

  The boy looked surprised. “I thought that was canceled,” he said. “I thought there was some stolen equipment or something.”

  AJ joined the conversation. “We’re lending Gigi our equipment for the week. I’m AJ. My sister Aly and I are musicians. We’re playing Madison Square Garden on Friday.”

  The boy didn’t take the cue and introduce himself. An uncomfortable look crossed his face. “That’s nice, I guess,” he said. “I’m not really into loud music.”

  He squeezed past them without saying another word. Aly shot AJ a curious look.

  “Very cute,” she said. “But a little strange.”

  “Definitely,” AJ said. “He acted like we were in some heavy metal band or something. I don’t think I’ve ever heard our music described as ‘loud’ before.”

  Aly laughed. “I guess there’s a first time for everything!”

  CHAPTER FIVE:

  AN IMPOSTOR!

  They brought the guitar cases down the hall and past the classroom to a room with an open door. Gigi and Jim had placed the amp in a corner. AJ noticed that some acoustic guitars hung on hooks on the walls.

  “Do those belong to the school?” she asked.

  Gigi nodded. “Those were the only things that weren’t stolen. Weird, right? I’m glad they didn’t get stolen, but they’re not enough to help me run the school.”

  Jim ran a hand through his hair. “There are some smaller amps in the bus. I’ll go get them.”

  “We’re right behind you,” Aly said.

  As they headed back to the bus, AJ noticed another brass plaque by the front door. It read Classical Music Center.

  “That explains the guy with the cello,” AJ remarked.

  “You mean Brandon?” Gigi asked. “I see him around a lot. There’s a practice space for classical musicians on the third floor. I’ve tried to talk to some of the kids who practice there, but they don’t seem very friendly for some reason. I figured we have a lot in common, studying music and everything, but I get the feeling they don’t think guitars are worth their time.”

  “Brandon was definitely not the friendliest guy I’ve met in New York,” Aly agreed. “But he sure was cute.”

  “I guess,” Gigi said. She lowered her voice a little. “If you ask me, your tour manager’s the cute one.”

  Aly and AJ grinned at each other. It was hard to think of Jim as “cute”—he was, well, Jim. He’d become like an older brother to them.

  “Don’t let Jim hear you say that,” AJ joked. “He’ll blush, and then he’ll start to stammer, and then he’ll run his hand through his hair…”

  Gigi grinned. “I’d like to see that,” she said. “But I guess I should be focused on the grand opening. I was able to reach all the students to tell them that the school was opening after all. The girls should be here in about an hour.”

  “Then let’s get this bus unloaded,” AJ said.

  With everyone helping they got the equipment unloaded in no time. Miles left his post at the door and began to set up the chairs in the main classroom. Jim pitched in.

  “You two should relax until showtime,” Gigi said. “There’s not much to do now, anyway.”

  “Then maybe now is a good time to talk about the theft yesterday,” AJ said. “Aly and I have been thinking. We’d like to help get you
r equipment back, if we can.”

  Gigi shook her head in disbelief. “You guys are way too nice. I heard you on Manic Mike’s show this morning, by the way. Thanks for mentioning it. Maybe somebody will come forward.”

  “I hope so,” AJ said. “In the meantime, we wanted to ask you about something strange we saw yesterday. This girl on the street was putting up signs for another girls’ rock school.”

  Gigi frowned. “That’s Melanie Downing,” she said. “I don’t know much about her, except that after I started advertising my school, she showed up here. She was really angry. She accused me of stealing her idea. That’s ridiculous! I’d never even met her before. I tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  Aly and AJ exchanged glances. They were both thinking the same thing.

  “Do you think Melanie stole the equipment so you couldn’t open your school?” Aly asked.

  Gigi’s dark eyes widened. “I never even thought of that! I’ve been so worried about opening the school that I haven’t been thinking clearly.”

  Her expression turned dark. “I feel like marching over to that school of hers right now and confronting her. I bet all my stuff is there!”

  “Maybe,” Aly said. “But it wouldn’t be cool to accuse her without any proof. If she is guilty, she’d have no reason to admit it.”

  Gigi sighed. “You’re right. But what kind of proof are we supposed to get?”

  AJ took a small notebook out of her bag. “I’ve been working on a list of questions that might help us find out.”

  Aly didn’t know her sister had been making a list, but she wasn’t surprised. AJ loved to make lists. She said it helped her think clearly. Aly liked to imagine that her sister’s brain was as well organized as her drawers, with all of her thoughts neatly folded and put away so she could easily find them.

  “First of all, how did the thief get into the equipment room?” AJ asked. “Was it locked?”

  “I swear I locked it the night before,” Gigi said. “I’m always really careful about that.”

  “So then there’d have to be evidence of someone breaking the lock,” Aly guessed. “Like screwdriver marks or something.”