Contents
CHAPTER ONE: SNEAK PEEK
CHAPTER TWO: BUGGED OUT
CHAPTER THREE: UNLUCKY LADYBUGS
CHAPTER FOUR: CUPCAKE CLUES
CHAPTER FIVE: PEST TEST
CHAPTER SIX: EXPLAIN THE STAIN
CHAPTER SEVEN: BIRD BRAINED
CHAPTER EIGHT: BUG THUGS
CHAPTER NINE: TOP SECRET CALL
CHAPTER TEN: CUPCAKE COMEBACK
LADYBUG CUPCAKES
“If this is the first week of spring,” eight-year-old Nancy Drew said, “why does it still feel like winter?”
Nancy’s best friend George Fayne shrugged. “Maybe spring hasn’t sprung yet!” she said.
“This is my favorite season!” Bess Marvin, Nancy’s other best friend, said with a smile.
“What do you like best about it?” Nancy asked Bess. “Spring flowers? Spring weather—”
“Spring clothes!” Bess declared.
Nancy smiled. Outside it was chilly, but inside George’s kitchen it was warm and sunny. While George’s mom worked in her home office, the three BFFs sipped cocoa around the kitchen table.
“We’ve got more than the season to celebrate, you guys,” George said, licking away a hot-chocolate mustache. “Tomorrow the Lucky Ladybug Cupcake Café opens for business!”
The three friends reached across the table to high-five. Not only would the Lucky Ladybug be the first cupcake bakery on Main Street but the owners, Gwendolyn and Carolyn, were practically superstars!
The Porters were identical twins. They looked alike—and even baked alike!
“Did you see the sisters on that TV show Cupcake Crusaders?” Nancy asked. “Their cupcakes look too good to eat!”
“Then I’ll keep my eyes closed!” Bess joked.
George smiled slyly as she stood up. “Are you ready for a big secret?” she asked.
“Secret?” Bess said. “Since when do cousins keep secrets from each other?”
“And best friends?” Nancy asked.
“I’m about to tell you, aren’t I?” George said. She walked over to the huge steel fridge. Mrs. Fayne was a caterer and needed an extra-big refrigerator for party food.
“Ta-daaa!” George sang as she pulled the door open.
Nancy gave a little gasp. She brushed her reddish blond hair from her eyes so she could make sure what she was seeing was real. . . .
“Lucky Ladybug cupcakes!” Nancy said.
“What are they doing here?” Bess asked.
“My mom is holding the extra cupcakes in her fridge until tomorrow,” George said. “As a favor to Gwendolyn and Carolyn.”
“I want a taste!” Bess squealed.
“Me too!” Nancy said as she and Bess ran to the fridge.
George’s dark curls bounced as she shook her head. “No sneak tastes,” she said. “Just sneak peeks.”
The girls gazed at the dreamy-looking cupcakes. Nancy’s favorites were the cupcakes with the sunflower design. Bess’s favorites were the bright purple ones.
“Pink is my favorite color,” Bess said, swooning. “But that’s the most beautiful purple I’ve ever seen.”
“They’re called purple passion cupcakes,” George said. “Gwendolyn and Carolyn told me when they loaded the fridge.”
Nancy thought the cupcakes looked yummy. But were they the best?
“I wonder if those cupcakes taste as good as Olivia Chow’s,” Nancy said.
Olivia Chow was in the girls’ third-grade class at River Heights Elementary School. Every Saturday she sold her own cupcakes from a table she set up on Main Street.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Bess said, reaching out her hand.
“What part of ‘no’ don’t you get?” George said. She was about to close the fridge when a voice said, “Don’t shut that door, George Fayne!”
Nancy, Bess, and George whirled around. Standing behind them was—
“Deirdre Shannon,” Bess groaned.
Eight-year-old Deirdre was spoiled and a bit snooty. She usually got whatever she wanted, including her own blog, called Dishing with Deirdre.
“How did you get in here?” George asked.
“I told your mom I was a reporter,” Deirdre said coolly. “And that I want to write about the Lucky Ladybug cupcakes for my blog.”
“How did you know we had Lucky Ladybug cupcakes?” George demanded.
“News reporters know everything,” Deirdre said.
“You mean gossip girls,” Bess muttered.
“Heard that!” Deirdre said.
George stepped in front of Deirdre. “Those cupcakes are a secret until tomorrow,” she said.
“How can I write about them if I can’t taste them?” Deirdre whined.
“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow, like everyone else,” Nancy said.
Deirdre turned and stomped loudly out of the kitchen. “You’re just jealous,” she snapped. “Because I’m a reporter and you’re just silly detectives!”
Nancy glanced sideways at Bess and George. They weren’t silly detectives—they were awesome detectives. They had their own detective club, called the Clue Crew. They even had cool headquarters in Nancy’s room!
“She didn’t want a story,” Bess said. “Just a free cupcake.”
The girls forgot about Deirdre as they gave the treats one last gaze.
“Lucky Ladybug cupcakes in my own kitchen,” George sighed. “How’s that for lucky?”
“Lucky like a ladybug!” Nancy declared. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow—and for the best cupcakes ever!
“Why the superhealthy dinner, Hannah?” Mr. Drew asked. He winked at Nancy across the table. “Is it to make up for all the cupcakes Nancy is going to eat tomorrow?”
Nancy giggled as Hannah Gruen passed around the platter of veggie burgers. Hannah was the Drews’ housekeeper and an awesome cook. But she was also more than that. Nancy’s own mom had died when Nancy was only three years old, and ever since, Hannah had been like a mother to her.
“You know I like healthy meals,” Hannah said with her usual cheery smile. “And now so does Mayor Strong.”
“What does the mayor have to do with it?” Nancy asked.
“Mayor Strong wants to make River Heights healthy,” Hannah said. “He wants restaurants to cut back on sugar. He even started a jogging club called Running Strong!”
“In that case,” Mr. Drew said, “I doubt you’ll see Mayor Strong at the Lucky Ladybug Cupcake Café tomorrow.”
“Why not, Daddy?” Nancy asked.
Mr. Drew smiled as he poured dressing on his salad. “Cupcakes aren’t exactly filled with vitamins, honey,” he said.
“Sure they are, Daddy.” Nancy giggled. “Vitamin Y for yummy!”
Suddenly Nancy heard a bark. It was her puppy, Chocolate Chip, in the front hallway. She excused herself from the table to check on the pup.
“What’s up, Chip?” Nancy asked.
The little chocolate Labrador was pawing the front door. Was somebody outside? Nancy stood on her tiptoes and peeked out the peephole. Nobody there.
“It’s probably a squirrel,” Nancy decided.
But when she opened the door a crack, she saw no squirrels anywhere. Nancy was about to shut the door when she spotted something strange on the doorstep.
“If that is a squirrel, Chip,” Nancy said slowly, “it’s disguised as a creamy green cupcake.”
Nancy looked closer. It was a cupcake, with a tiny piece of paper sticking out of the top. Carefully Nancy pulled out the paper and read the message written on it:
DO NOT EAT AT THE LUCKY
LADYBUG CUPCAKE CAFE—EVER!
“I’ve heard of fortune cookies,” George said the next morning. “But not creepy fortune cupcakes.”
I
t was Saturday morning. Nancy and her friends were headed to Main Street for the Lucky Ladybug opening.
Nancy had told the girls about the mysterious cupcake on her doorstep. Bess and George had each received one too!
“I think Deirdre left them,” Nancy said. “She was mad at us for not letting her taste the cupcakes yesterday.”
“Well, Deirdre Shannon is not keeping us from the Lucky Ladybug today!” George insisted.
Bess flipped her long, blond hair back. “Speaking of ladybugs,” she said. “Look at my new earrings.”
“They look like big ladybugs!” Nancy said, smiling.
“Only you would find ladybug earrings, Bess,” George teased.
Bess planted her hands on her hips. “When are you going to start wearing earrings, George Fayne?” she asked.
“When they’re computerized!” George replied.
Nancy giggled. Bess and George were cousins but as different as night and day. Bess loved fashion-forward clothes and accessories. The only accessories George loved were for her computer and MP3 player!
“Let’s go,” Nancy said. “Or we’ll miss the opening ceremony.”
“And free cupcakes!” Bess said happily.
Since Main Street was five blocks away, the girls were allowed to walk there. They could walk anywhere together as long as it was five blocks or less from their houses. That was cool, since Nancy, Bess, and George went everywhere together anyway.
“The sisters picked up their cupcakes early this morning,” George said as they walked.
“Who was watching the store?” Nancy asked.
“Their junior baker, Trent,” George explained. “He was there baking even more cupcakes.”
“Bring it!” Bess said happily.
A blast of cold air hit the girls as they turned onto Main Street. It was still too cold for spring, but not too cold for Olivia Chow and her cupcake stand. . . .
“Come and get some cupcakes!” Olivia called.
She was wearing her usual sparkly tiara. That’s because everybody called her the cupcake queen. Sitting with Olivia was her little brother and assistant, Lester.
“We’ve got chocolate, red velvet, and pistachio cream!” Lester shouted. “Check it out!”
“Can’t,” George said. “We’re on our way to—”
Bess jabbed George with her elbow, but it was too late.
“I knew it!” Olivia groaned. “You’re on your way to that Bedbug Café!”
“Ladybug,” Nancy corrected.
“Those cupcakes are going to put me out of business,” Olivia complained.
“And we were going to start serving lemonade, too,” Lester groaned. “Three flavors!”
“People will always want your cupcakes, Olivia,” Nancy said gently. “It’s just that Gwendolyn and Carolyn are—”
“Famous,” George finished.
“Big deal!” Olivia snapped. “You won’t catch me going into that store. Ever!”
Nancy gazed down at Olivia’s cupcakes. The green ones looked exactly like the cupcake on her doorstep last night.
She was about to ask Olivia about them when Bess tugged her arm.
“Come on, Nancy,” Bess whispered. “Or we’ll miss the opening.”
“Did you see Olivia’s green cupcakes?” Nancy asked as they walked on. “They looked just like the one on my doorstep last night.”
“The cupcake on my doorstep was green too,” George said.
“I thought you said Deirdre left those creepy cupcakes, Nancy,” Bess said.
“I changed my mind,” Nancy said. “If anyone would want to stop us from eating Lucky Ladybug cupcakes, it’s Olivia.”
Bess’s eyes widened. “What if Olivia is planning more trouble?” she asked. “Like at the café today?”
Nancy shook her head. “Olivia said she’d never go there,” she said. “Ever!”
Nancy, Bess, and George had no trouble finding the Lucky Ladybug. It was the only store with a colorful balloon arch over the door and a crowd of kids out front. There was even a television news crew covering the event!
The girls were happy to see kids from school, like Kendra Jackson and Peter Patino. But unhappy to see Deirdre Shannon . . .
Deirdre was rolling her eyes at the tap-dancing kids under the balloon arch. The dancers were dressed as ladybugs with antennae bouncing on their heads.
“The big opening sure is big!” Bess shouted over the music.
“Where’s Mayor Strong?” George asked. “Doesn’t he always show up for store openings?”
“Cupcakes aren’t healthy enough for Mayor Strong these days,” Nancy said.
“Unless they’re carrot cupcakes!” Bess giggled.
Nancy smiled when she saw Gwendolyn and Carolyn standing near the balloons. They wore snowy white aprons and baker’s hats designed to look like cupcakes. Cool!
“I want to meet them!” Nancy said.
The three friends squeezed through the crowd toward the sisters—until a boy pushed past them.
“Out of my way!” the boy shouted.
“Hey!” George complained as the boy’s heavy backpack bumped her.
Nancy, Bess, and George recognized him at once. It was Bobby Wozniak from the fourth grade. Bobby’s nickname was Buggy, and for a good reason. He was president of the Bug Club, a club where bug-loving kids met every Sunday. This included Nancy’s classmates Sonia Susi and Michael D.
“Now I know why Buggy is president of the Bug Club,” George muttered. “He’s a pest!”
Buggy had already reached the sisters. Nancy could hear him as he spoke out loud:
“The Bug Club likes that you named your cupcake café after a bug—so we want to hang our poster next to your store.”
Buggy held up a handmade poster. Bess gagged. It was a collage of tarantulas, beetles, and even bedbugs!
“I tried using real bugs,” Buggy said. “But they kept crawling away.”
Gwendolyn stared at the poster. “Um,” she said uncomfortably. “That poster isn’t quite right for a café.”
“There isn’t one ladybug on it either,” Carolyn said.
“Just the gross kind!” George added.
Buggy scowled as he began to walk away. This time he bumped Nancy with his backpack. Instead of “excuse me,” though, Buggy said, “I’ll bet the cupcakes in there are gross too!”
“Ouch!” Nancy said as they watched Buggy leave. “What’s he carrying in there—rocks?”
“Probably one of his bug farms,” George said. “I heard he has dozens of them in his room.”
“Too much information!” Bess complained.
Nancy wanted to change the subject from bugs to the café. She turned to the sisters and said, “Are your purple passion cupcakes in the store today?”
“They sure are!” Carolyn said.
“Somebody already ate a few purple passions this morning,” Gwendolyn said. “But we don’t know who.”
“Probably Trent,” George whispered as the sisters turned back to the dancers.
The crowd applauded as the dancers finished their show. They applauded even louder for Gwendolyn and Carolyn.
“They say ladybugs are lucky, and we can’t think of anything luckier than selling cupcakes right here in River Heights!” Carolyn told everyone.
“My ladybug watch says it’s eleven o’clock on the dot!” Gwendolyn said. “Which means the Lucky Ladybug Cupcake Café is open for business.”
“Woo-hooooo!” George cheered.
Nancy, Bess, and George followed the crowd under the balloon arch and through the door. Inside, the smell of sweet cream and sugar wafted up their noses.
A young guy wearing a white apron carried a tray of cupcakes past the girls. Nancy guessed he was Trent, the junior baker.
“Just think,” George sighed. “Some of those spent the night at my house.”
“What a sweet sleepover!” Bess swooned.
Nancy’s heart beat faster as they got closer to the counter. Would she tr
y the chocolate one? Or lemon? Or the famous purple passion cupcake? But before Nancy could decide, a loud scream interrupted her thoughts.
“What happened?” Nancy wondered out loud.
More people screamed from the front of the café. Nancy, Bess, and George pushed their way to the counter to see what was up.
That’s when Bess screamed too.
“OMG!” Bess cried. “A swarm of ladybugs has invaded the store!”
Nancy screamed too. She liked real, live ladybugs but not hundreds of them all at once. Especially not all over cupcakes!
“They’re only ladybugs, you guys!” George told the crowd as they went wild.
“They’re still bugs, George,” Bess said. “And bugs are icky!”
“Run for it!” a boy shouted.
“It’s raining ladybugs!” one girl cried out.
A bunch of kids charged toward the door.
“Wait!” Gwendolyn called. “There’s got to be a good reason for this!”
Not everybody ran out of the bugged-out café. Deirdre stood alone taking pictures of the scene with a bright pink camera. Nancy, Bess, and George stuck close together near the counter.
“Where did all these ladybugs come from?” Nancy said over the noise.
“What if Lucky Ladybug cupcakes are made out of real ladybugs?” Bess cried.
“Some secret recipe that would be,” George groaned.
“The sisters do not cook with bugs,” Nancy said. “Like they said—there’s got to be a reason for this.”
A ladybug landed on Nancy’s nose and she shrieked. Whatever the reason—it had better be a good one!
George blew the ladybug off her friend’s nose. Then the three friends hurried over to Gwendolyn and Carolyn. The sisters were frantically swatting ladybugs while talking to the news reporter.
“Ladybug Café . . . real ladybugs,” the reporter said. “Did you do this for the publicity?”
“Absolutely not!” Gwendolyn insisted.
Also swatting ladybugs was Trent. The junior baker looked even more upset than the sisters.
Suddenly Deirdre Shannon pushed past the girls to Gwendolyn and Carolyn.
“Deirdre Shannon of my very own blog, Dishing with Deirdre,” she said. “I have some questions for you.”