“Yeah, guys,” Jeanette said, approaching the boys and Dave. “Have you seen Brittany around?”

“Isn’t she with the two of you?” Alvin asked.

“Well, she was,” Eleanor said, “but she said she needed to return something to Vinny.”

“I haven’t seen her either,” Alvin said. “I hope she hurries.”

“Well, I’m worried,” Eleanor said. “I think we should go up to Vinny’s room. Maybe she’s there.”

All five chipmunks walked back to the second floor. They walked down the hall hoping to find Brittany. Well this is Vinny’s room. They found the door cracked open, and everything eerily quiet. Alvin was the first to enter, then Theodore and Simon.

“No one’s here,” Alvin said. “You see, she’s not here, and when I find her…”

“Wait a minute,” Jeanette said. “She was here.”

“How do you know?” Simon asked.

“Because this belongs to Brittany.” Jeanette held up a bracelet that she just found under the bed.

“Hey, there’s something else,” Simon said. He picked up a rag and smelled it. “Chloroform? This is not a good sign.”

“Who would do something like this to Brittany?” Alvin asked. “If something’s happened to her…”

“Calm down, Alvin,” Simon said. “We don’t know anything yet.”

“Kids,” they heard Dave call from the hallway. He came down the hallway and into what they believed was Vinny’s room. “Hey, what’s going on?” He looked away and noticed someone was missing. “Where’s Brittany?”

“That’s what we’d like to know,” Alvin said.

“Maybe Mom and Uncle Harry would know,” Theodore said.

“I haven’t seen them,” Dave said, sounding nervous.

“We did find this,” Jeanette said, handing the bracelet to Dave. “It’s Brittany’s.”

“And this,” Simon said. “There’s chloroform on it.”

“I think we should call the authorities,” Dave said.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Mister Thomas asked, coming into the room.

“You tell us,” Alvin said, stepping up to the burly man. “My girlfriend is missing, and so is Harry and Vinny.”

“Vinny?” he said, confused. “Who’s Vinny?”