Henry rushed over to the tree house window.
Cole was right! Nora was tiptoeing across the backyard.
She stopped every few steps and stared around in every direction.
"Shh!" he warned the others. "Don't let her hear us up here!"
Nora didn't look up as she passed beneath the tree house.
She turned left and hurried toward the picket fence at the side of the yard.
"Where's she going?" Maggie whispered.
Nora reached the fence and stepped over it. Then she kept walking.
"It looks like she's cutting across the Smiths' yard," Nathan said. "Let's follow her!"
They all climbed down from the tree house as fast as they could.
Henry led the way as they hurried after Nora.
"Will your neighbors mind that we're in their yard?"
Cole asked Nathan as he hopped over the fence.
Nathan shook his head. "They're really nice.
They said we can play over here anytime we want."
Henry was glad to hear that. But he was more focused on keeping Nora in sight.
"She's heading for the woods," he whispered to his friends. "Let's go!"
They raced to the edge of the forest.
There was a trail just inside the tree line.
Henry and his friends followed the trail as quietly as they could.
"Do you see her?" Maggie asked quietly.
"Not yet. Let's stop and listen," Henry whispered.
They all stopped and listened for a few seconds.
There were a lot of sounds in the woods.
Birds chirped in the branches overhead.
A squirrel rustled against pine needles as it scampered up a pine tree.
Bees buzzed around looking for flowers.
Then Henry heard something else: the crack of a twig somewhere deeper in the forest!
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
The others nodded.
Henry spotted a smaller trail that turned off the main one.
Following the new trail, he walked toward the spot where he'd heard the cracking sound.
His friends were right behind him.
Then they all heard another sound: Thump!
"What was that?" Maggie whispered.
Henry didn't answer. He was already running toward the sound.
It had to be Nora!
He burst out into a small clearing.
There was an old toolshed in the middle of it.
Its rickety door was open—that was what had caused the thumping sound.
Standing in the doorway, with her back to them, was Nora!
"She's here!" Henry cried.
"Eek!" Nora spun around and let out a squeak of fright.
"What are you doing here?"
"We were following you."
Henry walked toward her, glad that she wasn't running away this time.
"What are you doing out here?"
"None of your business," Nora said.
Maggie, Cole, and Nathan rushed into the clearing.
"There she is!" Maggie exclaimed.
"You guys should stop sneaking around like that!" Nora cried loudly.
"You scared me! I had no idea you were following me!"
Henry stared at her. "Why isn't she trying to run away?" he wondered.
Last night she'd seemed desperate to get away from them.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
"Are you really surprised to see us, or are you faking?"
"What are you talking about, Henry?" Maggie pushed past him.
"Let's see what's in that shed."
Henry was still watching Nora suspiciously.
But he was curious about the shed too. He followed the others inside.
"Aha!" Nathan pointed to something in the corner.
"That explains everything!"
It was dark inside the shed.
Henry had to lean forward to see what Nathan was pointing at.
"Soda cans?" he said when he got a good look. "I don't get it."
"Nora isn't allowed to drink soda," Nathan explained as he picked up a can.
"She must have been sneaking out here to drink it."
Cole laughed. "I'm not allowed to drink soda either.
But I never thought of sneaking into the woods to drink it!"
Henry opened the shed door wider.
That let in more light so it was easier to see.
He counted three more empty soda cans lying in the corner.
"Please don't tell Mom and Dad!" Nora begged Nathan.
"I'll be in big trouble!"
Nathan sighed. "All right. But only if you promise not to do it anymore."
Nora crossed her heart.
"I promise I won't sneak out here to drink soda anymore," she said.
Then she dashed out of the shed and disappeared into the woods.
"Case closed!" Cole grinned.
"It looks like The Lemonade Detectives solved another tough mystery!"
"That's right." Nathan pulled a five-dollar bill out of his pocket.
"Here's your payment. Thanks!"
"Wait." Henry stepped forward and stopped Maggie from taking the money.
"What's the matter this time?" Maggie said.
"Keep your money for now, Nathan," Henry said with a frown.
"Because I don't think we've really solved your case."