Claudia, Mallory and the other girls were in Claudia's room since it was a Wednesday afternoon. Kristy called the meeting to order.

"Any new business?" Kristy asked.

Claudia watched as Mallory nodded.

"Yes," Claudia spoke up.

"What is it?" Mary Anne asked.

Claudia could feel tears coming down. And she cleared her throat.

"Well, I don't know how to say it, but-"

Claudia still couldn't get the words out. She saw Mallory's eyes asking if it was better if she told their friends. Claudia nodded.

"Did somebody die?" Dawn asked, who also saw the tears.

That's when Mallory spoke up.

"What Claudia is trying to say is that her parents finally got around by figuring out the hidden Nancy Drew books."

"You have to be kidding me!" Stacey said.

Claudia nodded.

"I am helping Claudia search for new characters she would like as much as she did with Nancy Drew."

"How are you progressing on the search?" Mary Anne asked.

"We started just recently," Claudia answered.

Mary Anne usually came prepared to bring a Kleenex or two, so she gave one to Claudia. Claudia thanked her.

"Since you like to write, you could help come up with a few ideas," Jessi told Mallory.

"How many ideas have you come up with?" Kristy asked, who was still interested in the conversation.

"Robert B. Parker, Patricia Cornwell, Johnathan Kellerman, and Karen Kijewski," Mallory answered.

None of the girls recognized any of the names.

"Have you tried any of them yet?" Dawn asked.

"Not yet," Claudia told Dawn.

"Oh," was all Dawn could think of to say.

In the next few minutes, the girls were busy with phone calls from clients. It was now six o'clock and the girls ended their meeting.

"Sorry about the news," the girls said on their way out and gave Claudia a hug.

Then she headed to the bathroom and put the tissue in the trash.

Note: I usually don't read Cornwell, but I thought it would be a name for Claudia to check out in this fic. I am nearing the end in a book from Karen Kijewski at the minute but it's a pretty good story but I'm familiar with the names I mentioned in this new update. Thanks for reading!