After some smelling salts, Chip was revived enough to make his way to his room. He made no mention of Clarice and did not even look in her direction. After Gadget made sure he was settled, everyone (including Dale and excluding Chip) sat to hear Clarice's story. Clarice took a deep breath and plunged into her narrative.

"Well, most of you know that Chip and Dale used to play at a small nightclub a few years ago. Well, I was the one that sang with them." She brushed self-consciously at her mauve wool dress. "I really enjoyed being their friend." Dale snorted derisively and Monty and Zipper both elbowed him for quiet. Clarice blushed, but did not respond otherwise to the interruption. "In fact, Chip and I . . . became an item."

"You were engaged," Dale darkly replied.

Everyone gasped.

Clarice lowered her eyes. "He's right." She sighed. "Chip proposed to me, and I accepted. We were to be married on Valentine's Day." She fell silent.

"Golly," murmured Gadget.

Monty raised an eyebrow. "And when was this?"

"Two years before we met you guys," Dale answered. He glared at Clarice. "After the . . . incident, Chip and I moved here to the city and met up with Plato."

"/Incident/" squeaked Zipper.

Clarice became distinctly uneasy. Without meeting their eyes, she told the Rangers about what had happened. "I was young and foolish. We had been traveling quite a bit. Another nightclub owner asked me to sing at his bar. I agreed, even though it meant not singing with Chip and Dale. I made a bad decision."

Dale stood, rage in his eyes. "I— I caught you with . . . that guy." He pointed his finger accusingly. "You didn't think that Chip was good enough."

Clarice finally looked at him, tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "No! It wasn't like that!"

Dale paused as if he were about to say something else, but instead left the room. Clarice buried her face in her hands and sobbed. The remaining three Rangers exchanged uncomfortable glances. Monty handed her his handkerchief. She delicately blew her nose and tried to wipe away the tears. Gadget shifted awkwardly in her seat. She dared to speak.

"Clarice, why did you come to us?"

Clarice stifled her sobs. "My—my manager is missing. We've been located in Los Angeles for quite a while, and I was going to make a comeback here in the city." She dabbed at her eyes. "I went to the Acorn Club last night to run through some numbers for tomorrow night and he never came. He's always present when I sing, even when it's just rehearsal." She sniffled. "I have read the newspaper articles about all of you, and I knew that you could help me." Her voice dropped in volume. "I just wasn't sure that you would."

"Well, golly," murmured Gadget. "Of course we'll help you, Clarice. I mean, we help everyone in trouble."

"But not backstabbing liars."

Chip's voice drew everyone's attention. He stood in the hallway opening, his eyes stony, his voice colder than anyone had ever heard it.

"Get out," he said softly. He stood in the middle of the room, his eyes daring her to say more. She dared.

"Chip, I—"

"I'm not asking, Clarice." He cleared his throat, which was rough from tears. "Please. Leave."

"Now, Chippah—" Monty began. Chip's cold, pain-filled eyes focused on Monty, and his speech died.

Clarice stood, tears filling her lovely green eyes again. "Chip, please, can we just talk?" He stared at her as if she spoke another language. She tried again, her voice trembling. "Just for a minute?"

Chip's brain urged him not to listen, to just lead her outside and slam the door in her face. However, his heart and conscience lead him otherwise. He nodded once and stalked into the kitchen. Clarice forced an apologetic smile to the remaining Rangers, then followed him.

Zipper turned to Monty as the door swung closed behind the two chipmunks. His expression and gestures said it all—what is going on? He gestured quickly to them that he was going to check on Dale. After a slammed door sounded from the recesses of their home, Zipper was back fairly quickly, disappointment in his eyes.

Gadget was utterly bewildered at this turn of events. "Monty, can this all be true?"

Monterey shrugged one shoulder, confused himself. "Well, luv, you've gotta admit—there's a lot we don't know about Chip or Dale and their past." He heaved a heavy sigh. "I guess we just play nice and see what happens."

"Why do you think they never told us about this?" Gadget stared at her clasped hands, feeling a little hurt.

Monty shifted closer to Gadget, placing a protective arm around her shoulders. He smiled a little sadly. "Same reason why I never told any of ya about Desiree." He shook his head in remembrance. "It's never easy to tell others things we'd rather just forget."

Zipper squeaked a soft affirmative. Gadget gave them both a crooked grin as they waited to see what would be the outcome of Chip and Clarice's conversation.