The Secret at Solaire (2 page)

The black widow scrambled over the side of the box and moved toward George with unnerving speed. “It's just a spider,” George said, sounding as if she were trying to calm herself.

“Get back!” Nancy cried. “The venom from that thing is worse than a rattlesnake's.”

“Isn't it supposed to have a red hourglass marking on its stomach?” Bess asked in a shaky voice. She had moved quickly to the opposite side of the room.

“I don't think we want to turn it over to find out,” Nancy said. “I'm sure it's a black widow, though. I've seen them before.” She looked up as a knock sounded on the door.

“It's Hank Meader,” a man's voice called out. “I've brought your luggage.”

Nancy kept her eye on the spider as Bess opened the door.

“What on—?” Hank began as he saw the terrified expression on the girls' faces. “Oh,” he said as his eyes went to the spider. The spider scuttled out across the floor, and Hank quickly stepped on it. “That shouldn't have happened,” he told the girls. “All of the buildings here are sprayed for insects, but sometimes they get inside anyway.”

Nancy was tempted to tell Hank that the black widow hadn't just wandered in. Someone had left the spider for them very deliberately. But she decided not to say anything.

Hank put the spider outside and tipped his hat to the girls. “Got to be going now.”

George waited until Hank had left before saying, “I think we ought to complain at the office. These Solaire people ought to know what's in their fruit baskets.” She stopped and frowned. “Actually, maybe they already do.”

“That black widow couldn't have been left by the Roziers,” Bess pointed out. “They
want
guests at the spa. They wouldn't be trying to scare them off.”

“I think Bess is right,” Nancy agreed. “And we should report it. I'd like to find out if any of the other new guests found little surprises in their fruit baskets.”

George opened her suitcase and pulled out a
short white tennis skirt and a sleeveless top. “I say we unpack and change into some lighter clothing first. Then we can stop by the office on our way to see Dr. Benay.”

“Okay.” Nancy took a T-shirt from her bag and began to pull off the thick cotton sweater she'd worn. She stopped as she realized that the sweater's sleeve was caught on the clasp of her silver bracelet. Somehow, she thought as she untangled the bracelet, this vacation wasn't starting out very well. She hoped there wouldn't be any more nasty surprises in store for them at Spa Solaire.

• • •

“You said you found this in your fruit basket?” The woman behind the desk in the office examined the wooden box and the note Nancy had given her. “And there was a black widow spider in it? That's impossible!”

“It was
not
impossible,” Nancy replied patiently. She nodded to Bess and George, who stood behind her. “I have two witnesses right here. And Hank Meader killed the black widow.”

The woman peered at Nancy from behind horn-rimmed glasses. “I will show the box and the note to the Roziers,” she said, shaking her head. “I am very sorry such a thing happened.”

“Has anyone else reported an incident like ours?” Nancy asked.

“Certainly not,” the woman said indignantly. “I assure you, there has never been one.”

Nancy and her friends left the office and headed for the west wing, where they were to meet with the spa's doctor. The three of them climbed a flight of outdoor stairs that led to a balcony overlooking the courtyard.

“Here it is. Room five-two-one. Alicia Benay, M.D. and Ph.D. in nutrition,” Bess read the sign on the door.

The girls entered a small room filled with thick white sofas and lots of lush green plants. A young man with reddish hair sat behind a desk. “Please have a seat,” he said, nodding toward the sofas. “After you've had your consultation with the doctor, we will prepare a diet and exercise schedule for you.”

“I want lots of beauty treatments,” Rhonda Wilkins spoke up. The woman whom the girls had met in the van was waiting on one of the sofas. She nodded toward a wooden door. “Melina's in there now. She's so skinny, they'll probably tell her to eat more.”

“Maybe she needs exercise,” Bess said.

Rhonda shrugged. “Doesn't look to me as if she needs anything.”

The door opened and Melina walked out, giving the others a sulky look. “Your turn,” she told Rhonda.

Nancy frowned. What was Melina's problem? The sophisticated-looking young woman
certainly didn't seem very happy to be at the spa.

Twenty minutes later, Nancy was called into Dr. Benay's office. The doctor was middle-aged, with short, blond hair and a friendly manner. She examined Nancy carefully and then made some notes in a file.

“You seem quite healthy and in good shape,” the doctor said at last. “I don't think you need any special regimens. The usual Solaire diet and exercise classes should work well for you. Just be careful to drink plenty of water and don't overdo things in the heat. It does take a while for your body to adjust to the desert.” She smiled. “And with that reddish hair and fair skin, make sure you use sun block.”

“I will,” Nancy promised.

“Then ask George to come in, please,” the doctor requested.

George went into the doctor's office, and Nancy sat beside Bess, who'd seen Dr. Benay first.

“What did she tell you?” Bess asked Nancy eagerly.

“That I'm basically fine,” Nancy answered with a shrug. “I need to watch the sun and heat, though. What about you?”

Bess's face fell. “She told me I need to lose six pounds.”

“But you already knew that,” Nancy said gently.

“I knew I had to lose
five,”
Bess said in a small voice. “And I guess I was hoping no one else would notice.”

Nancy felt a rush of sympathy for her pretty friend. She and George were lucky; they never really had to worry about their weight. But Bess was always on a diet, and she loved food.

“Anyway,” Bess went on, sounding cheerier, “Dr. Benay says she's going to put me on the special Solaire diet supplement. It's a high-energy drink that fills you up. You drink it in the morning and then you don't need to eat anything else for hours. And I'm going to get a total aerobic workout in the gym.”

“Are you sure that supplement stuff is healthy?” Nancy asked.

“Dr. Benay says it is,” Bess replied. “And that's good enough for me.”

George came out of the doctor's office a short time later and gave a report very similar to Nancy's. Then, since it was nearly dinnertime, the three friends headed for the dining hall.

The hall was filled with long wooden tables. Nancy, Bess, and George wound up sitting across from an older couple wearing matching sweat suits. The two introduced themselves as Max and Eloise Harper.

Although the dining hall was decorated in a Spanish style, the menu was French. Nancy ordered fish and vegetables; George ordered steak and rice, and Bess, who was determined
to begin her dieting, ordered steamed vegetables.

The food arrived a few minutes later, and Nancy looked down at her plate in surprise.

Max Harper asked the question that was forming in Nancy's own mind. “What is this—an appetizer? I didn't order an appetizer!”

“Of course not, dear,” his wife said soothingly. “It's your main course.”

“Really?” George said, her voice amazed. “These itty-bitty portions? I mean, they're cute and all, but—”

“They're special diet portions,” Bess explained.

“But I don't need to be on a diet!” George wailed.

Nancy bit back a smile. George Fayne was one of the fittest, most athletic people she knew. Nancy didn't blame her for wanting a normal-size meal. She looked down at her own plate and lifted a bite-size piece of fish with her fork. Come to think of it, she wouldn't mind a larger meal, either.

“Don't worry,” Bess said brightly. “We'll all adjust.”

“Of course we will,” Mrs. Harper said.

Mr. Harper muttered something about driving into town for dinner and left the table. His wife gave the girls an apologetic glance and quickly followed him.

Shortly after tiny dessert cups of sherbet
were served, Alain Giraud appeared in the dining hall, carrying his clipboard.

The personal trainer sat down at Nancy's table and smiled at the three girls. Alain wore his brown hair slicked back. His skin was very tan and set off his brilliant blue eyes. He was extremely handsome, Nancy realized. “I just received Dr. Benay's recommendations,” he began. “And I wanted to discuss your exercise programs with you.”

“First, could you discuss getting us more food?” George wanted to know.

Alain grinned and glanced down at his clipboard. “I'm afraid not. You're George Fayne?”

George nodded.

“Dr. Benay says you're in excellent shape. We can tailor your exercise program any way you like.” His eyes came to rest on Nancy. “She said mostly the same about you, though she thinks you could benefit from some aerobics and weight training.”

“What about me?” Bess asked eagerly. She was gazing at Alain with a look Nancy knew all too well. Bess was in love again.

Alain winked at her. “You're in my special lose-six-pounds program. There'll be lots of aerobics and toning exercises, as well as workouts to build your strength and endurance.

“If the three of you will fill out these forms with your preference,” the trainer went on, “we'll make up complete schedules for you.
The gym opens at six for morning workouts. Also, I strongly suggest that you all take advantage of the hike that Kim is leading at ten.”

Alain stood up and started to leave, then turned back to the girls. “And Ms. Fayne, you might want to check out the tennis courts right now. Two of our tennis pros are giving a demonstration.”

“Why does everyone here peg me for tennis?” George complained.

“Could be the tennis skirt you're wearing,” Bess suggested with a grin. “What if I meet you two back at the casita? I want to check on the spa store and get some sun block.”

A few minutes later, Nancy and George began the walk across the grounds. Twilight was falling. The sky had turned deep blue, and the Catalina Mountains were lit with the red glow of sunset. In the distance, the girls could hear horses whinnying in the stables. The desert seemed vast and peaceful.

George consulted her map of the spa grounds and pointed toward the left. “I think the tennis courts are behind the pool.”

They found the courts easily enough. A small crowd, including Alain, had gathered to watch the demonstration game. Both of the pros were excellent players, Nancy saw.

“I wouldn't mind playing with either one of them,” George said, her tone admiring. “Except I might get creamed.”

Nancy turned from the game as she heard someone asking about tomorrow's hike. Behind her she saw Kim Foster, looking flustered. “We're going to Reddington Pass,” the nature expert was saying to Melina Michaels, “to Tanque Verde Falls.”

Then Kim's eyes met Nancy's. “I was looking for you,” she said in a lower voice. “This must have fallen out of your pocket on the way to the casita. I found it on my way back.” She handed Nancy a blank white envelope that she had never seen before.

“Oh, thanks,” Nancy said carefully. But her heart was pounding with the familiar sense of excitement that came over her whenever a new mystery began. Did this note have anything to do with the black widow spider incident?

“See you around,” Kim said abruptly, leaving the courts.

“Right,” Nancy said. A few moments later, she stepped away from the crowd and opened the envelope. Inside, a note read: Must talk to you on the hike tomorrow. Urgent!

Nancy looked up as she realized that the crowd was beginning to leave the tennis courts. The exhibition match was over. She saw George on the court talking to one of the tennis pros. Then the pro handed George two rackets and pointed to the training machine that fired tennis balls.

“Hey, Nan,” George called out. “Want to hit a few balls, just for practice?”

“Sure,” Nancy agreed, tucking Kim's note into her T-shirt pocket. She stepped onto the court and took one of the rackets from George, then did a few practice swings to loosen up. “Okay,” Nancy said finally, nodding at her friend. “I'm ready. Turn on the machine.”

George leaned over and switched on the ball machine.

Nancy looked down at her racket, checking to make sure that she was gripping it properly. When she glanced up again, her eyes widened in shock. It wasn't a tennis ball that was flying toward her, but a sharp-edged rock!

Nancy quickly stepped to the side, only to realize that more rocks were being launched straight at her. They were hurling out of the machine like ammunition. She threw up her arms to cover her face.

“George!” she cried, wincing as a rock glanced off her rib cage. “Turn off the machine!”

But George was nowhere in sight.

Nancy raced off the tennis court, ran up behind the ball machine, and switched it off. She'd examine the training machine later. Right now she had to find her friend. “George!” she called. “Where are you?”

By now, the twilight had deepened. Although the tennis courts were brightly lit, the land around them was dark. Nancy rubbed at the bruise where the rock had hit her and called for George again.

This time she heard what might have been a faint reply.

“George?” Nancy ran to the side of the path. From there, she could see the dim outlines of rocks and cacti and trees.

“George, where are you?” Nancy called again.

This time she heard a definite “Here.”

Nancy finally spotted George sitting on the ground beneath a mesquite tree, rubbing her head.