Free The Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene Page A

together.
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    Nancy woke up the next morning to find Bess already dressed in her workout clothes, doing leg lifts on the floor. Bess was definitely losing weight, Nancy saw, but there were dark shadows under her friend’s eyes. For someone who’d just gotten up, Bess looked exhausted. “Isn’t it a little early for exercise?” Nancy asked.
    George opened one eye. “It definitely is.”
    â€œThere’s no time to waste,” Bess said. “Alain gave me all these exercises for toning and calorie-burning. I won’t lose weight unless I do them.”
    Nancy got out of bed and searched for her clothes. “But you’ve got a whole day of exercise scheduled already,” she said to Bess. “Aren’t you overdoing all of this?”
    â€œAlain says, ‘Listen to your body. It always knows,’ ” Bess quoted. “And what my body knows right now is that it can’t wait to be thin. All this exercise feels fantastic!”
    George sat up and threw her pillow at Bess. “Come on, Bess. Give it up.”
    Bess raised her chin. “You’re just jealous, because for once I’m working out harder than you are!”
    George sighed and climbed out of bed. “Okay, Bess, maybe you’re right. I might aswell join you. They’re going to rename this place ‘Spa Kill-aire.’ ”
    An hour later, after another minuscule breakfast, the three girls reported to the gym, where a small group had already gathered.
    â€œGood morning, everyone,” Alain said. “We’re going to start outside today, with a little run around the grounds.”
    â€œA little run?” echoed one of the guests. “These grounds cover more than a hundred acres.”
    Rhonda Wilkins was already jogging in place. She looked even more exhausted than Bess, Nancy thought.
    â€œLet’s go!” Alain barked, and set off at a brisk pace.
    Nancy and the others all fell into place behind the trainer. It actually felt good to be running outside, Nancy thought. The morning air was still cool, the birds were calling, and the cacti were bright green against the perfectly clear sky. Alain led the guests around the main complex, over to the tennis courts, back around the stables and Hank’s house, and then down the main road to the gate.
    Nancy found herself growing winded as they approached the two tall wooden posts and the sign that swung between them. Bess had dropped back a while ago, but George was still running easily at the head of the pack. Nancywatched as her friend widened the gap between herself and the others.
    Alain signaled to George as she loped beneath the gate. She stopped and waited for the rest of the pack, her hands on her knees.
    Nancy would have loved to have stopped as well. She was incredibly thirsty, and each step was getting harder. But her pride wouldn’t let her give up. She knew she had to make it through the gate. She gritted her teeth as Melina Michaels passed her from behind, then raced under the gate. I must be really slow, Nancy thought. Melina wasn’t exactly the most motivated person.
    Nancy neared the gate, panting so loudly that she was sure they could hear her in Texas. Alain stood on the other side, holding a stopwatch and frowning. “Come on!” he called to Nancy. “Pick up the pace now, and go for a sprint!”
    The request was so unreasonable that Nancy felt her temper rise. Fortunately, with her anger came a burst of energy. Nancy dashed beneath the gate, then halted abruptly as she saw Melina’s face take on an expression of horror. Seconds later, she heard a deafening crash and a woman’s scream.

9
Alive and Unwell
    Nancy spun around. The heavy wooden Solaire sign had crashed to the ground, barely missing her and Rhonda Wilkins, who was only a few feet behind Nancy. Rhonda stood on the other side of the gate, her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with