Free Kiss and Tell by Carolyn Keene Page A

bad?”
    Bess smiled a little. “No, but you’d have to tell Ned, wouldn’t you?”
    Nancy let out the deep breath she felt she’d been holding since she met Sam. “I know, Bess, I know.”
    â€œYou’re afraid to do that when nothing’s really happened between you and Sam, right?” Bess asked.
    â€œI guess so,” Nancy admitted. “Does that make me a bad person?”
    Bess hugged Nancy to her. “Of course not. You’re just confused. Who wouldn’t be? Sam’s a great guy. You have a lot in common. He’s new and different and you’ve been with Ned a long time. Maybe you need to let things take their course and see what happens.”
    â€œIs that okay?” Nancy asked. “I feel like I’m not being honest.”
    â€œYou are,” said Bess. “You’re honestly confused!”
    They both laughed. “I feel much better,” Nancy said, taking a deep breath.
    â€œGood,” said Bess with a firm nod of her head. “Now let’s get on with this case. Or else I’ll thinkyou’re dragging it out just so you can be with Sam.”
    At Esme’s suite, Janine answered the door. The publicist told Nancy and Bess that Esme was in the Jacuzzi, but that the two girls should join her there.
    â€œShe’s at her most relaxed in the Jacuzzi,” Janine said. “I’ll find you some suits.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Nancy asked. “I don’t want to disturb her, but I do have a few questions to ask.”
    Janine was already halfway toward the bedroom. “She won’t mind, I’m positive.” She returned with a pair of black swimsuits, two robes, and some towels. “Here you go. You can change in the locker room downstairs.”
    The health club was located in a basement floor below the lobby. Nancy and Bess changed in the locker room and headed toward the Jacuzzi. There Esme was alone, quietly relaxing in the bubbling water with her eyes closed. She looked up when Nancy and Bess entered the tiled room and seemed genuinely happy to see them.
    â€œI live for these things,” Esme said, floating in the water.
    Nancy stepped into the hot water, sitting across from Esme. Bess settled in next to her. “We wanted to ask you a few questions,” Nancy said. “Janine said you wouldn’t mind if we came down here.”
    â€œShoot,” Esme said, her eyes closed.
    Nancy gently explained what Sam had learned about the restraining order Esme had placedagainst Todd. “I know Todd is worried you’ll reveal a secret of his in Telling All. Is that the secret Todd was mentioning?” Nancy asked.
    â€œI’d rather not say,” Esme told her, blotting her face with her towel.
    â€œYou did place a restraining order against him,” Bess insisted.
    â€œI did,” Esme agreed. “But the reasons remain between Todd and myself. It’s too personal.”
    â€œIs there some other secret Todd would want to protect?” Nancy pressed.
    Esme opened her eyes and gave Nancy a firm look. “I’d really rather not say. Can we leave it at that?”
    Nancy was momentarily distracted by several people walking past the glass door. Then she said to Esme, “I understand. But I need to know if you think Todd is capable of harming you to prevent the publication of Telling All.”
    â€œI honestly don’t think so,” Esme told her. “Todd may be headstrong, but he’d never do anything, not at this point, that would hurt his career. He must know that if he was caught, his chances would be gone completely.”
    Bess fanned herself and wiped the hot water from her face. “I don’t see how you two can stand this heat,” she said. “This water is way too hot. I’ll meet you guys up in the room, if that’s okay?”
    Esme laughed. “It’s an acquired taste, Bess.”
    As Bess stepped out of the Jacuzzi,