Free Kiss and Tell by Carolyn Keene Page B

Nancy was trying to think of the best way to ask Esme about Kim. She was about to speak when she becameaware that Bess was pushing against the door in frustration.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Nancy asked her friend.
    â€œI can’t open the door,” Bess said, her face beet red with the heat and the effort. “Nancy, help. We’re locked in!”

Chapter

Nine
    T HAT CAN’T BE ,” E SME said, alarmed. “The doors don’t lock.”
    Nancy rushed over to where Bess was standing. There wasn’t any kind of lock on the door. Wiping the steam from the glass, Nancy immediately saw the problem. Outside, someone had slid a broom through the door handle, making it impossible to open the door from the inside.
    â€œThis water is too hot,” said Esme, stepping out of the Jacuzzi, her body flushed.
    â€œWe’re going to have to shout for help,” Nancy said.
    â€œI’m feeling faint,” Esme said.
    â€œHelp! Someone help us!” She sat down on the ledge between the Jacuzzi and the door.
    More steam rose from the water. The heat in the room continued to build as Nancy, Bess, andEsme shouted for help. It was clear to Nancy that Esme’s pursuer had struck again. After a minute the door flew open, and they all fell through the opening and into Janine Halpern’s arms.
    â€œWhat on earth!” Janine said. “I got a call from someone who claimed to have locked you in the Jacuzzi.”
    Esme drew deep lungfuls of fresh air and asked Janine for a glass of water. While Janine filled up a paper cup at a nearby water fountain, Nancy could see the strain this was causing in Esme. She was doing her best to hold up under the most difficult circumstances.
    â€œDid you recognize the voice of the person who called?” Esme asked her publicist after drinking all her water.
    â€œNo,” Janine said. “But I’m fairly certain it was the same person who called the television studio earlier today. At least, the voice had that same strange electronic quality to it.”
    Esme visibly sagged at the news. Her lips trembled, and she clutched the robe Janine had helped her into. “Why is this happening to me?” she said, a slight edge to her voice. “Who did I hurt so desperately that I deserve such revenge?”
    â€œEasy, easy,” said Janine, and put a comforting arm around her writer. “I know Nancy will find the person, and no one will remember any of this a year from now. Meanwhile, you need to get ready for the reading. Let’s go back to the room. We’ll order lunch, and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
    Esme sighed and turned her attention to Nancy and Bess. Nancy could see the dark circles under Esme’s eyes. The romance writer gripped both girls’ hands and said, “Won’t you have lunch with us? It’s the least I can do for you.”
    Bess grinned and impulsively reached out to give Esme a hug. “We’d love to, right, Nan? We can grab our stuff and change upstairs.”
    â€œSure,” said Nancy. “Give me a second, though. I want to ask a few people if they saw anyone near this door.”
    â€œWe’ll wait for you by the elevators,” Janine said.
    Nancy made a quick tour of the women’s locker room while Bess retrieved their clothes and went to join Janine and Esme. Nancy asked several people if they’d seen anyone around the Jacuzzi; most gave Nancy an apologetic smile. But the last woman she asked told Nancy that she’d been heading to the pool from the locker room when she saw a tall person wearing a trench coat and hat standing by the Jacuzzi door. Pressed, the woman couldn’t give Nancy a better description, but Nancy already knew more than she had started with: whoever had locked them in the room fit the description of the person Sam had chased the night before.
    Nancy hurried to the elevators. Bess handed her a robe, then shot her an expectant look.