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and stepped into one of the stalls.
    The club is really serious about showers, she thought as she turned on the faucets. Not only was there the usual shower head at the top of the stall, but there was also a second one below it, aiming straight at her stomach, plus a third one on the opposite wall, which would hit her square in the back.
    Might as well enjoy it, she told herself, turning the faucets up high. There was a strange clanging sound in the pipes, and in afew seconds the water, which was spraying full force out of all three spouts, turned scalding hot. Nancy reached out for the hot faucet and turned it all the way off, bracing herself for a blast of cold.
    But the cold spray never came. The water stayed burning hot, and Nancy plastered herself against the shower door to get out of the direct aim of the spray.
    Frantically, she pushed against the shower door, expecting it to pop open. When it didn’t, her fright turned to terror. Her skin would start to blister any moment. Giving the door a desperate bang, she cried out, “Help! The door’s stuck and I’m getting fried!”

Chapter

Five
    T RYING TO AVOID the water, she banged and shouted two more times until, finally, the door was wrenched open by a very surprised-looking woman wearing a large floppy hat and a flowered bathing suit.
    Nancy scampered out and wrapped herself in her towel. “Thanks,” she said. “I was beginning to turn from rare to medium.”
    The woman nodded. “It’s a good thing I came back for my bag.” She peered into the shower, which was still pouring out scalding water. “But I wonder what’s happening. These showers were installed just a month ago,” shesaid. As she talked, the woman went over to the canvas bag on the bench and picked it up. Looking inside, she frowned. “Funny. I was sure I put my watch in here.”
    â€œThat’s your bag?” Nancy asked.
    â€œYes. I have a bad habit of forgetting it,” the woman said with a sigh. “And now it looks like I’ve forgotten my watch, too. I probably left it at home or up by the pool.”
    Nancy wasn’t so sure about that. Remembering the redheaded girl who had dashed out of the locker room so fast, she had the feeling that this woman’s watch was long gone. And if that was true, then she had better find out who that girl was. After all, if you’re a thief, she thought, why stop with beach bags? Why not go for the big things?
    â€œOh, listen to me!” the woman said, slapping her forehead. “Here I am, worrying about my watch while you’re standing there like a scalded cat! Come with me to the massage room. I’m sure Rita will have something to take the sting away.”
    Nancy had eased herself into the pair of orange shorts and matching top she’d worn to the club. She followed the woman down the hall. They were just about to go into the massage room when the woman spotted Zach coming around the corner and immediately called out to him. “You won’t believe it,Zach,” she said angrily. “Those fancy new showers—one of them just broke and nearly burned this poor girl to a crisp!”
    Zach looked at Nancy, worry in his dark eyes. “Are you okay?”
    â€œOh, sure, I’ll be fine,” Nancy said. “It felt like I was stuck in there forever, but it was really just a few seconds. The problem was, I couldn’t get anything but hot water.”
    â€œAnd the door was jammed, too,” the woman reported. “Zach, would you be an angel and call Maintenance to have that door fixed and then call a plumber? I’d do it, but I simply have to get home.”
    â€œOh, that’s right,” Zach said. “Your daughter’s coming for a visit, isn’t she? Don’t worry, Mrs. Ames, I’ll call.” He tapped the empty tray he was carrying. “I have to fill another order for the men’s locker room, so I’ll call