The Secret at Solaire Read Online Free PDF Page A

been problems here lately?” Nancy asked.
    â€œCertainly not,” Laurent assured her. “But that is because we are so careful. Also, it is rattlesnake season here, and the snakes prefer to come out at night. We wouldn’t want any of our guests to risk a run-in with a rattler.”
    â€œSo we aren’t free to leave our rooms atnight?” Nancy said. She was having a hard time believing that a resort’s security system could be so restrictive.
    â€œOn the contrary,” Laurent said. “Tomorrow night, Kim will be leading a stargazer’s walk. We will provide several escorts, and you may walk the desert trails in complete safety.”
    Nancy decided to try one last time. “Actually, I wanted to ask Kim a question about tomorrow morning’s hike,” she said. “Is there some way I could reach her tonight?”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Laurent said as they reached the door of the casita. “But I’m afraid that is impossible. Kim is off tonight. Perhaps you can talk to her in the morning.”
    â€œI’ll try,” Nancy said, opening the casita door.
    Laurent smiled at her, and Nancy felt a little shiver go down her back. In the moonlight, Laurent’s eyes were pale and chilling—as if he were someone who never cared about anything except maintaining his own smooth, careful appearance. “Bonne nuit , Mademoiselle Drew,” he said. “Sleep well.”
    If I sleep at all, Nancy thought, shutting the door behind her.
    Inside, she found George already asleep. Bess sat at the table, reading the spa literature they’d been given.
    â€œBack so soon?” Bess asked, looking up.
    â€œI didn’t get very far,” Nancy said with asigh. “First Alain and his killer guard dog nearly attacked me. And then Laurent broke in and escorted me back here.”
    â€œLaurent?” Bess said, her eyes aglow. “Oh, he’s such an amazing man. Did you know he’s the one who developed most of Solaire’s fantastic cosmetics? It all started when Jacqueline was getting terrible sunburns, because she’s so fair and all. Anyway, Laurent told her he’d create something so that she’d never burn again. Isn’t that romantic?”
    To Nancy, Laurent seemed anything but romantic. “Bess,” Nancy said, “I don’t trust this place. They have the staff escort us to our rooms at night. Then, once we’re in here, they patrol the grounds. We’re not even free to take a walk!”
    â€œLaurent must have given you a reason,” Bess said, frowning.
    â€œSecurity and snakes,” Nancy said. And Laurent may be the biggest snake of all, she added silently.
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    At nine o’clock the next morning, Nancy sat outside Dr. Benay’s office, waiting for George. She, George, and Bess had all eaten breakfast together, then Bess had gone straight to the gym to begin her workout. If Dr. Benay gave George the go-ahead, the three of them would join the hike with Kim.
    A few minutes later, George emerged from the doctor’s office, smiling. “I’m ridiculously healthy,” she reported. “No ill effects from last night.”
    â€œBut she’s still going to take it easy for a few days,” said the doctor, coming out of the office behind George. “The hike is a gentle one, so I’ve given the okay for that, but make sure she doesn’t overdo things.”
    â€œI will,” Nancy promised.
    â€œLet’s go back to the room and get our tennis rackets,” George said to Nancy.
    Dr. Benay cleared her throat and picked up a Solaire schedule. “The hike will provide enough of a workout for you today, I think. Right now, I suggest you attend either the stretching class or a lecture on healthy makeup.”
    George groaned.
    â€œCome on, let’s go stretch,” Nancy said with a laugh. But as soon as they were a good distance from the