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her head around the weight room door and told Nancy she could take her then. Her arms and thighs feeling like dead weight themselves, Nancy followed Rita into the massage room.
    â€œHop on the table,” Rita said with a smile. “I’ll loosen you up.”
    Within fifteen minutes, the soreness had left Nancy’s muscles, and she felt so relaxed she wanted to take a nap. Rita knew her business, she thought.
    â€œYou look like you’re falling asleep,” Rita remarked, pounding Nancy’s legs with the sides of her hands. “Want me to call up to the lounge and order you a drink?”
    â€œI think they’re too busy up there,” Nancy said. “The place is jumping.”
    â€œOh, right,” Rita said. “Well, I’ve got a quick call to make, if you don’t mind. It’ll justtake a second.” While Nancy waited, her eyes closed, Rita spoke into the phone. “Just wanted to let you know that I can’t make it,” she said. “But I’ll be in touch, okay? ’Bye.”
    Turning back to Nancy, Rita sighed. “Boy, am I glad to be inside on a day like this! I don’t see how anybody can stay out in the sun when it’s so hot. Of course, it’s mostly the kids who do. The older people all come inside and sit around talking.”
    â€œEverybody’s very friendly at the club,” Nancy said.
    â€œThat’s for sure.” Rita laughed. “I can’t believe some of the things people tell me. They talk about their love lives and their problems, their jobs—”
    â€œAnd their money.” Nancy finished for her. “The older people around here talk a lot about that, don’t they?”
    Laughing, Rita dug her fingers into the back of Nancy’s neck. “Well, most of them have plenty of it, so I guess it’s normal to talk about it.”
    â€œI suppose,” Nancy said. “But I think if I were really rich I’d be more discreet about it.”
    Rita laughed again. “I would, too. If I had what some of them have, you can bet I wouldn’t tell a single living soul.”
    But does she have what they have? Nancy wondered. Or some of what they have, like anantique necklace and a painting by Picasso? And if she does, how am I going to find out? Rita talks, but she doesn’t really say much.
    Five minutes later, Nancy decided to give up on Rita, for the moment, anyway. Yawning, she walked to the locker room. Just before she turned in the door, she saw a short, slender girl with hair the color of carrots come out of the weight room. It was Cindy.
    For a second, Cindy stood completely still, her large eyes wide and staring. Then, suddenly, she leaped forward, brushed past Nancy, and raced for the stairs, taking them two at a time.
    Nancy raced after her, up the stairs and into the crowded lounge. She glanced around, certain she could spot that hair anyplace, but there was no sign of it. Cindy couldn’t be that far ahead, she thought, and she made her way as quickly as possible through the crowd and out into the pool area.
    The patio was packed. Nancy looked everywhere, but there was still no sign of Cindy. Skirting the pool area, she was just about to head for the tennis courts when she heard the squeal of a car’s tires.
    Turning, Nancy was just in time to see a small yellow convertible peel out of the parking lot and head down the entrance drive. She was too far away to spot the license number,but there was no question about who the driver was. Cindy’s hair looked as if it were on fire.
    Frustrated, Nancy watched the car disappear down the drive. Cindy was feeling very guilty, that was obvious. But about what? Rifling through Mrs. Ames’s beach bag? Or stealing from people’s houses? Or both?
    Still thinking about it, Nancy went back into the clubhouse and down to the locker room.
    After she opened her locker, Nancy pulled out her canvas bag and was going to sling it over