The Fortune-teller's Secret by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

8

Clues in the Dark

Carson came running into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” His eyes swept anxiously over his daughter, who was doubled up on the floor. “Nancy, what’s wrong?”

“It’s my stomach,” Nancy whispered through clenched teeth. “It hurts. A lot.”

Hannah, who was kneeling beside her, glanced up at Carson. “Maybe we should call Dr. Arnstein.”

“His number’s in my study,” Carson said. “I’ll be right back. Hang tight, Nancy honey.”

Dr. Arnstein lived just around the corner, and he was at the house in five minutes flat.

“Thanks so much for coming by on a Sunday, Doctor,” Carson said gratefully.

“No problem,” Dr. Arnstein replied.

After examining Nancy and asking her a number of questions, the doctor announced that she was suffering from food poisoning.

“Food poisoning!” Hannah said, alarmed. “I hope it’s not from anything I made!”

“Nancy told me what she had to eat and drink today,” Dr. Arnstein replied. “Any one of those things could have caused these symptoms.”

He gave Nancy a medicine to calm her stomach and left her with strict instructions to stay in bed the rest of the day.

“You won’t get any argument from me,” Nancy said with a weak smile. “Sleep sounds like a great idea right now.”

When Nancy woke up, her room was pitch-black. Her body was covered with a fine layer of sweat, and her hair clung damply to her face. She sat up, feeling disoriented. What time was it? What was she doing in bed? And then she remembered.

She reached over and clicked on her bedside light. Her alarm clock read six-thirty.

She picked up the phone and punched in Bess’s number. “Hi, it’s me,” she said when Bess answered. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Huh?” Bess sounded confused. “Sure I’m feeling okay. Are you feeling okay?”

“No,” Nancy replied. “That’s why I’m asking. I think one of our suspects tried to poison me.”

“What!” Bess shrieked.

Nancy explained what had happened to her earlier. “The way I figure it, three people had a chance to slip me something today,” she said. Still feeling groggy, she squeezed her eyes shut to concentrate. “First, Loretta gave us some coffee. Then we had brunch at Sperry’s, served to us by Craig. Then I had that awful tea at Madame Destiny’s. I only took a little sip, but still . . . ”

“It must have been the tea,” Bess declared. “George and I had the coffee and brunch, too, and we’re totally fine. George is in the den with my dad, watching some boring football game.” She added dryly, “The way she’s rooting and stomping her feet, I’m sure she’s healthy.”

Nancy chewed her lip, thinking. “No, it still could have been the coffee or the brunch. Loretta or Craig could have put something into my stuff and left yours and George’s alone.”

“That’s true,” Bess agreed.

Cradling the phone under her chin, Nancy swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up slowly. She still felt lightheaded, but her stomach pains were gone.

“Can you guys come out with me for a while?” she said to Bess, reaching for her clothes.

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