“Do you want some help?” Bess asked. But Shana shook her head as she walked slowly to the piano to get her shawl and leg warmers.
“If you see or hear anything suspicious,” Nancy called, “let me know, okay?”
“I will,” Shana promised as George opened the door for her. Shana said goodbye, then hobbled down the hall and into the locker room.
“Her leg looks really sore,” Bess said in a concerned voice. “I hope she’s okay.”
“And I hope this doesn’t sound callous,” George said, “but if I don’t eat soon, I may not be okay.”
Bess grinned. “Now you’re talking, George! Let’s go to Yogurt Heaven, just like old times.”
A short time later, Nancy was parking her car in front of Yogurt Heaven, a longtime favorite hangout for students at the dance academy.
“I’m a little surprised this place is still here,” George said, climbing out of Nancy’s blue Mustang.
“It hasn’t changed too much, either,” Bess assured George. “They still serve the same fabulous low-cal yogurt that they did when we were students at Madame Dugrand’s.”
Once inside the restaurant, the girls found the booth they’d thought of as theirs when they were ten. Nancy and George slid in one side and Bess sat across from them. The waitress brought menus and water, then left.
“I’m going to have a turkey club sandwich, then the pineapple delight with extra coconut,” Bess declared eagerly.
“I’m too hungry to decide so quickly. What are you going to have, Nancy?” George asked.
“Shhh!” Nancy told her friends suddenly. She nodded toward the front door of the restaurant. “Isn’t that Lawrence from the dance school?”
Peering over her shoulder, Bess nodded. “And Shana’s sister, Darci.”
“So what’s the big deal about that?” George asked in a low voice.
“Nothing, I guess,” Nancy replied. “But did you guys see how funny Darci acted after Shana fell? It looked as if she couldn’t have cared less.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” George said. “Are Darci and Lawrence going together?” she asked Bess.
“I don’t know,” Bess replied. “But Darci did have her heart set on dancing with Lawrence in The Nutcracker. She wanted to be the Sugar Plum Fairy, but then Madame asked Shana to come back to dance the part.”
“So Lawrence is partnering Shana now instead of Darci,” Nancy said thoughtfully. “No wonder she gave her sister such a dirty look.”
“I can see why Darci might be upset about the change,” George said. “But I’d think Lawrence would be thrilled to have such a great dancer for his partner.”
Bess leaned closer. “Oh, Lawrence has a grudge against Shana, too. Mrs. Wolaski told me he was supposed to choreograph all the big dance scenes. But when Shana came back, Madame split the scenes between Shana and him. He was not happy.”
Nancy looked back at the couple. Darci was standing awfully close to Lawrence, and his arm was casually around her shoulders. He had blond curly hair and a great dancer’s build.
“I’d say Lawrence was at least a couple of years older than Darci,” Bess commented.
George and Nancy agreed. Just then, the two dancers started down the aisle toward them. Quickly, Nancy stuck the menu in front of her face. George and Bess did the same.
After picking up two sundaes at the counter, Lawrence and Darci took the booth directly behind the girls. They were close enough for Nancy to hear their conversation.
“You should have seen it, Lawrence,” Darci said delightedly. “One minute Miss High and Mighty Shana was up there showing off for everyone, and the next moment she was flat on the floor. It was a total wipeout!”
Lawrence laughed. “That’s just what Shana needs to bring her back down to earth. I wish I’d been there to see it.”
“Maybe another little accident might convince Shana to go back to New York where she belongs,” Darci suggested.
“I don’t know,” Lawrence said slowly. He paused, as if he might say something more.
Holding her breath, Nancy leaned closer toward their booth. She didn’t want to miss a word.
“I have a feeling it will probably take more than just a little accident to get rid of that sister of yours,” Lawrence continued. “And knowing you, Darci, you’re just the person to think of one!”
4
Accidents Will Happen
Bess’s eyebrows shot up. “That sounds like a threat,” she whispered excitedly.
Nancy nodded and put her finger to her lips. It definitely seemed as if Darci Edwards could have played a part in her sister’s accident. But why? Was she that angry because Shana had gotten the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy?
Nancy remembered that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards had been very ambitious for their three daughters. Maybe they’d pushed too hard, and the girls had ended up competing with one another.
Nancy’s thoughts were interrupted when the waitress asked, “What will you ladies have?”
While Bess and George ordered, Nancy listened to Lawrence and Darci discuss Darci’s part in The Nutcracker. Darci didn’t sound happy about being Dewdrop at all.
Once Darci and Lawrence were gone and Nancy had ordered her food, she said, “I guess Darci is pretty angry at her sister.”
“Angry!” Bess exclaimed. “Isn’t that sort of an understatement? Darci and Lawrence both want to get rid of Shana.”
