Bess blushed deeply. “Are you going to the show?” she asked her newfound friend.
“No, I had a very full day, and I’m tired,” Laura said. “I like to unwind with a good book before I go to sleep, and I’m reading a wonderful mystery that has me totally stumped. I want to finish it tonight.”
The Lowes said they were turning in too.
“We’ll be in Alpena, Michigan, tomorrow,” Mrs. Lowe said. “I hope it’s as much fun as Sturgeon Bay.”
Nancy and Bess said their good-byes and headed to the theater. George and Brad were waiting for them at the entrance.
“George is absolutely glowing,” Bess whispered. “I’ve never seen her look like that.”
“Exercise does that for you,” Nancy said.
Bess looked at her. “Nan, I don’t think it’s the exercise that’s causing it,” Bess said. “I think it’s Brad Snider.”
The seats in the theater were on a first come, first served basis, and the theater was almost full by the time they found four seats together at the back.
Just as the curtain came up the man sitting in front of Bess straightened up. “I can’t see now,” she whispered to Nancy.
“Do you want to trade seats?” Nancy whispered back.
Bess shook her head. Nancy could tell that she had returned to the funk she had been in before dinner.
The first song had barely begun when a crew member from Guest Services handed Nancy a card. There was still enough light in the theater that she could read the message.
Nancy leaned over to Bess. “This is strange. It’s a note from Craig,” she whispered. “He says that Amber’s not feeling well and wants to see me in her cabin right away. He says to please hurry and use the stairs instead of the elevator because they’re closer.” She sighed. “He’s probably panicked because he doesn’t have a clue about what to do.”
Nancy started to stand up, but Bess put her hand on Nancy’s arm. “I’m not really in the mood for this show, so why don’t you let me go instead?”
“Are you sure, Bess?” Nancy said. “I don’t mind.”
“Nancy, I can take care of a sick person as well as you can,” she said. “You’re not the only one who’s been a candy striper in a hospital.”
“That’s true,” Nancy agreed. One of her favorite songs was just beginning. “Be my guest.”
Bess slipped out of her seat and quickly left the theater. Nancy settled back to enjoy the music.
Two hours later the overhead lights came back on.
“George, we should go see if Bess needs some help with Amber,” Nancy said.
“Okay,” George said. Turning to Brad, she added, “I’ll meet you at the pool at six A.M. We’ll work some more on those breathing exercises?”
“Great!” Brad said.
When Brad was out of hearing, Nancy said, “Is there more to this than two athletes giving each other tips?”
“Nope. He’s married with three kids. I even know their names, what they do at school, and that he’s madly in love with his wife,” George said. “He’s also going only as far as Port Huron.”
Nancy stopped and looked at her. “Really?”
George nodded. “It’s a business trip. He’s thinking about installing his personal fitness equipment on this ship,” George explained. “His machines are already on several cruise ships that go from New Orleans to Jamaica.”
“That’s exciting,” Nancy said. She was just about to ask George to give her some more details when a young man wearing a white hospital coat hurried up to her. “You’re Nancy Drew, aren’t you?” His name tag identified him as Billy Shannon, a member of the ship’s medical team.
Nancy nodded.
“Your friend Bess Marvin is in the clinic,” Billy said. “She slipped and fell going up some stairs. She twisted her ankle, but she’s okay. She’s resting comfortably now. I can take you to her.”
Nancy and George followed Billy back to the clinic.
“When did this happen?” Nancy asked.
Billy looked at his watch. “A couple hours ago,” he said.
“That was right after Bess left the theater,” Nancy said to George.
George looked at Billy. “Why are you just now letting us know this?” she asked.
“Your friend didn’t want to interrupt the show,” Billy said.
Nancy shook her head. It was just like Bess to put her friends’ happiness before her own.
Nancy and George soon arrived at the clinic and were taken to Bess’s room. They found her sitting up in bed, watching a movie on television.
“How was the show?” Bess asked them. Her ankle was taped up, and it was elevated a bit. Nancy thought Bess seemed a little pale, but other than that, she didn’t look the worse for wear.
“It was great, but I’m angry that you didn’t have someone call us out,” Nancy said. “Next time …”
