California Schemin': Book One in the Malibu Mayhem Trilogy by Carolyn Keene

“They were sterile until now.”
    “Later!” Bess said to Cinnamon with a little wave. “Nancy and I have to change for the cruise.”
    We shot past her and practically ran to our rooms. Once inside, Bess flopped back on her bed and stared at the ceiling.
    “That was close,” she said. “What about the others? Shouldn’t we tell Mandy and Mallory that their sister is being injected with that drug?”
    “Not yet,” I said. “We’ll contact the police when the time is right.”
    “Nancy, if we don’t get the police here soon, we’ll never help Mia or the others,” Bess said.
    “Roland is a pro. He’ll just trick the police into thinking this is a harmless self-help spa.”
    “I guess,” Bess said.
    “That’s why the garbage bags with the needles are vital,” I said. “If we can get evidence that the retreat is dumping trash in the ocean, it’ll blow the whistle on everything else in this place.”
    Bess closed her eyes to take a rest. I texted George, telling her about the cruise. She answered immediately: IF U NEED ME SOS!
    I was about to rest myself when there was a knock on our door. Bess sat straight up.
    “Who is it?” I called.
    “It’s me, Daisy,” a soft voice replied.
    Bess got up and opened the door. Daisy’s face was pale and her hair disheveled.
    “Come on in,” Bess said, whisking her into the room and shutting the door. “Are you okay? I hate to say it, but you look awful.”
    “I know, I know.” Daisy sighed as she sat down on my bed. “We just had the most awful workshop.”
    “Workshop?” I asked, sitting next to her.
    “Roland had a table covered with the most awesome-looking chocolates,” Daisy explained. “And me being such a foodie—I mean pig—I couldn’t wait to try some.”
    “Sounds like fun to me,” Bess said.
    “Not exactly,” Daisy said. “I bit into a chocolate and thought I’d die. They were filled with wasabi and jalapeno peppers!”
    “Are you serious?” Bess cried.
    “I hope you spit it out, Daisy,” I said.
    “Roland wouldn’t let us. He kept shouting at us to feel the fire in our bellies. All I could feel was the fire in my mouth,” Daisy said.
    I placed my arm around Daisy’s shoulder. Another crazy and dangerous workshop led by Roland.
    “I know I was a Roland worshipper when I got here,” Daisy admitted. “But I don’t want to be around him anymore. All I want to do is go home.”
    I was glad that Daisy was coming to her senses. But there was still something I didn’t get.
    “Why did you come to us?” I asked.
    “I could tell you weren’t crazy about the place either,” Daisy explained. “Will you leave the retreat with me?”
    I wished Bess and I could leave, but we couldn’t. We also couldn’t tell Daisy the real reason we were here. “We’re going to stay until the end of the program, Daisy,” I said gently. “But don’t let that stop you.”
    “Yeah,” Bess agreed. “Just pack your things, go downstairs, and leave.”
    “The retreat took my money when I got here.” Daisy sighed. “How will I get home? My mom lives in Denver.”
    I didn’t think Bess and I could help Daisy in any way. Then I had an idea.
    “Daisy, go the house next door and introduce yourself to George,” I said.
    “George?” Daisy repeated. “Is he your brother? Boyfriend?”
    Bess giggled and said, “George is a girl. Her real name is Georgia—but don’t tell her I told you.”
    “George will let you call your mom so you can arrange a way home,” I explained. “You can stay with her until you figure something out.”
    I pulled out my phone and found a picture of George. “Here.” I showed it to Daisy. “This is what she looks like. I’ll text her to let her know you’re coming.”
    “You have a phone in here?” Daisy gasped. “I thought we weren’t allowed to have phones.”
    “Let’s just say we beat the system,” I said with a smile.
    “Thanks, you guys!” Daisy exclaimed. She hugged both Bess and me.