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

“I’ll sneak out before the cruise.”
    “Wait a minute,” I said as Daisy headed toward the door. “What about your friend Terrence? Doesn’t he want to go with you?”
    “Terrence suddenly likes this lame retreat,” Daisy said sadly. “Go figure.”
    As Daisy slipped out of the room I whispered, “Good luck.”
    I texted George to give her the heads-up on Daisy. WHAT ABOUT MIA? George texted back. BRAINWASHED , was all I replied.
    At least Daisy was being rescued. I looked up from my phone and smiled. “One down. Now let’s get ready for that mystery cruise.”
    “Glad you could make it!” Roland said as he greeted everyone on the beach. He was standing about ten feet away from the big covered tent, wearing khaki shorts, a Hawaiian aloha shirt, and a shiny silver admiral’s whistle around his neck.
    In their island wear, Ralph and Linda resembled the Howells from Gilligan’s Island . It was hard to tell if the couple was loopy from “vitamin” injections or just being themselves.
    Roland began checking names on a clipboard. For the first time since we began the program, Terrence was standing alone.
    “I’m glad Daisy got away,” I pointed out. “But poor Terrence.”
    Roland grinned as we made our way to him and his clipboard. “Nancy and Bess.” He checked our names off with a flourish. “Check…and check. Enjoy the cruise, you two.”
    “Thanks,” was all I could say.
    As we walked away from Roland, Bess whispered, “I don’t see Mia anywhere, or the trash bags.”
    “What happened to them?” I wondered.
    Just then someone called our names.
    We turned to see Mia, heading over to Roland. She smiled slyly at us and said, “Nice tans.”
    “Ignore her, Bess,” I whispered. “Let her think that we’ve fallen under Roland’s spell too.”
    I felt my phone vibrate in my jacket pocket. “There goes my phone,” I whispered. “Stay here while I take it.”
    I ran all the way around the big tent. When I was sure I was hidden from the others, I pulled out my phone and read George’s text: WHERE IS DAISY? NEVER SHOWED UP.
    “Never showed up?” I said, staring at the message. Quickly I sent George a question mark.
    Bess joined me behind the tent. I showed her George’s text. “Maybe she got her money back from Roland and went home to Denver,” she said.
    But when we stepped out from behind the tent, I spotted Daisy walking alone on the beach.
    “Daisy!” I called.
    She turned to us, poker-faced, as we came running over.
    “Why didn’t you go next door to George?” I asked.
    “I decided I wanted to stay here,” Daisy answered flatly. “My renewal intensive has only begun.”
    Her voice was lifeless, and so were her eyes. What had happened to her since she came to our room?
    “Daisy, you told us you didn’t want to be aroundRoland anymore,” I said slowly. “He made you eat hot chili peppers. You said that was the last straw.”
    “I was just being resistant.” Daisy shrugged. “Roland says it’s natural and part of the renewal process.”
    “But—,” I began to say.
    “See you on the cruise,” Daisy interrupted. She then turned away and walked toward Terrence.
    “They got to her,” I said. “Whether it was another injection or some other creepy method—this is trouble.”
    “Nancy,” Bess said. “Daisy knows you have a phone and that you’re connecting with George. What if she tells Roland or Inge?”
    “Hopefully she’s too spaced out to remember,” I said.
    The screech of Roland’s whistle made Bess and me jump.
    “All hands on deck!” Roland shouted. “Listen to Inge for instructions.”
    Inge briskly directed us to climb into three separate rowboats. Bess and I shared one with Brad and Danielle and an attendant working the oars.
    “How’s your foot, Danielle?” I asked as we began to drift toward the yacht.
    Danielle glanced down at her foot, still bandaged. “Well,” she said. “It’s still a bit—”
    “Couldn’t be better,” Brad cut