The Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene Page A

even noticed that the trainer was following them, but since he was, maybe she could get him to help. “Alain, please,” she said. “I need the keys to the station wagon.”
    â€œI can’t give you the keys,” he replied at once.
    Nancy watched helplessly as the van started up and Hank pulled out of the parking space. Fortunately, there was a line of other cars ahead of him, also on their way out.
    She turned to Alain again. “You don’t understand,”she said pleadingly. “Hank is a blackmailer, a kidnapper, and he nearly committed murder today. We’ve got to catch him!”
    Alain pulled the car keys from his pocket and grabbed Nancy by the arm. “Well, then, let’s go,” he said, starting toward the station wagon.
    This wasn’t what Nancy had planned. Alain could be in cahoots with Hank. There was no way she was going to get into a car with him.
    She signaled to George, who had overheard the conversation. Quickly, George dropped to the ground. “Oww!” she cried. “I think I sprained my ankle!”
    Alain paused and looked down at George in concern. But before the trainer could even ask what was wrong, George’s foot shot out, sweeping Alain’s feet from under him.
    The keys flew from Alain’s hand. Nancy scooped them up instantly and ran to the car with George right behind her. The two of them got in and locked the doors. “I’m afraid to look,” Nancy said to George, starting the engine. “Is Hank still in the parking lot?”
    â€œHe’s about two cars away from the entrance,” George reported. “But there’s no one behind him. We ought to be able to catch him.”
    Nancy backed up as fast as she dared, then sped out of the parking lot.
    Something large flew into Nancy’s line of vision, and suddenly Nancy was face-to-facewith Alain, who had jumped onto the hood of the car.
    Nancy was so alarmed to see Alain scowling angrily at her that she slammed on the brakes, hard. Alain’s furious expression turned to one of panic as the sudden force of the brakes threw him from the hood of the car.

13
The Middle of Nowhere
    Nancy threw the car into park and looked over at George. “Do you think he’s hurt?” she said, her eyes wide with fear.
    Quickly, the two girls jumped out of the car and ran around to the front. Alain was lying motionless on the ground.
    Worriedly, Nancy bent over the fallen trainer. All of a sudden, Alain jumped up and grabbed Nancy by the shoulders.
    â€œYou’re a crazy, stupid kid,” he cried, shaking her. “What do you think you’re doing, getting in my way?”
    â€œYour way!” Nancy said indignantly as she pulled away from Alain.
    George took a step toward Alain and said, “Don’t put a hand on her!”
    Nancy watched, helpless, as Hank’s van shot forward, then turned right.
    â€œThen keep out of my way,” Alain retorted. “The Roziers hired me as their bodyguard. Someone was blackmailing them for the last year, and then the blackmailer started demanding more money—or else. When the Roziers didn’t comply, the sabotage at the spa started. Jacqueline feared for their lives. She figured that the blackmailer had to be either on the spa grounds or working with someone on the inside. That’s when Laurent contacted me, and they put on all that extra security.”
    Nancy was surprised to hear that Alain had been hired as a bodyguard, but it did explain why his actions had seemed so suspicious to her. She wasn’t completely sure that the trainer was telling the truth, and a glance over at George told Nancy that her friend felt the same way.
    â€œI caught on to Hank Meader’s tricks right away,” Alain continued. “I’ve been following him for weeks, trying to catch him in the act. But then you had to foul everything up, Nancy Drew.”
    â€œI knew you weren’t a real