Rendezvous in Rome by Carolyn Keene

raising her to her feet.
    â€œThe bathroom,” Nancy said, bracing herself on the table with her hands. “Let me splash some water on my face. Where’s my shoulder bag?”
    Massimo handed it to her. “I really think we should leave instead.”
    Nancy gritted her teeth and headed for the bathroom. She wove unsteadily, stumbling a. few times as bobbing dancers bumped into her. Dizziness hit her in waves.
    This is not exhaustion, Nancy said to herself as she fought to make it to the bathroom. Just inside the door she felt the floor pitch beneath her. Helplessly, Nancy looked around, unable to call out. With a little moan she felt herself falling as blackness closed in around her.

Chapter

Six
    N ANCY !” Bess’s worried voice reached into the inky dizziness in Nancy’s mind. “What happened?”
    Nancy forced her eyes open. She was lying on the bathroom floor, her head on Bess’s lap.
    â€œI can’t . . .” Nancy began weakly, trying to say she couldn’t move. The words wouldn’t come.
    â€œShush,” Bess said. “You’re lucky I was here. I’ll go get some help.”
    Nancy closed her eyes as she felt Bess slip away. I’ve been drugged, she told herself. Was someone trying to get to the necklace? If so, the thief was definitely among their little group. They were the only ones who knew she had it.
    Bess was returning with Massimo. Nancy tried to warn Bess to watch her bag, but Bess told her not to speak. Nancy was dimly aware of Massimo picking her up and carrying her out of the club.
    â€œWe will go to the hospital,” he told Bess as he placed Nancy gently in a cab a minute later.
    â€œNo!” Nancy managed to croak out. She’d lose her bag in a minute at a hospital.
    â€œWhy don’t you take us back to the pensione?” Bess suggested. “If you help me get her to the room, I’m sure she’ll be okay in the morning.”
    Good job, Bess, Nancy thought. The cab doors slammed closed, and Nancy felt Bess gently move a strand of hair off her face. Then she went spiraling back into unconsciousness.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    When Nancy woke Monday morning, sunlight was streaming through the window. Her head ached as she looked around the room.
    Bess was perched on the edge of her bed. Seeing that Nancy was awake, she jumped up. “I’ve been so worried about you!” she exclaimed.
    Nancy tested her voice. “I was drugged.” Looking around, she saw her bag on the dresser.
    â€œDon’t worry, the necklace is in there,” Bess said, following Nancy’s gaze. “You were holding on to it with a death grip. I had to pry it out of your hands once we got back to the room.”
    Nancy smiled weakly. “I think someone was after it, and that’s why I was drugged.”
    â€œWho?” Bess asked, pouring water from a large bottle of mineral water they had bought the day before. She gave it to Nancy.
    â€œMaybe you can help me figure it out. Mmm, this is good,” she said as the water soothed her dry throat.
    â€œYou need some food,” Bess told her. “I’ll go out and get some.” She started for the door, but Nancy stopped her.
    She swung her legs to the floor and stretched her arms. “I need a shower, and I need to get out of here,” Nancy said. “Give me a few minutes, and we’ll have breakfast at that café down the street.”
    Twenty minutes later the girls were seated at the café with caffè latte, fresh fruit, and pastries on the table in front of them.
    â€œI was redoing my makeup when you came staggering into the ladies’ room,” Bess said, picking up a pastry. “You were so out of it you didn’t even notice me. You really scared Massimo, too. He was hovering by the door when I came out.”
    â€œWhere were Sandro and Claudia?”
    â€œMassimo said he looked for them, but they weren’t