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Shark. Shark Browning.”
    She shook her head. “There is no one named Browning at all.”
    â€œBut how can that be?” I protested. “He’s here with his mom and dad.”
    â€œYeah,” Neal explained. “We just saw him a little while ago. And Mark told me they were staying until the end of the week.”
    She glanced back at her computer and tapped on the keyboard. Then she looked back up at us.
    â€œThere has never been anyone named Mark Browning registered here at the Club Lagoona,” she repeated slowly.
    She smiled.
    â€œNot ever.”

8

    â€œS he’s wrong,” Neal whispered as we walked down the hall. “Maybe she’s new. Maybe she doesn’t know how to work the computer.”
    â€œShe seemed to know what she was doing,” I replied. “She checked us in yesterday.”
    â€œWell, maybe there’s some glitch with the computer, Tad. After all, people don’t just disappear, do they?” Neal demanded.
    â€œNo,” I answered. “They don’t.”
    â€œThe last time we saw Mark was when Barry wanted to give him the extra lesson,” Neal said. “But he could be anywhere in the club now!”
    â€œBut that wouldn’t explain why he’s not in the computer!” I argued.
    Neal shrugged.
    â€œOkay, let’s say we had the wrong room number,” I reasoned. “Got it backward or something.”
    Neal nodded.
    â€œThat would explain the guy in Mark’s room. And,” I continued, thinking rapidly, “let’s say there was a computer foul-up.”
    â€œIt happens all the time to my dad,” Neal offered.
    â€œBut that doesn’t explain why my sister didn’t meet me back at the room. Or where our parents are.
    â€œUmm . . . ” he murmured. “Okay, there has to be a logical explanation.”
    I stared at him, waiting. I was stumped.
    He snapped his fingers. “Maybe your sister is with the adults doing some boring exercise class or something.”
    I shook my head. None of it made sense.
    â€œI’m going to phone home,” I announced.
    Neal looked surprised. “Why?” he asked. “No one’s there.”
    â€œMaybe my parents had to go home. Maybe there was some kind of emergency and they didn’t have time to tell us. Or maybe they didn’t want us to worry.”
    â€œDon’t you think you’re overreacting?” Neal suggested.
    â€œI have to do something, and it’s the only thing I can think of!” I snapped.
    Maybe I was freaking out over nothing, but too many weird things had been happening to just be coincidences.
    â€œOkay. Okay,” Neal agreed. “I’ll go with you.”
    I had to talk to somebody outside Club Lagoona. I had to make them understand the danger we might be in. They could find my family. They could come and get me out of here.
    Neal and I pooled our change and headed toward reception. The same girl sat behind the desk.
    â€œWhere’s a phone?” I blurted out.
    She studied me closely. “You again,” she said. “The phone’s over there.” She pointed with her nail file at a phone booth. It was on the other side of the lobby.
    We raced over. There was no time to waste. I’d try my home phone first. If no one answered, I’d phone my next-door neighbor.
    I dropped my money in and dialed. But instead of ringing, a voice came on the line.
    â€œHey, what’s a fish like you doing out of the water?” a voice whined. “This is Club Lagoona. Now, get that bathing suit on, and let’s get wet!” Then there was this crazy laughter.
    I slammed the phone down. I waited a moment, then picked up the receiver to try again.
    â€œLet’s get wet! Let’s get wet!” the voice screamed in my ear.
    I held it up to Neal’s ear. His eyes widened.
    â€œLet’s get out of here!” I gasped.
    Two big hands clamped down on