The young people felt sorry for the man, and his story made them more suspicious than ever of the partners in the Crocodile Ecology Company. By now they had reached Key Biscayne. Danny pulled into a public dock to let Colombo off, and asked him if they could be of any further help.
Colombo shook his head. "You've all been mighty kind, and I'll never forget it. If I can ever do you a favor, just let me know."
Nancy asked him where he would stay.
"At the YMCA," he said. "I have relatives here, but Mr. Gimler knows about them. If I go there, he'll track me down and try to force me to return to Crocodile Island by threats, and make up some story."
"That's true," Nancy said. "Well, I hope your legs will heal properly. Perhaps you should see a doctor."
Colombo smiled. "I think you ladies did a fine job. I'll be well in no time." He stepped onto the dock with Danny's help, then turned around. "I don't even know your names," he said.
Nancy hesitated, but Danny spoke up quickly. "I'm Danny Cosgrove, and these are the Boonton girls, Anne, Elizabeth, and Jackie."
"Thank you," Colombo said. "I really appreciate your help."
Danny pushed off. "I hope you girls don't mind what I told him," he said. "But he can find out from anyone around here who owns the Pirate."
"That was perfectly all right," Nancy said. "Besides, I think we can trust him."
On the way home the young people discussed what the phrase "they want five hundred" could have meant.
"If not crocodiles, what else?" George asked.
"The thing that bothers me most," Bess said, "is that Mr. Gimler might have known Colombo was on the skiff. If so, he may make trouble. We'd better not go back to Crocodile Island."
"We've got to, Bess," said Nancy. "We're just beginning to get some good clues!"
When they reached the Cosgrove home, Danny's mother was waiting for them. After greeting each one, she said, "I have a message for you, Nancy."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Mr. Gonzales called. He has some valuable information to give you."
"Did he give any hint as to what it was?" Nancy asked.
Mrs. Cosgrove shook her head. "He said that you would receive a letter in the morning."
Nancy wanted to phone Mr. Gonzales at once, but realized that she should not let her curiosity get the better of her and possibly embarrass him.
Later in the evening, the group settled down to watch television, but the young detective had trouble concentrating on the show. Instead, her thoughts focused on what Colombo had told them about Crocodile Island.
Presently the phone rang. Mrs. Cosgrove answered, then handed the receiver to Nancy. "It's for you."
"Hello?" Nancy said.
"You're not Anne Boonton!" a man said gruffly. "You're Nancy Drew. We know all about you. If you and your friends don't leave Florida at once, you'll never get home again!"
CHAPTER XIAn Identification
"Who are you?" Nancy asked the man on the phone.
There was no reply, only a click in her ear.
Nancy's friends looked at her questioningly. "Who was it?" George asked.
"One of our enemies, I'm afraid. He told us to leave Florida, or we might never see our homes again!"
"Oh, dear!" Bess wailed. "Now they know where we're staying."
"So what?" George said. "This isn't the first time Nancy has been threatened over the phone by her adversaries!"
Danny tried to break the tension. "Bess, will you stop worrying? After all, you have me to protect you!"
Bess laughed, and after a while the mysterious call was forgotten.
Next morning Nancy watched eagerly for the mailman. When he came up the street, she ran from the house to meet him. He smiled at her and asked, "Is a Miss Anne Boonton staying here?"
"Yes," Nancy replied. "Do you have a letter for her?"
"Indeed I do," the man replied. "And a lot of others. You want to take them?"
"I'll be glad to," Nancy said, and he handed her the bundle.
She thanked him, then hurried into the house and quickly scanned the stack. The one addressed to Anne Boonton was near the bottom. Nancy opened the envelope. The letter read:
Dear Anne:
I had a phone call from Hal Gimler today. He told me that one of our employees, Colombo Banks, has run away. He suspects that the workman escaped in a skiff with three girls and a boy in it.
Gimler thinks that Colombo may cause trouble and asked me to locate him. I was wondering, was your group responsible for his rescue, and do you know where he is? Gimler threatens to have him arrested for stealing.
If you have any information about Colombo, meet me at my club for lunch tomorrow.
G.
"That's today," Nancy said to herself.
By this time Bess, George, and the Cosgroves had joined her and wanted to know what the letter said. She read it to them.
When she finished, Mr. Cosgrove said, "You'd better go to the dub and talk to Mr. Gonzales."
"There's only one problem," George said. "Nancy might be followed. Now that the Ecology people know where we're staying, they may have this place staked out."
"Well," Mr. Cosgrove said, "we belong to the same club as Mr. Gonzales, and we know many other members. Perhaps you could meet one of them and get a ride."
"That's a good plan," Nancy said. "Now we just have to figure out how I get from here to wherever I'll meet this person."
Bess had a suggestion. "Danny and Nancy are about the same size. Couldn't she wear his clothes and cover her hair with a golf hat?"
Nancy laughed. "I wouldn't want to have lunch with Mr. Gonzales in dungarees and a T-shirt!"
"True," Mrs. Cosgrove agreed. Then her face lit up. "I have it!" she said. "The delivery boy from Drummond's Market is due here at about eleven. He drives a van. I'll tell him to back up to our attached garage so you can slip into the van unseen. Then he can drop you off downtown."
"That sounds great," Nancy agreed.
"Okay. I'll call my friend Mrs. Grote and see if she's playing golf today. If so, she can meet you at a drugstore on the main street. She has to pass it on the way to the club. What shall I tell her you'll be wearing?"
"If I put on my dark-blue pants suit, I might still be taken for a boy from a distance, provided I cover my hair," Nancy replied.
Mr. Cosgrove said he had a hat he used on the golf course, and offered to lend it to Nancy. "Come with me and see if it fits," he said.
While Nancy was gone, Mrs. Cosgrove called her friend, who agreed to pick up Nancy at the drugstore.
Ten minutes later the girl detective appeared again, dressed in a blue pants suit with white collar and cuffs, and the white golf hat
"Oh, you look cute!" Bess exclaimed. "Not quite like Danny, but close!"
Just then Danny walked into the room and overheard Bess's remark. "You've got to be kidding!" he protested. "I don't own a fancy getup like that, and if I did, I'd give it away quick!"
Everyone laughed, and Nancy said, "All that counts is that from a distance I don't look like me!"
"Nancy," Mrs. Cosgrove said, "Mrs. Grote will meet you at the drugstore. She'll be wearing a white dress with a multicolored embroidered belt."
Soon the delivery boy arrived at the back door in a van. Mrs. Cosgrove gave him the necessary instructions, and Nancy slipped into the rear. After he had left the street she climbed into the seat next to him. He looked at her and gave a low Whistle. "You're a doll," he said appreciatively. "Are you on a secret date?"
Nancy smiled. "Suppose you guess?"
"I'm sure you are," the young man said as he pulled around a corner, "so I won't interfere. But I'd like to take you out myself some time."
"That's very kind of you," Nancy replied. "Right now, however, I have to go on an important errand."
When they reached the drugstore, she thanked the boy, quickly hopped out, and went inside. She saw a rack of books and walked over to examine the titles. Just then an attractive woman walked into the store. She was dressed in white except for an embroidered, many-colored belt.