“Did you check the telephone number and address on his calling card?” Nancy asked.
“Yes. It was an apartment here in the city, but he moved out before we got there. We questioned the superintendent and other tenants, but no one knew anything about him. He was a resident only a short time. But we think he’s still in this area.”
“I’m not sure about that,” Nancy said. “We suspect that he may be in cahoots with a group of performers called the Hoaxters. They left unexpectedly for Mexico City.”
The officer’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? That’s interesting. I’ll get in touch with the police there and ask them to be on the lookout for Rafferty, alias Barker.”
“I certainly hope they catch him,” Bess said. “He came near getting some money from me. He’s a slick talker.”
“And a very good-looking and likeable person,” George added. “I guess it’s easy for him to sell phony products.”
“I’m afraid so,” the chief agreed. “Thank you very much, girls.”
He opened his desk drawer and handed Nancy the original snapshots she had taken. “We’ve made duplicates of these,” he said.
When the girls left headquarters, Nancy suggested they go directly to Aunt Eloise’s apartment and do no more sleuthing for the day.
“All I want to do is lie in a tub of hot water. I’m stiff all over,” she confessed.
“And I’d like to go to sleep,” George said. She still felt shaky from the accident.
Bess nodded. She had a terrible headache. Quickly Nancy hailed a cab and the girls climbed in. When they reached the apartment, she phoned the taxi company to find out how their driver was. The answer was a relief: he had suffered a slight concussion, but would be all right in a couple of days.
When Aunt Eloise returned from school later that afternoon, she was amazed by her visitors’ story.
“You’re lucky not to have been seriously injured,” she said. “Did you get a good look at the man who ran into you?”
“Only a fleeting glimpse,” George said. “Not enough to identify him.”
They tried to figure out who the attacker could have been. Nancy said she had a strong hunch he was connected with the Hoaxters.
Aunt Eloise was inclined to agree. “But why did he want to harm you?” she asked.
There was silence for a few minutes, then Nancy said, “I think we should go to Mexico City and continue our sleuthing. We shouldn’t let the Hoaxters get away from us!”
“You’re right,” Aunt Eloise said. “How I wish that I could go with you! But of course, that’s impossible.”
Bess and George felt Nancy’s suggestion was a good one. George added with a sigh, however, “I’ll have to phone home and try to get more money. Frankly, my detective allowance account is down to zero!”
6
Clue to a Suspect
Bess was the first to call her parents. While the other girls waited eagerly, she explained their plans and said she would like to join Nancy on her trip to Mexico. The Marvins readily agreed.
George phoned next, but she had a more difficult time getting permission. Mr. Fayne reminded his daughter that she had, indeed, used up her detective allowance.
“But Dad, this is very important!” George pleaded. “Would you lend me the money and after I get home, I’ll earn some and pay you back?”
Mr. Fayne chuckled. “You’re working hard now. How would it be if you got paid for being a detective?”
“No, Dad. If I accept money for my work, it would take me out of the amateur class. And I know Mr. Drew wouldn’t like that. Besides, I couldn’t work with Nancy and Bess any longer.”
“Okay, you’ve convinced me,” Mr. Fayne said fondly. He promised to raise her allowance to pay for the trip. “But be sure you solve the mystery!” he teased.
George laughed. “With Nancy carrying the ball we won’t fail.”
As soon as the girls had finished their calls, Nancy contacted her father and told him about the proposed trip to Mexico City. Then she phoned Mrs. Richards. Nancy was glad to learn that the woman was feeling fine, and revealed their plans. She asked Mrs. Richards, however, to keep their trip a secret.
“Of course I will,” the woman promised. “But I think you should tell me where you’re staying in case I need to reach you.”
“At the Fortunato Hotel,” Nancy replied. “We’ll let you know what’s happening.”
She made reservations on a flight for early the next morning. After breakfast, they said good-by to Aunt Eloise.
“And thank you for your wonderful hospitality,” Bess added.
The girls arrived in Mexico City during the afternoon. While claiming their baggage, the three Americans heard nothing but Spanish spoken. Bess and George stared at each other. They did not understand a word!
“Nancy, I’m glad you speak Spanish,” George said. “We’d have a hard time otherwise.”
Nancy laughed. “You two should really learn the language. It isn’t difficult.”
The cousins made up their minds then and there that they would take lessons. Nancy was right. It was becoming more and more important for Americans to learn the language of their neighbors just across the Rio Grande River.
The girls took a cab to the Fortunato. When they walked up to the desk, Nancy said to the clerk, “We’d like a large room for the three of us.”
“Your names, please?”
“Nancy Drew, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne.”
“Nancy Drew?” The clerk stared at her. “Please wait a minute,” he said. “The manager has a message for you.” He turned and hurried into a back office.
Nancy looked at her friends. “I wonder what this is all about?” she said. “Not many people knew we’d be here and the ones who did promised to keep it a secret.”
A good-looking Mexican in a white suit came from the rear room and addressed Nancy. “I will have to ask you to come into my office. There is something I must discuss with you.”
The girls followed him and he motioned them to be seated in his small, paneled room. The girls were worried. Was bad news from home awaiting them?
The manager, who introduced himself as Senor Gonzales, said, “I am sorry to detain you, but the police telephoned and asked me to do so.”
Nancy frowned. “How do the police know we are here?”
“They alerted every hotel in town,” Senor Gonzales revealed. “We have your reservation.”
The conversation had been in Spanish, and Nancy turned to translate for her friends. When Senor Gonzales realized Bess and George did not speak his language, he switched to English.
“The clerk told me you were here and I called Lieutenant Tara. He should be here any minute. Please be patient.”
The girls looked at one another in dismay. Members of their families and Mrs. Richards were the only people who could have phoned! Just then the officer walked into the room. Fortunately he spoke English so that Bess and George could follow the conversation.
“I understand that you are detectives,” Lieutenant Tara said.
Nancy replied, “I guess you might call us that. Why?”
“I have been told that you are practicing without a license.”
“License!” Nancy protested. “We’re strictly amateurs and never get paid for our work.”
Lieutenant Tara’s eyebrows shot up. “Can you prove it?”
The girls were stymied for a moment. They were in a foreign country! How could they possibly prove that they never charged for their detective services?
Finally Nancy said, “We have no proof with us. But if you phone my father in River Heights in the United States, he’ll back up our statement. He’s a lawyer. And you might phone Chief McGinnis of the River Heights police force. He has known me ever since I was a little girl.”
The officer rubbed his chin. “Your father is an attorney?”
Bess answered, “Yes, and very well known!”
“We came to Mexico City to locate a con man who is wanted by the N
ew York police,” Nancy said.
“Amazing!” the manager said.
Lieutenant Tara picked up the phone and first called Mr. Drew, then Chief McGinnis. They confirmed the fact that the girls were strictly amateur detectives and Chief McGinnis said, “Nancy Drew is the daughter of a famous attorney and she is known for her talent in solving mysteries.”
Lieutenant Tara thanked the chief and said good-by.
George spoke up. “Who gave you this false information about us?”
The officer hesitated. “I don’t know. Our chief received the message. Why don’t you ask him personally?”
Senor Gonzales offered to get the chief on the line. In a few moments Nancy was explaining to him the girls’ mission in Mexico City.
He told her that the message had come from someone in the U.S. Department of Justice, but that he had not caught the man’s name. He then asked Nancy if she and her friends had any more to tell.
“Indeed we have!” Nancy replied. “This is outrageous. We have never been investigated by the Department of Justice. Your anonymous caller gave you false information.”
The chief cleared his throat, but did not comment. Instead, he asked to speak to Lieutenant Tara again. The chief told him that he saw no reason for detaining the girls and Tara should return to headquarters. When the officer finished, Tara smiled and relayed the message.
“Thank you,” Nancy said. “That’s a relief.”
Bess grinned. “I feel a hundred pounds lighter!”
After Tara had left, Senor Gonzales apologized profusely to the girls. He told the desk clerk to give them a fine room with bath. “That may compensate for all the trouble we Mexicans have caused you.” He smiled broadly.
The girls found the quarters delightful. While they were unpacking, the three friends talked about what had happened.
“I don’t understand how the anonymous caller knew we were coming to Mexico City,” Bess declared.
George said, “The Hoaxters left New York before we made our plans!”
“That’s true,” Nancy admitted. “Perhaps Howie Barker or another confederate stayed behind. He could have visited the luncheonette and learned from Susie the waitress that I had inquired where the Hoaxters had gone.”
“I see what you mean,” Bess said. “And after he found out we knew they went to Mexico City, he figured we would follow and warned the theatrical group.”
“That’s right. Then Barker called the police, pretending to work with the U.S. Department of Justice.”
They had just finished unpacking when the telephone rang. Aunt Eloise Drew was calling. “I just heard from the New York police department,” she told Nancy. “They have unearthed a clue to the thief who stole the vial of poison. His name is Enzo Scorpio.”
“He’s the assistant to Mr. Horner who owns the medical lab in New York!” Nancy exclaimed.
“That’s correct,” Aunt Eloise replied. “He’s originally from Mexico City. The police think he may have returned there and advise you to keep your eyes open. You may be able to track him down.”
“I wonder if he’s trying to sell the vial,” Nancy mused.
“It’s likely that he’ll approach a collector,” Aunt Eloise said. “At least that’s what Mr. Horner believes. He notified the police when Scorpio disappeared unexpectedly, taking all the cash in the lab with him.”
After Nancy had hung up, Bess looked alarmed. “I hope that poison doesn’t get into the hands of the con men. Can you imagine what would happen?”
Nancy nodded, then changed the subject. “What do you say we go see the Hoaxters?”
“Good idea,” her friends agreed.
“I wonder if the show is the same here as it was in New York,” George added.
The girls inquired at the desk where the magicians were scheduled to appear and learned that the theater was not far away. There was no matinee. The evening performance would start at eight o’clock.
Bess was worried that the girls would be recognized by the performers. “Why don’t we disguise ourselves?” she suggested.
“How?” George asked.
“We could buy Mexican dresses, and shawls to wear on our heads. If anyone gets too close, we can just pull the shawls halfway up over our faces.”
“Good idea,” Nancy agreed, and the girls spent the rest of the afternoon shopping. They found an attractive boutique owned by Senora Clara.
“May I help you?” she asked in perfect English.
“What do you think of this one?” Nancy asked her companions. She was holding a pretty turquoise skirt in front of her.
“That is a beautiful choice,” the proprietor remarked. “It matches your eyes so well.”
“She’s right, Nancy,” Bess said. “If only I could find something to suit ...”
“Your waist!” George laughed. “Señora, do you carry chubby sizes?”
Her cousin bristled. “Thanks a lot, George.”
Senora Clara smiled. “You remind me so much of my favorite nieces in the States,” she said. “I’m sure I can find something just right for all of you.”
As promised, the young detectives were able to select just what they wanted. When they arrived at the theater that evening in their attractive Mexican clothes and new hairdos, only a few minutes remained before curtain time.
The girls glanced at the program and noticed that the sleight of hand man was listed as Ronaldo Jensen, the same person they had seen previously.
Just before the performance started, a beautiful woman arrived and sat down in the aisle seat next to Nancy. She was expensively and tastefully dressed and carried a large beaded evening bag.
During intermission, she introduced herself to Nancy in Spanish as Senora Rosa Mendez, a lonely widow.
“My family lives in Oaxaca,” she explained. “I have a darling little granddaughter named Dolores, but I don’t see her very often because she lives too far away. I really miss her very much. I’ll show you a picture of her.”
The woman opened her purse and took out a snapshot of the little girl, who looked to be about nine years old.
“She’s darling,” said Nancy, gazing at the dark-haired, bright-eyed child. “I’m not surprised you’d like to see her more often. I’m sure the show will lighten your spirits,” she added with a smile. “By the way, do you speak English?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” said Nancy. “My friends don’t understand Spanish.”
At the beginning of the second act, the Hoaxters performed a new trick. One of them raced down the center aisle, holding a flaming torch in his mouth. He crossed the rear of the theater and returned to the stage via a side aisle. Then he took the torch out of his mouth and extinguished the flames. The man opened his mouth wide to show that nothing inside had been burned.
“An amazing feat,” Senora Mendez said to Nancy.
“Indeed it is,” the girl agreed.
Just then the sleight of hand man appeared and invited members of the audience to come forward and watch how some of the tricks were done.
Señora Mendez said, “Oh, I’d love to see that!” Before Nancy could stop her, the woman left her seat and hurried down the aisle.
Bess whispered, “I hope she won’t be approached by any of the con men later on. Señora Mendez looks as if she has plenty of money; just the kind of person they’re after.”
The show proceeded. Clever tricks were done by the magicians. The audience laughed and clapped. The people who had gone on stage had become so absorbed by the performance, none of them noticed that several of their watches, necklaces, wallets, and handbags had disappeared. The sleight of hand man assured them that all articles would be returned after the show.
“Please return to your seats,” he requested.
Señora Mendez said to Nancy, “They took my handbag. Do you think they will really give it back to me?”
Nancy said she was sure they would, but added, “Did you have anything valuable in it?”
“Yes, I did,” the
woman replied. “My savings bankbook, some money, and several letters and papers that I would hate to have anyone else read.”
“Do they contain something confidential?” Nancy asked, worried that the Hoaxters might take advantage of this.
“Yes,” Senora Mendez answered. “There was important background information about my family that no outsider should know about!”
Nancy had a sudden hunch. She felt positive that such information could indeed be used to blackmail the woman!
7
Pyramid Chase
In a loud whisper, Nancy said to the distraught woman, “I’m sure you’ll get your handbag back. My friends and I saw two Hoaxter shows in New York, and Bess’s handbag was taken. But it was returned afterward.”
“Oh, good,” Senora Mendez said and settled back in her seat to enjoy the balance of the performance. As soon as the show was over, however, she dashed down the aisle and up the steps to the stage.
“Do you have property you wish to claim?” the sleight of hand man asked her.
“Yes, I do. I want my handbag at once!”
“Follow me,” he said and led her into an office backstage. She picked up her bag, opened it, and rifled through the contents eagerly.
“Is everything there?” the man asked.
“Eh, yes—yes.”
He requested that she sign a paper releasing the Hoaxters from any liability. Señora Mendez did so, then hurried back to where the girls were waiting for her.
“Is everything all right?” Bess asked her.
“Fortunately yes.”
Nancy hoped this was true. She felt, however, that she should warn Senora Mendez. “There is a possibility the Hoaxters looked at your property and found something pals of theirs could use to either swindle or blackmail you. Please call your bank and request them to hold any check they suspect is a forgery. Also, don’t let any fast-talking salesmen con you into dishonest schemes, either by telephone or in person.”
The woman promised to do so. “Now you have me a bit frightened,” she said. “Shall I call the police when something happens?”