“Now he works for Cordova,” Elena said. “I wish I hadn’t gone into the MIC office looking for you. Someone probably tipped off Juan that you were coming!”
Nancy agreed, then turned to Ricardo. “Juan is the man who followed me in the United States and kidnapped me.”
Ricardo groaned. “I wish I had known. Anyway, I went after him around the comer, and the others were waiting there. I tried to get away, but I was outnumbered.”
“Did you learn anything?” Nancy asked. “Cordova is definitely involved with those shipping lines,” Ricardo replied. “When I questioned people at the first firm, no one would speak to me. At the second company, one of the employees I knew told me to forget about the whole thing. 'You will get into trouble asking questions like this/ he said. And I sure did,” Ricardo finished with a bitter grin, touching his swollen lip. “How about you two?”
“I can prove that Cordova’s the man behind the three corporate names,” Nancy said. “He owns the shipping lines, but he remains in the background. He collected insurance on plenty of the cargo.”
“Only the cargo was never loaded onto the ships!” Elena added. “We found the shawls that Aunt Rosalinda thought were lost at sea right here!”
“What!”
Nancy pointed to the cartons. “Look for yourself.”
Ricardo examined the boxes. “They were supposed to go to an exclusive shop in Beverly Hills, California,” he said.
“Do you remember the port they were shipped from?” Nancy asked.
Ricardo nodded. “A place down the coast from here. Obviously, the cargo was brought to Cartagena and unloaded before the ships were sunk, just as you suspected!”
16. Concealed Cargo
“Nancy, I believe you solved your mystery!” Elena spoke up after a moment of silence.
“Not quite,” the girl detective replied. “We still don’t know how Cordova explained to the insurance companies why the freighters made this unscheduled stop.”
“That is easy enough,” Ricardo said. “In shipping, it happens often that rush orders have to be picked up from places where the ship had not planned to stop. Sometimes the requests come in after the freighter has already departed its original port.”
Nancy nodded. “I see. So Cordova diverted his freighters to Cartagena, since his companies were based here. That way he could unload and
stash the cargo in his own warehouses. Then he sank the freighters and collected the insurance not only on the cargo, but on the ships themselves. The records I took from his office indicate that those ships were barely making a profit.”
“When he found out that you were checking into the sunken ships,” Elena went on, “he became nervous. But I don’t understand one thing.”
“What’s that?” Nancy asked.
“How did he find out about your investigation?”
Nancy frowned. “When my father contacted the MIC Transport company by telephone, he spoke to a clerk who promised to relate the message to the man in charge, who would return the call. But the man never did, and subsequent calls were not answered. Apparently word got to Cordova, who promptly closed down the San Pedro office of MIC and his other companies involved in the fraud.”
“That makes sense,” Ricardo agreed.
“Cordova then sent Juan to scare the Johnsons,” Nancy went on. “Dad may have told the man at MIC that he was representing them. Juan was ordered to stay in Phoenix for a while to make sure the threat had worked. He tailed
the Johnsons, saw them meet me in the cafe, probably overheard our conversation, and knew we were pursuing the matter.”
She shook her head with a sigh. “He got to San Pedro ahead of me, saw me snooping around the harbor, and probably figured I would check with the employment office for crew members of the Rayo del Sol. He stationed his buddy, Charlie Sim, there, who sent me on a wild goose chase to Mr. Liu in San Francisco.” Elena, who had heard that part of the story from Nancy before, giggled. “Liu probably never set foot on the Rayo del Sol, Nancy.” The girl detective nodded. “No. But he was a good hypnotist. They just didn’t count on my seeing Juan afterwards, which jarred my memory and ruined their clever plan.”
Nancy paused for a moment, then continued. “Obviously, Juan was supposed to make sure I was going home. When he found out I was stopping off at Phoenix, he figured something had gone wrong. So he kidnapped me and put me on the plane to Colombia.”
Elena nodded. “They probably felt they could hold you in the hacienda until Cordova carried out his scheme to get the Power of Attorney from my aunt.”
“It all fits,” Nancy said. “Except I still have a
feeling that Cordova is up to something that we cannot even guess.”
“So what do we do now?” Ricardo asked. “We should search through the rest of this stuff,” Nancy declared. “We had just started before you—arrived so unexpectedly.”
Ricardo grimaced.
“We were looking for something we could use as a weapon in case they come for us,” Elena told him.
“Good idea,” he said. “Let’s look.” He went across the room to shift crates, boxes, and bales, muttering to himself as he recognized the names of other branches of the vast del Luz holdings. Packing lists were pasted on the containers, and he could tell that none of the cargo would yield any usable weapons.
“Mostly cloth,” he reported. “Not a single shipment of hammers or knives or anything we could use to get out of here.”
Nancy let herself slide down to the floor, leaning her cheek against her propped up hand. She was tired, hungry, and worried and there seemed to be no way out. For once she had no idea of what to do next.
Her fingers probed the wall next to her. It consisted of wooden boards. Suddenly, she found a rotten one that wiggled. Nancy quickly pulled her metal nail file out of her purse and used it to pry the board away from the others. It was not easy. Ricardo dropped to his knees beside her to help, and finally the board separated from the rest of the wall. Ricardo began to work on the next one, which was also rotting, but the sound of male voices stopped him.
One belonged to Juan! “So what did the boss say?” someone asked him.
“The cargo goes tonight on the Caviota. We are to load them after dark.” Juan’s tone was full of malice. “We do not have to worry about Senorita Snooper or the others for a long time.” “The Caviota is not to sink, is it?” the first -man asked.
“The Caviota is too valuable. It will sail for the Far East,” Juan replied. “It will visit several out-of-the-way ports.”
Nancy looked at Ricardo and Elena. They realized that they were the cargo under discussion. Was Cordova planning to abandon them in an isolated port in the Far East?
“Why does he send the Caviota so far away?” the first man asked. “He never ships anything far away from the Americas.”
“She is going to a new owner,” Juan replied. “Senor Cordova is selling the freighter?”
“He is trading it for an oil tanker for his newest venture,” Juan explained.
“An oil tanker?” Obviously the other man doubted the soundness of that decision. “You joke?”
“No. Do not worry about it.” Juan’s tone was suddenly chilled. “Just mind that the cargo is safe until nightfall. You need not do anything more. Now come, we have things to take care
of.”
There were sounds of footsteps retreating, then silence on the other side of the wall.
Nancy sat on the floor, puzzled. “An oil tanker?” she asked after a moment. “What would he want an oil tanker for?”
“It reminds me of something,” Ricardo began, his forehead creased in deep concentration. “Several years ago, not long after my father became ill, Señora del Luz told him that she had been contacted by a group of men who were convinced that there was a good chance of finding oil in one of the distant holdings of the estate.”
“Oil on the del Luz land?” Elena exclaimed.
Ricardo nodded. “They wanted to drill test
- wells.”
“Why didn’t I hear about this?” Elena asked.
Ricardo shrugged. “As I said, my father was already ill. The men spoke of the high cost of the exploratory drilling, and the Señora told them she was not interested in becoming involved in
such an expensive enterprise at that point. It was never mentioned again, as far as I know.” Nancy leaned against the wall, her mind spinning. The new information fit into the puzzle only too well.
“I believe this may be the reason for Cordova’s scheme,” she said. “Suppose those same people approached him again about the possibility of drilling for oil? What would he do?” “Authorize it,” Ricardo answered without hesitation. “But he would need the Senora’s permission.”
“Or her Power of Attorney,” Elena added.
“It may also explain his need for money,” Nancy went on. “He probably would have to share in the financing of the venture, or even carry the cost himself. What better way to make a bundle than to get rid of several marginal freight ships that didn’t show a profit and collect the insurance premiums?”
Ricardo nodded. “And that is why he was so worried about your investigation, Nancy. It was not only that you might discover the insurance fraud, but the other deal as well!”
Nancy nodded. “He told Dodsworth that he needed twenty-four hours,” she said. “After that, he said, he would have everything wrapped up.
“What!” Elena stared at her, horrified.
“I didn’t want to tell you before, because I knew you were worried enough about your aunt. But now we need to think about that.”
“It must mean that he feels he can get the Power of Attorney within that time period,” Ricardo declared.
“And then he’ll send Señora del Luz away and put her under special care,” Nancy went on. “I heard him say something like that to Isabella.” “Away from the hacienda?” Elena cried. “Nancy, she will die!”
“So we must stop him!” Nancy said firmly. “But how?” Ricardo asked.
“Let’s work on these wooden boards. If we can pull enough of them away, perhaps we can slip into the other part of the warehouse.” Ricardo turned to the wall without a reply. He knew it was the only hope they had.
17. Slim Hope
Although Nancy and her friends had nothing to work with but their hands, the hole grew rapidly. But the rotten part of the wall extended only a short distance, and their efforts were thwarted by stronger, new boards.
Ricardo groaned. “I will never be able to fit through that hole,” he said in despair, as the two girls collapsed beside him. “And we cannot break away the rest without an axe.”
“I don’t think I can make it through, either,” Elena said, trying to wiggle past the splintery opening. A moment later, she cried out in pain and dragged herself back into their prison.
“Did you see anything on the other side?” Nancy asked.
Elena shook her head. “There are packing boxes in the way.” She looked appraisingly at Nancy. “You’re thinner than I am,” she stated. “Maybe you can make it through.”
Nancy peered dubiously at the small opening. “I’ll try,” she said, lying down on the floor. Then she worked her way forward. It was a tight squeeze, and she felt the rough edges of the boards digging into her back as she inched ahead, but a few moments later she was on the other side, faced by a stack of boxes.
She stuck her head back through the hole. “I have an idea of how we can all get away!” she declared.
Ricardo looked at her skeptically. “I will never get through that hole!”
“You don’t have to.” With that, Nancy wiggled her way back into their prison.
“What are you doing?” Elena stared at her, puzzled.
“I’m going to hide you,” Nancy said. “If we can make those men believe that we all got away, they may leave the door open for you to escape.”
“I don’t get it,” Elena said.
Nancy looked around the cluttered room and picked a spot she felt was suitable for her plan. “That comer,” she decided. “You hide there, and I’ll stack up these crates in front of you so it appears that no one could be behind. Then I’ll rig up another stack, attach this string to it, and go through the hole. When I’m on the other side, I’ll pull the string. The crates will collapse, and attract the men’s attention.”
Ricardo shrugged. “It sounds crazy, but it may work.” He handed Nancy the keys to the jeep and explained where he had parked it. “If you get away and we don’t, take the car.”
“Okay,” Nancy said, “that’s what I had in mind. I’ll drive to one of the tourist hotels and contact my Dad from there. If you two manage to get out as well, I’ll meet you at the jeep, okay?” “Okay,” Elena said, sounding more courageous than she felt.
“Now flatten yourselves against the wall,” Nancy went on, “so I can rig up these boxes.” It took a long while before she was satisfied with her work. But when she was finished, she had arranged the boxes so it appeared that they were stacked flush against the wall. No one could slip behind them and hide. Nancy hoped that would fool the men.
She built a pyramid of crates next to the hole and tied the string she had spotted to a crate in the bottom row. Then she took the other end of the long cord and slipped through the hole. She dropped the string when she was through, and moved along the packing crates to the end of the stack and peered out. What she saw made her heart sink.
A half dozen men were busily working in a large room, carrying in boxes, checking markings, and stacking equipment. There was no sign of Juan. A large door stood open at the side of the building, in line with the door to their prison. Another door straight ahead appeared to lead into the office.
Well, I’ll have to risk it, Nancy thought, and retreated to the hole. As she did, her foot brushed against a small object. She bent down and saw a screwdriver that someone had evidently dropped. Quickly Nancy picked it up and slipped it into her pocket.
A moment later she pulled on the string, and the relative quiet of the warehouse was broken by crashing crates.
All work stopped immediately as the men froze, then looked around.
“The prisoners!” Juan yelled, appearing from the office part of the warehouse. “Quick, we must stop them before someone outside comes to investigate the noise.”
Nancy held her breath as the men dropped what they were doing and pounded after Juan out the side door. The last of them slammed it shut behind them!
In a flash, Nancy ran to the door. It had automatically locked from the outside! Without wasting time, the girl detective ran through the other door to the office. She had taken no more than a dozen steps when a hand closed on her elbow.
“Where are you going?” a deep voice demanded.
Nancy gulped and whirled around to face a gray-haired man in a business suit. He gazed at her curiously, but there was no hostility in his eyes. Apparently he did not know that Juan had been holding her and her friends captive in the back.
“My dog!” Nancy gasped. “It ran over there!” she pointed toward a distant comer.
The man turned to look. Nancy pulled the screwdriver from her pocket and tossed it in the direction of warehouse, where it landed with a clatter.
“Get him!” she pleaded. “Don’t let him get in there, or I’ll never find him!”
The man hurried toward the warehouse as Nancy dashed out the front door, dodging past several people. Luckily, no one made an attempt to stop her. There were sounds of turmoil behind her, but she did not look back. She ran until she came close to the jeep.
Elena and Ricardo were not there. Had they managed to escape? Nancy saw a man lounging
casually against a nearby tree, looking at the jeep. He appeared to be an aimless drifter, but he was watching the getaway car like a hawk.
Nancy dared not go any further. She backed into the shadow of a doorway. As she did, she felt a hand touch her arm. The girl jumped, and strong hands steadied her.
'‘What are you waitin
g for?” Ricardo hissed. “Juan will have a search party after us any minute now.”
“He left a guard,” Nancy panted, her knees weak with relief as she saw that her friends had escaped, too. “The guy leaning on the tree over there.”
“I’ve seen him around the hacienda,” Ricardo whispered. “But he cannot keep us here by himself.”
“I’ll distract him,” Elena said. “I’ll go down the alley. He knows me and may follow me. You two get in the jeep and pick me up, okay?”
Nancy nodded. There was no time for further discussion. The man had been so intent on the jeep that he appeared not to have noticed the three young people, but she knew he might look in their direction any moment.
Elena hurried out of the doorway and walked toward the man. He glanced at her, and then, as they had hoped, followed her when she had passed him.
Quickly Ricardo and Nancy jumped into the jeep. Nancy handed the young man the keys, and a moment later he started the engine. The sound made the man look back. He seemed confused, not knowing what to do next. Elena broke out in a run, using his hesitation to put some distance between them. Ricardo drove down the street and came to a screeching stop beside her as Nancy pulled her up before the man had a chance to stop them. Then the jeep was gone, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust.
“Where do you want me to go?” Ricardo asked Nancy tensely.
“Back to the downtown area,” Nancy said. “Stop at the first respectable-looking restaurant. I want to phone my father.”
Ricardo nodded, and half an hour later, the three friends crowded around a public telephone. Elena told the operator she wanted to place a collect call to River Heights, and was told to hang up and wait.
“I hope it doesn’t take too long to get through,” Nancy said nervously. “We don’t have much time to spare!”
18. Foiled
Nearly fifteen minutes passed before the operator called back and Nancy was able to speak to her father. When he heard her voice, he cried out in relief.