Greek Odyssey Part 2

"Who uses this room?" Nancy asked Zoe.

"My father uses it as an office. And sometimes the desk clerks and the cleaning staff come in here," Zoe explained. "They need extra keys from the board when there aren't enough master keys to go around."

Nancy immediately thought of Niki Christofouros. Since she was one of the hotel's maids, no one would question her appearance in the office. And the girls had had caught her going through Bess's luggage. What if Niki had been trying to steal Bess's pa.s.sport? Once she saw that it wasn't in the room, maybe she had looked in the hotel safe. The question was, why would she do such a thing? caught her going through Bess's luggage. What if Niki had been trying to steal Bess's pa.s.sport? Once she saw that it wasn't in the room, maybe she had looked in the hotel safe. The question was, why would she do such a thing?

Nancy decided not to say anything about Niki for the moment. She didn't want to implicate the girl without solid evidence, since Niki could lose her job over this. Just to be safe, though, Nancy suggested that Zoe question the entire hotel staff. In the meantime, Nancy would do some of her own checking on Niki.

"Oh, no! Not another one," Bess groaned a few minutes later. She held up an envelope marked Leo Nelson. "His pa.s.sport is missing, too," she told Zoe.

George was frowning into another envelope. "Make that three missing pa.s.sports," she said. "Joseph Seidel's isn't in his envelope."

Zoe circled the two names on her inventory sheet. "Two American men-and Bess," she said wearily.

Luckily, the remaining envelopes contained everything they were supposed to. When the girls were finished, Zoe pushed away the list and leaned back in the desk chair. "So three pa.s.sports were stolen in all. I can't believe this is happening. It's not good for the hotel. If word gets out, we'll lose customers."

"Not to mention the fact that three pa.s.sports are now in the hands of strangers," George said.

Bess drew her breath in sharply. "I don't like the idea of someone using my pa.s.sport illegally," she said in a shaky voice.

"You'll need to get a new one," George advised her.

Leaning over, Zoe squeezed Bess's hand. "I'm so sorry," she said. "The police will know the best way to report it to your emba.s.sy."

Just then a tall, husky man with salt-and-pepper hair walked into the room. He a.s.sessed the scene, a bewildered expression on his face, then addressed Zoe in rapid-fire Greek. She answered, nodding at Nancy, Bess, and George as she talked.

"This is my father, Kostas Kavalis," Zoe said, introducing the man to Nancy, Bess, and George.

Mr. Kavalis gave each of the girls a hearty handshake. "I'm very sorry about your pa.s.sport, Bess. I will report it to the police immediately." He glanced back at Zoe's list and frowned. "I must notify those two American men, too."

Shaking his head, Zoe's father went into the front office to call the police.

Nancy sat down on the edge of the desk and mulled over the situation. Three pa.s.sports had been taken, but dozens of others had been left behind. The thief hadn't touched any of the cash or jewels, either. It didn't make sense.

"What are you thinking, Nan?" George asked.

"Just that the thief seemed to know exactly what he or she was looking for and where to find it. I hope the police can tell us why someone would take three pa.s.sports and leave everything else."

"I hope so, too," Zoe said. "This is very upsetting."

Nancy turned to Zoe. "Please don't be insulted, Zoe, but under the circ.u.mstances, I'd feel a lot better if George and I could keep our pa.s.sports and traveler's checks with us."

"Of course," Zoe said. "I understand perfectly." She went through the envelopes and handed Nancy and George theirs.

When an officer finally arrived, Nancy's questions had to wait until a barrage of Greek questions and answers had flown among Zoe, her father, and the policeman. Zoe introduced the uniformed man as Officer Rossolatos.

At last Officer Rossolatos turned to Bess. He was a heavyset, gray-haired man with a wide, curled mustache. In heavily accented English, he instructed her to report her stolen pa.s.sport to the U.S. Emba.s.sy in Athens. "If you tell them your pa.s.sport number, there will be no problem to replace it," he said.

"My pa.s.sport number!" Bess repeated worriedly. "I was supposed to write it down. I knew knew there was something I forgot to do before we left River Heights." there was something I forgot to do before we left River Heights."

"Why don't you call the emba.s.sy now?" Mr. Kavalis offered. "I will help you." He grabbed the carton of guests' valuables. "And these I will put in the safe in our apartment," he added gravely, "where no one else can get to them."

Nancy knew this was her chance to question the officer. "Excuse me, but don't you think it's odd that the thief left with only three pa.s.sports?" she asked him.

Officer Rossolatos seemed surprised by Nancy's question, until Zoe explained that Nancy was a detective in the United States. "A detective, on our island-we are honored," he said, bowing graciously. He went on to explain, "In the criminal world American pa.s.sports are prized because they allow access to the United States. They also allow easier pa.s.sage through Europe."

"So you think Bess's pa.s.sport will be used by a stranger?" George asked, coming over to stand next to Nancy.

"It is very likely," Officer Rossolatos answered. "They will change the photo, of course. Sometimes they take the booklet apart and replace the entire photo page, inserting a new name and address, too. There are many ways to forge a pa.s.sport."

Forgery! Nancy's mind reeled at the prospect of Bess's pa.s.sport in the hands of criminals. What if a crime was committed by someone using Bess's ident.i.ty? Bess could be in serious trouble. Nancy didn't have much to go on, but she decided to watch out for any clues that might lead her to the trail of the missing pa.s.sports.

By the time Bess made her call and the police report was complete, it was too late to make another trip back into Chora. The girls decided to take it easy and have a late dinner in the hotel's taverna. Nancy went to get Mick in his room, and soon the teenagers were sitting at a table on a terrace that overlooked the Aegean Sea.

"We just got here, and already you girls are involved in a mystery," Mick said after the girls told him about the pa.s.sport theft.

"It is is a mystery," Zoe added. "I spoke to the hotel staff, and no one has any clue as to who might have broken into the safe." a mystery," Zoe added. "I spoke to the hotel staff, and no one has any clue as to who might have broken into the safe."

Nancy finished b.u.t.tering a roll, then turned to Zoe. "Did anyone seem upset by your questions?"

"Not really," Zoe replied. "But one of the maids, Niki Christofouros, seemed nervous when I mentioned Bess's name."

Bess exchanged a curious look with Nancy. "We've met Niki," Nancy said, without mentioning how. She didn't want to get the maid into trouble unless she had more to go on.

"I'm beginning to feel like one of those people in Casablanca Casablanca who can't escape until their papers come," Bess said, stabbing a tomato in her Greek salad. "I must have tried to reach the emba.s.sy a dozen times, but I couldn't get through to them." who can't escape until their papers come," Bess said, stabbing a tomato in her Greek salad. "I must have tried to reach the emba.s.sy a dozen times, but I couldn't get through to them."

"Our phone system is unreliable," Zoe told her, "especially during the busy summer season. You'll get through eventually."

Bess tried to smile. "Thanks for cas.h.i.+ng my traveler's checks, even though I don't have my pa.s.sport," she told Zoe. "I hope that miniature windmill won't be sold before tomorrow."

"This store-it contains many tiny replicas-boats and fish and things?"

"That's the one!" Bess said, nodding excitedly.

"It is owned by a man named Spiros. He is a friend of my father's," Zoe continued. "If you like, I will call Spiros and ask him to hold the windmill for you," she offered.

"Would you?" Bess asked. "Tell him I'll stop by as soon as we get back from Delos tomorrow."

Zoe nodded. "It's the least I can do. I hope this theft doesn't ruin your stay here in Mykonos."

George looked over at Bess, who was smiling at a pa.s.sing waiter. "I don't think there's any chance of that," she said.

Nancy was awakened early Tuesday morning by the sounds of the island coming to life. After throwing back the crisp white sheets, she pushed open the wooden shutters and stepped onto the balcony.

All around her, Mykonos was bustling. Hotel workers wheeled carts of food along the path below her. To her left, three mopeds raced up the hill toward Chora. Motorboats and sailboats zigzagged through the s.h.i.+mmering sea on the horizon, and a group of college guys jogged along the beach.

She was watching the joggers when she spotted a young man and woman standing in the sand at the bottom of the path from the hotel. From their gesturing arms, they seemed to be arguing, though Nancy couldn't hear them from the balcony.

She blinked as she recognized the white uniform and blue ap.r.o.n worn by the maids at the hotel. The girl was Niki, Nancy realized, and she was talking to Dimitri, the photographer.

Curious, Nancy leaned against the balcony rail and watched. Niki was shaking her head adamantly. She reached into a large tote bag, took out a manila envelope, and thrust it into Dimitri's hands. Then she waved Dimitri off, turned away, and stalked up the path to the inn.

What's inside that envelope? Nancy wondered. It was certainly large enough to contain three pa.s.sports. And considering Niki's suspicious behavior, Nancy wouldn't be surprised if the maid was the one who had stolen the pa.s.sports. She still didn't know why why Niki would steal them, but she was definitely going to try to find out. Niki would steal them, but she was definitely going to try to find out.

"Wake up, you guys," Nancy said, going back into the room. While Bess and George sleepily got out of bed, Nancy told them what she had just seen.

"That definitely seems suspicious," Bess said, pus.h.i.+ng her hair back with a headband and going into the bathroom to wash her face.

George glanced at the watch resting on her bedside table. "Too bad we can't do anything about it now. We still have to get dressed and eat breakfast, and and Bess has to call the emba.s.sy in Athens," she said. "We'd better hurry if we're going to catch the boat to Delos at ten-fifteen." Bess has to call the emba.s.sy in Athens," she said. "We'd better hurry if we're going to catch the boat to Delos at ten-fifteen."

Two hours later Nancy stood beside Mick on the deck of a thirty-foot fis.h.i.+ng boat that was used as a ferry in the summer. Tourists milled along the deck, taking in the suns.h.i.+ne and the views. Bess, George, and Zoe stood by the rail, tossing bread crumbs to the gulls that flew alongside the boat, while Nancy and Mick watched.

As Nancy turned toward Mick, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Look at you, with your white sundress and golden tan," he said, "You're beginning to look like an Aussie girl."

"I hope that's good," Nancy said.

"Good? You look fabulous!"

Nancy couldn't help thinking that he looked pretty good himself, in his khaki shorts and white T-s.h.i.+rt.

"We're almost there," Zoe said, joining Nancy and Mick as the boat nosed toward a bare green island that was no more than a few miles long. Already Nancy could see the ruins of a huge, pillared building on a hill above the tiny harbor.

"It doesn't look as busy as Mykonos," Bess observed.

Zoe nodded. "Delos is mostly a museum. Once the tourists leave at the end of the day, it's deserted, except for a small hotel, government guards who protect the ruins-and the lizards who live among the ruins."

"Ugh," Bess groaned. "Lizards?"

"Don't worry-they don't bite," Zoe said with a laugh.

As the boat docked, the teenagers moved toward the ramp where the other pa.s.sengers were beginning to gather. They waited at the back of the crowd for their chance to disembark. Nancy was just about to step onto the walkway when she noticed the uniformed guards stopping the pa.s.sengers as they got off the boat.

"What's going on over there?" she asked Zoe.

The Greek girl frowned in confusion. "Those men are from the Delos police," she said. "But they don't usually question tourists. I wish I could hear what they're saying."

"I can," Mick said, wheeling back toward Bess. "They're asking for pa.s.sports."

George craned her neck to see over the crowd. "It looks as if they're turning one couple away."

The color drained from Bess's face. "Pa.s.sports? But we're still in Greece. I didn't think I'd need a pa.s.sport for this."

"I don't understand," Zoe said as the group hesitated at the edge of the gangway. "They usually don't check pa.s.sports here."

"What am I going to do?" Bess asked worriedly. "That stolen pa.s.sport is going to ruin the rest of my trip!"

Chapter Four.

NANCY TOOK another look at the two guards. They were wearing khaki uniforms and had stem expressions on their faces. She hoped they were friendlier than they looked.

"Tell them the truth, Bess, that your pa.s.sport was stolen," Nancy advised, taking Bess by the arm and walking down the ramp with her. "Relax, we won't leave you."

At the end of the gangway the two girls paused before the officers. "Pa.s.sports?" one officer, a young man, asked curtly.

While Nancy turned her pa.s.sport over for inspection, Bess began talking rapidly, trying to explain about her stolen pa.s.sport. The two guards seemed utterly confused until Zoe stepped in and translated, speaking to them in Greek. At last she turned back to Bess.

"They don't want to let you on the island," she said apologetically. "They say they cannot allow a security risk today."

Nancy blinked. Bess, a security risk? She was about to defend her friend when Mick stepped up to the guards and handed over his pa.s.sport. "I can vouch for this young lady, Officer," he said, clapping a hand on Bess's shoulder.

The young officer was ready to dismiss him, but his partner, an older man, paused and pointed to the diplomat's seal on Mick's pa.s.sport. Nancy could see that the guards were impressed. In Geneva Nancy had learned that Mick's father was an Australian diplomat. Would the Greek police dare to cross someone with diplomatic ties?

She held her breath as the young officer clapped Mick's pa.s.sport shut and returned it to him. "You may go," he told Bess in heavily accented English. "But you must contact the American emba.s.sy today to get new papers."

"I will-I mean, I already did," Bess said, backing away.

A moment later the rest of the group had pa.s.sed the guards' inspection. Nancy gave a huge sigh. "That was a close call," she said as they clambered along the dirt landing next to the ramp.

"I wonder why they beefed up security today?" George asked, glancing back at the police officers.

"Good question," Nancy said. For a brief moment she wondered if there was some link between the security check and Bess's stolen pa.s.sport. Then she shook herself. Not everything everything that happened in the world was a mystery. that happened in the world was a mystery.

The group paused at the ticket kiosk just a few yards away from the dock, and Zoe helped everyone count out the entrance fee. Then Nancy turned toward the island's ruins.

"Delos was the religious center of ancient Greece," Zoe explained. "Most of the buildings here were built to honor the G.o.ds. Huge festivals were held with singers, dancers, processions, horse races, and athletic contests. The island is small, so we can tour it on foot in a few hours."

"Just lead the way," Bess said cheerfully, following Zoe as she took a right turn from the boat landing in the harbor.

Nancy smiled, glad that sightseeing seemed to be taking Bess's mind off the pa.s.sport problem. Soon after, Nancy, too, was absorbed by the houses they visited, with colorful mosaics and geometrically patterned tiles.

The group worked their way through the many houses that were scattered along the uphill path to Mount Kynthos, the tallest point on the island. Nancy was nearly out of breath by the time she reached the summit. But when she stood overlooking the entire island, she knew it was worth the climb. The mixture of green fields and smooth marble ruins made Delos a land that time forgot.

"You've been awfully quiet," Mick said, coming up to her and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I guess I've been daydreaming," Nancy said. "Can you imagine what it must have been like to live on this island two thousand years ago?"

"So you're drawn to faraway places, eh? I'd love to show you Australia sometime." Mick stepped around to face Nancy and took her hands in his. "Promise me you'll come visit."

Nancy laughed. "Oh, sure. I'll just jet over when I have a free weekend."