Free (#60) The Greek Symbol Mystery by Carolyn Keene

police.
    “Astinomikós tmíma? Police station?” Nancy asked a passerby.
    The old man lifted his feeble arm and spoke in Greek.
    “He’s telling us how to get there,” Helen explained. “It’s not far.”
    “Can we walk?” George asked.
    “Yes. ”
    The group found their way easily. Nancy, again with Helen’s assistance, spoke to the police officer in charge. She mentioned their search for Constantine Nicholas.
    “I know nothing about him,” the officer replied.
    “Then what have you found out about the art thefts from the museum in Athens?”
    “Nothing I am at liberty to reveal. May I ask why you are so interested to know?”
    “Nancy is an amateur detective,” Helen answered.
    “Oh, I see. Well, this case is meant only for professionals to solve.”
    The remark nettled his listeners, who said little more than good-bye.
    “We’re not making a whole lot of progress, are we?” Bess remarked as she walked with the others to the car.
    “Where could Constantine be?” Helen murmured. “There are so many factories here.”
    “And ships,” Mrs. Thompson added.
    “He could be anywhere,” Nancy said, turning on the ignition.
    The car sputtered as she pressed down on the gas pedal, then stalled. Nancy tried to start it again, but this time there was only a soft click as she turned the key back and forth. The engine was dead.
    “There wasn’t a thing wrong with this car before,” George said.
    Had someone tampered with it?

12
    The Banded Freighter
    Nancy released the hood and peered under it while Helen and the others questioned those nearby. Was anyone seen near their car?
    “Nancy, dear, come here a minute.” Mrs. Thompson called out.
    The girl emerged from under the hood and closed it. Her friends were gathered in front of a small boy.
    “Did you see someone?” Nancy asked, squatting on her feet.
    “Óhi, óhi,”
    “Are you sure?”
    The boy weakened. “Big man. Very red face. Gray hair. Mean,” he said haltingly.
    Isakos! Nancy thought. “Where did he go? she asked.
    “Gave me money,” the boy went on. “Not tell anyone.”
    “But you must tell me where he went,” Nancy persisted. “He did something very wrong.”
    Gently, she laid her hand on the boy’s shoulder and stood up.
    “Over there,” he muttered under his breath. He pointed to the dock, adding something else in Greek.
    “He thinks the man went aboard the freighter with the big white stripe around its middle,” Helen translated.
    “To that one?” Nancy asked. She indicated the ship berthed near the wall marked with the snake symbol.
    “Nai.”
    “No?” Mrs. Thompson sighed.
    “On the contrary,” Nancy smiled. “Nai means yes!”
    “Shall we get the police?” Bess asked. “Isakos is three times bigger than all of us put together.”
    “They’ll only tell us to stay out of their business,” Nancy said. “Why don’t we split up and see what we can find out ourselves?”
    “Good idea,” George said. “Who’s going with whom?”
    “Perhaps you and Mrs. Thompson could try finding a mechanic to fix the car, while Helen and I investigate the freighter.”
    “What about me?” Bess asked.
    “You post yourself near the dock to watch for overinterested onlookers.”
    Bess caught sight of a young policewoman approaching. “See you later,” she said to her group, hurrying toward the officer.
    When Bess reached her, she was already talking with two young sailors, one of whom was Greek and the other a light-haired Scandinavian.
    “Excuse me,” Bess said, interrupting the conversation.
    The fair-complexioned man winked at Bess. “American?” he asked with a lilting accent.
    She nodded.
    “Swedish, like me?”
    “No,” blond-haired Bess answered shyly, “at least, not that I know of.”
    The policewoman, who was not much older than the sailors, stepped forward. “Do you need some help?” she asked.
    “Y-yes, I do,” Bess said. Thankful the woman spoke English, she drew her away from the men. “I’m