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

looking for three people, Constantine Nicholas, Dimitri Georgiou, and a Mr. Isakos.”
    “Just a moment,” the policewoman replied. She spoke briefly to the sailors.
    “Maybe I can help you,” the Swedish man said to Bess. “Constantine Nicholas is connected with the Nikos Shipping Company. I work for them myself once in a while.”
    “Have you seen him recently?”
    “The other day. He wanted to send cargo on the White Band freighter.”
    That’s the one the little boy mentioned! Bess thought. “Does he do that frequently?” she asked aloud.
    “Yes and no. Several weeks ago he was around here a lot. Then he disappeared. Of course, I move from job to job. One day I’m in Haifa and the next I’m here. Now he’s back, too.”
    As the young man spoke, his dark-haired companion sidled closer to Bess, causing her to ease toward the policewoman. Bess glanced disdainfully at the Greek sailor.
    “Where does Mr. Nicholas live? Here or in Athens ?” the officer inquired.
    “I’m not sure,” the Swedish crewman replied. He ran his forefinger along the crest of his nose. “And I doubt that anybody in Piraeus could tell you.”
    His companion, meanwhile, leaned toward Bess. “What kind perfume you wear?” he asked in halting English.
    “Tea rose,” the girl said curtly. “I don’t think you can buy it here.” She looked straight past him to address his friend again. “I’ve seen a picture of Mr. Nicholas, but I’m wondering if he has changed his appearance since it was taken.”
    “Well, he has a beard and mustache now,” the Scandinavian replied.
    “Oh, he does? I’m glad to know that.”
    Thinking the policewoman might glean something else useful, Bess gave her the name of the girls’ hotel. “Please don’t mention it to these men, though,” she whispered.
    “Don’t worry.” The young woman laughed. “That one loves to flirt—especially with pretty American girls.”
    Bess giggled as she ran toward the white-banded freighter. Nancy, Helen, and a policeman were standing on deck. They were talking to a couple of crewmen. Their voices were heard above the girls’.
    Sounds like trouble, Bess thought, speeding up the gangplank to the deck.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” someone shouted at her.
    Bess stopped short. “My friends are up there,” she said, turning around to face a short, chubby man in work clothes.
    His stern eyes traveled to the deck, then back to Bess. He mumbled, nodding her to move on.
    “I found out something important,” she whispered to George as soon as she was on board.
    “Tell me later.”
    At the moment, the policeman was involved in a heated discussion with one of the ship’s officers.
    “They say we have no right to be here,” Helen explained to the girls. “But the policeman has told them he will arrest every one of them if they don’t obey him.”
    “I just heard him mention Constantine’s name,” George said.
    “He’s asking where my cousin is,” Helen replied.
    To the girls’ surprise, the ship’s captain now addressed the group in English. “My name is Fotis. Are you friends of Constantine Nicholas?”
    Before Nancy could answer, she noticed steely eyes peering at them from the corner of the deck-house. The man ducked back for a moment. Then, not realizing he was in Nancy’s line of vision, he stuck his head into view again.
    “Isakos!” she exclaimed, and quickly darted after him.

13
    Boat Chase
    Breaking away from the group, Nancy raced toward the man. “Mr. Isakos!” she shouted.
    “Where are you going?” the ship’s captain bellowed at Nancy. He ran after her with Bess, Helen, and the others following.
    The girl detective halted at the end of the deck, where thick coils of rope lay between metal crates heaped in front of a lifeboat.
    He’s gone! she thought as Fotis grabbed her by the shoulder.
    “You have no business upsetting my ship like this!” he hissed.
    Ignoring the comment, Nancy suddenly caught sight of Isakos’s