Free Mystery of Crocodile Island by Carolyn G. Keene Page A

the drugstore. She’ll be wearing a white dress with a multicolored embroidered belt.”
    Soon the delivery boy arrived at the back door in a van. Mrs. Cosgrove gave him the necessary instructions, and Nancy slipped into the rear. After he had left the street she climbed into the seat next to him. He looked at her and gave a low whistle. “You’re a doll ” he said appreciatively. “Are you on a secret date?”
    Nancy smiled. “Suppose you guess?”
    “I’m sure you are,” the young man said as he pulled around a corner, “so I won’t interfere. But I’d like to take you out myself some time.”
    “That’s very kind of you,” Nancy replied. “Right now, however, I have to go on an important errand.”
    When they reached the drugstore, she thanked the boy, quickly hopped out, and went inside. She saw a rack of books and walked over to examine the titles. Just then an attractive woman walked into the store. She was dressed in white except for an embroidered, many-colored belt.
    “She must be Mrs. Grote,” Nancy concluded. The woman spotted her at the same moment, and walked toward the girl, holding out her hand. “Anne, I’m Mrs. Grote. I’ll be very happy to drive you to the club.”
    They left the store by the rear entrance, where Mrs. Grote had parked her car. Nancy was relieved. If anyone had followed the van and was waiting for her in front, he would be fooled!
    “Are you enjoying your visit here?” Mrs. Grote asked as she drove off.
    “Oh, yes,” Nancy replied. “It has been very exciting.”
    “In what way?” Mrs. Grote asked.
    Nancy did not want to give any details concerning the mystery, so she merely talked about their interesting boat rides, their trip to the Easton estate, and the show the Indian had put on.
    Soon Mrs. Grote drove into the club grounds, so it was not necessary for Nancy to explain any further. She thanked the woman for picking her up and wished her a good score in her golf game.
    Mr. Gonzales was seated in the lobby. “I’m so glad you came,” he said, and led her to the dining room.
    While they were eating, Nancy told him about Colombo and what he had said regarding the officers of the Crocodile Ecology Company.
    “I’m not surprised,” Mr. Gonzales commented.
    Nancy mentioned the phrase: They want five hundred. Can you carry that many? “Mr. Gonzales, have you any idea what that could have meant?”
    The man furrowed his brow. “No, I haven’t. Surely they couldn’t have been talking about crocodiles. There wouldn’t be enough to fill such a big order.”
    “Do you raise anything else on the island that they could have referred to?” Nancy asked.
    “No, nothing. I could ask my partners, but if I do they will know that I received word from Colombo. Then they are likely to go after the poor man and harm him.”
    “You’re right,” Nancy agreed. “Would you like to speak to Colombo personally?”
    “Indeed I would. Do you know how to reach him?”
    “I’ll try. Colombo said he would be staying at the YMCA.”
    Nancy stood up and went to a phone booth in the lobby. Luckily the receptionist at the Y confirmed that Mr. Banks was registered and offered to get him. Soon he was on the line.
    “Hello?” he said hurriedly. His voice sounded frightened.
    “Hello, Colombo,” Nancy replied. “It’s Anne Boonton. Could you meet me at this club?” She gave the address. “A friend of mine wants to speak to you about Crocodile Island. Take a taxi. I’ll pay for it.”
    “All right,” he said. “I’m glad it’s you and not one of my former bosses. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    Half an hour later the man arrived. Nancy hurried outside to pay the cabbie, then took Colombo to the tropical garden to meet Mr. Gonzales. When the young man heard that he was one of the partners in the Crocodile Ecology Company, he looked at Nancy apprehensively.
    “Don’t worry,” she said. “Mr. Gonzales is not like the other men. He wants to find out what’s going