Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion (6 page)

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Authors: Carolyn Keene

Tags: #Women Detectives, #Detective and Mystery Stories, #Girls & Women, #Mystery & Detective, #Juvenile Fiction, #Adventure and Adventurers, #Mysteries & Detective Stories, #Fiction, #Mystery Fiction, #Women Sleuths, #Adventure Stories, #Malicious Accusation, #Drew; Nancy (Fictitious Character), #General, #Sabotage, #Mystery and Detective Stories

BOOK: Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion
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“Come with me, miss,” said the officer, and added, “My name is Regan.”
He led the way back into the house, then took a notebook and pencil from a pocket. “Tell me everything you can,” he said. “Sometimes a small detail that the average person considers unimportant can prove to be a valuable clue.”
Nancy knew this very well from her own sleuthing experiences. She introduced herself and told where she was from, then said, “Mr. Croft was a security guard at NASA. He’s the one responsible for allowing the truck with explosive oranges to come onto the Base.”
“Oh you know about that,” the officer replied.
Nancy nodded, then related Patrick Croft’s telephone conversation verbatim.
“So Croft thought the caller might have been the truck driver,” Officer Regan observed. “If he wasn’t Mr. Billington, have you any idea who he is? And why did the person who phoned not want Croft to contact you?”
“I don’t know the man’s name,” Nancy answered. “That’s what I’m in Florida to find out. My father and a local lawyer are trying to solve this case and prove Mr. Billington innocent.”
“I see,” the policeman said. “Poor Croft was beaten into unconsciousness so it will be some time before he’ll be able to answer any of our questions.”
Regan told her that there was only one set of clear footprints but this was not a help in identification because the intruder had worn flippers.
“Also, the man must have had on gloves,” the officer said, “because he left no fingerprints.”
The word flippers caught Nancy’s attention and she remarked, “The man you’ll be looking for could be a snorkeler.”
“You’re right,” Regan admitted. Then he asked, “By the way, have you and your friends visited the Real Eight Museum of Sunken Treasure yet?”
“No, we haven’t.”
“Do by all means. It’s most interesting, even though a little terrifying if you visualize what happened during one of the worst hurricanes on record. Well,” the officer said, “I must go. Thank you for your information.”
He escorted Nancy outside. His fellow officer produced a padlock for the broken front door and pocketed the key. The police car pulled away. A curious group of neighbors who had gathered finally dispersed.
Hannah and the girls started home. On the way Nancy said she felt largely responsible for what had happened to Croft.
Hannah asked, “How could you possibly be responsible?”
Nancy replied, “We know there are people who don’t want us working on Mr. Billington’s case. They’re probably watching all our movements. They found out I went to Croft’s house today and figured he had told me all he knew about the case. That’s why he was beaten up!”
“How terrible!” Bess said angrily.
“Here’s another possibility,” said George. “Suppose Croft is actually one of the gang? He might have been the inside man.”
Hannah spoke up. “If Croft is one of the gang, why would they beat him up?”
“Because,” George replied, “he was given a job to do at the Base and he bungled it.”
Nancy remarked, “That’s good reasoning, George. I don’t happen to agree with it, though. I think Croft was given the beating to keep him from saying any more. He may suspect other people whom he didn’t tell us about.”
When she turned into the Billingtons’ driveway, George said, “The Resardos’ car is here.”
“That Antin is a cheat!” Hannah burst out. “Mr. Billington pays him for working in the grove and taking care of these grounds. He hasn’t touched the lawn or garden since we came. The grass is getting so brown I put on the sprinkler today.”
The housekeeper unlocked the rear door and turned on the light. “How about a little ice cream before we go to bed?” She went to the refrigerator to take some out.
Nancy glanced at her watch. It was after eleven o’clock. “I wonder if it’s too late to call Mr. Datsun,” she said to the others. “I think I should tell him what happened tonight.”
Hannah, Bess, and George agreed, so Nancy went to the phone and picked it up. Someone was using it!
As the young detective listened, a man said, “Got it straight? R-day.”
George had followed Nancy to the hall. Nancy made motions indicating that her friend was to run upstairs and see who was on the extension phone.
As George took the steps two at a time, Nancy heard a man’s muffled reply, “Okay.” The connection was cut off.
George came down the stairs to report that she had found no one using the extension phone up there.
“The call must have been made from the orange packing house,” Nancy declared.
Hannah had come to see what was troubling Nancy. After hearing about the conversation, she said firmly, “Nancy, you’re not going to that place to find out. It’s too dangerous. Anyway, the person who used the phone has probably left by this time.”
Nancy agreed. “But I think Antin should investigate,” she said. “I’m going upstairs and tell him.”
George gave a sardonic laugh. “He won’t thank you for waking him up.”
“I don’t care,” Nancy replied, and mounted the stairway. She knocked on the Resardos’ door. There was no response, but after a second knock, a woman’s sleepy voice said, “Who’s there?”
“It’s Nancy Drew, Tina. I’d like to speak to Antin. It’s very important.”
There was a long pause, then finally Tina came to the door. “Antin can’t see you now. He’s taking a bath.”
“Please tell him that some prowler is in the packing house. He’d better go find out about him.”
“Okay, I’ll tell him.”
Nancy returned to the first floor. She and the others ate their ice cream, but Antin Resardo did not appear.
“Some more of his indifference,” George remarked. “He’s a surly person.”
“Yes,” Bess spoke up. “He’s no help at all around here. I certainly think Mr. Billington should be told.”
“You can bet he will be,” Hannah informed her.
When they finished the ice cream, the girls washed and dried the dishes and spoons. Then they put out the lights and followed Hannah up the stairway. Suddenly Nancy turned back.
“What is it?” Bess asked her.
“Listen!” said Nancy. “I think someone is using a key to open the kitchen door.”
Led by Nancy, the group tiptoed down the stairway and went toward the kitchen. The rear door opened just as Nancy clicked on the overhead light. They were astounded to see Antin Resardo coming in.
“You weren’t taking a bath at all as Tina said!” George cried out. “You were in the orange packing house phoning!”
Nancy walked up to him. “What does R-day mean?” she demanded.
Antin gave a start, then suddenly his face flushed with anger and he glared at the young detective.
“You little sneak!” he yelled.
The next second he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her so hard Nancy felt as if her head would snap off.
CHAPTER VIII
Doubting Workmen
“STOP that!” George yelled at Antin.
She grabbed his arm and as Nancy staggered away, George buckled the man’s knees and flipped him over her shoulder. He fell to the floor with a crash.
“Good for you, George!” exclaimed Bess in glee.
Antin had been taken completely by surprise and had had the wind knocked out of him. Slowly he arose.
Meanwhile Hannah had rushed to Nancy’s side and asked, “Are you all right? That was a contemptible thing to do to you!” she said. “Antin, hereafter don’t you ever dare lay a finger on Nancy or any of the rest of us!”
Nancy assured Hannah she would be her normal self in a few minutes and flopped into a chair. Antin looked at her, then said grudgingly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry if I did. You make me see red when you act suspicious of me. You mentioned my taking a bath. By the time I finished, Tina was asleep.
“It worried me that since I’d been away all day the machinery might not have been switched off in the packing house. I went to investigate.
“While there, I decided to put in a phone call to a friend of mine who is giving a surprise birthday party for his wife. Her name is Ruth. We are calling it R-day.”
The commotion had brought Tina downstairs in her robe and slippers. She looked at the group questioningly. Antin repeated his story about R-day to her and she nodded affirmation.
Hannah spoke up. “There may have been misunderstanding on all sides. Why don’t we talk this whole thing out?”
“Good idea,” said Antin.
Mrs. Gruen went on, “In the first place, I may as well tell you I resent your not helping in the house. You eat the food I cook and even leave your dirty dishes for me to wash.”
Tina retorted, “Mr. Billington didn’t tell me I had to wait on these extra people. He just told me Mr. Drew and his daughter might be down. I’m not strong and I’m not too well,” she went on, “and I won’t wait on so many people! That’s final!”
“She’s right,” Antin burst out. “Between all the extra work and you people practically accusing us of being crooks, I think Tina and I will move to a motel until after you go home.”
Hannah and the girls looked at one another. It would be a great relief to have the unpleasant Resardos out of the house. But if the couple stayed, they could be kept under surveillance.
Antin went on, “You think I had something to do with those explosive oranges. Well I didn’t, and I gave the FBI an airtight alibi about where I was the day it happened.”
Nancy did not like the man’s defensive attitude. She knew that guilty people often play the part of aggrieved persons, trying to cover up the truth. Was this the case with the Resardos?
Again Hannah spoke up. “I’m glad we had this talk,” she said. “Tina and Antin, I’m sure Mr. Billington would be very hurt if you leave and he might even decide not to let you come back.”
This thought startled the couple. They looked at each other and finally Tina said, “All right, we’ll stay. I’ll help with the cooking whenever Antin and I are here. I guess all of us can keep the house clean.”
Nancy sensed the Resardos were annoyed because Hannah had won her point. The couple wished the others good night and went to their room. George looked after them. Did she imagine it, or was Antin limping a little because of her Judo trick?
The atmosphere the next morning was a bit strained, but Tina did help prepare breakfast. She did not serve the food, however. Instead she and Antin sat down in the kitchen to eat, while the others carried their plates of eggs and bacon to the dining room.
Immediately after breakfast Nancy and Bess went upstairs to make their beds. George was about to follow a few minutes later when she saw Antin leave the house. On a hunch she trailed him, keeping well out of sight.
The foreman went directly to the packing house and George started back through the grove. Suddenly it occurred to her that she might get a clue to the orange mystery from some of the pickers. Seeing two of them a little distance away, she walked toward the men.
When George came near, she heard one man say, “I wouldn’t trust that guy any place.”
His companion replied, “Me neither.”
The other man said laughingly, “I’ll bet you the boss is making a killing for himself!” Were they talking about Antin or Mr. Billington?
Puzzled but suspicious, George hurried back to the house. By the time she arrived Tina had gone upstairs and Bess and Nancy had come down. George told them what she had heard in the grove.
“Which boss do you think the men were talking about?” she asked.
Nancy smiled. “I’ll try to find out.”
She went to the phone and called the packing house. When a man answered, she said, “I’d like to speak to the boss.”
“Okay. I’ll call him,” the worker replied. He yelled. “Antin, you’re wanted on the phone.”
Noiselessly Nancy put down the receiver and reported to the other girls.
“Shall we go tackle him?” George asked. “I’m sure he’s doublecrossing Mr. Billington.”
Nancy agreed but said, “I have a feeling that today Antin will be on his good behavior. In the meantime let’s try once more to get into the Webster house. I can’t wait to see the inside.”
“How are you going to accomplish that without a key?” Bess queried.
Nancy said she would start by going back to Mr. Scarlett’s office. She might be able to learn something from nearby store owners.
When the girls reached the realtor’s office, they were surprised to see the door open. Lovely, low singing was coming from within. Wondering what was going on, the three callers walked inside. A stout, pretty woman was singing a lullaby as she dusted the furniture.
Upon seeing the girls she smiled broadly and said, “You want Mr. Scarlett?”
“Yes we do,” Nancy replied.
The pleasant woman jerked her thumb toward a closed door. “He’s in there.”
Nancy was surprised and delighted. Now she could get the key!
She knocked on the closed door. A voice said, “Come in!”
As Nancy walked in, she said, “Good morning. I’m Nancy Drew.”
“Oh yes. Mrs. Nickerson left a note you might come. Why did you?”
“To have you show me the interior of the Webster house,” she answered.
The realtor scowled. “Don’t you know I’m on vacation?”
“Your sign said so, but you seem to be right here,” the young detective replied with a smile.
“Well, I am on vacation. There were certain papers in my files I had to pick up.”
Nancy pretended not to notice he was trying to evade her. She said pleasantly, “I’m lucky to have found you. If you can’t show me and my friends the Webster house, then, since you know the Nickersons, will you please lend me the key? I’ll return it through your mail slot, unless my father decides he wants to buy the place. In that case I’ll keep the key.”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort,” Mr. Scarlett said unpleasantly. “The house is not for you. You wouldn’t like it and there are lots of things the matter with the place.”

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