Mystery of Crocodile Island - Carolyn Keene [41]
“When he was at the island,” Nancy asked, “was he one of the workmen who was close to Mr. Gimler?”
“Yes, he was. Very close. I’m sure Yunki’s the one who threw the golf ball at Mr. Gonzales. He’s an excellent shot.”
“Did you know him well?” Bess inquired.
“No,” Colombo replied. “I was never allowed to be near him.”
“That’s understandable,” George said. “Gimler and his partner wouldn’t have wanted you to become a pal of his.”
Nancy went into the clubhouse to tell this latest news to Mr. Burley. When she told him about Sam Yunki, he said, “I remember hearing about him. He was surly and uncooperative. That is—unless people paid him handsomely or tipped him generously.”
Nancy asked Mr. Burley if he knew that Yunki had worked at Crocodile Island after leaving the club.
“No, I didn’t,” he said. “I heard he left here unexpectedly and no one knew where he went, not even the other caddies. Well, I’ll notify the police at once.”
Nancy rejoined her friends, who said Colombo had already gone back to work. As the three girls walked to the parking lot, George said, “We really picked up a good clue!”
When they reached home, their hostess was smiling. “I have another message for you girls,” she said. “Nancy, your friend Ned called again. I invited the three boys to come down as soon as they could. It didn’t take them long to make up their minds. They’ll be at the Miami airport this afternoon.”
Nancy gave the woman a hug. “How sweet of you to invite them! You know we wanted to farm them out as bodyguards for Mr. Gonzales, but now he won’t need them. He’s in the hospital.”
“What!” Mrs. Cosgrove cried out in alarm.
Nancy and the girls told her about the day’s events.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Cosgrove said. “I hope Mr. Gonzales isn’t seriously hurt.”
Bess said, “We’ll call tomorrow and find out. The doctor said they would need to make some tests.”
Nancy, Bess, and George went upstairs to get ready. They gave their hair special attention and put on pretty dresses before going to meet the boys.
Miami airport was crowded, but the girls had no trouble finding the athletes from Emerson College. At once the couples paired off to exchange kisses. Then, while the boys were collecting their baggage and later as they all rode to the Cosgrove home, the girls told them of their adventures to date.
“I’m relieved that you’ve made such progress in your sleuthing,” Ned teased. “We didn’t want to come here to join a wild-goose chase.”
George said, “I haven’t seen any geese around, but there are crocodiles, alligators, snakes, fish that climb trees—”
“Oh, stop your kidding,” Burt interrupted.
“You’ll see,” George told him.
A few minutes later the young people reached the Cosgrove house. After dinner, Dave said, “Danny, what do you think our chances are of getting onto Crocodile Island? I can’t wait to see a crocodile. Nancy told us that recently it has been closed to visitors.”
Danny offered, nevertheless, to take them all in the skiff the following morning and try to land on the key. “It may be open,” he added cheerfully.
The seven young people set off early and headed directly to Crocodile Island. Nancy suggested that if visitors were allowed ashore, Ned, Burt, and Dave should go without the girls.
“No one there knows you, so you could look around without making the owners suspicious. Perhaps you can pick up some clues we’ve missed.”
Unfortunately the planned visit did not take place. When they reached the island, prominently displayed signs prohibited visitors. Furthermore, there was no activity around the place.
This lack of activity puzzled Nancy. “I can’t understand it,” she said. “I wonder if something happened.”
Danny shrugged. “If we can’t go ashore, we can’t find out. Tell you what. Suppose I take you boys to an uninhabited key so you can see exactly what one looks like. The girls haven’t seen the island either.” He