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

then dashed to the stairway.

    “Stop! Stop!” Nancy cried again, dodging the object. She ran after the intruder, tracking him to the floor below. He dashed into an elevator with a couple who were just entering. The door closed just before Nancy got there.
    He’s probably going to the lobby! Nancy thought.
    Instantly, the girl detective flew back to the stairs, bolting down each flight with amazing speed. Upon reaching the ground floor, she gazed about breathlessly, hoping the man would still be in the lobby. There was no sign either of him or of the couple who had ridden with him.
    Nancy hurried to the desk. “Parakaló, excuse me,” she said. “I’m looking for someone.” She described the suspect and the couple and added, “Are they staying in this hotel?”
    “I don’t recognize the man but the couple sound familiar. They are staying here. Their name is Zimmer. I believe they are members of a charter tour from Massachusetts. ”
    Just then, George spotted Nancy and ran toward her. “That phone call was from a newspaper reporter.” she said. “He wants to write an article about you.”
    “About me?” Nancy said. “Why?”
    “It seems he heard you were in Athens to solve a mystery and wishes to know what it’s about.”
    “You didn’t tell him, did you?”
    “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t tell anyone. I said, ‘What kind of a detective would I be if I told you over the phone?’ ”
    “And what did he say?”
    “He didn’t want all the details—just enough to make an interesting story. ‘Even so,’ I said, ‘I really can’t help you.’ ” She paused. “I believe he thought I was you until I slipped and told him I wasn’t Nancy Drew.”
    “Then what happened?”
    “He was furious and hung up.”
    “Did you find out his name?” Nancy inquired.
    “Yes, it’s Irwin.”
    “And which paper does he work for?”
    “He’s a free-lance writer. At least, that’s what he said. He claims he’s developing a column that focuses on Americans living or visiting in Greece. ”
    “I think,” Nancy told George, “that Irwin, if that’s his real name, was only trying to keep me from going to our room, while his buddy went in.” She told about her ride to the ninth floor and what had happened. “The man looked like the one who took the apples—”
    “Where did he get the key?” George asked. “Do you think he works at this hotel?”
    “Possibly. Or maybe he stole a master key and had a duplicate made before anyone discovered the original was missing.”
    “Terrific,” George said, shaking her head in concern. “If you’re right, then he could return at any time. ”
    “We don’t have much of value for him to steal,” Nancy said. “What really bothers me is that he can harm us. Apparently, the apples were meant for us after all. ”
    George nodded worriedly. “We’d better change rooms before—”
    Just then Bess ran up to them. “Wait until you hear this!” she panted.
    “What?” Nancy asked.
    “A man ran out of the elevator and almost bumped into me. I heard him say ‘Drew.’ ”
    “Why didn’t you follow him?” George pressed her cousin.
    “I tried to, but he got away from me. He jumped into a car and they took off.”
    “They?” George asked.
    “There was another man behind the wheel. ”
    “Did you notice a couple with them?” Nancy continued.
    “Come to think of it, there were two people in the elevator, but they didn’t go with him. They looked as mystified as I was when he cut out in front of them. I’m positive the rude one was the man we saw with Isakos!”
    Suddenly, Nancy recalled the object he had hurled at her in the hallway near the girls’ room.
    “Let’s go upstairs,” she said. “On the way I’ll tell you what happened to me.”
    When Bess heard about the intruder, she turned pale. “We’ll have to move out of here!” she insisted. “What if the guy slips us another poisonous snake?”
    “If you would feel safer in another room,”