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The Sinister Omen






 

George frowned. " But it's not natural. It isn't something that just happens, like lightning or an earthquake. It's a man-made omen, and a threat! "

They rode in silence for a time, then Bess spoke up. " I guess that was what Andre wanted to talk to us about. But I screamed and interrupted him."

" That can't be, " Nancy said. " If he knew the omen was there, he would have torn it down before we got in. Didn't you see the way he jumped? "

" That's right! There must be something else he's trying to tell us."

Nancy tapped on the glass panel dividing the chauffeur's compartment from the passenger section that had been closed at the start of the drive. Andre slid back the panel.

" Yes, Miss Drew? '

" What was it you were going to tell us? ''

Nancy saw the man's hands tighten on the wheel and the color drain from his face. "!...! cannot tell you now. I made a mistake. It is not the proper place. I am not the proper person. Wait until we get to the mansion, please." He shut the compartment partition with a firm snap.

" Better leave him alone, " George said. " He's very distressed about something."

By the time the girls arrived at the Segovia home, they were tense and worried. Andre helped them out and escorted them up the steps where they were met by a dignified woman of middle age identified as Consuelo, the Segovia housekeeper. She assigned a maid to the visitors and saw to it that they were taken to their private rooms. For a few moments, the opulence and grandeur of the Segovia mansion took the girls' breath away and they forgot the question of Andre's mysterious silence.

The chauffeur disappeared without saying anything, bringing in their luggage so quickly that before they knew it, the bags were all in the right rooms and Andre had vanished.

Frustrated, Nancy tried to track down Consuelo. But she, too, was nowhere to be found, having told the girls that the maid would take care of all their needs including any snacks or full meals they might wish.

''Oh-h, " Nancy said, shaking her hair from side to side, ''this is maddening. I know that what Andre had to say was terribly important. In fact, it was scaring him. I wonder where Dad or Señ or Segovia are."

She decided to ask the maid, and received a smiling comment in Spanish, which she could not understand. But after much smiling back and forth and a lot of arm waving and sign language, she managed to make her question understood. And the maid gave her the answer. Her father and Señ or Segovia were not here, but Nancy would see them later.

The girl thanked her, remembering the Spanish words. ''Muchas gracias, " she said.

" You're welcome, '' the maid replied in English as she curtsied and left.

Nancy bathed in a huge tub with black soap, something she had never seen before, and wrapped herself in a white towel that was almost as big as a bed sheet. She then blow-dried her hair and lay on her side on a chaise longue sipping the lemonade the maid had brought.

What a life, she thought. But then -she began puzzling again about Andre's secret. Something was wrong. But what? Was it something about her dad? Or Señ or Segovia? Or was it Mrs. Palmer? She knew she had to call Mrs. Palmer but she hesitated to get involved in that case until she was sure of what was happening with the stamp smugglers. And then, there was that buzzard symbol. The sinister omen. And her nightmare. Nancy was worried.

At five o'clock, the girls met downstairs and were thinking of a swim before dinner, when Señ or Segovia arrived. He was a tall and handsome man with a dashing manner, about the same age as Carson Drew. But where the attorney was cool, methodical, and almost scientific in his approach, Señ or Segovia was obviously fiery, impulsive, and a man of quick action. Nancy understood instantly why he and her father made such a good team. Each had characteristics to complement the other.

Bess and George had to suppress giggles when Señ or Segovia bowed and kissed their hands upon being introduced. But after exchanging some pleasantries with the girls, their host drew Nancy aside and his face became serious.

" Nancy, I must tell you about your father."

A cold hand seemed to grip the girl's heart.

She halfway knew what was coming. It was the message Andre had been too afraid to deliver and that had made Consuelo hide somewhere in the house until Señ or Segovia came home.

" Dad? Something has happened to Dad? "

" Nothing bad. Nothing we can't correct. He's going to be all right."

" Is he in a hospital? "

" No, no. Nothing like that. He's—well— been kidnapped. The group we've been fighting must be really terrified—and stupid—to do such a thing. They must know they can't get away with it! "

" Yes, " Nancy interrupted, " but the point is my dad was kidnapped. We don't know where he is or how to rescue him."

" Ah, " said Señ or Segovia, waggling a long forefinger. " We know exactly where they have taken him and we're about to close in tonight. That's why I must ask you to excuse me again so I can help direct the search." He bowed and began to move toward the door, calling over his shoulder, " Now don't worry, Nancy. I promise you he will be all right."

" Señ or Segovia! " Nancy's voice was so firm that the man turned around. " Do you really think that while my father is in danger, I'm just going to sit here and do nothing about it? "

Her host looked at her intently. Then he smiled, and motioned with one hand. " Come, " he said. " I should have known better. But I think Bess and George should stay here.''

George looked as if she were going to object at first, but Bess nodded silently and pulled her cousin by the hand. ''It's a whole search party, " she whispered. ''We'd probably be more of a hindrance than a help.'

Nancy and Señ or Segovia left the mansion in an old, battered Volkswagen. " We must not advertise who we are or that we are coming, " he said.

They drove south, out of Fort Lauderdale, past Hollywood and Miami proper, into the southwest district of the city. Their destination was a dark and deserted section, an area of warehouses in which few people traveled at night and those who did were generally considered to be up to no good.

''How do you know Dad is here? " Nancy asked.

" Through an informer, " Señ or Segovia replied. " Your father had not been missing for more than a day when I received a phone call telling me where he could be found."

" How do you know you can trust your source? " the girl went on.

''I have worked with this man before. He is reliable."

" Then why do you and Dad have such a hard time rounding up the men behind this stamp smuggling racket? "

''Ah, " Señ or Segovia replied, ''that is because that gang is very clever. They deal through middlemen all the time. You never catch anyone but the underlings, and they don't even know who their bosses are. But eventually we will find out! "

As they were talking, he pointed ahead to a long, low warehouse set back from the road. " That's it, " he said as they drove past. " We'll come back, of course. But I wanted you to notice the old cars parked there. See how one is run up on the sidewalk as if it had been abandoned there? Those are police cars. There are plainclothesmen inside waiting for my signal."

Nancy nodded. " Who owns the building? " she asked.

" It belongs to a firm that buys up the inventory of companies that go out of business and then resells the stuff. I understand they are not doing too well. A lot of merchandise they have acquired does not seem to be moving."

Señ or Segovia drove a mile down the road, then came back with the lights out, and parked a hundred yards from the building. When they got out, they left the doors slightly ajar rather than slamming them and making a warning noise. Then they walked cautiously toward the building in almost pitch darkness. Suddenly, Nancy felt someone on her left side and the hairs on her forearms stood up.

" Señ or Segovia, " she hissed. " Someone is walking with us."

" Si', " said her host, " That's Detective Gomez. But we've no time for introductions now. Just stay close to me."

Nancy could now make out a ring of men closing in on the building. They became faintly visible in the pale street lights swathed in heavy fog. The group approached the large double doors on the end of the building and then paused while four policeman came up with a metal battering ram. With a quiet count of one, two, three, they slammed the ram into the door. The tremendous noise breaking through the night air made Nancy jump.

It was over within four swings. The door splintered and gave way. The police piled through while others guarded the windows and doors against anyone trying to escape.

Nancy ran inside right behind the battering ram, calling her father's name. But the police searchlights sweeping the single giant room revealed nothing. Except for dust, some old office furniture, and large storage cartons, the warehouse was empty. There was no sign of Carson Drew!

 






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