“I thought you said you’d solve your ‘case’ in ten minutes,” George teased. “What happened, couldn’t you find Kim?”
“I found her,” Nancy said. “Kim’s—”
“Well, it’s about time you got here!” Bess broke in. “We thought you’d decided to spend your entire vacation indoors. Nancy,” she went on with a big smile, “meet Dirk Bowman. He owns a boat, and he’s promised to take us all along on a midnight cruise. Doesn’t that sound fantastic?”
Nancy turned and smiled distractedly at Dirk. She hadn’t noticed him at first, but she should have guessed that Bess would have found someone by then.
“I don’t actually own the boat, I just work for the lady who does,” Dirk explained as he smiled back at Nancy. He was a fabulous-looking guy—sandy blond hair, deep blue eyes, and a perfect tan on a nearly perfect body. “But the invitation for the cruise is good. You have my word.”
“It sounds great,” Nancy told him. “But I don’t think I’ll be able—”
“Oh, come on. Nan,” Bess protested. “We came down here to have fun, right? What could be more fun than a midnight cruise?”
“Really, it sounds great,” Nancy said again, “but—”
“What is it, Nancy?” George asked. “You hardly look like somebody who’s having a terrific time.”
Nancy brushed her hair back and took a deep breath. “You’re right. I’m not having a terrific time,” she said. “But I’m afraid Kim’s having a worse one.” She glanced at the three of them and then went on to tell what had happened to their friend that morning.
“Oh, how awful!” Bess said in a horrified voice. “What kind of creep would run over somebody and keep on going?”
“I don’t know,” Nancy replied. “But I plan to find out. I don’t think it was just some jerk who hit Kim and then panicked. I think it was deliberate. I think Kim got mixed up in something dangerous down here and she nearly paid for it with her life.”
“What could she have gotten mixed up in?” George asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Nancy admitted. “But I plan to soon. Some very strange things have been going on.” She told them about Kim’s hotel room and the mess it was in, about the phony maintenance man, the snapshots of the pretty girl, and the guy who’d broken into the room and taken some clothes.
As she talked, Nancy noticed that Dirk Bowman was becoming extremely interested in what she was saying.
“Sounds like your vacation’s not exactly turning out the way you expected,” he commented when Nancy finished.
“Not exactly,” Nancy agreed.
“Well, from what Bess and George have told me about you,” he went on, “I’d bet you’re not going to give up until you have all the answers.” He smiled at Bess, and Nancy noticed that he had a dimple just to the left of his mouth. Bess looked enchanted. “Don’t worry,” Dirk went on, “they didn’t talk about you that much. They just said that you’re a detective, and you don’t give up without a fight.”
“I guess I don’t,” Nancy said. “And I sure won’t give up on this case, not when one of my friends is lying in a hospital.” She turned to Bess and George. “Kim’s mother is flying down later today. I think we ought to be at the hospital when she gets there, don’t you?”
“Absolutely,” George said, and Bess nodded and sighed. “Poor Kim,” she exclaimed. “I just can’t believe it!”
“Listen,” Dirk said to Nancy, “if there’s anything I can do, I wish you’d let me know.” He put a hand on Nancy’s shoulder and flashed his dimple at her. “I know my way around Fort Lauderdale pretty well. Besides,” he added, “I’m sort of a mystery nut. I’d really like to help you.”
“Well, thanks.” Nancy was aware that Dirk still had his hand on her shoulder, and she tried to shrug it off, but it stayed put.
“Listen,” said Dirk, “that midnight cruise is probably out for you tonight, Nancy. I know you’ve got to be with your friend. But maybe you and I could get together tomorrow sometime and talk about this. I’d really like to help.”