Sinister Paradise Read online

“How did the Malihini Corporation hire you?” asked Nancy.

  “They sent me a letter. Express courier, plus a retainer—a check for ten thousand dollars. They told me that Lisa had run away from home. They were sure she was still here in Honolulu, and they wanted me to find her. So I staked out the girl’s condo. Asked a few questions around town. But she never turned up.”

  “Why did you start following me?” asked Nancy.

  “They told me to.”

  “How?”

  “I got another express letter from the Malihini Corporation. Haven’t had time to cash the check.”

  “May I see them, please?” Nancy asked.

  The check was for twenty thousand dollars, issued by the Bank of Nova Scotia in the Cayman Islands. Wally looked on in dismay as Tim put it into his plastic evidence bag.

  Nancy’s gaze skimmed the letter. It was on quality bond paper with the legend The Malihini Corporation across the top.

  Dear Mr. Cerrado,

  We are highly satisfied with your work on the Lisa Trumbull case. Now, however, we have need of your services in a more pressing matter. We wish you to place four people under surveillance, two men and two women. They are: Nancy Drew, Ned Nickerson, Bess Marvin, and George Fayne.

  We want no action taken against these people at the present time. We will be contacting you in the near future to arrange a time and place for the transfer of your information.

  The Malihini Corporation

  “I did like they wanted,” Wally said as Nancy handed the cops the letter. “I managed to find you three.” His face turned rueful. “But I never got a line on that George Fayne guy.”

  Running footsteps sounded in the corridor. A worried-looking George appeared in the doorway. “Nancy! I’ve been looking all over for you guys!”

  Wally’s mouth fell open. “Hey—it’s the boat girl!”

  “Wally—” Nancy tried not to giggle. “Say hello to George Fayne!”

  • • •

  A short while later Nancy drove her friends to the bank. As they cruised along, Ned said, “You’re looking thoughtful, Nancy.”

  “Curious, isn’t it?” Nancy glanced at him. “The Malihini Corporation hired Wally to search for Lisa. Then, after we arrived in Hawaii, they told him to forget Lisa and concentrate on us. Let’s look at that sequence of events again, okay?” Nancy tapped her thumb on the steering wheel. “Diana sends Lisa to the bank. Lisa is unhappy and grabs this opportunity to run away. She cleans out her mother’s safety deposit box. Later that afternoon, Ross Rafferty checks the vault and discovers the theft. Ross tells Diana what happened. Diana calls her mother.” She lifted a forefinger. “Now—very soon after all this, Wally Cerrado gets that letter from the Malihini Corporation. They tell him Lisa is a runaway and give him ten thousand dollars to find her. What do you get from all that?”

  “Wait a minute!” Ned frowned thoughtfully. “How did the Malihini Corporation find out about Lisa so fast?

  George slapped the front seat. “Of course! The Malihini Corporation is run by one of Windward’s top people. I’ll bet they were all in Ross’s office when he phoned Diana.”

  “Second point.” Nancy lifted her thumb. “How come the Malihini Corporation never bothered with Lisa before? One day, she’s a nobody to them. The next, they’re ready to spend ten grand to find her. Why?”

  Ned laughed aloud. “I get it! Lisa cleaned out the safety deposit box.”

  “Right.” Nancy nodded slowly. “It was only after Lisa cleaned out the box that the Malihini Corporation went after her. Therefore, Lisa must have taken something of theirs out of the box.”

  “But how did something of Malihini’s get into Diana Faulkner’s safety deposit box?” asked George.

  “A member of the Malihini Corporation put it there,” Nancy said grimly. “Remember that shipping manifest I found? It was concealed inside one of Diana’s bonds. The culprit must have done that with all of Malihini’s papers.” She eased the car into a parking space. “The way I figure it, Lisa grabbed the Malihini documents by accident when she emptied her mother’s box. She found them later. She’s probably a bright girl and realized who was behind the Malihini Corporation. So she decided to contact that person and deal those documents.”

  “And that explains why Wally was hired so quickly,” Ned added as Nancy switched off the engine. “The culprit checked Diana’s box, realized the Malihini papers were gone, and set Wally on Lisa’s trail.”

  “Right!” Nancy opened her door. “And once they had Lisa safely stashed away at the Ka Lae, they sent Wally after us.”

  As Nancy and her friends entered the lobby, they ran into Jack Showalter. His tense face relaxed when he spotted them. “There you are! Mr. Rafferty sent me down to intercept you.” He led them to the elevator. “Mrs. Faulkner and her daughter are upstairs. It’s—well, it’s pretty bad, Nancy.”

  A ripple of dread ran through her. Are we too late? Nancy wondered. Is Lisa dead?

  Arriving at the executive suite, Nancy saw Alice and Diana by the conference table. Diana was weeping like a child.

  Between her anguished sobs, Diana gasped. “This is all my fault! I failed her, Mother. Lisa wouldn’t have run away if I’d made her happy.”

  “Don’t blame yourself, Di. You did your best.” Alice’s eyes filled with tears.

  Nancy hurried across the room. “Mrs. Faulkner, what has happened?”

  Taking a golden bracelet from the table, Mrs. Faulkner gave it to Nancy. “This is Lisa’s. I gave it to her last Christmas.”

  Suddenly Nancy noticed Ross Rafferty, Mitsuo Kaimonsaki, and Amy Sorenson. They stood off by themselves, looking glum and miserable.

  Alice handed Nancy a letter. “Ross got this in the mail with it.” Her voice broke. “They—they wanted to prove that they really have her.”

  Nancy’s stomach turned to ice as she read the terse, cruel message.

  Rafferty—

  We’ve got Lisa. Here’s her bracelet. If you call the police, she’s dead. Here are our terms: You, Jarman, Kaimonsaki, Sorenson, and the Faulkners will sell your shares in Windward Bancorp to us at a price we will name. Or else you’ll never see Lisa again!

  The Malihini Corporation

  Chapter

  Fifteen

  COMING UP BEHIND Nancy, Ross said, “We can’t be certain that the Malihini Corporation has Lisa. This could be a bluff.”

  “Lisa loved that bracelet!” Alice snapped, whirling to face him. “She never would have given it up.”

  Ross didn’t meet her eyes. “We can’t sell those shares. We mustn’t! It’ll be the end of the bank!”

  “The bank can go hang!” Alice declared, her eyes flashing. “If I have to sell to save my granddaughter, I’ll do it!”

  Ross looked as if he’d just been shot. “You—you can’t do this to me!”

  “You did it to yourself, you moron!” Mitsuo exploded, clenching his fists. “You and your grandiose schemes! Lending money to all those small countries. I warned you against it! You’ve ruined me, Rafferty!”

  Ross’s face turned lobster red. “I’ll remember this disloyalty. I’ll get you, Kaimonsaki!”

  “Ross!” Amy shouted. “Don’t you see? We have to sell! The girl’s life is at stake!”

  As the shouting continued, Nancy and Ned ushered the Faulkner woman out. Taking Diana’s arm, Nancy steered her toward the water cooler.

  Diana gratefully accepted a cup of water. Gone was the self-centered artist Nancy had met earlier. In her place stood a tense, frightened woman deeply worried about her daughter.

  Diana looked at Nancy with haunted eyes. “My agent tells me that one of my paintings may bring two hundred thousand at auction.” She sobbed. “Right now I feel like burning it! Why did I let my work come between me and Lisa? She’s the most important thing in my life. Why did I have to lose her?”

  Nancy squeezed the woman’s hands comfortingly. “You haven’t lost her yet, Diana. There may still be a way to save her. Will you answ
er one question?”

  Sniffling, Diana nodded.

  “What did you keep in your safety deposit box?”

  Diana shrugged. “My passport, my jewelry, this and that. I’m afraid I didn4 keep track. I left the money matters to my advisors.”

  “Who were they?” Nancy asked.

  “Father left me a substantial portfolio. Mitsuo Kaimonsaki took care of it at first. He’s been with the bank since I was a girl. When I married Ross, he took over my affairs.” Diana blew her nose softly. “Since we were divorced, Amy Sorenson has been serving as my financial advisor.”

  Nancy gave her a quick hug. “Thanks, Diana!”

  On her way downstairs Nancy mulled over what she had learned. Whoever was running the Malihini Corporation had used Diana’s safety deposit box because that person knew she rarely went to it and knew that because that person had been her financial advisor.

  Nancy stopped in Jack Showalter’s office, but he wasn’t there. Sitting at his desk, she opened her shoulder bag and spread the clues out in a semicircle—the Higashi transceiver, the bearer bond, the shipping manifest. Nancy looked over the manifest. “Telephone speakers, tape recorder, electronic beeper,” she murmured to herself.

  Electronic beeper! Amy Sorenson carried one in her purse!

  Nancy frowned. She was just beginning to figure this out. Amy had thought George was a guy. . . .

  Nancy picked up the bearer bond. Too bad Lisa didn’t write a message on this, she thought. She might have told us where she’s being held—Nancy paused suddenly.

  But the bad guys don’t know she didn’t leave a message, do they?

  She grinned, folding the thick paper once more. An idea was beginning to take shape. It was risky—but if it worked, it would lead her straight to Lisa.

  Picking up Jack’s phone, Nancy said, “Operator, put me through to the Honolulu police, please.”

  • • •

  An hour later Nancy stood on the foredeck of the Kahala. A familiar voice hollered a greeting. Turning, she saw Tim and Martin walking down the wharf. Tim carried a brown-paper package under his arm.

  “Welcome aboard, guys. That was quick.”

  “We took off right after you called,” Tim said, climbing on board. “This is a dangerous plan, Nancy. Be careful.”

  “I will.” Nancy led them below. “Did you bring all that wiretap stuff?”

  “That, and a court order.” Tim patted his parcel. “Let’s go to work.”

  They set up shop in the main stateroom. Tim unwrapped the package to reveal a tangle of wires, two plastic components, and a tape recorder. After checking the components, he hooked up the tape recorder to the boat’s cordless telephone. Meanwhile, Martin looped the smaller wires over Nancy’s head. She concealed them under her collar.

  Ned picked up a small plastic component. “What is this thing?”

  “A miniaturized tape recorder,” Martin explained as Nancy clipped it inside the waistband of her slacks. “The other one’s a transponder—it emits a constant radio signal. Helps us keep track of you at all times.” He stood up. “There! You’re wired, Nancy.”

  With the others at her heels, Nancy headed for the cordless phone. She tapped out the number of the Faulkner estate.

  “Hello?” Alice sounded subdued.

  “Mrs. Faulkner, it’s Nancy Drew. Listen, you mustn’t do what that note says. You mustn’t sell those shares.”

  “But, Nancy, if it’s the only way to save Lisa—”

  “If you do it, they’ll kill Lisa!” Nancy interrupted. “Once they have your shares, they won’t need Lisa anymore. Don’t you see?”

  The older woman sobbed quietly. “What—what can I do, then?”

  “Don’t do anything for the next ten hours,” Nancy pleaded. “Just please—please give me ten more hours to bring Lisa home.”

  “All right.” Alice sighed deeply. “What you have in mind—will it save Lisa?”

  “It’s our only chance, Mrs. Faulkner. Now, one other favor. Take the phone off the hook. Don’t talk to anyone from the bank. No one! Not even the top brass.” She licked her lips nervously. “Especially the top brass! Okay? I’ll be back with Lisa in a few hours.”

  As soon as Mrs. Faulkner hung up, Nancy dialed the number of Lester Jarman’s estate. Moments later, Lester’s whispery voice came on the line.

  “Nancy Drew! To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Mr. Jarman, I am very close to nailing the Malihini Corporation. I thought you might be interested.”

  “I’m always interested in the Malihini Corporation.” Nancy could see him at the other end of the line, leaning forward, eager to close another secret deal. “What have you got to trade, Nancy?”

  “I picked up this little item a while ago.” Nancy pulled the bearer bond out of her shoulder bag. “I called Mrs. Faulkner to ask her about it, but she’s not home. It looks like a deed or something. There’s a picture of your bank, and it says, “Pay to the bearer fifty thousand dollars.’ ”

  “A bearer bond!” Lester exclaimed. “It must be one of the bonds Lisa took from our vault. Where did you find it?”

  “A surfer gave it to me.” Nancy said, lying. She did not have to fake the excitement in her voice. “There’s something on the back. Looks like handwriting.”

  “What does it say?” Lester gasped.

  “That’s just it. I can’t read it. There’s been some water damage.”

  “Water damage?”

  “No matter,” Nancy added. “We’ll soon find out if it’s Lisa’s handwriting.”

  Confused, Lester replied, “How? You said you couldn’t read it.”

  “I can’t read it, Mr. Jarman, but the Honolulu police can. They can put it under ultraviolet light. Who knows? Maybe Lisa tried to tell us where she is.” Nancy winked at her friends. “I’m going to the police station in a little while. Would you call Mrs. Faulkner and ask her to meet me there?”

  “Nancy, this is splendid!” the old man cackled. “You did the right thing in calling me. Indeed you did.” His voice turned thick. “I suppose you’ll want some money for your trouble.”

  Nancy scowled. Perhaps Lester Jarman had never broken any laws, but he was a crook at heart!

  “I’ll get back to you,” Nancy said sweetly, then hung up.

  Martin was doubled over with laughter. “Nancy, that was one of the best con jobs I’ve heard. You had him all the way!”

  But Bess looked bewildered. “Nancy, I don’t understand. Why did you call Mr. Jarman?”

  “I need Lester Jarman to spread a rumor for me,” Nancy explained. “Jarman won’t keep it to himself. He’ll call Alice first. But she’s not home. He’ll get frustrated. He has to check it out! So he’ll call the bank. I’m betting he talks to one of them—Rafferty, Kaimonsaki, or Sorenson. They’ll want to know why he’s calling. Jarman will have to tell them about that bearer bond with the handwriting on it.”

  Ned’s eyes flickered in understanding. “I get it now. The culprit knows Lisa was at the beach!”

  “Exactly!” Nancy nodded. “And their imagination will do the rest. They can’t be certain that Lisa didn’t leave a bearer bond with a surfer.”

  “How does that help us?” asked Bess.

  “Jarman will tell them I’m taking it to the police,” Nancy replied, leaning against the helm. “Don’t you get it? The Malihini Corporation has to stop me before I can get there. They have to come after me right now!”

  George grimaced worriedly. “Nancy, you set yourself up as a target!”

  Nancy shook her head. “They won’t come here, George. They’ll try to separate me from you. Then they’ll make their move.”

  “All we can do now is sit and wait.” Martin pulled a pack of worn cards out of his pocket. “Anyone for gin rummy?”

  They started a game of cards around the galley table, but no one could concentrate. Finally Bess threw her hand in. “Nancy! This is killing me! What if you’re wrong?”

  “I’m not, Bess.�
� Nancy rotated her shoulders, trying to ease the tension. “They have to grab that bearer bond before I get it to the police. The way I figure it, somebody will call and suggest that I bring it to the bank first. But it’ll be a setup. Once I leave the boat, they’ll grab me.”

  “But we’ll be able to follow using the transponder,” Tim added.

  As Bess mulled it over, understanding blossomed on her face. Her gaze flitted to the cordless phone. She swallowed hard. “Then—then the person who calls is the killer!”

  Nancy smiled wryly. “Not necessarily a killer, Bess. The culprit could always—”

  Suddenly the phone cut loose with a loud ring.

  Nancy picked it up. “Hello?”

  “Hello, Nancy.” The voice was smooth and calm. “Amy Sorenson here. I thought we might have a little chat.”

  Chapter

  Sixteen

  WHAT CAN I do for you, Ms. Sorenson?” Nancy asked pleasantly.

  “I’ve had some rather startling news. Are you alone?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Good.” Amy sounded relieved. “Lester Jarman told me about that bearer bond. I don’t mean to tell you your business, Nancy, but I really think you should bring it here to the bank. It should be under lock and key.”

  “I agree, Ms. Sorenson. In fact, I was just about to call the police.”

  “Good idea. There’s a safe in my office. Why don’t you bring your evidence here and lock it up? Then no one can touch it until the police arrive.”

  Nancy feigned reluctance. “Well, I don’t know . . .”

  “Look, I’ll send my limo right over. You call the police and ask them to meet you here.”

  “Sounds good to me, Ms. Sorenson. Where shall I meet you?”

  “Oh, I won’t be coming. Just look for my car—a beige limousine. My chauffeur, Ramon, will meet you right in front of the marina. Please be careful, Nancy.”

  “I will. Thanks.” She hung up.

  Martin ran a quick check on the minirecorder. It worked perfectly. Nancy clipped the transponder to a barrette and put it in her hair.

  Ned and the cops followed her onto the deck. Tim said, “We’ll be standing by, Nancy. If anyone makes a move to grab you, we’ll bust them. Understand?”