The maid began to fumble with the snarled necklaces on the floor.

Bess exchanged a look with Nancy and George, then bent down to help the maid return the jewelry to the overnight case. “Well, it looks like everything is here and okay. Don’t worry about it,” she told the girl. “My name is Bess Marvin. And this is Nancy Drew and George Fayne.”

“Niki Christofouros,” the maid introduced herself, scrambling to her feet and nodding at the girls.

Nancy looked carefully at the girl. She had large black eyes, lined with dark makeup, which gave her a mysterious look. With her high cheekbones and stylish bob, Nancy thought that Niki looked as if she had stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine.

“Thanks for the fruit,” Nancy said, deciding not to press the issue. “Tell Zoe that we feel very much at home here.”

“Yes, I’ll tell her,” Niki promised, edging away. Then she disappeared out the door.

George closed the door, then glanced around the room. “What’s her problem?”

“She was acting strange,” Nancy agreed.

Bess was sifting through her open suitcase. “There doesn’t seem to be anything missing, but why was she going through my stuff?”

“That’s exactly what I was wondering,” Nancy said as she sank down onto one of the room’s three beds.

“And why just your stuff, Bess?” George wanted to know. “She didn’t touch ours.”

“Probably because she has excellent taste,” Bess said with a mischievous look.

Nancy groaned and tossed a pillow at Bess, who batted it away with her hands. “This is serious. Aren’t you the least bit suspicious?” Nancy asked.

“Lighten up, Nan,” Bess said. “This is our vacation!” She slipped into the bathroom, calling out, “I’ve got the first shower!”

An hour later, dressed in shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers, Nancy, Bess, and George were ready to hike into Chora. Armed with their guidebook and instructions from Zoe, the girls set off on the mile-long walk to town.