Sabotage!

''I hate this" Bess said. ''Whenever a car follows us I know what it means. It means Nancy is going on another case, even if we don't know what it is yet.''

''Don't be a pessimist, " George told her. " Maybe it's somebody going to the airport, too."

" Not likely, " Nancy declared, her blue eyes flashing to the rearview mirror and back to the road. " I've tested him out by slowing down and giving him a chance to pass us. He didn't take it. He's just hanging in there behind us."

" Can you see who it is? " George asked.

" No. It's a small, green sports car with one of those tinted glass windshields; the kind where you can't see in very well but you can see out."

" What are you going to do? " Bess asked.

" I don't know" Nancy replied. " I don't know whether just to ignore him or try to lose him."

" Let's lose him, " George suggested. " But how? "

" Oh, we can do a few tricks that won't-break the law, " the titian-haired sleuth responded. With that, she pulled up and stopped. The move took the green car by surprise. Before the driver could react, he found that with another car directly behind him, he had no choice but to pass the girls. As soon as he did, Nancy made a smooth U-turn, went back over the brow of a hill until she was sure the green car was out of sight, then turned right onto an alternate road to the airport.

" That did it, " George said. " It's so easy when you know how."

But five miles farther on, Nancy looked into her mirror and groaned. " It's so easy, is it? He's back again."

This time the two girls whirled around and saw the green sports car a hundred yards behind.

" Well, " Nancy said, " let's not worry about it. He's not bothering us and we're going to a crowded airport where he's not likely to try anything."

The girls drove on for another ten minutes.

Then Bess, who couldn't resist looking back furtively, cleared her throat. ''Ah, Nancy? "

''Yes? ''

" If I tell you something, will you promise not to take your hands off the wheel and scream? "

" Nancy Drew has never taken her hands off the wheel and screamed in her entire life, " George stated.

" Okay. Now there are two cars following us. The green one and right behind it a yellow station wagon."

" I know, " Nancy said. " I just didn't say anything because I didn't want to upset you. We might have a whole parade before we get to the airport."

She tried to think of a reason why people would be trailing her. Could it have anything to do with the legal actions her father was undertaking on behalf of Señ or Segovia in Florida?

Before she could reach any conclusion on the matter, they had arrived at River Heights Airport. Nancy drove straight to the charter plane area and parked. The girls got out and looked around for their " shadows." They didn't see the green car, but the yellow station wagon pulled in next to them. To their surprise, the driver, who got out and approached the trio, was a woman.

" This is it" Bess whispered. " Here comes trouble, Detective Drew. I can feel it."

The woman had pleasant features and earnest brown eyes. Her dark blond hair was tied back tightly and she wore glasses with large, clear plastic rims.

" Nancy Drew? " she asked, stopping a few feet from the girls. Then, not waiting for Nancy to reply, she said, " Oh, excuse me. Let me introduce myself first. I'm Susan McAfee? From Fort Lauderdale? " She had the habit of many Southerners of ending a statement with a rising intonation to make it sound like a question.

" Oh, hi, " Nancy said. " Yes, I’m Nancy Drew. And these are my friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne."

" Miss Drew, I don't want to delay you. I know you're trying to get to Fort Lauderdale and …"

Nancy started. " How did you know? "

" Well, " Miss McAfee replied, " I know your father, Carson Drew. He's an old friend of my employer, Mrs. Eleanor Palmer. May I speak to you privately and explain? "

Nancy put her arms around Bess and George. " You can say anything you want in the presence of Bess and George. They're my dearest friends and confidantes."

" Oh, all right" Miss McAfee smiled. " But could we at least go inside and have sodas while I tell you my problem? I'm awfully thirsty."

Nancy agreed and the four young women went inside and settled down in a comfortable booth in the restaurant. Then Susan McAfee took a deep breath and began.

''I am the personal secretary and companion to Mrs. Eleanor Palmer. Mrs. Palmer is very wealthy. And very courageous. And extremely opinionated. She is also bright and funny and sharp as a tack. And she is ninety-three years old, mind you."

" Wow, " said Nancy, " she must be quite a lady."

" She is. I hope you get to meet her because you'll find it quite an experience. Anyway, Mrs. Palmer, as I said, is an old friend of your family. She knew your father's grandparents quite well."

" They weren't alive any more when I was born, " Nancy said.

Miss McAfee nodded and went on. " Mrs. Palmer has an annoying and unusual problem. It's a little scary, really. She and I and her servants live in a huge, old house. Everything is done in the Victorian style of the 1890s. Great, massive furniture, heavy mauve drapes. It's a little like living in a museum."

''But not scary, is it? '' Bess put in.

" No. But what has happened is. Mrs. Palmer is plagued by burglars. Only they don't steel anything! "

" I beg your pardon, " Nancy said, looking quizzically at the young woman.

" That's right, " Miss McAfee replied. ''They don't take anything. They break into the house and ransack it, but in the end nothing's missing."

" Could they just be vandals? " George asked. " Perhaps neighborhood children who think it's fun to destroy things? "

" No, " Miss McAfee said. " These people are professionals. There is no doubt of that. Our security precautions would keep out any amateur thieves or vandals."

" How many times has it happened? " Nancy asked.

" Four times. Isn't that unbelievable? I must tell you that Mrs. Palmer has given the Fort Lauderdale Police a very hard time. She has also complained to the Broward County Sheriff's Office and the Florida State Highway Patrol."

" Is there special protection now? " Nancy asked with concern. " At her home, I mean? ''

" Yes. The police have a man on guard. But if there's another burglary, I think Mrs. Palmer will try to have the entire city and county government replaced."

The girls laughed. " A feisty old lady, " Nancy said.

Susan McAfee nodded. " Sometimes she does try your patience, but she has so much character and spunk that you have to admire her."

Nancy agreed. " Well, Miss McAfee, what do you intend to do about this problem? "

" I think you know. Mrs. Palmer sent me to ask you if you will take the case while you're in Fort Lauderdale."

Bess cast her eyes heavenward and touched Nancy's foot under the table. Nancy ignored her, though she smiled a little.

" Why did you fly all the way up here when you knew I was coming to Florida? " she asked Susan.

" Mrs. Palmer wants her answers right away."

Nancy laughed. ''I know, but she could have telephoned."

" That's something else. She doesn't trust telephones. She doesn't really trust anything invented in the last one hundred years. "

Nancy drummed her fingers on the table.

" Miss McAfee, I'd like to help but we were going to be on vacation and …"

" Mrs. Palmer said she would more than match any price you might want to set"

Nancy shook her head. " We never take money. That's not the issue."

There was silence. Then Bess spoke. " Well, Mrs. Palmer is so old. And she is a friend of your family so it probably wouldn't be polite to say no, would it? I mean, I don't want to make your decisions for you, Nancy, but..."

Nancy and George were both amused. " Well, " George said. " Look who's becoming an agent for Nancy Drew, detective. I thought you wanted to vacation with us! "

Bess grinned ruefully. " We'll work it in. We have to help Mrs. Palmer! "