"It must have been terrifying," Nancy said sympathetically.
"The first day I just cried. I hoped and prayed that the men would come back for me." She paused as she pointed out a half-hidden pit that they had to step around.
"Then I decided I had to survive. So I started exploring the island. I found fish to eat and wove a mat to sleep on. When the two men came back on the third day, I hid from them." Maria laughed. "Boy, were they mad! I watched them from my cave, stumbling about and screaming at each other."
Nancy chuckled to herself, imagining the scene. They must have been embarrassed at losing their hostage! No wonder they had told Gibbs that Maria was dead. "They were trying to use you to get money from your brother," Nancy told Ricky's sister.
Maria nodded. "I thought of that, and that was one of the reasons I hid from them. They came back to search for me a few more times, but I decided to take my chances alone on the island rather than trust them again."
"You're very brave," Nancy said as they rounded a rocky cliff that gave way to a flat, grassy clearing edged with palm trees.
Together they made quick work of lighting a signal fire. While Maria gathered dry leaves, Nancy reached into the pocket of her shorts. Her lock-picking kit was there, a little soggy, but intact. She opened it up and pulled out a small magnifying glass.
They stacked the dry brush, then Nancy held the glass in front of a leaf. When the sun shone through the glass, a brown spot formed on the leaf and it began smoking. A moment later a flame popped up, and the brush picked up the flame. The fire grew in size.
Nancy watched as black smoke billowed into the air. "Someone is bound to notice this. But let's write a message, in case someone is flying overhead. They might think this is just a brush fire."
Maria helped her gather smooth black stones, which they arranged in the center of the field, spelling out the letters SOS. When they were finished, each letter was about four feet long and two feet wide.
They had barely finished when they heard the whir of a helicopter. Running to the middle of the message, they searched the sky until finally the red-and-white chopper came into view.
"The U.S. Coast Guard!" Nancy exclaimed. "That was fast!"
The helicopter circled once, then slowly dropped straight down into the field a few feet from their stones. Nancy was so relieved, she wanted to kiss the pilot. She settled for a friendly handshake after she and Maria climbed aboard the craft.
"Welcome aboard, ladies," the pilot said. "I have to admit, I only expected to find one young woman on the island, but I consider this a bonus. Is one of you Maria Angeles?"
"That's me."
"You're the one I'm looking for. I just got word on the radio that you were stranded somewhere in the Devil's Chain. Your signal fire helped me find you right away." He turned back to the control panel and took the copter back into the air.
Nancy leaned forward. After introducing herself, she asked, "Can you radio ahead to the police on Saint Thomas? I have reason to believe that my friends are in grave danger there."
"Bess Marvin and George Fayne?" he repeated after she gave him the names. "They're the girls who sent us the message from Pineapple Grove. Seems they've caused quite a stir there. The place is swarming with police and immigration agents."
"They made it back!" Nancy shouted, relief flooding through her. "Then they're okay?"
The pilot shrugged. "They were in good enough shape to turn Steven Gibbs's resort upside down."
"All right!" Nancy cried.
Ten minutes later the helicopter set down on Pineapple Grove's landing pad.
"Ricky!" Maria Angeles hopped out of the helicopter and ran across the pavement, straight into her brother's arms.
Nancy's heart went out to them as she watched the tearful reunion. They both had suffered through so much to be together. She hoped they could work something out with the immigration authorities so that Maria could stay in America.
Stepping down to the ground, Nancy crossed over to where Bess and George were standing with the other two Hot Rods. Bess and George looked completely surprised to see her.
"Nancy!" Bess exclaimed. "What were you doing in the Devil's Chain?"
When Nancy explained how she had been taken to the island where Maria was hiding, Bess became furious. "Gibbs and Daniel were arrested just a few minutes ago, and they didn't say a word about leaving you out there to die. What creeps!"
Nancy grinned at Bess, relieved that they were all together—and all alive and well. "How did you know Maria was there?" Nancy asked. "Did Gibbs and Daniel tell you that much, at least?"
"No," George answered. "That information came from Vincent after he regained consciousness. It seems he had a change of heart after his accident. He confessed to the nurse in the infirmary, and she reported everything to the local police. Unfortunately, no one could make sense of the story until we came back with the authorities from Saint Thomas."
Bess gestured to someone behind Nancy, and Nancy turned to see a short, squat man walking over to her. He stepped forward and shook Nancy's hand, introducing himself as Special Agent Lowery. "You've uncovered quite a network of illegal activity here. Nice work."
"Thanks for flying in with my friends." Nancy smiled. Turning back to George and Bess, she told them Gibbs's story about the hired killer who was supposed to greet them in Saint Thomas. "I was worried sick about you guys!"
Bess and George exchanged a look of astonishment, then burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"Do you think—" Bess began.
"It had to be." George nodded at her cousin, then explained to Nancy, "When we got off the plane, two other women on the flight were walking in front of us on the pier. Some guy jumped out and pulled a knife on them. I thought he was robbing them!"
"George knocked the knife out of his hand with a kick," Bess said. "Then I pushed him in the water," she finished proudly.
George shrugged. "He must have been told to look for two young women. He just picked the wrong ones."
"We had the advantage because we caught him off guard," Bess added. "He didn't expect two bystanders to get involved."
George laughed again. "We didn't connect it to the case. I just assumed he was a thief."
Nancy gave them each a hug. "Thank goodness you were both on your toes."
"I guess some of your detective's instincts have rubbed off on us," Bess said with a smile.
"We've learned from the best," George added.
"Bring on Woody and the Hot Rods!" Bess cheered.
It was later that day, and Pineapple Grove's dance club was loud with excitement. Nancy, George, and Bess were sharing a table with Courtney.
"It's great of the Hot Rods to give a special show," said George, sipping a banana milkshake.
"They wanted to prove once and for all that they're together." Dressed in an emerald green minidress, Courtney looked beautiful and happier than ever.
Glancing down at the diamond engagement ring Courtney wore, Nancy asked, "When are you and Woody getting married?"
Courtney shrugged. "We're not sure yet. Sometime between tours. And we're determined to make it work."
"Mind if I join you?"
The girls looked up to find Maria arm in arm with her brother.
"We'd love it," Bess said, pulling out a chair for her.
Ricky waved, saying, "Got to run, you guys. See you after the show."
Maria turned to Nancy with a bright smile. "Good news! I've been given a visa so that I can stay in the U.S. until my paperwork is processed."
"That's great!" Nancy told her.
"The immigration authorities say that my case is an exception. Since my parents were killed in a political struggle, I'll be granted political asylum."
Everyone at the table congratulated Maria and wished her the best. They were still talking about her move to America when the lights dimmed and the Hot Rods appeared on stage.
Their first song had the audience clapping and singing
along. Woody called for a few volunteers from the audience, and Courtney and Bess ran up to the stage, along with a handful of female fans.
George nudged Nancy and nodded toward the stage. "Is that Bess singing off-key?"
Nancy listened closely, then shook her head.
"No. In fact, I think she's bucking for a record contract of her own."
Bess had actually grabbed one of the microphones. "Hold on, baby . . ." she crooned in a sultry voice.
George smiled. "That's our Bess!"
Carolyn Keene, 058 Hot Pursuit
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