The girls cautiously approached Tod Haggler’s cabin. They didn’t know what to expect. Would the young frogman even be there? Nancy noticed with an odd mixture of worry and relief that the door to the cabin was ajar and light spread out from the crack and onto the moored ship’s corridor. Looking grimly at Bess and George as her two companions took up position either side of the cabin doorway, the girl detective pushed the door open. “Come in, ladies!” came a clear and confident male voice. “You have nothing to fear from me!” Nancy took the lead, followed first by a curious-looking George and then by an apprehensive Bess. Haggler certainly did not look like he was going to run or fight. He sat upright on his bunk, clad in slacks, sweater and casual shirt, looking alert but relaxed. Nancy took a deep breath and looked the young man full in the eyes. “Tod Haggler,” she told him seriously, “we have followed a trail of clues to your door. We believe you are one behind the sabotage of Mr Kerry’s fishing boats!” Haggler looked surprised then spread his arms. “Now hold on a second, Miss Drew,” he replied earnestly, “I’m willing to confess to my part in persuading old man Kerry to go fishing away from North Point but I had nothing to do with those explosions.” Nancy scrutinised the diver’s face. Perhaps he was telling the truth. “But you are involved in this mystery?” George suddenly demanded. Switching his gaze to the dark haired young woman on Nancy’s left, Tod nodded. “Sure I am. I got an anonymous phone call followed by an envelope of cash to persuade Kerry the shoals had migrated here.” he answered. “I just thought it was a bit of commercial rivalry going on, not bombs and blackmail. I had nothing to do with that, miss. In fact I’m scared. Look!”
The young female sleuths followed Todd’s pointing finger. Etched on the door, which the girls had not noticed in their earlier concentration on locating the man, were three elaborately carved letters: H d H. “What does that mean?” Nancy asked going to examine them. “I don’t know!” stammered the suddenly nervous-looking man, “but right after I told my mysterious benefactor I wanted out, those letters appeared. I think they might be a curse!” Nancy looked dubiously at Haggler but could see he was genuinely frightened. “Look, girls,” he went on, “I’m happy to surrender to you and confess to what I did, but I need protection now!” Nancy nodded and glanced at her friends. “If Mr Haggler here is only a bit player, then we still have a violent blackmailer to find.” she said. Nancy then turned to Tod. “Your confession will have to wait for now, Tod,” she told him, “we need to get ashore. Suddenly our main suspect is much closer to home!” The young man looked almost relieved at being captured. “Whatever you say, ladies.” he replied. Nancy got onto her phone while George and Bess tied the unresisting Tod’s hands behind his back where he sat on his bunk with a length of rope he had hanging in his cabin, bound his ankles together and then gagged him with his own cravat. “Dad says Marvin is still in River Height, girls,” Nancy said excitedly clicking off her phone. “If we go now, we may still be able to catch him!” George finished tying Tod’s wrists, straightened and looked over at her titian-haired friend. “Are we going to leave Haggler here?” she asked. “Yes,” replied Nancy briskly. “We will lock him in so he is safe from whoever put the frighteners on him.” Then turning to the gagged Tod, she put her fingers to her lips. “If I were you, I would stay very quiet after we have gone, Mr Haggler.” she told him. Then with a rustle of skirts, the three women hurried from the cabin, locking the door behind them.
