Frank sat down on the bed and reached for the phone book but bypasses it and picked up the phone when it rang. "Son?" Fenton's voice came through.
"Hi, Dad," Frank greeted his father. "Any word on Joe yet?"
"Afraid not," Fenton said. "But your idea about stolen supplies paid off," he continued. "Yasmine has been reporting regular loses at their factory in North Carolina. It's located in Gaylord about twenty miles south of your current location."
"Chet and I will head down there first thing in the morning," promised Frank. "How did the lead in New York go?"
"Tandem was there but it was only temporary," Fenton answered. "The apartment was rented three months ago to a Mexican named Juan Perez. He's an illegal."
"Anything else?" asked Frank.
"Tandem has definitely set up another lab," Fenton said. "And he has a backer. I found a receipt for a list of items purchased via a mail-order company."
"Delivered to the apartment?" Frank asked in surprise.
"Negative," was the reply. "The address was ripped but I did get the zip code. It's in Gaylord."
"If his lab is in Gaylord then I'll find it," Frank vowed.
"We'll find it," Fenton amended his son's words. "You and Chet go to Yasmine tomorrow morning and then meet me at the police station at noon."
"Will do," acknowledged Frank.
Chet returned to the hotel a little before eight. "Frank!" he shouted excitedly when he entered the room he shared with his friend. "Tandem is here!"
"What?" Frank asked, jumping up from the bed where he had been studying a map of Gaylord he had purchased in the hotel's lobby.
Chet handed Frank a flyer he had removed from the bulletin board near the campus bookstore. Frank read over the paper, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "It does sound like it might be Tandem behind this," he agreed. The flyer was an advertisement for college males to give a vial of blood, hair and nail samples in exchange for twenty dollars. Those interested should call 555-8491 for further information.
"Chet, you're fantastic!" Frank enthused, reaching for the phone. He punched in the number to exit the room then hit the number from the flyer.
"Hello?" inquired a shy voice from the other end.
"Is this 555-8491?" inquired Frank.
"Yes," replied the voice. "May I help you?"
"I saw your flyer on campus today," Frank fibbed. "Are you still offering twenty dollars?"
"We are," the voice answered. "I just need you to answer a few questions to see if you qualify. How old are you?"
"Nineteen," lied Frank. He wanted to be old enough to be in college but not too old to be not considered in case this was for Tandem.
"And your natural hair color?" came the next question.
"Blond," Frank answered. "But what has that to do with anything?"
"That information is classified," the man at the other end replied. "What is your height and weight?" Frank gave the accurate measurements.
"Do you have any handicaps?"
"No way," Frank returned. "I was the starting quarterback in high school."
"Excellent," came the answer. "One final question. What color are your eyes?"
"Blue," Frank said, absolutely positive this was a link to Tandem at this point.
"Very good," the man said. "We are taking the samples the day after tomorrow at six p.m.," the man continued. "We have rented a storage building on highway 184. Just make a right on 184 from 221 and the rental place is two miles down on your left just past the Honda dealership. We're unit nine. You will have to park at the end of the road and walk in."
"No problem," Frank said. "You need my name?"
"Not at this point," was the reply. "Tomorrow you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire when we obtain the samples and pay you."
"Is this going to be in a check?" demanded Frank. "'Cause I need the money and the bank will be closed that late."
"All funds will be distributed in cash," the man assured Frank before terminating the call.
"Okay," Frank said, setting the receiver down and looking at Chet. "I need to find someone to dye my hair. Someone who can make people believe I'm a natural blond."
"You don't have the complexion to get away with it," Chet told him, looking at Frank critically. "Besides, they will probably pull the hair out instead of cutting it and even a great dye job couldn't help you then."
"You're right," Frank agreed in a disgruntled tone. "But we can still go and check the place out."
"Definitely," concurred Chet. "Now how about you tell me what you found out from Sarah over dinner?"
