The next morning found Frank and Chet in Gaylord talking to Jerry Blevins, the manager of Yasmine Medical Supply.

"Yes, your father told me you were coming," Jerry said after Frank had introduced himself and Chet. "I've never met him but I have heard good things about him so if he thinks you will be able to help, I really would appreciate it."

"What kinds of things have gone missing?" asked Frank.

"A little bit of everything just about," Blevins answered. "To begin with it was small things: chemicals; vials; burners and the like. Small losses happen occasionally so we didn't think much of it. We assumed part of the delivery hadn't made it to the loading bay. But then we started missing more expensive equipment and, well, that's when we knew we had a thief."

"How long has this been going on?" asked Frank.

"I can't say for sure, but at least since last August," Blevins answered.

"I have a picture I would like you to look at," Frank said, reaching into his shirt pocket and removing Tandem's photograph. "Did he work here at any point in time?"

Blevins took the picture and studied it. "I can't recall," he said. "But let me show it to Ruth Ann. She's got a good memory for faces." He opened the door of his office and asked his secretary to enter.

"Ruth Ann, do you remember this man ever working here?' he asked the middle-aged secretary.

Ruth Ann took the photo and looked at it briefly before removing her glasses and giving it a more thorough going over. "He never worked here," she finally replied, putting her glasses back on. "But he did hang around outside a lot," she added. "Billy Cunningham was the man he kept dropping in to see."

"Does Billy still work here?" inquired Frank.

"No," was the answer. "He quit pert near two weeks ago."

"Can I see his file?" asked Frank, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Of course," Blevins answered. "Ruth Ann, would you please..."

"I'm on it," she cut him off, going over to a file cabinet in Blevins' office. Seconds later she handed a folder to her boss before leaving the room.

Jerry Blevins thumbed through the file then handed it to Frank and sat back down. Frank opened the folder and looked at the picture in the upper right corner of the first page. Billy Cunningham was an average looking guy with short, straight black hair, green eyes and a black mustache. Frank scanned the information that accompanied the picture and memorized the information he needed like his address, his parents' names and his attendance, which had been excellent until he had quit without notice.

Frank closed the folder and stood up, returning it as Blevins and Chet stood as well. "Thank you," Frank said. "We're fairly certain that the thefts are the work of Tandem and his men," he continued. "Once they are apprehended you shouldn't have anymore problems. But on the off chance they aren't responsible, we will be back to do a thorough investigation," he promised.

"Where to now?" asked Chet once he and Frank were back inside their rental car.

"To check out Cunningham's address," Frank replied, starting the car. "We still have a little time before we're supposed to meet Dad."

Frank stopped at the first gas station they came to and opened his door. "Chet, would you please fill it up while I pay and get directions?"

"Sure," agreed Chet, getting out.

When Frank returned to the car they got back on the highway and drove for almost three miles before taking the exit to Crescent Road. "Watch for Marlin Street," Frank commanded, slowing down a bit. "The attendant said it was a one-lane gravel road but he couldn't remember if it was on the left or right."

"Next right," Chet told Frank, spotting the sign ahead.

Frank slowed down even more and made the turn. "This is a dead end," he said, bringing the car to a stop. "Get out and wait behind a tree. I'll check the place out. If I'm not back in forty minutes hike to the nearest phone and call the police."

"I've got my cell," Chet said.

"I tried to call mom at the station on mine but I couldn't get a service connection," Frank informed him. "Probably had to do with the mountains," he guessed.

"Great," grumbled Chet, getting out. He hated unnecessary exercise. "Just be careful," he cautioned his friend.

"I will," Frank promised. He waited until Chet was no longer visible from the road before continuing up the road.

There were only three houses on the road and the first two were run down to the point he doubted they were even livable. The last house was also in bad shape but obvious attempts at minor repairs were present. The windows were boarded up but the wood looked new unlike the rotting boards at the end of the porch.

As Frank exited the car and approached, he noticed the steps leading to the porch had also had fast repairs and the knob on the front door gleamed.

Frank stepped up to the door and knocked. A few seconds later, he knocked again. Still there was no answer. He tried the knob. Locked, as he knew it would be. He retreated down the steps and walked around the house. All of the windows had been boarded up and the back door was also locked with a new knob in place.

He reached up to retrieve his lock pick kit from inside his front pocket and growled in disgust as he remembered he had forgotten to transfer it to his clean clothing after his shower this morning. 'Too bad Joe's not here,' he thought. Joe had developed a talent for picking locks without the specialized equipment their father had given them the previous Christmas. " I have to make Joe teach me," he mumbled, looking around the house once more for an entryway. Even the basement window had been boarded up tight.

Frank started to return to the car but stopped when he spotted several peanut shells lying just short of the grass several yards in the distance. He walked toward the grass aware the hard earth left no sign of his trespass. He stopped and looked down, excitement taking over when he remembered what he had been told about Tandem's desire for shelling his own peanuts. Frank's eyes scanned the trees ahead of him for any sign of movement. Nothing but leaves rustling in the slight breeze. He checked his watch and frowned. He felt a strong need to search the area but if he didn't leave now then Chet would take off and they would miss their appointment with his dad.

With a resigned sigh, Frank turned away from the enticing panorama and walked back to the car. After picking up Chet, they continued to the police station.