"Shandra, this is Jim," Joe said into the receiver. He had just finished work and with all he had done today, this was his first chance to call her.

"Hi, Jim," Shandra answered. "How was your visit with Biff?"

"It was good," Joe told her. "But I miss you."

"Oh?" she asked coquettishly.

"How about I drive by and pick you up after I shower and change?" he asked. "We can have dinner and catch a movie."

"What about Biff?" she asked.

"He can get his own dinner," Joe replied, grinning into the receiver.

"Seven o'clock?" she asked.

"I'll be there," Joe promised, ringing off.

"Be where?" asked Steve, coming up behind Joe.

Joe spun around. "You startled me," he said. "I thought you and the other employees weren't allowed back until we had finished fixing the place?"

"I came to pick you up," Steve said. "Our boss wanted to meet you. Be where?" he persisted.

"I'm picking Shandra up at seven," Joe answered. "I was just going to run home and shower and change."

"You can keep your date with Shandra," Steve promised, smiling at Joe. "But you will have to skip the rest until after. Let's go," he said, taking Joe's arm and leading him toward a silver Taurus.

Joe got in the passenger side and buckled up. Steve took the wheel and made a left out of the lot. "What's your job at Thompson?" Joe asked.

"Did you load the virus?" Steve asked, not answering Joe's question.

"I got to the computers in the west wing of the third floor," Joe lied. "But I didn't have time to activate them. Mack and Tom kept coming around," he explained, naming two more of the company's handymen.

"That's a good start," Steve replied with a curious expression. "The fire was contained on the second floor," he said. "Why were you on the third floor?"

Joe shrugged. "The ceiling of the second level is the floor of the third level," he answered. "The fire burned through to the point where new beams, wood, and carpet had to be put in on the third floor."

"Excellent!" Steve enthused, smiling the first satisfied smile Joe had seen on his face. He glanced over at Joe. "My job at Thompson is that of programmer," he finally answered Joe's earlier question. "I program the chips which go into the satellite."

"All of them?" Joe asked, wanting more detail.

"My specialty is the operation of the time delay feature," Steve informed Joe.

"So it was easy for you to rig the time loop and let everyone think it's a false feed or virus causing the skip," Joe stated.

"Yeah," Steve admitted.

"I heard Cort was shot," Joe said. "Was that one of us?"

Steve glanced over at Joe. "We had to get him away from his computer long enough to fix it."

"With the virus?" Joe asked, confused.

Steve shook his head, pulling off the highway and onto a paved drive. "Remember, we told you someone would eventually figure out our program and virus and write a counter program?" Joe nodded.

"Well, Cort is a genius and he was getting too close. When the bullet only got his leg, I rigged the computers in his office to blow up." Steve frowned. "Too bad he never died in the explosion."

"What about Harrison?' Joe asked. "Did you arrange for him to die?"

"Why so concerned?" Steve inquired with the lift of an eyebrow.

"Because I was supposed to have turned the power off," Joe pointed out. "He just beat me to it."

"Rest easy, Jim," Steve told him. "Harrison's death was just a freak accident. He was a world class pain, but he wasn't a threat."

Steve came to a stop in front of a two story house. From the car, Joe could see a tennis court in the background. He climbed out of the car and looked around. There were three cars parked off to the side. Joe and Steve climbed the steps to the porch and Steve knocked on the door.

The door opened and a man in his early fifties stood there. He had silver gray hair and sharp green eyes. He was intimidating at six foot four and roughly fifty pounds heavier than Joe's own one sixty. The man glanced at Steve then rested his eyes on Joe, taking in his dirty clothing and limp hair. "Come in," he said finally, moving to the side and allowing them to come inside.

Joe followed their host through the foyer into the living room. Steve brought up the rear but upon reaching the living room, he excused himself and went through to the dining room and on into the kitchen. "Sit down," the man who had greeted them told Joe, pointing to a chair.

Joe sat down and looked up as the man loomed over him. "I'm Jim Daniels," Joe introduced himself in a steady voice.

"I know who you are. Kevin and Steve have told me all about you," the man said. "At least, all they know," he amended, looking at Joe thoughtfully.

"I handpicked all the men working for me," he continued. "Except you. Why are you so special, I wonder?" he added softly, almost to himself. Joe never said a word. He met the man's gaze with a calmness he never felt.

"I suppose you are wondering who I am?" he asked, finally moving away and sitting down.

"The thought had crossed my mind," Joe admitted.

"My name is Peter Carruthers," he introduced himself.

"Carruthers?" Joe asked, his eyes taking on a thoughtful expression. "Isn't Andrew Carruthers the president of the bank that was robbed last Saturday?"

"It is," Peter admitted.

"Are you any relation?" Joe asked him.

"Andrew is my brother," Peter admitted.

"I guess you are pretty mad at the men who robbed the place then?" Joe asked, although he knew better.

Peter leaned back in his chair and smiled at Joe. "On the contrary," he replied. "I orchestrated the robbery."

"Why?" Joe asked, pretending to be shocked.

"Oh, I have nothing against my brother," Peter assured Joe, assuming that was what he thought. "No, in order to get the money into Hanover's account without it being traced, we had to access it through his bank."

"So the robbery was just a cover up," Joe said. "I realize it is none of my business, but why are you framing Hanover?"

Peter's smile vanished as he looked at Joe. "You're right," he agreed. "It is none of your business. You and your associates are being paid enough not to ask questions."

Joe bowed his head an inch in acknowledgement of the reprimand. Peter got to his feet. "Steve!" he shouted.

"Yes, Sir?" Steve asked, coming into the room.

"Jim will be staying with me for the next few days," Peter told him.

Joe jumped to his feet. "Why?" he demanded.

"This is a very important job," Peter explained calmly. "I don't know anything about you and until I do, you will remain under constant supervision."

"I'm a prisoner?" Joe demanded hotly.

"A guest," Peter corrected. He looked over at Steve. "You will keep watch on him at work." Steve nodded.

"I've got a date tonight," Joe informed Peter.

"With Jim's cousin, Shandra," Steve put in.

"You may call Shandra and invite her here," Peter told Joe. "But until I trust you or until this job is done, you will stay here. If you try to leave, you will be eliminated," he was warned.

Joe sighed in resignation. "Can I call Shandra now?" he asked.

"Of course," Peter agreed. "Steve, please find Jeffery. Tell him we have a guest he needs to attend to."

"Yes, Sir," Steve said and left.

"Jeffery?" Joe asked.

"My valet," Peter informed Joe. "He will take you to your room and give you something to change into." Joe bit his bottom lip to keep from saying anything and nodded. "Feel free to use the phone," Peter told him, pointing to one beside the chair Joe had just vacated.

Joe sat back down and picked up the receiver. As he began dialing, Peter left the room. Joe thought about calling the van and letting Frank know where he was but quickly dismissed the idea. No doubt his calls would be monitored. He would just have to wait until he saw Biff tomorrow to let everyone know he was alright. In the meantime, Joe had every intention of finding out all he could about Peter Carruthers.

"Shandra," Joe said when she answered the phone. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to take you out tonight after all."

"What is it this time?" she demanded, obviously angry.

"It's your cousin's friend, Peter Carruthers," Joe replied honestly. "He insists I be his guest for a few days. He did, however, suggest you come over here for dinner," he added.

"Well, I guess that's okay," she replied, a little hesitantly. "I've met Peter," she continued. "He's a pretty nice guy."

"Glad to hear it," Joe said. "He kind of gave me the heebie jeebies."

Shandra laughed. "What time do you want me there?" she asked.

"I forgot to ask," Joe replied with a small laugh of his own. "But if you come on over, we could get to know each other a little better before dinner."

"I'll be there in thirty minutes," she promised. "I'll get Jim to bring me. I'm sure Peter won't mind if he comes too."

"I'm sure you're right," Joe agreed and hung up the phone. He stood up and stretched. No matter whose house he was in, he needed a shower. He paused with his hands half-way back down, remembering his disguise. With no way to repair it, a shower was out of the question. He would have to make Biff leave work tomorrow and get the items he needed.

Joe's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Startled, Joe dropped his hands and spun around. Standing four feet away from him was a mountain of a man. He stood a full six foot five and weighed at least three hundred pounds. His muscles rippled beneath his tee shirt as he stood, with his arms crossed, staring at Joe curiously with sharp blue eyes.

'Valet, my eye,' Joe thought, taking in the man's appearance from his running shoes to the long black hair worn in a ponytail. "Jeffery?" Joe inquired, hoping his voice wouldn't crack. He really didn't want this man as a shadow.

"That's right," Jeffery responded. "But you can call me Jeff," he said, smiling at Joe. "Come on, I'll take you to your room so you can change before your guest arrives," he added, turning and walking out of the room.

Joe followed him upstairs to a spacious bedroom with a king size waterbed. "Sweet," Joe said appreciatively.

"The bathroom is through that door," Jeff told Joe, pointing to the door on his left. "My room is on the other side." He walked over to another door and opened it. "This is your closet. There are all sizes in here so pick out what you need for the evening and tomorrow I will run you over to your place and you can pick up some of your stuff," Jeff informed him.

"Great," Joe said, smiling at him. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said. "Shandra is having Jim bring her over tonight."

"That's good," Jeff replied with a grin. "Peter was going to have Steve go get him but now he won't have too."

"Why not just call him?" Joe inquired.

"Peter doesn't want any evidence of a connection between himself and his ,er, employees," Jeff told Joe. "And a call would leave a trail."

"But he let me call Shandra," Joe said in confusion.

"Her line is separate from Jim's," Jeff told him.

Joe nodded his understanding, relieved to know Shandra wasn't involved, but a nagging voice in Joe's head demanded to know if she knew what was going on anyway.

Jeff left the room and Joe changed and got ready for dinner. Joe came out of his room twenty minutes later and headed for the stairs. Jeff came out of his room and caught up with Joe at the first step. Together, they went downstairs and into the living room where Peter, Steve, and Freddie were waiting.

Joe looked surprised to see Freddie. "Hey, Man," Joe greeted him. "I didn't know you were going to be here too."

"Greg and Kevin will be joining us as well," Peter said. "Kevin said he had a treat for us."

Shandra and Jim arrived a few minutes later and Joe and Shandra left the group and went upstairs to Joe's room to talk in private. Joe had wanted to go for a walk outside, but Peter had suggested the bedroom because dinner would be ready shortly and he had no wish to force Jeffery to hunt them down.

Joe had a strong suspicion the room was bugged so he couldn't talk to Shandra about the thefts or the people involved. "I thought we would never get a chance to be alone," Shandra told Joe, wrapping her arms around his neck and running a hand through his hair as soon as he had closed the door.

"Easy, girl," Joe said, putting his hands on her hips and gently easing her back a little.

"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him curiously.

"I feel strange in this place," Joe admitted.

"You could have come to mine," Shandra reminded him.

"Not for a while," Joe said.

"I'm sorry Joe," she said suddenly, releasing him and going over to the bed and sitting down.

"For what?" he asked, taking a seat beside her.

"For getting you involved in this mess," she said miserably. "Don't look so surprised," she told him, catching the look he gave her. "I'm not stupid. I don't know exactly what is going on but I do know it's not legal. And I'd bet everything I own, it involves the stolen shipments at work."

Joe reached over and pushed a lock of brown hair from her face. "Hey, don't worry about it," he told her, trying to get her not to talk about it. "Why don't we go back downstairs and see if dinner is ready, hmm?" he asked. "I don't know about you, but I am starving."

"No," she argued. "You've got to get out while you can," she insisted. "Joe, they were talking about killing someone."

"I know," Joe replied nervously before looking into her eyes. "Shandra, I like you, a lot," he began. "But this is the chance of a lifetime. I don't want out," he said for the gang's benefit.

"You're willing to give up everything for money?" she asked in disbelief.

"Shandra, you don't understand," he told her. "I've got nothing to give up. I'm an orphan. I've got no family and very few friends. I don't even have a real home. This is a chance to be somebody. A million dollars," he told her. "I can quit breaking my back just to have a roof over my head and food on the table. I can't pass this up."

Shandra leaned over and grabbed Joe's face in her hands and kissed him. Pulling back, she smiled, looking into his eyes. "I'm so happy to hear you say that," she told him.

Joe looked confused but she never explained. She stood up and went through the connecting bathroom to Jeff's room. When she returned, she was followed by Peter, Steve, Jeff, Greg, Freddie, and Kevin.

"Congratulations, Jim," Peter said with a smile as he took Joe's hand and pulled him to his feet. "You passed."

Jim came over and wrapped an arm around Joe's shoulders. "We had to be sure we could trust you," he explained. "So we had Shandra pretend not to be involved."

"Oh," Joe said, truly stunned. He had actually started to believe she had been innocent.

"Now that you are really a member of this team, you can help us decide what to do," Kevin said.

"About what?" Joe asked.

"I told you Kevin said he had us a treat," Peter reminded Joe. "It's Frank Hardy."