"Direct and to the point. I like that," Reynolds returned with a smile. "Sit down," he continued, waving a hand at the remaining chair.
Joe took a seat and Frank began relating the case thus far. "Sounds like more than stalking," Reynolds remarked when Frank finished. "Stalking generally begins without the knowledge of the victim. Breaking and entering is an advanced stage. But the pictures lying in the van from the day they were taken?" He paused and shook his head. "That doesn't fit in with any case I've studied.
"So maybe we aren't dealing with a stalker?" Frank asked, lifting an eyebrow questioningly.
"I didn't say that," Reynolds denied with a firm shake of his head. "Each case does have similarities, but it also has its singularities."
"Are you going to give another lecture?" asked Joe, wondering if he might be able to pick up some pointers on the subject.
"Not this semester, I'm afraid," Reynolds replied regretfully. "But there are a few books on the subject you could read," he continued, seeing the crestfallen expression on the youth's face.
"Yes, my girlfriend has all of the ones you mentioned in your lecture," Frank told him, shooting a look at Joe to let him know he could get Callie to lend them to him if he would like.
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Reynolds told Frank who had appeared more than a little uncomfortable since his arrival. "Anyone can become a target. It's how you deal with it that makes you a victim or the victor."
"Could you tell us about some of the people who attended the seminar?" asked Frank. "Lacey Myers, Jeff Miller and Larry Swan for instance?"
"Why?" Reynolds asked, looking at him thoughtfully.
"Since Frank is the target and the break-in occurred yesterday along with the pictures, we think the person behind this has to be someone he met recently," Joe explained. "And the only new people he has met recently were at the seminar."
"Just because these incidents happened yesterday doesn't mean the culprit is a new acquaintance," Reynolds said. "It's more probably someone you've known for months. Were you a little older I would even add years to that."
"Well, we have to start somewhere," Joe said. "And working backwards seems like a good place to start."
"Take charge," Reynolds said, smiling his approval. "That's good. Take the offensive. I can tell you don't make yourself a target."
"Sure about that?" Joe countered with a wry grin. "Some people believe I have a bull's eyes tattooed to my back just begging someone to come after me."
"You may have the bull's eyes young man, but I would be willing to bet you didn't put it there and once you see it, you do whatever it takes to get rid of it," Reynolds stated with conviction.
Joe grinned but remained silent. "About those people?" Frank interrupted, not particularly liking the way Reynolds was eyeing his brother. The speculative gleam in his eyes was almost predatory.
"I'm afraid Lacey is the only person you named that I know," Reynolds answered, looking at Frank. "What would you like to know about her?"
"How long have you known her? How long has she worked for you? Things along that nature," Frank returned.
"I met Lacey at UCLA in September of last year," Reynolds began. "She was very outspoken and knew the material I was covering as well as I did. We connected and formed a partnership."
"With a student?" Frank asked, frowning.
"I was a guest speaker at UCLA; not a teacher," Reynolds defended himself. "And Lacey is not a student here. She is my assistant."
"She gave up her studies to assist you?" Frank asked, not quite believing what he was hearing.
"Of course not," Reynolds denied with a wave of his hand. "Lacey is still getting her degree. But she is taking the majority of her classes online. You see, Lacey is more than my assistant: she's my fiancée."
"We didn't expect it to be easy," Joe said, looking at his disgruntled brother and grinning.
"We still have Swan and Miller to check out," Frank said, agreeing with his brother. "Thank you for your time," he said to Reynolds, standing up and holding out his hand.
"Before you leave, could I have a word with Joe?" Reynolds said, shaking Frank's hand but looking at Joe questioningly.
"Of course," Frank agreed, his expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"Alone," Reynolds specified when Frank remained where he stood.
"Sure," Frank forced the word through his lips. As he passed by Joe, he shot him a look to let him know all he had to do was shout and he would be back in a flash.
Reynolds followed Frank to the door and shut it so Frank couldn't hear what was being said. Frank leaned on the wall directly opposite the door and stared at it, wondering what Reynolds could possibly want with his brother. Five minutes later, the door opened and Joe exited, pulling the door shut behind him.
"Well?" snapped Frank, kicking away from the wall and getting in Joe's face.
Joe quirked an eyebrow. "Jealous?" he teased, not bothering to hide his amusement at Frank's unexpected display of childishness.
Frank scowled his displeasure and Joe laughed openly. "Easy, Bro," Joe told him after his laughter had died down. "Dr. Reynolds is making a self-help video and wanted me to be one of the actors. He was intrigued by my being a frequent target and thought others would be as well."
"That's all?" asked Frank incredulously.
"Scout's honor," Joe replied holding up his two-finger pledge from days of yore.
"Are you going to?" Frank asked him as they headed down the hall.
"Nah," Joe denied. "He and Lacey have already started filming and he wanted me to start this afternoon."
"You can," Frank told him. "I wouldn't mind."
"But I would," Joe said, turning to frown at him. "Until we find out who is after you, I'm your shadow."
"Thanks, Bro," Frank said, touched.
"No thanks necessary," Joe told him. 'Did Frank really think he would desert him?' "You're my number one priority," Joe continued. "Always."
Frank smiled and slapped Joe gently on the back. "Where to next?" he asked.
"Stoney's Gym?" Joe suggested.
"Great idea," agreed Frank. "But why don't we run home for some dinner first?" he countered, hearing Joe's stomach growl. "Mom will wonder where we've gotten to and if Dad is home, we can see what he thinks."
"Hi, Mom," Joe greeted his mother when he and Frank entered the living room a little later. "Dad home yet?"
"He called from the airport just a few minutes ago," she said. "He should be home in about half an hour. Any luck?" she asked, changing the subject.
"No," answered Frank. "But after dinner we're going to head over to Stoney's Gym. Joe said one of our suspects goes there."
"Dinner will be ready when your father arrives," Laura told them. "You two had better do your homework."
Frank and Joe retreated upstairs. "Need any help?" offered Frank.
"Thanks, I got it," Joe replied, forcing a smile. He knew his brother only offered to help him because he cared, but it made him believe that Frank didn't think he was capable of doing well on his own. Maybe years of Frank being called the 'smart one' was finally starting to take its toll.
Joe went into his bedroom feeling awful. He didn't want Frank to think he was dumb. It was bad enough that most everyone else believed he was a dumb jock. Joe sat down at his desk and reached for his favorite pencil, a rainbow colored one with the eraser bitten off. He wrinkled his nose and grabbed a new yellow one when he saw it was gone from the holder.
"Joe," Frank opened the bathroom door and entered his brother's room.
"What?" Joe asked, turning around. He frowned when he saw the look on his brother's face and got up. Frank held out a piece of paper for Joe to see.
"This was in my printer," Frank told Joe.
In big bold type were the words: I'M WATCHING YOU