"Axemeyer," answered Frank with a scowl. "There’s just something about him I don’t trust."

"Don’t tell me you’re jealous of the man, too>" Fenton asked, faintly amused.

"No," Frank denied, having already considered the possibility. He informed his father of his suspicions.

"He’s lived next door for three years," pointed out Fenton. "If he were a terrorist, don’t you think he would have tried something before now?" he reasoned.

"Maybe. I don’t know. I just..." Frank stopped speaking and shook his head, looking at his dad with pleading puppy dog eyes. "Check him out?"

"I will," promised Fenton. "You are going to put on a disguise before you head tot he club, aren’t you?" he asked.

"Yes," Frank quickly assured him. "I’ve got a red wig laid out on my dresser. Plus the items needed to give a fair smattering of freckles on my face and arms.

"Good," Fenton approved. "Be careful and keep an eye open for your brother." Frank nodded and left the room.

***

After filling out an application and a brief interview, Frank was given a uniform and began work. His first job was to escort Steve Jenkins, a stout fellow with curly black hair and green eyes, tot he golf course to caddy for a member and his young guest.

"Being a caddy isn’t too bad," Steve told Frank as they hurried to the area where the member and his guest were waiting. "We generally get decent tips for this type of thing. Better than waiting tables, but we have to do that too."

Frank stifled a grin as he saw who he was caddying for. He picked up Joe’s clubs and followed Joe and Stan outside with Steve bringing up the rear. "Remember, no talking unless you're asked something," Steve whispered.

As the day progressed, Frank could see why Joe liked Stan so much. He was attentive and supportive. The instructions he gave Joe on how to play were friendly and when Joe messed up, Stan was not condescending, rather he seemed to enjoy the opportunity to give Joe added pointers. By the time they had gone through eighteen holes, Frank was almost convinced he had been wrong about Axemeyer and he had only been irate before because he had been genuinely concerned for his brother’s safety.

Stan pulled out some cash and tipped Frank and Steve. "Thanks, guys," Stan said, smiling. "What say we hit the sauna?" he asked, turning to Joe.

Joe shrugged. "Sure," he said. He hadn’t been in one before and was kind of looking forward to it.

Frank and Steve put the clubs up and returned to the employee lounge to change for their stint at waiting tables. "Hey, Joe!" Steve shouted to a tall guy with brown hair and green eyes when they reached the lounge. "You should have seen the father and son we just had. Great tipper but man, that guy was so attentive, it was eerie."

"They weren’t father and son," Frank corrected him. "They were calling each other by their first names. His son wouldn’t do that."

"All I can tell you is that guy has been talking about his son for some time and now, here is this young guy who looks a lot like him," Steve said, giving Frank a big grin.

"Yeah," Joe agreed with Steve. "A lot of the members have kids who call them by their first names. If I had ever done something like that, my mamma would have whooped me good."

Controlling the emotion that threatened to show, Frank busied himself changing. If Axemeyer had been claiming Joe as his son, what could it mean? Dressed he headed to the restaurant. After an hour had passed, he spotted Joe and Axemeyer as they entered and spoke with the head waiter.

"Stan!" exclaimed one member, standing up to attract Axemeyer’s attention. Frank headed for the table, tray in hand to deliver the ordered items. "Won’t you join us?"

"Thanks, Charlie," Stan replied. "Don’t mind if we do."

"This must be Joe," Charlie said, turning to look at Joe with a big smile. "Stan’s been telling us about you."

"He has?" Joe asked, swallowing a bit nervously, unaware that the waiter had frozen at the man’s words.

"Indeed," concurred the second man. "And I noticed you have improved immensely since Sunday."

"True," Charlie seconded. "You are a fast learner."

"I have a great teacher," Joe said, smiling at Stan who was beaming.

"I’m sorry," Stan said. "I haven’t introduced you. Joe, this is Charlie Dillard and John Krider."

"Nice to meet you," Joe responded, smiling at the men as he sat down beside Stan.

"May I take your order?" Frank asked, trying to alter his voice a bit so Stan wouldn’t recognize him.

Joe glanced at Frank, recognizing the voice at one even though he had been thrown by the red hair and freckles. "I’ll have coffee and Joe would like a glass of lemonade," Stan ordered for the pair of them. "We’ll make our dinner selection when you return," he ended.

Frank nodded, aware that Joe hadn’t even raised an eyebrow at Stan’s ordering for him. That’s okay, he thought. I’ll keep track of everything Joe eats and make sure Axemeyer is reimbursed. Frank left the table and returned in a few minutes with the requested beverages. Taking their order from Stan, he was about to go to the kitchen when Joe excused himself from the table.

Frank followed Joe into the men’s room. "Find out anything?" Joe asked.

"No," Frank denied after a very brief hesitation. How could he tell Joe the only thing he had found out was that Axemeyer was claiming him as a son? He hoped their dad turned something up on him. And soon! "Have you?"

Joe shook his head. "Maybe this was a waste of time," he said.

"Maybe not," Frank told him. "Maybe we just need to mingle more."

"Mingling is over for me," Joe said. "We’re leaving after we eat."

"I have a couple of more hours left. Maybe I will be able to find something out," Frank said hopefully.

"Be careful," Joe cautioned him.

"You too," Frank said, a crease in his forehead as he gave a slight frown.

"But I’m going home," Joe reminded him with a laugh as he exited the restroom.

Frank followed him out then headed for the kitchen. He knew he should warn Joe about Axemeyer but he also knew, Joe not only wouldn’t listen, but would also get mad. No. He had to have some kind of proof if he wanted Joe to steer clear of Stan.

Frank went to the lounge to change into his own clothing before going home later. On his way out of the building, he had to pass by the courtesy phones. As he neared, he heard someone talking. He slowed down as he neared, keeping quiet in case something was being said that might prove helpful.

"I can’t," the person was saying. "Hardy’s watching." A pause while the man listened to what was being said. "No, no. There is no way he could know about the senator." Another pause. "Relax. We are very good at what we do. Redman will die as planned."

There was the sound of the phone hanging up and then footsteps. Frank took off after the person but by the time he reached the exit, he could already hear a motor going. Opening the doors, he saw only tail lights as the car headed out of the resort. Joe had been right. Someone at the club was involved.