“Hello, is this Adam?” The voice asked.

“Yes, who is this?”

“This is Dan. I’m wondering, when you want to meet to stake out the apartment?”

“How about seven at my place? I was talking to Tracy, I mean Miss Martin, on the trip to my house and she says that most of the disappearances happen around nine o’ clock.”

“Okay, see you then,” he said, and hung up. I returned to my seat in the living room. The grandfather clock chimed six. I peered over the paper to check the status of dinner. I smelled a delicious aroma coming from the dining room area as I walked towards the dining room where I bumped into Tracy. I offered her my arm, which she gladly accepted and I escorted her to the dinner table. I pulled out a chair, bowed, and then sat in my own. Karin and her husband, David, brought in the rest of the food and I requested that they sit down and eat, instead of eating in the Kitchen. They accepted. David was in charge of taking care of the grounds and the horses. Near the end of the dinner, I excused myself and went to check on Tricia. I went into her room.

“She’s doing much better. She’s almost good enough to leave her room tonight.” Hannah said.

“I feel as good as new.” Tricia said.

“Not too fast.” I said. “I don’t want my best friend taking too many chances. Oh, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

“I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She said, starting to get up. She went into the bathroom, and Hannah followed. I returned to the dinner table to finish my dinner. After having an enjoyable dinner, the door bell rang. Karin answered it. She escorted in my cousins, and I introduced them to Tracy. I showed them into the living room where we sat and discussed our plan for that night.

Dan, Jacie, and Tracy went into another room to try to “make up” Jacie to look like Tracy. This was crucial to the success of this mission. I looked at the floor plan of the building we would be staking out to look for possible entrances and exits. I figured that I would guard the room of the person who was to disappear. I would have Dan guard the hall a floor below. Karin would guard Tracy at my house to make sure no one would come there. “Still,” added Dan when they were finished with Jacie’s disguise, “What if the person escapes through some other hidden exit?”

“That’s a good thought”, I said. I sat for a while, pondering this question.

“I know,” said Tracy, “Let’s get your secretary to stay in a parked car outside the building.”

“Karin?”

“Yes, why not?”

“Karin’s my maid. My secretary is Tricia, the one that’s sick. She’ll be coming down in a minute. Ah, there she is now.” I said, walking over to the staircase. Tricia and Hannah came down the stairs.

“Adam, since you’re all better, I think I’ll be leaving tonight.”

“So soon?”

“Yes, it was fun. I’ll be seeing you.” She said. Karin led her out the door.

“I heard my name called when I was coming down, is there something you needed?” Tricia asked, sniffling.

“If you feel up to it, there is one thing you could do for me, Tricia,” I said.