By Joanne Bausman
Illustrated by Krista Allenstein
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The police talked to Vaughn and Josef, but since all they had really seen was red hair and couldn't identify the face, their claim that it was Rudolf was dismissed.
Two days later, on an errand to the grocery store, Vaughn and Josef met Rudolf.
"Hi guys," he smiled at them. "You almost got me arrested." Vaughn felt a rush of adrenalin. He looked at Josef who looked pale. Rudolf laughed, a creepy laugh Vaughn thought. "Don't worry about it. I have an iron clad alibi." Rudolf grabbed a case of oysters off the shelf. "Better be careful fingering the bad guys. Everyone in town knows where you live." He winked and moved down the aisle.
"Did you see all those oysters?" Vaughn asked. "He said he's allergic to sea food!"
"He's got perp written all over him," Josef said.
"What?"
"Perp! That's cop talk for, um, well, it means bad guy." Josef watched a lot of police shows. "Did you notice how he talks? Iron clad alibi, fingering the bad guys, I tell you that guys got a rap sheet as long as my arm! We need to stake out his premises!"
"If that means keep an eye on him, your right. We looked pretty stupid saying we'd seen him at Mr. Peres' house when he was golfing with our dads all day."
Over the next few weeks, more break-ins occurred. Vaughn and Josef watched Rudolf when ever they could, and Vaughn had the creepy feeling that he was watching them back.
Monday night the Wilson's house was broken into while they were at the Smiths for supper. Rudolf was also there. Two nights later, the Smith's house was broken into while they were at their lake cabin. Rudolf was at a barbeque at Josef's house that night. Three nights later, it was the Jones' house. Rudolf was at Vaughn's house that night playing bridge.
"The Jones' were at my house the same night as our alleged perp," Josef told Vaughn the next day.
"I've been keeping track," Vaughn said. "It seems like everyone that Rudolf has dinner with gets broken into."
After that they took turns watching his house. Rudolf came and went, always alone. The more they learned of him, the less they seemed to know. Rudolf claimed to be allergic to fish, but twice he went fishing. He had needed left handed golf clubs, but they observed him bowling right handed with the Tuesday night bowling league. He would come home in a blue shirt and leave five minutes later in an orange one. Sometimes he would talk to them and sometimes he acted like he didn't even know them. The only thing he did consistently was accept dinner invitations, from every one who invited him which by now was nearly every one in town.
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