By Joanne Bausman
Illustrated by Krista Allenstein
"Maybe he has a family that isn't here yet," Josef suggested hopefully.
"I don't think so," Vaughn answered. "He doesn't look like a dad."
The next day, Vaughn's mother invited the new neighbor for supper. His name was Rudolf Rivers,and he said he had come to their small town for the peace and quiet. He ate three helpings of everything, except the tuna casserole as he was allergic to sea food, asked at least a million questions about all their friends and neighbors and wrote out a list of clubs and social activities in town. Mr. Marshal invited him to play golf the next day.
"My golf clubs were stolen," Rudolf answered. "I need left handed clubs, and they're not always easy to come by."
"Sam Peters is left handed. He'll have an extra set, probably several." Mr. Marshal then explained about Sam Peters, who was probably the richest man in town. Rudolf suggested they check out the clubs that night.
The next day, Vaughn and Josef rode their bikes to the outdoor pool. They stopped in front of a new house with a big iron gate.
"That's the Peters' new house," Vaughn said.
"When they came to pick my dad up for golf, Mr. Peters was totally freaked because the alarm company can't hook up his security system for another week," Josef said.
At that moment, a side door opened and a man came out. A cap shielded his face but Vaughn could see red hair sticking out from under it. The man disappeared around the house.
"That was Rudolf," Vaughn said. "I thought he went golfing with our dads."
"He did. I saw him and your dad in Mr. Peters' truck when they picked my dad up."
The next morning they heard the news that Sam Peters house had been broken into.
"We saw Rudolf there. At one o'clock. He was coming out a side door," Vaughn told his parents.
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