At Sandra’s home they had lunch and enjoyed the pool. Amanda was awestruck being with the two celebrities. The fiancées joined them just before lunch. Jim looked out the window and pointed out the names of trees in the back yard. Sandra asked a question about the name of a tree in the front yard so Jim pushed her wheelchair around the side to see it. He walked around the tree several times and then called to Joan. “Joan, tree expert. Come here and look at these needles. Is this a Norway Pine or is it a Southern White Pine?”

She stomped over. “If you.” She was going to say, “If you can’t tell the difference, you need your glasses checked” but on the “you” she saw the look on his face. After a short pause she said, “look, at these needles they are too long for Norway.”

He leaned down as if to look closer and whispered. “There are two guys in car that way and two more in an identical car behind me. Walk around the tree and look at it. Also there is a van on other side, most likely surveillance. Possibly whole house bugged. They probably have mics on us now.”

He said loud. “Then it is either Norway or Finnish Spruce.”

“It can’t be Finnish Spruce. Did you look at the shape of the tree?” Joan asked as she walked around the tree.

“I believe you are right. Norway.”

On the way back Amanda walked next to Joan. “What was that back there? Dad knows trees better than you. Is he going senile?” She felt a squeeze on her hand and looked at her mom. Joan quickly shook her head. “Say nothing till we are out of here.”

Jim turned to Edwin. “Is there a mall near?”

“About five minutes.”

“My pager battery is going dead. I need to get one.”

“I can take you. I’ll get my keys.” The nurse took Sandra into the house. When he came out Sally, Joan and Charles were with him. “Amanda wants to stay with Sandra.” Joan offered. When they got in the SUV Joan started to say something and Jim shook his head. Jim watched behind them when they pulled out. The one car followed.

At the mall Jim watched as the car pulled in a nearby space. Jim, Charles and Edwin went into a Radio Shack store. The one man watched him the other man followed the women. Jim picked up a pack of batteries and pulled the two guys aside. “Don’t look at him but the guy outside is following us. I want to get him to go away while I buy something.”