Free The Borgia Dagger by Franklin W. Dixon

look like a fool. When are you people going to realize this is no way to get yourself on TV?"
    "Sorry, sir, but I thought — I thought — "
    "Never mind! Just don't let me see you after the break, okay?"
    As the bearded man stormed off, Callie turne to Frank at her side. He patted her shoulder! "Anyone could have made the same mistake Callie. If you hadn't reacted so quickly, I would have been the one to disrupt the shooting."
    At once they became aware of Squinder standing behind them. "Still you hound me!" he said his voice edged with fury.
    Frank turned around calmly and said, "It was a mistake, Mr. Squinder. You see — "
    "I see plainly enough!" Squinder said between clenched teeth. "First of all, it's Grant around here — Tyrone Grant. But revealing my real name is part of it, I'm sure. Part of your master plan to ruin my career!"
    "I wouldn't throw accusations around if I were you, Squinder," Frank said. "Not before we find out why you conspired to kill Tessa Carpenter at her party the other night!"
    At that, Squinder's eyes bulged open. He clutched his chest with one hand and staggered back. "You vile, evil juvenile delinquent! How dare you accuse me — "
    "After all, who did we find lurking around the side of the mansion with a revolver after the lights went out? Lurking near the pathway that leads to the circuit breakers in the basement, I might add!"
    "Circuit breaker? What?" "Not to mention finding your little silver-plated revolver in the woods of the Cliffside Country Club yesterday, just after Tessa was shot at!" "Young man, you wound me to the quick! If my professional pride weren't at stake, I'd — I'd ive you a sound thrashing! As for the country club, I was here all day — yes, I know it was Sunday, but they had to make up for a rainy day—waiting for a turn to play my meager role." He grabbed a sheet of paper from a nearby table. "Here, for your information, is yesterday's attendance sheet."
    Frank read, "Grant, Tyrone. In: 7:30 a.m. Out: 6:35 p.m."
    "I don't know why I should even dignify your other complaint, but I most certainly was not in the Carpenter mansion on the night of that depraved party!"
    "You just happened to stop by that night, right?. And despite all the people around, you thought you might get away with sneaking into the servants' cottage for your gun—'
    "A loud party would be the best cover for my entry into that cottage, sir."
    "Five minutes, everybody! Five minutes!" a voice called out.
    Squinder looked at his watch and groaned! "I'm wasting much, too much time with you two. Now will you please excuse me? You've already destroyed an otherwise marvelous day - "
    Without waiting for an answer, Squinder walked toward the refreshment table.-
    "I still don't trust him," Frank said. "Frank, let's get out of here," Callie replied "I don't think Squinder's about to give us any more information."
    The elevator door whooshed open behind them, and they stepped inside. This time they were all alone.
    "Okay," Frank said. "Here's the plan. I need to follow up some other leads today, but I think someone had better keep an eye on Squinder. Would you do that?" Callie nodded eagerly.
    "Keep track of every thing — phone calls, meetings, any strange behavior. Follow him to his house. But make sure he doesn't recognize you."
    "How can I do that?"
    The elevator opened on the parking lot. Frank went to the van and opened the sliding door. He looked both ways, then lifted up a floor panel. Underneath was a hold, jam-packed with equipment. He pushed aside a small camera, a laptop computer, a box of diskettes containing a crime data base, a cellular mobile phone, and some Magnetic metal disguise panels for the van.
    "Ah, here it is," he said. He opened a box and filled out a pale green uniform.
    "Here's a worker's coverall. It'll be big, but if you put it on and cover your head with this," — he pulled out a beat-up baseball cap — "I think you'll be all right. You can collect papers and trash." He