Joe, his hands tied behind his back, was back in the chair. They had removed the faux Frank’s body from the room. They had also given Joe a small amount of water. Joe noticed the needle mark on his arm and knew they were drugging him. He wondered if it was the same stuff they had given him when he was first brought here.

The door opened, Joe looked up to see someone being pushed inside.

Vanessa fell down on her knees; she had woken from the chloroform a few minutes before they had arrived at the building. She had been kicking the trunk and screaming.

“You jerks – I knew you didn’t work for the Network!”

Vanessa got up and banged on the door.

“Vanessa?” whispered Joe.

Hearing Joe’s voice, she turned around and saw him sitting a few feet away from here.

“Joe!”

Vanessa ran over to Joe and flung her arms around him. She held him for a few moments before she realized that his hands were tied. The young girl quickly untied him.

Joe tentatively caressed her face. “Van – is that really you?”

“Yes, it’s me – it’s really me!” Vanessa rained kisses on Joe’s face.

“I – I need to be sure. They – I think they tried to trick me – someone – someone who looked like Frank was shot – killed!” Joe’s body was shaking with fright as he looked imploringly at Vanessa.

While Joe was speaking, Vanessa had to lean close to hear him, he was speaking in such a low voice that was tinged with fear. She couldn’t believe what he was telling her but one look at his face and she knew – it was true, all of it! Vanessa could feel anger surge through her. What a mean, cruel thing to do to someone! She thought for a moment. A small smile flitted across her face. Vanessa leaned close and whispered in Joe’s ear.

Relief washed over him as Joe listened to Vanessa. He slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She was here, Vanessa was really here! A moment later, Joe felt a cold chill run down his back – Vanessa was here!

*****

Frank had a hard time convincing Con that he had no idea where the burned body came from. Con reluctantly let Frank and Charlie leave the scene. They drove in silence as Frank tried to understand what he saw.

“How – how are you able to do that!” he finally blurted out.

“It’s a long, complicated story,” sighed Charlie.

Checking his rearview mirror, Frank pulled over and parked the van. He then turned to face Charlie. “Tell me – I’m good with complicated stories.”

“The long and short of it is – my parents were part of a botched medical experiment in college. They were the only two to survive – they developed telekinesis from whatever the serum the government was testing – they fell in love, got married, had me – they lived happily ever after if you consider the fact that the group that botched the experiment kept tabs on them – they wanted to see if I inherited anything.”

“Did you – well I guess you did.”

“Yeah, did I ever! I’m – well, Captain Hollister called me a ‘Firestarter’. He – he killed my mother and kidnapped me and my father. They kept my father drugged because – he was able to – to make ‘suggestions’ and you’d believe or saw whatever he said. Captain Hollister thought I couldn’t control the fire and he was right but I was only nine, mind you! He wanted to kill me but before he could – my dad stopped him, but he was killed before we could make our escape.”

“Charlie, I’m so sorry! What happened after that? Where did you go – where did you live?!”

For the first time Frank saw Charlie smile – really smile.

“When my dad and I were on the run we met this really nice couple, Irv and Norma Manders. I hitched all the way back to their farm. Irv and I went to the newspaper and I told my story – it was printed but I don’t think anyone really believed it.”

“How did you end up working with the Network and the Gray Man?”

“I don’t know – but I will say he can be very convincing when he wants to!”

Frank put the van in gear. Making sure the way was clear he drove away.

“So, where to? Where are the Assassins holding my brother?”

“Can you believe it – not too far from here in an abandoned warehouse out on the docks?”

They drove in silence once again until Frank’s phone rang.

“Hey Biff, I’m glad you called…”

“Frank, Vanessa’s been kidnapped!”

“What – how did that happen?!”

“I don’t know! Chet and I offered to walk her to her car but she said no! If we had only left five minutes sooner! Chet thought we should check on her – when we went looking for her, we found her book bag lying in the parking lot and her car was still there!”

“All right, Biff – you can’t blame yourself for this! We – we may have a lead on Joe. We’ll get them – get them both!”

*****

When Fenton found out that the real Roger Covington had been murdered, he was afraid that they had lost a valuable lead on Joe. But then he saw the Gray Man come out of the shadows as he walked up the steps towards the police building. Changing directions, Fenton walked over to the Gray Man.

“You’ve found Joe?”

“We know where he is, yes.”

Fenton bristled with anger as Gray stood passively.

“Well, are you going to tell me? Or do I have to beat it out of you?” Fenton straightened to his full 6’3” height, towering over the Network agent.

“Really Fenton, these scare tactics of yours!” The Gray Man rolled his eyes heavenward. “He’s in a warehouse out by the docks. I’ve already sent someone to get him.”

“Someone – just one person?”

“Not exactly – there will be others there to...defuse any resistance. But this operative is going to make give the Assassins a special message. One that they will understand.”

“Arthur, if my son gets hurt – I’ll make sure you’ll pay for it tenfold!”

“Not to worry, I gave specific orders that he was not to be harmed.”

*****

Vanessa had led Joe to a corner where they sat holding each other. It had taken a long time for Vanessa to calm Joe down. His body still shook with fear but it had lessened with time.

Joe stared at the door – waiting for Roger to appear. He turned to look at Vanessa. No matter what, she was not going to die!

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.