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Chapter Ten

Joe gripped the phone tightly and said, "Where's Fr—um, Joe? What've you done with him?"

The man on the other line laughed evilly and said, "Blondie's here with us. He's okay right now, but that can change in a heartbeat. Now do what I say. Get your freakin' dad on the phone right now, or I swear I'll kill your brother on the spot!"

Joe felt a sickening feeling creeping into the pit of his stomach. "Dad!" he yelled. "Dad!" Fenton rushed into the room.

"What is it, Frank? Any news of Joe?" Staring at the phone in Joe's hand, his face paled, and he said, "It's them, isn't it?"

Joe nodded, and Fenton rushed to get the extension phone. "Fenton Hardy?" came the voice. "I've got your son. If you don't do exactly what I tell you, the brat dies."

Joe and his father waited anxiously for the orders. Finally, the man spoke. "Take all accusations and evidence—Hobs's criminal record, his file, everything—and bring it to the shut down amusement park across the street from the river. My man will be there to take them. If you don't do what I say, your son dies."

"How do we even know you've even got him?" Joe demanded, though in his heart, he knew that Frank was with the man.

"Oh, you want to speak to him?" The line went quiet for a second, and Joe and Fenton could barely hear the man saying, "Okay, Blondie. Any funny stuff or any 'giving out your location' crap, and I'll slit your throat here and now for your daddy and big brother to hear. Got it?"

Joe figured that Frank must have nodded, because there was silence, then a weak, "J—Frank?"

"Joe!" Joe exclaimed.

"Joe!" Fenton echoed. Then, "Are you okay?"

"Well, I've been in worse situations. Can't really think of any right now, but…"

"We're going to find you. Just stay put."

Frank snorted. "As if I'll be going anywhere. Listen, I'll be fine, just DON'T bring those files. I'll—" then he let out a yelp as the man smacked him.

"Shut up, kid!" father and son heard the kidnapper say. "You're lucky I didn't kill you. Listen, Hardy. If you don't bring those files in thirty minutes, you're son is dead. Capish?"

"Got it," Fenton and Joe said glumly. Then the line went dead.

"Dad," said Joe, "what're we going to do?"

"Bring those files."

"But your case—surely we can find Frank—" Joe groaned inwardly as he realized his mistake. He had to stop doing that! 'Okay,' he said to himself, 'I am Frank. Frank is me.'

Fenton looked at his son doubtfully. "What is wrong with you, Frank?" He paused, then added, "Come to think of it, Joe was acting kind of odd earlier too. What's up?"

Joe bit his lip. There wasn't time to explain. They had to find Frank, and quick, before time ran out!

"Um, Dad? Can this please wait until later? I promise, when we get Joe back, he'll explain everything…er, or we will, I guess. Together."

Fenton sighed. "You're right son. Joe comes first."

Laura walked into the room, face etched with worry. "Any news?"

"Actually, honey," Fenton said, walking to her side and putting a strong arm around her shoulder, "the kidnapper just called."

Laura sucked in her breath and pulled away from her husband, looking him directly in the eye. "And?"

"We have to bring them the Hobs file or Joe dies," he said grimly.

"Wait!" said Joe, who was having a brainstorm. "At first he didn't just say that he would die—he got specific! He said that if we didn't bring him the file, Joe would drown."

Laura's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, dear! That just makes things worse."

Fenton, who could see where Joe was getting at, shook his head excitedly and said, "No. It makes things easier. Much easier."

"How so?"

"Because," Joe said, getting worked up, "he also said that we were to bring the file to the shut down amusement park across from the river."

"Yes," Fenton said, gazing into his wife's tear-glazed eyes, "and that means—"

"—they're at the river!" Joe finished for him. "It all makes sense now! Dad, it looks like our criminal has made his fatal mistake!"

"Too bad for him," Fenton said, "and great for us!"

"Oh crap." Fenton looked at his son, surprised.

"What is it, Frank?"

"We're running out of time! We've spent so much time talking, we've let the time slip away. We've only got ten minutes until they kill Fr—Joe!"

Both Fenton and Joe rushed out of the door, assuring the worrying mother that it would be fine, all the while hoping and praying that Joe (or rather, Frank) would be alive when arrived.

A/N: So…how's it going? I really need input (I only got one review for that last chapter.) So please review, and I'll update asap!

~Emachinescat ^..^