Chapter 10
"Now, Mike. No need to get violent." Charity slowly rose to her feet and began inching toward the angered man, "I've known this whole time he wasn't Fred Brady. Actually, for all I know 'Fred Brady' doesn't exist!"
Ross looked as if he had been slapped across the face. "W-what?"
"What are you saying, Miss Charity?" Mike's grip on the chair relaxed slightly.
"What I'm saying is, Frank and Joe are my friends."
"Why didn't you mention that before?" Mike asked.
Charity shrugged.
"If he's your friend why did you want to kidnap him and tie him to a chair?" Mike still gripped the chair, but Frank wasn't sure if he'd still use it.
Charity ignored the question. "Put that chair down, Mike." She demanded.
Mike did as he was told.
Charity breathed out a sigh of relief, "Thank you. Now―"
The door crashed open.
Two gunmen entered, their guns trained on the five captives.
Frank and Joe leapt to their feet.
"Hold it!" The first gunman pointed the deadly rifle in their direction. "Don't try anything stupid. Out the door! Both of you!" He barked, shoving the gun barrel into Joe's ribs causing him to wince in pain.
Frank and Joe reluctantly complied.
They were led down a hallway. The walls had been stripped bare of their paintings. Joe frowned. So much for returning them to their rightful owners, he thought.
They were herded into a large room lined with bookshelves and filled with file cabinets. A large desk occupied the center of the room with several large overstuffed chairs surrounding it. Frank guessed it to be an office or library of some sort.
The two brothers were forced into chairs facing the large mahogany desk. A gunman was stationed directly behind each Hardy brother and at the door and windows.
The man behind the desk glowered. A cruel smile shaped his lips. He was dressed in a rich, business suit, with thick, black eyebrows and a sophistically waxed mustache.
"The Hardy Boys, I presume." He spat each word out as if it held a bitter taste.
Frank and Joe glared at their captor.
The man frowned. "It has been called to my attention that you know the very whereabouts of a certain Chinese vase?"
Frank raised an eyebrow and stole a glace at his younger brother. Joe scowled at the man, his blue eyes were cold and his mouth was set in a thin line.
Though he didn't receive an answer, the man continued, "I am willing to make an offer you can't refuse."
"Try us, we just might." Joe continued to glare at his captor.
The man raised his arm and snapped his fingers.
Joe winced in pain as a guard forcefully backhanded him across the face.
"As you see, I don't take kindly to mouthy responses." The man grinned wickedly, "And I am willing to inflict great pain when necessary."
Frank spoke up firmly, "Your offer, sir?"
"Oh yes. It is good to see that at least one of you Hardys have some sense." He glanced at Joe, then leaned back in his chair, "If you have not already guessed, I want that vase." He leveled his gaze with Frank's. "I am willing to let you free and fetch it for me."
"How can you be sure we'll come back?" Frank asked. He met the man's stare head on.
"Easy. I'm only going to send one of you back to Bayport. If the one sent fails to return in three days or contacts the police in anyway, the other will be killed."
"How can you be sure I won't contact the police?" Joe challenged.
The man chuckled evilly, "So you have already decided you're going?"
Frank stole a glance at his brother. Joe looked determined. Too determined.
"One of my men will accompany you. If any contact is made, I'll be sure to know about it." The man continued, fiddling with the waxed edges of his moustache.
Joe frowned. The plan was foolproof, but maybe not Hardy proof.
"Can we discuss who will go?" Frank asked politely, "Privately?"
"Of course. Gentlemen?" The man began walking toward the door. The gunman followed, backing away toward the door, their guns trained on the two Hardy brothers. "You have five minutes. Oh, and might I remind you this place is crawling with guards, so don't try to escape."
The door closed firmly behind them, trapping the Hardy's inside.