Taking A Chance
Chapter 12

"Big Time Trouble"

"Mr. Hardy," the man with the gun to Joe's head said in a clear voice. "Do not move. Do not think about moving."

Joe kept his hands up and he stared at the gun that was so close to him. He wanted to move; he wanted to knock the gun clear out of the man's hand, but he didn't think he could do it without getting shot in the process. With every nerve vibrating to attack, he stood still and saw Nancy out of the corner of his eyes, the gun of the other man pointed right at her.

"You will come with us, Mr. Hardy," the first goon, the one with the gun on him said to Joe. "You will stay here, Miss Drew. I think we'll lock you in the back room. Mrs. Fleming?"

Miriam stepped forward and grabbed Nancy's arm. With the second goon following them, she led Nancy away, down one of the hallways and disappeared out of Joe's line of sight. Joe looked back at the first goon, as he called the man in his head and waited. The man had not taken his attention off of Joe and he remained with the hammer of the gun cocked back, ready to take out Joe in a second if Joe tried anything.

The second goon came back with Miriam a few moments later. "She's locked up. Let's go," he said.

The first goon pointed at the door with his gun and Joe walked toward it. Now both guns were trained solely on him.

"Don't let her out," the second goon said to Miriam. "Don't talk to her. Don't acknowledge her. We'll be back when the boss is done with him."

Miriam nodded. "All right. But what if James comes home?"

"He won't," the second goon said. "We'll be back before that happens."

Joe tucked that bit of information away. James – or rather Frank – obviously knew nothing about his father-in-law's real business and Miriam took pains to keep him from finding out anything.

Joe was directed out of the house and toward the dark blue sedan that sat in front of Mr. Drew's car. They put him in the back seat and goon number two sat beside him, the gun still clearly in his hand, ready to take Joe out if the younger man moved wrong. Goon number one got into the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" Joe asked.

"Do not speak," The second goon ordered. "Or you will not be able to ever talk again."

Geez, Joe thought. What's wrong with asking a few questions? Like I don't know you're talking me to see Ras-Alman. The question is, why? Obviously Ras-Alman wanted something, otherwise he would shoot first and forget about the questions.

Joe took a deep breath and settled back in the seat. He stared out the window, trying to keep track of the turns and streets but by the time they finished driving he was all turned around and he had not seen the last three street signs. They stopped the car in front of a two-story, redbrick building.

Goon number 2 waited his hand on his gun as goon number 1 opened the back door on Joe's side and motioned Joe out of the car. They both flanked Joe as they escorted him into the red brick building. The goons led Joe down a long hallway and into a room light only by a small lamp sitting a top a table in the middle of the room.

"I feel like I walked into a bad movie," Joe commented nervously.

"Be seated, Mr. Hardy," a heavily accented voice from within the darkness ordered. Ras-Alman need not have bothered to hide his identity so well – Joe recognized that voice immediately.

Goon Two pushed Joe into a chair and both goons stood right behind Joe.

"Now, Mr. Hardy," the voice continued. "I see that you must insist on causing me grief. What I wish to know is how you have learned about James Fleming? What has caused you to seek your brother after two years?"

Joe crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Nothing doing," he growled.

Joe's arms were suddenly wrenched back and he gave a startled shout. "Hey!"

"I expect your cooperation, Mr. Hardy," Marcius Ras-Alman declared. "I have simple questions to which I expect answers. If you do not answer them I will have to collect your friend – Miss Drew is it? Now," Ras-Alman's voice went steely. "How did you learn of James Fleming and why do you seek your brother?"

Joe continued to glower, despite the hold the two goons had on his arms. "So you're admitting James Fleming is Frank Hardy?"

A fist in the pit of his stomach ended any more desire for witty repartee. Joe would have doubled over if he was not being held so tightly and he gasped in pain.

"Now," Ras-Alman said. "Answers, Mr. Hardy."

"I recognized the ring in the wedding announcement," Joe gasped. His stomach really hurt but not quite as much now as earlier. "The one on his pinky. As soon as I saw it, I knew."

"And how did you come to see that wedding announcement? You live in the east. This is the Midwest and I know the announcement was only in the one paper," Ras-Alman said. "Would you have me believe you just happened upon it? That nobody showed it to you?"

"You can believe what you want," Joe retorted. "But the truth is someone did show it to me."

Now he ventured into the realm of fiction. "A friend found it online. She found it while doing research about wedding announcements for a school paper. The way the picture was shot was interesting to her and she wanted my opinion on it. As soon as I saw the ring it was like a lightning strike."

"That simple?" Ras-Alman sounded dubious.

"Nothing simple about it," Joe glared at the other man. "We had to enlarge the ring several times and clean it up before I could see that ring clearly enough to know for sure it was Frank's. It's from a matched set."

He would have shown Ras-Alman the ring on his finger but, of course, he couldn't. "My parents got them for us."

There was nothing for a long while, no talking, only the sounds of his breathing and the occasional cough of one of the men behind him. Joe occasionally pulled on his arms to try and free them but the goons still held tightly to them.

"Now, how is it that Miss Drew is involved?" Ras-Alman asked at last.

Joe shrugged. "She's a friend and we've worked together before. I knew if I was going to have to try to find a very cold trail she'd be the perfect one to help me. That's all."

Close enough, he thought. Close enough.

"Mmm," Joe tensed slightly when he heard that tone from Ras-Alman. Obviously, Ras-Alman didn't believe him.

Then again, Joe thought. I didn't expect him to. Not really.

Marcius Ras-Alman was, simply put, a bully. He ruled by his fists and killed people who got in his way. While he put on this air of polite civility, the lesser side of his nature appeared fast, swift and deadly. Joe half-feared the next words from the man, though he kept his own features calm.

"Your arrival is unfortunate," Ras-Alman said at last. "I don't believe your entire story but, then, it may not matter how it is you really did learn of James Fleming. I do know, however, that I will not allow your interruption into the lives of my daughter and her husband. They are content and they are happy. That is all that matters."

"He's my brother," Joe retorted. "My family. If you think I am…"

Joe was suddenly yarded up by his collar and dragged forward. He now faced Ras-Alman, whose eyes bored right into his.

"You have two choices, Mr. Hardy," Ras-Alman hissed. "You will leave St. Louis. You will take Nancy Drew with you and you will forget about anything you have seen here."

There was a pause – for effect? Or just to annoy. Joe thought it was doing both.

"Or?" he prompted.

"Or," Ras-Alman continued. "I will kill you and Miss Drew, I will kill your families and I will even kill my son-in-law, if that is what I must do to keep me and mine safe and happy. Leave town, Joe Hardy. You have one hour from the time I drop you back off at my daughter's house. If I ever see you here again, you will soon know the meaning of terror.