Ralph was still flying toward the stadium when he heard Bill's voice on the communicator. "Kid, the other two kidnappers are on their way to jail and I'm on my way back to the stadium. I've also got the entrances to the stadium closed so no one can get back in, including the guy who got away. Just in case, be on alert, as he has orders to keep you out...by any means."
"Got it," said Ralph, "I'm almost to the stadium."
"How's Miss Dante?"
"She's still out cold," said Ralph. "I don't know how long the kidnappers had that chloroformed rag over her face before I got the holograph, so it could be a while still before she..." he stopped when he felt some vibes for a holograph.
"Ralph, you OK," asked Bill worriedly when Ralph stopped talking. He wasn't sure if Ralph might have been affected by any possible fumes of the anesthetic that might be lingering on Dante's clothes.
"Yeah, sorry Bill, I'm getting a holograph. It's a bit faint, but it's the stadium scoreboard, and there's two outs. They've brought a right-handed pitcher to challenge our left-handed batter, so I have a couple of more minutes before the Stars hit again..."
"What's the score Ralph? These guys said the guy who escaped has the tickets to cash in if the Stars lose."
"It's 5-2..." the blonde-haired man said, "Wait a second... how did I get the score? I haven't been near the game since the kidnapping."
"Well, you must be getting vibes off Miss Dante's clothes or something," said Bill.
"No, tried that with the sweater at the stadium. Didn't work, remember, she was unconscious ... so that must mean..."
Bill recognized the problem. "Ralph, you'd really better get a move on, if she's comin' to, and if you're still flying or in the jammies ..."
"I know Bill, just got to the stadium. I'm about to bring her to the owner's box. Just get here as soon as you can," said Ralph as he made a near successful landing. Ralph cheered silently as he heard the Stars hit a line drive to have a man on second and third.
He quietly opened the fire escape door and brought Dante into the owner's box. Ralph laid her on a couch and turned to go get his baseball uniform.
As he changed, Ralph grimaced when he heard the Stars' pitcher, Miller was up. Miller had a batting record that even a sloth could beat. His mood changed when he heard the announcer said Miller was hit by a pitch and the Mets were putting in another relief pitcher. That gave him another 3 to 5 minutes as the relief pitcher warmed up.
Knowing he had just a short time before the umpire called "play ball," Ralph rushed over to the couch to see that Dante was trying to wake up. "Miss Dante, come on, Miss Dante, wake up," he said as he slapped her cheek lightly.
The young woman opened her eyes and sighed, and seeing Ralph, realized she was safe. "You saved my life, what happened?"
"I can't explain everything now there isn't much time," said Ralph hurriedly, "Your manager is trying to throw this game, now you have to replace him right now."
Dante glanced at the scoreboard and realized that more than a few minutes had passed since she the masked men entered. "Bottom of the ninth, how long have I been out?"
Ralph ignored the comment for now, not wanting to say everything so soon after her waking up, and handed her the phone. "I want you to fire Shorty and put me in."
Miss Dante nodded and picked up the receiver. "Put Shorty on," she said. As she was talking, she frowned and said, "Tell him he's fired, Manny you're in charge now, put Hinkley in..."
Ralph nodded to her and left, just barely hearing her say, "don't let Kelly go up to play, he can't hit the ground with both feet..."
As he was heading toward the field, he heard a scuffle outside. Ralph turned and saw the kidnapper who escaped trying to get into the area. The security guards were restraining him, following Bill's orders. The man saw Ralph back in his baseball gear, and decided to focus attention on Ralph. "There he is, guys," the man shouted. "He's the one who's trying to sabotage the Stars' game!"
The officers turned around, only to see empty space under the bleachers. "Very funny, mister."
"But, I swear to you he was there..." said the man just before he threw a punch at the guard to try and get inside.
The guard backed away and went for his handcuffs, realizing there was more to this than it seemed. "Nice try, you're under arrest for tresspassing and assaulting an officer," said one of the guards. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can be used..."
As the guards left with the man in custody, Ralph blinked back visible and smiled. "Well, that gets the third in custody. Hopefully, Bill will be able to get Shorty once he's thrown off the field. I'd better hurry onto the field and get that grand slam." He rushed onto the field, hoping that Shorty was gone so he could go up to bat help the Stars win the game.