CHAPTER 13

Trying to peer through the slits of the locker Jason Harris could hear shuffling sounds and flesh hitting flesh. His legs were starting to cramp due to him having to bend his knees to fit inside the locker. He wormed his cell phone out of his jeans pocket and began texting for help.

.. ..

Mackenzie frowned when she heard several cell phones beeping. She was about to reprimand her students when Claire, her star singer stood up.

"Mrs. Hardy I just got a text from my friend, Jason…a Joe Hardy is being attacked by two guys, out in the hall."

"Dominic just texted that some guy has a gun aimed at Mr. Hardy!" exclaimed another student.

"Carl…James, where do you think you're going?" Mackenzie tried to stop her two students.

"Don't worry Mrs. H…we won't let them take Mr. H this time!" replied Carl with determination.

"No…stop right there! Claire, call the police….Carl, James, go back to your seats."

"Sorry Mrs. H…no can do," said James, pulling Carl out of the room.

Mackenzie was torn. She wanted to go after Carl and James but also wanted to make sure no one else did anything foolish.

"Mrs. Hardy, the police are on their way."

"Thank you, Claire….please everyone, get back in your seats." Mackenzie ushered her students back into the room.

Frank recognized Lassiter and Blaine. A small smile flitted across his face when he noticed that Blaine seemed to be in pain. He wondered if they had gotten to Joe or if his brother had left before the two men had arrived.

"My brother was right…he didn't think you left Bayport, Mr. Lassiter."

"A clever man, your brother…as are you, Mr. Hardy. I underestimated you. A smart move on your part; this time, however, you will not escape."

Moving aside Lassiter indicated that he wanted Frank to walk ahead of him. Knowing that they had fifty minutes till the bell rang for the next class, Frank didn't hesitate and stepped forward.

.. ..

Tyler saw his teacher being led away. He looked at the other students who were at the door watching the scene. Scott and Bernie, two junior varsity football players, were standing close by.

"We can't let them take Mr. H!" Tyler exclaimed. "Scott…Bernie…I've got a plan to stop them – you want to help me?"

"What do you want us to do, Tyler?"

.. ..

The door to classroom 101A slowly opened. Three teens quietly slipped through the aperture, silently making their way down the hallway. They were crouched low, staring intently at their target. Moving on a signal from the smallest of the group, the two husky, muscular teens rushed towards the two men ahead of them.

Frank noticed that Lassiter and Blaine were not holding their firearms in a menacing manner. He was contemplating rushing Blaine, who though wounded was the stronger of the two, when he heard a loud roar. Frank spun around in time to see Scott and Bernie tackle Lassiter and Blaine. Lassiter dropped his gun as he fell to the ground and it slid towards Frank, who immediately picked it up. Blaine fell to his knees and rolled on his injured side, raising his hand in an attempt to strike Bernie with the gun. Frank moved quickly to help. Standing over Blaine, Frank made sure the man heard him click the hammer back.

"Drop it."

Blaine stared up at the gun and relaxed his hold on his own weapon.

"Bernie, get the gun but be careful."

"Don't worry Mr. Hardy…my dad and I go to the shooting range, I know how to handle a gun."

.. ..

Carl and James knew where Jason's locker was located as the two teens sometimes teased the young boy. As they rounded the corner they saw the backs of two muscular-looking men, one bald and the other with dark hair. A blonde man was backed up against the lockers.

"That must be Mr. H's brother," whispered Carl.

"Yeah…what do you wanna do?"

"I say we rush Baldy; he's not built, like the other guy," Carl suggested.

James readily agreed and the two friends ran towards the three men. Although backed against the wall Joe was ready to defend himself when he saw two teenage boys come charging down the hallway. Carl aimed for the bald man's upper body while James hit the man low, clipping his knees. There was a loud crack as the bald man's head hit the hard floor. Taking advantage of the surprise attack, Joe slammed his body into the dark-haired man. The thug gasped out in pain as Joe's elbow connected with his stomach. The man stumbled back, trying to catch his breath, but Joe kicked at his foot, causing him to fall, landing on his butt.

Joe clutched the thug's collar, pulled back his right arm, and hit his attacker right between the eyes, then let his now unconscious assailant slump to the ground. Hearing the sound of sirens had never made Joe happier.

.. ..

John was sitting in a white van waiting for Lassiter and Blaine plus the two men they had hired to capture Frank and Joe Hardy. When he heard the police sirens he knew that Lassiter's plan had failed. Without another thought John started the engine and drove away.

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Chief Riley, along with several police officers, rushed inside the school. Con knew the classroom where Frank taught, but finding Joe was going to be a little harder, he thought…until he saw a red-headed teen running towards him.

"Hi, if you're looking for Joe, follow me."

"Johnson, Morgan, follow him…Jones, Andrews, come with me."

Officers Johnson and Morgan followed James as Con headed for Frank's classroom. Con chuckled softly when he saw two men sitting on the floor, while Frank and a young teen aimed guns at them. Two other teens were leaning against the wall nearby.

"I should be surprised but somehow I'm not…handcuff them and read them their rights, fellas."

.. ..

Joe had used his belt to restrain the man he knocked out.

"Is anybody still out there?"

The kid, Joe thought. He walked over to the locker to let the boy out.

"Sorry about that, kid, it was the only thing I could think of to keep you out of harm's way."

"That's okay…and my name is Jason. Man, I wish I could have seen what was going on!"

"Hey Jason, you okay?" asked Carl.

"Um…yeah…thanks." Jason was a little surprised by Carl's friendliness.

"Hey man…I'm sorry for always picking on you…thanks for the heads up on what was going on." Carl held out his hand in a friendly gesture. Jason hesitated for a moment then shook Carl's hand.

"Hey Mr. Hardy, I found reinforcements!" called out James as he approached with Officers Morgan and Johnson right behind him.

Joe was happy to see the two officers for he was anxious to find out if Frank was okay

*endofchapter*

Authors Note: Please read the author's profile for this story. The author, copagirl, passed away in 2013. I am posting these stories up with the permission of her family, who want her to be remembered as well. Lola was a long-time member of the Hardy Detective Agency and we miss her soooooo much! Love you Lola!

Thanks to those of you leaving feedback! I know copagirl would love all of it.