Warning: This story includes as an on-going sub-plot an incestuous homosexual relationship between Frank and Joe Hardy. This chapter contains strong sexual content and suggestive language.

-o-o-o-

Chapter 9: Filling in the Details

"Dammit!" Frank cried. He pounded his fist against the locked door angrily, although he was angrier at himself than at his captors. How could he let himself get captured like this? Then a female voice spoke from behind him.

"Frank Hardy? Is that you?"

Frank whirled around. "Nancy!"

"It is you!" Nancy dashed forward and flung her arms around Frank in a tight bear hug. "Man, are we glad to see you!"

"I'm relieved to find you alive!" Frank replied and then he paused. "We?"

"Yeah. I'm here with Jolene Winters." Nancy unclasped her arms from around him and pulled him farther into the room. "Jolene, this is my good friend Frank Hardy."

Frank could just see Jolene by the dim light filtering under the door. She was a slender girl with dark hair. She held out a hand awkwardly and Frank shook it. "It's nice to meet you Jolene. I'm glad to find you still alive, too."

Jolene sniffed and Nancy quickly took her hand. "We were starting to get a little worried about that," Nancy said. "But how did you find us?"

"Your friend Bess called and told us you were missing," Frank said. "We started following up your investigation and ended up here. But Joe's waiting for me outside. When I don't show up…" The distinctive pop of a handgun echoed dimly from outside. Frank whirled back toward the door. "Shit! Joe!"

Nancy grabbed his arm. "They won't kill him, Frank!" she exclaimed. "They haven't killed anyone yet."

"You don't know that!" Frank pounded on the door again.

"Frank! Think! They've been successful all these years by keeping a low profile. Having dead bodies turn up is not their style."

Frank's shoulders slumped. "But… They shot at him."

"He was probably running away." Nancy pulled him back into the room, where three or four crates stood close together. "Come sit down. Maybe they'll put him in here with us."

Reluctantly, Frank took a seat on a crate and the others followed suit. "So tell me what happened. How did you end up here?" He looked expectantly at Jolene, but it was Nancy who answered.

"Well, it all started for Jolene a few weeks ago, but it really started before that. It seems August Quito is running a smuggling business."

"My brother and I find out about that," Frank said quickly. "I saw the boys. Do you know what they're carrying?"

"They're not carrying anything," Nancy said grimly. "They're the cargo. August Quito and his partner Walter Surrey smuggle teenage boys into the country and sell them as sex slaves"

"What?"

Nancy nodded. "And it seems August has a taste for young boys. Jolene got out of school early unexpectedly a few weeks ago. She didn't know her mother was at the day spa that day and went looking for her in her bedroom. She caught Quito in bed with a boy almost as young as she is."

Frank stared.

"He told me not to say anything or he would divorce my mom," Jolene said quietly. "She was so hurt when she found out my dad had a boyfriend, I didn't want her to find about this." She sniffed again and scrubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You know about your dad being… gay?" Frank asked gently.

"Yes." Jolene nodded slowly. "He told me right after my mom filed for divorce. He said he didn't want me to hear about it from other people who would make it sound bad. He said he just fell in love with the other man. He didn't mean to hurt Mom." Then she looked at Frank. "Did you talk to my dad?"

"Yeah. He's a nice guy."

"That's right!" Jolene said in a sharp tone. "My mom's wrong about him. Miss Drew told me that she said Dad kidnapped me. He would never do something like that. He's too gentle."

"I agree." Frank couldn't help smiling. "So what happened with your step-dad?"

"I didn't say anything to my mom about the boy, but the next day when August was driving me to school I told my him he had to stop sleeping with little boys because it was wrong and he would get arrested if someone found out. He got really mad and told me he was going to take care of me. He brought me here and I've been locked in ever since."

"And that's when we get to me," Nancy started. "I did a background investigation on Quito and found out about this warehouse. I drove by one afternoon and saw some suspicious characters leave takeout food in the warehouse. I came back that night to do a little snooping around and got caught trying to break into the warehouse." Nancy sounded disgusted with herself. "They stuck me in here with Jolene. I was relieved to find her still alive, but I feel like an idiot for getting caught myself."

"Tell me about it," Frank agreed. "Joe and I found out pretty much the same thing, which is why we were here. We knew the men were in the warehouse, but we didn't know what they were smuggling. I was trying to get evidence for the cops. How did you figure out it was the boys?"

"I guessed when Jolene told me about Quito and the boy, and from overhearing some of the things our resident thugs have said when they bring our meals."

"Clever." Frank fell silent. If Joe really had been caught, there was no one to call the cops. They could all be in serious trouble.

"Frank, now that you're here, I think there's a way to get one of us out of here," Nancy said.

"Oh, yeah?"

"There's a window up there." Nancy pointed high on the wall, near the ceiling. "We couldn't reach it with the just the two of us, even standing on the crates. But with you here…"

Frank stared up at the top of the wall. He could just see a lighter gray patch in the general darkness. "Right there, you mean?" He pointed.

"That's it."

"It looks pretty small."

"I think Jolene might fit it through it, though."

"There might not be anyway down." Frank rubbed his chin. "But it's better than nothing. Let's try it while it's still dark." He stood close to the wall, leaning against it with one hand. He held the other arm out with the elbow bent to make a step for Nancy. She climbed up on a crate and then stepped onto his forearm. From there she climbed to his shoulders. "Your turn, Jolene." Jolene climbed up as Nancy had, standing precariously on the edge of Frank's shoulder long enough for him to stick his arm up over his head with the palm cupped. Jolene stepped into his palm, climbed onto Nancy's waiting forearm and from there climbed onto her shoulders.

"I can reach it!" Jolene called out quietly.

"See if there's a latch," Frank said. "Don't break the window unless you have to."

"Ok." He listened to Jolene's soft grunts as she searched.

"I found it! The window opens out from the bottom." He felt Nancy's weight shifting as Jolene moved around. "There's a ledge outside. I think I can reach it. And there's a drainpipe just a few feet away. It runs all the way to the ground."

"Perfect!" Frank said encouragingly. "Can you get out?"

"I think so. Just a second."

Frank craned his neck to look up, but he couldn't really see anything around Nancy's legs. Jolene grunted with effort and some of the weight lifted from Frank's shoulders.

"I did it! I'm on the ledge!"

"Good girl!" Frank called. "When you get down, go to the right up the alley. Turn right when you get to the street. There's an all -night coffee shop about three blocks down. You go right in, tell them who you are and tell them to call the police. Then you tell the police everything you know."

"Ok."

Nancy climbed down and they listened to the faint sounds of Jolene creeping along the ledge. They heard the creak of the drainpipe as it took her weight. Then there was silence.

"I hope she's all right," Nancy whispered worriedly.

"We would have heard her if she fell," Frank answered with more confidence than he felt.

"I just hope the police believe her story. They think she's a runaway."

"They'll believe her." Now Frank did feel confident. "Even if they were inclined to think she found out about you from her friends, there's no way she could know that I talked to her dad unless she heard it from me. Thomas Winters should already have gone to the police to clear his name. The cops don't know I'm working on the case. I never talked to them."

"So all we have to do is wait."

"Yup, but how do you want to handle it the next time that door opens? I'm ready to kick some serious butt."

"I heard that," Nancy answered with a sharp nod. "I'm sick of playing the helpless female with these jerks."

"Good. Here's what I want to do…"

-o-o-o-o-o-

Joe struggled but it was no use. The cords holding him to the bed were very tight. He went still when the door opened. It was August Quito.

"Well, if it isn't Joe Hardy," August said with a lazy smile. "I hadn't really expected to see you again." He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You know, you and your brother lied to me before. You said you weren't detectives, but I checked up on you. Your dad is a very well known detective in these parts."

"So what?" Joe growled.

"So, that means I can't really afford to have you snooping around my business." August slowly pulled Joe's shirt out of his pants and slid his hand underneath, moving it caressingly up Joe's chest.

Joe couldn't help struggling. "Get your hands off me!"

August chuckled. "You really are a very pretty young man. A little old for my tastes but still quite delectable." He unzipped Joe's pants and put his hand in. Joe jerked his hips away and August laughed. He gripped Joe's cock firmly. "Maybe I should mention it excites me when a boy struggles. I pay extra for that." He stroked Joe's cock. "Come on now, don't resist." He leaned over and licked Joe's face. "I can make you feel real good."

"You sonuvabitch!" Joe cried. He struggled helplessly.

"Those bonds are going to make getting your clothes off difficult, but good bondage sex is worth a little effort, don't you think?" August released him and stood up. "Wait here," he chuckled, "I'm going to get a knife. I'm sure we can find something else for you to wear after I'm finished with you."

Joe fought back angry tears as August left and redoubled his efforts to escape. "I'm not letting that bastard touch me!" he whispered furiously. "No one touches me but Frank, goddammit!"

August reentered the room. "Now, now, Joe! No trying to escape. I haven't yet shown you how good a host I can be." He sat back down on the edge of the bed and twirled a long, thin-bladed knife between his fingers. "It's amazing what you can find on thugs these days. I knew one of them would have something appropriate." He slipped the knife under Joe's shirt and made a slit. Then he gripped the shirt on either side of the tear and swiftly jerked his hands apart, ripping the shirt to the collar seam. He used the knife to carefully cut through the seam and pushed the torn halves of the shirt apart, exposing Joe's chest. "That's better." He teased Joe's nipple with a fingertip and then traced a line down to his bellybutton. "Such beautiful musculature! You take good care of yourself, my boy. I appreciate that. Let's see what else you have to show me." He gripped Joe's pants and pulled them down over his hips. "Boxers! I like that. But you don't really need these either." He pulled the boxers down and Joe closed his eyes with a flush of humiliation. "Oh my!" August exclaimed. "You just get more and more handsome, don't you?"

"Stop it!" Joe cried out. "Don't touch me, you pervert!"

August grinned. "I'm quite proud of my perversions, Joe." He went down on Joe and began working him very diligently.

Joe tried to resist, but it was impossible. August was exceptionally good at oral sex and Joe felt utterly helpless. He wept as he climaxed, unable to stop the waves of pleasure washing through him.

"Delicious!" August murmured. He put his fingers in his mouth and pulled them out slowly. "Let's see what you have for me down here," he said and he inserted his fingers into Joe with a smile.

Joe gasped and tried to pull away from him. "Get your fingers out of me! Goddamn you!"

August moved his fingers in and out. "You're quite roomy. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were experienced at this."

"You bastard!"

"Let me see. Do I cut off your pants or can I get into you without removing them?" August climbed between Joe's legs and lifted him by the hips. "You know what? I think the pants are going to have to come off. I want to be able to enjoy you fully." August reached for the knife, which he'd left by Joe's side.

Someone knocked sharply on the door. "Mr. Quito!" It was Burt's voice. "I hate to bother you, but you better come talk to the boys. They're saying that guy told them they wouldn't get green cards. They're starting to get cold feet."

"Dammit!" August growled. He glared at Joe. "You really shouldn't have said that. These boys are worth a lot of money to me." He jumped off the bed. "Don't go away. I'll have to punish you for this when I get back." He grinned wickedly. "That will make the bondage even more fun." He left the room.

Joe stared after him, blinking away tears of anger and shame. And then he noticed that August had left the knife on the bed beside him. He twisted as much as his bonds would let him, trying to reach the knife with his mouth. It was just out of reach. Tears of frustration blurred his vision. "Dammit!" Joe shook his head, shaking the tears away. "I'm not gonna lie here and let that bastard rape me!" He strained toward the knife, pulling against the rope holding his left wrist. The knot was too tight for his hand to slip free and he began to feel the pain in his shoulder. "Shit!" Joe wept, "I can almost reach it!" He pulled even harder and something popped in his shoulder. Excruciating pain shot up his arm and Joe gasped, biting his lips to keep from screaming aloud. But then he realized he could lean even farther. His shoulder had come out of the socket.

Joe grasped the knife in his teeth, tears of pain pouring down his cheeks. He braced the knife against his right arm and moved it around until he had the handle between his lips. Then he began to saw diligently at the rope around his right wrist. When the strands finally parted and his wrist came free, Joe dropped the knife with a gasp of joy. Then he picked it up and cut his left wrist free. His arm hung uselessly at his side. Each movement sent fresh waves of agony radiating from his shoulder but Joe ignored it. He cut his ankles free and rolled off the bed, letting his left arm dangle. He pulled his pants up as best he could one-handed and then clutched the knife firmly in his right hand, the blade pointing down.

"I'll kill the son of a bitch!"

-o-o-o-o-o-

Frank cupped his hand around his ear and leaned against the door. "I can hear them talking."

Nancy copied him and they listened in silence.

"Look," Quito was saying, "we'll just move the boys. They'll forget about what Hardy said once they're working."

"But what if they say something to a customer?" Burt said in a whining voice. "If people start asking questions…"

"No one's going to ask questions," Quito answered in a patient voice. "Our customers know they're buying contraband. Our repeat customers appreciate the quality of our merchandise. Tell the boys to quit worrying. Give them some candy and a couple of Gameboys. They'll shut up."

"If you say so, Boss," Cam replied with a shrug. "But what about the other guy?"

"That must be Frank Hardy," Quito said. "We'll get rid of him and his brother when the boys are in L.A. And we'll get rid of the other two as well. We can let my wife's ex take the fall for killing them."

"The bastard!" Nancy hissed under her breath.

"I think it's time we got their attention," Frank said. He stepped back from the door, braced himself and kicked it hard. The door shuddered and groaned under the impact. "Let us out!" Frank screamed. "The police are on their way! You're all going to jail!"

"Boss!" Burt sqeaked.

"Get in there and shut him up!" Quito snarled.

Frank and Nancy moved behind the door and waited. The deadbolt slid back and the door swung open sharply. They immediately caught the edge and threw it back. Cam let out a roar of pain as the edge of the door caught him across the face. He staggered backward into Burt and Frank and Nancy used the moment of confusion to charge out through the open door.

"Get them!" August cried. He dashed forward and then cried out as something tripped him.

Frank jumped Cam, knocking him to the ground. Cam fumbled for his gun but Frank knocked it away. Then he cracked Cam on the chin with his closed fist and Cam's head smacked hard against the floor. His eyes lost focus. Burt tried to grab Nancy, but she neatly sidestepped his clumsy maneuver and snapped a kick into the bridge of his nose. He went down in a heap.

Then Frank looked up to see Joe straddling August Quito, a knife in his hand.

"Joe! What are you doing!"

"I'm gonna kill the sonuvabitch!" Joe snarled and he raised the knife. Quito grabbed Joe's wrist, struggling to keep the knife from his throat. His eyes were round with terror.

"Joe!" Frank cried. He jumped to his feet and grabbed Joe's hand, twisting the fingers to make Joe drop the knife.

"Goddammit!" Joe screamed. "Let me kill him!" Tears streamed down his face. "He tried to… tried to…" Joe couldn't finish the sentence. His left arm dangled at his side and now he clutched at his shoulder, his face awash with pain.

Frank went pale. For the first time, he saw Joe's naked chest, his partly undone trousers and his eyes snapped to Quito's face, remembering the way Quito had looked at Joe the first time he saw him. "You goddamn pervert!" Frank growled. "What did you do to him?" His mind went blank. Just the idea of someone else touching Joe drove him crazy. He jumped on Quito, his fists flying.

"Frank!" Nancy shouted. "Stop! Don't kill him!" She jumped on his back, dragging him away from Quito by sheer strength of will. "Stop it! Joe's all right. His shoulder's just dislocated! That's all! Stop it!"

Slowly, her words got through to him and Frank stopped struggling. He stared down at Quito. August's face was bloodied and swollen, his lips cut. His eyes were rolled up in his head. He was only partly conscious. Frank pulled out of Nancy's hands and went to Joe. "Are you all right, Joe?" He embraced his brother carefully.

"My shoulder…" Joe whispered. "Nancy's right. I dislocated it getting loose. It hurts…"

"I can fix it," Frank said. He cupped Joe's cheek in his hand. "It's gonna hurt, though."

Joe smiled back, although it was more of a grimace. "It hurts now."

"Right," Frank said. "Lie down." When Joe was prostrate on the floor, Frank took Joe's left wrist in his right hand and braced his foot against Joe's shoulder. "Go ahead and scream, this is really gonna hurt." Then he jerked firmly on Joe's arm.

They could all hear the pop as Joe's shoulder went back into the socket. Joe screamed.

"We'll go to the hospital later to get it X-rayed, ok?" Frank said as he helped Joe to his feet. Joe nodded mutely.

"I hear sirens," Nancy said suddenly. Cam started to sit up. Nancy stepped over and gave him a stiff right cross. Cam sprawled to the floor unconscious.

Frank and Joe stared.

"I told you I was sick of being treated like a helpless girl," Nancy growled. "I'm going down to open the door for the police. You guys can keep an eye on things here, right?"

"Sure." Frank watched Nancy jog down the stairs. "Do you suppose Ned has any idea what he's in for marrying that woman?"

"Probably not."

Frank turned to Joe and looked him in the eye. "Quito didn't…"

"No," Joe shook his head. "I'll tell you later what happened, but he didn't rape me."

"Thank god." Frank embraced him again. "I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you."

"I wasn't going to let him touch me." Joe leaned his head against Frank's shoulder. "No one touches me but you, big brother."