I own it not

I could feel myself tensing as the men opened the back door. A man in a brown jacket hauled me out of the car, depositing me on the cold concrete. Did I mention that it was the middle of winter, and neither of us had anything more on then T-shirts?

I winced as I heard Joe's body hit the ground. I knew that he must be in pain, 'cause his fever still hadn't broken. I glanced at him, and he smiled at me weakly. I knew he was trying to be reassuring. He wasn't doing a good job.

Brown Jacket and his three friends hauled us to our feet. Three for me, one for Joe. I knew that Joe would hate this if he'd been in better shape, 'cause he always was the one who had to fight the most bad guys at once. Never the other way around.

I looked around the abandoned lot. The stereotypical setting for a hideout. You know, abandoned warehouse next to a seldom-used alley. I looked up at the sky and knew that it was going to snow. I really, really hoped it wouldn't. A snow storm would wash away any tracks we had left behind.

If only my hands were untied. I thought. I knew I'd be able to get free and give these guys what was coming to them. The only reason they had us in the first place was the element of surprise. I've always hated the element of surprise.

The men brought us to the bottom of the warehouse. The basement. Why is it always basements, you might ask?

Got me.

These guys didn't waste any time. The men threw us on the floor (threw being the operative word) and went to another corner of the room. I went over to my brother. "You okay?"

"As okay as I can be after getting kidnapped by men who look like they want to kill us." He whispered savagely at me. The words were interrupted by coughing, however, so it sounded more like-"As okay" cough cough, "can be after kidnapped," more coughs, "men look want to kill us." A gigantic coughing fit.

I shook my head slowly, trying to think up a plan. I glanced at Joe, who's face was turning slowly paler. I knew that muscle wasn't the way out of here, at least not until Joe got better. Which would take a miracle, by the way.

The men's talking rose, and I watched them out of the corner of my eye. They seemed to be arguing about who would go out and call in the ransom. Great. After a heated argument, a guy with green pants left the warehouse.

And the other three guys came towards us. Uh-oh, not good.

A guy who had no hair grabbed Joe and yanked him upright, while Brown Jacket and the other guy grabbed me.

"Now," Brown Jacket whispered menacingly, "You get to watch the same thing happen to your brother that happened to mine." Seriously not good.

I fought as hard as I could and almost tripped-my feet were still tied. I looked at Joe, and saw fear in his eyes. We both knew that this wacko would be as good as his word. We also guessed that he meant his brother had died, in relation to one of dad's cases.

A felt, rather then saw, one of the men behind me nod there head. Quicker then I could see, No Hair pinned one of Joe's arms behind his back and yanked the other one up-hard.

I don't know which one of us screamed louder, me or Joe.

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