Chapter 6
Several hours after the nightmare phone call, Fenton Hardy sat in the kitchen staring at a picture in his hand. It had been taken the year before at the family Labour Day picnic, and the whole family were in the photo. Fenton was sitting on the grass, his arm around his attractive wife. Frank was sprawled by their feet, head in hands, beaming up at the camera. Joe was standing behind his father, both arms around Fenton's neck and a huge smile on his face.
It was the perfect family photo.
Fenton groaned as he put the picture down and buried his head in his hands. He couldn't believe this nightmare was happening.
If only I'd left the case to Sam and gone with them!
Fenton shook his head. He had missed out on so many family holidays and family outings, the Labour Day picnic had been one of those rare occasions when he had actually been able to go.
And it had been a perfect day. Fenton had enjoyed himself hugely, and had come home feeling happier and more relaxed than he had felt in months. It was a feeling that Fenton didn't often have, usually because he was busy being stressed on an important case.
Sighing heavily, Fenton realised that Laura was right. He did put his work before his family, and now they were the ones paying the price.
Just then the doorbell rang loudly, shattering his thoughts. Wearily, Fenton dragged himself to the door.
Sam Radley stood there on the front porch. He raised one eyebrow in surprise when he saw Fenton's haggard face.
"Sam," said Fenton. "Thanks for coming. Please come in." He stood aside to let Sam in.
Sam shot him a quizzical glance as he went past. "Fenton, what's going on? You told me to stay in New York because I wasn't needed in Bayport for the moment. Next thing I know, you're calling me and telling me I need to get back to Bayport…tonight. Do you know how many speed limits I broke getting back here? What gives?"
"Laura and the boys have been kidnapped," said Fenton hoarsely.
"What!" Sam exclaimed. "How? Where?"
Quickly, Fenton explained about the phone call and the kidnappers requests. When he was finished, Sam gasped.
"Tim Hanley! Fenton, there's no way…three days…it's impossible!"
Fenton nodded his head miserably. "I know, Sam, I know. That's why I called you. I don't know what to do."
Sam looked at the normally level-headed Fenton Hardy; a man famed for his cool intellect and calculated actions. And now when his family needed him, Fenton was going to pieces.
"We can't do this alone, Fenton," said Sam carefully. "I think I know someone who can help."
Joe lay on the bed in the dark room and wished his mother and brother would wake up. He felt very alone.
After the incident with the smelly rag, the men had taped Joe's mouth before loading him, his mother and his brother into a black van. The leader and the one with the rough voice had climbed into the front. Joe knew they had taken off their masks because he had heard them telling the other two men not to let Joe see them. The other two men had remained in the back with the Hardys, keeping their guns on the small child and his unconscious family.
They had driven for what felt like hours to Joe, finally stopping outside a dilapidated, grey-brick house surrounded by trees.
At least, that's all that Joe had seen as they carried him from the van to the house.
They had dumped the Hardy family on beds in a small basement, and locked the door. Nobody had come back since.
Joe was glad the men were gone. Their hulking, masked figures terrified him and he wanted to go home. He was exhausted, but too scared to sleep. He was also very hungry. It had been a long time since their picnic lunch in the cave.
Joe sniffed. Frank and his mother had been out for hours and Joe was beginning to think they would never wake up, just like Morton's dog.
Suddenly, a groan came from the inert body on the bed next to his.
His mother was still alive!
"Mpphh!" Joe tried to call but his mouth was still taped shut. "Mpphh!"
His mother groaned again, then opened her eyes.
"Ohhh, my head!" her voice was weak. "Wha-what's going on?"
"Mpphh!" Joe could feel his eyes popping with the strain of trying to speak.
His mother looked at him and it all came rushing back to her.
"Oh God! Joe, sweetie, are you ok? Where's Frank? Frank!"
Laura twisted her head up. She could see Frank lying on the other side of Joe.
"Frank!" she called desperately. "Wake up, sweetie, please wake up!"
Frank didn't move.
"Joe, where are we? What's wrong with Frank?"
Joe could hear the panic in his mother's voice and it scared him.
"Mpphh!" He wanted so badly to answer his mother.
It was then Laura noticed the gag.
"Joe! Who did that to you?" she asked in shock, and then realised the pointlessness of her question. Joe couldn't answer. His eyes stared helplessly back at her.
They heard footsteps overhead and Laura tensed as she heard voices coming near the basement. The door was flung open and a light switched on.
Both Laura and Joe squinted against the sudden light.
"You're awake." It was the young voiced man. "I've brought you something to eat."
He stepped down into the basement and placed a large bag on the crate in the centre of the room. He moved towards the unconscious Frank and cut his bonds, before doing the same thing for Joe and then Laura.
Laura got up quickly in order to check on her sons, but she had no sooner stood upright when she tumbled to the floor.
"Mom!" Joe squeaked.
"Don't be foolish," said their captor. "You've been bound for several hours and your legs are numb. Give yourself a chance. And I wouldn't try calling for help, we're in the middle of nowhere."
He turned and walked towards the stairs.
"Wait!" Laura called from the floor. "Please help us. Why are you doing this? You're not like them!"
This man had stood up for them more than once earlier on, and he did not seem quite so cruel or brutal as the other men. Laura hoped that he might be an ally.
The man paused for a second, half turned and looked at Laura, his eyes inscrutable behind his mask.
"I have my reasons," he told her. Then he turned, and without another word walked out the door. They heard the click of the lock being turned.
Laura and her sons were alone again.
She looked at Joe. He was staring wide-eyed down at her on the floor.
"Are you okay, Mom?" he whispered.
"I'm fine, honey." She struggled to her feet. Her legs felt strange and she had a pounding headache.
Quickly, Laura pulled Joe into a tight hug. "How's your hand?" she asked him.
"S'okay," he mumbled. "Hurts a bit. Will Frank wake up?"
"I'm going to wake him now," Laura assured Joe as she released him. She made her way over to Frank and picked him up. He was pale but his pulse was steady.
"Frank," she said, shaking him gently. "Wake up."
Frank groaned but didn't open his eyes.
"Frank!" said Laura insistently. "I need you to open your eyes."
Frank groaned again, but this time he did open his eyes.
"M-mom?" he croaked. "Wh-where are we?"
"I don't know, sweetie. Can you sit up?" How do you feel?"
Frank struggled to sit up. "My head hurts," he moaned.
"I know, sweetie. It's whatever they used to put us to sleep."
Frank was shaking his head groggily. Laura knew how he felt, her own head was swimming in fog.
She then frowned and looked at Joe. He seemed perfectly alert.
"Joe, how's your head?" she asked.
"Fine," he said, watching his brother. "I didn't go to sleep."
"You didn't?" Laura frowned again. "Why not?"
Joe told her what had happened and a flood of emotions ran through her. Anger at the way these men had treated and spoken to her young son, relief that Joe would suffer no side affects, and fear that Joe had spoken to a dangerous man like that.
"Joe, honey," she said. "You were very brave, but I need you to promise me that you won't do that again if they try to put you to sleep."
"No way!" Joe shook his head. "I don't want to go to sleep like Morton's dog!"
"Like Morton's dog?" Laura was bewildered. "Joe, what…oh!" Suddenly, it hit her what was worrying Joe.
"That's a very different kind of sleep, Joe," she told him firmly. "Frank and I woke up, didn't we? Now, I need you to promise me you won't do that again!"
"I promise," Joe muttered sullenly.
"Good boy," said Laura, ruffling his hair. Hearing Joe's stomach rumble, she glanced towards the bag the man had left sitting on the crate.
Slowly, Laura got up and moved towards the crate. She felt strangely light-headed and swayed a little. When she reached the crate, she peered tentatively into the bag.
Inside were a few bottles of water, some fruit, sandwiches and biscuits. There was also two notebooks and some pens.
She returned to the bed and emptied the contents of the bag onto it.
"Food!" said Joe, snatching up a packet of biscuits.
"Sandwiches and fruit first," said Laura at once. "Then you can have biscuits."
The Hardys ate their meal in silence. Suddenly Joe gave a tremendous yawn and Laura noticed how exhausted he looked.
"Are you tired, Joe?" she asked and he nodded sleepily.
"I'm a bit tired too," Frank admitted, rubbing his eyes. "We mustn't have been asleep very long."
Laura doubted very much that was the case, but she had no watch to tell her what time it was. Clearing the empty wrappers off the bed, she made the boys lie down together before covering them with the only two ragged blankets in the basement.
Laura shivered. It was cold in the basement and she hoped the boys would stay warm by sleeping together. After the soaking they had received earlier, she was afraid they might catch cold.
She looked at her sons. Joe was already asleep - he had found it easy to fall asleep once he knew his mother and brother would be okay - and Frank was nodding. Laura couldn't help but be amazed at how calm they were being.
They were both scared, she could see that, but they weren't crying or having hysterics. Despite their desperate predicament, Laura was very proud of her sons' bravery.
Once both boys were asleep, Laura began to inspect the basement they were being held in. She tried the door first. It was made of large, heavy wood and locked from the other side. No chance of breaking that down, thought Laura wryly.
There was just one tiny window in the basement, but it was too small for either Laura or Frank to squeeze through. But maybe for Joe…
Laura tried the window. It was nailed shut. Peering through the grimy window, Laura could see that it was dark outside. At least I know it's night, she thought.
Sighing, Laura made a thorough examination of the rest of the basement but there was no other way out. They were well and truly trapped.
Gritting her teeth with frustration, Laura returned to the bed where Frank and Joe were sleeping and lay down beside them. She shivered again.
Damn! This basement is cold!
She sincerely hoped that Fenton would find them before they had to spend too many nights here.