Chapter 12:

Frank had driven over to Katie's home right after his breakfast that morning, feeling a little apprehensive. He did not know why; he was not usually nervous, but the prospect of meeting Mr. Ryan (or rather, Dr. Ryan, since he had a doctorate in history) scared him a little. But he need not have worried. He was slightly late in picking her up, and she was already waiting for him at the door.

"Hey!" he greeted the girl brightly as she came to the car. Katie waved back a greeting as she hobbled to the car.

"Yeah, Vanessa called and told me she couldn't pick me up," she told Frank with a smile. Though she was limping slightly on her bad foot, her face was shining with enthusiasm at the prospect of a lovely day out. "Oh, I say, isn't the weather heavenly?"

Frank grinned. "Van has gone on a breakfast date with my brother. So I'm playing chauffer today," he explained. He glanced down at her ankle. "I see that sprain is a lot better. "

Katie beamed. "Well, Mom had a look at it." Katie's mother was a medical surgeon in Bayport General Hospital, and like all other doctors, she was rather meticulous in these things, especially when it concerned her children.

It started as a pleasant drive at first. The road from Katie's house was flanked by lush green meadows, the tall grass dotted white and blue and yellow with little wildflowers that nodded and waved in the morning breeze. Big and little trees grew here and there along the way, and far off over on one side of the road, between the hills in the dip, they had a glimpse of the sea, calm and blue as the sky above. Frank found a delightful company in the younger girl as she marveled at the view, and he soon found himself telling her all about Bayport.

But just as they turned back onto the main road, Frank suddenly frowned, and peered into his rearview mirror. The car gave a little lurch as he stepped up the gas. "Hold tight," he told Katie, his keen eyes scanning the mirror's reflection. "I think someone's following us."

Keeping his eyes on the road ahead of him, Frank glanced briefly at the mirror again. From the reflection he could see a familiar car pursuing them from behind. It was the green car – the same one which had been stolen from the rental place. As he changed lanes, the green car too did the same and sped up, closing the distance behind them.

"Fraank!" Katie's scream rang out, as a blue car swung towards them and crashed onto her side of the car. Frank had been too focused on the green car behind them to notice that there was actually a second car tailing them. "Hang on tight," Frank said grimly, as he stepped on the gas even more and pushed the limit, trying to outrun the two cars.

Crash! It came again. This time the green car behind had hit his rear bumper. Frank felt a large jolt and grabbed hold of the wheel to stay in control. But it was too late. The blue car hit them from the side, and sent them careening towards a nearby farmyard. The car spun madly out of control and skidded dangerously over the wet grass, crashing through the ferns and crushing the dozens of wildflowers under its squealing tires.

Frank slammed on the brakes, and attempted a wild swerve as a large wooden structure loomed up in front of them. But his efforts were futile. Their vehicle had collided straight-on into the wall of a barn.

The last thing Frank heard was Katie's scream, before the impact threw him forward and smacked him hard against the steering wheel. He slumped onto the steering wheel, unconscious.

"Frank!" Katie cried fearfully, seeing the slumped figure next to her in the driver's seat. She had earlier held tight on the dashboard to prevent herself from being thrown forward. Her hands trembling, she pulled out her cell phone to dial emergency.

"Oh no, you don't," a voice snarled as a hand came through the broken window and snatched her cell phone away. As she struggled to get out of the car, the hand clamped a wet towel against her nose and mouth. The sweet smelling aroma soon lulled her into a sleep, and she went limp in her seat.

"Take her and tie her up," a low voice spoke. "I'll handle Hardy."