Chapter 16:

Keeping in the shadows, Frank made his way to where he thought the cry came from. He was relieved that the hall was not lighted. In usual circumstances, he would have gone to the nearest payphone to call the police. But he had peeked out of a window and saw that the place seemed to be surrounded by tall, shady trees. He wondered if there would even be a payphone in the area.

Then, there was Katie. She was now in the kidnappers' hands. Steve was probably harmless, as Callie had claimed, but it was looking that Shane might be dangerous, especially if he had her targeted all along. Probably from the day Shane tried to run them down with the green car– or rather, run her down.

Or worse, from the day her car exploded…

He still didn't know what Shane wanted, or what his motive was – but it sure didn't look like he didn't intend to kill her, as Callie had claimed. These were all intentions to kill, Frank had noted grimly, and he didn't want to take a further gamble on her life. No, he had to get her out of here as fast as possible, before Shane could try anything else…

Steve. He wondered he could find Steve and convince him to let them go. After all, Steve was a decent guy – he always had been; and Frank had always considered him a friend, even while the guy was dating Callie.

He shook his head. Gosh, Steve, he groaned. Do you know what you've gotten yourself into? Didn't you do your homework before kidnapping someone? The girl's father has connections in high places, if you didn't realize. You're hardly a criminal and you're kidnapping Jack Ryan's daughter? All for such a stupid reason too! Didn't you realize that you could go to jail for this…?

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a stinging slap from a nearby room. Hurriedly, he made his way over.

The door was ajar and Frank had a full view of the room. His teeth gritted in anger as Steve, still in his mask delivered another slap on Katie's face. Do you know how much hurt you've caused Callie?" the guy screamed.

"Stop it!" Frank ordered immediately, bursting into the room. He grabbed Steve's shoulder and spun him round, grabbing the mask off him. "What has she done to deserve this?" he demanded. Steve reeled in surprise, but recovered quickly enough. Angered, he shoved Katie hard against Frank, and glared fiercely at him.

Frank staggered backwards, catching hold of Katie as she crashed into him. Steve yanked his arm, and Frank lost his grip on the girl. She fell onto the floor with a painful cry.

"Katie!" Frank yelled almost at once. Ignoring Steve for a moment, he knelt down beside her. "Kate, are you hurt?" he asked, his voice anxious. As he helped her sit up in a more comfortable position, he could feel her trembling in his arms. He had just started to undo her bonds when Steve grabbed his shoulder and swung him around.

"Beast! Do you know how much Callie misses you? And all you care is this girl? Do you know how much you're hurting her? You've caused a lot of hurt. Both to me and Callie."

"You? How did I ever hurt you?" asked Frank in bewilderment. "I didn't even try to win Callie back." He took a step back away from Steve, his eyes training on Steve.

"I had so much going for me," Steve said bitterly. "Until you came and ruined everything."

"How did I…" Frank started to ask, but seeing that Steve was about to go on, he stopped and let him continue.

"Why do you have to come back? Why do you have to ruin things for me in school? I was top in class until you came. I was supposed to be this year's quarterback, but they wanted you back. I was… "

Frank shook his head. "Steve…" he began. This guy was clearly losing it. He needed to talk some sense into him. "I was just doing my best. I didn't intend to fight with you.

"And for God's sake, I flunked last year. You think I like to fail? Geez, you talk as though I did it on purpose."

"I couldn't even date Callie properly without her sneaking glances at you," Steve went on. "Callie still loves you, Frank. And she misses you. But you kept hurting her, all because of this…" he threw a hateful look at Katie.

"Steve!" Frank's voice was sharp and firm this time. "Callie and I have broken up a long time ago. She was the one who wanted to, and Katie has nothing to do with it. In fact we've broken up even before she came to Bayport."

But Steve would not listen. Glowering at Frank, he curled his trembling hand into a fist and aimed a punch at Frank's jaw.

Instinctively, Frank's hand shot up. He grabbed Steve's arm and wrenched it down as he ducked the blow.

"Stop this nonsense," he shouted at Steve. "You're going to make things worse for yourself here. Just let us go."

"And let you call the police?" Steve snarled.

"I'm trying to save your ass from jail, you idiot!" Frank lashed back. "If I wanted to call the police, I won't be here fighting with you." He couldn't believe this guy. Sure, they had tackled each other in school before, but it had been always on a football field. This was probably the first time they were fighting for real.

As Steve lunged forward again, Frank swung a fist at Steve's jaw, knocking him backwards. Steve staggered but only for a moment. He aimed a sharp kick at Frank, but Frank was ready for him. He caught hold of Steve's leg, and sent him reeling backwards. Desperate to save himself, Steve grabbed hold of Frank's neck, pulling him down onto the floor with him. The boys wrestled with one another on the floor, trying to pin each other down.

Steve was on top of Frank. He aimed a punch at Frank's head. Frank saw the punch coming and jerked his head to one side. Steve cried out in pain as his fist hit the floor instead.

Seizing the opportunity, Frank kicked up his knees and rolled Steve over, pinning him down with all his strength. He was about to give him a blow to knock him out, when someone grabbed his arm from behind. Another arm looped around his neck, pressing against his windpipe.

He did not even have to turn to know who the newcomer was. "Miller," he said through gritted teeth.

Frank tried to wrestle free, but Shane held him strongly. Frank pretended to go limp for an instant.

Then, without a warning, Frank drove his elbow backwards, jabbing it hard against Shane's ribs. Shane gasped in pain, and Frank lounged forward, breaking free from Shane's grasp. Seeing this, Steve pounced on him.

Frank's leg shot up and caught Steve the crotch. Steve gasped in pain and staggered backwards. Frank was about to deliver another blow to send him to the ground, when Shane delivered hard blow to the back on his head. Frank fell onto his knees, almost blacking out. He was fighting hard to keep himself awake, when he felt another blow at the back of his neck.