Chapter 22:

Frank's body tensed at the click of the gun. He was beginning to feel pretty freaked out himself. Here was a friend he had just gotten close to, and she would soon be blown to a gruesome death right next to him. He was beginning to wonder if either of them would get out of this alive.

He knew that he would be the next victim once Shane had gotten rid of Katie. Though Shane probably did not have anything against him before, he sure did now. Frank Hardy was a victim and a primary witness to what would happen in this manor, and there was no way Shane was going to release him.

Of course, his dad and Joe were probably already looking for him. And he had no doubt that John Patrick Ryan was looking for his daughter as well, probably with the help of the entire police force in Bayport too. But even if the entire world came to their aid, there was no way how anyone could get both of them out alive. He might get out of this unhurt if he were lucky, but Katie? At the very least, she would get her head blown off before anyone could get their hands on Shane. No, he had to think of ways to at least get that gun withdrawn from her mouth.

Suddenly, a crash sounded in one of the back rooms, and the gunned captor loosened his grip from his victim's throat, yanking the gun out her mouth in the same abrupt manner that he had shoved it in. Already faint from fear and terror, Katie fell backwards, her head smacking against the wall behind her as her breath came out in huge gasps. Frank's eyes followed cautiously as Shane crossed the room and flung open the door, unaware that he too, was breathing deeply. There were some sounds of scuffle followed by a thud, and then,… silence.

As soon as Shane stepped out of the door, Frank turned his gaze back to the terrified girl beside him. She was shaking uncontrollably, her face dreadfully pale, and her blue eyes were still wide from fear. Seeing that she was too petrified even to cry, he moved his bonded hands slowly behind their backs, in search of hers. As he reached her cold clammy fingers, he gripped them lightly, and gave her hand a slight tug.

-xx-

Just across the hallway in another room, Joe Hardy had slipped up to Steve Taylor without being noticed, and tackled him off guard. He and Callie had gone on slightly separated ways ever since they stepped in from one of the kitchen windows. Joe's sharp ears had caught a slight noise from one of the rooms and had gone to take a look, leaving Callie in the hall outside.

Steve had his back to him when Joe entered noiselessly into the room. He delivered a swift blow to the back of Steve's head, knocking him off the chair he was sitting on and sending him to the ground. That was the crash that was heard. Before the young criminal realized what was happening, Joe hauled the guy up, and delivered another blow to his jaw, knocking him unconscious. Good, there is a key, he observed. Pulling the door shut, he turned the lock and pocketed the key. Steve can sit in there until the police finds him later, he thought silently.

Now, where has Callie gone to? Joe wondered, as he made his way down the hall, still keeping within the dark shadows. He didn't have to wonder long, however, for Callie's shriek suddenly pierced through the darkness, startling him out of his skin. Hurriedly, the blond teen pressed himself back against the wall next to the hall cupboard. The huge piece of furniture shielded him from immediate view. Hell, whatever would have made her scream like that? A mouse? he wondered, a little annoyed. Why, she would startle the entire house next. Joe scowled. Callie had better have good reasons for shrieking out loud like that, or else…

Peering out from where he was standing, he realized that Callie sure had a reason to scream. The girl just couldn't help it, for one thing. She was somewhere down the hall looking around for Joe, when Shane Miller flung open the door and marched right up to her, his teeth gritting in anger. She could swear that the young man's gray eyes were as hard as stone as they bore into her own brown ones. Then grabbing her wrist, the young man hauled her towards the room he had just come out from.

Joe's first thought had been to jump Shane and tackle him, but when he caught sight of the gun waving in Shane's other hand, he quickly held himself back. He waited until Shane had his back to him before stepping out from his hiding place.