Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the book characters.
Thank you: Wendylouwho10 who read over the story for me and made content suggestions, helped with the flow, and provided some spelling/grammar corrections. Typos are mine and I discover them all the time. :-)
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is blue spine-ish and AU. Timeline: Taken; Recovery; Retribution; Wild Pitch; and now this story. While you don't NEED to read the previous stories, things will be referenced and perhaps even some from my younger Hardys stories.
Chapter Ten
Joe was correct about getting the job. He had a call on his cell phone that night telling him to report to work the next day. Joe worked at the construction site that day and the next while Vanessa drove around checking things out, including the coffee shop that would be their contact spot with ORT. While at the coffee shop Saturday, Agent Johnson sent her a verbal message via another agent working there. The message said that a fighter would be taken out that night and if all went well, Joe would get moved to the fight group before Tuesday night's fights. Vanessa was on pins and needles when she left. Three nights at the Osprey was enough. Hopefully, Johnson was right and they'd be moving to a better location and could complete their mission quickly.
.**********.
Frank stood to the side of the ring that was enclosed in chain link fence. Sweat dripped from his nose as he shifted from one foot to the other as the man on the mat cried in pain and the small assembled crowd watched in fascination as the medic on duty straightened the man's arm popping his shoulder and elbow back into place. The man's cries stopped as he passed out from the pain. Frank's face was blank as he watched the referee come over to him and raise his hand indicating that he was the winner.
"You didn't have to dislocate his arm, David," the official said. "Sean would have tapped."
Frank shrugged as the ref let his arm drop. He looked to where some of the staff were loading Sean onto a stretcher. "It just happened too fast. I didn't realize that I was putting that much pressure on."
The ref snorted. "You've been here a month and I've never seen you lose control of a move. Try not to do it again. You know the bosses don't like having to find replacements."
Frank walked toward the exit, "I'll try, but I do have a reputation to maintain." A cocky smile was on his face as he went down the steps. Hands clapped him on the back as he went toward the exit. His fight was the last of the night. David Winder had been the main event from his third night of fights to now and this would keep that going as well as make room for an agent to come in to replace Sean. Grabbing a towel in the hallway, he headed toward the locker room to shower and change. Shortly after the fighters from the night would be loaded into a couple of vans and taken back to the housing area. He had done what he was supposed to. An opening was made. Hopefully, whoever ORT had picked out to come in would be able to handle the fights. But that wasn't his job to determine. That was ORT's.
.**********.
It was Sunday afternoon and Joe was on his cell phone with Lincoln.
"You want me to come to the office?" Joe asked.
"Yes. If you remember, I told you there might be other jobs available with Zendel's that you might be interested in. One of those jobs has just opened up. I'd like you to come in to discuss it." Lincoln's tone was friendly.
"I guess that's okay. Is the pay better than what I have now?" Joe asked curiously.
"Why don't you just come in, Jake. There is a test you need to take before we can offer you the job. If you qualify, then we can discuss benefits."
Joe paused for a moment. "I'm not the best at tests. Maybe I should just-"
"You might be surprised by this test. Come on in so we can discuss it."
"Okay. What time?" Joe asked.
"In an hour. Wear shorts and a t-shirt and have your girlfriend drop you off. This might take a little time and I don't want her to have to wait in the car that long."
"Okay. See you in an hour." Joe hung up the phone and looked to Vanessa. "That's it. I think I'm in if I can show them I know what I'm doing."
.**********.
An hour later, Joe sat in one of the plastic waiting chairs at the Zendel's construction office; his right leg bouncing up and down to an unsteady rhythm. Lincoln was there but he said they were waiting on another man, Ethan Carstairs. Joe's leg stopped bouncing as he heard a car pull up and cut off outside the office. Lincoln got up and motioned toward the door.
"This way, Jake."
Joe stood up but looked wary. He knew what was going on, but Jake Petrov wouldn't know these things. "I don't understand. Where are we going?" Joe added a nervous edge to the question.
Lincoln laughed. "Don't worry. It's not some back alley. Come on outside and let me introduce you to Mr. Carstairs."
Joe hesitated and then exited the building. He heard Lincoln locking the building but he had his eyes on the man leaning against the car. He prayed to God that he wouldn't have to prove his worth against this man.
"Jake, I'd like to introduce you to Ethan Carstairs. Mr. Carstairs, this is Jake Petrov. He just started working here a couple of days ago."
Carstairs put his hand out and Joe shook it. He was still getting over the impressive size of the man. Carstairs stood about 6'6" and looked to weigh at least 250.
Carstairs looked Joe over and said, "Let's make this simple. I'm in need of a fighter and Lincoln here thinks you might be interested. Are you?"
Joe knew his eyes lit up at the question. He looked from Carstairs to Lincoln and back. "Yeah, I am."
"This is all unofficial. It's not something you can share or brag about outside of the group you'd be a part of."
Nodding carefully, Joe said, "Lincoln said the pay would be better than what I have now."
"It would be, but before we start discussing things like that. I need to make sure you can hang with the fighters I already have. To do that I need to see you fight. If you wouldn't mind, get in the back. Lincoln and I will take you to a gym where you can show me what you've got."
Joe had already begun walking to the back passenger door when he stopped and shot Carstairs a look. "Will I be going against you?"
A booming laugh sounded from the large man. "No. I have someone about your height and weight waiting. I'll be watching and evaluating."
Joe nodded and got into the back of the vehicle. He couldn't help the butterflies that were in his stomach. What if it were Frank that he'd be sparring against? Would it throw his brother off? Would they ruin their covers? He wished he had thought this portion through a little more.
It only took about fifteen minutes to get to the gym. "Zendel's Fitness Center and Gym," Joe read aloud as he stepped out of the vehicle. "Same company?" he asked.
"Yes. Zendel's has a number of diversified companies under its umbrella," Carstairs easily replied as he hit the key remote and a familiar 'beep beep' sounded behind them as the vehicle locked. "Come this way." Carstairs went in through the front door and turned to the right.
Joe looked around. There were a number of people using the exercise equipment that took up the center of the building. Obviously, that is what most people came for and what a large portion of floor space was dedicated to. Looking ahead of him, Joe could already see two boxing rings and two of the MMA style rings that most people saw on television. Around the edge of the area were mats, weights, and punching bags. There was only one person in this section and Joe breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it wasn't Frank.
Stopping outside the ring, Carstairs turned to look at Joe. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to. You can still have your construction job."
Joe was surprised the guy was giving him an out, but he was here for a job and that meant he needed to win this fight. "I need the money." Joe shrugged and added, "Plus, this is something I'm good at. I want to do this."
"Okay then," Carstairs said. "The guy in the ring is Matt. He's a trainer here at the gym. He's decent at MMA but not the same level of the guys you'd be fighting. You'll spar with him after you warm up. No hits below the belt. No eye gouging. No biting."
In other words, I need to beat him or I probably can't beat any of the guys in the fight ring, Joe thought to himself. Great, no pressure. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. "Headgear? Gloves?"
"No. In the fights you'll wear standard fight gear."
Joe nodded as he sat down to take off his shoes and socks. He took about ten minutes to warm up. Knowing that he might get a call for this, he had already warmed up some at the hotel. "I'm good," he said to Carstairs and Lincoln, who was standing with the taller man.
Carstairs nodded and Joe went up the steps and into ring. He closed the door behind him. Turning to face his opponent, he gave a slight bow and dropped into his fighting stance. Boy would mom be angry about this, Joe thought to himself. But those thoughts left as Matt came at him with a series of kicks and punches that Joe had to block.
Joe then danced back out of range while Matt looked for a weak spot. Stepping in, Joe landed a couple of punches to Matt's body before he backed out of range, but Joe didn't stop but pressed forward and landed a blow to Matt's chin. Joe saw his opportunity to take Matt down and he did but Matt recovered quickly and Joe found himself in Matt's guard. After taking a punch to the face, Joe felt himself propelled forward by Matt's legs that were wrapped around him. Joe braced himself with an arm on the mat when the felt the other man's weight shift. It was almost too late when Joe realized Matt was going for a Kimura, which would cause him to tap out or have a joint dislocated. Joe quickly straightened his arm and pulled it out before Matt could lock the hold in place. Rolling free, Joe was on his feet before Matt could stand. Joe circled the man who was on the floor on his back. There was no timer, no buzzer to save Matt. Joe eyed Matt's legs which he had up in the air in a defensive poise, making sure that Joe just didn't drop down on him again.
Joe backed up allowing Matt to stand. But just as Matt was getting to his feet, Joe rushed him and picked him up and slammed him to the mat. Now Joe was in side control on Matt's right side with his upper body laying perpendicular on Matt's. He quickly moved his right arm across to press down on Matt's left' bicep while putting his left hand under Matt's left elbow which was under Joe's body. Joe quickly pressed up and put his right shin across Matt's ribs while grabbing Matt's left wrist tightly in both hands as he moved his left leg across Matt's neck. Keeping his knees close together, Joe's right foot was now tucked under Matt's ribs while his left foot was on the floor on the far side of Matt's head. Leaning back Joe straightened Matt's arm forcing his elbow to bend unnaturally in what is known as an arm bar. Matt's free hand tapped on the mat as he said "tap!" loudly.
Joe released him and moved to his knees, his breathing slightly heavy. He looked to Carstairs and said, "Enough?"
"It's looking promising," Carstairs said. "But I think you should do another round."
Joe saw the pair off to the side whispering as he and Matt once again circled each other. Matt was good, but he wasn't one of the underground fighters and he was nowhere near the caliber of Agent Overman or Frank. Joe smiled a little as Matt did a couple of leg kicks. He smiled because he realized how good his mother actually was now. Tired of the grappling and kicks, Joe went to his natural strength – his striking game. Soon he had Matt back peddling and then with a powerful uppercut, Joe found the weak point on Matt's jaw that sent the other man to the floor. Joe stood for a moment overtop of the downed man. Turning to look at Carstairs he joked, "I hope that's enough because I don't think he can go another round."
Carstairs smiled at Joe and said, "That's enough, Jake. Lincoln will help Matt. Let's go to the office here and discuss your wages and benefits.
Without a backwards glance to the downed man, Joe climbed out of the ring, grabbed his clothing and followed Carstairs. His heart was beating unnaturally fast but it wasn't from the exercise or the adrenaline of defeating an opponent. No, his heart rate was up because he had completed the first part of his mission: get a spot on the fight team. Now to get Vanessa and complete the mission with his brother.
