Disclaimer: I do not own the Hardy Boys or any of the canon book characters, and am making no monies from this story. Any Original Characters belong to the author(s).

Note: This story was originally co-written with another person, who is not currently available to ask for permission to post it. Therefore it is being posted under one author name. Also, it was written in the late 1990s, so technology is not at a 2017 level. Please pardon that fact.

September Song

By EvergreenDreamweaver

Chapter 13

An hour later, Joe and Frank were coming to the conclusion that no one on campus had noticed anything Megan Wright had done…and that conclusion told them the kidnapping must have taken place shortly after Frank and Megan had parted in the parking lot. No one remembered seeing her at the library, or on the path between the library and the parking lot. She hadn't checked out any books; she hadn't reserved a study carrel. She had simply vanished without a trace.

Other than the dropped chemistry book, there were no clues around Megan's abandoned car. The asphalt surface of the parking lot showed no marks; nothing to indicate whether there had been a struggle of any kind. The car was still locked.

Frank had emerged from his state of shock, and searched and questioned, along with Joe, with his usual thoroughness. But he rarely spoke, other than to ask questions, and his eyes reflected hopelessness and fear and despair.

"Frank, I'm going to go over and get the key to the car from Mrs. Wright," Joe finally announced. "Do you want to come?"

Frank shook his head. "No," he murmured. "I'll stay here – with her car." He leaned against the Accord, staring at the ground. Joe eyed him dubiously a moment, chewing his lip, then sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and went to the van.

##########

They gathered at the Wrights' home: Joe, Frank, Laura, and Megan's mother. Mrs. Wright was white with shock, but was holding up bravely. Laura had made tea, and was sitting beside her on the couch, holding her hand tightly, and encouraging her to remain hopeful that things would work out all right, and that Megan would be returned to her unharmed.

Joe had been pacing restlessly out to the front hall and back, while Frank sat glumly in an armchair. A soft chiming sound echoed through the hall, and they recognized Joe's cell phone's ring.

He flipped it open and snapped "Hello!" then moderated his tone. "Hi, Vanessa… no, nothing….yeah, pretty bad….you what? Are you crazy—huh? He did? Are you sure who he was talking to?….And he said he didn't – okay, okay, I believe you!….I think you'd better get out of there before he gets suspicious…right, okay. We're at Megan's house. Yeah – bye."

The three listeners exchanged confused glances as Joe walked in from the hall. "That was Vanessa," he said unnecessarily. "She's been tracking after Dr. Waring all afternoon and evening at the hospital – and it seems she's managed to overhear a very strange-sounding telephone conversation. I didn't ask her how she did it; I was afraid to!" He paused, smiling grimly. "Apparently he received an extremely irate call from Ted Crowley. Mr. Crowley has become the recipient of an unwanted present, thanks to the efforts of some of his hired thugs, who made an unscheduled and un-approved attempt to get the video tape they've been after." He grinned suddenly. "Vanessa's getting awfully good at this – I hope she doesn't decide to turn to a life of crime, or run off to join the FBI, or something."

Frank had listened dully at first, but now his eyes were starting to glow with awakened hope. "Crowley didn't order her kidnapped?"

"Apparently not," Joe replied. "He's furious at his thugs – and frightened, now. The man who doesn't hesitate to murder apparently didn't want kidnapping added to the charges mounting against him."

"Do you suppose he'll let her go?" Mrs. Wright asked hopefully.

Joe shrugged. "No idea. But he probably won't hurt her – and that's a plus."

"We'll have to go through with the exchange, then?"

"Probably," Frank admitted. "Unless we hear something more from them."

"I wish we could contact the police!" Laura exclaimed.

"We can't take the chance of them hurting Megan," Joe reminded her gently. "Mrs. Wright, do you suppose you could lie down and rest for a while? It's getting late…."

"I don't see how I could possibly sleep," she answered.

Laura hugged her gently. "Joe's right, though. Come along, just come lie down and rest your eyes for a bit." She urged the other woman to her feet and escorted her out of the room.

Left alone, the boys exchanged glances. "Do you think he'll go through with the exchange?" Frank asked, very low.

"He's got to," Joe replied. "He knows we have incriminating evidence on that tape, and he's getting desperate. He wants it back. If he doesn't play the exchange straight, he knows he's toast."

"That means we have to wait until tomorrow night before we can do anything!" Frank groaned. "And in the meantime he has Megan prisoner."

Joe glanced at his watch. "Tomorrow is already today," he noted, "and we have plans to make for that exchange." He stared thoughtfully at his brother. "He'll expect both of us to be there….I wonder…how much do you think Tony could manage to look like you?"

##########

As soon as it was a decent hour the next morning, Joe called Tony Prito. He explained the situation, and as he had expected, Tony was ready, willing and eager to help; he agreed to come to the Hardys' immediately following his classes.

Frank hadn't slept at all. He and Joe had gone home for a few hours, and Joe had sacked out on top of his bed, but Frank had been unable to relax enough to drift off. He kept imagining Megan – frightened…perhaps tied up…perhaps gagged…perhaps mistreated, physically abused by Crowley's hirelings. The vivid images kept flashing in front of his eyes, and prevented any chance of rest. When daylight arrived, he splashed cold water on his face and changed into fresh clothing, then made his way downstairs, where he sat at the kitchen table and continued brooding.

Megan…why didn't I stay with you?…why didn't I insist you go home, instead of staying on campus?…You didn't deserve this….

Joe came stumbling down a few minutes later. He stared searchingly at Frank's drawn face. "You didn't get any sleep, did you?"

"What do you think?" Frank answered. "I kept seeing Megan a prisoner—"

"Frank, we'll get her back. You've got to believe that." Joe gripped his brother's shoulder tightly. "This isn't like you – you're letting yourself be tied up in knots."

"I know…"

"Do you have classes today?" Joe headed for the refrigerator and got out the orange juice. "Want some?" He held up the container questioningly.

Frank's stomach contracted at the thought of trying to eat or drink anything. "No thanks. I have a noon class, yeah." Shakespeare…Megan said she liked Shakespeare… "I like the comedies best…but every girl loves 'Romeo and Juliet.' " But Juliet died…. "Huh? Did you say something?"

"I said," Joe repeated patiently, "do you want me to cut school and stick around with you?"

"No – no, of course not. You need to go to school." Frank gave himself a mental kick. "Have you heard anything more from Vanessa?"

"She said Dr. Waring left the hospital shortly after she called me. He's supposed to be on duty today at three o'clock, and she's going to try and watch him again."

"I hope she doesn't get caught – or in trouble with whoever her boss is," Frank observed.

"At this point, I'm not sure she'd care," Joe said sagely. "It's becoming a personal agenda."

She's not the only one, Frank thought. Aloud he said, "She and Megan really seemed to get along—" He stopped abruptly as his voice cracked on the final words.

"Hey." Joe stared across the table at his miserable older brother. The usual mischievous glint in his eyes was totally missing now. "She and Megan do get along, and they will continue to get along, after all this is over. Right? Right?"

Frank summoned a wan smile. "Right."