Lance Mc Intyre came running out of the stable when he heard Joe ‘Fredricks’ yelling his brother’s name. By the time he reached them, Frank was visibly shaken and Joe was looking on in concern.

"Are you boys alright?" Mc Intyre asked, peering into Frank’s brown eyes, then Joe’s blue ones. "I heard someone yellin’."

"I lost my balance and almost fell off the roof," Frank offered, signing to Joe as he spoke. He didn’t say anything to Mc Intyre about being kicked in the chest. "I was real lucky. Joe was on his break and had just come around the corner when I started to fall."

"So Joe was here to break your fall?" the foreman asked, gazing at Joe.

"No," replied Frank, "My hammer caught on the gutter. Joe just helped me down."

"Are you alright now?" Lance questioned, casting a glance at the rain gutter, now bent out of shape.

"My shoulder’s bound to be sore for a while, but otherwise, I’m fine," Frank replied with a slight smile. Lance eyed them both for a second, then returned Frank’s smile.

"I’m glad you’re both okay," Mc Intyre said, "Frank, maybe you’d better stay off the roof the rest of the day. There are other jobs to do. In fact, I’ll go up and gather your tools."

He then turned to Joe, "I suggest you head back inside, Joe. Randy’s prob’ly wonderin’ where you’ve disappeared." Joe smiled in agreement and headed back in the stable to finish his work, glancing at Frank one last time before turning the corner. Frank gave his brother a quick wink, letting Joe know he was okay.

Mc Intyre came off the roof with Frank’s tools. "Put these things in the tool shed, then take the tractor out to the north field. It needs mowed before the balloonists get here this afternoon."

"Balloonists?" Frank questioned.

"I forgot," Mc Intyre chuckled, "You’re new. We play host to the Colorado Hot Air Balloon convention every year.

"Wow!" Frank exclaimed, "That’s cool! Joe and I got to ride in a hot air balloon once. It was incredible!"

"Yeah," the foreman stated, "That’s why I got into it. There’s nothing like it."

"You’re one of the balloonists?" Frank asked.

"Oh yeah," Mc Intyre smiled, "In fact, maybe I can take you and Joe up sometime."

"Thanks Mr. Mc Intyre," Frank grinned, "I’d love that and I’m sure Joe will too! I’ll get this stuff put away and get out to that field right now!"

Lance Mc Intyre watched the dark-haired youth jog towards the shed. ‘Yes,’ he thought to himself, ‘Up in a hot air balloon might be the perfect place to corner one or both of these Fredricks boys and find out what they’re up to here.’

* * *

Morning light found Cindy Kai sore and very thirsty. She had managed to untie her ankles but her wrists were chafed from the bindings still secure around them.

She shifted her weight and pressed against the wall, pushing herself into a standing position. She started to move toward the door when she heard a vehicle approaching. Cindy ran to the small window and began calling out for help.

A truck stopped just to the side of Cindy’s private prison, and a man with a bandana over most of his face walked up to the door. He pulled out a small pistol and pointed it at Cindy.

"Move back against the wall," the man ordered. Cindy recognized Ryan Wagner’s voice, but didn’t show it outwardly. She glanced at the pistol and obeyed her captor, her heart hammering in her chest.

"Turn around. I’m gonna cut your hands loose," Ryan said, "If you try anythin’ I’ll shoot you."

Cindy did as she was told, praying that Ryan wasn’t planning to shoot her in the back. Once her hands were free, Cindy wiggled her fingers, but didn’t turn around until she heard the door shut again. There was a jug of water, a box of crackers and a package of beef jerky on the dirt floor.

"You’ll want to make those last," came Ryan’s voice through the door window, "It’s all you’re gonna get and I won’t be back here again."

She heard the truck door squeal as it was opened. "Oh by the way," Ryan said before getting into his truck, "your nosey brother’s in the hospital. Pretty nasty business. Almost cut his foot clean off!" Ryan laughed and started the truck.

Cindy listened to it drive away and she sank to the floor, weeping. She was very afraid that her prison would also be her tomb.

* * *

"Frank Fredricks almost fell off the roof today," Mc Intyre said into his cell-phone, "You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you Downing?"

"No," Deputy Stu Downing, "I didn’t have nothin’ to do with that!"

"That worries me a bit," Lance replied, "Maybe our friend Ryan is turning into a loose canon."

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.