"Where are you going?" Frank asked Joe as he started out of the house the next morning.

"Mom asked me to go pick up some stuff at the grocery store," Joe told him. "I guess you are on your way to Phil's?"

"Yeah," Frank said. "I'll be home in time for lunch," he added, climbing in the van and taking off.

Joe got in his dad's car and drove down to the grocery store. "Hey!" shouted an all too familiar voice.

Joe turned around, smiling. "Hey, yourself," Joe said to the brunette. "What are you doing here?"

"I came with mom to do the weekly grocery shopping," Iola told Joe. "The way Chet eats, it always takes two carts."

"Mom asked me to pick up some items we were low on," Joe told her. "Want to get together later?" he asked. "Say, after lunch? We could catch the matinee at the Chalet."

"Great idea!" she said. "Just the two of us?" she asked, causing Joe to blush.

Joe shrugged. "Maybe Frank, Callie, and Chet and might want to come along," he suggested.

"I'll ask Chet," she said, leaving to join her mother who was motioning for her to come on. Joe grinned as he watched her walk away and finished his shopping.

Frank came to a stop in front of the Cohen's house and got out of the van. He noticed that the wooden door was wide open. He knocked on the screen door and waited.

"Come on in, it's open," Phil called.

Frank entered the Cohen home and walked toward the living room. His eyes widened in astonishment as he saw Phil sitting bound to a chair. Suddenly, Frank heard the sound of a door slamming behind him. He wheeled around and saw a grinning Lewis pointing a gun at him.

"I thought you were dead," Frank whispered, all color draining from his face.

"That is what I wanted you to believe," Lewis informed him. "Now, won't you have a seat?" he instructed, waving the gun toward an empty chair.

"I'm so sorry, Frank," Phil said. "He grabbed me last night."

"It's okay," Frank told him. "We'll get through this, buddy."

"Oh, yeah, Phil will be fine--but only if you do exactly as I say. I really have no interest in hurting your little friend. In fact, I'd be much obliged to him if he tells the world about the final living moments of Frank Hardy!"

Frank sat down and allowed Lewis to tie him tightly to the chair. Next, he put a gag in Phil's mouth and then turned to devote his full attention to Frank.

Lewis tucked the gun into his pants and pulled out a knife. He ran the blade along Frank's neck. "You are going to die," Lewis told Frank. "But not until your brother gets here," he added.

"He won't come," Frank told him.

"Oh, but he will," assured Lewis. "When lunch time comes and goes, he'll call to find out when you are coming home. Then, he will come."

"With the cops," Frank added.

Lewis gave a deep, hearty laugh. "Silly boy," Lewis told him. "Can it be I know your brother better than you do?" he asked in merriment. "When he finds out I have you, he will do anything to save you. Even sacrifice himself," Lewis ended, gagging Frank as well. Frank glared at Lewis in hatred and fear because he knew, without a doubt, Lewis was right.

"Honey, your father and I are going to see Mrs. Winebarger down the street," Laura told Joe after she had set a plate of sandwiches on the table.

"Okay," Joe said, smiling at his mom. "Frank should be home anytime now," he told her. "We may take in the matinee."

"That's fine, dear," Laura said, kissing the top of his head as he reached over and picked up a sandwich. "Have fun," she added, leaving the kitchen and meeting up with Fenton at the front door.

Joe ate two sandwiches and glanced at his watch. It was almost one. Where was Frank? Joe shook his head. Frank and Phil had probably gotten all wrapped up in what they were doing and forgotten about the time. He guessed he had better call to get Frank home. Chet and Iola would be there soon.

He had almost reached the phone when it rang. "Hello?" Joe said, expecting to hear Frank's voice on the other end.

"Is Fenton Hardy there?" asked a deep voice.

"My father isn't home," Joe replied. "May I take a message?"

"This is Officer Miller with the Oxford Police Department. We wanted to inform your father that Lewis is still in the area."

"Wh...what?" Joe demanded in disbelief. "Officer Feldmire told us he was dead."

"Feldmire was found in his apartment this morning. Lewis murdered him," was the horrific reply Joe received.

"I'm sorry," Joe said, his face completely devoid of all color. "Thank you for letting us know."

Joe quickly hung up and punched in the number for Phil's house. He had to tell Frank.

"Hello?" answered the voice on the other end.

"Mr. Cohen, I need to speak to Frank," Joe said in a rush.

"Mr. Cohen isn't here. Will I do?" Lewis said with a little laugh.

"Lewis," Joe said, gripping the phone tightly, his body racked in fear.

"I have your brother and your little friend," Lewis told Joe. "But it is you I want. Be here in ten minutes, just you, or they die."

Joe heard the phone click and he held up his arm and glanced at his watch. He dropped the receiver onto the hook and took off running. "Joe!" a voice halted him as he opened the front door and prepared to leave.

"Biff!" Joe exclaimed. "Oh. . .um. . .listen, I gotta go, something just came up!"

"Whoa, wait a minute!" Biff grabbed his friend's arm tightly. "You're as white as a ghost! What's going on?"

"Nothing, really!"

"Hardy, you're the world's worst liar! You just got out of the hospital. You don't look like you can make it down to the end of the block! You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's up! Now spill it!"

Joe gazed at Biff's intense frown and knew he was licked. He took a deep breath. "I just called Phil's house. Lewis is holding Frank and Phil prisoner. He said if I'm not there in ten minutes without the police, he'll kill them!"

"Lewis!" Biff's jaw dropped. "He never gives up! But you can't just go over there, Joe! He'll kill you and then he'll kill the other guys, too!"