Finally, a clear path opened ahead, and Dani gave a cry as she saw a figure lying beside the structure. "Jack, look! Someone’s at the bottom of the tower!"

"I see…" came the grim, panting reply.

They pounded up to the tower, and Dani let out another shout.

"It’s Frank – and he’s been tied here!"

Jack had his knife out of his pocket in an instant, and slashed the laces which bound the elder Hardy, who was struggling futilely to free himself. "Frank! You okay? What happened, buddy?"

"Jack! Dani!" Frank clutched at Jack’s arm. "It’s Megan! I think she’s up on the tower! She followed Kirk up there – and I couldn’t climb it…" Desperate frustration colored Frank’s voice. "K-Kirk knocked me off the ladder…I think he started a fire…." Frank struggled to stand. "We’ve got to get up there!"

Dani restrained him gently. "We’ll go, Frankenstein. You stay here; you’re in no shape to try and climb up there. We’ll get her, don’t worry." She sprang upright. "Come on, flyboy!"

Leaving Frank at the bottom of the ladder, shaken and distraught, Jack and Dani ascended the rungs as rapidly as they could, with Dani in the lead. As she scrambled out onto the carillon’s platform beneath the cascade of bells, Dani was suddenly enveloped in a thick cloud of choking white smoke! Frank was right about the fire! Coughing, she pulled her shirt tail across her face, and called down to Jack, "If you’ve got a handkerchief, cover your nose and mouth – we’ve got a fire here!" She yanked her two-way radio from her belt, and punched buttons. "This is Tanner, Squad 45 – there’s another fire at the Bayport Community College – bell tower. Possible injuries….right!"

Now Jack was beside her. "Where’s Megan?" he gasped, between coughs, trying to peer through the billows of smoke. "Do you see her anywhere?"

Dani shook her head. "Stay here and guide me back," she instructed him, and crouched down in the undulating mass of smoke, crawling across the platform. "Keep talking to me, Jack," she tossed back over her shoulder.

Jack duly kept talking, repeating phrases again and again between bouts of coughing. "I’m here, Dani….This way to the exit….I’m over here….Dani, you can hear me, can’t you?" He could hear her calling Megan’s name in a breathless, choked voice, moving about on the platform. There were flames visible in the smoke now, licking hungrily at the wooden tower.

And then Dani let out a cry: "I’ve found her – my God, she’s tied up! That creep tied and gagged her!"

"Do you need help?" .

"No, just keep yelling to guide me," she returned hoarsely.

Jack increased the volume of his shouts, guiding her back, and in a few moments, Dani reappeared through the smoke, crouched low and dragging a limp form after her.

"She’s alive?" Jack queried fearfully.

"Yes, but totally unconscious. Quick, let’s get her out of this smoke," Dani commanded, tugging Megan to the ladder. "Go down ahead of me; this is what I’m trained for, remember? And hurry, the fire’s starting to take hold fast!"

The two worked their way down the ladder, Dani holding Megan across one shoulder, Jack staying just below them, ready to catch her if necessary. There was no time for Jack to ask if the girl was hurt as well as stunned by smoke, all of his concentration was focused on getting down, rung by rung. In the far distance, sirens wailed, drawing ever nearer. Finally, Jack felt his feet hit concrete, and then a hand – Frank’s – seized him.

"Is she alive? Is she hurt?" Frank demanded, his voice just this side of hysteria. "Jack, tell me she’s all right!"

"Hang on, Frank – Dani, I’m down, let me take her." Carefully, Jack gathered Megan into his arms and walked out of the tower’s shadow, onto the grass. Very gently, he laid her down, then again pulled his knife out.

"She’s – oh my God, he TIED her? He TIED HER THERE?" Frank threw himself down beside Megan, tears in his eyes. Dani gently pulled him aside, and leaned over Megan, removing the gag, checking her breathing. Jack sliced through the long shoelaces which bound her.

"She’s alive, Frankenstein, and I don’t think she’s injured," Dani murmured, "but she took in a lot of smoke – enough to knock her out, evidently. She needs oxygen." She raised her head and listened. "There are the fire crews," she said, and her words were abruptly drowned out by the sirens’ shrieks. In what seemed like mere seconds, the trucks roared up, and firefighters spilled out and swung into action. "Ellie! Paul! We’re got a smoke inhalation victim here!"

Frank stood back unwillingly, Jack’s arm securely about his shoulders, watching as the paramedics strapped an oxygen mask over Megan’s face. "Her nose! She has a broken nose!" he suddenly cried, remembering, and watched with grateful appreciation as they carefully adjusted the mask so as to relieve any pressure. The medics continued to examine Megan; once they seemed assured that she was relatively uninjured, they lifted her to a stretcher, preparing to move her to the waiting ambulance.

"She’s doing fine." The reassuring words poured over Frank’s anguished soul like warm, soothing honey. He sagged against Jack, exhaling a deep sigh of relief as the medic continued: "She’s breathing okay, and all her vitals are good. We’re going to transport, but there’s no great rush. We’d really like her to wake up, though…." He smiled at Frank. "Talk to her?" he suggested.

Frank pulled away from Jack’s encircling arm, and knelt beside the stretcher. He gazed down at Megan’s pale face with mingled love and trepidation. "Megan? Baby?"

"Megan sweetie, wake up." Dani was there, squatting beside him, speaking in her low, rich voice. "Come on sweetie, open your eyes."

As Frank watched, he saw those incredible eyelashes flutter and lift…flutter and lift…flutter and…slowly lift once more and stay lifted. Megan looked upwards, but her gaze was blank; she didn’t seem to realize he was there.

"Megan?" Dani again.

"Baby?" Frank barely whispered the word.

With anguished slowness, the blue-green eyes tracked, following the voices. She blinked again, and focused on Frank’s face. Her lips moved, forming a single syllable. "Frank?"

"I’m here, baby." He took her hand in his good one. "I’m here. How do you feel?"

She shifted her gaze minutely, then squeezed her eyes shut. "My eyes hurt," she murmured fretfully, and coughed. "And my throat, too." She raised a questioning hand to her face. "What’s on…my face?"

"Leave it, honey," Dani advised. "It’s for oxygen; you need it right now. And your eyes and throat hurt because of the smoke.".

But Megan pushed petulantly at the mask. "Want to…talk." Her eyelids lifted again. "Dani….you got here." Megan tried to smile. "I…feel like…I’m in a bad movie sequel. Been here – done this…." She gazed up at Frank. "Last time…it was you got knocked out."

Jack leaned over Dani’s shoulder. "Hey, sweetie, how ya doin’?"

"Okay – I guess." A little more aware of her surroundings now, Megan’s eyes fastened on the billowing smoke above them. Fear suddenly clouded her face. "Kirk – he tried to smother…said he was sorry to kill me, but I wasn’t going…to stop him…" Abruptly, she sought Frank’s face again. "Oh, Frank—" She was shaking now, and tears filled her eyes.

Frank was so furiously appalled at what Kirk Moncrief had done to Megan, he couldn’t speak for a moment, but he managed to stroke her hair gently in a gesture of comfort. Finally he controlled his voice: "S’okay, Baby, you’re safe now. It’s okay."

"I’m…sorry," she whispered huskily, and coughed. "I really thought I could stop him…."

"You were one very brave and very foolish girl," Dani scolded with mock-severity. "You never should have gone up there with him!"

"Know that…now. But I thought I could….Sorry – just caused…trouble." The tears spilled, and Dani, immediately contrite, hastened to blot them from Megan’s cheeks.

"No, sweetie, no way," the older girl murmured. "Frank, don’t glare at me like that!"

"You’re making her feel bad!" he accused, scowling.

Megan opened her eyes and essayed a watery smile. "Don’t yell at her," she whispered. "She’s right. It wasn’t very smart…."

"Megan, listen," Dani said gently. "You didn’t stop him, but you sure-enough slowed him down, and you alerted us. That tower’s not going to burn – thanks to you." She glanced upward. "They’ve already got the fire out, I think." Smiling down at Megan, she added, "Now – put that oxygen mask back on!"

A flurry of footsteps came out of the dusk, and Joe and Dave Wahlstrom thundered up, panting.

"What happened?" Joe demanded, looking around wildly at the tumultuous scene: firefighters, medics, Megan on a stretcher, Frank looking ghastly; Jack Wayne and Dani Tanner hovering with concern.

"Kirk Moncrief," Frank snapped. "He tried to suffocate Megan, tied her up on the tower and then set it on fire."

"WHAT?" Outrage and anxiety nearly choked the younger Hardy. He swiftly dropped down beside Megan’s stretcher. "Red – you doing okay?" he whispered.

She looked up at him and smiled a little through the oxygen mask. "Hi, Joe…"

"Answer me," he said insistently, "are you all right?"

She nodded, then suddenly pulled off the mask again, and gripped his arm. "Joe – your car – Kirk’s the one who shot at you!"

"What?"

"And – he’s the one who cut the brake line on President Mitchell’s car…"

"HE caused your accident?" Joe felt his blood pressure rising.

"Didn’t know it would happen to me…" she whispered, with a small laugh. "It was meant to hurt his uncle…."

"All right, that does it," Joe growled, and stood up. "I’m going after him, and I’m going to find him. Dave? You coming?"

Wahlstrom nodded. "Let’s try the parking lot; he probably headed for his car," he suggested. The two spun and darted away.

"Ready to transport," one of the paramedics said then.

"I’m going with her," Frank announced, gripping Megan’s hand tightly. He stood, as the medics raised the stretcher onto its wheels. But Megan squeezed his hand hard, shaking her head in negation.

"No – Frank, no! You can’t do me any good at the hospital." She smiled wryly. "I’ll just call my mom – again. I want you to go after Joe and Dave. Maybe you can help find Kirk." The pallid smile changed to a dark scowl, and she coughed again. "I want him caught and punished."

"We’ll follow her there, Frankenstein," Dani offered. "You don’t have to worry about her being alone."

"Baby…you’re sure?" Frank hesitated, torn. He desperately wanted to be with Megan – but there was an urgent need to capture Kirk Moncrief too, and administer justice.

"I’m sure. Now go. Hurry. I’ll see you later."

Frank kissed her quickly, and released her hand. But as he started away, Megan said one more thing:

"…and Frank – if you catch him…do something for me, would you?"

He turned back momentarily, smiling. "Baby, if – no, when – I catch him…I’ve got a punch in the nose to deliver to Kirk Moncrief – just for you!"

*****

"There’s Kirk’s car," Dave hissed, pointing at the dusty blue Focus, and dropping to a walk, as he and Joe reached the parking lots.

"I’m surprised it’s still here," Joe muttered.

"What do we do now?" Dave asked. "Where do you suppose he went, if he’s not using his car?"

Joe shook his head dubiously. "Let’s wait a few more minutes," he suggested. "Over there, under the trees." He led the way to the closest side of the parking lot, where a couple of maple trees offered concealment. Dave followed, and the two melted into the shadows.

They were just beginning to wonder if their vigil was in vain, when Dave grabbed Joe’s arm and pointed. Kirk Moncrief was hurrying through the parking lot, heading towards his car. A brown backpack was slung over one shoulder, and he was muttering softly to himself.

Joe stepped into the open. "MONCRIEF!" he bellowed.

Kirk whirled, took one look, and dropped his backpack to the asphalt. He turned again, and tore out of the parking lot at a dead run.

Without a word, two of the best runners ever to graduate from Bayport High took off in pursuit. Joe’s aches and pains from football practice were forgotten in the heat of the chase. Dave outstripped him quickly, but Joe knew that his staying power was greater; Dave would have to slow down and rest, after a bit. But for now, he was putting the pressure on Kirk Moncrief very nicely!

Kirk, however, was no slouch as a runner, for all he was short and stocky. Perhaps it was desperation. However, Joe and Dave could see him making the classic mistake of looking back at his pursuers, and it was slowing him down. Kirk was also attempting to lose them by cutting back and forth across the grass. But with two of them chasing him, the maneuver wasn’t too effective. Joe grinned maliciously. We’ll catch him soon! he thought exultantly.

And just on cue, as the thought crossed his mind, Joe saw Kirk Moncrief look back again, trip, and fall forward to the ground. He didn’t stay down, however; he jumped to his feet and whirled around. Desperate to the last, he held his clenched fists at the ready, waiting for Joe and Dave to reach him.

Joe leaped forward. "Give it up, Kirk!" he snapped, in a no-nonsense voice. This kid can’t be serious! I can take him down with one hand tied behind me! But Kirk was evidently quite serious. As Joe neared him, the other boy took a swing at him, wild but forceful. Joe ducked to one side, evading the blow with ease. Dave, coming from the other side, grabbed at Kirk’s arm, but Kirk shook him off, and lunged at Joe, tackling him to the ground!

Surprised, Joe grunted at the impact. He kneed Kirk in the stomach, but the blow lacked force. Kirk rolled off, rubbing his stomach, but before Joe could grab him, Kirk had rolled again, evading both Joe’s clutches and Dave’s. He kept rolling, and then stopped, snatching something from the ground. He scrambled to his feet, panting, and swung again.

"LOOK OUT, DAVE!" Joe yelled, for he had glimpsed what Kirk was clutching. But Dave, unused to this sort of hand-to-hand combat, reacted too slowly – and the large rock Kirk held collided solidly with his head. Dave crumpled to the ground, either dazed or unconscious, Joe wasn’t sure which, and didn’t have time to check! He barely ducked in time to keep from being beaned by the rock himself!

"Kirk, give it up!" he yelled. "Let it go! You’re beat, don’t you realize that? There are plenty of witnesses who know you’re the one behind the fires! The police aren’t going to let it rest!"

"No one is going to catch me, and no one is going to stop me!" Moncrief howled, with another frantic swing at Joe’s head. Joe jumped back, out of reach – or so he thought! Surprisingly, Kirk lashed out with one foot, caught the younger Hardy in the shin, and knocked his legs out from under him. Joe, with catlike agility, came down rolling – which was a lucky break, for Kirk had tried to stamp on him, and nearly succeeded!

Joe rolled again, and surged to his feet, leaping to avoid Dave’s sprawled body. He pulled back his arm and let fly, and this time his fist connected solidly with Kirk’s stomach. "That was for the football field!" he taunted Moncrief angrily.

Kirk staggered backwards, dropping his rock. But he found another weapon and snatched it up, this time a long stick which had fallen from one of the nearby trees. He lunged forward, swinging it wildly at Joe!

Joe ducked and scrambled frantically to stay out of the way. Kirk, flailing about with the stick, managed to connect – Joe jerked, and yelled in pain as the makeshift club struck his back. OW! This guy’s like – demon-possessed! But I’m not giving up, no friggin’ way, no how!

Joe dove forward and caught Moncrief about the ankles, bringing him crashing to the ground once more. He snatched the stick from Kirk’s hand and flung it across the lawn, out of reach. Kirk, managing to free one leg, kicked violently at Joe’s face, trying to break Joe’s hold on his other ankle.

Joe released him momentarily, ducking back, then scrambled forward again, before Kirk could get to his feet. He doubled up his fist and shot it hard into Kirk’s face. "And that’s for my Aztek!" he shouted, glaring.

Moncrief was stunned, but still strove to break free. His struggles were weakening, though, and Joe knew that Kirk was no match for him, when it came to this sort of fighting. He clutched Kirk’s sweatshirt at the neck, holding him still, then he drew back his other arm once more and sank his fist into Kirk’s stomach, causing the other boy to double up in agony. "That’s for what you did to your uncle!" he hissed. I’m just getting warmed up, he thought, preparing for another blow. I can come up with a whole lot more reasons to hit Kirk Moncrief….

"Joe! Stop!"

Joe held his fist elevated and turned his head, to see Frank running towards them. He looked into his brother’s haggard face, and realized just what Frank had gone through in the past hour. He thought of Megan, of her car accident, and remembered her despairing sobs in the emergency room….Deliberately, Joe turned back to Kirk Moncrief, and slammed his fist home once more, with as much force as he could muster.

"And that’s for what you did to Megan – and to Frank."

"Joe – Joe, stop. He’s beat. Just look at him." Even though I told Megan I’d punch him for her – it’s not necessary. Frank leaned to look, bracing one hand on Joe’s shoulder. Nearby, Dave Wahlstrom pushed himself to his hands and knees, then staggered shakily to his feet, rubbing his head. He moved to stand beside Frank, glaring down at the fallen Kirk Moncrief.

Joe lifted his hand and blew lightly on his stinging knuckles, then massaged them gently with his other hand. He glanced at Frank and Dave, assuring himself that both of them were all right. And then he looked down at their nemesis, the Bayport Community College arsonist, lying defeated before them…and nodded in satisfaction. They’d won.