"Wait until we have the ability to overtake them," Frank said.

"What about Joe and Brad?" Tony asked.

"We have to move in when they are in the position not to get hurt," Frank said. "But the way it looks, they want to make sure Joe doesn’t get away."

"Is he okay?" Chet asked.

"Can’t tell, his face was turned away," Frank told him. "But he may have just been asleep."

"Let’s hope so," Phil replied.

* * * * *

Joe was indeed asleep, he had a long day, they had driven from Bayport. Once there, they decided to hike to the cabin through the roughest part of the terrain, and originally they had planned to hike back to the van once they had reached the cabin, but he volunteered to go back and get it. He enjoyed the company of their new found friend on the way back, but what he didn’t plan on what getting carjacked.

He knew without a doubt these guys had escaped from jail from the moment he laid eyes on them, first off, their clothes didn’t fit right, they were too big, and second of all, they were desperate. There were easier vehicles to steal than their van.

He didn’t blame Brad for telling the thugs what they wanted to know, after all, he wasn’t experienced in anything of this sort. And it appeared to Joe that he was genuinely concerned for him.

Joe had fallen asleep shortly after that, he woke up several hours later to realize night had fallen, and the cabin appeared to be quiet. He was still groggy and knew he would fall back asleep but his stomach was protesting, he knew he hadn’t ate since lunchtime, and he probably wouldn’t eat if at all till morning.

He looked up at his wrists and to his dismay, they had hooked him to cast iron bed, Matt hold told him about this particular bed, it was his bed growing up, and they had transferred it to the cabin when he moved out of the house. Joe knew he wouldn’t be getting out of this without help, and he knew his brother was working on a plan of action right now. Last thing Joe wanted was for Frank and his friends to get captured as well.

As dawn was breaking through the window, Joe awoke again, he thought he smelled the aroma of coffee, and heard the television blaring. This didn’t surprise him, they were in the middle of the woods, far from any police presence, unless Frank called them, they wouldn’t have a clue as to what was happening. He gave a start when he heard the door creak open. It was Brad followed by Billy. Brad was carrying in a tray of orange juice and a bowl of cereal.

Billy came over undid one of the handcuffs and attached it to the bed, so one of Joe’s arms was free. "Now you can eat," Bill told him.

Joe just looked at him, but he was glad that he could at least feed himself. Brad set the tray down and sat with him as he got up to eat.

"Did you have anything to eat?" Joe asked, looking over to Brad.

"Yeah, I did," Brad answered. "I would have volunteered to cook something, but I figured you didn’t feel like anything real heavy."

"Yeah, Frank and them don’t have anything to eat," Joe said. "That is unless they were able to get a lift back into town."

"Then let’s hope he found a ride, there is this real good diner on Main street," Brad told Joe.

"Maybe I ought to check it out when we get out of here, looks like this weekend is a bust," Joe sighed.

"You couldn’t have known this would have happened," Brad consoled.

"Maybe," Joe said. "But, just once I wish Frank and I could go somewhere without running into something like this."

"Just think of the people you help," Brad said.

"Maybe, but a nice quiet vacation would be nice," Joe commented.

"I know what you mean," Brad gave him a small smile.

Billy watched from the doorway, they had let Brad loose as he had promised not to try to escape but he had heard of the Hardy boys knack for escaping impossible situations. He wasn’t about to take any chances.

Just then, Pete came into the room, "Good you’re finished," Pete said, indicating the now empty bowl and glass on the nightstand.

"Now come on," he ordered.

"What’s going on?" Joe asked, as Billy unlocked the handcuff still attached to the headboard, and reattached it to Joe’s wrists, with the exception that he was no longer attached to the headboard, they hauled him off the bed and pushed him forward into the living room, without answering his question. This made him feel distinctly uneasy in the light of how dangerous escaped criminals can be. He just hoped his brother would be able to turn the tables on these guys soon.