"Get off me please," she whispered, still a bit distrustful. Joe rolled off of her and she sat up. He then untied her hands. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Joe Hardy," he said with an inner certainty he hadn't felt yesterday. "And it's best if you don't know who they are."

"Why?" she asked.

"The less you know, the better your chances of living through this," Joe answered honestly.

"How did you get mixed up with them?" she asked.

"Long story," he replied with a grimace.

"I don't think I'm going anywhere," she replied, looking around the room, her eyes tearing.

"I wish Chief Peterson were here," Frank whispered to his dad as they watched a blond man drag a bound, blindfolded, and gagged woman into the back of Bledsoe's business.

"He had to get a search warrant," Fenton whispered back to Frank. "He'll be here as soon as he gets it."

"At least Bledsoe and his crony can be busted for kidnaping her even if Joe isn't here," Frank said. "What if..."

"Now's our chance," Fenton said, interuppting Frank. "Let's get in before they have a chance to turn their alarm back on." He and Frank made a mad dash for the door. It was already locked! Fenton pulled out his lock-pick kit and within seconds, they were inside the building. Closing the door, they breathed a sigh of relief as the green light flashed, showing the alarm had been activated but all was secure.

They crept up the stairs toward the voices they heard. Going down a hallway, they stopped near an open door and listened. Two men were talking.

"You think the kid will do it?" asked one.

"Not really," replied the other, puffing on a cigarette. "But if he doesn't, he dies."

"And if he does, Blevins gets a son and we've got a new member," added the first.

"Okay boys," Blevins said, coming into the room by another door and closing it and locking it. "Give him one hour," he told the two men. "I'll be back. If either of them try to leave, kill them both," he ordered.

"Even your son?" the one smoking asked.

"He wasn't my son yesterday and if he can't pass this test, he's not my son anyway," Blevins said coldly. "I've got an errand to run. I and Bledsoe will be back in an hour," he said then headed for the door. Frank and Fenton dove for cover as Blevins entered the hallway and headed downstairs.

"Maybe you should follow him and I'll rescue Joe," Frank said.

"No," Fenton said, shaking his head. "He and Bledsoe will be back. We'll get them both then. Let's go get your brother," he said, walking back into the hallway. Motioning for Frank to stay just beyond sight, he strolled up to the doorway and looked in. Sitting at a table playing cards were two men, one with brown hair and dark skin, and one with brown hair, fair complexion and puffing on a cigarette.

"Hello gentlemen," Fenton said to catch their attention. They looked up in surprise and dropped their cards. Fenton grinned at the twosome and turned to run down the hall, away from Frank. He pulled up short six feet out of sight of the entrance and waited for the first thug to appear. He didn't have to wait long. Both men had taken after him as soon as he had turned. Fenton decked the first thug. He was out cold.

Frank tackled the second thug. He grabbed the man's shoulder, stopping him in midstride, spun him around and landed one right on his nose. The thug swaggered back but didn't fall. With blood pouring down, he came at Frank but Fenton leapt over the unconscious man and grabbed this man, also sending him to lullaby land.

Frank looked over at his father. ''Thanks,'' he said.

Fenton nodded and went into the room. ''Call Chief Peterson, tell him he can nab Bledsoe and Blevins for kidnaping if he's here in less than one hour,'' he ordered Frank. Then he went to the door at the back of the room and unlocked it.

When Fenton walked into the room the, the young woman with Joe screamed and quickly crawled behind Joe's back. Joe jumped to his feet in a fighting stance, but on seeing who stood there, lowered his fists.

''I'm sorry,'' Joe said, tears starting to run down his cheek.

''No,'' Fenton said coming over and pulling Joe close into a bear hug. ''You've done nothing to be sorry for. This whole mess is my fault.'' He pulled back and looked Joe squarely in the eyes. ''It doesn't matter who fathered you. Me, Blevins, Satan or an Angel. You're my son. You always have been and you always will be. I was such a fool. I...'' he broke off, crying as he pulled Joe to him for another hug.

''It's okay Dad,'' Joe said, hugging him back.

''You're Mr. Hardy?'' the woman on the bed said after a minute.

''Yeah,'' Joe said, letting go of his father and looking at her. ''I guess we're both going to be okay.''

''Am I ever glad to hear you say that!'' Frank said in the doorway. ''Now could someone help me tie those two creeps up before they wake up?''

''With pleasure,'' Joe said, smiling at the thought.

''Chief Peterson was on his way,'' Frank told his dad while they were tying the troublesome duo. ''The message was relayed and he should be here anytime.''

''I'll find the alarm and turn it off. You'd better come with me,'' he added to the young lady. ''You boys keep an eye on them till I get back.''

About five minutes after they had left Frank and Joe were sitting in the chairs by the table. The two thugs were still uinconsious and Frank kept looking at his watch. ''What's taking so long?'' he wondered aloud.

Joe looked over at Frank who was sitting with his back to the door and was about to reply when he saw Bledsoe standing there, pistol drawn aiming at Frank.

Joe dove at Frank, pushing him over backward as a bullet ripped through the air and shattered a vase in front of where Frank had been. Before Frank could recover, Joe was on his feet, tackling Bledsoe, even as the gun was being aimed at him.

Joe and Bledsoe went down. Joe gripped Bledsoe's hand that was bearing the gun and each fought for control while Joe tried to keep Bedsoe down and he tried to shove Joe off. Frank got to his feet and went to help. He heard footsteps rushing toward them from outside the door as he went to help his brother. Before he got there, just as his father and Chief Peterson could be seen in the doorway, the gun went off.