Cursing under his breath, Muir checked his arm.  He’d been incredibly lucky with the bullet only grazing him.  He suspected that the farmer had done that on purpose; the man’s hands were too steady on the gun to have missed.

“Stupid fool,” he muttered as he pulled out his cell phone, “Shoulda killed me when he had the chance.”

Muir had stopped once he’d made the cover of the trees and saw the farmer and his son were more intent on helping Joe than catching him right now. 

As he waited for Antoine to answer, he watched their progress as they crossed the field and went into the house.

Three rings later he heard his employer’s calm, cultured voice:

[Yes?]

“We have a problem,” Muir said curtly, and gave him an abridged version of what happened.  He heard the old man sigh in disappointment before saying anything.

[Tie up the loose ends, Muir….You know how much I hate a mess.]

And then he was gone.

* * *

Antoine hung up the phone and looked down, affectionately, at the large dog lying at his feet.

“Ah Ajax,” he said, “We’re going to have guests.”

* * *

Fenton pushed the boundary on the speed limit as they hurried towards the Mortons’ farm.  Beside him, Laura peered intently out the window, her heart refusing to give in to relief until she saw her baby with her own eyes….

In the back seat, Frank had his head leaned back, his eyes closed, and a gentle smile played across his face; serenity erased the worry that had lived there.  His brother was safe….

Way to go, kiddo, he thought, proudly.  He wasn’t sure yet how Joe had gotten to Chet’s place, but there was no doubt in his mind that he had somehow foiled his kidnappers.

They had no idea who they were dealing with, little brother, did they?

* * *

Muir heard the dog barking before he got very close to the house.

Damn animal, he thought, if Ajax was here….But then he smirked – this could be used to his advantage.

* * *

Catherine Morton smiled down at the sleeping youth.  After Joe had spoken those few brief words to Frank, he’d collapsed into a heavy sleep.

“Poor thing,” she said, taking a warm cloth and gently wiping away the dirt and grime his desperate flight had marred him with, “He’s plumb tuckered out.”

Chet nodded, but didn’t say anything as he carefully wrapped Joe’s ankle in a tensor bandage.  It would offer some support until it could be x-rayed.

Like Joe, he didn’t think it was broken, but it was definitely sprained, and probably badly, judging by the amount of bruising and swelling.

John Morton was in the kitchen reporting the incident to the police. He declined an ambulance for Joe, knowing the teen would rather have his family take him since none of his injuries appeared life-threatening.

He was just hanging up when Lucky started to growl and walk stiff-legged towards the front door.  Then, as all the hair rose up on his shoulders, he started to bark.

“Dad?” Chet called from the living room as he stood up, “Is something wrong?”

Reaching for his rifle, the farmer called over his shoulder, “Stay here with your Mom and Joe.”  He’d shot the big man, but was it possible he’d still come back?

Not willing to take the chance, John opened the front door and stepped out on the veranda; the black dog streaked past him, barking as he did so.

“LUCKY!” John bellowed, instinctively going after the dog.  If it was Joe’s attacker, he could seriously injure or kill the animal.

* * *

Muir was waiting outside the door.

John never knew what hit him.

* * *

Chet heard the dog suddenly give a painful yelp and then silence.

He traded looks with his mother – something was wrong.

* * *

The dog lunged at the big man, but he was expecting it and caught the animal in the side with a powerful kick.  Yelping, Lucky hit the veranda hard and then backed away. 

Still growling softly, the dog stood protectively beside his unconscious master but made no more attempts to go after Muir.

* * *

“Stay here,” Chet said to his mother, “I’ll be right back.”

* * *

Muir picked up the rifle and had it pointed towards the front door when Chet walked out.

He smiled at the boy and put his fingers on his lips, indicating for him not to make any noise.

Chet’s heart hammered loudly as he saw his father prone on the veranda with a cowering, but still growling, Lucky at his side.

“My business is not with your family,” Muir said in the monotone voice Joe had come to fear, “but I will make it so…depending on you.”

Swallowing hard, Chet said, “W-why don’t you just leave us alone?”

“I can’t.”  The big man sounded almost apologetic.  “You have something that belongs to me…my employer, actually.  Once I get it back, you’ll never see me again.”

“Or him,” Chet said, realizing that Muir was talking about Joe.

The big man shrugged nonchalantly. “Or him.”

Then he indicated with the barrel towards the house.  “Inside.”

Having no recourse but to do what he said, Chet slowly turned around and went back into the kitchen.  He wanted to shout a warning, but knew this man wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him if he tried to.  And being dead wasn’t going to help anyone.

* * *

Catherine Morton had just come into the kitchen to get some more warm water to finish cleaning Joe up a bit, when she heard her son’s voice, and it chilled her.  She knew exactly who he was talking to.

* * *

Chet was surprised when they got to the living room and he didn’t see his mom.  Only Joe was there…still passed out on the couch.

* * *

John opened his eyes and groaned.  Damn, his head hurt.

Slowly he pulled himself up onto his hands and knees, as he blinked to clear his vision…and then he remembered what happened!

* * *

Catherine was hidden behind the door to the living room.  She watched the biggest man she’d ever seen prod her son past her hiding spot and towards Joe.

She had to do something….

* * *

“Wakey, wakey, Joseph,” Muir said as he poked Joe’s side with the barrel of the gun.  To the side, Chet tensed, waiting for a chance to make a move.  This guy was huge but he couldn’t just stand by and let him take Joe, or worse.

* * *

Joe’s eyes flew open as he saw the giant standing over him!

* * *

Muir cocked the hammer and pointed the gun at the blond boy.

“Play time’s over”, he said.…

He squeezed the trigger…and fired!

* * *

Fenton’s car tore up the gravel driveway as it pulled off the road and sped towards the farmhouse.

Frank was out of the car before it was even in Park.  And as his feet hit the first step, he heard a woman scream, “NOOOO!”

* * *

Catherine Morton burst out of her hiding spot and screamed just as Muir pulled the trigger – she wasn’t close enough to stop him…and she knew it!

But Chet was!

Realizing what Muir was intending to do, the stout boy was already throwing himself at the giant even as his mother screamed.  He hit Muir’s injured arm, and the gun went off, missing Joe but taking out the arm on the couch!

Angrily, Muir shoved Chet away, but that was all the time the other boy needed!  Fresh adrenaline pumping through his body, Joe ignored the pain as he dove from the couch and grabbed the barrel of the gun, forcing it up towards the ceiling.

“GET HELP!” Chet shouted to his mother as she stood there, transfixed, watching as her son and his friend tried to wrestle with the stranger.

Chet’s voice broke her shock and she hurried to the phone just as her husband staggered past her.

* * *

Still somewhat shaky, John knew he had to get back in the house, and he did so, just as the gun went off.

Terrified of what he’d find in the living room, he let out a relieved sigh when he saw his wife going for the phone, while Chet and Joe were wrestling with Muir!  Immediately he started towards them….

* * *

Joe had a grip on the barrel, and then both he and the gun fell back, as Muir suddenly just let go and then turned towards Chet.

* * *

The stout kid was a bigger threat to the giant right now, as he already knew Joe was too weak to put up much of a fight, so he let go of the gun and turned around, his fist raised to deliver a paralyzing blow.

*****

“FREEZE!”  Fenton Hardy’s voice boomed through the living room as the investigator stood in the doorway, his own weapon drawn and aimed right at Muir.

The giant slowly released Chet and turned to face the detective. 

Frank stood beside his father, his chest heaving in anger.  His eyes dark as he glared at the big man.

* * *

Muir smiled; “No loose ends,” and he made one more lunge at Joe….

Without hesitating, Fenton pulled the trigger.  And this time when the giant fell, he never got back up.