Joe frowned. “We were going to do that anyway.” He held out his hand and I gave him the note. “No signature.” He flipped the paper over and scanned it just to make sure. “You think it might be a setup?”

I took a deep breath, walked to the entry of our tent and looked around. Finally I came back and sat down. “I think the only person in this place I trust is you. What happened?”

“Something woke me last night. Or maybe I should say someone. They had something over my face so I couldn’t see. Next thing I knew I was waking up and Willow told me I had to help her in the garden.”

“Willow?”

“Tall, blond braids, green eyes. Told me the reason everyone calls Stench Father is a sign of respect, one he insists on.” Joe cleared his throat. “What about you?”

I told him more about the trip into town and shook my head. “It was nasty. And sick.”

Joe took a deep breath. “Why do you think they separated us? To test us? Do you think Stench knows who we are?”

I frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“When I went into the dining hall, and tried to go over to see you Willow stopped me and then just as suddenly she let me go. I looked over at Stench and he looked really smug, like he’d proved a point.”

That unsettling feeling was back and it bothered me even more. I got to my feet and went to the doorway. Between Dad sharing with Mom and the Internet search, I hadn’t had a chance to really research cults the way I would have liked to. Stench had separated us for a reason. Was Joe right? Was he testing us, did he know who we were? “They’re going to be watching us. We’ll have to tread carefully.”

“And do what? Be model groupies?” Joe’s tone was sarcastic.

I looked over at him. “That’s it.”

Joe looked over his shoulder and around the tent. “What? There’s a tarantula on my shoulder? Where’s your trusty bullwhip when I need it?”

I didn’t quite grin at his reference to a favorite movie of ours. “No, remember yesterday Stench doesn’t allow modern equipment in the camp? Yet Dave’s Mom has an amazing lab, stock full of gadgets.”

“Only you would sound that excited over a lab.”

“There’s modern equipment in the compound, Joe. I don’t think Stench is being as truthful to his groupies as he pretends to be. Not to mention the helicopter.”

Joe stared at the ground for a minute. “Okay, so he’s playing the people here...for what reason? Why set up this compound, lure all these alt-energy scientists here?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure but I do know there’s more here than meets the eye.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “There you go again, being overly obvious.” He grinned at me. But suddenly his grin faded. “What if Stench separates us again?”

I started to tell him it wouldn’t happen again but truth was, I didn’t know. I trusted my brother but I know he sometimes leaps before he looks. “Don’t do anything rash.”

Joe snorted. “I’ll be the logical one, big bro. Just you don’t do anything rash, like take on Mondo all by your lonesome.”

“Yeah, right.” I settled more comfortably on the cot and eyed the message again. “Whoever wrote it, didn’t want me to guess if it was a girl or a boy.”

“Hmm, like if we knew whether it was a girl or a boy, we’d know who it was. Maybe Dave?”

“He’s here with his parents. His mom has the lab.” I shrugged. “Maybe Willow?”

Joe shook his head. “All she cares about is doing what Stench says.”

“Joe, be nice.”

“Petal?”

Joe snorted. “What is it with flower names? Wonder if there’s a few Daffodils and Chrysanthemums too.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. My brother never really takes anything seriously. I guess it’s a good thing that’s he’s that way, keeps from letting me worry too much. I may razz him about his sense of humor or the fact that he sings rather off-key but since it’s in the shower I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but, hey, he’s my brother. “Joe, stop.”

“Hey, it’s possible. Daffodil, Chrysanthemum, a Daisy, Rose, Iris...” He got a wicked grin on his face. “Fern...Jasmine...”

It took me a moment to get what he was implying. “Oh no. No flower names for me.”

Joe’s grin widened. “Forget-me-nots...Jonquil...”

I picked up the pillow and threw it at him. Pillows make pretty decent weapons you know. Joe ducked and it sailed over his head, still grinning. I reached for my backpack.

“I dare you.”

Voices outside told us the siesta was over. We both walked to the entryway and looked out. Almost immediately, Petal hurried over to us. “Or we could go with the parts of the flower,” Joe said in a whisper. “Hmm, let’s see if I remember Botany class...”

“I’m on my way to do a little more target practice,” said Petal, smiling at me. “Want to come?”

“Sure,” I said. I felt Joe nudge me but I didn’t look at him.

We followed Petal as she led the way over to the bales of hay she used as targets. “Have you every tried archery?”

I shared a quick look with Joe and he shrugged. “Only a couple of times. We’re more track and field guys.”

Petal stopped about thirty yards from the target. She gestured to the target. “A bullet will go about a hundred yards without any drop in trajectory. An arrow starts dropping much faster. That’s something to keep in mind when you’re aiming.”

Joe raised his eyebrows and I felt the same way. Why was this girl talking about bullets? Just how much did she know about firearms anyway?

Petal handed me her bow. She moved close behind me and practically hugged me as she helped me position the arrow. Joe smirked and looked like he was going to say something. I gave him a glare and he grinned.

I pulled back and let the arrow fly. It hit the hay at least.

“So...where’s Mr. Stench?” asked Joe, sounding casual but he eyed the windowless building a bit longer than necessary.

“Father needs more privacy than the rest of us,” said Petal, her voice suddenly cool. She stepped away as if not liking questions.

“Right. It’s his sanctuary.” Joe managed to avoid sounding too sarcastic. He held out his hand for the bow and I gave it to him.

He slanted a look at Petal. “Any tips?”

“Aim and shoot.” Petal was starting to sound a bit aggravated now. “Father really does get the best ideas in there,” she said once Joe’s arrow had landed – closer to the bale of hay than mine.

“He’s in there right now,” Petal continued. “Sometimes once inside, we don’t see him for days. But when he comes out, he always has a million ideas.”

For pain and destruction, I added silently.

Joe glanced at me, and I could almost read his mind. He wanted in that building so bad.

“Your turn, Frank,” said Petal. She took the bow from Joe and gave it back to me. Then she wrapped her arms around me again. “Did I mention Frank is one of my favorite names?” she asked in a low voice just as I let the arrow fly. It missed the target – completely.

She let out a soft laugh. “I didn’t mean to mess up your concentration. Do you want to try again.”

I shook my head and handed the bow back to her. “Petal, why are you here?”

She looked around, her eyes wide. “Why wouldn’t I be here? This is the future...alternative energy sources are a necessity. Mankind just doesn’t realize how close we are to a global meltdown.”

I studied her for a moment. According to the picture and background, this was a senator’s daughter. Was she really that out of it? “And throwing paint on people is the way to go?” I asked quietly. It still riled me seeing that little child burst into tears when the red paint splattered her.

Petal looked away. “Excuse me, I have to go.”

“You can’t dodge the question forever, Petal.”

She gave me a hard look. “Why should it matter to you?” she asked, a trace of anger in her tone.

“I want to know why you did it.” And I did, but I wanted to know just how far she was willing to go.

She stared down at the ground. “Father—”

I stepped closer, made her look up at me. “No. No, you are not a mindless slave made to cater to his every whim. Why did you throw the paint? For the thrill? For the shock value?”

She stepped back, anger flashing in her face. “For the shock value,” she snapped, and then turned on her heel and left.

“I think you ticked her off.”

I looked over at Joe, feeling a bit ticked off as well. “Good.”

We wandered around the compound, always keeping Stench’s sanctuary in view but we never saw him come out. The girl Joe had spent time with earlier roped us into weeding again although Joe tried to say he was allergic to dirt.

When it got dark, though, the compound shut down. We didn’t have any source for electricity and it’s not a wise idea to burn candles inside tents. I was exhausted and crashed on the cot. I guess Joe said good-night but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. A part of me worried they’d separate us again but the thought drifted away as I fell asleep.

Next thing I knew I was back in the lawyer’s office, trying to hack into the computer for the witnesses. But Joe wasn’t with me this time, Petal was.

“Do you smell smoke?” Petal asked.

I told her not to worry. The building was on fire but Joe had broken through a window and we could get out. It was getting to be one of those dreams where you know it’s a dream.

I started to cough but remembered the haze had gotten pretty thick in that office. Joe should have busted the window out by now.

“The place is on fire,” Petal shouted but her voice sounded eerily like Joe’s.

“Wake up, Frank!” Joe shouted and my eyes snapped open. “The tent’s on fire.”

I looked up and the canvas ceiling was covered in flames!

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The authors have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.