“Everyone keep still! No one will get hurt as long as you do as I say!” He threw a bag onto the floor in the middle of the room. “Everyone empty your pockets. I want all your money and your jewelry!”

Nancy looked at Frank as she slid her engagement ring off her finger. She hid it under her napkin, which was on the table. She saw Frank was as shocked as she was. She knew he was trying to figure out a way to stop the man. She looked back at the man and realized he was staring at her. Something about the way he was standing seemed familiar to her.

“Well, well,” the man said pointing the rifle directly at her. “If it isn’t River Heights own private detective, Nancy Drew.”

“Why are you doing this?” Nancy asked. “You won’t get away with it.”

“I will because you are going to help me.”

Nancy shook her head. “I won’t help you.”

“Sure you will.” He looked around the room and then back at Nancy. “Now, be a good little girl and pick up the bag. Collect all the moment and jewelry from your fellow diners and then bring the bag to me.”

“Forget it,” Carson said starting to rise.

“She’s not doing that,” Ned protested.

The man pointed the rifle at the ceiling and fired. The room grew quiet. The man pointed the rifle at Carson. “You sit and you,” turned to face Nancy. “Pick the bag up now!”

Nancy knew if she didn’t do what the man said, people would get hurt. Not wanting to see anyone get injured, she started to get to her feet. She stopped abruptly when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw the hand belonged to Frank.

“I’ll do it,” Frank said softly.

“I want her to.”

“Frank, what are you doing?” Nancy asked, in a hushed whisper.

“Look, you can either have me collect the money or you can do it yourself,” Frank said.

“I want the girl to do it.”

“She’s not going to,” Frank said. “It’s me or nothing.”

The man was quiet for a moment. Nancy wondered what Frank was doing. She couldn’t understand why he was putting his life in jeopardy.

“Fine,” the man finally said. “Start collecting.”

Nancy watched as Frank started collecting money and jewelry. She could see the other customers were as worried as she was. She wondered if there was something she could do. She wished she knew what Frank was thinking. She could tell he was keeping his eye on the man.

Frank gathered the last of the jewelry and money and turned to face the man. Frank looked at the man. “You know, you won’t get away with this.”

“I don’t think I’ll have a problem.”

“You won’t get far. You’ll be captured.”

“No one will catch me.” The man pointed the rifle at Frank. “Now, give me the bag.”

Frank took a step toward the man and stopped. The bag was dangling at his side. The man yelled, “Give me the bag! Now!”

“No.”

“What?” the man practically screeched. He took a step forward and aimed the rifle at Frank’s head. “I said give me the bag.”

“I don’t think so,” Frank replied stubbornly.

“Fine. Then you’ll die.”

Before anyone could do anything, there was a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass. Someone yelled, “Look out!”

Nancy turned her head quickly and saw a car coming straight through the restaurant window. She felt Ned grab her arm and pull her down to the floor. Ned covered her with his body as she covered her head with her arms.

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency 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.