CHOICES
by
RM
Chapter 20
THE CHAPTERS
Frank’s
face was white as chalk and his lips were blue. Several scratches marred
his chest as he hung in the middle of the refrigerator by his wrists. There
was a rope tied around his wrists.
“Dad!
I found Frank!” Joe yelled before heading into the refrigerator.
He
reached up and placed his fingers against Frank’s neck, hoping there was
a pulse. It took a moment, but he finally found it.
Joe
let out a breath. “Hang on, Frank. We’ll get you out of here and warmed
up really quick.”
“Frank,”
Fenton said, entering the refrigerator with the officer.
“We
need to get him down,” Joe stated.
“We
can probably lift him right off the hook,” Fenton said.
“Let’s
do it.”
The
three of them lifted Frank and his hands cleared the hook. They lowered him
a bit carried him into the kitchen.
“Set
him here,” Fenton said.
They
set Frank on the floor. Joe said, “We need to get him warmed up.”
“I
have a blanket in the car,” the officer said.
“Call
an ambulance too,” Fenton said.
“Got
it.”
As
the officer exited the kitchen, Joe leaned Frank against him. Fenton worked
on untying the ropes around Frank’s hands. Joe slid his coat off and
wrapped it around Frank’s shoulder. He held Frank close, sharing his body
heat.
Joe
put his fingers against Frank’s neck again and was relieved to find the
pulse still there. As Fenton pulled the rope away from Frank’s wrist,
Frank groaned.
“Dad,
how could they do this to him?” Joe asked softly.
“I
don’t know, son. But they will get what’s coming to them.”
The
officer returned with the blanket. “An ambulance has been dispatched.
I’ve also called in more officers so we can go over this place with a
fine tooth comb.”
“Good,”
Fenton said brushing the hair back from Frank’s forehead as Joe wrapped
the blanket around Frank to give him more warmth. He looked at Joe.
“I’ll call Sam to be here so we can take care of your brother.”
Joe
nodded, but kept his hold on his brother.
Within
minutes, the paramedics arrived. Frank was placed on the stretcher on his
side and covered with more blankets when they got a look at his back.
“Go
with your brother, Fenton said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“All
right.”
Joe
followed the paramedics out to the waiting ambulance. He climbed into the
back next to his brother. As the ambulance pulled away from the restaurant,
Joe hoped Frank was going to be all right.
*
* * * *
Hours
later, Joe and Fenton were sitting in the waiting room at the hospital with
Laura. Fenton had called their mother on the way to the hospital. She had
been relieved when she heard Frank had been found, but had been worried
when she heard about his injuries.
By
the time Laura had arrived, Fenton and Joe had been sitting in the waiting
room for a couple hours. After Laura had arrived, a doctor had come out to
talk to them.
The
doctor had said they had treated the wounds on Frank’s chest and back as
well as taping his ribs, since two were cracked. They had also been
informed that Frank’s temperature was low and that he was suffering from
hypothermia, and that they were trying to warm him up. Frank was also
dehydrated. The doctor had said that in cleaning out the wounds on
Frank’s back, they had found pieces of rest in the wound and had given
him a tetanus shot, just to be on the safe side.
The
Hardy’s had wanted to see Frank, but the doctor had said it wasn’t
possible at that time since Frank’s condition was still unstable as they
tried to increase his body temperature while they treated him in the
emergency room.
Now
they were waiting for the opportunity to actually see Frank. As they
waited, Joe paced the room. He was anxious to see his brother. Frank’s
pale face with blue-tinted lips were forefront in his mind. He couldn’t
believe how still Frank had been. He so wanted to see Frank open his brown
eyes and look at him. His brother’s lifeless body scared him.
He
has to be all right, Joe
thought as he stared out the window. We have gotten through so many
problems together. I don’t see myself without him. We are a team and we
need to keep the team together.
And
those who harmed Frank will get their due. They messed with the wrong
family and will pay for what’ they’ve done. Even if I have to go and
get them myself, there will be justice. But he has to be okay. Frank is
strong and will fight to come back to us. He won’t give up. I know he
won’t.
“Mr.
and Mrs. Hardy?”
Joe
turned around from the window and saw the doctor standing in the doorway.
He moved over to his parents who were now standing. Laura wrapped her arm
around his shoulder as she clenched Fenton’s hand in her other. They all
looked at the doctor expectantly.
“How
is he doing?” Fenton finally asked.
“His
temperature is coming up,” the doctor said. “We’re going to move him
to a room shortly. We expect him to wake soon.”
“Will
he be all right?” Laura asked.
“We
believe he will be fine.”
The
three of them let out sighs of relief.
The
doctor continued. “As soon as he is in a room, I’ll have a nurse let
you know.”
“Thank
you, Doctor,” Fenton said.
“You’re
welcome.”
The
doctor turned and left the waiting room.
*
* * * *
It
was past
Joe
let out a sigh as he gazed at his brother’s face. While it was still
pale, some color had returned. Frank looked warm under the numerous
blankets that were pulled up to his chin. His gaze shifted to Frank’s
left wrist, which was on top of the blanket. His wrist was bandaged and
there was an IV sending fluids into Frank’s dehydrated body.
He
was anxious to talk to his brother to find out what happened when he was
held against his will. While he wanted to know, Joe wasn’t sure he wanted
Frank to relive what he had been through. He really didn’t care about all
that. He only wanted to know that his brother was all right.
Closing
his eyes, Joe leaned back in the chair, exhausted. He was relieved that
they had found frank, but he so wanted to talk to him. They had been
through the nightmare and it truly wouldn’t be over until Frank opened
his eyes.
The
events of the previous days started to catch up with him and he could feel
himself finally falling asleep. He didn’t want to, but his body was
telling him that it was going to happen.
Letting
out a breath, Joe sank into a comfortable slumber.
*
* * * *
When
he woke, he could feel how stiff his neck was and wondered why it could be
so stiff. As he rolled over to find a more comfortable position, he
realized he wasn’t in a bed, but he had been covered with a blanket.
Suddenly
the events of the previous night came rushing back. Ignoring the pain in
his neck, he opened his eyes and looked at his brother.
Frank
was still sleeping and more color had returned to his face. Frank looked a
lot better than when he had been found.
Joe
stretched his arms above his head before standing, making the chair creak.
The blanket fell to the floor and he grabbed it. Straightening up so that
he could fold the blanket, Joe looked at Frank and saw Frank’s eyes were
open.
He
dropped the blanket to the floor and moved closer to the bed. “How are
you feeling, Frank?”
‘Weak,”
he whispered.
“That’s
not surprising,” Joe said.
“Are
you all right?” Frank asked after moistening his lips.
“I’m
fine.”
“That’s
good.”
At
that moment, the door opened and the doctor entered the room. “How are
you this morning?” he asked cheerfully.
“Sore,”
Frank admitted.
“Where
are you the most sore?”
Joe
watched as Frank slowly moved his arm and touched his chest. “Here.”
“That’s
not surprising,” the doctor said. “You do have two cracked ribs, which
means taking it easy for a while.”
“I
understand,” Frank said.
The
doctor looked at Joe. “Your parents are in the waiting room. Why don’t
you join them while I check your brother over?”
“Okay,”
Joe said, and then looked at Frank. “You stay put.”
Frank
lifted his hand with the IV attached. “Like I’m going anywhere.”
“True,”
Joe said. He patted Frank’s arm and left the room.
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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.