Hardy Boys - More Than Just The Fun Uncle

In Motion

Joe wasted no time once the window had shattered. He ran to the edge of the wall and beckoned the girls to him. When they came, he picked up Andrea as well as he could with his hands cuffed together and lifted her up to the window. His ribs weren't very fond of their treatment, but Joe silenced their protests. Soon he could feel his daughter's weight subside as she grasped the sill and hauled herself through.

"Hang around, Love." Joe said once Andrea was grounded outside. "Kitty will need your assistance."

He lifted Kitty just as he'd done with his daughter and supported her as Andrea helped pull her through the window. Kitty was almost through the window when footsteps could be heard running toward their prison. Joe defied his aching body once more by pushing the young girl harder and faster through the window. Finally, she was through.

"Run!" Joe shouted as the door to the room flew open. Devin stood there and glanced about the room until his gaze fell upon the young man - and only occupant - inside. His eyes were wild and angry.

"Where are they!" Devin shouted. He surged forward and grabbed his final prisoner by the collar. "Tell me or you'll regret it."

"I could never regret sending them to their freedom." Joe spat in the man's face, drawing even more rage to the surface. But Devin did not lash out as was expected. He simply wiped the spit from his face and turned to his goons.

"They're no doubt far from here." He said. "Retrieve them!"

Gibbs gave no hesitation and was immediately out the door. Flick gave a pitiful glance toward Joe, but soon followed his partner's lead, leaving the Hardy to his captor's will.

Devin smacked Joe across the face, momentarily stunning him. Then the man pulled out a key and unlocked one cuff. By the time Joe had come back to his senses, he realized that he'd been re-cuffed, his hands behind his back and around a metal pipe in the corner of the room. He was helpless.

Counihan scowled and gave a harsh kick to Joe's injured ribs. Joe curled in on himself and longed for the touch of sweet air within his lungs. Black dots danced before his eyes, but he battled unconsciousness.

That's when he heard the scream.

"Devin!" Joe shouted at the top of his lungs. "Leave them alone! This has nothing to do with them!"

Of course there was no reply. Another scream stung his ears.

"I'll kill you, Counihan! I'll kill you!"

An eerie silence followed Joe's threats and he strained his ears to try and hear what was going on outside. He didn't have to listen long before he could hear voices, only the voices were coming from the other side of the door.

"How could you let her get away like that, Flick? She's a little girl and you're a grown man!" The voice was that of the man Joe had grown to hate most. He sounded very angry and the Hardy didn't have to wonder why. He felt his heart twinge with hope at the words.

"Sorry, Counihan, she just disappeared." Flick sounded genuine, but Joe suspected that it was really more than just a simple disappearance. Just one more thing to thank the young man for.

"Take the van along the road. She wouldn't dare stay in the woods for long."

The sound of footsteps could be heard retreating up the stairs, followed soon by the slam of the front door.