The Hardy Bros: Secrets of the Lighthouse by Ann ♪ ~ Chapter 20

Secrets of the Lighthouse

Chapter 20

   Iola tried texting Joe when he didn’t answer. Then she tried Frank. Calling and texting both. No response. The brothers were on an errand for Aunt Gertrude, that she knew and where they were going. Since the location was practically surfside, she figured they might not be on their way back yet. Even with the temperatures lowering, they could get in some ocean time. If Iola hadn’t had things she’d already promised to do, she would have liked to have gone on the day trip. Now she really wished she’d been able to. Nothing she could do about that, though. So she did what could be done. Pray some more.

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   Putting aside her book, Callie glanced at her phone and frowned. The mystery that had been so interesting when she’d started reading it yesterday was definitely not holding her attention now. The writing was still interesting and good, but she felt an increasing pull to know that those Hardy brothers were safe. What trouble could they get into just taking gifts to a friend of Aunt Gertrude’s? That question had a very easy answer. A lot of trouble to be exact. She could actually think of quite a few times when an ordinary sounding errand turned out to be just a regular task. At the same time, she could think of plenty of instances when the everyday turned into a real adventure. That feeling that this was one of those times felt stronger by the minute.

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   As the rain poured down, Joe could barely see anything but black spots as the crazed killer tightened his merciless hold around his throat. With his airway quickly being shut off, Joe felt his consciousness slipping away. He couldn’t let that happen. He had to stop this wacko from killing him, as well as keep him from going after his brother. How he was going to do that he wasn’t sure, but first things first. He had already tried to hook his foot around the guy’s ankle and throw him off-balance, but without success. Joe’s back was aching as he was pressed onto the railing along the gallery deck. Opening his eyes, Joe was chilled to look into the utter evilness of the one trying to kill him. The cold from the rain wasn’t what sent the shudder up Joe’s spine. Even past the sound of the torrential downpour, he suddenly heard his brother’s voice, calling his name. Joe tuned into it, grabbing onto it like a lifeline. As consciousness was fast ebbing away, he wondered briefly if that was the last sound he would hear on earth.

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   “Joe?” Frank called, the echo of his own voice seemingly taunting him. “This isn’t exactly the time for a joke.” No answer was heard from his brother. The dark seemed to move in on Frank as he swung the flashlight back and forth as if to ward off the inky blackness. If that little brother of mine is pulling a prank…., he thought to himself. He found that he was really wishing Joe was just playing a joke, but he knew better.

   Again, Frank hollered his brother’s name, this time a little louder. Still nothing. Okay, I won’t be mad at him even if this is a joke, he told himself, I’ll just be glad he’s all right. The lack of light beyond the glow from the flashlight, besides the fact that it kept almost going out, made it impossible to see more than a couple of feet around him. Frank had apparently grabbed the flashlight Joe had dropped earlier. He was about to call again for his brother, but a different sound rudely interrupted him. If Frank hadn’t had such a tight grip on the flashlight, he would have dropped it as one of the loudest screams he had ever heard suddenly pierced the night.

   “Joe?” yelled Frank again as soon as the scream had ceased. “Joseph Hardy!” His heart thudded in his chest as he swiftly climbed the remaining steps to the watch room. He shook the flashlight again as it flickered to almost nothing before coming back. Where was his little brother? It hadn’t been that long since they had talked and seen each other. He knew, though, things could happen pretty fast. Especially with whirlwind Joe. The pulse on the side of Frank’s forehead pounded as his eyes went immediately to the open door leading to the gallery deck.

   Wind and rain were spilling in, but that wasn’t what seized Frank’s attention. A chill ran up his spine when he saw that his brother was struggling with someone out on the gallery deck. Where in the world had that guy come from and why was he fighting with Joe?

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   As soon as the scream had been heard, Joe had gathered all his remaining strength, fighting off the overwhelming urge to give in to sleep, not that he was being given much choice about that. He knew he had to do something right then. The scream actually had barely registered with Joe, since he was losing consciousness it wasn’t as loud to him. Using the distraction of the scream to his advantage, as soon as he felt his attacker’s hands loosen some around his neck, Joe drew his head back. He then slammed it with as much force as he was able, right into the other guy’s forehead.

   Both of them saw stars, but Joe’s tactic helped change the situation, as his opponent let loose even more as he staggered. Joe tried desperately to draw in a breath now that he was free from hands trying to squeeze the life out of him. He struggled for the precious air that had been denied him. He found that as a result of almost being strangled, his limbs weren’t working properly and he began to sink to the walkway. His eyes flickered shut for a moment and when he opened them, he saw a soft glow in the watch room. Blinking the rain out of his eyes, he tried to determine what he was seeing. He mentally gave a shout of exultation as he saw his brother’s strong, determined face illuminated briefly by the faint glow of the flashlight.

   Unknown to Frank and Joe, the person they were fighting was John Reid, a serial murderer who had heard about the haunting of the lighthouse and thought he could hide around there for awhile. He planned to keep away from tourists and then stay in the tower at night when it wasn’t being rented. Reid was a murdering bully who had escaped justice thus far and had no intention of being caught. He wasn’t about to change his plans. When he had spotted the two detectives through the tower windows as he was casing it earlier that day, he had decided they were a problem that would have to be taken care of.

   The serial killer was dazed by the blow from Joe’s head hitting his, but since he hadn’t just been almost strangled he was recovering more quickly than Joe.

   Attempting to keep from falling to the walkway, Joe had made a grab for the railing as he fell. The enraged murderer glared at Joe, angered by the pain. He reached out to grab for Joe’s throat once again, intending on finishing what he had started. Reid wasn’t prepared for a strong hand to grab his shoulder and spin him around, to be followed up by a mighty upper cut from Frank’s right fist. Reid gasped and reached out to steady himself as he was slammed against the railing. Frank kept his eye on his opponent, although he was anxious about his brother. Joe was struggling to stand up, so that he could fight alongside his brother.

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