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Highway Robbery (Hardy Boys Casefiles #41)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Rolling thunder! The highway can be a very dangerous place-especially when you're carrying a heavy cargo. The Hardys have gone undercover, determined to crack a truck hijacking scheme, but a ruthless gang of thugs are just as determined to run them off the road. The hijackers are spreading terror on the interstates, and whoever gets in their way could end up on a one-way dead-end street. Someone's going to eat asphalt, but Frank and Joe are prepared. They're gunning the engines and riding the roads on eighteen wheels of diesel-powered chrome and steel! ================ From inside the book: TRUCKIN' INTO TROUBLE Frank's right hand was anchored to the door handle of the eighteen-wheeler by the handcuffs, but he reached his left hand back, extending himself as far as possible. He missed the crank that connected the rig to the cab by a couple of feet. It was obvious that he couldn't possibly reach the handle that way. The truck hurtled around a sharp turn, and Frank's door flew wide open. For a moment he dangled just above the onrushing asphalt road. Grabbing frantically for the door frame with his left hand, he pulled himself back against the side of the cab. "I'll never get it this way," he gasped. "Hurry, Frank!" Pat screamed. "I can't keep us on the road much longer!"
Blood Money (Hardy Boys Casefiles #32)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Will to Kill Frank and Joe are investigating a series of gangland killings. Crime kingpin Josh Moran is dead and buried, but his murderous legacy lives on. In his will, he left $10 million to be divided among his enemies. The catch is that the money will be paid in three months-to those who survive! The Hardys find themselves in a deadly race against time, for one of the beneficiaries of Moran's blood money is a former detective for the NYPD-their own father, Fenton Hardy. Frank and Joe must unmask the triggerman before the dead man's hit list reaches into their own family! =============== From inside the book: TIGHT SQUEEZE Frank's eyes snapped open. I must have drifted off, he realized. The clock on the wall said 1:30. Frank was thirsty. He got out of bed and walked down the hall to the bathroom and got a drink of water. Then he stepped back out into the hall. An arm snaked around his neck. "Don't move," a voice whispered in his ear. "Don't speak. Don't even breathe." The man's grip tightened, the crook of his arm pressing into Frank's neck. Two or three seconds of pressure, Frank knew, and he would pass out. Any more than that-and he'd die.
Flesh and Blood (Hardy Boys Casefiles #39)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Family with a vengeance A tornado has hit Bayport, but the deadliest storm is still brewing-in the Hardy home. Years ago, Fenton Hardy sent a criminal named Leonard Mock to prison. Now Mock's son has returned to Bayport to seek revenge. He has vowed to put Frank and Joe's father away for good! But Leonard Mock lost his son to adoption when the boy was five. His name was changed, and the only clue to his identity is that he has since befriended the Hardy boys. Then the brothers uncover a shocking and horrifying piece of evidence. The person out to murder their father may very well be none other than Chet Morton-their best and most trusted friend! ================ NO TIME TO LOSE "I'm going to open the screen door real fast," Frank whispered to Chet. "You think you can kick the front door open?" "No sweat," Chet answered. Frank peered back in through the window and saw Joe peek around the corner of the inner room. That was what he had been waiting for. He pulled the screen door, and it creaked loudly. "Now!" he barked to Chet. Chet planted his foot next to the door knob, then kicked hard. The door groaned and snapped open. Frank dashed in and confronted the figure sitting in the chair. "Frank!" Joe shouted. "It's Callie." Frank would have been relieved to find his girlfriend, but the digital timer on the bomb that was ticking at her feet showed that in thirty seconds they would all be dead.
Running on Empty (Hardy Boys Casefiles #36)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Car chase crazy Chet's borrowed Corvette has been hot-wired, and Chet is steamed. But when he tries to nab the crooks, he gets nabbed instead. Frank and Joe put the pedal to the metal, in pursuit of Chet's kidnappers. The brothers go undercover to get the drop on a chop- shop ring-and find themselves riding with some pretty fast company. The hot Caddys, Camaros, and Corvettes are burning up the road, putting the Hardys on a crash course with danger. If they don't hit the curves just right, they'll be eating the car thieves' dust! ================ From inside the book: GUNNING THE ENGINES "Did you see anyone following us?" Frank asked, joining Joe in the parking garage. "No," Joe replied. "What's up?" Before Frank could answer, the stillness was shattered by a thunderous rumble. A half second later a black TransAm burst from the access ramp. Like some great hungry beast seeking its prey, it zeroed in on the Hardys. Frank and Joe dove in opposite directions, the TransAm missing them by inches. Two men jumped from the car. They were the same height and wore identical gray suits. Dark sunglasses hid their eyes. They were mirror images of each other, except for their hair-and the guns they aimed at Frank and Joe.
Danger Zone (Hardy Boys Casefiles #37)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: A crisis hits home When an ultrasecret project takes Fenton Hardy to Massachusetts, the Hardy Boys come home one afternoon to find that kidnappers have taken their mother. The kidnappers demand to talk to Frank and Joe's father within twenty-four hours-or the boys may never talk to their mother again! The key to the case is at Prometheus Computing, where Fenton is in charge of security. The company's latest product is a highly advanced computer chip, sure to shape the future of artificial intelligence. But to protect the chip and their family, the Hardys will have to rely on their natural intelligence and courage. They must find their father and infiltrate the DANGER ZONE before time runs out on their mother! ================ From inside the book: AMBUSHED! The security guard directed Frank and Joe into a courtyard surrounded by ivy-covered walls. "What is this place?" Joe asked. They both spun around at a loud metallic boom behind them. A metal gate had crashed to the ground, sealing off the exit. Then each window in the building was thrown open, and from the second floor up, long ropes flopped to the ground. "I think we have visitors," Frank said. Suddenly the walls came alive. Clutching the ropes, a dozen people rappeled downward. Within seconds, they surrounded the brothers. Frank gulped. The black uniforms weren't very welcoming, nor were the flak vests and gas masks. But the worst-definitely the worst-were the submachine guns, pointed at their heads!
Diplomatic Deceit (Hardy Boys Casefiles #38)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Capital crimes The Hardys and friend Callie Shaw are off to Washington, D.C. Callie finally has the chance to meet her Parisian pen pal, Madeleine Berot, whose parents have been assigned to the French embassy. But when Maddy is caught shoplifting, Frank and Joe suspect that there's something rotten in the state of French diplomacy. Determined to get to the bottom of the Madeleine Berot mystery, the Hardys find themselves caught in a web of international intrigue. They take off on a tingling chase through the nation's capital, pursuing a gang of continental con artists. In a case of D.C. deceit, it's up to Frank and Joe to nip the caper in the bud! ================ From inside the book: ON TRACK FOR TERROR Joe took off in pursuit of the man who had nearly pushed Callie onto the tracks. The guy darted to the edge of the subway platform, trying to wriggle through the crowd. It didn't work. Joe stretched out an arm and caught him by the shoulder, turning him around. The man quickly took his hand out of his pocket, clenched in a fist. Joe moved, ready to block a blow, but this guy wasn't throwing a punch. Instead his hand opened about a foot from Joe's face, releasing a cloud of reddish powder that burned Joe's eyes as if someone had thrown acid in them. Suddenly blinded, Joe recoiled. His antagonist gave him a vicious shove, and Joe staggered backward, his arms flailing. His right foot stepped back and found only air under it. Joe was going over the edge of the platform- just as the train was coming in!
The Dead Season (Hardy Boys Casefiles #35)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Haunted hotel Callie Shaw invites Frank and Joe to Runner's Harbor, a hotel in Barbados run by her cousins. But just as the brothers arrive, they're met by a horrifying host. Then things get even scarier. From trap doors and secret passages to ghostly gunmen, the young detectives come face-to-face with the mysterious spirit world. It seems Runner's Harbor has a skeleton in every closet-and they're all out to put the brother team into an early grave. ================ From inside the book: SKELETON CREW Slowly Joe walked along the rocking deck. He had one hand on the rail and the other on his torch. The boat lurched in the water, and Joe lost his balance, waving the torch awkwardly in the direction of the wheelhouse. The flame cast an eerie light, but he had no difficulty picking out the figure at the wheel of the ship. It was a man, or what remained of a man. The body was nothing but a skeleton frozen in time.
Final Cut (Hardy Boys Casefiles #34)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Studio sleuths When Frank and Joe visit a local movie and TV studio they stumble across a real-life drama-someone has murdered screenwriter Bennett Fairburn. To track the killer the brother detectives go undercover as gofers at the studio. From the start it's clear the Hardys have been cast as victims in a sinister plot. A series of deadly "accidents stalk the brother team, and while shooting a TV series Frank and Joe find themselves on the wrong end of some lethal stunts. The clues they need are buried in the script, but unless they uncover the villain fast, the brothers Hardy will be show biz history. ================ From inside the book: DEATH SCENE Trish went to the dressing room door and turned the knob. The door wouldn't budge. "What's going on with-" She stopped talking suddenly as she began to cough. Harsh fumes were beginning to fill the trailer, and Frank and Joe were coughing now, too. Frank went to the door and pushed it, but nothing happened. He kicked at it beside the knob, but it didn't budge. The heavy gas was quickly flooding the room. Joe gasped, "We're suffocating!" Someone had turned the trailer into a huge, comfortably furnished gas chamber!
Nowhere To Run (Hardy Boys Casefiles #27)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Wheels of fire Sparks fly when "Biker" Bob Conway roars into town, looking for Frank and Joe. The motorcycle racer needs their help to prove his innocence in a hijack case. The problem is, Biker just escaped from jail. To make things worse some very dangerous people are looking for him. One is a bounty hunter; the others are members of a motorcycle gang called the Sinbads. Frank and Joe can't leave a friend in trouble, and they defy their father in taking Biker's case. The brother detectives burn rubber in a high-speed race with both sides of the law where murder is the final pit stop. ================ From inside the book: MOTORCYCLE MANIAC "The pits!" Joe suddenly slammed his hand on the van's dashboard. "You mean the old quarry outside of town, where Biker used to practice motocross?" Frank asked. "Let's check it out." Frank and Joe began to search the quarry, but they didn't see even a trace that Biker Conway had been there. Then the sudden roar of an engine cut the air. Frank saw a big black cycle ridden by a black-clad figure drive straight toward Joe. There was no time for thinking-only for acting. Frank leapt for Joe. Joe fell to the ground, hard, then jumped to his feet as the motorcycle roared past him. "That guy nearly ran us down, Frank," he said angrily. There was no answer. Frank lay facedown in the dirt, motionless, a thin line of blood trickling down the side of his head.
Without a Trace (Hardy Boys Casefiles #31)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Badland bonanza Rancher Roy Carlson asks Frank and Joe to visit his spread in New Mexico after one of his cowboys disappears. While searching the area in an ultralight plane, the Hardys are forced to land. Suddenly the brother detectives are fighting to survive in a vast wilderness-and along with rattlesnakes and tornadoes a deadly enemy is on their trail. There's a million-dollar bonanza at stake as Frank and Joe uncover the real mystery of the Circle C Ranch. But unless the brothers make their way home, their lives won't be worth a plugged nickel. ================ From inside the book: FINAL DESCENT Frank banked the ultralight airplane, preparing to circle back to the homestead. Suddenly he felt a jerk on his right foot pedal, and the ultralight whipped into a spin. Frank frantically worked the rudder pedals. The right one was stuck in the stop position. Trying the left pedal, he managed to move it slightly-but then it stuck, too. Fighting panic, Frank glanced behind him at the tail. The rudder was definitely jammed, which meant that a cable must have broken and the control line had fouled. The ultralight kept whirling in a tight circle-and the ground was moving up closer and closer. If Frank didn't get control back, the ultralight would crash!
Line of Fire (Hardy Boys Casefiles #16)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Bull's-eye revenge Frank and Joe take on the case of Denny Payson, a friend who suspects that his father was murdered in a chemical plant fire five years ago. Lucius Crowell, owner of the plant, has taken care of Denny and his mother since the accident, but Denny is convinced that the fire was a cover-up for the factory's dirty secret. Now Crowell is running for public office, and Denny, an expert sports marksman, is determined to have his revenge. Nothing Frank and Joe say can convince him to give up his murderous plan. But another crack marksman-a hit man-is after Denny. Can the Hardys save Denny before he turns on them? =============== From inside the book: LEAP OF FAITH Chest burning, Joe tore across the wide expanse of concrete in the unfinished building, Frank right at his side. Behind them, they could hear George mounting the stairs. They'd never reach the far side of the building. Then Frank was grabbing Joe's arm, pulling him off course. He led him to a set of large square holes in the floor, set in the middle of the building. Without letting go of Joe, Frank threw himself over the edge. As they dropped, a gunshot rang out over their heads. Joe closed his eyes. . . .
Deathgame (Hardy Boys Casefiles #7)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: SAVAGE STRIKE FORCE Where is Biff Hooper? The Hardys' friend secretly went off to a survival game camp in Georgia-and never came back. But before leaving he did tell Joe. So when Orville Brand, the camp director, claims Biff was never there, the Hardy boys suspect foul play. Under cover of darkness Frank and Joe break into the camp grounds. To their amazement they find the Ultimo Survival Camp is actually a training site for an elite corps of attack troops, led by a shadowy strongman named Hammerlock. Suddenly the brothers are trapped in a real-life struggle for survival against the toughest enemy they've ever had to face.... =============== From inside the book: THE ULTIMATE EXAM "The five of you will be set loose in the jungle terrain beyond our fortress," Hammerlock said. "I'll give you until dawn and then start after you. I think that's a sporting chance. "I'll probably be back in time for breakfast, but it would be a pleasant surprise if you were tough enough to make the hunt last until lunch." Hammerlock drew his Super Blackhawk pistol. He twirled the gun about his forefinger. "Just consider this the final exam." Suddenly Hammerlock stopped the spinning gun. It was pointed right at Joe's head. "And I mean just that. You flunk this course-and you die!"
Just Plain Maggie
by Lorraine BeimIt is 12-year-old Maggie's first summer at camp. Everything is so new and strange! She has never met girls like her bunk mates, and never has she been so homesick.
The Secret of The Tower (Circle of Magic 2, Book #2)
by Debra Doyle James D. MacdonaldWhat's a wizard without magic? Randal broke his promise the vow that all apprentice wizards must take never to use a weapon. Now Randal can graduate from the School of Wizardry only on one condition: that he not use magic until he is pardoned by a master wizard. Randal must travel to the wizard's faraway tower ... a journey made all the more perilous because he may use neither sword nor magic for protection. When Randal finally reaches the mysterious tower, it appears to be abandoned. But he soon discovers that the building holds a deadly secret.... The second in a four book series.
The Wizard's Statue (Circle of Magic 2, Book #3)
by Debra Doyle James D. MacdonaldRandal opened the door and stepped into his room-only to come to a sudden halt on the other side of the threshold. Magic! But this magic was strange, like nothing he had known before. Randal looked around the room, which was lit by an eerie, blue-white glow "Wizard . . ." The faint whisper came from his bed, over in the corner. Randal looked and saw a man lying there, his features drawn and ashen in the cold blue light. Randal forced himself to go over to the cot and grasp the man by the shoulder. The young wizard pulled his hand back quickly. He's dying, he realized. He's dying of magic. The third in the series of four books
School of Wizardry (Circle of Magic, Book #1)
by Debra Doyle James D. MacdonaldRandal thought he wanted to be a wizard. Just before noon, Randal found Madoc in the tower. The wizard was reading a small, leather-bound book. "What is it, lad?" asked Madoc, not looking up. I want to be a wizard like you," Randal told him. "How can you want to be a wizard, boy? You haven't got the foggiest idea of what it's all about" Madoc rose and stood glaring down at Randal. "You'll spend most of your life with just enough power to get you into trouble. You'll be hungry more often than you're fed. You'll spend more time in danger on the road than safe under a roof. And maybe you'll survive it all and live to be old and white-bearded and wise-but if you do, most of your friends will have died a long time before. Go back downstairs to your uncle, lad, and one day you'll make a fine knight Wizardry is no life for you." Randal went, but he felt restless and uneasy. Even if wizardry was as hard as Madoc said, it was still the only thing he wanted.
Danger in the Palace (Circle of Magic 2, Book #4)
by Debra Doyle James D. MacdonaldWhen Randal and his best friend, Lys, are invited to join the theater troupe in the court of a kind and wealthy prince, they think they have it made! But Randal soon stumbles upon a plot against the prince and discovers that his wizardry skills are needed now more than ever. Can Randal expose the prince's enemies before it's too late?
The High King's Daughter (Circle of Magic, Book #6)
by Debra Doyle James D. MacdonaldThree human companions journey to to Elfland to bring back the High King's Daughter. 6th and final book in first Magic Circle Series.
Danger Unlimited (Hardy Boys Casefiles #79)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Flight of fury! Joe's girlfriend, Vanessa Bender, has introduced the Hardys to an old friend of her family, Brett Cooper. Bret is the pilot and designer of Brett's Beauty, the high powered piston-engine prop plane set to compete in the upcoming Bayport Unlimited Air Races. But while he's aiming to break the world speed record, someone else has targeted him for terror! The' key to the case is the mystery of Brett Cooper himself-his hidden past, his hidden enemies. For Frank and Joe, the investigation quickly turns into a crash course in danger, as they fly blind into a web of blackmail, sabotage, and murder. They're about to learn that in a world of daredevil pilots and death-defying stunts, the risks can be sky-high. ============= From inside the book: BIRD OF PREY Joe rolled down the window of the van and gazed up at the plane. Suddenly the landing gear descended from the Mustang. "Now what?" Joe muttered as the plane's nose dipped. When the plane swooped down in front of the van, Frank veered to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. "Get out!" he shouted. Joe and Frank ran into the field beside the road and fell to their stomachs. An instant later, the Mustang thundered over the van The wheels of the plane connected with the roof, and the van tipped over and crashed onto its side. Joe got up and shook his fist at the airplane. "Come down and fight us face-to-face, you coward!" "Get down!" Frank yelled, pulling Joe into the grass. The wind from the propeller threw grass and dirt into the air, and the wheels were so low they almost skidded across Joe's back. "We're trapped!" Frank shouted. "The van is out of commission and there's nowhere to hide!"
Hostages of Hate (Hardy Boys Casefiles #10)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Double-edged death An antiterror convention in Washington, D.C., is rocked by a real-life hijacking-and Frank Hardy's girlfriend, Callie Shaw, is among the hostages. When Callie appears on the TV news she sends the Hardys a coded message. Trouble is, the government doesn't believe them. Agent O'Neill orders Frank and Joe off the case, forcing them to try a rescue on their own. Suddenly the brother sleuths are running from the law, straight into a terrorist death trap-while Callie watches her life tick away. ============== From inside the book: SCREAMING DEATH Frank opened his hand, studying the detonator for a long moment. "Drop it, I say!" The ragged edge to Habib's voice was far more convincing than the volume he used. Shrugging, Frank turned his hand, letting the detonator fall. Passengers screamed as they saw the instrument of their destruction drop to the floor. Even Habib flinched, drawing back from the expected explosion. Frank used that second to stomp on the detonator, crushing its radio microcircuits. Then he dove for the floor, praying that Joe would take his lead.
The Tower Treasure (Hardy Boys #1)
by Franklin W. DixonWhen Tower Mansion is robbed, its owner, Hurd Applegate is furious. He immediately wants Fenton Hardy to recover the missing loot and to have his handy man arrested. Frank and Joe are convinced though that Perry's father is innocent. Perry's family is forced to leave Tower Mansion and stay in a run down section of Bayport. Perry thinks he will soon have to drop out of school and abandon his dream of college because no one will hire his dad. The Hardys find clues that the treasure is hidden in one of the towers., but after two exhaustive searches that have Hurd Applegate insisting the boys no nothing, Frank and Joe are stumped. If the treasure isn't in Tower Mansion, then where will Frank and Joe look next? This is the revised 1959 version of The Tower Treasure.
The Borgia Dagger (Hardy Boys Casefiles #13)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Deadly arts Beautiful, rich, and very spoiled, Tessa Carpenter is all trouble from the moment she sideswipes Callie Shaw's car-and meets Frank Hardy. She invites Frank and Joe to a party for a close-up look at her priceless treasure, the Borgia dagger. But in the middle of the party the lights go out and Tessa is almost killed. Fearing the ancient curse on the jeweled dagger, Tessa asks the brother detectives to protect her. The question is-will two bodyguards be enough for someone with enemies on both sides of the grave? ============= From inside the book: LEGEND OF THE LOST Dr. Lansdale's voice became lower as she recounted the story of the Borgia dagger. All of Tessa's guests leaned closer to hear. "With the life flowing out of her, Marisol flung open the bedroom shutters, letting in the light of the full moon. And as she raised the dagger over Armando's bed, she screamed his name so loud they say it shattered the windows in the room." By then Tessa's parlor had become so quiet, Frank could hear the beating of his own heart. "From that day on, the legend goes, whoever takes possession of the dagger dies mysteriously within four months of having touched it."
The Number File (Hardy Boys Casefiles #17)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Hot water in the Bermuda Triangle Frank and Joe are soaking up some sun in Bermuda and doing a little sleuthing on the side. Their father wants them to check out a shady character named Bernhard Kruger the suspected kingpin of a big credit card scam. But the brothers aren't making any headway-so far Kruger is clean. When the Hardys spy on Kruger's villa, one of his thugs spots them. Before they know it, they're being tailed by a black sedan and run off the road into the ocean! This is not the act of an innocent man. Their vacation shot, Frank and Joe resolve to nail Kruger. But he's on to them, and he has other plans-like arranging for the brothers to vanish in the Bermuda Triangle. =============== From inside the book: DEATH SWIM Frank and Joe tore down the rocky hill to where the red MG was hidden. In minutes they were crossing a bridge, on their way back to Somerset Village. Near the end of the bridge a powerful black BMW started to pass them. Dark-tinted windows on the sleek performance car made it impossible to see the driver. The BMW held its position, creeping closer to the MG. "Watch out!" Joe shouted. Before Frank could hit the brakes, four thousand pounds of BMW slammed into the side of the little MG. Frank fought to stay on the bridge, but the car spun out of control, jumping over the small curb. The brothers were tossed forward as the car plummeted down the steep incline toward thirty feet of water.
Perfect Getaway (Hardy Boys Casefiles #12)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Underworld express It's the ultimate criminal operation. For a huge fee Perfec Getaway Travel, Ltd. will provide a clean escape from the long arm of the law. To crack the ring, Frank and Joe pose as a pair of crooks looking for a safe hideout. But when they finally manage to reach the end of the line, the brother detectives find themselves trapped in a private kingdom. A garden of evil, ruled by a murderous crime lord-where an exit visa costs a cool five million dollars. . . . ============ From inside the book: JUNGLE RODEO Joe started across the corral, slowly. From the stable, he heard the whinny of a horse-in a cubicle near the gate, the chief sat astride a palomino. The door of the cubicle shot up, and the horse raced right for Joe as the chief gave a wild, ear-shattering whoop. At the first sound, Joe started moving. His feet were pumping beneath him, his heart was pounding in his chest, and his lungs felt as if they would burst. He rounded the corral, approaching the gate from the opposite side, steadily getting closer. Then he felt the rope drop down over his shoulders and tighten. And he heard the chief's cry of triumph. "You lost, boy. You're dead!"
Too Many Traitors (Hardy Boys Casefiles #14)
by Franklin W. DixonFrom the back of the book: Triple treat When Frank wins an all-expense-paid vacation to Spain's Costa del Sol, the brother detectives are set for some good times in the sunny paradise. But instead of flamenco music and bullfights, Frank and Joe find themselves running from the law. It seems their official tour guide has been murdered, and the evidence points directly at them. To make things worse, the Hardys are also being hunted as spies by the KGB-and as traitors by the Network. Trapped in very tight spots, Frank and Joe need every ounce of daring and skill...to keep from being shipped home in matching boxes. ================ From inside the book: DIRECT HIT An explosion in front of the Audi brought it to a halt and spattered it with dirt. The car half vanished in the gathering smoke. As Frank watched helplessly from the roadside, a third missile screamed down. Shock waves hurled him back as the car went up in a ball of fire. "Joe!" Frank called as he picked himself up off the ground. "Joe!" No sound came from the Audi except a steady crackling, and no movement but the dancing of the flames.