Flesh and Blood Read Online Free PDF Page B

haze he watched as the black-clad man retreated into the darkness of the alley and disappeared.
    He tried to push himself up again, but again he fell back to the wet pavement.
    "Frank!" he heard someone yell in the distance.
    His name echoed throughout his head, followed by a pounding that felt as though something were trying to push its way out through his temples.
    He felt hands on his arm, turning him over. Once on his back, he looked up into the gray-black sky. Slowly the image of his brother came into focus.
    "Joe," Frank said weakly. "I thought you were shot."
    "Played possum," Joe said. "You okay?"
    "Yeah, I guess." Frank sat up. "If you call an eighteen-wheel truck driving through your head okay." With Joe's help, Frank stood on wobbly legs. He had to lean against the brick building to steady himself.
    "Not a truck," Joe said, fingering the three-inch hole the bullet had left in the brick wall.
    "Automatic," Frank said, looking at the hole. "Three-fifty-seven."
    "Frank! Joe! You okay?" Liz ran from the building, her face showing worry and fear. Several other employees were with her.
    "Yeah," Frank said, trying to stand to his full height. He rocked back and forth as dizziness washed over him.
    "What happened?" Liz asked.
    "We don't know," Joe answered quickly. "I think I ought to treat that bump," he said to Frank. "And I think we have to get in out of the rain."
    "Yeah," Frank replied.
    "Everything's okay," Joe said to the small crowd that had formed around them. "Just a little accident." As the others headed back inside, Joe said to Liz, "I need to talk to you, Liz."
    Once in the back of the van Joe got out the first-aid kit and began applying iodine to the back of Frank's head.
    "Owww!" Frank shouted. He glared at Joe, who only smiled. "You don't have to enjoy this."
    "What happened?" Liz asked again.
    "We were shot at," Joe began.
    "Bobby Mock, we think," Frank interrupted.
    "How can you be sure?" Liz asked. "According to my sources, Leonard Mock said that Bobby is supposed to kill your father. Not you."
    "We're the next best targets," Frank said as Joe finished up and put the first-aid kit away.
    "I think the police ought to know about this," Liz said as she started to open the door.
    "Wait," Frank said. He made a grab for her but fell back. "Man, I'm going to have some headache."
    Joe hopped out into the clean dry air. The rain had finally let up. Joe gently grabbed Liz's arm to turn her around.
    He began softly. "Look, Liz, Chief Collig has already threatened to throw us in jail for interfering with the investigation. If he knows about this, he'll put us in protective custody, and we won't be able to help find this Bobby Mock before he tries to kill our father."
    "I don't know," Liz said hesitantly.
    "Please, Liz. For me." Joe flashed his best smile at Liz and tried to look slightly helpless to appeal to her sympathies.
    Liz crossed her arms. "You don't have to try to charm me, Joe Hardy." She stared for a few moments into Joe's eyes. "Okay. If it'll help, I won't say anything."
    "Trying to steal my girl again, Hardy?"
    Joe and Liz turned as Don walked up to the trio, his hands in his pockets.
    Joe flushed with anger and embarrassment. "No."
    Don looked into the van. "Hey, Frank. What are you doing in there?"
    "Just getting ready to leave," Frank replied, gently stepping down from the van. "Find out anything?"
    "No," Don replied with a shrug. "The computers were down. I'll have to go through the files by hand. That's why I came back here. I need to know roughly when Bobby Mock was adopted."
    "I'll get it," Liz said and dashed into the newspaper building.
    Don turned back to the Hardys. "As soon as I locate the file, I'll copy it and give it to you."
    "You'll get into a lot of trouble if your father finds out," Frank said.
    "No problem. I'd hate to think what it would be like to lose my father." Don's voice was distant, distracted.
    Frank looked at Joe. "We need to get home."
    "Why are you going there?" Don's