Helpless against the armed giant in his present condition, Pete could only slump to the floor as they drove away. What seemed like hours later he slowly clawed his way up the side of the bed. He searched for the telephone to alert Jim Hardin. If she really intended to take the hoodlum to the CD's, Jim was in immediate danger. Pen's phone rang emptily until the answering machine picked up. Pete did all he could at the moment.