Cult of Crime

Read Cult of Crime for Free Online Page B

Book: Read Cult of Crime for Free Online
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon
Tags: Mystery
truck.
    “Vivasvat,” Joe said. “I thought I’d have to leave without getting another crack at you.”
    “You aren’t going anywhere! boy,” Vivasvat said. He crooked a finger at Joe and motioned him forward, challenging him- “Come on, boy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
    Joe vaulted up, headfirst, and butted Vivasvat in the stomach. Though the wind was knocked out of him, Vivasvat grabbed Joe by the ears and swiftly jabbed his knee up, smashing Joe in the Adam’s apple. Joe staggered back, barely remaining on his feet.
    “Come on, boy,” Vivasvat taunted. “Come on.”
    Joe moved cautiously, his hands clenched into fists and his left arm raised for protection. “Come on,” Vivasvat repeated, and he laughed. Joe feinted with his left hand. Vivasvat knocked the hand aside, but in doing so opened himself up to Joe’s right. Joe swung, putting all his strength behind the jab.
    With a chuckle, Vivasvat stepped aside. Caught off balance, Joe lurched forward, and Vivasvat cupped his hands together and smashed them against the back of Joe’s head. His knees weak, Joe staggered toward the black van.
    In the corner of his eye, Joe saw Vivasvat coming up behind him. But he was still stunned. Vivasvat’s blows were expertly ‘placed, and though Joe was a fine amateur boxer, he could see he was outclassed by the Rajah’s henchman.
    Vivasvat swung again, and Joe brought both arms up in front of his face, fending off the blow. He fell back against the side of the van. Rest, he said to himself. Concentrate. Let him tire himself out and wait for the right moment.
    A fist slammed against his temple, and another on his chest. A third blow smashed into his arms, and he felt the strength drain from them. They were useless now, dangling by his side Vivasvat smiled and put a hand under Joe’s chin, steadying his head. “There,” Vivasvat said. “That’s just the way I want to remember you, wimp.” He drew back a fist, aiming the killing blow at Joe’s face.
    As Vivasvat swung, Joe suddenly jerked his head to one side. Vivasvat screamed, and Joe heard bones crunch against the tempered steel side of the van. He swung a right uppercut into Vivasvat’s stomach, and the man doubled over. Joe slammed both hands down on Vivasvat’s neck, and Vivasvat dropped to the ground and lay still.
    Taking a deep breath, Joe climbed into the van and started the motor. He was too tired to hear the screams of the Rajah’s followers or the gun battle going on between Frank and the Rajah’s bodyguards. He switched on the lights and drove the van onto the battlefield.
    “Over here!” Frank shouted, and Joe saw him huddled against one of the lodges. Bullets smacked into the van, but they had no more effect than Vivasvat’s hand had. Joe drove the van to the lodge and hit a-switch on the dashboard. The back door of the van swung open, and Frank leaped in. “Let’s get out of here,” he said. “What about Holly?” Joe asked. “We can’t leave without her.”
    “We can’t take her,” Frank said with a sigh.
    “She tried to trap me for the Rajah. She doesn’t want to go, and if we take her against her will, it’s kidnapping. Let’s go!”
    More shots were fired as the black van pulled away, and Frank stared out the back window.
    The Rajah’s followers were coming out of hiding, screaming at the van and cursing. At the forefront of the mob was Holly. Frank could barely hear her above the din.
    “I want to go, too!” she was yelling. “Take me with you, Frank! I want to go, too!”
    “Stop!” Frank cried. “Back it up! She wants to be rescued.”
    “All right!” Joe said. He slammed on the brakes and spun the van around. They sped back the way they had come.
    Shrieking, the Rajah’s followers hurled themselves out of the way. Only Holly stood in their path, illuminated by the headlights and swaying slightly, tensing for action. As they zoomed past, Frank threw open the side door. His hand went out and locked onto

Similar Books

The New Woman

Charity Norman

The Dark Messenger

Milo Spires

Skein of the Crime

Maggie Sefton

Something Good

Fiona Gibson