"GHOULS NIGHT OUT"

HALLOWEEN 2007 HARDY BOYS FAN FICTION CONTEST ENTRY

THE GHOST OF VANDERBEEK MANOR

by

Author A

Chapter 5

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

Joe was still upset at seeing ‘Vanessa’ lying in the coffin. He held tightly to her hand wanting to feel and make sure that she really was still with him. He was staring down at the floor – the candelabra and flashlight provided enough light for them to see where they were going – when he noticed something

“Hey Frank – take a look at this!”

Letting go of Vanessa’s hand, Joe knelt down. Poopsie sniffed the floor and gave a low whimper. Frank came over and knelt beside his brother.

“Scuff marks – someone was dragged either down here or away from here.” Frank lightly traced the scuff mark.

Poopsie started to follow a scent she had picked up.

“Looks like Poopsie has some bloodhound in her!” Joe grinned at Frank.

Making sure that Callie and Vanessa were behind them, Joe and Frank followed Poopsie. They came upon a door; Joe picked Poopsie up while Frank tried the doorknob. The door opened easily. They entered, and using the flashlight, Frank found a stairway.

“Where do you think that leads to?” Joe stood next to his brother.

“I’m fairly sure back up to the house.”

“Probably – do you think this is how everyone disappeared? And if so – where did they go?” Joe turned to Frank, a concerned expression on his face.

“Let’s not…let’s not think about that now. We have to get Vanessa and Callie to safety. Once we’re up at the house we can use our cell phones to call Dad and the police.”

Joe gave Frank a slight nod; he then turned around to take Vanessa’s hand. Frank reached out for Callie and by twos they walked up the stairs.

Frank had taken the lead, the flashlight in his hand. Callie and Vanessa were behind him with Joe taking the rear. He had handed Poopsie over to Vanessa, afraid the dog might hurt itself while he held the candelabra. Poopsie seemed to be more accepting of Vanessa now.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the top of the stairs. Frank found another door but there was no doorknob.

“Joe, I’m going to need your help over here,” Frank called out.

Callie exchanged places with Joe.  Frank had the girls move down a few steps, then he and Joe kicked at the door. Luckily they had no trouble kicking this door open. They found themselves in a walk-in closet.

“Hey – this is Cherry’s room!” Joe exclaimed in surprise as he walked out of the closet.

“No wonder Poopsie got so excited!” said Vanessa.

The lights were still out, Callie held up the candelabra, noticing that there was something odd about the room.  “Someone’s been in here,” she said. “The room has been straightened up.”

“A ghost definitely didn’t do this!” Frank shone the flashlight around the room.

“Sounds like the storm stopped.” Callie looked out the window. It was still raining but there was no thunder or lightning.

“We should check the rest of the house. Maybe Cherry or Evan came back,” suggested Joe.

“Good idea, Joe.” Frank led the way out and the four teens searched the upstairs rooms. Each found a secret passage in the bedrooms where the heirs were staying. Joe found his cell phone on top of the dresser and pocketed it. They then went downstairs, where Frank pointed out that the food he and Callie had gotten was gone. They went back to the library and found that the trapdoor was now closed.

“I don’t know about anyone else, but I could use a snack.” Joe looked hopefully at his brother.

Frank smiled and checked his cell, sighing with relief when he saw that he now had a connection.  “You and Vanessa can check if any of the food is still good. I’m going to try and call Dad.”

“Just make sure he doesn’t eat everything, Van!” Callie teasingly called out as the two teens left the library.

Frank relit the candelabra that Callie had left behind and turned off the flashlight. He took out his cell phone and was about to call Fenton when he heard a noise. It sounded like something was being pushed across the floor.

“Frank – the bookcase is moving!” Callie whispered fearfully.

Quickly guiding Callie towards the larger desk, he shoved her under it and knelt close beside her. Cautiously peering over the desk Frank saw a part of the book case open. Nigel Spencer and Julius Pumpernickel walked out, arguing.

“I know those Hardy boys fell down the trap door!” hissed Nigel.

“Then where are they?! And where are the girls?” Mr. Pumpernickel paced back and forth.

“Who cares? You wanted Vanessa Bender gone anyway!”

“Yes I did…but I’m worried about that boyfriend of hers! He and his brother could be trouble!” Mr. Pumpernickel drummed his fingers on the desk that Frank and Callie were hiding under. Luckily for them he was standing in front of the desk.

“Why? They’re just kids, for goodness sake!” Nigel walked over to the world globe and lifted the top half up. Inside was a mini bar. He took out a glass and a bottle of brandy.  “You worry too much, Julius. In ten more hours we’ll both be rich!”

“Don’t start spending your money, Nigel. These Hardy brothers aren’t your ordinary teenage boys! They’re amateur detectives – their father is Fenton Hardy! Probably the best private detective in the world and his sons are following in his footsteps!!!”

Nigel just shrugged as he took a sip of his drink, showing Julius that he wasn’t worried. Frank and Callie glanced worriedly at each other when they heard the voices of the returning Joe and Vanessa.

“Hide!” hissed Julius to Nigel who ran around towards the large desk.

Frank saw Nigel before the older man saw him. He surprised Mr. Spencer when he shoved him away just as Joe and Vanessa walked in the library.

Joe stopped short when he saw Mr. Pumpernickel in the library, but his attention was diverted when he saw Mr. Spencer slide across the room.

“Joe, get Vanessa out of here! They’re behind the disappearances!!” Frank yelled.

Dropping the tray of food he was carrying, Joe pushed Vanessa out of the library.  “Here, take my phone and call for help! Go to your room and lock the door – and be sure to block your closet door!” he added, remembering the secret passage.

Joe ran back in the library to help Frank, who was wrestling with Nigel. Mr. Pumpernickel had grabbed the brandy bottle, intending to hit Frank with it. Callie crawled out from under the desk and jumped onto Mr. Pumpernickel’s back.

Vanessa immediately called for the police and then Mr. Hardy. Poopsie was still in her arms, wiggling madly. When she finished her call to Mr. Hardy, Vanessa ran back into the library. Poopsie leapt out of her arms onto the desk just as Mr. Pumpernickel turned, trying to dislodge Callie. His arm waved in front of Poopsie’s mouth, and the little dog jumped up and clamped onto his wrist.

With a cry of pain, Mr. Pumpernickel dropped the brandy bottle onto the desk, where it rolled onto the floor. He stumbled back, almost falling due to Callie still hanging on his back.

Seeing that Callie – and now Poopsie – had Mr. Pumpernickel occupied, Joe went to help Frank. Nigel had managed to pin him to the floor when Joe grabbed him by the waist, tackling him off Frank.

The library had a fireplace, and Vanessa grasped a fire poker. She came face to face with Mr. Pumpernickel.

“Hold it right there and don’t move!” She held the poker in a menacing manner.

Mr. Pumpernickel froze, allowing Callie to slide off him.  “Get this…this orange fur ball off me!!”

Callie took the poker from Vanessa so she could get Poopsie. Joe and Frank had Nigel face down on the floor. Suddenly the sound of police sirens could be heard.

“Sounds like the cavalry is here!” Joe said with a smile.

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