oe was shaking, a torrent of emotions coursing through him. He felt angry…scared…reviled…repulsed…shamed. His breathing was rapid as he became more agitated.

Alice stared calmly at Joe, then she walked further into the room. “Oh calm down, Joe. Nothing happened – I just helped you take a shower, that’s all.”

“Where are my clothes? Why aren’t I wearing any clothes – why don’t I remember anything?!”

“I only had two pairs of pajamas for you – I couldn’t very well have you wear dirty clothes after you had a shower, now could I?”

Alice placed the tray on the nightstand. Joe moved away from her, and realized that he wasn’t shackled. Thinking of subduing Alice, he lunged at her. Caught by surprise, Alice hesitated for a moment before she started to fight back. Joe was trying to pin her down on the bed while at the same time trying to keep himself covered. They fell on the floor tangled in the sheets. Joe cried out in pain when Alice kneed him in the groin. As he lay curled up she managed to untangle herself. Reaching into her pants pocket Alice took out a bottle and removed a pill. She shoved it in Joe’s mouth, then poured juice down his throat.

She sat back trying to catch her breath, then knelt beside Joe. She smoothed his hair back, humming softly as the drug took effect. She then helped Joe up and out of the sheets. She avoided looking at the lower half of his body as she helped him back into bed. Covering Joe up, she put the shackle back on, then left the room.

She returned an hour later with clean, washed pajamas. Checking to make sure that Joe was still under the influence of the Rohypnol, she quickly undid the shackle so she could put the pajama bottoms on him, then imprisoned him again before putting the shirt on. Remembering the breakfast tray she had left that morning, Alice took it to the kitchen after she finished dressing Joe.

Her work done, she went back to the bedroom. Sitting on her side of the bed, Alice gazed at Joe’s sleeping form.

*****

“Frank I really think you should stay here with your mother.” Fenton stood facing his oldest son who was being very stubborn at the moment.

“No, I want to be there when you find Joe!”

“Frank, please listen to your father!” pleaded Laura.

“Mom I’m sorry, but I have to go! I need to make sure that…that witch didn’t hurt Joe!” Frank gazed beseechingly at Laura and Fenton.

“Frank, Ezra’s not even sure which house Alice is at! How do you know that he’ll be at this one?” Fenton looked questioningly at Frank.

“I know…I just know – I can’t explain it any other way.” Frank stood his ground, waiting anxiously for his father’s reply.

Fenton ran his hand through his hair, then let out resigned sigh. “All right – but you stay in the car!”

“I won’t be able to go anywhere,” said Frank, gazing down at the cast on his left ankle.

“Please be careful…both of you!” said Laura as she looked at her two men. “And bring back my little boy.”

Fenton wanted to tell her that she could hardly refer to Joe as a little boy but he just gave her a smile and kissed her cheek.

“I will…I’ll bring them both back safe and sound,” Fenton promised.

Laura nervously watched them walk out the door. She felt a soft hand touch her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Fenton will get Joe back. He promised and you know he’s never broken a promise,” Aunt Gertrude said softly.

Laura gave Gertrude a small smile and agreed. The two women then walked to the living room to sit and wait.

Frank sat silently in the car staring out the window, but not really seeing anything. He closed his eyes and sent a silent message to his brother.

“We’re on our way Joe….we’re on our way!”

*****

Alice was unaware of the police convoy making its way to her home. She didn’t know that the police had evacuated her neighbors behind her and beside her. She just sat on the bed gazing at Joe.

Suddenly she became alert. Something was wrong. Alice slid off the bed and walked over to the window. A bad feeling overwhelmed her and Alice stayed close to the wall, peeking out the window. It had become very quiet outside. Moving away from the window, she hurried over to Joe and released him.

Helping Joe up from the bed she ducked under his arm, her arm around his waist. Walking him out of the room Alice headed for the back door – she had to get to the garage.

“I thought I saw movement in the downstairs back window” one of the S.W.A.T. officers reported to Collig on his police radio.

“Everyone stay in your positions – I don’t want to spook this girl! There is an innocent hostage with her….Sanchez – if you get a clear shot…take it!”

“Roger that, Chief!”

Fenton wasn’t sure he’d heard Collig correctly. He turned to look at him and saw the determined gleam in the Chief’s eyes. Noting the astonished expression on his friend’s face, Collig shrugged.

“I didn’t say ‘shoot to kill’ did I?” said the non-apologetic chief of police.

“Chief…the back door is opening…she’s coming out….Damn! She’s using Hardy as a shield!”

Joe felt as if he was in a fog. His feet were bare and he could feel the soft grass tickling them. Beginning to feel steadier on his feet, he let Alice lead him across the lawn.

Alice clutched Joe’s shirt, her eyes darting everywhere, trying to see who was attempting to take Joe away from her. She caught a slight movement from the side of the house. Alice pushed Joe in front of her, grabbing a handful of his hair as she yanked his head back. She pulled out a surgical knife she had hidden in her shirt, and held it to his throat.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” she cooed softly.

“Sir…I’m sorry….but she saw me! She has some kind of weapon…it looks like some kind of knife and she has it across Hardy’s throat.”

“Sanchez….do you have a clear shot?”

“Ezra…no! What if she hurts Joe?” Fenton stared worriedly at Collig.

Joe cried out when Alice pulled his hair and forced his head back. The pain caused some of the fog in his brain to lift and he became aware of the cold steel across his throat. He blinked from the sun shining down into his eyes, and he could feel Alice’s hot breath against the back of his neck.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Alice continued to croon.

“Alice,” whispered Joe.

“It’s okay…shhh…everything is okay….I won’t let them take you away from me.”

“I know you won’t, but…you’re hurting me.” Joe hoped this would cause Alice to loosen her hold.

“I’m…I’m sorry…I don’t mean to hurt you.”

Joe felt her grip loosen a bit. Very calmly, he reached up and took hold of her wrist -- the hand that held the knife. He could feel Alice trembling as he moved her hand away. Then he turned around to face her, still keeping a tight hold on her wrist.

Joe had thought he would be able to get the surgical knife away from her, but Alice suddenly lashed out. As he was about to take the knife away from her, she knew what she had to do. She tightened her grip and lunged.

The sound of a gunshot echoed through the quiet neighborhood.

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Disclaimer

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The Hardy Boys Fan Fiction authors of the Hardy Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.