When Alice had put the knife to his throat, Joe knew that his father and brother had found him. He had hoped to bring Alice calmly to the police but she had other plans.

He was still holding onto Alice when the shot rang out, and he saw her flinch. She let out a gasp, and blood drizzled from her mouth. Her knees buckled.

For some reason he couldn’t let her fall to the ground, so Joe gently laid her down. Alice’s breath came in quick, fast gasps, and her mouth moved as she tried to speak to him. He leaned down, almost placing his ear against her mouth.

His head shot up and he stared down at her, wanting to know if what she said was true...but it was too late. Joe gazed down into her lifeless eyes.

Unable to stand sitting in the car anymore, Frank got out. He was about to make his way over to Fenton and Chief Collig when the gunshot rang out. Over the crackle of the police radio, Frank heard that the sharpshooter had hit his target. Fear for Joe made Frank hurry to the back of the house; he almost lost his balance when one crutch slipped out from under him.

Frank was halfway up the driveway with Fenton and Chief Collig running behind him when the three men spotted Joe kneeling beside Alice.

“Joe – Joe – were you hit?!” Frank called out.

Joe looked up. Frank was standing next to him – and then Joe noticed that his brother was on crutches and there was a cast on his left leg.

“Frank, what happened to you?” He stood up, staring intently into Frank’s eyes.

“Alice is what happened to me…I’ll tell you about it later.”

Alice, Joe thought a little angrily, then he recalled taking Vanessa home. “Vanessa! Alice was hiding in the van and…and she attacked us…”

Fenton came up and placed his arm on Joe’s shoulder. “She’s fine, Joe. She had a mild concussion and a nice bump on her forehead, but otherwise she’s fine.”

When Joe had been kneeling over Alice, Frank had noticed what looked like a red rash around his brother’s left ankle.

“Dad, Joe’s left ankle looks chafed – Alice must have kept him cuffed.”

“And drugged,” Joe put in. “I didn’t know what was going on half the time.”

“You should take him to the hospital, Fenton,” Chief Collig suggested. “We can get a blood test done and find out what she used.”

“You don’t have to do that – check her pockets. I…I tried to escape – she, um…used her knee…I saw her take a pill bottle out of her pocket; next thing I know she’s shoving a pill down my throat.”

Chief Collig went over to Alice and bent down; he patted her front pockets and felt something. He took out the pill bottle; there was no label so he opened it to have a look at the pills. “Rohypnol,” he said looking up at Fenton.

“Come on, I think you should go to the hospital – make sure the drug has gotten out of your system.”

*****

Frank was taken aback that Joe didn’t argue, for he didn’t like hospitals. He stared at his brother, who was being unusually quiet. “You okay, Joe?” he asked with concern.

“Sure….I’m fine for someone who was hit on the head by a madwoman…kidnapped and kept drugged,” Joe replied somewhat sarcastically.

He was silent for a few minutes. “She didn’t deserve to die…she should never have been given a jail sentence. If she had been allowed to go into a mental institution, Alice could have gotten treatment…that’s what she needed!”

They soon arrived at the hospital. Dr. Bates met them at the front entrance, for Fenton had called him before they left the Walker home.

“Can Frank come with me?” Joe turned to Fenton with a pleading look on his face.

Fenton looked at Dr. Bates who smiled and gave a nod of consent. Dr. Bates led the brothers to his office then drew blood from Joe’s arm.

“Why don’t you stay here while I take this down to the lab.” The doctor thought that Joe desired some time with Frank.

Once Dr. Bates left, Frank turned to his brother. “Okay Joe, what’s wrong? I know something else is bothering you.” When Joe didn’t answer, Frank was sure that his brother was going to keep whatever was bothering him to himself, but at last he spoke.

“I don’t think I can give Chief Collig a full statement….” Joe paused. He had been staring at the floor, but now raised his eyes to meet Frank’s, and there was a haunted look to them. “Rohypnol…that’s the ‘date rape’ drug isn’t it? A guy drops it in a girl’s drink and she can’t remember anything…not even being assaulted.”

Frank took a deep breath. What was Joe trying to tell him? “Yes, it is.”

“I…Alice kept me shackled to her bed. She…she either forgot or didn’t want to...anyway, that’s how I managed to make my escape attempt. Well…I don’t remember anything…but I do….I was naked, Frank. I’m pretty sure I asked Alice what or if anything happened.”

“What did she say?” Frank waited patiently, knowing that whatever Joe told him, he would try to help him through it.

“She said that…nothing happened. She helped me take a shower and there were no clean pajamas. I wasn’t sure I believed her until…just before she died…Alice said nothing happened. And I believe her, Frank. Because…well, one thing about Alice…she hated lies.”

Frank didn’t say anything – at first thinking that Joe was in denial. Then he thought more about what Joe said.

“You’re right Joe. Alice hated lies. She didn’t like hearing them and I’m sure she hated to lie.”

*****

Laura Hardy waited anxiously for her younger son to return home. Fenton had called home to give her the good news; she in turn had contacted Callie and Vanessa who were now waiting along with her.

“They’re here!” gasped Callie excitedly when she heard a car door slam.

Laura ran into the small hallway, letting out a happy laugh when Joe walked through the front door. Frank and Fenton followed behind him. Joe hugged his mom tightly. He felt someone ruffle his hair, and looking around, he smiled at his Aunt Gertrude.

“Is it all right if we come in?” laughed Frank as the trio was blocking the doorway.

Moving past his brother, Frank was immediately greeted by Callie – who then went to hug Joe. “I’m so glad you came home safe and sound,” Callie said softly.

“You and me both,” Joe smiled.

Vanessa stood off to the side, waiting patiently for Joe to notice her.

“I think there’s someone else who’d like to say hello,” said Fenton quietly to his wife.

Joe had seen Vanessa while being greeted by his mother. He slowly made his way to her, and reached up and gently touched her forehead. “I was afraid I’d lost you,” he said over the lump in his throat.

“You could never lose me,” replied Vanessa softly, before Joe took her in his arms and kissed her.

“Let’s give those two some privacy,” commanded Aunt Gertrude as she shooed everyone into the kitchen.

As Fenton, Laura and Callie followed Aunt Gertrude, Frank paused momentarily at the door, wondering just how long it would take Joe to realize they had left the room.

The End

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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.