The young woman stepped out of the shower and put on the new clothes that Dr. Samuels bought her. As she combed her hair she stared at herself in the mirror. She needed to lighten her hair color. But she didn’t want one of those cheap box hair colors…she wanted to go to a salon! She finished drying her hair and exited the bathroom.

“I have to go to the salon – I need to lighten my hair color.”

Samuels looked up, a puzzled expression on his face. “Why? Couldn’t we just buy one of those over-the-counter hair colors?”

Her face turned hard as she glared at the doctor. “A salon will do a better job.”

“Allie…we…I don’t have the money for that, plus we still need to find a place to hide!”

“I told you not to worry about that. I know where we can hide out. As for money…I’ve already figured that out.”

Samuels stared at the young woman; he kept his expression neutral, not wanting her to know that he was afraid.

“I think it’s time for your vitamin.” He gave her a kind smile, reaching into the briefcase for a small vial of pills. A chill coursed down his spine when she laughed.

“Oh please – those aren’t vitamins! Don’t think that you can fool me – I’ve known what those were for a long time.” Glaring at the doctor, the woman slowly walked over and took the bottle away. “You promised me – you promised that I could have them. I want Frank and Joe. You know what happens when people break their promises to me.”

Dr. Samuels could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead. His smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure.

“I would never break my promise to you but first I need you to do something for me. I need you to help me get rid of someone...but first things first. Let’s get the phone book out and look for a nice salon.”

Somewhat pacified, the young woman smiled as she searched for a phone book.

*****

Joe and Frank sat on the sofa trying to comprehend what Fenton had just told them. On their way home the night before, the brothers had heard about the prison riot over the radio. At the time they didn’t think too much about it. It wasn’t until Fenton had gathered the family together that Frank and Joe realized they should have paid more attention to the news on the riot.

“Are they sure, Fenton?” asked Aunt Gertrude anxiously.

“As sure as they can be. There were four bodies burned beyond recognition and she is missing.”

“I can’t believe it – I can’t believe she’s…dead,” Joe said in a low voice.

“She did some evil things but…she was ill and didn’t know what she was doing! Alice didn’t deserve this – she should have been sent back to the mental institution!” Frank grumbled.

“Although I wasn’t here when that girl tormented my nephews – I have to agree with Frank. Alice Walker should never have been sent to prison.” Aunt Gertrude shook her head forlornly.

“Unfortunately the court-appointed psychiatrist didn’t see it that way – he thought Alice was sane enough to know right from wrong. I’m sorry that she had to die in such a horrible way but…at least we won’t have to worry about her anymore.”

*****

Somewhere in downtown Bayport…

The young woman stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her waist-length hair now hung just below her shoulders. The dark brown had been lightened to a milk chocolate color. Her dark brown eyes sparkled with excitement as she fluffed up her new bangs. The bangs changed the shape of her face. She thought about changing her eye color but she wanted them to know it was her.

The hair stylist stood back watching her customer admire herself. The stylist glanced over at the older man who was at the counter paying for the haircut. He walked over and gave the stylist a five dollar bill.

“It’s time to go, darling.”

The woman smiled and got out of the chair, following the older man out the door. The couple walked around the corner and got into the sedan. Samuels then drove to a used car lot and traded in his 2006 Ford Mercury for a 2000 Mazda Millennium.

They then drove to a more affluent part of Bayport. Traveling to the end of the street, the car turned into a driveway which curved upward towards a house sitting on a hill. The young woman pointed to a garage behind the house, Samuels parked the car in there.

Going over to a shelf she picked up a jar filled with nails. Opening the jar she dumped the nails out until she found a key.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Dr. Samuels with a little fear in his voice.

“Very sure – now that you made sure I’m considered dead…by the time my lawyers go through my assets we’ll be long gone and no one will know we were here.”

“Won’t your neighbors wonder about a strange car driving in here?” Dr. Samuels persisted.

“They’ll just think you’re the hired help,” the woman scoffed as she opened the back door.

She walked into the kitchen; the house had a stale smell to it. Walking further into the house she noted the white sheets covering the furniture. She smiled happily as she stood in the middle of the foyer.

She was home.

*****

Fenton was about to go out – Laura had noticed they were low on milk and asked Fenton to get some. He was surprised to find Sam Radley standing on the doorstep, his hand poised to knock on the door.

“Sam, what are you doing here?”

“I found out something interesting about that prison riot. You got time so we can talk?”

Fenton stepped out, closing and locking the front door behind him. He motioned for Sam to follow him. “I was on my way to the store; ride with me and tell me all about it.”

Joe poured the last of the milk into his cereal, wondering when his dad would return with a new gallon of milk. He was painstakingly chewing a spoonful of cereal when Frank walked into the kitchen. Frank was about to get a bowl when Joe spoke up.

“We’re out of milk.”

“I see there was enough for you,” Frank commented sourly.

“Hey, you snooze, you lose! Mom sent Dad to get some more.”

Frank poured himself some orange juice before getting a blueberry muffin. He was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Joe took another mouthful of cereal, giving his older brother a look that said he wasn’t moving. With an exasperated sigh, Frank set down his juice and muffin. At that moment Aunt Gertrude walked in holding a plainly-wrapped package in her hand.

“It’s addressed to both of you,” she said, handing it to Frank.

Frank unwrapped the package then froze when he saw what was inside.

“Frank, what’s wrong?” Joe jumped out of his chair, hurrying over to his brother.

Aunt Gertrude turned and looked over Frank’s shoulder. “That’s a very good sketch of you and Joe. Who’s A. W.?”

Joe stood next to Frank. “Alice Walker,” he gulped.

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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.