While Jason and Joe searched every inch of the southern end of the Old State Road, Chuck and Alyssa were well on their way down from the northern end. Alyssa, now in full metal braces, was able to move a lot faster without the aid of her wheelchair. The car was silent. Silence drove Chuck up the walls, but he knew that Alyssa was just as worried as he was about Frank and Adam. Every old house they encountered, Chuck would carefully check it out. So far there was no sign of either boy. Every house that turned up empty, dashed Alyssa’s hopes just a little more. After checking out the third house, Alyssa sighed.

"I don’t understand why I couldn’t have driven ahead of you. We could have covered more houses in less time!" Alyssa said with disgust.

Chuck just smiled. Alyssa was spunky and even more stubborn than Adam at times. It was probably why they were the perfect match. "Alyssa, you know that you are still getting used to those braces and this is not the time to do it," Chuck commented. Alyssa was still getting used to being able to move around with braces and a walker. Just recently she was able to walk with the aid of arm braces that extended all the way to the ground like little canes.

"You make me sound like an important person in this," Alyssa chimed in, crossing her arms.

"You know what I mean. Besides, you are holding the cell phone. Communication is imperative to many cases. It can make or break one," Chuck said with confidence.

"And where did you steal that line from?" Alyssa snorted.

"Your dear prince charming said that once."

Alyssa just rolled her eyes and sighed again. She did manage a slight grin at Chuck’s choice of names.

"Alyssa, Adam is going to be just fine. I have known Adam all my life and he is as tough as nails," Chuck said with sincerity. "I am also sure Frank is not going to let anything happen to him either."

"I know, but each time it is just scary. I might as well get used to it though if I am going to be involved with a detective," Alyssa commented, biting her lip.

Chuck just smiled. He was about to make a comment when he spotted the next driveway. He knew that it led to one of the abandoned farmhouses that were damaged in the floods, but there were fresh tire tracks leading out of the dirt drive and onto the pavement. He slowed down and peered up the lane, but did not see any cars or a sign of anyone even being there. Chuck drove up just a few feet farther and pulled the car over along the side of the country road.

"Did you see what I saw?" Chuck asked, looking back.

"Sure did," Alyssa said, looking back towards the old two story white house.

"That is the old Melbourne Farm. Thomas Melbourne used to live there, but the floods ruined the house and barns. He died not too long ago and the property is still held up in the estate," Chuck said. "I think I am going to check this one out with an alibi."

"What?"

"Something tells me this is it. I am going to rig the distributor my "dear sister" and see if there are any kind strangers around that will help me fix it," Chuck said, getting out of the car. "You stay here with the phone."

Chuck got out of his beloved car and started his plan in motion. Then he heard the car door open and close. Alyssa walked, with the aid of the braces, slowly up to him.

"I told you to wait in the car with the cell phone."

Alyssa held up the cell phone to show Chuck the signal strength. "It is not going to make a difference "brother dear". We are in a dead zone. I guess that Verizon(TM) guy in the commercials has not made it to this point yet," Alyssa smirked. Chuck just stared at her.

"You can wait here and be my getaway driver in case I need to jump in the windows!" Chuck said, trying to think of anything that would keep Alyssa in the car.

"First of all, I can’t drive YOUR car. Second of all, you couldn’t fit through those windows with the car sitting still, let alone trying to be the Duke Boys," Alyssa said with a sly grin. "It looks like I am going with you "big brother".

Chuck’s face went white. He knew she was right, but it was just too dangerous. Adam would kill him if anything happened to Alyssa under his care.

"Chuck, I know you mean well. However, I think that we might stand a better chance of getting help with a little bit of a helpless female persuasion. If they are in there, do you really think they would leave them for just you?" Alyssa said with a wise grin.

Chuck sighed and rolled his eyes. "FINE! Let’s just get going and get this done. Besides they might not even be in there. But if they might be, we will need to leave them a sign that we know they are there and drive up the road until we get a signal."

"I think that is a plan."

So slowly, but surely Chuck and Alyssa made their way down the abandoned lane to the old farmhouse.

 

Inside the house, Frank and Adam were still plotting their escape plan. Their thoughts were interrupted when they heard Samuel call out that two teenagers were walking up the drive. Adam and Frank held their breath as they listened from down in the basement of the old house. Had Jason and Joe found them? If so, were they walking into a trap?

"Dang gonit! Why are they here? We don’t have nothin’," Samuel scowled. "I guess we are going to have to make more room downstairs."

"BITE YOUR TONGUE YOU IDIOT! I would say they just need a little help. We are going to be nice country boys and offer whatever it takes to get them going again. UNDERSTAND!" Cross said in a threatening manner. "We don’t need to git them all suspicious."

Just then, Samuel opened up the trap door.

"If either of you brats goes makin’ any racket, one of yuns is goin’ to git some lead right in the head. Got it?" Samuel threatened, putting his small pistol in his belt under his shirt. Then he slammed the door shut.

The brothers then heard both men walk across the house towards the front.

"Howdy? What brings you here?" Cross’ voice boomed in a friendly tone.

"My sister and I were just driving around when our car just suddenly quit. Our cell phone doesn’t have a signal and we didn’t know if you happened to have a phone?" a familiar voice yelled back.

Adam had heard that voice before… CHUCK! But who was with him?

"We don’t have a phone. We just got moved in here just today," Samuel answered sternly. "Sorry about your luck."

"But sir, I am just plain worn out from walking up the lane. Could I at least take a rest in the shade?" a female voice pleaded.

Adam’s heart sank as he looked over at Frank. "It’s Alyssa! She must be with Chuck. We have to do something. They can hurt her and she can’t fend for herself!" Adam whispered in a panic. Frank reached over and patted Adam on the shoulder. Adam was shocked, but instantly felt better with Frank’s reassurance.

It was like Jason was right there, in the room with him saying everything is going to be all right.

"Why sure you can miss," Cross said sweetly. "Let me help you out there."

"Why thank you sir. These things just tire me out, but they are better than my wheelchair," Alyssa said with a helpless female tone.

"Hey Sam, why don’t you go and help this young man get his car going," Cross said as the boys heard the front door open and a clunking sound as Alyssa walked across the floor.

"Sure, I won’t be long," Samuel said.

"Thank you. I really appreciate the help. Dad is going to kill me if I don’t take real good care of my sister and get her back home. It is almost time for her afternoon nap," Chuck said weakly. He did not like it at all that Alyssa was staying by herself in the house, but he could not see any way around it.

Alyssa, on the other hand, was ecstatic! She knew she needed to get in that house and she was going to use any excuse to do just that. Though she felt confident that she would be safe, Alyssa could tell that Chuck was not that crazy about leaving her alone.

Cross led her into the kitchen area and let her sit down in one of the only two chairs in the house. He quickly offered her a bottle of water from a cooler. Alyssa accepted the water graciously, not wanting to cause suspicion. Cross quickly engaged Alyssa in a small friendly conversation with her. They talked about just the basics of life and Alyssa’s current condition.

Adam had to chuckle at his girlfriend’s acting abilities. While all that was going on, Frank and Adam were trying to think of a way to let Alyssa know that they were in the house. However, with Cross being right there, it seemed like an impossible feat.

"Did you know that I am trying to learn to dance with these things on?" Alyssa said with her North Carolina accent shining through. Adam loved that accent.

"Really? How in the world are you doing that?" Cross commented, just like a gentleman.

"Like this," Alyssa answered. With that, a shuffling could be heard and then a rhythmic banging sound.

Adam recognized what Alyssa was doing. She was trying to use Morse code. Adam had taught her a little bit of it, but she didn’t know that much about it. He quickly whispered to Frank what she was doing. Both boys listened closely. Though it was jumbled with a few extra letters, Alyssa was tapping out her message.

AK, FH. R U HERE?

"Get on my shoulders. When she goes to tap again, you tap back," Frank said. Adam scurried to get on Frank’s shoulders to be able to reach the spot just under Alyssa. Adam struggled to get up, almost killing Frank in the process.

"Watch it Adam, you are not exactly a featherweight," Frank grunted.

"My name is Joe and I am doing my best. It is hard to do this in the dark with nothing to grab on to you know," Adam quipped back. Finally he was able to reach the wooden floor just enough to get a solid knock.

He banged three times in three intervals.

Cross was so taken in by Alyssa that he didn’t even hear the extra three sets of knocks, but Alyssa did. With a smile of success, she sat back down in exhaustion. Now she just needed to get out of that house.

"You know, you sure are a pretty thing," Cross said as he got up and walked over to Alyssa.

"Eh, you are being too kind sir. All of these scars and stuff," Alyssa said with her accent. She was starting to get a little concerned with the way Cross was eyeing her.

Cross reached out and stroked her cheek. It took all of Alyssa to not jump out of her skin. "I think you are a beauty who deserves a little male love. Why any man on Earth should be honored to be in your presence," Cross said with a crooked smile. Alyssa almost had to gag when she saw the worst decayed set of teeth that she had ever laid eyes on.

Adam’s heart started to race. Frank was trying to get him off of his shoulders, but Adam was fighting to stay on.

"Frank, we have to help Alyssa. Get me over to that door!" Adam called out in a very low voice.

But Frank did not move. "No, it is too risky."

This made Adam even more determined, even as Frank lowered him to the dirt floor. The silence killed him as he heard footsteps approach Alyssa’s approximate location.

He grabbed Frank by the shirt in desperation.

"We have to help her! She is in trouble," Adam whispered urgently. "That man is going to hurt the girl I love!" But Frank just grabbed him from behind and covered his mouth.

"We can’t risk it. We could get us all killed," Frank said sternly as he held Adam in a tight hold. Adam fought against Frank, but Frank’s hold was too strong.

"I am just another female Frankenstein. I had a boyfriend before everything, but he left right after I was in the wheelchair. I guess I didn’t show him the right attention or something," Alyssa remarked, starting to get really uncomfortable. By now, Cross was right in front of her. He bent down and stroked her back. Alyssa felt the cold chills run up and down her spine.

"I can show you the attention that a beauty like you deserves," Cross commented as he started to kiss her neck. Alyssa was about to throw up, but she knew she had to keep her cool. She could only imagine what Adam was going through below her. "How do you like that?" Cross asked as he stopped just inches from her face.

"You are just being kind," Alyssa said, trying to show no fear. It was then that Cross leaned in towards her.

"I know you might think that I might be a little old for you, but allow me to show you how a real gentleman treats a lady," Cross said with a smile.

Adam was about to go out of his mind. He could only imagine what would happen next.

If Frank Hardy thinks I am going to sit around and listen to my Alyssa getting groped or even worse by that jerk, then he has another thing coming!

Adam lurched forward, but Frank’s hold was still just as strong.

"We can’t. They will kill us all. Alyssa can handle it," Frank said. All the while, in his head, he was hoping and praying that what he was saying was true.

The Hardy Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation, The authors 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 them without express permission of the authors.