SKIN DEEP

by

AUTHOR C

Chapter 2

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

EPILOGUE

As Fenton parked his car, he studied the shop. At one time, it had been an old dry-goods store. Then some time later, it was an antique furniture shop. Now, apparently, someone new had taken over and made it a costume shop. He was surprised at the display window's grotesque mask but shrugged it off. Obviously the owner liked the macabre.

Joe burst out of the car and to the door of the shop as fast as he could move. Fenton and Frank followed a bit more calmly. The three of them entered the shop and Fenton noticed the spicy scent of pumpkin. It nearly overwhelmed the small space.

A woman with silvery hair and a long black dress came out the back. She seemed to hesitate when she saw Fenton but then after seeing the boys, she smiled. "That was...fast."

Joe darted toward the area designated for kids. Fenton saw no harm in letting him take off. He nodded to the woman. "Joe said he found a pirate costume."

"Yes. I am Remy. Remy Constance." She held out a slender pale hand and Fenton gave it a cursory shake.

"Fenton Hardy. I was wondering, do you sell adult costumes?"

"Yes, I do." Her eyes flicked down for a moment and then looked at him, a bit more dispassionately. "I also have matching outfits for husband and wife."

"I don't know if Laura would want matching. I'll have to check with her."

Joe trudged back to his father. "It's gone. We waited too long and it's gone!"

Frank blinked and raced back to the children's section. He came back a moment later. "The one I wanted is gone too."

Remy looked at the boys for a moment as if she had no idea who they were or where they'd come from, then she tossed her silvery hair behind one shoulder. "Oh....Forgive me, no, they're not gone. I merely removed them from the racks to be certain both costumes were in excellent condition."

It took a moment for Joe to get what she meant. "You mean you saved it for me..." He gestured to Frank. "For us?"

"Why wouldn't I?" She gestured to the doorway that led to the private section of the shop. "Dressing rooms are that way. Why don't you go try the costumes on."

As soon as the boys disappeared behind the beaded curtain, Remy turned to Fenton. "Is there anything in particular you would like to be?"

Before Fenton could answer, the tiny bell over the door chimed and he turned to see Callie and her mother. "Well, hello."

Callie managed a smile. "Hi, Mr. Hardy."

Her mother, Elizabeth, chuckled. "Callie insisted we come this very minute."

"Joe did too. It is very intriguing..." Fenton nudged a container full of plastic swords, axes and hatchets. "Very intriguing."

Remy focused her attention on Callie Shaw and her mother. "Welcome to Parlor Tricks. Please feel free to look around for the perfect costume."

Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you."

Callie tugged her mother's hand. "Come on."

Remy turned back to Fenton. "Yes?"

"I think I'll just look for now. Thank you."

Remy glared at him as he turned away but then shrugged it off. Only a little while now...

*****

Craig Hooper let out an exasperated sigh as he searched for a parking space in front of the costume shop. He glanced at his son and grunted. "Calm down, Alan."

"Dad, just let me out here. After you park, you can come inside."

Craig sighed, more so because Alan was right. "All right, go on with you."

Biff flashed his father a mega-watt smile and got out of the car. He dashed into the shop so fast he was almost a blur. Craig shook his head and finally found a parking space a block away. He hurried back to the shop but soon realized he wouldn't waste his time rushing to get there since the shop was crowded as it was. He noticed the odd mask in the window and shuddered. The eye holes were chillingly blank and yet he felt as if it watched him. Craig shook his head to rid himself of such crazy thoughts and went inside.

The shop was indeed crowded with parents and children and yet there wasn't total chaos. All the children were choosing costumes and taking their turns in the dressing room while the adults wandered around the interior. He spotted Fenton Hardy, knowing his son and the detective's youngest son were good friends. He lifted a hand to sketch a wave. "So you're here too, hmm?"

Fenton nodded. "Joe insisted on coming here today."

"So did Alan." Craig saw Elizabeth Shaw waiting patiently for her daughter, thought he saw Isaiah Cohen discussing something with his son Philip. "Looks like the whole gang's here."

Fenton noticed it too. "Well, they were all together this afternoon when they found this place." He shook his head. "The shop's called Parlor Tricks though. Odd name for a costume shop."

"Not necessarily."

Both men turned to see Vincent Prito standing there, looking somewhat out of place among the costumes. "Parlor tricks...magic...sleight of hand."

"It is not all the same," said Remy in a frosty tone.

The three men turned to see the silver-haired woman frowning at them. She seemed to catch herself and gave them a faint smile. "Excuse me." She turned on her heel and disappeared into the back of the shop again.

Vincent Prito watched her leave. "Hmm, not that friendly, is she?"

Fenton shook his head slowly. "Apparently she's new in town." He narrowed his eyes as he came to a decision to find out a little more about Miss Remy Constance.

"Dad." Joe came running up to him clad in a white shirt with billowy sleeves, leather vest and breeches along with knee-high boots. "Look."

"Wow, a fearsome and dreaded pirate," said Fenton with a smile.

Joe twirled around and then brandished the play sword just as Frank came up, clad in his costume. Fenton was surprised at the detail of the outfit. "Well, well, Sherlock Holmes."

"You like it, Dad?" asked Frank.

"I like them both. Go change back and I'll pay for them."

Joe gave his father a hug. "Thanks, Dad." He took off for the dressing rooms. Frank just grinned and followed his brother.

As if by magic, Remy appeared again, heading for the old-fashioned cash register. Fenton moved to the counter. "I'm getting the pirate costume and the Sherlock Holmes costume."

"Excellent choices," she said in an odd tone. "You will wish for the accessories for each?"

Fenton arched an eyebrow. "How much extra?"

"The accessories are free with the purchase of the costumes."

Fenton arched his other eyebrow just as his sons ran up to him, their costumes in their hands. "Really?" He glanced down at them. "Boys, you want the accessories for the costumes? They're free."

Joe beamed. "Please, Dad? Please?"

Fenton turned back to Remy. "We'll take the accessories."

She nodded and without looking at the tags, typed on the keypad for a moment. "That will be forty-five dollars and sixty-seven cents."

Fenton blinked, not sure he heard right. Last year, Laura had ended up paying nearly a hundred dollars at the costume shop in the mall. "Did you say $45.67?"

"Yes."

Instead of grabbing his credit card, Fenton handed her two twenties and a ten. "I'm not complaining, but that's very cheap."

She gave him a distant smile as she took the money and hit the button to make the drawer open. "Halloween is a special time of year, Mr. Hardy. A special time for children. I love accommodating children's imaginations." She handed him his change. "Allow me to get the accessories and our transaction will be complete."

Fenton nodded and watched her pick out a curved smoking pipe for the Sherlock Holmes outfit and a bag of gold coins and a dagger for the pirate costume. She bagged them along with the costumes and handed the brown bag with twine handles to Fenton. "Blessed be."

Fenton took the bag, wondered at her words but Joe and Frank were so anxious to get home and show off their good fortune, he barely had time to tell Craig and Vincent good bye. Something was very odd about the shop owner, he just couldn't pin-point what...yet.

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