The List
Chapter Fifteen
Joe winced in pain as he felt the tip of the knife slide down his chest. Soon, he felt the sticky substance of his blood clinging to the hairs on his chest. 'Ralph didn't cut deep,' he thought. 'He must still need me.' A couple of minutes later, Joe heard a door shut and lock, then silence.
Fank pulled to a stop in his driveway and got out. "Oh, Frank," he heard a voice shout at him. He turned around and saw Mrs. Winebarger coming down the street toward him.
Frank stood still, waiting for her. "I wanted to thank your dear mother for her help," she said to Frank, holding out a covered dish. "I made a strawberry-rhubbarb pie for your family," she said.
"Thank you," Frank said, taking the dish and smiling. Next to apple pie, strawberry-rhubbarb was his favorite.
"I just don't understand why that boy did it," Mrs. Winebarger stated, her face troubled.
"What boy?" Frank inquired.
"That young boy with red hair," she said. "He's the one who told me how wonderful your mother's garden was," she continued. "But, I talked with Mary next door, and she said she saw him running away from my garden with dirt all over his hands."
Frank's smile had vanished, but now a ray of hope could be seen in his eyes. "Would you know him if you saw him again?" Frank asked her.
"Well, of course I would recognize Ralph if I saw him again," she told him.
"Ralph?" Fank asked.
"Why, yes," she said. "Mary reminded me he was Albert Hays' son."
"Mrs. Winebarger, would you please call the police and tell them what you've just told me?" he asked, excited.
"Why, of course," she argued. "But why?"
"It's a long story," he told him. "But it's very important."
"I'll call at once," she promised, hurrying back to her house as Frank went inside his.
As soon as Frank walked inside, he set the pie down and picked up the phone and dialed the Shaws. "Let everyone know when they check in, Ralph Hays is the killer," he told Mr. Shaw. "And call the school and let the girls know," he added.
"What are you going to do?" Mr. Shaw inquired.
"I'm heading over to Ralph's now," Frank said. "When the guys call, have them meet me there."
Frank had decided to take his motorcycle to Ralph's before he had hung up the phone. He thought it would be much faster. He picked up the pie and walked into the kitchen, planning on putting the pie in the fridge on his way out.
When he walked through the door into the kitchen, his eyes widened and his body froze in terror. Ralph, still wearing a mask, stood on the other side of the kitchen table. In his hand was a butcher knife covered in blood.
"You should have stopped," Ralph hissed, his hazel eyes locked on Frank's brown ones.
"No," whispered Frank, throwing the pie at Ralph's face and rushing forward.
Ralph ducked the pie and tipped the table over, causing Frank to fall. By the time Frank had regained his footing, Ralph was gone.
Frank called the police department and was patched through to Con, who was at Miller's Pawn Shop with Mr. Hardy. Frank told them about Ralph and the bloody knife.
"Stay put," ordered Mr. Hardy. "We're on our way."
"No," Frank said. "I'm going to Ralph's place. He may have Joe hidden there somewhere."
"Be careful," Mr. Hardy told Frank. "Someone just found Aaron's body lying inside the fence at the Hillside cemetery."
"I...I'll be careful," Frank promised, more scared than he had ever been. Any hope of finding Joe alive fading away.
When Frank arrived at Ralph's house, Tony and Chet were already there, having found the Sommers' too distraught to be of any assistance.
"What are we looking for?" Chet asked. "Your dad said the police were searching this place earlier."
"I know," Frank replied, his mouth set in a grim line and his face hard. "But they were looking for a connection to the killer via Amy's class. We're looking for a clue as to where he is hiding Joe." Chet and Tony exchanged glances. Neither of them believed Joe was still alive.
Frank knocked on the door while Chet and Tony stood quietly behind him. The door opened and a tall man with beady green eyes and a red beard glowered at the three boys. "What do you want?" he barked at the trio.
"Your son has killed seven people," Frank said, staring the man in the eyes. "The first was the guard at the jewelry store which he robbed."
"You're off your rocker!" Mr. Hayes stormed as a police cruiser, lights flashing, pulled up in front of the house.
Con and Mr. Hardy got out of the car and joined the boys on the porch. "I'd like to see Ralph Hayes," Con told the man.
"Why?" Mr. Hayes asked, fearfully glancing at the three boys. "You people have already looked here. You said he wasn't a victim."
"We said he was on the list of victims," Con corrected him. "Now, he is a suspect and I intend to take him down to headquarters for questioning."
"He ain't here!" Mr. Hayes said firmly.
"Then where is he?" Frank demanded.
"Mr. Hayes, you do realize that if you know where he is and you don't tell us, then you will become an accessory to seven, possibly eight, counts of murder?" Con asked the man.
"I...I'm not sure where he is," Mr. Hayes said, his gaze falling down to his shoes. "He came home earlier, then left. He likes to hang out down by the old Mertz' warehouse."
"Thank you, Sir," Con said as another cruiser pulled up behind the first. "These officers have a warrant to search the premises," he added as the two officers got out and came to the door.
"Yeah, yeah," Mr. Hayes said, pushing the screen door open and letting them enter.
Mr. Hardy, Con, Frank, Chet, and Tony all headed out to the Mertz' warehouse. They parked roughly a quarter of a mile away and hiked silently to the building. Frank peered through a window and saw Ralph was there with the stolen loot from the jewelry store. His heart sank when he never saw Joe. He returned to the others and told them what he saw. Con radioed in for backup, then spilt the group up to cover both entrances to the warehouse.
The group rushed inside. Ralph looked up, shock and disbelief at having been found filling his features. He pulled out his gun but Mr. Hardy, who along with Con, had entered with their guns drawn, fired a shot, hitting Ralph in the shoulder.
Ralph dropped the gun as the searing pain started. He moved backwards, trying to make a break for it, but Frank and Chet had moved in and captured his arms before he could escape.
"Let go of me!" Ralph snarled.
"It's over," Con told him. "You're under arrest."
"Not if you want to see Joe alive again," Ralph said, his eyes narrowing on Mr. Hardy. "He's alive, just a little bloody is all. But if you don't release me, he won't be alive much longer."
"Where is he?" Frank demanded, squeezing Ralph's wounded arm.
"No way, Hardy," Ralph told him, smiling in spite of his pain. "You let me go and I'll release him. If you don't, I'll tell you were to find his body next week."
"Why next week?" Tony demanded.
"Cause it takes at least three days to die of thirst," Ralph answered. "What's it to be?" he asked, looking at Mr. Hardy. "How badly do you want your son back?"
"You've already killed seven people," Mr. Hardy said, his face full of pain. "I'd be a fool to believe you haven't already killed Joe."
"You're not a fool," Ralph said. "Just the man who is killing his own son."
Con pulled Ralph away from the distraught group and read him his rights, putting the cuffs on him. "You're going to a hospital and then to jail," Con told him. "If Joe is still alive, your only chance of getting out in this lifetime is to tell us where he is."
Ralph laughed. "Next week," he said, grinning. Con led Ralph outside to where four squad cars had arrived. He was taken away in one and the rest of the officers entered the warehouse. A search of the building found all the missing loot, but no sign of Joe.
It was a sad group that left the warehouse that night. Frank shivered and looked up as he exited the building. The evening sky was dark. Even the moon had hidden from view.
Not wanting the Hardys to be alone, Chet, Biff, Tony, Phil, Callie, and Vanessa were all gathered in the living room at the Hardy home later that evening. Chief Collig had just called and told them Ralph had confessed to the murders, burglary, messing up Mrs. Winebarger's garden, even breaking into Callie's. But he refused to admit killing Joe, insiting he would tell where to find his body next week.
The thunder boomed and lightening lit up the night sky as the Hardys and their friends huddled together saying silent prayers for Joe.
Callie was holding Frank, who couldn't stop the flow of tears which had started on his way home from the warehouse.
Vanessa sat beside Mrs. Hardy, the two crying and hugging each other while Mr. Hardy stood at the living room window, staring sightlessly into the night.
The others were all in various stages of shock. Each consummed with a deep loss.
Thunder cracked again and the room was plunged into darkness save for the second of light from the turbulent night sky.
Frank stood up. "There are some candles in the basement," he said. "I'll get them." He hurried off before anyone could offer to help. He appreciated his friends being there, but right now, he needed to be alone.
He took the flashlight that was kept on a hook by the basement door and reached to open it. Vaguely surprised to find it locked, he moved the dead bolt and descended the stairs. He shone the light on the floor in front of him so as not to trip over anything. He was about halfway across the basement when the light hit something causing him to come to a complete standstill, his heart almost stopping it's rhymatic beating.
"Joe," Frank whispered, rushing forward and kneeling down beside the treasure the light had found.
Frank quickly removed the tape and gag from Joe's mouth. "Are you okay?" Frank asked softly, fresh tears sliding down his cheeks. This time, however, they were tears of joy.
His mouth too dry to answer, Joe nodded his head. Frank looked at the wound on his brother's chest. "It doesn't look too bad, but you do need to have it cleaned," Frank told Joe, pulling out his pocket knife and starting to cut the tape from his brother's arms. Frank took the tape off and could see where Ralph had started cutting Joe near his throat and gone straight down to his navel. The area where the tape had been revealing the only uncut skin in the path.
"Ra...ra.." Joe tried to speak but Frank held a finger to Joe's lips.
"Ralph's in jail," Frank told him. "He gave a full confession for the robbery and the murders. We just...." he broke off, taking a deep breath and sniffing. "We just couldn't find you," he finally said, slicing the tape which held Joe's wrists together.
Joe reached up and began trying to free his eyes and hair from the tape as Frank tackled the tape binding Joe's left ankle to another pipe.
"Frank!" His father's voice called down from the top of the steps. "Do you need some help?"
Joe was having a hard time placing the voice which was so heavy with emotion, but Frank never had that problem. "Yes, Dad!" he shouted, his tone jubilant.
Mr. Hardy came down the steps as fast as he could with only the flshlight to guiide him. "Thank God!" he shouted, seeing Joe in the beam of light.
Joe finished removing the tape and blinked into the beam from his dad's flashlight. Mr. Hardy quickly lowered it and came to Joe. He fell to his knees and pulled Joe to him in a tight hug.
Joe smiled at his father when he was released. Frank finished removing the tape from Joe's other ankle and they helped him to stand up.
Joe's eyes widened in surprsie as he saw familiar items when the beams of light hit them. Frank put one of Joe's arms around his neck while Mr. Hardy did the same with Joe's other arm. Together, they half carried Joe, who was feeling the familiar twang of pins and needles associated with the reawakening of his legs, up the steps.
"Did you get the candles?" Callie asked, coming into the kitchen where the basement entrance was located. "JOE!" she screamed. Seconds later, the entryway was filled with family and friends.
Vanessa, seeing Joe couldn't talk, filled a glass with water and brought it to him. He smiled gratefully and took several sips, the first couple hurting his dry throat. He finally tipped the glass up and devoured the contents.
"He needs to go to the hospital," Mrs. Hardy asserted.
"I'm fine," Joe assured everyone. "The cut isn't deep. Frank said you got Ralph?"
Frank and Mr. Hardy were taking turns telling Joe about Ralph's capture, but it wasn't more than five minutes before Mrs. Hardy told them to be quite. Joe had fallen asleep.
"There will be plenty of time to tell him after he has had the wound cleaned and gotten some rest," she told them.
In total agreement, all the friends left after helping Joe upstairs to bed where Mrs. Hardy took care of Joe's chest, while Mr. Hardy called the police and told them they had found Joe.
Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy went to bed and Frank sat curled up in a chair by Joe's bed. Tomorrow would find them at the police station pressing charges and gathering with friends to exchange stories. All would be normal once again. But for tonight, Frank wasn't leaving Joe's side.
End
Chapter Fifteen
Joe winced in pain as he felt the tip of the knife slide down his chest. Soon, he felt the sticky substance of his blood clinging to the hairs on his chest. 'Ralph didn't cut deep,' he thought. 'He must still need me.' A couple of minutes later, Joe heard a door shut and lock, then silence.
Fank pulled to a stop in his driveway and got out. "Oh, Frank," he heard a voice shout at him. He turned around and saw Mrs. Winebarger coming down the street toward him.
Frank stood still, waiting for her. "I wanted to thank your dear mother for her help," she said to Frank, holding out a covered dish. "I made a strawberry-rhubbarb pie for your family," she said.
"Thank you," Frank said, taking the dish and smiling. Next to apple pie, strawberry-rhubbarb was his favorite.
"I just don't understand why that boy did it," Mrs. Winebarger stated, her face troubled.
"What boy?" Frank inquired.
"That young boy with red hair," she said. "He's the one who told me how wonderful your mother's garden was," she continued. "But, I talked with Mary next door, and she said she saw him running away from my garden with dirt all over his hands."
Frank's smile had vanished, but now a ray of hope could be seen in his eyes. "Would you know him if you saw him again?" Frank asked her.
"Well, of course I would recognize Ralph if I saw him again," she told him.
"Ralph?" Fank asked.
"Why, yes," she said. "Mary reminded me he was Albert Hays' son."
"Mrs. Winebarger, would you please call the police and tell them what you've just told me?" he asked, excited.
"Why, of course," she argued. "But why?"
"It's a long story," he told him. "But it's very important."
"I'll call at once," she promised, hurrying back to her house as Frank went inside his.
As soon as Frank walked inside, he set the pie down and picked up the phone and dialed the Shaws. "Let everyone know when they check in, Ralph Hays is the killer," he told Mr. Shaw. "And call the school and let the girls know," he added.
"What are you going to do?" Mr. Shaw inquired.
"I'm heading over to Ralph's now," Frank said. "When the guys call, have them meet me there."
Frank had decided to take his motorcycle to Ralph's before he had hung up the phone. He thought it would be much faster. He picked up the pie and walked into the kitchen, planning on putting the pie in the fridge on his way out.
When he walked through the door into the kitchen, his eyes widened and his body froze in terror. Ralph, still wearing a mask, stood on the other side of the kitchen table. In his hand was a butcher knife covered in blood.
"You should have stopped," Ralph hissed, his hazel eyes locked on Frank's brown ones.
"No," whispered Frank, throwing the pie at Ralph's face and rushing forward.
Ralph ducked the pie and tipped the table over, causing Frank to fall. By the time Frank had regained his footing, Ralph was gone.
Frank called the police department and was patched through to Con, who was at Miller's Pawn Shop with Mr. Hardy. Frank told them about Ralph and the bloody knife.
"Stay put," ordered Mr. Hardy. "We're on our way."
"No," Frank said. "I'm going to Ralph's place. He may have Joe hidden there somewhere."
"Be careful," Mr. Hardy told Frank. "Someone just found Aaron's body lying inside the fence at the Hillside cemetery."
"I...I'll be careful," Frank promised, more scared than he had ever been. Any hope of finding Joe alive fading away.
When Frank arrived at Ralph's house, Tony and Chet were already there, having found the Sommers' too distraught to be of any assistance.
"What are we looking for?" Chet asked. "Your dad said the police were searching this place earlier."
"I know," Frank replied, his mouth set in a grim line and his face hard. "But they were looking for a connection to the killer via Amy's class. We're looking for a clue as to where he is hiding Joe." Chet and Tony exchanged glances. Neither of them believed Joe was still alive.
Frank knocked on the door while Chet and Tony stood quietly behind him. The door opened and a tall man with beady green eyes and a red beard glowered at the three boys. "What do you want?" he barked at the trio.
"Your son has killed seven people," Frank said, staring the man in the eyes. "The first was the guard at the jewelry store which he robbed."
"You're off your rocker!" Mr. Hayes stormed as a police cruiser, lights flashing, pulled up in front of the house.
Con and Mr. Hardy got out of the car and joined the boys on the porch. "I'd like to see Ralph Hayes," Con told the man.
"Why?" Mr. Hayes asked, fearfully glancing at the three boys. "You people have already looked here. You said he wasn't a victim."
"We said he was on the list of victims," Con corrected him. "Now, he is a suspect and I intend to take him down to headquarters for questioning."
"He ain't here!" Mr. Hayes said firmly.
"Then where is he?" Frank demanded.
"Mr. Hayes, you do realize that if you know where he is and you don't tell us, then you will become an accessory to seven, possibly eight, counts of murder?" Con asked the man.
"I...I'm not sure where he is," Mr. Hayes said, his gaze falling down to his shoes. "He came home earlier, then left. He likes to hang out down by the old Mertz' warehouse."
"Thank you, Sir," Con said as another cruiser pulled up behind the first. "These officers have a warrant to search the premises," he added as the two officers got out and came to the door.
"Yeah, yeah," Mr. Hayes said, pushing the screen door open and letting them enter.
Mr. Hardy, Con, Frank, Chet, and Tony all headed out to the Mertz' warehouse. They parked roughly a quarter of a mile away and hiked silently to the building. Frank peered through a window and saw Ralph was there with the stolen loot from the jewelry store. His heart sank when he never saw Joe. He returned to the others and told them what he saw. Con radioed in for backup, then spilt the group up to cover both entrances to the warehouse.
The group rushed inside. Ralph looked up, shock and disbelief at having been found filling his features. He pulled out his gun but Mr. Hardy, who along with Con, had entered with their guns drawn, fired a shot, hitting Ralph in the shoulder.
Ralph dropped the gun as the searing pain started. He moved backwards, trying to make a break for it, but Frank and Chet had moved in and captured his arms before he could escape.
"Let go of me!" Ralph snarled.
"It's over," Con told him. "You're under arrest."
"Not if you want to see Joe alive again," Ralph said, his eyes narrowing on Mr. Hardy. "He's alive, just a little bloody is all. But if you don't release me, he won't be alive much longer."
"Where is he?" Frank demanded, squeezing Ralph's wounded arm.
"No way, Hardy," Ralph told him, smiling in spite of his pain. "You let me go and I'll release him. If you don't, I'll tell you were to find his body next week."
"Why next week?" Tony demanded.
"Cause it takes at least three days to die of thirst," Ralph answered. "What's it to be?" he asked, looking at Mr. Hardy. "How badly do you want your son back?"
"You've already killed seven people," Mr. Hardy said, his face full of pain. "I'd be a fool to believe you haven't already killed Joe."
"You're not a fool," Ralph said. "Just the man who is killing his own son."
Con pulled Ralph away from the distraught group and read him his rights, putting the cuffs on him. "You're going to a hospital and then to jail," Con told him. "If Joe is still alive, your only chance of getting out in this lifetime is to tell us where he is."
Ralph laughed. "Next week," he said, grinning. Con led Ralph outside to where four squad cars had arrived. He was taken away in one and the rest of the officers entered the warehouse. A search of the building found all the missing loot, but no sign of Joe.
It was a sad group that left the warehouse that night. Frank shivered and looked up as he exited the building. The evening sky was dark. Even the moon had hidden from view.
Not wanting the Hardys to be alone, Chet, Biff, Tony, Phil, Callie, and Vanessa were all gathered in the living room at the Hardy home later that evening. Chief Collig had just called and told them Ralph had confessed to the murders, burglary, messing up Mrs. Winebarger's garden, even breaking into Callie's. But he refused to admit killing Joe, insiting he would tell where to find his body next week.
The thunder boomed and lightening lit up the night sky as the Hardys and their friends huddled together saying silent prayers for Joe.
Callie was holding Frank, who couldn't stop the flow of tears which had started on his way home from the warehouse.
Vanessa sat beside Mrs. Hardy, the two crying and hugging each other while Mr. Hardy stood at the living room window, staring sightlessly into the night.
The others were all in various stages of shock. Each consummed with a deep loss.
Thunder cracked again and the room was plunged into darkness save for the second of light from the turbulent night sky.
Frank stood up. "There are some candles in the basement," he said. "I'll get them." He hurried off before anyone could offer to help. He appreciated his friends being there, but right now, he needed to be alone.
He took the flashlight that was kept on a hook by the basement door and reached to open it. Vaguely surprised to find it locked, he moved the dead bolt and descended the stairs. He shone the light on the floor in front of him so as not to trip over anything. He was about halfway across the basement when the light hit something causing him to come to a complete standstill, his heart almost stopping it's rhymatic beating.
"Joe," Frank whispered, rushing forward and kneeling down beside the treasure the light had found.
Frank quickly removed the tape and gag from Joe's mouth. "Are you okay?" Frank asked softly, fresh tears sliding down his cheeks. This time, however, they were tears of joy.
His mouth too dry to answer, Joe nodded his head. Frank looked at the wound on his brother's chest. "It doesn't look too bad, but you do need to have it cleaned," Frank told Joe, pulling out his pocket knife and starting to cut the tape from his brother's arms. Frank took the tape off and could see where Ralph had started cutting Joe near his throat and gone straight down to his navel. The area where the tape had been revealing the only uncut skin in the path.
"Ra...ra.." Joe tried to speak but Frank held a finger to Joe's lips.
"Ralph's in jail," Frank told him. "He gave a full confession for the robbery and the murders. We just...." he broke off, taking a deep breath and sniffing. "We just couldn't find you," he finally said, slicing the tape which held Joe's wrists together.
Joe reached up and began trying to free his eyes and hair from the tape as Frank tackled the tape binding Joe's left ankle to another pipe.
"Frank!" His father's voice called down from the top of the steps. "Do you need some help?"
Joe was having a hard time placing the voice which was so heavy with emotion, but Frank never had that problem. "Yes, Dad!" he shouted, his tone jubilant.
Mr. Hardy came down the steps as fast as he could with only the flshlight to guiide him. "Thank God!" he shouted, seeing Joe in the beam of light.
Joe finished removing the tape and blinked into the beam from his dad's flashlight. Mr. Hardy quickly lowered it and came to Joe. He fell to his knees and pulled Joe to him in a tight hug.
Joe smiled at his father when he was released. Frank finished removing the tape from Joe's other ankle and they helped him to stand up.
Joe's eyes widened in surprsie as he saw familiar items when the beams of light hit them. Frank put one of Joe's arms around his neck while Mr. Hardy did the same with Joe's other arm. Together, they half carried Joe, who was feeling the familiar twang of pins and needles associated with the reawakening of his legs, up the steps.
"Did you get the candles?" Callie asked, coming into the kitchen where the basement entrance was located. "JOE!" she screamed. Seconds later, the entryway was filled with family and friends.
Vanessa, seeing Joe couldn't talk, filled a glass with water and brought it to him. He smiled gratefully and took several sips, the first couple hurting his dry throat. He finally tipped the glass up and devoured the contents.
"He needs to go to the hospital," Mrs. Hardy asserted.
"I'm fine," Joe assured everyone. "The cut isn't deep. Frank said you got Ralph?"
Frank and Mr. Hardy were taking turns telling Joe about Ralph's capture, but it wasn't more than five minutes before Mrs. Hardy told them to be quite. Joe had fallen asleep.
"There will be plenty of time to tell him after he has had the wound cleaned and gotten some rest," she told them.
In total agreement, all the friends left after helping Joe upstairs to bed where Mrs. Hardy took care of Joe's chest, while Mr. Hardy called the police and told them they had found Joe.
Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy went to bed and Frank sat curled up in a chair by Joe's bed. Tomorrow would find them at the police station pressing charges and gathering with friends to exchange stories. All would be normal once again. But for tonight, Frank wasn't leaving Joe's side.
End