A quick check confirmed it was his mother's car. "Call the police," Frank ordered Callie. "Then let the others know we've found them. I'll find out which room they're in," he added, getting out of the van.
After checking with the motel's clerk, Frank obtained a key to the room Joe and Angelic were in. Frank ran to the room and tried to peer in the window, but the curtains had been drawn tight. He went to the door and peered through the keyhole. Not wide enough to see anything, he took the key and gently inserted it into the lock.
Opening the door slowly, so as not to attract attention, he could see Joe's and Angelic's reflections in the mirror.
"I didn't mean for Frank to be the victim in your garage," Angelic was telling Joe. "I know how observant your father is and I was sure he would come between us so I fixed it so he would fall back into the shelves. He was supposed to die when the tools fell on him. I don't know how Frank survived," she added, pondering the situation.
"What about the train station?" Joe asked. "Did you take Frank's wallet?"
"Yes," she admitted. "I knew you were clever," she added, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "I didn't want him talking to Dusty so I thought if I had his wallet, he would have to get off the train. But you tossed it to him." She laid her head on his chest as she continued, "So I fell into you hoping you would miss, but he caught it anyway," she added angrily, sitting back up. "He did nearly fall though," she added softly, as she pulled the pillow from beneath Joe's head.
"Who did you get to sideswipe Frank?" Joe asked, alarmed. If he could keep her talking he might have a chance.
"No one," she replied with a little laugh. "It really was a hit and run type thing." She kissed Joe again.
"Shh!" she ordered, putting a finger to his lips. "No more talking. Your brother is smart too. He'll find us soon and try to take you away from me. I can't let that happen," she told him, climbing onto his chest, one leg on each side.
"Just like daddy," she said. "No one will ever take you away from me." She pushed the pillow down on Joe's face before he could yell for help.
"No!" Frank shouted, pushing the door so hard it slammed against the wall. He raced over and pushed Angelic off Joe and into the floor, then pulled the pillow from his brother's face.
Joe took a couple of quick breaths then shouted out a warning. "Look out!" he screamed at Frank as Angelic jumped up from the floor and grabbed a lamp. She swung it at Frank's head but missed. The lamp crashed into the headboard sending shards of glass over Joe who shut his eyes when he heard the lamp hit.
Frank grabbed Angelic's wrists but found it difficult to hold onto her. She kicked and twisted and bit him until he finally had no choice but to release her. She pushed him and he fell into the night stand which turned over with him and he toppled to the floor.
Frank saw her grab a large piece of the shattered lamp with a jagged edge. She once again climbed on top of Joe. Ignoring the glass splinters that pushed into her legs, she lifted the piece of glass directly over Joe's heart.
"You're mine!" she shouted, over and over again. "You're mine! You're mine!" Holding the glass tightly, the blood pouring down her upraised arms as the ragged edges tore into her flesh, she brought it down hard! But the point never connected.
After Callie had called their friends she went to the motel room's door and watched as Angelic and Frank fought. When she saw Frank fall and Angelic get on top of Joe, she came running in and threw herself at Angelic. Both girls tumbled onto the floor.
Frank quickly got up and ran to Callie's aid. Together they managed to hold Angelic until the police arrived. Sergeant Riley and Sergeant Callouhan handcuffed Angelic and read her her rights while Frank and Callie untied Joe.
"I have never been so glad to see anyone," Joe said, finally able to sit up.
Angelic, hearing Joe's voice, looked over at him. "We belong together," she told him. "And we will be," she promised as she was led out of the room.
"She's really sick," Joe stated, not in the least angry at what she had tried to do to him.
"You sound sorry for her," Callie said accusingly.
"She still believes her father is alive," Frank told Callie. "She's been seeing a psychiatrist," he reminded her. "Her dad died before the doctor could really help her."
"Not exactly," Joe interrupted. "She killed her father because she couldn't stand to share him. Not even with her own mother."
Frank and Callie were too shocked to say anything. Frank helped Joe to his feet and they left the motel after telling Con they would go to the station in the morning to file a report.
Callie volunteered to drive Mrs. Hardy's car for them since Joe had been through too much to drive safely. At the Hardy home, Iola and Chet were waiting for them. Tony had left to take Jill home a few minutes earlier. After filling everyone in on the details, Iola and Chet left, agreeing to drop Callie off at her house on their way home.
Two weeks later the Hardy boys were gathered at the pizzeria with their friends. "Have they decided what's going to happen to Angelic?" Chet asked.
"Since everyone agreed not to press charges if she got help, she's been placed in a maximum security institution where she can get it," Frank told the group.
"Yeah," Joe added. "Since she's not in her right mind, she can't be held responsible for murder either. But it's still going to be a long time before she will be out, if ever."
"How did she do it?" Jerry asked. "If she's crazy, how did she know to send you guys looking everywhere but where you should?"
"She's sick, not stupid," Frank replied. "Her I.Q. is actually higher than mine."
"I'm glad she's getting help," Iola said, laying her head on Joe's shoulder. "But she should have known she could never have gotten past Joe's true love."
Joe looked at her and raised his eyebrows in question. Iola obligingly told him, "Adventure, excitement, and..."
"Mysteries!" all of the Hardys' friends shouted.
End
