Hey guys! Let me just apologize for being so slow at updating. My life has been super busy since... April... Shit. Has it really been that long? I'm so sorry guys. But since April I found my prom dress (it was pink:D) i went to my senior prom, took all my finals and AP tests and graduated high school (with 3 cords, NHS stole, and highest honors [having a 4.0 GPA since freshmen year] ) then I went on vacation, and had my college orientation, and now I'm planning my graduation party. Sorry for rambling.

ErinJordan- Thank you I'm glad you're enjoying it.

The 2 guests- So sorry! I promise I will update more frequently.

Joeneal- Don't worry. I will definitely finish this story.

Chapter 15: Stalker

(Frank is 17. Joe is 16)

When Fenton and the police chief landed, it was nearly six in the morning. The West Virginia Correctional Facility was still jam packed with people; reporters, news cameras, and police officers crowded around, trying to get some answers.

Fenton and Ezra exited the helicopter and were immediately swarmed by reporters and blinded by camera flashes.

"Mr. Hardy, what are you doing here?"

"Chief Collig! Is it true some convicts escaped?"

They pushed through all of the microphones, cameras and people to make it into the crowded building. The duo approached the warden.

The man was burly, with a wide, shaved head and small brown eyes. His name tag read Stanley. He was dressed in a black security guard uniform with "Warden" written on the back in large white lettering. It appeared he was in his mid-forties as he was somewhat muscular with a belly that slightly protruded over his belt. The utility belt he wore held a baton, flashlight, keys and a gun.

Chief Collig stuck out his hand. "My name is Ezra Collig, Chief of New York Police and this is Fenton Hardy, private investigator. We're here to look into the prison break."

"Right this way, gentlemen." The warden led Fenton and Ezra to a conference room. He shut the door before sitting down and lighting a cigar.

"Thank y'all for coming down here so fast. Name's Stanley Lutzwig, the chief warden here."

"Tell us what happened." Ezra said, cutting down to the chase.

Lutzwig took a puff of his cigar, "Not sure. I was doin' my rounds, around eleven-thirty. We lost power, which shouldn't have been a big deal because most of the cells are manual, except for the maximum security prisoners. Ya see, we're in the process of renovating." He motioned with his hands, waving the lit cigar aimlessly. "All of the lights and cameras went out. A few seconds later, I head a big hullabaloo coming from the D block, that's where the most dangerous criminals are kept. The other wardens and I ran over to it to see the entire D block running amuck. A whole fucking prison riot!" He took another puff before continuing. "As soon as we realized what was going on, we started fighting back; Shot some, tasered others. Overall we got everyone back into their cells, except two."

"Louis Calloway and his accomplice." Collig stated.

"Yes. His accomplice is Bernie Acerbi. An Italian native who moved to New York City in 1960 to pursue a title as a gang leader of the Black Dogs." He made eye contact with the Chief, "I assume you've both heard of the fearsome gang."

The two law enforcers nodded. The Black Dogs were one of the most powerful gangs in New York. They were incredibly dangerous and members were frequently arrested and killed in fights and rivalries. The gang was responsible for diversified crimes around the city including gang rape, assassinations, armed robbery, and other gang related activity.

Lutzwig placed Snake's file on the desk. "Back in Italy, he got into a lot of trouble. As a child, his parents were heavily into drugs. They both died before he turned twelve and little Bernie was sent to an orphanage. He got into all sorts of trouble there, caught stealin', hittin' the other kids, slashin' tires, breakin' into a school, even tried to strangle one of the other orphans. He went to a juvenile detention facility when he was fourteen for hot wiring a Mercedes. And again several times after that for various reasons." Lutzwig paused and flipped through the incredibly thick file. "Let's see, he came to the U.S when he was nineteen because he had a cousin who was part of the Black Dogs. After the previous leader of the gang was killed, Bernie took over at the age of twenty-one." Lutzwig placed Snake's mugshot on the table for the two men to see.

As Fenton took in the shaved head, full mustache, beady eyes and Southern Italian features something stirred in him. He knew this man. He had, in fact, incarcerated this man numerous times.

"I've dealt with him before." Fenton sighed and ran a hand through his already tousled hair. "This was one of my first cases as a PI; to put an end to the Black Dog gang. I infiltrated an armed robbery and arrested several gang members. Bernie Acerbi was one of those arrested. He only got three years though, and after that I arrested him again for drugs and again for murder, I was unable to make the last trial though."

"Fascinating." Lutzwig looked extremely curious. "Currently he is serving a minimum of three life sentences with no parole for multiple felonies." He rifled through the file. "Let's see, he's being held on twenty-one counts of rape, thirty-eight first degree murders, one hundred fifty separate possession of drugs, thirteen armed robberies, seventy-two kidnappings and fifty-four counts of torture."

Fenton and Ezra went pale, they were not prepared for that.

"Oh here it is!" Lutzwig's cigar bobbed up and down in his mouth. "It says here, the arresting party was Fenton Hardy of the Hardy Detective Agency." He looked up, approvingly at Fenton.

"Tell us about Acerbi's prison life." Ezra asked, feeling dread for the teens who had been through enough as it is.

"Certainly, certainly." The wide man paused, gathering his thoughts. "Acerbi came in and demanded people call him Snake, his gang name. We all assumed it was because he had tattoos of snakes up and down each arm, but turns out he liked to torture victims using snake venom."

Fenton's breath hitched, he feared for his boys. Joe was deathly afraid of snakes.

"When he came in here he was tough, the other inmates were petrified of him. He still had connections with his gang and their allies. He's started fights and has stabbed other inmates and killed one. He passed time by starting ruckus, playing poker, working out, and smoking. When Callaway came in, they became fast friends, Snake sorta took him under his wing. Showed him the ropes of prison life, how to be top dog and bend the rules."

"So Callaway became intimidating as well?"

"Very much so. He became Snake's second in command. Snake dubbed him 'Freakshow.' He sure was one messed up motherfucker!"

Freakshow. Fenton thought. How fitting. "What do you mean by messed up?" He wondered how hardened Louis had become. He looked imposing at the trial but that had been years ago.

"Well, when he first got here, Freakshow was fat and stupid, then he rolled with Snake and became muscular and smart. He got into so many fights, nearly stabbed a guards eye out with a plastic fork! He was high a lot of the time, dropping acid and started all sorts of hubbub. Then there was this one mentally ill prisoner, Marvin Masters. He and Freakshow got into an altercation which ended them both in solitary confinement. When they came out, Freakshow was acting like Marvin, humming and singing nursery rhymes. Real creepy if you ask me."

"So you believe that Freakshow developed some sort of mental illness from Marvin?" Ezra asked. Is that even possible?

"To an extent, yes. We believe he developed some sort of acute psychosis."

Great. Fenton thought. His boys were in some incredibly evil hands.

"Do you know how he got out of his cell?" Ezra asked.

"I think I have an idea. Yesterday, Freakshow had a seizure in the cafeteria. I think that when the guards were tending to him, he snatched their master key."

Fenton took notes as Lutzwig was talking. There was just one more thing. "Can we see their cells?"

Lutzwig went a little pale. "Right this way, gentlemen." He said uneasily.

They walked down the long halls in silence. Each lost in their own minds as their footsteps echoed. All of the inmates who hadn't escaped were back in their cells, many nursing injuries, others glaring at Fenton and Ezra menacingly.

Fenton was exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot and had heavy grey bags under them. He dragged his feet and felt ultimately, in despair. It appeared he had aged twenty years in just a matter of hours. The frazzled father was distraught, it felt like he was losing his sons all over again.

When they reached the second last cell on the left Lutzwig stopped.

"Oh my God." Fenton muttered, paling considerably.

Inside the cell, plastered on the far concrete wall were dozens of newspaper clippings, photos, letters and maps all depicting some part of the Hardy family life. The newspaper articles were all from papers around Bayport, all mentioning Frank and/or Joe. From sports events, to honor roll, to various awards.

Fenton's brow furrowed, trying to make sense of the madness.

Another Victory for Bayport High

Hardy Brothers Lead Bayport to Another Win!

Bayport High School- Undefeated!

The pictures included Hardy family photos that had, somehow, made it into the newspaper, Frank and Joe in their football and track uniforms, Frank holding an engineering award, Joe shaking hands with the Governor, among other celebratory events. In each family photo, Fenton and Laura's faces had been scratched, cut or burned out.

Every single case the Hardy's had ever solved was reported. Even the Hardy vs. Callaway case was portrayed.

Ezra's eyes were the size of dinner plates.

Another Case Closed by Hardy Detective Agency

Hardy Boys Rescue Governor

Fenton and Ezra stared open mouthed at all the maps on the wall, all of Bayport with locations circled in red ink. The Hardy home on the corner of Elm Street, Frank and Joe's school, the police station, Laura's place of employment and the little coffee shop Gertrude liked to visit.

The fixation wall was massive, spanning the majority of the cement enclosure that divided the cell and the outside world. It was absolutely terrifying.

This wasn't just revenge, now it was a deadly obsession.

Wow I just realized what a boring chapter this was. Sorry y'all. But I did my research and Acerbi means heartless in Italian, pretty fitting for Snake don't you think? Now that it's summer I have more time to write so I promise I will update more. Please if you can, suggest any ideas for me for the next few chapters please! And also please review they mean a lot to me.