Nightmare in Angel City by Franklin W. Dixon

eyepatch," Frank added. "Him I remember. He came tearing through here a few minutes ago. But he was by himself. It was very strange." She flicked a thumb toward a path leading away from the green toward a hilly area. "He went that way." "Thanks," Frank said.
    "You're welcome," the girl called as they headed for the path. "Have a nice day."
    They moved warily along the path, Joe eating the hot dog while they trotted. He studied the area. "This opens up in every direction," he said, noting the various sets built in every corner of the valley. "How are we supposed to know where Callie went?"
    Frank spied a workman. "Maybe he saw something."
    At Frank's questions, the workman bristled. "Nobody's supposed to be here unless they're authorized. Let me see your passes."
    "This is an emergency," Frank insisted, and gave the workman Callie's description. "Yeah, she and some fella with an eyepatch jumped the gate." The workman glared at the sign. " Can't anyone read anymore ? "
    "I thought everyone in Meteor Town was cheery," Joe said through his last mouthful of hot dog.
    "I don't get paid to deal with the public," the workman snarled.
    "Never mind," Frank told Joe. He grabbed his elbow and pulled him toward the gate. "We've got to find Callie."
    "Stay out of there!" Undaunted, the Hardys hurdled the gate and sprinted through the field on the other side. "You're in trouble now!" the workman shouted. He turned and stormed off.
     
    ***
     
    "End of the line," Patch taunted. Callie whirled on the mountain of rubble as Patch continued to stalk her, flexing his fingers in a strangling motion. The light from the ceiling reflected a nasty glint in his eye. "It's why they closed this part of the studio. No way out."
    There's one way, thought Callie, raising her eyes to the hole in the ceiling. She began climbing up the rubble.
    It shifted under her weight, and she slipped back down a few feet. Laughing, Patch grabbed at her. In seconds she had pulled herself to the top of the heap.
    Patch began the climb after her. Callie reached up to the hole in the ceiling, but her fingertips only brushed it.
    She crouched low and sprang. Her hands clamped around the edge of the opening, and she held firm and pulled herself up to freedom.
    Patch was only a few feet behind her, his arms easily long enough to reach the hole from the top of the pile. Callie spun around, looking for somewhere to hide. She spied a building not too far off and she bolted for it.
    Callie slammed the door behind her after she entered the building—that was a mistake. It was pitch-dark inside, and Callie could see nothing. She began feeling her way back to the door, when it opened. Patch stepped in and switched on the lights. An alien spaceship appeared to her left, men in armor sitting at the control panels, others were standing guard, futuristic weapons drawn. Robots, she realized. At the far end was an exit, and she ran for it. Locked.
    "Just you and me," Patch muttered in her ear as he pulled her back by her hair. "Callie, we have to have a little talk about a tape." His hand tightened around her throat.
    "Let her go!" ordered a male voice from the far door.
    "Frank!" Callie cried thankfully as Frank and ' Joe ran toward them.
    Patch laughed viciously, and held Callie for them to see. "Can't stop me," he said. "Looks like I'll have to forget the talk, Callie. This is the end. Sorry, boys, you're too far away to stop me."
    "He's right," Joe whispered to Frank. "If we try to rush him — "
    Frank eyed the control panels. "Hit every switch you can, Joe! Do it!"
    Joe vaulted to one panel and slapped switches on, and Frank did the same. Across the set, robots came to life, their ray guns firing.
    "Just lights." Patch laughed. Then a beam hit the wall next to him. The wall burst, showering Patch and Callie with dust and iron filings. Patch screamed in terror, shoved Callie aside, and leapt to a ladder that led to catwalks above the set.
    Frank ran to help Callie. "Did he hurt