Whispers in the Dark
Disclaimer: Scooby Doo and all related characters are the property of Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros., and /or Cartoon Network. All other characters, locations, and events are the figment of the author's imagination.
"The Yellow Rose of Texas" is a traditional folk song dating back to the Civil War, though the last verse and chorus are slightly different in that version from the recording in 1955 by Mitch Miller. The author is unknown.
The idea for this story came from "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" a '30's-'40's radio show.
Chapter One
Everything had changed five months ago. Mystery Inc. was no more. That wasn't quite true. Fred still maintained a semblance of continuing but guilt, depression and yes, jealousy if he was honest with himself, had reduced that to appearance only. Fred had been the leader of Mystery Inc. since day one. It had even been his idea to create the mystery solving group.
All of that had come to a final showdown between his friends five months ago. The scene of the groups final moments had replayed ( preyed would be a better word, Fred thought ) on his mind over the past months.
"I quit" Velma would say. "I quit two seconds ago" Daphne would say. "Maybe I quit too" He'd say, instead of speaking up, stopping the break up. And he'd wake up after maybe two or two and a half hours of sleep. His night clothes wet with sweat, his breathing coming in deep gulps and he'd stay awake for several hours, afraid of going back to sleep before falling asleep from exhaustion, only to replay that horrible scene over again.
To give some credit to his friend Shaggy, at least Shag had tried to stop the break up but it hadn't been enough, and as a result Mystery Inc. had basically ceased to exist.
The monies from WOW-O, the case of the Luna Ghost ( the group's last case ) was running low and the phone call had come at just the right time.
"Hello" Fred had answered without enthusiasm.
"Is this Mystery Inc.?" the voice asked.
"Mystery Inc. broke up five months ago" Fred had informed the voice.
"That's too bad. Mystery Inc. has been recommended for a case we have"
"And just who is 'we'?" Fred inquired.
"Oh, sorry, my name is Roy Morgan of Midwest Insurance. Is this Mr. Jones?"
"Yes, Fred Jones. What is the case Mr. Morgan? I might be interested."
"We insured 300,000.00 for Mr. Reynolds of Clearview, Oklahoma. We've done business with Mr. Reynolds before with no problems. We need the case investigated unofficially to determine if any foul play is involved. We are withholding payment until we are satisfied that no foul play is involved."
"And what are you offering Mystery Inc.?" Fred was intrigued.
"A retainer plus expenses and possible other cases, based on the efficiency shown in this case...And a twenty percent finders fee if the 300,000.00 is recovered." Mr. Morgan offered.
"I've got a few days available Mr. Morgan, I think you just hired Mystery Inc." Fred said.
"Great...I'll expect progress reports and a final report from Mystery Inc."
The details had been worked out and agreed to, the retainer and contract had arrived by overnight carrier as promised. The contract had been signed and returned by the carrier.
Shaggy was still in Coolsville and willing to be convinced to join Fred on the mystery. He would take part of the retainer to have the mystery machine serviced. He would follow Fred the next day. Fred had wanted to go ahead, getting the lay of the land, ( actually just to get out of Coolsville for awhile ) so he had rented a car and had left the details of the van to Shaggy.
He had observed the storm brewing in his rear view mirror and knew he should have found somewhere to ride out the storm but ego had won the day and he had tried to outrun the black, ominous clouds. The storm had over taken him two hours before, starting with a few raindrops but quickly building into the deluge he now found himself in now. Thunder and lightening had been his constant companions, the storm seeming to be keeping pace with him as he turned up the heater a notch.
"You quit!", "You quit", "You quit", You quit", the wipers seemed to whisper in the dark of the storm. He had seen no place to stop, not even a turn out, since the storm had caught him, only miles and miles of farm land and ranches. A quick glance showed that he'd better find a gas station soon or he'd be stopping wither he wanted to or not.
He saw the "VACANCY" sign in a quick flash of sheet lightening. 'Finally' he thought. He slowed, turning into the "Clearview Inn"'s parking lot. 'Ride out the storm and get an early start, at least be out of the storm.'
His key let him into a room identical to dozens of others, old TV, worn out furniture and a bed. He hadn't bothered to carry in the bags, only throwing the keys onto the nightstand and falling across the bed, kicking off his tennis shoes.
"I tried to contact the girls!" he said, more to himself than anything, as his eyes closed in exhaustion. He had indeed tried to contact Velma and Daphne, tried being the operative word here.
Velma had moved. Her parents said to Houston to begin, then to wherever NASA assigned her. Even her parents didn't know where that would be or when. Daphne had moved out of her parents house, only leaving an unlisted phone number with instructions it was to be given out to no one, especially to Fred.
He had woke two hours later, drenched in sweat. He had stumbled to the bathroom, splashed water on his face, noticed the storm was still raging outside, and had returned to bed.
The second time he woke was only an hour before the sun would turn the morning to a rosy red. He pulled back the curtains to see the storm had passed, leaving the parking lot pockmarked with water. His stomach rumbled, letting him know that the snacks he'd eaten while driving were long gone, and not that good the first time. "Shaggy, how do you do it? Living on snacks that would curl most peoples toes?" Fred said to himself, letting the curtain fall back in place.
Lifting the phone, he called the front desk. "Any place to get breakfast this early?" he asked.
"Jan's cafe, just down the street will be opening in about a half hour. Show your room key
for a ten percent discount and try their biscuits and gravy...they're excellent...I'd recommend
waiting about an hour after they open, you will miss the breakfast crowds and get better service."
"Thanks, I will" Fred said, hanging up.
He retrieved his shower bag from the car along with a change of clothes. While shaving he looked in the mirror, not recognizing the face that stared back at him. The dark circles under his eyes spoke volumes of not enough sleep and only the blond hair remained of the robust young man that had led Mystery Inc. for so long, and even the blond hair was dull and unkempt, badly in need of a barbers hand. "Best I can do lo' man" he said to the face staring back.
Before leaving the motel he dropped by the front desk. The bald headed clerk that had checked him in had been replaced by a blond clerk that took his request for several extra days and a reservation for Shaggy who should arrive latter that day if all went well.
Fred pulled into the parking lot of Jan's Cafe, trying to avoid the rain filled potholes.
"Sit any where...I'll be right with you" the waitress said in answer to the door chimes ring as Fred entered. The clerk had been right, the only people in the cafe was a couple being served and a couple of Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers lingering over their coffee's. Fred picked booth near a window that gave a view of the rain washed street and the parking lot.
By the time the pretty brunette waitress had come by to take his order the patrolmen had paid their tabs, leaving the young couple as the only patrons. After placing his order for the house special breakfast with an order for biscuits and gravy, Fred asked:
"Do you get in trouble with your boss if you talk to your customers?"
"No problem as long as you don't ask for a date, or interfere with other customers service" her name tag read "Mary Ann".
Fred laughed, "I just need some general information on the area...no dates."
"Let me get your order in and check on that couple, I'll be right back."
"What kind of information? We have about everything from hunting, fishing, hiking" Mary Ann asked after filling the couples coffee cups.
"What about Bigfoot sightings?" Fred asked.
"This area has it's own Bigfoot...called the Boggy River Monster. We even had a Bigfoot festival last weekend, even had a Bigfoot impersonator."
"That would be the same time as the Reynolds robbery?" Fred asked, seeing the change in her eyes as she thought about how to answer that question.
"Excuse me" she said mater of factly, leaving to give the couple their tab.
She didn't say anything as she placed his food before him, laying his tab next to the silverware. "Enjoy your breakfast" she said tartly, turning at the sound of the door chimes.
"Hi Dale, the usual?" she walked away.
When he unrolled the napkin for his silverware, he noticed a second piece of paper tucked under his tab. Pretending to drop a spoon, he quickly palmed the second paper. Picking up the spoon,he quickly read:
"Off 2
can't talk
follow"
The note was signed "Mary Ann Reynolds".
'Now that is interesting' Fred thought as he signaled for a new spoon and more napkins. 'Seems she's the one asking for a date'...'And that's interesting also' Fred added to his thoughts as the new customer Dale's eyes never left Mary Ann as she walked back to Fred's table with a new spoon and extra napkins.