Before we start chapter 2 I would just like to thank the readers for giving this story a chance. I am happy to report this story has gained two alerts.
Scoobyfan1: you will have to wait and see. And thanks for the complement.
So without further ado Chapter 2.
Fred sat down shocked, breathlessly asking, "Brad Chiles and Judy Reeves?"
Velma looked at him with sympathetic eyes before answering, "Or as they go by Frank and Hanna McCormick. They have a private investigation firm on the other side of the city."
Fred got up with a determined look said, "I need to find them."
Velma nodded in response as she stood back up smoothing out her jeans, "I'll go with you."
Fred smiled as he reached the door, "Thanks, Velma. I mean it."
As it was a late evening when they left. Velma suggested that they go to the private residence of one Frank and Hanna McCormick. However when they pulled up they found the last thing they could expect. The residence was on fire and was cordoned off.
Fred rushed out of the blue Chevrolet Nova's driver side exclaiming, "Oh no!"
Velma upon stepping out yelled after him, "Wait, Fred, until after they get done! We can check it out later!"
A tall uniformed cop made his way from the crime scene, "Like, I heard that, Velma."
She turned her head just enough to see Shaggy walking up with Scooby Doo at his side. Her breathing stopped in her throat just a moment as she saw him in uniform. Fred rushed around his car to the former member of Mystery Incorporated.
Shaggy asked hesitantly, "Do I even need to ask what has you interested in this? Or should I guess its got something to do with a monster?"
Fred taken back at Shaggy's questions, "Actually this is about my real parents!"
Shaggy sighed out his response, "You know I can't tell you anything."
Fred looked at Shaggy, with his face almost pleading for an answer, "Not even for old time's sake?"
Shaggy's face twisted into anger before answering in almost a scream, "Old times sake, Fred? Old time's sake? If I remember right you left us high and dry. I thought we were friends, Fred! And friends look out for one another. We were going to be there for you but you left us all. I got shipped off to a military school. They were about to mechanize Scooby if I hadn't been released when I did! It wasn't a farm they sent him to, it was a pound! So don't come to me about old time's sake, Fred." Still heated he turned to go. Stopping as he feels a small, delicate hand touch his arm.
Velma, her voice almost a whisper, comforted the shaggy haired cop, "We all were hurt that night, Shaggy. I tried to call after you got out, but…"
He looked to her, "Yeah, I know. My mother can be a..."
Velma nodded her head, "Yeah. I know you can't tell us anything but can you turn a blind eye when they get done gathering evidence?"
Shaggy sighs, "Man, I know I am going to regret this but sure."
Shaggy's eyes regained their hard presence as he looked at Fred, "Just don't touch anything or set any traps. It is a crime scene, not some abandoned house or haunted tug boat."
Velma gave his arm one last squeeze before letting it go, "Thanks, Shaggy."
Shaggy looked back at her, quietly speaking, "Don't. Just don't. I am breaking so many rules. So don't. If you find anything just…don't go half cocked. Like, tell me okay?"
Velma bit into her bottom lip as she give him a nearly unnoticeable nod.
As Shaggy walked away Fred looked at the home of his parents with a sigh. He then leaned against his nova and crossed his arms. He looked up at Velma who was still looking in the direction of their former teammate.
Fred hesitated a moment before asking, "What happened when he went to military school?"
Velma answered not looking away from Shaggy, "Its not my place to tell you Fred. Shaggy doesn't even know that I know."
Fred nodded and cleared his throat. He helplessly watched as the crime scene investigation unit began leaving. Out of the corner of his eye he then noticed a red head wearing a lavender colored pants suit sneaking around with a tall man carrying a camera.
He slowly walked up on the two, hearing a voice he would recognize anywhere, "Casey get a shot over there we can review it later. I know there is foul play here."
He decided at that moment to make his presence known, "Daphne?"
The red head stiffened before turning around and whispering, "Please no, not Fred."
The dark haired man, Casey, looked to her and in confusion to her abrupt silence and lack of motion asked, "Miss Blake?"
Daphne stood up fully before she turned around. Her eyes cold as she smiled, "Well hello Fred Jones. It's a surprise to see you here."
Velma ran up to catch up to Fred and upon seeing the former girlfriend of the sleuth thought to herself, "Now this is a train wreck waiting to happen."
Fred smiled unsure of himself, "Hey Daph. Uh how have you been?"
Velma covered her face knowing full well Daphne's outburst to come, Daphne didn't disappoint.
'Hey Daph? Hey Daph. That is what you have to say after two years?" The lavender clothed beauty responded, her face contorted in a controlled rage. "You left us high and dry. I nearly gave up Fred."
Casey her cameraman looked between the two and then to Velma who was shaking her head in exasperation. He side stepped around the two until he reached Velma and extended his hand for a hand shake as he introduced himself, "Um I am Casey Welker. I guess you know my coworker and the guy she is yelling at."
"Yelling at," Velma scoffed. "That would be about right." Velma then shook Casey's hand introducing herself in return, "Velma Dinkley." She then looked back at the train wreck of a reunion as it unfolded.
"So no I'm sorry Daphne for leaving. No I'm sorry for single handedly destroying the team? I ended up dating a madman after you broke up with me. You know Baylor Hotner the actor? He turned out to be a psychopathic clown who nearly destroyed Crystal Cove. Velma with her new team stopped him. She carried on our job, Fred, all because you had an identity crisis." Daphne sniffed after her outburst of emotion. "You ended our engagement because your supposed father wasn't the man you thought he was. I didn't care Fred. What's worse you didn't even take back the ring."
Fred murmured, "I didn't ever turn off the tracker to it either."
"What!" Daphne yelled, "You had me low jacked?! Are you completely insane? That's called stalking, Fred! Its illegal. Are you really that dense?"
Velma at that point heard enough and stepped between Daphne and Fred. She put her hand on the shoulder of a now crying Daphne. She turned her head to a very speechless Fred, "Fred wait in the car. I'll look through the crime scene. I promise I'll find clues about the whereabouts of your parents."
Fred nodded his head dumbly as he took a step back before turning to walk to the car. Daphne looked at him from over Velma's shoulder with hard eyes.
