The gang left Hammer Gym and walked the short distance down the sidewalk to Masters Gym. "Hmmm…Dave wasn't kidding when he said they were right next to each other," Velma mused. The gang entered the lobby of Masters Gym. The sun shone through the glass walls and onto the Masters Gym logo, a large golden globe, inlaid into the floor.
A man with tousled blonde hair and black-rimmed glasses sat behind a desk in the lobby. "Good morning! Welcome to Masters Gym." He strode out from behind the desk, revealing a well-muscled form covered by a Masters Gym tank top. "I'm the owner, Wyatt Masters." Pulling a few sheets of paper from the desk, he waved them at the gang. "Can I interest any of you in a membership?"
Fred waved the papers away. "Actually, Mr. Masters, we're Mystery Incorporated."
Wyatt's eyes widened with recognition. "I've heard of you. And given your reputation, I'm guessing you're here about Dave's 'Gym Ghoul.' Let's talk in private." He waved the gang into his office behind the desk.
Wyatt's office was a small room decorated with various fitness medals and awards. A makeshift desk teetered under the weight of a top-of-the-line computer, several musty old books and various bills and papers. "I feel awful for the poor guy," Wyatt sighed, leading the gang into the room. "Being next door to each other, Dave and I have always had a pretty friendly rivalry, but now that this Gym Ghoul's been showin' up, well, it's been decidedly…less…friendly. I'll be happy to help you all in any way that I can. The sooner you catch this monster, the sooner all this silly bickering can end."
"Well, is there anything you know about the ghoul, Mr. Masters?" asked Velma curiously.
"Wyatt, please. Just Wyatt. And no, I don't." He pulled a book off his desk and blew a few years of accumulated dust off the cover, causing Scooby to sneeze. "I've checked the death records down at City Hall and found no one who died here or would have wanted to haunt this place. I'm afraid I can't help you much in that regard."
"Well, thanks for trying, Wyatt," Velma replied. "We'll go see if we can find more clues at Hammer Gym."
Wyatt's forced grin never quite met his dark, flashing eyes. "Great! Good luck, kids."
Fred shuddered in annoyance as they turned to leave. "We're NOT kids," he muttered under his breath.
Daphne giggled and gently squeezed Fred's shoulder. "Let it go, Freddie."
As the gang strode down the sidewalk to Hammer Gym, they spotted a couple bickering outside the entrance to Hammer Gym and stopped to watch. The man wore a dark grey tank top, exposing thick, muscular arms, and grey shorts that showed off legs thick as tree trunks. His black hair was cropped as close as possible to his head and held in place with a red sweatband. The tall woman, made even taller by her black-heeled shoes, wore a cream-colored blouse accented by a gold necklace. A long, mint-green skirt cascaded down her shapely legs and her fire-engine red hair was pulled into a simple ponytail that hung down loosely down her back.
"You will be home for supper, right, Matt?" the woman pleaded, giving her ponytail a flirtatious toss.
Matt ran his fingers through his close-cropped hair. "I just don't know, Anna, darling," he sighed deeply. "I've got to put in some serious hours here if I hope to have a chance at Mr. Coolsville this fall."
Anna pouted. "I was even planning on making your favorite tonight."
Matt reached out and pulled Anna into his arms. "For your meatloaf, I'll be home early," he grinned, planting a kiss on her cheek and then her lips. Releasing her, Matt turned and strode into the gym with a cursory, "See you tonight!" before vanishing inside.
"Way to a man's heart is through his well-toned stomach!" she muttered furiously, turning on her heel and accidentally smacking Fred in the face with her red ponytail. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" gasped Anna.
Fred wiped the stray hairs from his face. "No harm done," he replied dismissively.
"Good," Anna sighed happily, extending her hand to the gang. "I'm Anna Wilcox." The gang quickly introduced themselves with a round of hand-and-pawshakes. "Just dropped off my husband and going home to make supper. You go to Hammer Gym, too?"
"Not quite," Velma replied. "Would you believe we're looking for a ghoul?"
Anna looked puzzled. "No, no I wouldn't. Is this some kind of joke?"
"Like, if it is, it's n-not a very f-funny one," Shaggy stuttered.
Anna listened in shock as Fred explained their mission at Hammer Gym. "Matt never said anything about a zombie…but I might have tuned him out. I'd never set foot in a gym in my life and I sometimes wish he wouldn't either. I never thought I'd find myself rooting for an undead creature of darkness, but if it gets Matt home a few nights a week…well…" With a wistful sigh, Anna trouped to her car and drove off.
The gang watched Anna leave before entering Hammer Gym. Matt Wilcox had vanished, but Dave was standing in the glassed-in lobby, having a heated argument with a scrawny young man wearing an ill-fitting Hammer Gym t-shirt that hung off his body in waves.
"And furthermore," the man whined in a nasally, grating voice. "I've got an ironclad contract saying that I would be sure to see results in six weeks! And it's been SEVEN! And NOTHING!"
"Please, Sydney," Dave begged. "Keep your voice down!"
Sydney ignored Dave's pleas. "Why? Don't want everyone to know what a CHEAT you are?!"
"Sydney, if you're unsatisfied, I will happily refund your money when I'm financially able to, but until this Gym Ghoul business blows over…"
Sydney scoffed. "Typical. Blaming your own faults on some made-up monster! I'm warning you, Dave! I'll make you pay!" With a final glare at Dave, Sydney stormed out of the gym.
Dave sadly watched Sydney leave. "If word gets out about this, I'll be ruined!" he moaned. "Did you arrest that two-timer, Wyatt, yet?"
"It doesn't quite work that way, Dave," Fred replied. "We need to see if we can find any clues before we make any arrests. Can we take a look around here and see what we can find?"
Dave nodded. "Go for it. The gym's through that door," he replied, pointing. After a quick bribe with Scooby Snacks, the gang entered into the gym.