Wouldn't Miss it for the World

Chapter Three: Stakeout

"It was Professor Plump Plum, in the conservatory, with a rope" Shaggy announced, laying the three cards out for Velma to confirm his victory. Velma had planned to allow Shaggy one win; he had just won two in a row. She rose, lit two candles, flipped the light switch off, leaving the room bathed in flickering candle light.

Kneeling over Shaggy, her face and neck slightly darker than the color of her peach top, "Mr. Green, you've solved the case of the missing rope; now you can claim your reward" she uttered in a soft whisper against his lips.

"You're blushing; are you sure?" Shaggy lifted his head to complete the offered kiss.

"Shaggy! One minute you're trying to look down my top, the next you're trying not to look and now…" whatever else she was going to say was interrupted by her cell phone announcing an incoming call.

"Arrgghhh! What I really want is a vacation, alone with you, without cell phones! Las Vegas sounds good right now!" a frustrated Shaggy muttered as Velma answered her call.

"Yes Daph?" Velma listened to the short one sided conversation. Closing the connection; she stretched out beside Shaggy, "Your prize will have to wait" a devious smile playing along her lips. "We have a mystery to solve."

The only mystery on Shaggy's mind at the moment consisted of three itsy bitsy hooks with matching eyelets. And how to separate the two. One handed.

---------Xxxxxx

"Well gang, we have a mystery to solve" Fred laughed when Shaggy and Velma entered Mystery Inc's headquarters. "I've been on the phone with some contacts in the insurance field. Northeast Indemnity insures the gowns for David's Boutique and also underwrites the stolen diamonds. They have received a claim for the diamonds and get this: they have just today received a claim from David's for three stolen wedding gowns. Northeast is handling it as two claims but because Velma found that diamond, we know it's only one mystery."

"And you want us to split up and look for clues, right Fred" Shaggy asked.

"Northeast has asked Mystery Inc to handle the investigation. They're offering a ten per cent recovery for the gowns and twenty percent on the diamonds. Yes, we'll have to split up. Velma and I will…"

"What?!" Every one screamed, looking at Fred like he'd gone bonkers.

"Just kidding guys…Shag, if you and Velma will tail Mr. Maxwell when he leaves the boutique, we'll relieve you at midnight. Our friend Lt. Ibarra is handling the diamond case and we will be meeting with him tomorrow at eight a. m."

--------Xxxxxx

Two cars parked in the alleyway across from David's Boutique; the view covered the front as well as the alleyway that ran along side the boutique. At 5 pm, Linda left the boutique, walked to her car and drove off.

At 6 pm a white panel van drove into the alleyway and parked. The driver got out and knocked on a door which opened immediately. Three large cardboard boxes that would hold a large refrigerator were wheeled out and placed in the van. The driver collected the necessary signature, secured the boxes, got into the van and drove away.

6:20 p.m. saw Mr. David Maxwell, Max to his friends, leave the boutique, walk to his car and drive away. The engine of the second car came alive, and with Shaggy driving, pulled around the first and followed at a discreet distance.

Taking a sip of coffee from a Styrofoam cup, Fred surveyed the view. Only security lights showed in the boutique; "Daphne, why did you say 'yes' when I asked you out on that hayride?" He didn't glance in her direction.

Daphne smiled, snuggled close her warm breath ticked his ear; "I had to win the bet didn't I?"

"What bet?!" Fred looked into her beguiling eyes.

----------Xxxxxx

Mr. Maxwell stopped at 'Mark's Liquor', coming out a few minutes later carrying a small bag. "I bet that is for a little intimate party for two" Velma twirled a finger around a stray lock of his hair. "No bet" Shaggy replied, dropping in behind Maxwell when he drove away.

Shortly a garage door opened and Maxwell drove in, the garage door closing; Shaggy selected a spot to park, killing the motor. "This could be a long wait."

"I don't think so…look" Velma pointed at a second car that parked in the Maxwell driveway. A blond stepped out of the car and entered the home without knocking.

"Linda…so they're mixing a little pleasure with business."

"Speaking of mixing pleasure with business" Shaggy put his arm around her shoulder.

She didn't protest when their lips met.

-------------Xxxxxx

"What bet Daphne?" Fred repeated.

"Denise made the bet that I couldn't get you to ask me out on a date. I wanted you to so I took the bet. The bet was to get you to ask but I had to accept and actually go on the date; she threw in a twist, I couldn't give you my phone number or address and you had to figure that out yourself. She left me with one loophole. You got my phone number from Alice, right?"

"Right, after nearly bribing her for it."

"That was the loophole; I couldn't give it to you but nothing was said about one of my friends giving it to you. I told Alice to give it to you but you had to work for it."

"So you cheated!"

"Not at all! I only took advantage of the loophole in the rules. I thought the hayride would be the least intimidating and we could be more relaxed. Why do you think I was still in my uniform when you came out of the gym?"

Fred thought about that one for a few moments. The short skirt of the uniform showing her long trim legs off for the greatest effect; the sway of her hips as she had walked away.

His thoughts were interrupted by the cell phone call.

"Hey guys, you won't believe who showed up at Maxwell's for a little wine and cheese party. Linda showed up at seven, walked in unannounced, they haven't left. It's almost ten now, want us to continue our stakeout?" Velma asked.

"No need, we got what we needed to know; go on home, you're off the clock. See you guys at Ibarra's office at eight. Good night" Fred closed the connection.

"It's still early; want to try your luck with another game of 'Clue'?" Daphne purred in his ear.

He lost.

Shaggy solved the mystery of hooks and eyes.

It would be a bleary eyed Shaggy and Velma that walked into Ibarra's office the next morning.