"I can't believe you unmasked the creature without us," Velma muttered angrily.
"Sorry...it just...kind of happened..." Velma continued to glare at him. "Tell you what, you can unmask the next criminal. But right now, we have to find Shaggy!"
The gang, joined by Wilson and Truesdale, crept through the swamp, calling desperately for Shaggy, until exhaustion and the coming twilight forced them to stop.
"Well, I'm not sure what to tell you," Truesdale sighed unhappily. "You're welcome to stay for the night and try again in the morning. I'll work on Butcher and see if he'll talk, but it's not likely."
As the gang sadly headed to the Mystery Machine, Scooby howled piteously. "I know, Scooby," Daphne said comfortingly, giving his head a gentle pat. "You miss him. We all do."
"I know what might help," Velma replied, pulling out a box of Scooby Snacks. "Go long!" She tossed a pair of snacks out, but Scooby only stared forlornly at them as they landed in the grass with a muffled thump.
"Shhh. Let him be," Fred cautioned, unlocking the Mystery Machine and settling into the driver's seat. Velma and Daphne followed suit and Scooby slowly padded into the backseat. "Let's try to get some sleep and we'll look again in the morning."
As the sun dipped slowly below the horizon, the gang dozed fitfully, tossing and turning inside the Mystery Machine. "Raggy…Raggy…" Scooby mumbled in his sleep as his legs windmilled though the air as though he was chasing after something.
As dawn finally broke over the swamp, a loud thump echoed on the side of the Mystery Machine, causing the gang to jerk awake! Fred fumbled drowsily for the door handle and tumbled out of the van. The rest of the gang quickly exited to find Shaggy banging on the side of the Mystery Machine!
Scooby quickly pounced on his owner, giving him an impromptu bath of joyful doggy kisses. "Okay, okay, Scoob! I missed you, too, buddy."
"Where were you?" asked Velma. "And how did you escape!"
Shaggy finally managed to clamber to his feet and wipe off most of the drool from his face. "Well, it was the strangest thing. I was knocked out cold by that lizard-man and tied to a chair in an upstairs room of that plantation. And as I was drifting in and out of consciousness, all I can remember is seeing the lizard-man untie me, pick me up and…well, the next thing I knew I was here."
Fred frowned. "The lizard-man brought you here? Just now? But that's impossible. He's been locked up for at least a day."
Daphne's eyes widened. "Unless…"
"You don't think…" Velma began. "That means…jinkies…"
Fred shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Well, whatever it was, Shaggy's safe. That's all that matters." As the gang clambered into the Mystery Machine and drove away, a pair of reptillian eyes watched them go before vanishing into the swamp.