"…Paulina Owen," she finished, pulling off the actress' wig.
Lucas and Sarah arrived onto the scene and gasped in shock. "Mrs. Owen! But why? How?" Sarah gasped.
"The why is easy," Fred interjected. "There's a fortune of valuables down in that shipwreck. She knew about the legends of the shipwreck – and the ghost surrounding it – and thought she could make a fortune."
"All of her acting skills came in handy for playing the ghost," Velma continued. "She knew all about glowing makeup and holograms from her performer days, and used them to scare everyone away."
"Mrs. Owen, I…I can't believe it…" Lucas gasped. "We trusted you…"
"I'm sorry, Lucas," she sighed. "I…well, I just got greedy. No one needs an old washed up has-been actress, and I…I just couldn't make ends meet."
"If you needed money, you could have just asked us," Sarah replied. "We'll always be happy to help a friend in need."
Paulina hung her head. "I suppose you'll be calling the police now."
"No," Lucas said at last. "I'm exhausted. We'll deal with all this in the morning." After thanking everyone profusely, Paulina left the scene, leaving Lucas and Sarah alone with Mystery Incorporated.
"Thank you…for everything…" Lucas said, offering his hand for one last round of hand-and-pawshakes.
"We're always happy to help," said Fred, accepting Lucas and then Sarah's proffered hands.
Sarah sighed, staring out over the ocean as the sun drifted below the horizon. "I wonder if, somewhere out there, Claire will find her daughter…" she stopped and stared. "…wait, is that…"
A dark shadow appeared in midair, coalescing into a woman-shaped figure in a grey dress. Mystery Incorporated stared, mouths agape, as the floating woman opened her arms wide. A tiny girl in a pink party dress materialized and dashed towards the woman.
"Mommy!" the ghost girl shouted as she leaped into her mother's arms.
"My darling! You're safe! I've looked everywhere for you! Where have you been all these years?"
"I was lost. And you always said that when you're lost stay put!" the girl said matter of factly. "But you were taking a long time, so I remembered what else you said, find an adult you trust, and I did! I followed them and they took me to you!"
Claire looked down at the group on the shoreline. She waved at them. "Thank you for bringing me my daughter. I shall never forget this!" And with that, Claire and her daughter vanished without a trace.
Mystery Incorporated exchanged glances with Sarah and Lucas. "Did we really just see what I think we saw?" Velma asked incredulously.
Scooby shrugged. "Scooby-Dooby-rho knows?" he barked.
