Separation

The next day, the two Mystery Inc. groups were heading out from Fred's house for more investigation. As before, the Coolsville gang was hitting the books to find out all they could about the Planispheric Disk, this time at the local library. Velma and Marcie were going with them, since Marcie was no longer needed as a replacement Daphne with the local gang.

The Crystal Cove gang was called in to their City Hall office (aka a store-room) to help the Mayor with a haunting at the Pretenso Art Gallery. Dace, the Coolsville Velma, was going with them.

The Coolsville Daphne said, "Now that the local Daphne is back in the gang, I need to use my middle name to tell us apart. Call me Anne."

"Good," said Dace. "Now I'm not the only one using a middle name."

Marcie got a call on her cell phone. She moved away from the others to take it. She went pale as the deep voice on the other end of the phone yelled at her. Without a word she ran outside and started walking down the sideway.

"Marcie, wait!" Velma called, running after her. "What's wrong?"

"It was Mr. E, and he doubts my loyalty. He's going to fire me, and working for him is part of my parole."

"Why is he playing hardball now?" asked Velma.

"It seems he's angry that we had a piece of the Disk just dropped into our laps, in that cheese from Mr. Shepherd. The old Mystery Incorporated got together last night: Mr. E, Fred's parents, and even Cassidy Williams, he says," Marcie said.

"Even Cassidy?" asked Velma.

"I'm not sure. The man lies as easily as he breathes. But Angel Dynamite was working for him and spying on you for a long time," said Marcie.

"I'm not saying we should trust her. She betrayed us. But I thought she had turned against Mr. E," said Velma.

"He says they're all worried that we have two pieces of the Disk and Pericles has two. They don't think we can protect our pieces from him," said Marcie.

"So turn them over to them, when they're possibly in league with Pericles themselves? They'd be a complete team again with him, just like our two teams, but an evil version," said Velma.

"I'm supposed to persuade all of you to hand over the pieces, or steal them," said Marcie.

"And if you don't?" asked Velma.

"I lose my parole and go back to prison," said Marcie.

"For how long?" asked Velma.

"I assaulted and kidnapped several people with the Manticore suit. I could be looking at a life sentence, especially if E uses his influence against me," said Marcie.

"That's not fair! You've reformed," said Velma. "And how can they punish a minor that harshly?"

"Ask Mary Anne Gleardan that, or Flim-Flam," said Marcie.

"The legal system is Crystal Cove is a mess, just like its policing," said Velma.

"I won't turn against you. You've stood by me, even when the gang was ready to kick me out. I... really lo-like you, V," said Marcie.

"I like you too, Marcie," said Velma.

"I'm going to have to go on the run," said Marcie. "I've been working on a fight-or-flight suit just in case, based on re-purposed Manticore technology. Mr E and the police can't stick me back in prison if they can't catch me."

"I wish you didn't have to go," said Velma.

"You could come with me," said Marcie.

"Marcie, I can't. I have family, friends, and mysteries to solve here," said Velma.

"Then this is goodbye, V," said Marcie. "But stay in touch. This card has my encrypted email site."

She handed Velma the card, and when Velma took it she gave her a fierce hug.

"Wow, you're strong, Marcie," said Velma.

"Thanks, V, I have to be now," said Marcie. She let go of the hug and walked away.

Velma returned to the others and told them what had happened.

"Still want to swap places?" asked Dace. "You only did it to keep Marcie company, right?"

"I still want to work on the Disk research. That will take my mind off things," said Velma.

"All right, I'll stick with this group for now, and with Shaggy," said Dace.

They regrouped later, around lunch time.

"How goes the investigation?" asked Frederick.

"Not good," said Dace. "We went to Arrtwerks, the working studio for Randy Warsaw, and tried to fit in. We didn't."

"Randy Warsaw?" asked Norville. "Like, who's he?"

"The artist whose statue, 'Trash', came to life last night and attacked his emo rock band singer, and turned her into a golden statue."

"Jinkies," said Velma. "And what happened at the studio?"

"Warsaw saw us, and tried to make us over into his artistic puppets," said Dace.

"I was going to go shirtless and be called Beef," said Fred.

"Like, I was going to be a werker on a giant cheese sculpture," said Shaggy.

"I ras roing to be his replacement emo ringer," said Scooby, "And wear a long blonde rig, and be called Phreako. "

"Zoinks! Like the Boo Brothers, Freako, Shrieko, and Meako?" asked Norville.

"No, Phreako, Floppo, and Dot," said Shaggy. "Like, all emo."

"What about you, Daphne? Did you get a part?" Frederick asked.

"He thought I was too boring, and told me to begone," said Daphne. "But them Dace spoiled everything, which serves him right."

"He told me I was mousy, alien, and beautiful, and that I should be his muse. Then he tried to take my glasses and smash them. Nobody touches the glasses," said Dace.

"Didn't you feel flattered by the attention?" Velma asked. "I'm sure I would have been."

"I am not a muse," said Dace.

"After she slugged him, he got mad and threw the lot of us out of the gallery," said Fred. "We saw a suspicious-looking character leave at the same time, and we caught him, but he was only selling forged copies of Warsaw's work, so we let him go."

"Couldn't he have been the monster?" asked Velma.

"No, because while we were following him the monster attacked again at the studio and turned another person into a statue, this time his old muse, Clio," said Fred.

"Then it ran out and found the forger, Werker One, and turned him into a statue too," said Daphne.

"Not doing too well on this mystery, are you?" asked Anne.

"Just wait," said Fred. "We're going back to the gallery tonight for another big showing. And we'll be ready with a trap."