Chapter 10: Preliminary results and back in school
No sooner did the gang finish up at the Malt Shop did they decide to go to the medical examiner's office first thing.
As usual, Shaggy was behind the wheel, being the only one in the group with a driver's license and access to a vehicle, and much of the drive was largely done in silence, unless the music played by the radio station the van was tuned to counts.
When they pulled up into the parking lot, they saw a sheriff's issued car was parked.
"If I have to hazard a guess, it looks like someone in the sheriff's is getting the preliminary results from Dr. Jasperson." Fred remarked as they pulled up.
"Who?" Shaggy asked.
"He's the assistant medical examiner conducting the autopsy on the victim of yesterday's supposed beast attack." Velma explained.
"Right, I mean who from the sheriff's do you guys think is looking into the preliminary results on the death?" Shaggy clarified.
"Hopefully, it is Detective Beau Neville." Fred said. "He's the only sheriff's investigator I know who regularly stays on top of the cases he investigates."
Sure enough, the minute they pulled the van into the parking lot, Detective Neville emerged from the building as he pocketed his notebook.
The detective frowned when he spotted the van parked next to his issued car, and the frown on his face deepened when he saw the occupants of the van.
"Like, here he comes, guys." Shaggy said as he nodded towards Neville.
As soon as Fred stepped out of the van, Neville walked towards him and said, "What in G*d's name do you kids think you're doing here?"
"Um, I can explain, Detective Neville." Fred quickly said. "Dr. Jasperson's been tutoring us in biology for the past while, on Saturday mornings, to be exact."
The detective only glared. "It's almost noon."
"Ah, well, he phoned me earlier and told me to come by here now, since he's busy in the normal time we come for him to help us out with homework." Fred replied with a shrug.
Neville narrowed his eyes as he stared at Fred briefly, then he turned towards the remaining occupants on the van.
Velma and Daphne both pulled out their biology binders, while Shaggy searched through his school bag, then the detective turned back towards Fred.
"Very well, but don't waste his time, especially when he's got other bodies to examine." The detective said before he proceeded to walk away.
The gang only looked on as Neville got on his car, started the engine and drove off, prompting them to sigh in relief.
"I thought you said that Detective Neville's the only sheriff's investigator that regularly stays on top of cases, Fred." Shaggy said as they walked into the building.
"Well, just because he's capable doesn't mean he does not frown on those taking the law into their own hands." Fred replied.
"Technically, we are taking the law into our own hands." Shaggy pointed out.
"Yes, but for good reason." Velma said. "Especially when the sheriff's practically a politician instead of doing his job."
"Like, he seems to me someone who would do anything it takes to solve a case, in spite of what his superiors say or think." Shaggy remarked.
Fred and the girls shared glances with each other briefly, though they didn't offer anything else as they entered the building and made their way to Dr. Jasperson's autopsy suite.
The doctor was finishing writing something on his clipboard when the gang arrived, prompting him to turn around.
"Ah, Fred, perfect timing. Detective Neville just left." The doctor greeted before he spotted Shaggy and added, "And I see you three have brought another friend."
"His name's Shaggy Rogers." Velma said. "He was the one that drove us here yesterday, he had to pick up his sister from school, which is why you didn't meet him."
Jasperson walked over to Shaggy and extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rogers."
Shaggy nodded firmly as he took the doctor's offered hand, during which Jasperson continued, "I take it that you've...experienced something traumatic...recently?"
Fred and the girls turned towards Shaggy, though he remained calm as he asked, "How'd you figure?"
"Tremor in your right hand, plus the unnatural way you're holding your left arm right now." Jasperson explained, prompting Shaggy to glance at his left arm. "Trust me, as a medical professional, it's hardly difficult to recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, especially when I've used to work at the VA."
The doctor then looked at Shaggy as he added, "Think you wanna talk about it?"
Shaggy glanced towards Fred and the girls before he said, "Like, would like to, though we were told by Detective Neville not to waste your time and I'm sure you know why we're here."
Jasperson nodded as he put on his glasses and walked towards the table. "Right, right. I had just completed the preliminary examination of the victim of last night's beast attack."
"And?" Velma prompted.
"As we've previously established, the victim was not killed at where he was discovered." Jasperson gestured towards the body. "However, it wasn't the scratches from the beast that killed him."
"It wasn't?" Daphne asked.
"No." The doctor shook his head as he directed them to the victim's chest. "The deep scratches present here on the victim's chest...even though they cut right into his vital organs, there were no signs of any form of bleeding whatsoever."
"Which means that like the scars on the victim's back, the scratches were also applied post-mortem." Fred said.
"Exactly." Jasperson nodded.
"So he was dead even before he got attacked by the beast." Shaggy offered. "And that the culprit used the beast to dispose of the body in order to get rid of any incriminating evidence."
"Such as evidence that would be washed away when the body is floating in the swimming pool." Velma said.
"Precisely." The doctor nodded again. "Detective Neville had provided a sample of the swimming pool water, which at present is in the process of being analyzed, along with the victim's blood for any signs of toxins."
Velma murmured as she walked towards the nearby computer, where the screen was showing the progress of the analysis of both the swimming pool water and the victim's blood.
"As you can see, I've taken the liberty of having the most-common chemicals used in swimming pools, particularly chloride, excluded from the results of the analysis, given the likelihood that the victim's blood has traces of the chemical from being in the swimming pool water for quite some time." Jasperson said.
"The forensic analysis would likely bring you to that conclusion." Velma nodded.
"So we're looking at the victim getting ambushed on his way to the washroom, in which he was injected with something that killed him instantly." Fred interjected. "Then the culprit used the beast appearance to get him cut up and disposed of in the swimming pool to get rid of the evidence."
"Right now, it's looking that way, Fred." Jasperson said.
"Like, there's something bothering me, though." Shaggy said. "If I were to dispose of a body, I would have the victim disposed in the sewer or anywhere else where he won't be find, especially if I want to be able to put some time between me getting away and the body getting discovered. Why would the culprit go through the trouble of butchering up the victim post-mortem, if only to subsequently dispose the body in the swimming pool?"
"I'm certain the culprit's expecting that no one would be using the school swimming pool that late in the afternoon, but nonetheless, you're right, Shag." Daphne said. "There's something about the details that doesn't fit one bit."
"Well, it looks like this is something you kids will have to figure out, while in the meantime, I will be waiting on to see what our toxicology analysis have to say on the victim's blood." Jasperson said.
"Right." Fred nodded as the gang proceeded to get up and leave. "Appreciate the update, Doc."
The doctor only nodded in reply as the gang took their leaves and resumed writing his notes.
Once they were back in the van, Fred said, "So any thoughts so far, gang?"
"Shaggy does raise an interesting question." Velma said. "We now know that the victim was drugged and that the beast attack was likely staged to cover the true cause of his death. Question now is, who wanted the victim dead and why? And why dispose his body in the swimming pool of all places?"
"Indeed." Fred nodded as Shaggy started the engine. "Maybe a trip back to the school building can give us some more answers. It won't be too difficult, since the team's gonna be practicing football starting at 11, so you guys can snoop around while I'm out on the field."
"You think we may be able to find something back in school, Fred?" Daphne asked.
"There's only one way to find out." Fred replied as they pulled out of the parking lot and drove off.
Unbeknownst to any of the gang, Detective Neville was parked just a couple yards down the street from the medical examiner's office.
When the van drove by him, the detective frowned before he started the engine and slowly began to pull back onto the road and follow the van.
A short while later, the gang pulled up at the parking lot of Coolsville Central High School, which was largely empty except for a number of cars.
"Alright, what's the plan, Fred?" Velma asked as they disembarked from the van.
"While I go join the guys for practice, you guys and Scooby will search around and see if our culprit may have left behind a clue." Fred suggested.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Daphne nodded. "Diverting suspicion away from anyone curious as to why we were here today should any of our parents ask."
"Exactly." Fred agreed. "Now let's get moving, guys."
The others all nodded before they proceeded to split up, with Fred jogging over to the field, where a number of the other players were starting to warm up, while the rest of the gang headed into the school building.
"Since it's sunny, we should be able to get a better look at what we saw down at the basement yesterday." Velma said as they entered the building.
"Like, would that make a difference, considering that the lights went out while we were down there and there were no windows nearby." Shaggy pointed out.
"Well, it's sunny and the lights shouldn't malfunction like it did yesterday afternoon." Velma offered.
Shaggy only turned towards Scooby in response, who whined softly, prompting him to rub his head.
"Relax, Scoob." Shaggy said soothingly. "It's okay, man. I'm right here."
Daphne and Velma both almost stopped in their tracks as they realized they've forgotten that Shaggy had brought Scooby along for the ride.
"Say, Shaggy." Velma said. "Is Scooby...a therapy dog?"
"You could...say that." Shaggy replied as he continued to rub Scooby's head. "He helps calm my nerves...whenever something is acting up."
"Like the anxiety?" Daphne offered.
"Pretty much, yeah." Shaggy said but didn't further elaborate. "You girls thinking that Scoob can track down the culprit?"
"Well, it's a longshot, but better than nothing, I suppose." Velma said before she takes the lead, prompting Shaggy and Daphne to share glances with each other briefly before they proceeded to follow her.
Soon, they were back at the spot where they first spotted the claw marks. While the blood trail was washed off and the claw marks appearing more weathered than on the previous day, they were all positive that this was the spot they spotted the claw marks.
"Alright, Scooby, sniff around and see if you can pick up a scent." Velma instructed as she pointed towards the floor.
Scooby only looked at her confusingly, prompting her to kneel down.
"Sniff the floor and see if you can pick up a scent." She explained. "If you do, lead us to where the scent came from."
When Scooby didn't respond, Velma turned towards Shaggy, who sighed.
"Scoob, just sniff the ground." Shaggy said, prompting Scooby to kneel down and start sniffing.
As Scooby began sniffing the ground, taking a few steps as he did, Daphne and Velma looked towards Shaggy.
"You just need to simplify the commands so Scooby wouldn't get confused." Shaggy explained.
The girls both nodded before Daphne asked, "So how did Scooby came to live at your household, Shag?"
"Like, he was rescued from a dog-fighting ring in Afghanistan that Dad and his Marines broke up." Shaggy replied. "All the dogs that were rescued were subsequently adopted by the members of the squad, while Dad ended up with Scooby when he started bonding with him."
"I see." Daphne and Velma both nodded, during which Scooby started jogging away.
Sharing glances with each other briefly, Shaggy and the girls promptly took off after Scooby.
"Like, slow down, Scoob!" Shaggy exclaimed as they followed the Great Dane.
Eventually, the trio stopped when they saw Scooby scratching at one of the storage doors.
"What is it, Scooby?" Daphne asked as they rushed over to him. "Is this where the scent originated from?"
Scooby only barked as he continued to scratch at the door, prompting Velma to try the doorknob.
The door was unlocked, and as soon as she pulled the door open, the trio all gasped collectively.
"Guys, I think we just found our crime scene." Velma said.
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