Aaron Maroon
Belle's P.O.V
I petted Bandit as Lulu drove us to the studio. People I knew were being threatened and some were harmed. Now after all that two had gone missing and no one told me about it. I bit my lip to keep my anger in check. Perhaps Aaron tried to call me, but the weasels broke the answering machine again, or maybe he thought I already knew about it. He was a Maroon, a Maroon blackmailed my friends and was the reason my uncle, mother, and father were killed. Still I never tried to act like Aaron was like his uncle, but when I got to the studio, oh I had a few questions for him.
Eddie's P.O.V
As we drove, I knew Belle was in deep thought. Her lip was being bitten on, her hand kept petting Bandit, yet her eyes looked a million miles away. Something must be wrong I knew that much, now had to find out what. "Hey Belle, you okay?" I asked.
"I am wondering why Aaron never mentioned these attacks to me?" Since my uncle Marvin, still had some percent in Maroon Studios, I have an equal say in what happens to our clients. Yet I haven't heard anything about these accidents, or threats till just now. Makes me wonder what else I don't know," Belle explained snapping out of her trance.
"Maybe Aaron thought you didn't need to know. I mean he knows you run a detective service, he probably didn't want to overwhelm you," I told her.
"I don't know Eddie, after R.K Maroon, what he did how can I trust Aaron?" she asked me. I nodded my head knowing how Belle felt about the first Maroon that owned Maroon studios. Yet I couldn't let anger cloud her judgement that is what happened to me when Teddy died. A toon killed my brother ever since that day I saw all toons as evil creatures that were on their own. I drank myself stupid, ran my business to the ground, and even ruined my relationship with Dolores, I was shocked she gave me another chance, that woman is an angel.
"Belle, you remember how I felt after Teddy died?" I asked her.
"Yeah, you felt angry, sad and you wanted revenge," she told me, now looking at me.
"Exactly, and remember when you learned Doom was the one who killed your family?" I asked her.
"Yeah, I tried to kill him," Belle replied now holding onto Squeaks. As Bandit licked her hands wanting more attention.
"Anger can be a good motivation at times, but it can cloud your judgement making you do things, you wouldn't do without a clear head. Remember Aaron is not R.K Maroon, so try and give him a chance. Don't let the past dictate your feelings of people in the future. If you never came into my life with Roger, Doom would have succeeded and all the toons who I now see as family would be gone. My kids, my life with Dolores would never have happened. Remember that Belle, try to keep a clear head, just advice from one detective to another," I finally told her as we pulled into the studio. Belle only nodded a small smile on her face.
"Thanks Eddie, I'll remember that," she told me as we got out of Lulu.
"Just whistle if you guys need me, I am going to find a place to park, this old girl needs a little rest," Lulu told us.
"Thanks, Lulu, be safe," Belle told her. Lulu winked and headed over to a parking space.
Belle's P.O.V
I headed to the main office as the security guards stood at attention, opening the doors for us. "Thanks James, tell the wife and kids I said hello," I told the man.
"Yes ma'am, thanks Ms. Brown," James said with a grin. I spotted other Toon stars getting ready for their acts or auditioning for movies, Toon movies were quite popular. Finally, we reached the main office, where Aaron Maroon would be. As we got to the office, Debbie Jones, Aaron's secretary greeted us. She was a stout woman with thin white hair, deep gray eyes, and huge glasses making her eyes look like an owl's eyes. She wore her hair in a tight bun, wearing a simple gray dress.
"Ah Ms. Brown, how may I assist you?" she asked in a sweet, yet dry voice.
"I am here to see Mr. Maroon," I told her gently. Debbie barely raised an eyebrow when she saw Squeaks and Bandit at my heels. Yet she blushed when she saw Eddie.
"Of, course dear, Mr. Maroon has just finished a meeting please wait a moment," she said. She pushed a button and talked into the mike. "Mr. Maroon, Ms. Belle, and some friends have come to see you, may I show them in?" she asked.
"Yes, Mrs. Jones, please send them in," a deep voice replied.
"As you wish sir," Debbie replied. She then smiled and motioned for us to follow her; she opened the big wooden doors leading to Aaron's office.
"Thanks, Mrs. Jones," I tell her as we enter the office. The decorations didn't change much, a plain tan office with pictures of famous movies, Toons and human actors.
A young man in his late 20's stood before us. He wore a black business suit, even had a sharp haircut for his midnight black hair, a small mustache and trimmed beard, dark brown eyes, and nicely tanned skin. The man was Aaron William Maroon, the new owner of Maroon studios and my partner in the business. Aaron flashed us a million-dollar smile as he approached us. "Ah Ms. Brown and I see Mr. Valiant what a pleasure. How can I help you two?" he asked in a deep yet soft voice.
I sat down in the chair and calmly spoke, "You can start by telling me why I was not informed about our stars being threatened and now kidnapped".
His demeanor changed slightly his smile fading replaced by a frown. He sat down in his chair pouring himself a drink before answering. "I see you have talked to Ms. Mouse and Ms. Bunny," Aaron replied referring to Minnie and Lola.
"Yes, they came to my office a few hours ago, talking about how Mickey and Bugs, were being threatened, harmed on set, and now they disappeared," Eddie told him. Aaron took a drink as he answered again.
"I regret not informing you Ms. Brown, I truly thought I had everything under control. I had bodyguards for our clients, extra security, and even checked all the equipment to make sure no toon proof got through. It seemed to be working yet the accidents kept happening and now two of our biggest stars have disappeared. It is my fault and I am sorry for not notifying you sooner," Aaron told me. I looked him dead in the eye, sensing no hint of dishonestly, Aaron was being honest by his drinking he seemed to really blame himself for what happened.
"Okay, why didn't you notify me, I am a partner in this company, these clients are friends of mine. I don't like seeing them harmed and now kidnapped," I told him firmly.
"I see that, again I thought I could handle it sadly I was wrong. Yet I may be able to help find some suspects, people who were how should I put it, um unhappy working here," Aaron told me.
"Suspects, who could they be?" I asked now grabbing my notebook.
Aaron pulled out some pictures of some old toons I haven't seen in a long time. One was an old black and white bunny, wearing only blue shorts.
"Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, why would he be a suspect?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"His show was cancelled a few years back because Mickey Mouse was more popular. He comes by looking for work sadly I can only give him two or four minutes as a background character. Oswald was getting pretty upset, maybe he held a grudge against Bugs and Mickey for being so popular," Aaron suggested. The other picture was a guy that sent chills down my spine for I knew this guy quite well, Dr. XXX, otherwise known as the Mad Doctor. A tall bald man, with a light peach complexion, a long thick black beard, wearing a white lab coat and black gloves.
"I remember this guy, he was getting angry for not getting enough attention, always thought he was the best villain, but people didn't take him too seriously," I said out loud.
"Sadly, you would be correct, he comes by keeps begging to be put on our Disney Halloween specials. I managed a few times, but he just wasn't popular, last time I heard from him, he was in the bad side of Toon Town doing experiments," Aaron told me.
"Are there any more suspects?" Eddie asked taking notes as I was doing.
"Hmmm not any more I can think of, oh wait the Brain from Pinky and the Brain, he was annoyed with working with Elmyra from Tiny Toons, he said the show was garbage and he wanted his old show back with just him and Pinky. Sadly, all I could do was cancel his show with Elmyra and show reruns of his original show with him and Pinky. Brain didn't seem to be satisfied with that, could he be a suspect?" Aaron questioned.
"We'll check it out," I told him.
"Hopefully I can redeem myself in some way for blowing it," Aaron said standing up.
"Thanks, this list should be useful, if you think of anything else please call us," Eddie said handing him a business card. Aaron took it and nodded; Eddie turned to leave yet Aaron called out to me.
"I'll meet you downstairs in a moment," I told Eddie. He nodded and headed out as I turned to Aaron.
"Thanks for not yelling at me," Aaron told me.
"Why would I yell at you?" I asked him.
"I know how you felt about my uncle; he was a bastard no denying it. What he did to Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit was unacceptable, and what he did to Mr. Acme," Aaron said pouring another drink.
"Why are you telling me this Aaron?" I asked folding my arms.
"To prove to you that I am not my uncle, you seemed to work well with me, yet my lack in judgement cost our two biggest stars to get captured. I am sorry Belle, I honestly thought I could handle things, yet I messed up," Aaron said.
"Look, I do hate your uncle he was a greedy selfish man that helped ruin and murder people and Toons. Yet if what you say is true then we must work together no more secrets and no more handling things on our own. If anything happens in the studio I need to know and I will keep you posted with the case, sound fair?" I asked Aaron.
"Sounds more than fair, friends?" he asked holding out his hand.
"Friends," I said shaking his hand.
"You know Ms. Belle, hope you don't mind me saying but you truly are good for business, I am happy to work with you," Aaron said flashing me another million-dollar smile as I headed out the door. Next, step talk to Jessica and Roger then find any suspects that would harm them, and Eddie and I will interview them, looking for clues till we find the culprit. I just hoped for Mickey and Bug's sake we weren't too late.
To be continued…
Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long to update I had issues with my writing document. So, folks what do you think of Aaron Maroon, friend or foe? And these suspects could they be the ones behind Bugs and Mickey's disappearance. Stay tuned to find out and please review. Special thanks to Nickzilla20 for the help with picking out suspects. Have a nice day.