Chapter 4

"Clarice Barrons, Paranormal Specialist"

Like, upon getting to New Orleans, the first thing Scooby Doo and I wanted to do was to hit some of that New Orleans grub. But, as always, we had other plans that involved ghosts and ghouls.

Reah, Rhouls and Rhosts.

We instead ended up going to Beau's place in Downtown New Orleans and it was clear to Scoob and me that we were in prison. All this FBI environment was starting to creep me out and it showed.

"Here we are," Beau said as we arrived the FBI's New Orleans office. "Welcome to the hq of fighting crime."

Getting out of the car, you can't help but feel intimidated and like, when we got to the front door, we got stopped.

"Agent Neville," a police officer said, stopping us from entering the building. "I cannot allow dogs into the building."

"Rog? Rere?"

"They are my friends, the dog included," said Beau, trying to persuade the guard to let us in. "I've brought them here to help us on the Six Flags case, Richardson."

"Sorry, rules are rules," the guard said, just as at that moment, a woman dressed in a green skirt suit and cream blouse with short brown hair came up to the door. Like, she was on Daphne's level in terms of appearance.

"They can pass, Richardson," the woman said. "Come on in, Agent Neville."

So we came in, Scooby included. Stepping inside, I could feel my stomach start to sink amidst the glares we got from the other FBI agents. I don't know, like, maybe what is it about me that is drawing attention towards us?

"Carry on, agents," the woman ordered and the attention was off of us.

"Gosh, they're acting like they've never seen us before," said Fred.

"That's because they are always on alert, Mr. Jones. The FBI can be a dirty business sometimes, but lately this one takes the cake."

…

We soon came up to an office that said Clarice Barrons, FBI Paranormal Specialist.

"You're Clarice Barrons, aren't you?" Velma asked, causing the woman to turn around and face us.

"Yes," Clarice replied. "My aunt was Tagina Barrons, may she rest in peace. Now, I carry on with her work."

Stepping into the office, we were, like, amazed that this girl was as deep of a ghost hunter as we were.

"I remember your aunt," Daphne remarked, looking down at a picture of a small, plump woman with curly hair. "The Freelings talked about her on our show, Coast to Coast."

"Forgive me if I say that I don't watch much cable tv," Clarice said, sitting down behind her desk. "Being a paranormal specialist for the FBI takes up a lot of my time. It's a lot, but it's worth it. But yes, my aunt and the Freeling family are connected on a spiritual level. When did you interview them?"

"A few years ago," Daphne answered. "Fred here was my cameraman. You know, we have a lot in common."

"She's right," added Velma. "I follow you on Social Media."

"You're mistaken," corrected Clarice, taking a cigarette and smoking it. "I don't have a social media account anymore. Not after joining the FBI. Isn't that right, Agent Neville?"

Beau merely shrugged in reply to his superior's question.

"Being a paranormal specialist is just as important as being a federal agent," Clarice said, pulling out some files from a section labeled Six Flags. "It's my responsibility to investigate the spiritual that will often cause human injury or death. For 10 years, I have been chasing the very spirit that my aunt chased."

She then opened a file and pulled out a picture of a really, creepy old man and threw on the desk. I then saw Daphne's eyes widen in shock.

"That's him!" she cried, pointing to the picture. "I saw him on the plane!"

Clarice immediately turned all of her attention to Daphne upon hearing this. Like a look that can make your eyes pop out.

"Daphne, are you sure about that? You saw no one!" Fred cried.

"I did see him, Fred!" Daphne protested, glaring at Fred. "He was sitting in the seat behind us. You may not have seen him, but I did!"

Clarice then looked Daphne over carefully. She then touched Daphne's hand and knew she needed to take an even closer look.

"Take your jacket off," she said and Daphne complied, reluctantly. Once her jacket was off, Daphne saw Clarice carefully examine Daphne's bare arms like a doctor. "Hmm, just as I thought."

"What?"

"He's targeting you, Ms. Blake."

"Who?"

"Reverend Henry Kane…the very spirit that killed my aunt."

For a moment, it seemed like we had found our great enemy. Then, Clarice looked at Daphne's arms again.

"But not now," Clarice further stated. "He's trying to recruit new followers."

"Followers?" Velma asked.

"More spirits, to join his ranks," Clarice answered as Daphne put her jacket back on. "Reverend Kane is perhaps the most foul of all spirits to have ever existed. He has powers that are beyond our imagination. And perhaps he has someone among the living, that is doing his work for him."

Like, after a brief silence, Fred knew what we needed to do.

"Well," Fred said, taking a gulp. "Guess we'd better get started then."

…

Like, meanwhile at Six Flags New Orleans, the shadows of a clown like figure creeped out from an attraction once known as Jocco's Mardi Gras Madness. His hand slowly opened the door and the shadow of another ghost came out from under the ground.

"She is here," the ghost said. "Her and her friends."

"Oh God, will they ever learn patience?" the clown asked, his face peaking from behind the doors of the abandoned attraction. "I haven't gathered enough spirits yet for the Reverend."

"You must work fast," the ghost replied. "Only then can you obtain your greatest reward...the return of this entire village under your own command."

"It shall be done, of course. Inform the reverend that Jocco will carry out the Reverend's commands."

...

...