"What's wrong Daph?"
"Well... I'm still here..."
Velma looked confused at that statement. She just stared waiting for her to explain.
"I mean, how many actual good night sleep, have we ever gotten at a 'haunted place'?"
"You do got a point there."
Velma considered, as she looked towards the window that looking into the large grassy backyard. The house overall was too nice of a place to be considered Haunted. Though if it turned out as it usually did, it isn't going to be haunted in the end anyway. There is almost always someone, some human behind the supposed haunting. Daphne kept going on her thoughts as she searched a new wall.
"I mean, if it isn't you and me, its Shaggy and Scooby getting food at night for a snack. And they come running in to wake us all up. Or something."
Velma looked back towards her as Daph gave up. Not being able to find anything.
"Oh, so you like getting kidnapped all the time."
Velma eyebrows tilted as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Giving her one of those wiry smirks she gave when she playfully made fun of redheaded ditz.
"Oh no. They always muss my hair."
Daphne joined in on the teasing Velma did on her. Although it was an annoyance of her getting captured often, they had tended to joke about it a lot.
"But seriously. This is one for the books. A actual full night of sleep."
Daphne commented before they both broke into laughter. A light knock came from the door and broke their giggles. It was Fred and Shaggy.
"Well someone's in a good mood."
Fred piped up as he peeked his head in from the door.
"What's so funny in the morning?" He asked.
"Daph was just commenting on how much of her beauty sleep she got. Usually we don't get that much sleep on a job."
Fred put a hand to his chin as he tried to think of another night they had gotten away with sleeping the first night at a job site and not had something happen.
"You know, your right?"
"See?"
Daphne said, nudging Velma who in turn nudged her back.
"Well, since you girls aren't ready, we'll have to meet you. Scooby is whining and I think if Shag's stomach gets any louder, he might knock the house down. They ate everything in the cooler last night."
"Alright Fred. We'll be down soon."
Fred closed the door and sighed. If they were lucky the girls would be down tomorrow at rate Daphne usually took. Though in the end, it didn't take as long as Fred had thought, but it was long enough for Shaggy and Scooby to make their second home in the kitchen. As Fred lingered in the hallway looking at a picture of John Ridmore waiting for the girls, Shaggy and Scooby were getting into everything. As usual, all the cupboards and drawers were open, and food items were all over the place. As the three of them entered the kitchen, they came in time to hear Shaggy over the clatter of food items.
"Hey... Where is all the corn syrup? Oh well... No. No.. Over there Scoob. The food coloring goes next to the baking sections, and the spaghetti sauce goes next to the pizza section by the oven."
"R'ok"
Responded Scooby, as his paws were full of various items. As he spilled the food coloring by the baking section, he then tipped and skittered over to put the bottles of sauce down before he made a mess on the floor. Velma watched in amusement before something caught her eye.
"That's strange. The bottles of Red color dye are all used up."
Shaggy's head peeked out from the walk in closet to give his opinion.
"Like' maybe they really like the color of red?"
Scooby looked over and shrugged and continued to pour the sauce in to the pot. He really didn't mind if the color red was missing. Food coloring didn't have a taste. It just was there to make things to look pretty. He didn't know why Shaggy even used it.
"Good morning."
Came a meek voice from the doorframe to the kitchen. It was Anne again.
"Did everyone sleep well?"
"Yes. Thank you Anne."
Daphne said to her, Anne blushed and bowed her head.
"Good... Well. In an hour my grand aunt Bella will be arriving and we plan to have a meeting with the banker in the living room about the missing will. I... I thought it might be a good idea if you attended."
She told them before disappearing around the door. The gang all looked at each other again and shrugged. She certainly seemed to be a shy one. The gang ate what food they could get their hands on that didn't go into Shaggy and Scooby's creations, and they made sure to get to the living room to attend the meeting. Once the Banker saw that everyone seemed there, he started.
"Greeting. My name is Mr. Whiden. I was the Banker for Mr. Ridmore and was put in charge of his estate in a manner of speaking. He, although I constantly told him to do it with the bank, made his own will. Now his will was not in the place he said it was. Thus I figure it is the reason you are all here. Though... Where is Mr. Ridmore's younger brother?"
The man looked around the guests present and noticed the man in the wheelchair had not arrived yet. After a short bit of wondering, the brother in questioned was rolled in by a man standing behind him. The man looked like a younger version of all the pictures in the house of John Ridmore. He was pushing the man with one hand while itching the side of his neck. His skin looked irritated and a clear birthmark sat upon his shoulder as his hand scratched.
"Father. You made Mr. Whiden wait."
"Really? I would have never thought about it. And stop that itching boy."
Edward scoffed at his son. Edward Junior reluctantly lowered his hand from his neck.
"Really Junior? Don't mull on matter as such. We are here and he is still here. That is all that matters."
The he turned to the Banker with the scowl still upon his face.
"Now Mr. Whiden. Have you said anything else that I didn't know? Or am I just wasting my time here?"
Mister Whiden sighed as he adjusted his glasses back on the perch of his nose.
"No Edward, no new news of the will yet. Though if things keep up this rate, you will be the owner of the mansion by default. Since you are the closest blood relative."
Edward didn't seem to look too happy at the news of getting the place.
"Good. Then I can kick you all out for disturbing my peace. Let's go Junior."
Just as the old man was wheeled around to head back to his room, a voice boomed over all.
"You would like that, wouldn't you little brother."
The voice echoed off the walls and it's source was impossible as the old walls made for good resonance and made it hard finding the exact direction it was coming from..
"I can't let you stay then in my house."
A shriek sounded off down the halls. It was a voice of a woman in distress. Edward Junior wheeled his father towards the shriek.
"Miss Norman!"
As the two disappeared into the hallway, Ms Norman came running into the living room. She was out of breath and looking very frightened. She was visibly trembling as the one who could only be Bella came over to her. The gang was going to go comfort her if Bella had not gone to her.
"Ms Norman. What happened to you?"
"Oh miss Bella! It was horrible. I was doing my chores and I was planning on taking some laundry down the stairs to the basement like I usually do when I opened the door I got attacked. It was Mister Ridmore. John Ridmore! Oh, it was a scary sight Miss Bella. I threw my laundry at him ran. Bless his heart Edward Junior and his father headed towards him to deal with him."
"JUNIOR!"
Was Edward seniors voice down the hall. The Gang was on it. Running out and down the hallway, Fred, Daphne, and Velma were at the head, while Shaggy and Scooby trailed behind everyone else. They watched as what seemed to be a masked figure pick up the body of Edward Junior and hike it over his shoulder. He turned and it looked like an old man was holding the limp body of Junior over his shoulder as he started to push the flailing Edward senior towards the end of the hall to escape.
"Stop right there!"
Yelled Fred as he pulled out in front of the group. He was determined to get the guy. Seeing Fred gaining fast. He spun Edward senior to face Fred and shoved the old man at him. Fred collided with the wheelchair, as Edward senior was furious.
"What are you doing? Quit dawdling and get my brother. He took my son!"
The old man scowled. Fred shook his head and decided against getting thanks out of the old geezer, instead he ran for the door that the supposed ghost of John Ridmore disappeared into with Edward junior. Fred burst into the room to meet a cluttered, but otherwise empty study room. Fred turned as the speaker above his head crackled to life.
"Not so fast my brother. You might have gotten away from me, but I have gotten your son. Leave this house and give up your rights to the house and you shall find your son. If not, I might have to do something drastic to him."
The voice cut out as Edward scowled up at the speaker. So that is where the voice had been coming from. Like most rich people in the area, Ridmore had installed speakers inside of his mansion so he would be able to play music or what ever, where ever in the house. Behind Fred and Edward, everyone else came panting into the room. Not only was the rest of the gang there, but Bella, Anne, Ms. Norman and Mr. Whiden had also came. Fred turned to the group.
"Where is the machine for the speaker system?"
Ms Norman pointed at the machine that sat at the table right behind where Fred had stopped and stood. Velma came over and inspected the device for a bit. After some careful examining and checking of wires, she shook her head.
"It's off. Everything on here seems to be in one piece and in working order. But nothing is here to suggest any alteration, or even a recording device. This just looks like your run of the mill communication device. Like one you might have in a school PA system."
She looked puzzled, but also somewhat excited. Besides the fact that Edward was missing, this wasn't looking like such a dull trip after all. They were in for a good mystery. Edward scowled at Velma's expression.
"So you are enjoying that fact that my son is captured. Eh? You guys are here to solve mysteries... Well here is one. Now find my son!"
"Now now Brother dear." Softly spoke Bella. "These kids are here to help yes, but you don't have to yell at them. That will get nothing done."
"I can yell at them all I please. My ghost of a brother took my only son. I knew he was to stupid and annoying to stay dead, that brother of mine. But to steal my own son. Now that is down right monstrous. You brats! Find my son!"
He scowled and wheeled himself past everyone. Probably heading to his room. Anna headed off after him to make sure he was ok, and Mr. Whiden cleared his throat.
"Well, I am not apart of this. I must be going. I will be back in a few days to check up if anything has happened. Please, Bella, call me when the young man is found. I have to be going for another appointment. Good luck finding him."
Ms Norman showed out Mr. Whiden and back in the room, Bella shook her head.
"My brother isn't a very good people person. But he really cares for his son. Please help us find Edward Junior."
Bella pleaded Fred and the others. They all nodded towards her.
"That's, like' Why were here."
Spoke up Shaggy, braver then he felt. He just hoped she didn't notice that his legs felt like jello and they knocked around more then a pair of maracas.
"We're on the case Miss Ridmore. There isn't any Mystery we can't solve."
Fred added in a confident voice. Bella's face warmed a bit at his enthusiasm. She left the room to see how her stubborn but beloved brother was. Fred turned to the gang; they all could tell what he was going to say.
"Alright gang, let's split up!"