"Velms!"
"Fred?"
"Like' Velma! We thought you were Ghost bait."
"Silly Shaggy. I'm fine… Except that you guys on crushing the life out of me."
Fred and Shaggy sheepishly got off of her and pulled her to her feet. Anne had gotten Velma's glasses and gave them back to Velma who accepted them with thanks. Whipping the lens off, she placed them on and her friends came into view.
"Boy, are you guys a sight for sore eyes. But I have big news. I know who it is!"
Velma sat the gang down in the kitchen and explained what had happened and what she found. She explained about the double speaker and the cases inside the hiding room. Plus the possible original location of the missing will. And the birthmark they saw on the ghost.
"I do remember seeing that on Edward Junior. But didn't we see his limp body being taken?"
Shaggy spoke up.
"Well, there were a bunch of parts missing from the Mannequins downstairs and a mess of clothing. Maybe, like' somehow they put the clothes on fast on the dummy and the switch was made."
Velma thought it over.
"Well, that might be possible if there was a way to switch out of clothing."
Daphne's smile beamed as she pulled some of their findings from Fred's back pocket.
"How about Velcro!"
Velma looked at the piece of Velcro and nodded.
"That will do it. Gang, I think we just solved the mystery."
She told them with a smile creeping across her mouth. She always got giddy when they solved the mystery. Velma also noticed the amazed look on Anne, as she was sitting quietly nearby and just watching how the gang had figured out how everything was done. Fred was the first to speak up.
"Not to burst your bubble, but now that we know that Edward Junior isn't in trouble, but he's behind it all, how do we draw out the Ghost to capture him and unmask him? We need a plan."
They all gazed off somewhere and set their minds at work. Fred was the first one to speak up.
"All right, I think I got it gang. Well, once the ghost sees that we won't be looking for junior, maybe he'll go after Edward Senior then. All we have to do is get him when he goes after the old man. Using the new passageways to our own advantage, we can cut him off on the first floor."
They finalized the little bit of the plan, like who was to go where, and ironed out all the details before Shaggy's stomach made itself known.
"All this running around sure builds up an appetite. How about we take a break and get something to eat?"
For once the gang agreed. While Shaggy and Scooby made everyone sandwiches, Velma went to work figuring out the time chart with each person's route for the capture tomorrow. If they didn't know the right time, they could let the ghost escape again. And they couldn't have that happen. Anne was just stunned. She had witnessed them all in action and was actually part of their mystery and with her help, she was able to give information that was important. She couldn't find the words to express anything except a stuttered thank you when Scooby gave her a sandwich as well. Daphne came over and nudged Velma out of her work to whisper into her ear.
"What's wrong with Anne?"
Velma looked over and then looked back to her work, taking a bite of the Shaggy and Scooby provided sandwich before she responded.
"Oh, She's one of our biggest fans. I think she's just a bit shell shocked at her first ghost chase."
"Oh, really?"
Velma nodded as she calculated Fred's time chart in front of her. Daphne looked down at the girl and shook head. When it came to a mystery, it certainly was Velma's mistress. Daphne then noticed her nails and sat down to file them down back to perfection. They weren't as bad as she thought they were. Fred was getting himself mentally ready for the task ahead, as he munched on a sandwich. Walking a bit, he found himself looking out the window.
"Wow… It's getting dark. I wonder what time it is."
With a quick gaze up at the window Velma was able to get a just of the time just from the position of the sun.
"I would say, 6ish… 7…"
She mentioned between taking another bite out of the sandwich. That broke Anne out of her spell. She looked down at her watch and saw it was 6:43pm.
"Oh! Shoot! Grandaunt Bella must be worried about me. Oh… Oh… I have to go!"
And with that she ran out of the room. She stopped long enough to pop her head back in to say one last thing to the gang.
"Thank you!!!"
And then she was gone. A smile was on all of the gang members. Fred stayed at the window for a while, while everyone else finished his or her sandwiches. Once Velma's calculations were finished, she told it to them all and the joined Shaggy and Scooby washing the dishes as Fred and Daphne examined the panel they came out of. They were able to find the latch to open up the wall easier then the first section. They came out and reported it to Velma, who took notes on where it was. Daphne and Fred joined to dry the dishes and soon the kitchen was clean. They all turned to check out the living room one more time when Edward Senior rolled in.
"What are you Brats doing in the kitchen? You should be finding my son!"
He scowled. The gang looked at each other before Fred spoke up.
"We are looking Mr. Ridmore. We should be able to find your son by tomorrow."
"TOMMORROW! You bunch of idiots. I thought Bella said you are then best crime solvers. Tomorrow! BAH! I'll just have to find my son myself."
"But sir! I don't think you should do that."
"Don't tell me what to do Boy! I'll do what I well please. I should tell Bella to not pay you after all this is done… Tomorrow… bah…"
He spun himself around and pushed though the double swing doors that the kitchen had. Fred thought to go after him, but then thought again. He would probably just yell at him for his efforts. He hung his head, but then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"It's all right Fred. He's just a grouch. We'll deal with him later once we unmask his son."
Daphne piped in to cheer him up, he looked up at her and then looked at everyone else.
"You right. Well, we better do the last minute stuff before we turn in for tonight. Let's get on it Gang!"
Fred lead the way though the doors and the rest of the gang followed. They set up their last minute preparations before they realized it was getting late. Then gang split off into the respective rooms and soon fell asleep. Waiting what tomorrow would bring with their plan in mind.