As noon approaches and passes, Scooby and Shaggy are digging through the
kitchen for something to eat.
"Like, this place is basically empty!" Shaggy exclaims in disgust.
"Reah, rempty." Parrots Scooby tossing a few empty cans to the floor at Velma's feet as she enters the room.
"Scooby," she scolds, "this is no way to act in someone's house."
Shaggy begins to snicker. Noticing this, Velma snaps, "That goes for you too, Norville."
Shaggy instantly stops and stands looking at Velma. He is awe struck. Velma had never used his real name unless she was very displeased with his behavior.
"Now clean up this mess." She orders, "Both of you!"
While Shaggy and Scooby are doing as they're told, Shaggy asks, "Like, have you found anything interesting, Velma?"
"It's hard to say." She replies. "It seems as if this mystery is getting nowhere."
"Like, we hate it when that happens. Like, don't we Scoob?" Shaggy says.
"Ruh-huh." Scooby agrees.
"Why so?" Velma asks.
"Because," Shaggy explains, "like, that means that, like, we have to go look for more clues, and that, like, means that we are going to, like, encounter the monster even more, and that, like, means that Scoob and me are, like, going to be scared even more. Which, we, like, don't like."
"Rat's rue!" Scooby agrees.
"Awe, come on you guys," Velma moans, "don't be a bunch of wimps!"
Shaggy looks at Scooby and exclaims, "Like, we've been wimps all our lives and, like, now she tells us not to be!"
Scooby then shakes his head.
On their way back to join the rest, Freddie, Daphne, and little Norville go over the notes they collected at the company. Which are very few.
Freddie and Daphne got nowhere.
"It's just the same thing over and over." Complains Daphne.
"Like, I got something a little bit, like, different." Little Norville speaks up.
"Oh?" Freddie asks looking at the boy, "What did you get?"
"Like, simply this." Norville replies handing his notebook to Daphne. She opens it up and reads:
Name: Susie Bowers
Miss smith had many enemies Very few friends Inherited company from a relative Once did insider trading like Martha Stewart (and got away with it) Had given Susie her first job as a designers assistant Later, made Susie manager of the clothing department. Became a good friend to Ms. Smith.
"That's pretty interesting." Daphne remarks handing the notebook back to Norville. He just grins happy that she is pleased of his findings.
Freddie, Daphne, and little Norville are driving down to the courthouse where they had intended to meet with the rest Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby. Velma is driving to the police station.
"Like, why are we going there?" Shaggy asks.
"I want to look at a few files," she replies.
"Like, why?" he inquires.
"Reah, rhy?" parrots Scooby.
Velma passes Shaggy the picture that she took out of the album. Shaggy studies it. "Look familiar?" Velma asks him. "Like, the adults' faces?" Shaggy asks, "Like, yeah. But I can't, like, put my finger on it." "That's what I said." Velma chuckles.
Over at the courthouse, the Mystery Machine pulls up. Freddie jumps out and takes a look around. "We must be early." He says. "Well, no duh." Daphne replies, "The inquest isn't until noon. It's half past." "Like, since we have thirty minutes," Norville says, "how about we, like, go and get some grub." "Don't you have any food in your knapsack?" Fred asks turning to the boy. "Yeah," he replies, "but I, like, ate it all." "All of it?" Fred and Daphne ask in unison. "Yup." The boy replies. "Here," Daphne says giving Norville a twenty dollar bill, "there is a little fast food restaurant around the corner. Go and get something." The boy smiles as a sign of gratitude and leaves.
As soon as he turns around the corner, Fred puts his arm around Daphne's shoulders. "You know," he whispers into her ear, "with the little fellow gone, we get to have some time to our selves." Daphne just giggles as he kisses her on the cheek.
"Sergeant Slack," Velma says, as she walks through the big doors of the police station with Shaggy and Scooby at her heels, "is it okay if I look at some criminal mug shots?" "Sure." a young black man with replies in a Southern accent from behind the counter. He lets the three through to the record room. Velma smiles at him as a thank-you gesture, while Scooby and Shaggy engage a friendly conversation with the sergeant.
As Velma is looking through the files she holds out the picture and
asks, "Jem, have you
seen these people before?" "The adults?" the sergeant asks. Velma
nods her head. Jem
looks at the picture then scratches his head in thought and replies,
"They look familiar but
I can't remember where." Velma just sighs. "Do you have any ideas?"
she asks. The
man rubs his chin then replies, "The obits? Yeah, the obits at least
five years ago." "The
obituaries..." Velma thinks, "Just great!" She quickly looks through
all the obituary files
from the date on the back of the picture.
Back at the Mystery Machine, little Norville returns to the Mystery Machine to find Freddie and Daphne lying on each other in the front seats sleeping. Norville, who doesn't want to be all alone like in the morning, blows up a plastic bag. He then moves over to their heads and pops the bag. Fred and Daphne wake up with a jump. "Get down!" Freddie yells as he pushed Daphne down to the floor, "We're under attack!"
Daphne gives him a stern look and he realizes that he is in the Mystery Machine. He instantly helps Daphne up and lets out a weak smile. Daphne brushes herself off and asks, "Dreaming about cowboys and Indians again?" "No," Fred blushes, "World War Two." "Like, say what?" little Norville asks. Fred and Daphne laugh. "Fred has been dreaming about history lately." Daphne explains. "Only because I recently found my history text books from high school and decided to read them." Freddie explains further. Norville gives a confused face and replies, "Okay..."
"Well enough about Fred," Daphne says, looking with a smile to little Norville, "how was your little meal." "Like, not big enough." The boy responds. Fred and Daphne look at each other and burst into laughter. "He's more and more like Shaggy everyday!" they joke. Norville just looks at his toes and blushes.
Once they settle down, Fred asks yawning, "What time is it?"
Norville looks at his watch and replies, "Like, twelve fifty-five."
"Really?" Daphne asks, "Velma and Shaggy should be here by now."
Fred and Norville shrug.
Over at the station, Velma is still searching through files. "1995...nothing...1996... nothing. This is very discouraging." She thinks to herself. "1997... ah here's something!" she pulls out a file and opens it. "Jinkies!"
Suddenly, the station doors swing open and in walks Sheriff Sam. "Hey, Jem!" he calls out, "Are you coming to the inquest? Cause if you are, you better hurry, it'll start soon!"
Velma instantly looks up from the file then at the clock. "Jinkies! How time flies!" She exclaims. "Velma?" Sam asks, "Is that you?" Velma pokes her head out from a pile of files. "Yes." She answers. "Aren't you coming to the inquest, Ms. Dinkley?" Sam inquires. "Like, yeah." Shaggy replies getting up from behind the counter where he and Scooby had been resting. "Good grief!" the sheriff exclaims jumping back, "Don't startle me like that, Norville!" "Like, that's 'Shaggy" Shaggy corrects.
"I'm sorry."
"Like that's okay, Samuel." Shaggy replies with a grin on his face.
The sheriff grins back, "Well, are you coming are aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm a comin'." Jem replies stacking a few papers into a neat pile. "Hurry on, then" Sam urges as he heads for the door. "Hold on, Sam." Velma yells grabbing her jacket and purse, "We're coming with you!" She, Scooby and Shaggy run out the door after Jem and Sam.
Back at the courthouse, people are already beginning to gather together to observe the inquest. "Where are Velma and Shaggy?" Daphne asks in an impatient voice. "I don't know." Fred replies, "But they better hurry, the hearing is going to start any minute." "Should we, like start heading in?" little Norville asks from behind the seat. "Good idea," Freddie agrees opening his door, "they can meet us inside."
Just then, Sam's car pulls up shortly followed by Velma's. Sam jumps out of his car with Jem. Velma, Scooby and Shaggy do likewise. The five of them run up to Fred, Daphne, and little Norville. "Hey, guys!" Velma exclaims as she catches up with Fred and Daphne, "Sorry we're late, but I ran into something very interesting down at the police station." "Indeed." Freddie says raising his brow, "well, you better tell it to us all about it later. Let's head inside, shall we?" Velma grins and goes inside.
Once inside, the gang meets nearly the entire town along with a huge mob of reporters and cameramen. "Oh no," Daphne pouts, "not them!" "Like, NOT GROOVY!" Shaggy joins in.
"Look! There's Mystery Inc!" a voice calls out from the reporters. Instantly the gang is surrounded by the vast media and compounded by questions.
"What are your views on the death of Ms. Smith?"
"I..." Velma starts
"What was it like to discover a body?"
"Well..." Daphne replies
"Are you switching from ghost busting to common mysteries?"
"Er..." Fred tries to explain.
"Will you take the place of the police in this mystery?"
"Like, wait a minute!" Shaggy yells above the people's voices, "The inquest hasn't, like, started yet and you are asking questions that will be like answered in time. Like, we don't even know what the, like, verdict is! So, like, lay off! Calm down! You can, like, pound us with these questions later, because, like, right now I feel like going for, like, some nice chili peppers!" Slowly, the reporters reluctantly disperse. "Hey! That was pretty good, Shaggy" Daphne exclaims. "Like, what, Daph?" Shaggy asks in a quite confused voice. "For a moment there," Daphne explains, "you were talking like Velma would." "Okay," Shaggy says shrugging, "maybe I've been spending too much time with Velma". Velma and Fred throw their heads back and laugh. "Enough about Shaggy's impersonation of Velma," Fred says when he finally calms down, "let's go in." "Like, excuse me, Fred," Shaggy replies, "but, like, I'll be off to get some peppers." Upon hearing this, Scooby and Norville chorus out, "I'm with you!" With that, they head for the door only to be stopped by Freddie who scolds, "We're here to solve a mystery and not to eat the first thing that comes to mind concerning food!" The three groan. "Come on, guys." Velma says, "Let's go in." Everyone turn to go into the courtroom.
Once inside the room, the gang takes seats in the far back and looks around them. Before them, are sitting some of the old ladies from their neighborhood who, had often insisted to be referred to as 'Grandma'. To their left, are their parents. They are doing nothing in particular, just sitting there. The gang then looks to their right and see various other people from town. Such as Mayor Thomas Maran, his wife, Patricia; Dr. Hungad, the most well-known dentist in town; and Dr. Jerics, Scooby's vet (and probably the last man on his best friends list).
Little Norville looks around him out of boredom. He then turn to his uncle and whispers, "Uncle Shaggy," "Yes?" replies his uncle. "Like, can I use, like, uh...the rest room?" Shaggy smiles and replies with a slight chuckle, "Like, certainly. It's just down those stairs and to your right." And he points out which staircase. "Like, thanks." Norville says with a smile as he climbs over Freddie and Daphne to get out. He easily finds the washroom. Moments later, the inquest begins.
The judge enters, and a jury is called. A doctor is called forth for questioning. "Dr. Potter," Judge McGarol begins putting on his bifocals, "from what few remains there are of the late Miss Smith, what have you concluded?"
"Well," replies the doctor, "she died of three bullets to the chest, puncturing the vital organs."
"What about the murder weapon?" the judge inquires.
"Supposedly, a semi automatic with .22 caliber cartridges." Is the reply.
Shaggy leans over to Velma and asks, "Like, isn't that the type of bullets you, like, found in Sarah's attic?"
Velma looks at the box, which she had been keeping in her purse and nods her head.
"And, like, how about the gun we, like, found?"
"I don't know," Velma replies shrugging her shoulders, "Sergeant York has that. Though, I think it is a semi automatic. By the way, where's Norville? I haven't seen him since the inquest started."
"Like, I don't know." Shaggy replies looking around, "All I, like, know is that he, like went to use the bathroom." As he gets up he says, "Like, I better go check on him. Like, come on, Scoob."
Velma smiles and tells him, "I'll tell what you miss when you return." Shaggy looks at her with a grin as he and Scooby jump over Fred and Daphne into the isle.
Meanwhile, Norville is returning from his little trip. However, he forgot the directions that Shaggy gave him and found himself lost in the basement of the courthouse. "HELP..." he says to himself, "This place is, like, super creepy." Trying to calm his nerves, the boy begins to sing to himself, "Oh, I had a stomach and my stomach pleased me and I fed my stomach under the yonder tree. And the stomach said 'burp, burp'. Oh, I had some soup and my soup pleased me and I ate my soup under the yonder tree. And the soup said, 'slurp, slurp' and the stomach, 'burp, burp."
He then turns the corner, sees two people fighting. He listens for a while then, quickly turns around and runs. As he turns the corner, in the darkness, he runs into a skinny man wearing a long shirt that is untucked. The man grabs the boy with strong loving arms and Norville squeezes the man's waist tightly and feels a large animal at his feet. The man then lowers to Norville's level. "Like, Norville," He asks drying the tears forming in the boy's eyes, "what's the matter?" "Like, nothing, Uncle Shag." Norville replies as he scratches Scooby's head, "I, like, seemed to have, like, lost my way...and, like, it's pretty dark in here." Shaggy chuckles slightly, "Like, wow! You're becoming more like me everyday!" Norville's face lights up with a slight smile. "Come on," Shaggy urges his nephew, "we're, like, missing the inquest." Norville grasps his uncle's hand and they walk up to the main floor.
"Like what have I missed?" Shaggy asks as he and Norville return to their seats.
"Nothing much." Velma replies, "Doctor Potter just stated that Miss Smith was hacked apart at every joint by either a hatchet or a very sharp kitchen knife."
"Like, yuck!" little Norville exclaims in disgust and is quickly hushed by Shaggy.
"And, like, what about the time of death?" Shaggy inquires further.
"At least three weeks ago." Is the reply.
The next person to be inquired is Inspector McGoogle. He had gone around Smith's Household Products the day before and had asked nearly every employee about Miss Smith's actions before the time she disappeared.
"Well, it's like this," the inspector says in a strong Scottish accent, "me and me lads went on down to that there building and we spread out."
"And?" the judge asks, "What did you discover?"
"A bunch of weeping people." McGoogle replies with a taste of disgust.
"Pardon?"
"Everyone was weeping." The inspector explains, "I heard later from the sheriff that somehow a news man was able to get in among the crowd of inspectors and had spread the news all over the town. The poor chap, he was put in jail for that."
"Yes, sir." The judge tries to get the inspector back onto the subject, "But did you get any information what so ever?"
"There was this," McGoogle replies putting his thoughts back together, "they says that Miss Smith did a lot of visiting to her lawyer."
"Did you question the lawyer?"
"Why naturally," the inspector replies sitting up straight as if boasting on his act, "he said that she came to see her about the contents of her will."
"Did he disclose anything else to you?" the judge asks leaning forward.
"No." is the reply.
"In that case inspector," the judge says fixing his bifocals, "you may sit down."
Inspector McGoogle grins at Judge McGarol as a sign of thank-you and sit down. Everywhere around the room, the sound of pencils hitting paper, cameras being moved around and people can be heard.
The next person to be interrogated is Officer Lute Thomson, a young man in his mid twenties and what one might call a hippie. There the man stands in front of the court with a tie-dyed suit, tie, and pink snickers. Officer Thomson was in charge of looking around the yard for any clues.
"Did you find any?" the judge inquires.
"You know what, Pops?" Lute replies, "It's like funny you should, like, say that, man. You see me and my dudes, were, like, called in late yeah we were like enjoying our daily cup of caffeine and, like, really chillin' out, man. So we, like, met at the lady's yard and were like 'peace out dude' and all that other kind a like stuff. An' we, like, looked around. We were, like, 'wow', then like 'wow', and then we were like 'neh'."
"Yes, but did you find anything?" Judge McGarol asks again in a stressed voice.
"Well, I'll tell you what, judgeo," relies Lute leaning towards the judge, "We dudes, like, understand each other."
"What?" the judge asks in a confused voice.
Fred looks around him. "Does anybody understand this guy?" he asks leaning towards the rest of the gang.
"Like, what are you talking about Fred?" Shaggy says turning towards his friend, "Like, he is totally speaking my lingo." "Then maybe you can explain it to them." Velma says as she points to a corner of the room. Everywhere reporters are looking up from their notepads with no clue what so ever what Lute is saying. "Like, no problemo, Velms." Shaggy says as he waves his hand, "I'll be, like, happy to do it. Right after I, like, have a snack." Velma chuckles to herself lightly.
Lute finally explains to the judge, "I mean judgey, we, like, found absolutely nothin', zilch, nada thin'."
"In that case, Officer Thomson," Judge McGarol says wiping his brow, "you may sit down."
Lute quickly does so.
Judge McGarol then turns to the jury. "I know that there is very little to go on." He begins, "So I am counting on you to use your good judgment in your decision." The jurymen then leave into an adjoining room.
"What do you think is going to be the verdict?" Daphne asks.
"Most likely suicide." Replies Velma, "All the evidence points to it."
"Like, what evidence?" Shaggy asks, "That Lute guy said, like, nothing but a lot of, like, chitter chatter."
"Yeah," Fred joins in, "the motives for doing it are just perfect anyway."
"So, like, what do you guys think it is?" Little Norville inquires.
"From what we've seen," Freddie replies, "murder by person or persons unknown."
Just then, the jury reappears. After they are all assembled again judge McGarol asks, "Have you gentlemen come to a decision?" A man stands up in representation of the jury and replies, "Yes, your Honor, we have."
"And your decision is?"
"Suicide."
"Like, this place is basically empty!" Shaggy exclaims in disgust.
"Reah, rempty." Parrots Scooby tossing a few empty cans to the floor at Velma's feet as she enters the room.
"Scooby," she scolds, "this is no way to act in someone's house."
Shaggy begins to snicker. Noticing this, Velma snaps, "That goes for you too, Norville."
Shaggy instantly stops and stands looking at Velma. He is awe struck. Velma had never used his real name unless she was very displeased with his behavior.
"Now clean up this mess." She orders, "Both of you!"
While Shaggy and Scooby are doing as they're told, Shaggy asks, "Like, have you found anything interesting, Velma?"
"It's hard to say." She replies. "It seems as if this mystery is getting nowhere."
"Like, we hate it when that happens. Like, don't we Scoob?" Shaggy says.
"Ruh-huh." Scooby agrees.
"Why so?" Velma asks.
"Because," Shaggy explains, "like, that means that, like, we have to go look for more clues, and that, like, means that we are going to, like, encounter the monster even more, and that, like, means that Scoob and me are, like, going to be scared even more. Which, we, like, don't like."
"Rat's rue!" Scooby agrees.
"Awe, come on you guys," Velma moans, "don't be a bunch of wimps!"
Shaggy looks at Scooby and exclaims, "Like, we've been wimps all our lives and, like, now she tells us not to be!"
Scooby then shakes his head.
On their way back to join the rest, Freddie, Daphne, and little Norville go over the notes they collected at the company. Which are very few.
Freddie and Daphne got nowhere.
"It's just the same thing over and over." Complains Daphne.
"Like, I got something a little bit, like, different." Little Norville speaks up.
"Oh?" Freddie asks looking at the boy, "What did you get?"
"Like, simply this." Norville replies handing his notebook to Daphne. She opens it up and reads:
Name: Susie Bowers
Miss smith had many enemies Very few friends Inherited company from a relative Once did insider trading like Martha Stewart (and got away with it) Had given Susie her first job as a designers assistant Later, made Susie manager of the clothing department. Became a good friend to Ms. Smith.
"That's pretty interesting." Daphne remarks handing the notebook back to Norville. He just grins happy that she is pleased of his findings.
Freddie, Daphne, and little Norville are driving down to the courthouse where they had intended to meet with the rest Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby. Velma is driving to the police station.
"Like, why are we going there?" Shaggy asks.
"I want to look at a few files," she replies.
"Like, why?" he inquires.
"Reah, rhy?" parrots Scooby.
Velma passes Shaggy the picture that she took out of the album. Shaggy studies it. "Look familiar?" Velma asks him. "Like, the adults' faces?" Shaggy asks, "Like, yeah. But I can't, like, put my finger on it." "That's what I said." Velma chuckles.
Over at the courthouse, the Mystery Machine pulls up. Freddie jumps out and takes a look around. "We must be early." He says. "Well, no duh." Daphne replies, "The inquest isn't until noon. It's half past." "Like, since we have thirty minutes," Norville says, "how about we, like, go and get some grub." "Don't you have any food in your knapsack?" Fred asks turning to the boy. "Yeah," he replies, "but I, like, ate it all." "All of it?" Fred and Daphne ask in unison. "Yup." The boy replies. "Here," Daphne says giving Norville a twenty dollar bill, "there is a little fast food restaurant around the corner. Go and get something." The boy smiles as a sign of gratitude and leaves.
As soon as he turns around the corner, Fred puts his arm around Daphne's shoulders. "You know," he whispers into her ear, "with the little fellow gone, we get to have some time to our selves." Daphne just giggles as he kisses her on the cheek.
"Sergeant Slack," Velma says, as she walks through the big doors of the police station with Shaggy and Scooby at her heels, "is it okay if I look at some criminal mug shots?" "Sure." a young black man with replies in a Southern accent from behind the counter. He lets the three through to the record room. Velma smiles at him as a thank-you gesture, while Scooby and Shaggy engage a friendly conversation with the sergeant.
As Velma is looking through the files she holds out the picture and
asks, "Jem, have you
seen these people before?" "The adults?" the sergeant asks. Velma
nods her head. Jem
looks at the picture then scratches his head in thought and replies,
"They look familiar but
I can't remember where." Velma just sighs. "Do you have any ideas?"
she asks. The
man rubs his chin then replies, "The obits? Yeah, the obits at least
five years ago." "The
obituaries..." Velma thinks, "Just great!" She quickly looks through
all the obituary files
from the date on the back of the picture.
Back at the Mystery Machine, little Norville returns to the Mystery Machine to find Freddie and Daphne lying on each other in the front seats sleeping. Norville, who doesn't want to be all alone like in the morning, blows up a plastic bag. He then moves over to their heads and pops the bag. Fred and Daphne wake up with a jump. "Get down!" Freddie yells as he pushed Daphne down to the floor, "We're under attack!"
Daphne gives him a stern look and he realizes that he is in the Mystery Machine. He instantly helps Daphne up and lets out a weak smile. Daphne brushes herself off and asks, "Dreaming about cowboys and Indians again?" "No," Fred blushes, "World War Two." "Like, say what?" little Norville asks. Fred and Daphne laugh. "Fred has been dreaming about history lately." Daphne explains. "Only because I recently found my history text books from high school and decided to read them." Freddie explains further. Norville gives a confused face and replies, "Okay..."
"Well enough about Fred," Daphne says, looking with a smile to little Norville, "how was your little meal." "Like, not big enough." The boy responds. Fred and Daphne look at each other and burst into laughter. "He's more and more like Shaggy everyday!" they joke. Norville just looks at his toes and blushes.
Once they settle down, Fred asks yawning, "What time is it?"
Norville looks at his watch and replies, "Like, twelve fifty-five."
"Really?" Daphne asks, "Velma and Shaggy should be here by now."
Fred and Norville shrug.
Over at the station, Velma is still searching through files. "1995...nothing...1996... nothing. This is very discouraging." She thinks to herself. "1997... ah here's something!" she pulls out a file and opens it. "Jinkies!"
Suddenly, the station doors swing open and in walks Sheriff Sam. "Hey, Jem!" he calls out, "Are you coming to the inquest? Cause if you are, you better hurry, it'll start soon!"
Velma instantly looks up from the file then at the clock. "Jinkies! How time flies!" She exclaims. "Velma?" Sam asks, "Is that you?" Velma pokes her head out from a pile of files. "Yes." She answers. "Aren't you coming to the inquest, Ms. Dinkley?" Sam inquires. "Like, yeah." Shaggy replies getting up from behind the counter where he and Scooby had been resting. "Good grief!" the sheriff exclaims jumping back, "Don't startle me like that, Norville!" "Like, that's 'Shaggy" Shaggy corrects.
"I'm sorry."
"Like that's okay, Samuel." Shaggy replies with a grin on his face.
The sheriff grins back, "Well, are you coming are aren't you?"
"Yeah, I'm a comin'." Jem replies stacking a few papers into a neat pile. "Hurry on, then" Sam urges as he heads for the door. "Hold on, Sam." Velma yells grabbing her jacket and purse, "We're coming with you!" She, Scooby and Shaggy run out the door after Jem and Sam.
Back at the courthouse, people are already beginning to gather together to observe the inquest. "Where are Velma and Shaggy?" Daphne asks in an impatient voice. "I don't know." Fred replies, "But they better hurry, the hearing is going to start any minute." "Should we, like start heading in?" little Norville asks from behind the seat. "Good idea," Freddie agrees opening his door, "they can meet us inside."
Just then, Sam's car pulls up shortly followed by Velma's. Sam jumps out of his car with Jem. Velma, Scooby and Shaggy do likewise. The five of them run up to Fred, Daphne, and little Norville. "Hey, guys!" Velma exclaims as she catches up with Fred and Daphne, "Sorry we're late, but I ran into something very interesting down at the police station." "Indeed." Freddie says raising his brow, "well, you better tell it to us all about it later. Let's head inside, shall we?" Velma grins and goes inside.
Once inside, the gang meets nearly the entire town along with a huge mob of reporters and cameramen. "Oh no," Daphne pouts, "not them!" "Like, NOT GROOVY!" Shaggy joins in.
"Look! There's Mystery Inc!" a voice calls out from the reporters. Instantly the gang is surrounded by the vast media and compounded by questions.
"What are your views on the death of Ms. Smith?"
"I..." Velma starts
"What was it like to discover a body?"
"Well..." Daphne replies
"Are you switching from ghost busting to common mysteries?"
"Er..." Fred tries to explain.
"Will you take the place of the police in this mystery?"
"Like, wait a minute!" Shaggy yells above the people's voices, "The inquest hasn't, like, started yet and you are asking questions that will be like answered in time. Like, we don't even know what the, like, verdict is! So, like, lay off! Calm down! You can, like, pound us with these questions later, because, like, right now I feel like going for, like, some nice chili peppers!" Slowly, the reporters reluctantly disperse. "Hey! That was pretty good, Shaggy" Daphne exclaims. "Like, what, Daph?" Shaggy asks in a quite confused voice. "For a moment there," Daphne explains, "you were talking like Velma would." "Okay," Shaggy says shrugging, "maybe I've been spending too much time with Velma". Velma and Fred throw their heads back and laugh. "Enough about Shaggy's impersonation of Velma," Fred says when he finally calms down, "let's go in." "Like, excuse me, Fred," Shaggy replies, "but, like, I'll be off to get some peppers." Upon hearing this, Scooby and Norville chorus out, "I'm with you!" With that, they head for the door only to be stopped by Freddie who scolds, "We're here to solve a mystery and not to eat the first thing that comes to mind concerning food!" The three groan. "Come on, guys." Velma says, "Let's go in." Everyone turn to go into the courtroom.
Once inside the room, the gang takes seats in the far back and looks around them. Before them, are sitting some of the old ladies from their neighborhood who, had often insisted to be referred to as 'Grandma'. To their left, are their parents. They are doing nothing in particular, just sitting there. The gang then looks to their right and see various other people from town. Such as Mayor Thomas Maran, his wife, Patricia; Dr. Hungad, the most well-known dentist in town; and Dr. Jerics, Scooby's vet (and probably the last man on his best friends list).
Little Norville looks around him out of boredom. He then turn to his uncle and whispers, "Uncle Shaggy," "Yes?" replies his uncle. "Like, can I use, like, uh...the rest room?" Shaggy smiles and replies with a slight chuckle, "Like, certainly. It's just down those stairs and to your right." And he points out which staircase. "Like, thanks." Norville says with a smile as he climbs over Freddie and Daphne to get out. He easily finds the washroom. Moments later, the inquest begins.
The judge enters, and a jury is called. A doctor is called forth for questioning. "Dr. Potter," Judge McGarol begins putting on his bifocals, "from what few remains there are of the late Miss Smith, what have you concluded?"
"Well," replies the doctor, "she died of three bullets to the chest, puncturing the vital organs."
"What about the murder weapon?" the judge inquires.
"Supposedly, a semi automatic with .22 caliber cartridges." Is the reply.
Shaggy leans over to Velma and asks, "Like, isn't that the type of bullets you, like, found in Sarah's attic?"
Velma looks at the box, which she had been keeping in her purse and nods her head.
"And, like, how about the gun we, like, found?"
"I don't know," Velma replies shrugging her shoulders, "Sergeant York has that. Though, I think it is a semi automatic. By the way, where's Norville? I haven't seen him since the inquest started."
"Like, I don't know." Shaggy replies looking around, "All I, like, know is that he, like went to use the bathroom." As he gets up he says, "Like, I better go check on him. Like, come on, Scoob."
Velma smiles and tells him, "I'll tell what you miss when you return." Shaggy looks at her with a grin as he and Scooby jump over Fred and Daphne into the isle.
Meanwhile, Norville is returning from his little trip. However, he forgot the directions that Shaggy gave him and found himself lost in the basement of the courthouse. "HELP..." he says to himself, "This place is, like, super creepy." Trying to calm his nerves, the boy begins to sing to himself, "Oh, I had a stomach and my stomach pleased me and I fed my stomach under the yonder tree. And the stomach said 'burp, burp'. Oh, I had some soup and my soup pleased me and I ate my soup under the yonder tree. And the soup said, 'slurp, slurp' and the stomach, 'burp, burp."
He then turns the corner, sees two people fighting. He listens for a while then, quickly turns around and runs. As he turns the corner, in the darkness, he runs into a skinny man wearing a long shirt that is untucked. The man grabs the boy with strong loving arms and Norville squeezes the man's waist tightly and feels a large animal at his feet. The man then lowers to Norville's level. "Like, Norville," He asks drying the tears forming in the boy's eyes, "what's the matter?" "Like, nothing, Uncle Shag." Norville replies as he scratches Scooby's head, "I, like, seemed to have, like, lost my way...and, like, it's pretty dark in here." Shaggy chuckles slightly, "Like, wow! You're becoming more like me everyday!" Norville's face lights up with a slight smile. "Come on," Shaggy urges his nephew, "we're, like, missing the inquest." Norville grasps his uncle's hand and they walk up to the main floor.
"Like what have I missed?" Shaggy asks as he and Norville return to their seats.
"Nothing much." Velma replies, "Doctor Potter just stated that Miss Smith was hacked apart at every joint by either a hatchet or a very sharp kitchen knife."
"Like, yuck!" little Norville exclaims in disgust and is quickly hushed by Shaggy.
"And, like, what about the time of death?" Shaggy inquires further.
"At least three weeks ago." Is the reply.
The next person to be inquired is Inspector McGoogle. He had gone around Smith's Household Products the day before and had asked nearly every employee about Miss Smith's actions before the time she disappeared.
"Well, it's like this," the inspector says in a strong Scottish accent, "me and me lads went on down to that there building and we spread out."
"And?" the judge asks, "What did you discover?"
"A bunch of weeping people." McGoogle replies with a taste of disgust.
"Pardon?"
"Everyone was weeping." The inspector explains, "I heard later from the sheriff that somehow a news man was able to get in among the crowd of inspectors and had spread the news all over the town. The poor chap, he was put in jail for that."
"Yes, sir." The judge tries to get the inspector back onto the subject, "But did you get any information what so ever?"
"There was this," McGoogle replies putting his thoughts back together, "they says that Miss Smith did a lot of visiting to her lawyer."
"Did you question the lawyer?"
"Why naturally," the inspector replies sitting up straight as if boasting on his act, "he said that she came to see her about the contents of her will."
"Did he disclose anything else to you?" the judge asks leaning forward.
"No." is the reply.
"In that case inspector," the judge says fixing his bifocals, "you may sit down."
Inspector McGoogle grins at Judge McGarol as a sign of thank-you and sit down. Everywhere around the room, the sound of pencils hitting paper, cameras being moved around and people can be heard.
The next person to be interrogated is Officer Lute Thomson, a young man in his mid twenties and what one might call a hippie. There the man stands in front of the court with a tie-dyed suit, tie, and pink snickers. Officer Thomson was in charge of looking around the yard for any clues.
"Did you find any?" the judge inquires.
"You know what, Pops?" Lute replies, "It's like funny you should, like, say that, man. You see me and my dudes, were, like, called in late yeah we were like enjoying our daily cup of caffeine and, like, really chillin' out, man. So we, like, met at the lady's yard and were like 'peace out dude' and all that other kind a like stuff. An' we, like, looked around. We were, like, 'wow', then like 'wow', and then we were like 'neh'."
"Yes, but did you find anything?" Judge McGarol asks again in a stressed voice.
"Well, I'll tell you what, judgeo," relies Lute leaning towards the judge, "We dudes, like, understand each other."
"What?" the judge asks in a confused voice.
Fred looks around him. "Does anybody understand this guy?" he asks leaning towards the rest of the gang.
"Like, what are you talking about Fred?" Shaggy says turning towards his friend, "Like, he is totally speaking my lingo." "Then maybe you can explain it to them." Velma says as she points to a corner of the room. Everywhere reporters are looking up from their notepads with no clue what so ever what Lute is saying. "Like, no problemo, Velms." Shaggy says as he waves his hand, "I'll be, like, happy to do it. Right after I, like, have a snack." Velma chuckles to herself lightly.
Lute finally explains to the judge, "I mean judgey, we, like, found absolutely nothin', zilch, nada thin'."
"In that case, Officer Thomson," Judge McGarol says wiping his brow, "you may sit down."
Lute quickly does so.
Judge McGarol then turns to the jury. "I know that there is very little to go on." He begins, "So I am counting on you to use your good judgment in your decision." The jurymen then leave into an adjoining room.
"What do you think is going to be the verdict?" Daphne asks.
"Most likely suicide." Replies Velma, "All the evidence points to it."
"Like, what evidence?" Shaggy asks, "That Lute guy said, like, nothing but a lot of, like, chitter chatter."
"Yeah," Fred joins in, "the motives for doing it are just perfect anyway."
"So, like, what do you guys think it is?" Little Norville inquires.
"From what we've seen," Freddie replies, "murder by person or persons unknown."
Just then, the jury reappears. After they are all assembled again judge McGarol asks, "Have you gentlemen come to a decision?" A man stands up in representation of the jury and replies, "Yes, your Honor, we have."
"And your decision is?"
"Suicide."