Chapter 6

Daphne: Oh, Jenkins just let me know he has cancelled Dad´s appointments for today, so he can meet us in an hour. Dad is a victim just like Alan Mayberry, I think it´s important to hear his point of view. Also, we can consider this short meeting as a deposition, since Dad will never agree to go to the NYPD for questioning. Well, see you at Blake Manor.

We couldn´t even say goodbye: on the other side of the street, three black cars were waiting for us, and I recognized Blake family´s drivers inside them. Much to my surprise, Marcie was inside one of those cars, happily waving at me. I couldn´t argue about my scheduled activities, my inadequate clothes and my lack of desire to go to that lunch, Daphne just turned her back on us and left - probably because she was still angry about the card discussion. Fred had lipstick on his white shirt collar, and I had bruises and chemical remnants all over my body, so we both agreed that having lunch with the elite in such conditions was a stupid idea. Shaggy looked even worse, since he has already arrived disheveled, with wrinkled, food-stained work clothes, but he wasnt concerned – in fact, his only concern was if those cars offered candy to passengers. Apparently, Shaggy discovered that only one of those cars offered such perk, so he quickly got into and the car left - while Scooby stomped on him to get to the window and stick his head out. I took my car quickly too - I didn´t want to travel with Fred – and I spent the entire ride telling Marcie that our work at Liberty was a fiasco.

When I looked out, our car was leaving the city. Then I realized that Daphne said "Blake Manor" instead of "Blake Tower," and that information added ten pounds of inadequacy to my struggling heart. Blake Tower is the synonym of George and the male-wing of Blake family, which means a dozen old, white, male ardent disciples of Milton Friedman who dictate the course of the world but only appear in the news under the pseudonym of "the investors". Blake Manor, meanwhile, is even worse for being the synonym of the female-wing of the family, which means elegant, powerful ladies ̶a̶s̶ ̶u̶n̶p̶l̶e̶a̶s̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶B̶l̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶n̶ who treat you according to the brands of your clothes.

Marcie: Hey babe, you look nervous! Relax, you look great!

Marcie took my hand and magically all anxiety was gone. Fortunately, Daphne doesn't fit into those Blake categories. And luckily, I have a wonderful fiancée to help me deal with all the rest.

The mix of feelings I had when the car parked at Blake Manor garden made me realize how long it has been since I last went there. I estimated about twelve years, although I realized that some things there remained the same. Thankfully, Marcie and I arrived after Fred and Daphne. Fred was wearing a suit and I assumed he'd asked Daphne suitable clothes. I didn't have time to ask for proper clothes too, Daphne's fashion sensor told her what to do. I can´t say I felt good wearing those clothes because femininity and expensive brands are not my priorities in life, but they suited very well for that situation and that was enough. When I was on my way to meet Fred and Daphne, I heard high-pitched female voices and some laughing, and the discomfort I first felt returned immediately. In fact, it was a double dose of discomfort, with first and last names: Nan and Dorothy Blake. Our presence also made them feel uncomfortable, since they stopped laughing immediately and questioningly looked at Daphne - making clear that they didn't want us there.

Daphne: Mom, Dot, do you remember my friends Velma Dinkley, Marcie Fleach and Frederick Jones?

Nan: Oh dear, of course! Vel…ma…Din…kley… and…Mar…cie…

When talking with her social class equals, Nan is outgoing and speaks very well. The pauses in Nan's speech only occur when she talks to people from the lower social classes, because her eyes keep scanning the person up and down, looking for something repulsive. In that case, Marcie and I were those lower-classes people, I felt her eyes saying "ok" to the clothes and shoes, but detecting our common engagement rings, then judging Marcie's freckles, the 2 or 4 extra pounds in my hips and my old NHS glasses. Even so, she cheerfully greeted us by offering her hand, just like the swiss etiquette school had taught her, then smiled cynically. Nancy Blake is so fake that she would be able to greet Hitler with a beautiful smile on her face. Unfortunately, Dorothy was more direct, she looked at us with the same contempt of school times, when she had fun bullying other girls.

Dorothy: Right, it´s hot dog water

Daphne: Dorothy! Her name is Marcie!

Marcie lowered her eyes when she heard that old nickname and I felt like carving Marcie´s name in her forehead to make her remember forever. Much to my surprise, Nan disapproved her attitute.

Nan: Dorothy! They are your little sister´s friends: Freddie and Velma, remember? And this looovely lady seems to be as wonderful as both them…

Dorothy then followed the swiss etiquette school´s protocol and greeted each one of us in the same fake way. The sick, evil emphasis Nan put in the word "wonderful" – whatever it means – made me understand what Fred meant when he said he didn´t want to be part of that family.

Daphne: As you know, Fred is NYPD captain and we are working together on a big case right now…

Nan: Honey, you are an elite lawyer, why are you doing… uh… this… uh… police work?

Another hurtful emphasis. This time, it emphasized how right Fred was during our last discussion.

Dorothy: You are a bit old to chase mysteries…

Daphne: You are a bit old to drive cars too, since you are 5 years older than me!

Dorothy: Ok, but daddy has never told me to stop driving… I thought he has told you to not become a… uh… detective

Nan: Sweetie, your are a tax attorney! This country has a lot of unfair taxes against us entrepreneurs who provide job opportunities for everyone… and also has people claiming for taxes on hyper-fortunes! This is the cause you should fight for, not these… minor problems

My watch (which wasn't a Bvlgari like Dorothy's, but somehow was unnoticed by Nan Blake's eyes) showed that we'd been there for only fifteen minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. Fred looked at me and I could clearly read "now you understand why I don't want to be a part of this" in his face.

Daphne: Mom, crimes and mysteries are not minor problems, remember 9/11? Hollywood makes movies and shows about police work, they are heroes! That is why I'm so proud to work with them... anyway… I was saying that Fred and I are working on a big case now, and Velma is helping us with her scientific knowledge…

Dorothy: So Velma is the smart one and Fred is the leader. And what exactly do you do, sis?

Suddenly, Daphne became their target and that overstepped all Fred´s boundaries of what ought to be allowed in a toxic family.

Fred: Daphne is a fundamental part of the investigation, she is the victim´s attorney and she is… amazing

Nan, the sarcastic emphasis queen, didn´t like Fred´s true emphasis at all and crossed her arms in disapproval. The compliment made Daphne blush - and lose the good response she was about to say to her sister.

Nan: Right, and why don´t you prosecute people like a normal lawyer?

Daphne: Mom, that's not how it works...

Nan: Of course it is, I have really good lawyers… and I've never seen them work with the police...

That emphasis was another boundary crossed. A dangerous one.

Fred: Police work is not needed when you prosecute someone who badmouthed you on social media

Nan: Like I said, police is busy with minor problems

That emphasis battle could not end well, so Daphne intervened.

Daphne: Mom, please! Let me explain…

Nan: Explain? So explain, Daphne, because I don't understand your "career"... you went to college, chose to remain anonymous, now you have distanced yourself from high society... to solve crimes?

Dorothy: I don't see any solved crimes on your Instagram, sis… by the way, you have a very boring account… you have, like… three thousand followers? How can you have a career if no one knows who you are and what you do?

Nan: Dorothy has a career as a racing driver, Daphne, and she has millions of followers… and so does Dawn…and Daisy, I love my Daisy's medical tips! And Delilah… did you see our Lilah´s model pics?

For Blake women, the real world is Instagram and the world we live in is a paltry shadow of everything that happens on Instagram. Maybe because it's easier to have a fantasy life on the internet than having a real life in the real world. For example: In real life, to become a racing driver, you need skills, training, discipline, talent and hundreds of other things. On Instagram, Dorothy only needed to sleep with a NASCAR driver or two and take party pictures with Danica Patrick and Penelope Pitstop. Since Daphne chose to have a career outside Instagram, she was just a shadow to her family.

Daphne: Mom, police solve the crimes and gather the evidences! In my work, I use the evidences to prove to the jury that the defendant committed or not the crime…

Daphne talked to the walls while Dorothy and Nan laughed and commented on Delilah's pictures. Then she sighed and looked at us with a tired, defeated expression, showing that she didn´t want to be part of that family either. Fred apparently felt her secret feelings, cause he held her hand to show some support. Daphne blushed and smiled at him, he smiled back and let go of her hand. Then he looked at me and muttered "you're right". Nan and Dorothy only stopped ignoring us when our saviour arrived.

Shaggy: Like, hey gang! Sorry, I'm late, I had to stop to buy some food…

Shaggy's arrival took Nan and Dorothy off the cell phone screen and Nan's eyes began to scan him up and down. She didn't take long to find something wrong, after all, everything in Norville was repulsive to her.

Daphne: Mom, Dot, remember my friend Norville Rogers? He's also a NYPD agent and works in K9 section along with this cutie here called Scooby-Doo...

Shaggy: Like, how are you, Mrs. Blake?

The swiss etiquette school´s protocol was not followed this time beause Norville surprised Nan Blake with a tight hug that lifted her and transferred the tiny ketchup and mustard drips on his shirt to her Chanel coat. Shaggy dropped the leash for a second to do the same with Dorothy, so Scooby Doo ran happily through the gardens of Blake Manor and, like a good flat-coated retriever, ended his quick tour diving into the water fountain. Then he returned, shook off water in our clothes and continued his tour running (wet) inside the house, so Shaggy had to run after him. We had no other option besides laugh. Fortunately, Dorothy and Nan laughed too —probably because they hadn't noticed the stains on their coats.

Daphne: So… I was trying to explain that the gang is here to make a...

Daphne couldn't finish her sentence because the noise of an approaching helicopter echoed through the room. Nan and Dorothy looked at each other with a surprise expression and then looked angrily at Daphne since she was the reason for the helicopter's arrival.

Nan: Daphne Ann Blake, what is your father doing here?

Daphne: He will have lunch with us and discuss the case we're working on, Mom.

Nan: And why am I the last one to know about it?

Daphne: I was trying to tell you, but Delilah's pictures were way more interesting!

Nan rolled her eyes and muttered incomprehensible curses while she canceled her appointments for the day on her cell phone. It was a secret to nobody that the Blake couple were not getting along anymore, but seeing that situation with my own eyes was heartbreaking.

Dorothy: You just can´t invite daddy without consulting us first! Daddy thinks I'm in LA!

Daphne: Oh, sis, aren´t you a great racing driver? Why don't you get in your car and get there quickly before Dad realizes you're here?

Dorothy felt so much hatred that she couldn´t move. In the same moment, George arrived and Daphne greeted her father with a victorious smile.

George: Nancy Elizabeth…

Nan: George Bartholomew…

Blake couple met each other in a threatening way, like the beggining of a wild west duel, but thankfully the swiss etiquette school has taught them to not let others know about their failed marriage – so the duel ended immediately.

George: Dot… you should be in LA, right?

Daphne: She's a race driver, dad, she'll be in LA soon...

The joke was no longer funny, but Daphne repeated just to taste again Dorothy´s hatred. Only her father laughed, and in fact, it was a disapproval laugh.

George: The day old Pitstop pays your Ferrari, you'll be a race driver. As long as the money you use comes from Blake Bank, I want you working at my company in LA… am I being clear?

Dorothy: Yes, Dad.

George: All right. Now, Daphne, what do you want from me? And why NYPD officers are here?

George pointed at a big room and waited his assistants to prepare it for our meeting. Marcie looked at me questioningly, since she was not used to see how formal Blake family relationship was. After a while, we could take our seats - except Shaggy, who was still chasing Scooby-Doo through the gardens. Curiously, Nan joined us, but she sat by the fireplace, a little far from our group.

Daphne: Well, why don't we have lunch first, Dad? I asked Anette to prepare a special menu for us…

George: I don't have time for this, Daphne. I was supposed to be at a meeting in London right now and you got me out of my way saying you had an urgent subject to discuss with me. So, please, be direct.

George Blake was so stern and hard to please that I felt ridiculous for thinking that Marcie's clingy parents and their damn park were the worst thing anyone could have in life. After that, obviously, Daphne felt powerless to talk about her work, and another one of those Fred´s boundaries was overstepped.

Fred: Mr. Blake, I'm Frederick Jones, NYPD capitain, and we've received a embezzlement report against brokerage company Liberty. The theft was carried out by the company's financial manager, Mr. Cho Sang-woo. The victim is Mr. Alan Mayberry, who gave Liberty the sum of 2 million dollars to invest in bonds, and according to him, the other victim is you, since you´ve done a 36 million investment. According to Mr. Mayberry, all the money ended up in several Applegate Bank accounts located in Silmido, a desert island in South Korea. Your daughter Daphne is Alan´s lawyer and the one who brought us this case, so we are here to hear you and proceed with the investigation.

Daphne, Marcie and I looked at each other and smiled at Fred, feeling thankful that he had led the situation. George didn't feel the same admiration for Fred, but Nan had a small smirk on her lips and seemed to be amused by her (perhaps ex?) husband's misfortune.

George: The report is unfounded, Jones. I have no business activities at Liberty.

Daphne: Dad, when I analysed Alan's case, I´ve found a transaction receipt of 36 million dollars going to Liberty´s Applegate Bank account… the money came from Blake Bank Inc.´s account and I got worried, that´s why I asked to talk to you…

Daphne's sweetness was not enough to melt George's stern personality: he just laughed and scorned everything she said.

George: So you had the brilliant idea of taking me out of my way to a £200 million deal in London just to talk about $36 million that came out of MY ACCOUNT? Will you oversee what I do with MY MONEY now, Daphne? You are just like your mother...

Fred: Could be a $100 theft, sir, it would still be a crime. And it is our duty to investigate what happened and punish the responsible ones, so I count on your collaboration to proceed.

Another boundary was crossed, but Fred brought George down a peg so quickly that Daphne didn´t have enough time to feel her father´s rude words. George didn´t really expect such insubordination and treated Fred with the comtempt he deserved. Then, Nan cackled victoriously and clapped her hands briefly when Fred finished.

Nan: Great job, Freddie! Well done! Bravo! Yes, let Barty explain his version of the facts, we all want to know, right? Well, to me, it looks like a classic case of a greedy tycoon going through divorce… and he is just diverting his fortune to tax havens to avoid the property division, right… honey?

Suddenly, Nan Blake became the bad cop o four group and - apparently - easily solved part of the mystery. Daphne had already told us that, when it comes to money, her mother is truly a genius, but I had never seen that with my own eyes. The second insubordination made George's contempt increase, and he scornyfully laughed again.