Ethan's heart was pounding rapidly in his chest as they drove to the isolated farmhouse that Velma had given as her family's address. It was about an hour outside of Coolsville which gave him and Justin plenty of time to fill on an awkward shared journey on the dark and rainy afternoon. Justin didn't have the same loyalty to the gang as Ethan did, and it showed in their conversation.
"You shouldn't let them get to you so much you know," Justin commented from the passenger seat. "They're just kids, they don't understand how complicated what you and I have been through, or truly what's at stake here."
Ethan tensed at his remarks, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "She's my sister, they're my friends" he replied evenly.
"I know, but you shouldn't let them slam you like that. It was totally rough what you had to do to them in China but it was necessary, we had no choice."
"I know that."
"So don't let it get to you then, I'm sure they'll all forgive you eventually," Justin said blithely.
Ethan didn't reply but was quietly fuming on the inside. The whole mess with the gang did hurt him so much, the looks of betrayal and hurt that Daphne and Fred had displayed towards him especially, it caused him so much pain. He would give anything to be able to turn the clock back.
"In fact," Justin continued, "if you ask me..."
"Well I didn't Justin!" Ethan finally snapped towards his colleague, causing Justin to react a little in surprise. "Just drop it OK! You wouldn't understand!"
Justin held up his hands defensively while Ethan continued to drive. "Fine."
The journey carried on in silence until Justin somewhat tentatively spoke again as the final 5 miles were in sight.
"So do you think you're right? About Devon bluffing about having the girl?"
Ethan sighed loudly. "I don't know. I hope to God for Velma's sake that I am, but I'm not sure. You have to admit, it's incredibly sketchy that he makes no confirmation of actually having the girl, there's no proof of life."
"True," said Justin, "but there's also the fact that Velma couldn't make contact with either the sister or her dad, that doesn't look great either," he pointed out dis-concertedly. "I hate to admit it. Why would he suddenly need to bluff now anyway? Let's face it, he's well on top with all this shit right now."
Ethan observed Justin then angrily elbow the side of the car door and shared his friend's frustration. They had both hoped that returning to Coolsville - and with Daphne and Fred safe and sound - would swing things in their direction but Devon had seemingly made the superior move again to tip it fully back in his favour.
"I don't know," Ethan replied honestly. "It's just a gut feeling I have, I don't think we're getting the full story here anyway."
"Well, we'll soon find out, there's the turn off now," Justin pointed out smartly.
Ethan smoothly turned the car onto the dirt track that would lead to the farmhouse and turned off the lights of the vehicle as they travelled down the bumpy path. They parked a short distance from the entrance and readied their weapons as they got out, immediately going on alert, unsure what they might find. The area around them was still and calm and Ethan felt a tiny bit of optimism start to build again in his chest, as they slowly walked towards the front porch, with Justin leading the way. Everything was going to be fine, they were going to find Velma's family safe and well...he would call Velma and...
Justin suddenly stepped dead in front of him and turned back to Ethan with a pained expression on his face. Ethan hurried to catch up and find why he had stopped so abruptly. His stomach dropped when he saw why.
Shit.
"Sorry man," Justin whispered by way of sympathy as Ethan came to stand alongside him and saw exactly what Justin had. The neat and homely looking farmhouse had indeed been disturbed. One of the front windows was smashed but most tellingly of all that something terrible had indeed taken place, was the front door. Busted open and hanging off it's hinges, it swung limply and pathetically, no longer offering any protection to the property inside.
Ethan swallowed hard. He really had allowed himself to believe there was sufficient cause for optimism and now it had come crashing down in an instant. The signs of a disturbance from the outside were already clear, he didn't want to think about what things might look like inside but he knew they must go in. With their weapons raised, they both entered the farmhouse in trepidation, it didn't take long to clear the property as being safe but it also revealed something else gut-wrenching; it was empty.
Once they had checked every room, Ethan sunk onto his haunches in the living room, his hands on his face in complete despair. The room he was in, like every room in the place, was completely ransacked. Nearly all the soft furnishings had been slashed apart with a knife, the TV was lying smashed on the floor and every drawer was upturned. The plush carpet was sprinkled with shards of glass from the broken living room window and a laptop was shattered on the ripped sofa. Framed photos of the family had been ripped from the walls and were lying crushed on the carpet. In the kitchen, two mugs of tea were upturned on the table, staining the pretty tablecloth, along with more drawers ripped out and the contents splayed all over the linoleum. Upstairs, the ransacking had continued with clothes thrown over the beds and the carpet, and with pillows slashed open, leaving feathers everywhere.
"Wow, they really went to town on this place," Justin said in disgust as he came back downstairs. "Anything that could be destroyed has been destroyed. How spiteful and petty, was taking them not enough for him?"
Ethan had yet to speak since they had discovered the ransacking, it seemed like Velma's sister and her father had been grabbed from the house, and then the place itself also turned upside down. It was so typically vindictive of Devon. Ethan stood up slowly and surveyed the devastation grimly as Justin walked back into the room. He noticed that Justin was now clutching something in his left hand.
"What's that?"
Justin grimaced a little and handed the item to Ethan, and Ethan felt a violent shudder go through him as he stared at the cracked screen of the cellphone. The cellphone was encased in a bright pink and glittery rubber case with bunny ears and as he turned it over and saw the polaroid photo of the grinning and happy sisters together, he almost lost it there and then in the Dinkley's living room. How dare Devon target someone so young and innocent! It was such a wicked and despicable act. He tried not to imagine the terror she would have felt or the despair of her father as he desperately tried but failed to protect his daughter from Devon's violent goons.
"At least there isn't any blood," Justin commented with his police hat on and Ethan stared at him incredulously at first, at what seemed a very crass comment. "I'm just saying, as violent as this all looks, it doesn't look like they were hurt at least. Maybe they went somewhat peacefully."
Ethan nodded at his theory. It was true; although the property was ransacked, there was no evidence that the occupants themselves had been hurt. They were however, undoubtedly gone.
"You're right," Ethan sighed. "God, I can't believe this, I really did think he might be bluffing. Dammit!"
Justin nodded sympathetically before laying a hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Sure, so you know what you've got to do right, you did promise you would call her as soon as you knew."
Ethan groaned loudly, still looking at Madelyn's cellphone. "How the heck can I tell Velma that her sister and father really have been kidnapped by him after all?"
"I can do it if you want," Justin offered generously but Ethan turned him down straight away.
"No, thanks Justin but it really has to be me," Ethan sighed before pocketing Madelyn's cellphone and producing his own. He quickly dialled Velma's number and then closed his eyes in anticipation, she answered straight away before Ethan could even say a word and Ethan cringed inwardly at her breathless, desperate greeting.
"Ethan! Is she there? Is she OK?"
He couldn't avoid the little sigh that escaped him as he spoke after a very brief pause whilst he considered his words. He knew Justin was staring at him too but he couldn't look at him. He kept his eyes closed but could hear his own voice crack as he replied sorrowfully. "I'm so sorry Velma," he said, and heard the sharp multiple gasps from the other end and he realised she had him on speaker. He rubbed his gloved fingers across his temples as he fought to explain the situation honestly.
"When we got here, there's no sign of anybody here or watching the place...but...I'm sorry but the place is ransacked, the front door was hanging open when we got here. There's no sign of your father or your sister. I didn't want to believe it but I think we have to accept it now, he's got your sister and probably your father too." He clenched his own fists as he told her what he had reluctantly come to accept. "We'll come back now. God I'm so sorry Velma, I really thought he might just have been bluffing."
He waited for her to explode in anger at him, even just as the messenger of the awful news, but was incredibly surprised when she robotically thanked him and then ended the call herself.
"Ouch," Justin offered as he took in the strained expression of his friend. "It sounded like she took it quite well."
"To say her sister and her father have been kidnapped by a mass murdering psychopath, I'd say she took it fucking incredibly well!" Ethan replied bitterly, having been completely humbled with the strength and maturity Velma had taken the dire news with.
Justin nodded in agreement. "So, what do we do now?"
"We have to get back to them and figure out our next move," Ethan said decisively as they left the disturbed house and walked back to the car together. "I don't think there's anything further we can learn here and until Devon speaks out again, we don't have any leads on where they are either."
"I hate this."
"We'll get him Justin, we have to. I'm not letting him take any more innocent lives, I can't. I won't. I will not let Stella and Will, and countless other's deaths be in vain."
Justin smiled weakly at the resilience Ethan was displaying, but Ethan knew he undoubtedly had fears too. Right now, there was little cause for optimism. It seemed Devon had everyone right where he wanted them.
Before Ethan and Justin were able to return back to the base, things had changed quite dramatically for the gang. The feeling of desolation amongst them was gone and was instead replaced with a fierce air of resolution. Fred's instinct of Devon making specific contact with the gang themselves, had taken no time at all to actually come to pass. Less than half an hour after their resolution had been made, Daphne received a suspicious email. Contained on it was a scrambled voice file that had repeated screams that sent chills down everybody's spines.
Velma could not be absolutely certain that it was definitely Madelyn but it certainly sounded enough like her to send Velma's heart somersaulting in fear and tightened all of their resolve to get out and do this on their own. After they had played that first audio file, a message then popped up dripping in menace for the gang, and exactly as they had predicted – a call out to them and them alone. Daphne had read the message on her phone aloud to them all, her stomach recoiling in fear and disgust at his words.
"Dearest Mystery Inc.
I think we all knew deep down how this was going to end. It has to end the way it began, which is of course, me vs you four. I have to be entirely honest and say even though I have enjoyed the battle with the detectives, what I have really been looking forward to, is coming face to face with you once again.
At this point I have to hold my hands up and commend you, that you were the ones that came out that night largely unscathed, I have to applaud you all. I completely admit I underestimated you. I knew the tenacity of my Daphne and yet your victory still took me by surprise. You all showed astonishing courage and resilience that night and became more than just a thorn in my side.
Fred, you piqued my interest the moment you crossed my path. You had guts, you had balls. You were fearless. You switched from an extraordinarily bold plot to taking me on and boy how I laughed at first. How could a bunch of teenage criminals challenge ME in this way? But you all did. And you won.
That you have taken your skills and talents worldwide doesn't surprise me and I have to admit, I feel the strangest sensation of pride when reading up on your exploits. I suppose it was I who brought you together in a way.
However dear Daphne, ultimately I am a proud man and your actions have systematically DESTROYED me. You and your friends HUMILIATED me and left me scarred for life, it's not something I can just let lie and I haven't. Your victory has come at a steep price. All actions must have consequences. By now, you will know what I have done, what I have taken away and I make no apologies for that. Your beloved Ethan is finally dead at last. Let's be honest, he has been living on borrowed time. He continued to stick his nose in my business and I just couldn't have that. And your dear detectives. How heroic and courageous they have been. How irritating and self righteous and so they had to go too.
Which leaves you four – I was confident that the headlines would be enough to draw you back anyway but a little insurance policy never hurt anyone. I just don't understand why you had to hide her Velma, she's such a lovely little thing. She doesn't deserve to be involved in this nightmare, but innocent people have always got hurt unfortunately and she is just caught up in the crossfire.
I'm quite sure Velma, you will do anything to save her, I'm pretty much counting on it. This is how it ends and it's all come full circle, tonight, back where it all started, you will all come and you will come alone if you want to have any chance of saving Madelyn's life. I'm done with this town, this shit, all that I want now is you. It goes without saying that any attempt to bring in others (if there's any left that is) and she will die instantly. 10 O clock - you should know where to come, I'll be waiting.
Devon."
Daphne surveyed her friend's reactions grimly as she had read out the letter to them, struggling to keep it together as she read the final couple of paragraphs. Velma had listened stoicly, hardly reacting until he mentioned Madelyn and then the fire was shooting from her eyes again. How dare that bastard talk about her innocence and bargain with her life in this way?!
Shaggy had been confused with the praise that Devon had opened the letter with, but by the end, his expression had darkened again, it was exactly as they predicted, a personal call to come out to play. Shaggy knew it had 'TRAP' written all over it in neon, bright lights but the worst thing was they all very much knew that but they didn't have a choice. Their pledge to take him on was reckless and bold and Shaggy suspected, doomed to failure, but there was no backing out now.
Fred too, had barely shown any emotion as Daphne had read the contents of the letter, only wavering slightly in his neutral expression with the ultimatum at the end. He was now completely devoted to saving Madelyn above everything else and Daphne suspected he was content to sacrifice himself, if it meant that Velma's young sister was safe.
There was also a feeling among them that none of them dared voice but undoubtedly it was simmering away in each of them. Devon had taunted them with the deaths of their friends and it left them with an undeniable thirst for vengeance. This wasn't just about rescuing an innocent girl, it was about hopefully putting an end to a malevolent force. To avenge the deaths of all of the heroic cops that had lost their life in the most devastating circumstances. For that reason alone, they knew they dare not fail.
"Where it all began," Fred mused aloud. "Are we thinking that means the warehouse? The silo he trapped me in?"
"I doubt it," Velma said. "That factory has since been completely razed to the ground, there is nothing of it left as the fire damage was simply too much."
"So the warehouse then? Somewhere nearby?"
"Not a chance," Velma scoffed. "The entire three block radius has been cordoned off, no way that he's sneaked back in there and with hostages."
"Well what else can be described as 'full circle' then?" Fred snapped, feeling his anxieties rise already. "He said we would know where to come, this is a great start isn't it!"
"Any ideas Daph?" Velma asked, turning to her friend hopefully.
"I wondered possibly, the Blake manor? If he meant going back to where it all started with mom and dad," she offered her suggestion without much conviction.
"Could be, but I feel like that's too much of a stretch, he made it sound obvious, something we all would know. I don't think it's that Daphne," Fred argued.
"What about the docks?" Shaggy offered quietly. "That's where it all started for me and Scoob remember, we saw Devon dressed as Dracula at the Coolsville docks when you sent us to investigate."
Velma, Daphne and Fred turned to stare at Shaggy in astonishment, Daphne's eyes were shining. "Gosh, you're absolutely right Shaggy! The first sightings of Dracula, the shipping of the drugs, it all came from the Coolsville docks. The whole mystery started there. It has to be that!"
"Shaggy you're a genius," Velma said warmly. "It makes so much sense. It's big enough to give him somewhere to hide and to station men everywhere to see us coming."
"Gee that's a comforting thought Velma," Fred added sarcastically.
"I'm just being realistic Fred!" Velma hit back. "We are not going to just be able to walk on in there unannounced! We're going to need a damn good plan. We've got a few hours."
Shaggy was by the window and signalled to them all urgently now. "Well, it's going to have to wait, Ethan is back," he said as he saw a car draw up by the window.
Knowing Ethan would probably have more brutal information that he hadn't disclosed on the phone, Velma was immediately noticeably on edge.
"You guys," Fred whispered seriously. "Not a word to Ethan, Daphne I mean it."
"You don't have to warn me Freddy!" Daphne hissed indignantly. "We made a pact, I'm not about to break it."
When Ethan and Justin walked in just seconds later, Velma immediately lost all dignity and virtually threw herself on the poor guys as soon as they walked in, it was so distressing for everyone to witness such a strong woman like Velma disintegrate before their eyes.
"Ethan! What did you find?!"
Shaggy walked forward and calmly and gently extracted Velma from Ethan's arm who looked very uncomfortable and awkward. Ethan sat down at the table, his shoulders slumped forward, and Daphne found herself feeling sorry for him for what he was about to report. She knew Velma wasn't going to take it well whatever he said.
"The place was absolutely totalled Velma, I'm sorry. They had really done a number on it. Pictures on the floor, sofas slashed."
"What a bastard," Fred said contemptuously. "He didn't need to wreck the joint too!"
"Justin found this," Ethan said wearily, and all eyes turned to him nervously as he produced the pink cellphone.
Velma's eyes widened instantly in recognition and her bottom lip wobbled. Daphne eyed her in alarm, fearing her reaction. Ethan lay the smashed phone on the table without saying another word and they all stared at it in despair. It was unmistakably Madelyn's, full of a young teenage girl's personality.
"Oh Maddy," Velma said tearfully, carefully picking up the broken screen. "I'm so, so sorry, this should never have happened!"
Seeing Velma's obvious despair was crushing and so difficult for everyone in the room, nobody really knew what to say to her, there was little anyone could do that would offer any comfort, Ethan tried anyway.
"I promise you Velma, I will do everything in my power to get her back to you safely," he vowed.
"What about Velma's father?" Fred asked suddenly. "Devon made no mention to having him too, in any of his...uh his message," he quickly corrected himself, nearly giving the game away to Justin and Ethan that Devon had already been back in touch.
Ethan nodded in response, it was something that had bothered him too, he had been bracing himself for the grim possibility that Devon would 'leave him behind' deeming the girl a more valuable bargaining chip. He had been beyond relieved that wasn't the case.
"We have to assume he was taken hostage too, there's nothing to suggest he wasn't."
"That's a good point though," Justin spoke for the first time. "Maybe he escaped from the farmhouse first?"
Velma was already shaking her head vehemently. "There's no way my father would run and leave Maddy behind. He would rather die." An important thought suddenly came to her and she turned to Ethan urgently again. "Oh my god! Maddy's medication! She needs her medication! Depending how long they've had her, she'll have needed at least two shots by now," she said panicked.
"Shots?" Daphne questioned gently.
"Injections, she's sick." Velma didn't elaborate on that part any further and nobody dared to ask as they could see her panic again. "We have to go back and get her medication, it's in a pink rucksack with hearts on it. Did you happen to see it, it's usually in the bathroom!"
"Um, I was the one who went upstairs," Justin offered his information. "The bathroom was pretty much the only place that was untouched. I definitely don't remember seeing that."
"I didn't see it downstairs either," Ethan clarified. "I would remember it."
Velma shook her head in confusion. "It has to be there! What else does it mean?"
"Maybe Devon allowed her to grab it?" Shaggy said.
"Sure, he's suddenly got a heart of gold," Fred snorted. "Would he have even known she was 'sick'? I can't imagine they burst in and had time for a nice chat and for her to pick up her belongings. Her phone was left behind broken after all."
Ethan silently puzzled over it, he knew that rucksack definitely was not in the house. Had Devon shown a bit of compassion that allowed her to retrieve it first? It didn't at all seem like his style but perhaps he realised the urgency of it – she would be no use to him as a hostage if she died.
"I really don't think it's there Velma," he confirmed. "I think she has it. Maybe Devon did let her grab it first, knowing she would be seriously ill without it? I doubt that's a situation he would relish."
Velma struggled to put her entire trust in something so important in Ethan's hands but both Ethan and Justin seemed adamant it wasn't there. She wanted to be sure but the time it would take to travel there and back to the farmhouse was time she knew they could ill afford. Right now they needed to get rid of Justin and Ethan so the gang could properly plan what they were doing tonight.
"OK, you're probably right. I guess we can do nothing else at the moment, if it's OK with you guys, I think I want to go take a nap? I'm so tired."
"Good idea Velma," Daphne enthused. "You're going to need your strength. Listen Ethan none of us got much sleep last night, would you mind leaving us for a bit?"
Ethan seemed surprised at their sudden desire to rest, having seemed so fired up but he didn't argue with them, remembering they had stayed up pretty much the whole night last night. It wasn't a bad idea, there was nothing else they could do, last night he had wandered around with Justin, lost in his grief at Stella's death and they had wound up talking and drinking in the park nearby until daybreak. He realised he hadn't slept since they got back to America in fact.
"Sure, I think it might be a good idea for Justin and I to get our heads down too."
"If you guys hear ANYTHING, I want to know," Velma warned them as Ethan and Justin said frosty goodbyes to the gang.
"You really want to sleep?" Justin asked him in surprise as they walked away from the gang's quarters.
"Sure, what can we do right now? It's going to get messy soon, you know it, I know it. I guess we should take some rest while we still can. Recharge the batteries, we haven't really slept for so long since the mess in Hong Kong."
"I'm just surprised you can sleep that's all, with all this going on." Justin said as they approached the room they had been allocated. "I think I'm going to take a walk instead."
" Sure, couple of hours is all I need," Ethan insisted as he unlocked his door. "See you in a bit."
Justin saluted him before disappearing off down the corridor and Ethan closed his room door and sat wearily on the bed, his head in his hands. What a fucking mess. The worst thing was, he couldn't even see a way out of it. He groaned and slammed his back into the mattress, staring at the ceiling for a bit before closing his eyes. He knew they were in big trouble.
He didn't know how long he had been asleep for when he was awoken by an insistent knocking at the door. He cursed in annoyance. Couldn't Justin leave him alone for a couple of hours at least? He sat up slowly, in no hurry to get it open but the knocking didn't cease. He became more alert now, maybe Devon had made another tape? He sprinted to the door now and was immediately surprised that it was Rory at the door, clutching a small bundle of things in his arms.
"Hi Rory, what's up? Has Devon made contact again?"
"Uh no, we haven't heard from Devon again yet. It's just we've got all this which has just been recovered from the scene. There's a random bunch of stuff, I thought you might want to take a look at it."
Ethan eyed the stuff in plastic evidence bags warily with his stomach churning. "You mean the blown up warehouse? Why do you think I might want to see some of this stuff?"
"I think at the minute it's too raw for us to look through this stuff that was found. Look, I just thought with your investigative eye you might spot something, Stella always said you were great with evidence." They both looked stricken as Rory naturally mentioned Stella and he quickly tried to brush over it. "But hey it's OK, no worries, I shouldn't even have brought them out, I'll just put them straight back into evidence."
"No Rory, I'll take a look," Ethan agreed suddenly, not sure at all that he really wanted to, but they were so short of leads as it was, maybe it would turn up something, there was certainly no harm in it.
"Thanks Ethan," Rory said. "How are the kids?"
"They're not holding up great," Ethan replied honestly. "The news of Devon taking Velma's sister has really hit them hard."
"God I can't believe that," Rory said venomously. "Is there no low that bastard won't stoop to?!"
"Tell me about it," Ethan growled, feeling immense anger as he thought about Devon's latest horror tactic. "I hate that we have to sit around waiting for him to make the next move."
"That's why I'm hopeful you might be able to find something in those," Rory gestured to the plastic bags Ethan had taken receipt of.
" Maybe, but if it's just stuff from our guys, I'm not really sure what I can expect to find from it Rory that might be useful." Rory had a strange expression on his face. "Rory?"
"Look Ethan, this is completely classified but I trust you OK. You can't tell anyone this, not even the others."
"Scout's honour," Ethan saluted playfully but on seeing Rory's expression not even waver at the humour, he responded more seriously. "You have my word Rory."
"What's in those bags there, it is NOT just from the raid team, there's also the possibility of things from them."
"Huh? That doesn't make sense Rory, who are 'them'?"
"Devon's team. It won't be made public for a while but in amongst the deceased recovered so far, it is not just cops, some of them are actually Devon's men."
Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell? Are you saying the rumours of a shoot-out beforehand were true?"
"No," Rory replied ominously. "They died in the explosion too."
"Wait, you're suggesting he allowed his own men to die?!"
"The working theory at the moment is, he triggered the explosion knowing his own men were still in the building," Rory shared gravely.
"Holy fuck," Ethan whistled, completely stunned by Rory's revelation.
"That's all classified information Ethan, you can't share it with anyone," Rory warned.
"Of course I won't Rory, I already gave you my word, just... wow though!"
"You said it. His depravity knows no depths it seems," Rory said cuttingly as he got up to leave. "Call me if you find anything, you've got about a couple of hours before someone notices it's gone missing."
"I'll be quick and thorough," Ethan promised, dreading what he might find. He put on gloves and carefully took out the items from the evidence bags. As soon as he opened the bags, a bitter smoky smell filled the room as he pulled out the charred items.
There were several pieces of paper that he eagerly scanned through but was disappointed when it became clear it was impossible to discern anything legible from them. They might not even have been significant anyway, they could have been old papers from when it was run as a business by Shaggy's parents. Disappointed, he set them aside and began examining some of the other items that had been retrieved from the disaster including a couple of keys and a bloodied knife. There was one bag he was steadfastly not opening and that was the one that contained rings and watches. The personal affects of the dead. He grimaced, pushing the macabre bag from his sight, unwilling to look at wedding rings exchanged with love, or the watches given as precious gifts. Instead, he thumbed loosely through items of clothing that had been recovered, expecting to find little of any interest. He didn't know whether the clothing belonged to the slain officers or Devon's henchmen but he shoved his hands grimacingly into the pockets regardless. It just seemed incredibly disrespectful to be poking through their things like this. It was highly unlikely he would find anything remotely useful and he began to resent Rory for giving him such a bleak task. He was about to give up when his fingers touched the edge of a small notebook that had been partially ruined by the fire. He switched a lamp on to get a better look at it in the growing evening darkness, and noticed the tiny embossed letters on the corner that were just about still visible on the damaged object. He started, realising instantly that it was an officer's pocketbook.
He felt instantly cold as he traced the letters with his gloved finger tips, the letters were once gold and cursive and were heavily ruined now but he could just make it out – W. B.
Will. Barnum. Ethan felt like his heart had stopped in that moment; what were the chances of finding something that was so obviously identifiable for anyone, let alone something belonging to one of his good friends? He felt tears at the corners of his eyes, as he was forced to recall again how Will had been ripped from them so brutally. Cynical Will, who had virtually laughed in his face that night as he accused Devon Blake of being the mastermind of an outrageous drugs ring. Kind Will, who had helped him secure the best rehabilitation team as he physically recovered from that brutal ordeal. Brave Will, who had put his life on the line many times as they all sought to put an end to Devon's terrifying crusade against their home town. A battle he had ultimately lost.
Nimbly, Ethan carefully prised open the tiny ruined book, afraid as soon as he touched it, it would disintegrate into nothing. There were hardly any pages left in it and like the documents, very little was legible. Will's handwriting wasn't the neatest and it was impossible to decipher anything. Yet another bust. He was about to toss it aside in despair when the lamp flickered a couple of times, and he tapped the top of it, annoyed. When he looked at the book again, he noticed the very last page had been ripped clean out but there was the beginning of an indentation on the back cover where Will had obviously leant on as he had wrote the note. Ethan stared at it, able to make out one thing, a number, 7. Curious, he stared at it intently, trying to make out what else had been written but it was frustratingly unclear. He didn't know why he was trying so hard to work it out, it was highly unlikely to be anything significant but something, somewhere was telling him to find out what the note said. He smiled as he suddenly remembered a conversation with Velma and Fred from the early days as they became Mystery Incorporated in Coolsville.
"There is no way that will work!" Ethan insisted with a laugh as he watched his new friends wave around a piece of paper. "How do you know it's important anyway?"
"Ye of little faith Ethan," Velma replied teasingly. "On the contrary, I think this paper could be the key to this entire case."
"Wow, that's a bold assumption Velma."
"I'm surprised you don't see it," Fred joined in with a grin. "Aren't you supposed to be a journalist? The fact the paper has been torn off in such a hurry, makes me think someone really didn't want anyone else to know what was on it."
"You can tell it was torn off in a hurry just because of a serrated edge?" Ethan asked, getting firm nods from Velma and Fred. "You guys are crazy!"
"We'll soon see if we're right," Velma said with a wink. "Freddy, the pencil please?"
Fred dutifully handed over the pencil and Ethan watched with a curious expression as she began shading the pencil over the back page underneath the torn sheet.
Ethan's curiousness soon turned to disbelief as letters began to appear on the page under the pencil line and Fred turned to him in smug elation.
"You were saying Ethan?"
"Oh my god! You guys are geniuses!" Ethan replied in awe as Velma held up the shaded page to reveal the sequence of letters and numbers. "I don't believe it, it's a bloody code to a safe!"
Ethan opened the drawer and found a pencil tucked away at the back. He took it out and set it down on the table beside the remains of the pocketbook. It couldn't be...could it? He knew he had nothing to lose, it could have been the number to Will's favourite Chinese takeaway for all he knew but he found himself copying Velma's method and gently shaded the pencil over the hard back cover anyway. He stared in disbelief at the indentation that it revealed below. It wasn't a safe code. It wasn't even a phone number, it was an address.
7 Diagora Street.
Ethan tried not to get too excited, the chances of it being anything significant to this situation he knew were slim to none but it wouldn't hurt to check it out anyway. The address wasn't at all familiar to him and he knew he would have to look it up to find out where it was but he felt a strange feeling of hope build within him. The fact it was on the last page suggested it was either something Will had written recently or had tried to hide away at the back. The lamp flickered again a couple of times and Ethan felt a sudden contentment. The series of events were such an astonishing coincidence he couldn't help but feel hope they were about to lead somewhere important. The chances of finding anything after the explosion were miniscule but to find something that belonged to Will were surely about a one in a million shot. He couldn't help feeling like it was meant to be. As he copied down the address carefully, it hit him. He had never believed in the after life, he thought it was all a load of nonsense and he wasn't quite sure he believed in it now but...the flickering. Sure it could have been a dodgy old lamp protesting it's final throes of life before giving up the ghost...but what if it was something more than that...what if it was of even greater significance, what if it was a sign from beyond?
I really hope this is the breakthrough we need Will!
He pushed all the items back into the bags, knowing Rory would be back soon. He knew he should share what he had found with Rory but a part of him decided it was best not to. He wouldn't tell Justin or the gang either. They would laugh at him for chasing down an address purely because it was in Will's pocketbook. He didn't want to see the look on everyone else's face when he pulled up outside a pizza place. No, this was something he needed to do alone. He glanced at his watch and was shocked to find it was almost 7.30, he had managed to sleep for almost five hours and Justin still hadn't returned? He frowned a little at that but Justin was something of a quiet enigma who could more than take care of himself, he knew he would be just fine. He wondered if the others would be up yet and decided to use the time he had alone to check out the address, he carefully typed the address into the maps app on his phone and was surprised to find it wasn't some dead beat alley in Ledervelle or similar grim neighbourhood. The location made him even more tantalisingly curious. By 8pm there was still no sign of Justin, so Ethan pulled on his jacket, making a quick decision. He could make it to Diagora Street without anyone even noticing he had gone if he was quick. He knew it was likely to be nothing but something in his brain was nagging him to check it out anyway.
He walked over to the desk and picked up his car keys and his gun, carefully sliding it into his jacket. He had already established that the address was a residential one and therefore it was unlikely to be a drugs den but it could be literally anything. He was walking into the unknown. It could be a monumental waste of time also but it was an itch he just had to scratch, he was almost hypnotically drawn to this address and he wasn't entirely sure why.
He crept out into the corridor and found it empty so he sauntered to the car, he and Justin had stolen and returned in that morning just before the broadcast. He was mildly surprised to learn that Justin had left the base on foot. He got all the way to the now barrier-less gate (courtesy of Shaggy and Velma of course) thinking he was getting away without being challenged when the jobsworth on the gate shone a torch into his car almost blinding Ethan as he tried to leave.
"Nobody is supposed to leave the base after dark without clearing it with a superior," he droned into him without emotion.
"I'm Adam Travers, I'm with Mystery Incorporated," he stated calmly.
"I don't give a hoot who you are, no-one leaves without stated permission."
Ethan sighed, he had been hoping to do this without anyone noticing and without a fuss but the guard was determined to make it difficult for him. He nodded at the guard but reached into his driver side's compartment at the same time. Swiftly and before the guard could react, he produced a taser and knocked out the guard who immediately slumped backward in the booth. Ethan then calmly drove out of the base.
It only took him about 25 minutes to find Diagora Street and he was surprised by what he found. He had already established it was residential but it was actually firmly in the good part of town in the heart of Coolsville suburbia. It was a tree lined street and looked mostly unaffected from the horrors that had befallen the rest of the town. There was still some tell-tale signs though – the quietness being most prominent. Many of the neat houses were in complete darkness and Ethan's car was one of the only ones on the street as he carefully parked under the street-light near number 7. There did look to be signs of life from number 7, even though he could discern little with the curtains drawn, he could see light flooding out through the cracks.
As he got out of the car, feeling a nervous anticipation, the street-light he had parked under flickered a couple of times and he afforded himself a smile. You better not be leading me on a wild goose chase Will Barnum!
He jogged slowly up the stairs to the front door and took a deep breath. Should he knock on the door? Barging straight in didn't seem wise and he knew he could frighten the life out of some innocent occupant inside. But there could be a top suspect in there too.
Before he could stop second guessing himself, he rapped loudly on the door, automatically reaching for his concealed gun in reassurance if he needed it. He stood back and listened, hardly daring to breathe. Immediately he heard the sound of frantic scurrying about inside and it sounded like someone had just gone up or down the stairs, nobody came to the door. He knocked again without reply, should he just give up?
He decided to try the letterbox and bent down carefully to shout through. "Hello?"
"GO AWAY!" came the fierce male reply and Ethan took a step back involuntarily in surprise. The man sounded quite old and fearful, this wasn't at all what Ethan was expecting, even though he of course had very little to go on in terms of expectations!
He hovered on the doorstep feeling quite foolish even though he knew there was nobody else around to witness the embarrassing stalemate, he decided to try a bluff of his own.
"Hi there, I'm here because Detective Barnum sent me!"
He didn't expect it would get him anywhere but he heard cautious footsteps shuffle towards the door before he heard the sound of a bolt opening and he was rewarded with the door opening a tiny crack.
Ethan peered to get a glimpse of the short man hiding behind the door, he was at pains to keep it closed and Ethan tried to assume a non threatening stance.
"Who are you!?" the man demanded aggressively.
"Hi!" Ethan said brightly. "I'm a friend of Detective Barnum."
"You think I'm stupid enough to fall for that," the man said, his voice laced with suspicion and he began to try close the door. Ethan was too quick however and was intrigued by the man too much to give up on this. Just as the door was about to close, Ethan wedged his foot in the frame to jam the door open, much to the man's terror. Now the door was open wider, Ethan could see him clearer, he was perhaps in his sixties, very small and bespectacled, he fought with all his might to shove Ethan out the door but Ethan was just too strong. He used his weight to push the door open all the way now.
"Please! I just need to talk to you!" He shouted calmly. Ethan stared at the fear stricken man, there was something even a little familiar about him but he couldn't place where from, it didn't matter, all of his attention was suddenly taken by something else.
As he succeeded in getting all the way into the house, an ear splitting shriek was suddenly heard from the staircase behind the man and in a blur something had come careening down the stairs at speed and he only just managed to step out of the way in time as he realised a knife had come dangerously close to his face. With the attack foiled, he turned his attention to the attacker who had gone straight to helping the old man. Having come at him in such a blur, she had been impossible to see at first but as she stood shaking fearfully in the arms of the man, he saw the young girl properly now, shooting daggers of hatred towards him. A jolt of recognition immediately flooded through Ethan and his jaw dropped to the floor as he stared at the girl in sheer bewilderment, struggling to form the name, but eventually managing to spit it out.
"MADELYN?"