Chapter 8: A promising lead

Fred certainly looked pissed as Daphne and I glanced at each other awkwardly at his question, and Scooby perked up as the blonde tapped his foot.

"Or more to the point, would you guys mind explaining what were you doing in there?" Fred continued as he gestured at the station house entrance.

"Well, this was something that Velma and I discussed of last night, specifically about a theory she brainstormed." Daphne said. "We were thinking of discussing the theory over in greater detail once I have a good look at what the police are thinking and then letting you guys know in our next meeting."

"As in you girls want to get a better lay of the land before letting us know about the theory you've came up with." Fred folded his arms as he nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds reasonable, though the least you girls could've done is giving me a heads up."

"We weren't expecting you to be tagging along with your father." Daphne said. "Didn't you have practice this morning?"

"I thought so too, until one of the guys had to cancel on us due to an unforeseen family emergency." Fred explained. "The guy that cancelled on us plays a crucial role on the team, so without him, the other guys and I decide to reschedule the practice to another time. And since I've got nothing else to do, what better way for me to pass the time than to tag along with my Dad as he comes into town for one of his cases?"

Daphne and I glanced at each other briefly, then she folded her arms as well before turning towards Fred.

Fred certainly looked like he had something else to say, but Daphne quickly beat him to it.

"Right." Daphne nodded. "I'm sure you're curious on what I've found, and rest assured, if you'd like to find out, then you are welcome to drop by the library this afternoon, Fred."

Fred looked like he was ready to counter her remark, though I noticed the change in his facial expression as he pondered Daphne's offer, then he nodded thoughtfully.

"Very well, then." Fred sighed before he raised a finger sternly and added, "But make this the last time you do something like this, Daph."

"Of course." Daphne nodded.

Fred then looked around before he said, "Anyways, I'm going over to Jackie's to pick up some groceries, you guys wanna tag along?"

"Um, wouldn't your Dad be wrapping up soon, Fred?" I asked.

"Actually, he's here to oversee an interrogation." Fred explained. "I already told him that I'm going to pick up some groceries, and he told me to head home and help my Mom out with some chores when I'm finished shopping."

"Fair enough." Daphne and I both nodded.

"So you guys wanna tag along?" Fred asked.

"Um, we'll need to take a rain cheque for that, Fred." Daphne spoke. "I also need to speak with Shaggy on something."

Fred raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, then he nodded. "Alright, I'll see you guys later."

After Daphne and I raised our hands and Fred took his leave, a long awkward silence followed, before Daphne glanced around and turned towards me.

"I must say you're full of surprises, Shaggy." Daphne said.

"How?" I raised an eyebrow, though I've got a pretty good idea on what she meant.

"When you said that your father is a cop and I saw his photo, I didn't realize he is a lieutenant overseeing the detective bureau here." Daphne said as she gestured towards the police station.

"Well, I guess it's easy to imagine him to be the type that couldn't get off the streets just like some couldn't get out of working cases like homicides." I shrugged.

"It sure makes me wonder why would he tolerate your drug use." Daphne mused.

"Like, whatever it is you're suggesting, I wouldn't advise you jumping to conclusions." I folded my arms.

Daphne only paused her lips at my last remark as I leaned on the nearby stand at the bottom of the railing along the stairs leading to the station entrance.

"Fair enough." Daphne folded her arms as well. "In any way, what's the issue with your father anyway?"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"I'm sure he doesn't exactly like it when his men speak to members of the press without approval. However, it sounded like he was singling me out in there." Daphne explained. "What sort of beef does he have with me?"

"Search me." I shrugged. "Like, I never spoke to him about you and he barely knows you, I'm sure."

Daphne nodded, during which I continued, "However, I do know for a fact that your father served in the Marines during the war, and given that my father was a Marine himself, chances are that he served with your father together and something happened."

When Daphne stared at me with a surprised look on her face, I shrugged. "What? Isn't it common knowledge that your father was a Marine before he joined the company after the war?"

Daphne simply waved her hand dismissively. "Never mind."

Glancing at my wristwatch, I noticed the time and realized that it was almost noon.

"Anyways." I said as I untied Scooby's leash. "I gotta head home to feed Scoob now, not to mention that I'm starving."

"Right." Daphne said. "You meeting up with us this afternoon?"

I stared at her briefly. "Are you going to go through what you've found in there?"

"Yes." Daphne nodded. "You coming?"

I sighed. "Like, if what you've found in there is gonna be worth whatever talk Pops is about to have with me, then you might as well as count me in."

"Perfect." Daphne smiled briefly. "Then, we'll see you this afternoon at the library."

So as things turned out, Velma had theorized that it was very likely that the victim was attacked by someone armed a knife, and from what Daphne had gathered from the autopsy reports Detective Neville provided, the fatal wounds on the first victim of the Werewolf bore resemblance to stab wounds.

In addition, the preliminary crime scene report from the latest case detailed the "claw marks" on the wall and the fatal wounds on the first victim's body shares the same thickness and depths, further surmising the likelihood that the same knife was used in these killings.

"So we're basically looking at a hunting knife with a chisel-shaped blade." Fred offered once both Velma and Daphne went through what they've got.

I wasn't exactly listening to what was discussed, though Velma's sketch of a hunting knife with a chisel-shaped blade on her notepad was what I was staring at during most of the conversation.

"That's about right." Daphne nodded.

"Which also means that we're gonna have to find a way to get a list of people that had recently purchased a chisel-shaped hunting knife." Fred continued.

"When you said 'recently', Fred, you mean that a short while before the first victim was abducted and later murdered by the Werewolf?" I offered.

"Exactly, Shag." Fred nodded as he and the girls turned towards me, during which I noticed a certain look on their faces.

Darn it. I thought. I really don't like the way they're all looking at me right now.

In fact, I think I've got a very good idea on what they've got in mind right now, and there's no way in h*ll that they're gonna talk me into doing this, not even when H*ll freezes over.

"Oh, no." I quickly shook my head. Me and my big mouth.

"Oh yes, Shag." Fred nodded at me. "We need someone who won't stand out in shady places that can get us the information we need to solve this case."

"And I won't stand out, like, how?" I demanded.

"Well, let's just say that you won't raise any eyebrows when folks see you in the area, unlike the other three of us." Fred pointed out.

I wanted to argue otherwise, but Fred's got a point there. With his father running for District Attorney, Fred couldn't risk raising eyebrows when spotted in the area, lest he torpedo his father's campaign.

I'm also certain that shady people frequenting the area would recognize Daphne right away, and considering how much her father is in cahoots with State Senator Daggett, that leaves her out the list.

Then, there's Velma. I most certainly don't blame Fred for deciding against asking Velma to do this, since she would definitely stand out like a sore thumb in the crowd there, not to mention her glasses and her demeanor would suggest that she's got better things to do than hanging around in shady places.

Even with those facts in mind, I still don't like what Fred is proposing for me to do at all.

"Right, though with shady characters crawling around the area, that makes me so want to go." I grumbled.

"Look, Shag, you're the only guy that can get around the area without raisin' any eyebrows." Fred said. "And besides, it's not like any of those guys would think of hurtin' ya when you bring your dog with you."

I only stared at Fred blankly, and I could've sworn that Daphne and Velma were also staring at him the same way as I am. I can even say that Daphne was resisting the urge to facepalm.

"Like, was that supposed to make me feel better?" I asked.

Fred turned towards the girls, and he raised his arms upon seeing the blank looks on their faces.

"Um, on second thought, forget that I said that." He waved his right hand. "But point is, whatever you would find at the pawn shop could be of great help for us to get to the bottom of this, Shag."

"Right, not to mention giving my Pops just another reason to justify grounding me later on when he has that talk with me once he finds out what I'm about to do." I huffed as I folded my arms.

Fred glanced at Daphne, and from the look on their faces, I can tell that they're thinking about this morning's unexpected encounter with Pops at the police station.

"From what Fred told me about your unexpected encounter with your Dad at the police station, I don't think it should be surprising that he will take issue with those that takes the law into their own hands, Shaggy." Velma remarked.

"Indeed, though it wasn't the idea of taking the law into our own hands that was bothering him when he spotted us." I nodded at Daphne as I spoke. "In fact, like, you should've seen his face getting darker when he saw Daphne speaking with Detective Neville, as well as hear the tone in his voice when he called him out for speaking with her."

Velma turned towards Daphne, who shrugged.

"I'm sure it wouldn't be an easy decision for someone in his position to make on whether to go to the press." Daphne shrugged. "After all, it's no guarantee that going public could necessarily be any help to solving the case, especially when there's the chance of the culprit changing his or her pattern and making their jobs more difficult."

"I'm sure he had to weigh making that call." I nodded. "Though nevertheless, you will see where I'm going when I said that I do not like this idea one bit, Fred."

"If I were you, I'd figure the same thing myself." Fred nodded. "Though in the end of the day, someone's gotta step up and do something to deal with this werewolf problem."

"Like, I get that." I said. "But still, I don't like the prospect of getting into further trouble with my Dad, not when he's already have enough on what is no doubt a very full plate already, and-"

"Well, Shaggy, do you really want your father to continue to dictate what you can or cannot do?" Daphne suddenly cut in.

That one came right out of left field for me, though I quickly shook my head. "Of course not, though I hope you're not implying that he's isn't doing his job properly with this case."

"I'm sure he's doing whatever he can in closing the case, Shag." Daphne said. "However, I'm confident that he will eventually come to appreciate that we decide to step in and help close this case, because whatever is going on out there has been happening for far too long, and who knows how many more victims the Werewolf could claim in the meantime if the police investigation continues at this pace."

"Like, I'd think nobody would want that, my Dad included." I quickly shook my head, not that I'm disagreeing with what Daphne just said.

"There you go." Daphne nodded as she looked at me in the eye. "And besides, if you play your part in getting to the bottom of this werewolf business, Shag, wouldn't you be proving to your father that you're independent enough to make your own decisions and that you don't need him to worry about you?"

I sighed. I suppose being a journalist in training, Daphne could certainly read people and she sure has read my mind right there.

"Fine." I finally said. "Then, all I ask is for this to not blow up in our faces again, guys."

"Not to worry, Shag." Fred patted on my shoulder. "Not if I can help it."

"Can I help you with anythin', bud?" The scary dude behind the counter asked me gruffly.

I was busy staring around the store when the dude asked me the question, and upon turning around, I could've sworn that I might just need to make a quick trip to the washroom.

Blessed mother of everything holy imaginable, the dude behind the front counter has a face tattoo, and of all the things he has a tattoo of, the dude just have to have a snake tattoo on his face. Let's call him Snakes.

With the white vest he's wearing and his hair pretty much trimmed short, not to mention the tattoos on those huge muscles, Snakes certainly looked like he might've served time at Alcatraz before it was closed down as a prison in '63 and is a member of some biker gang.

He was drawing a cigarette as he looked at me questioningly, and I knew that this wasn't a very wise idea.

I'm pretty certain that should word get out on what I'm doing right now, I might as well confess to Pops on the list of things I've done and it won't make much of a difference on his punishment.

Swallowing, I faced Snakes as I replied, "Like, I'm, uh, just looking around for hunting knives and see if you could, uh, give some information on them."

Snakes sort of relaxed a bit at my remark, and then he nodded as he said, "Of course, I can help you with that, pal. I do need a name, though."

"Sure." I shrugged. "Maynard."

I said the name without thinking, it just popped into my mind for some reason.

"Maynard." Snakes repeated in a way that seemed like I might've insulted him. "What kind of a name is that?"

"Don't know." I shrugged again. "Though then again, it's not as corny as some other names like Maycock."

The minute the words flew out of my mouth, I realized that I might've just signed my will with a remark like that.

At least I stopped myself from listing my real name as an example, don't wanna take any chances in him finding out on me and potentially murder me in my sleep.

Fortunately, Snakes relaxed a bit as he nodded thoughtfully.

"Point taken." The dude said. "In that case, what are ye lookin' for?"

"Any particular hunting knives that are very handy but also rare." I replied.

"Hmm." Snakes nodded again. "In that case, you're out of luck, bud. The Mortin Hunting Knife is very popular with knife enthusiasts but they're very rare, since they don't make 'em no more. I had couple here for sale from some guys lookin' to make extra dough, but them knives were sold couple months ago."

"Dang." I remarked and whistled, trying to sound deeply disappointed, not that it was difficult for me to do so when I've had plenty of practice on radio drama shows. "And no one is lookin' to sell any of those knives here right now?"

"No." Snakes shook his head. "Like I said, it's very popular with knife enthusiasts, but since they don't make 'em no more, it makes the Mortin Hunting Knife a valuable collectors item. I would say that until someone else decides to come forward and sell another Mortin, you're out of luck, bud."

As Snakes made the remark, he pulled out a booklet and flipped through the pages before stopping and pointed his index finger at one particular photo.

"See?" He asked as he pointed at the photo, and I leaned forward to take a closer look at it. "The chisel-shaped blade of the Mortin makes it very handy for both cuttin' through thick bush and skinnin' game."

I nodded. Just as Fred described the wounds on the first Werewolf victim and the claw marks in the room of the latest victims.

I wasn't even interested in getting a knife, let alone a Mortin, though I knew that I have to work fast if I want to finish this conversation up and get out of here, because right about now, two sketchy-looking guys just walked into the store.

And judging from their muscular arms and the tattoos on their biceps, I can bet that they're here to do business with Snakes behind the counter.

"Right." I quickly said. "In any case, you got the names and addresses of the dudes that bought the Mortin? Thought I could pay them a visit and ask them to demonstrate just how good the knife is and whether or not it's as good as folks say."

Snakes narrowed his eyes as he rubbed his fingers, and I glanced around briefly.

The two sketchy dudes weren't looking towards me or the counter right now, and I immediately reached into my pocket and pulled out a couple of $20 bills.

As I placed the bills on the counter, Snakes arched his eyebrows briefly before he took the cash and examined it, then he nodded.

"Wait a sec." Snakes said to me, then he disappeared into the room behind the doorway briefly.

I drummed my fingers on the counter as I waited, and I glanced towards the nearby clock.

5:18. Zoinks! Snakes better not take all day in the room back there, because I can feel those two sketchy dudes behind me.

Fortunately, Snakes was quick as he returned with a booklet and placed it down on the counter.

Putting on his glasses, Snakes flipped through the pages, eventually stopping at a couple of names.

He then tore out a page from a notepad and wrote something down, then he handed the paper to me.

"Here are the names and addresses." Snakes said. "They're the ones that bought the remaining Mortin knives couple months ago. This you lookin' for?"

"Yeah, pretty much." I nodded as I took the paper from him, briefly scanned the names and addresses before folding the paper and placed it into my pocket. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it, kid." Snakes nodded and smiled briefly.

I nodded back at him before taking that as a cue to get out of this sketchy place.

As soon as I got out of the store, I quickly untied Scooby from the lamp post and led him down the sidewalk until I was several blocks away from that sketchy place.

Once I was sure that no one else was around, I pulled the paper out from my pocket and unfolded it.

Walter Kinsella and Roy Graham. Not exactly the sort of names you wanna hear in this city on a daily basis when you follow the election and all that.

But right now, those two guys are our main leads, and one of them owns a knife that has been used in the Werewolf-related disappearances.

All I need to do now is provide the names to Fred, and hopefully he will do his thing and get the means for us to get to the bottom of this, and by that, I mean soon.

Because during this time, who knows when the Killer Werewolf is gonna strike next, and when he does, who's gonna be his next victim?

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