Chapter 4: A botched police operation
Meanwhile, back at the Rogers house, Wendy was preparing to have Tom and Jerry sent to the pet shop after her husband left.
"Okay, you two." She said to the cat and mouse duo. "It's time to send you back to the pet store where you belong at."
Immediately, Tom and Jerry both shook their heads as if they were saying, "No way! We were running away from two bad guys that did something that may have to do with the disappearance of your neighbour Daphne!"
At that moment, Scooby turned to the cat and asking telepathically, "Wait, what did they do?"
Tom and Jerry looked at each other for a brief moment, then the latter raised a finger and the duo raced off. A moment later, they came back with a large wooden board and one of Sugie's dolls.
Silently, the duo then imitated the actions of the two men they saw the night before: They climbed over the wooden board and then returned with Jerry carrying the doll, which was tied up, and placed it on a toy van.
"Like, are you telling us that you saw Daphne getting kidnapped?" Shaggy asked the duo once they finished their demonstration.
The duo both nodded with Jerry making hand gestures as if he was saying, "Those two crooks woke us up while we were sleeping at a nearby trash can, and then when we saw what they had done, one of us sneezed and attracted their attention. They chased us off until we managed to lost them and ended up in the basement of your house."
"Oh, good heavens." Wendy gasped once Scooby relayed the information to them.
"Zoinks!" Shaggy said. "Daphne's in big trouble."
"Re've got to do something!" Scooby added.
"Maybe it will help if you can bring us to the scene." Sugie suggested.
"Yeah, but first, we've got to inform Fred and Velma about this." Shaggy said as Tom and Jerry nodded.
Meanwhile, the police were beginning to mobilize to track down Daphne's kidnappers.
As Commander Rogers made his way to his car, he saw the gang walking past the front of the mansion.
"What are you kids are up to?" Sam asked as he walked over to his son, Scooby, Fred and Velma, who were accompanied by Tom and Jerry.
"Like, no time to explain, Pops." Shaggy said. "But Tom and Jerry here witnessed the kidnapping last night and we're checking out the scene."
"What?" Sam exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me that they were witnesses to the kidnapping, Norville? Could've save the department from the trouble of having to trace the ransom phone call."
"There was a ransom demand?" Fred asked. "How much did those kidnappers demand from Mr. Blake, Commander Rogers?"
"Sixty million dollars to be dropped off by the abandoned First National Bank at Ruby and Silverman by noon time." Sam replied before turning to Shaggy and Scooby and added, "And you two haven't answered my question yet."
"Like, you told us that it was way past Maggie and I's bedtimes, Pops." Shaggy defended. "We didn't have the chance for Tom and Jerry to tell us what the bad guys they saw were up to last night."
Sam sighed before saying, "Well, before we start pointing fingers on whose fault is this, you kids do what you think needs to be done while I get to work in tracking down those blasted kidnappers."
He then headed for his car before stopping and added, "However, I want you all to be very careful. Those kidnappers could be dangerous and may harm you."
"We will, Commander Rogers." Velma replied before the police commander climbed onto the car and drove off.
Soon, the gang arrived at the scene where Tom and Jerry witnessed the kidnapping the night before.
"So this is where you guys saw the two men kidnapping Daphne?" Fred asked the cat and mouse duo, both of whom nodded in reply.
"Then maybe we can find a clue around here." Velma said as she looked around the scene.
The six swiftly split up and looked around, hoping to find a clue that could tell them who the kidnappers were.
During this time, Shaggy asked the cat and mouse duo, "Like, did you guys saw the getaway vehicle's license plate number? Perhaps the make of the vehicle?"
Tom and Jerry both shook their heads as if they were saying, "Unfortunately, no. It was dark out here last night, although we could tell it was a van they were using."
Just then, Velma said, "Jinkies! Look gang!"
"Rhat is it?" Scooby asked as they rushed over.
"Tire marks!" Fred exclaimed when he looked towards where Velma was pointing at.
At that moment, Jerry remembered hearing a screeching noise before the van knocked over the trash can and snapped his fingers as if he was saying, "Those marks came from the van!"
After Scooby relayed the information to the others, Fred asked, "These tire marks are our first clue! Can your father's men find out the make of van based on the tire marks we've got, Shag?"
"Like, they have the equipment." Shaggy replied with a frown on his face after rubbing the tire marks before sighing and added. "But it could take a couple of days for the analysis to be complete, and by that time, the kidnappers are probably..."
He stopped in mid-sentence, but his friends didn't need him to continue. They all know that two days is too long and Daphne could be in worse condition by then.
At around twelve o'clock at the intersection between Ruby Ave. and Silverman Rd., the police operation to capture the kidnappers at the ransom collection place begin.
Dozens of undercover gang and vice operations officers and detectives were gathered in front of the abandoned bank, posing as drug dealers, as they awaited the bomb disposal robots to return as they assessed the area for any bombs or any structural deformations that could pose a threat to safety.
After what seemed like hours of waiting, the robots finally returned.
At the scene, Captain Brian Crowley, commander of the Major Crimes Division, awaited word from headquarters as detectives assessed the footage caught by the robots.
Eventually, the voice of Sergeant Neville Underwood of Vice Operations came through the radio.
"The building is clear for entry, Captain." The sergeant's voice said. "No signs of any bomb or structural deformations."
"You absolutely sure?" Crowley asked.
"Positive, sir." Underwood replied.
"Alright, then." Crowley said before disconnecting and turned to the men. "The area is all cleared, men!"
"Then let's go!" Lieutenant Richard Titley, the lieutenant in charge of the robbery unit of MCD and was placed in charge of the operation, ordered.
What happened next was like the scene of a bombing attack in a country struggling from an on-going civil war.
Just as the first of the men entered the building, a massive explosion took place just to the right of the building's entrance.
Most of the men that haven't enter the building were quick to stop and retreat, but the ones already inside or near where the bomb was placed weren't as fortunate as the building started to collapse from the explosion.
Several moments later, the area was filled with fire trucks, more members of the bomb disposal squad, rescuers and ambulances.
There were dozens of onlookers at the scene, watching the rescue operation getting underway.
One of them was watching the scene from the shadows of a nearby apartment building, and there was a smirk on his face as he watched rescuers carrying out the injured officers from where the abandoned bank stood just moments before.
Uh oh. There has been another roadblock in the investigation.
Wonder what will happen next? Stay tuned, and please read and review!
