Chapter 5: The aftermath, another ransom demand and the split-up

A short while later, Commander Sam Rogers angrily slammed his fist down on the conference table hard as he met with the investigative team involved in the botched operation at Ruby and Silverman.

"How in heaven's name could this operation gone wrong like that?" Sam said angrily as he slammed his fist onto the table.

"We did everything as ordered, sir." Captain Crowley said.

"That's right, sir." Sergeant Underwood said. "The robots didn't detect any bombs or structural concerns while assessing the abandoned bank, and they were functioning normally during test runs last week. We also didn't see anything suspicious through the robot's camera footage."

"And yet this happened." Sam growled. "Fourteen members of gang and vice operations in the General Hospital, three with serious injuries."

He then looked around, facing everyone in the room, as he spoke with a clear tone of authority in his voice.

"I want to know what exactly went wrong in this operation. How the devil could the robot not detect the bomb right outside the building?"

"Well...uh...either the kidnappers knew that we will be searching the area, sir, or someone leaked the information to the kidnappers themselves, sir." McCormick offered. "Or maybe someone sabotaged the robot."

"If it was the latter two, then I will like to know who the devil leaked the information." Sam said before sighing and added. "Now get to work before I have a meltdown!"

As the officers were dismissed, McCormick walked over to Sam and asked, "In the meantime, for the kidnapping itself, sir, what should we do now?"

Sam sighed and thought for a moment before replying, "Return to the Blake Mansion. There's a good chance that the kidnappers are going to issue another ransom demand from Mr. Blake, and besides, I didn't get the chance to tell you that there's been another crime scene related to kidnapping, Nelson."

"Oh, really sir?" McCormick asked, raising an eyebrow. "How come you're telling me this now?"

"There were two witnesses to the kidnapping, Nelson." Sam sighed as they walked out of the conference room. "They were reluctant to come forward and speak to the police, fearing that they may get targeted by the kidnappers."

McCormick nodded understandingly as they left the office, only for Lieutenant Titley to race over to join them.

"Allow me to come with you, sirs." Titley said as he joined them. "You might need backup in case the kidnappers decided to return."

Sam and McCormick both nodded as they waited for the elevator to head down.


Meanwhile, the gang were at the Blake Mansion, unsure about their next steps in the investigation.

"I didn't see any security cameras in the area." Fred said as they met in the living room.

"So that means no one could get the license plate number of the van used in the kidnapping." Velma said.

"And there's a good chance that the kidnappers have stolen the van if they wanted to avoid being traced back." Shaggy added.

"What are we going to do?" George asked. "Those kidnappers better not do anything to Daphne, because..."

Before he could finish, the door opened and in came Jenkins, accompanied by Sam, Titley and McCormick.

Seeing the angry look on Sam's face, they knew that something had gone seriously wrong.

"It's a safe guess for me to say that the police operation went terribly wrong, Sam." George said.

"You got it." Sam said. "Fourteen officers involved in the operation are in the hospital after an explosion at the site, and all could've been prevented if our two witnessed told us earlier about what they saw last night."

"Wait, there were two witnesses?" George asked as Tom and Jerry both looked at each other.

"That's right." Shaggy replied as he gestured towards the duo. "They didn't have the chance to warn us last night, as we were supposed to be in bed when they crashed into our basement last night after running away from the kidnappers who saw them."

Before Sam could say something, the telephone rang, and George walked over to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Blake." It was the man again. "You didn't follow my instructions in paying the ransom I demanded and you called the police. I thought I told you no cops are to be involved!"

"Well, how did you expect me to give you the money at a place that was going to be bombed?" George retorted.

"Whatever. My patience with you Blakes is wearing thin, so listen carefully. I now demand 120 million dollars in ransom payments to be delivered by one-thirty."

"You're kidding me, whoever you are. How do you-"

"That payment is to be handed over at the Harbor Convention Center no later than the time I specified. This is your last chance. One false move and you'll never see your Daphne again, Mr. Blake."

"Just who do you think you are, you monster?!" George yelled angrily, but the man on the other end has already hung up. "If you hurt her, I swear I'll make you pay dearly!"

George then slammed the phone down hard and turned to the others.

"120 million dollars, to be handed over at the Harbor Convention Center no later than thirteen thirty." McCormick said. "And we've kept the news of Daphne's kidnapping under our wraps."

"That means someone has really leaked the news to the public, perhaps to the kidnappers." Sam frowned and crossed his arms before turning to the gang and added, "So did you kids managed to find a clue?"

"Well, we did." Velma replied. "There were tire marks at the scene where those two spotted the kidnappers climbing over the wall, and one of them remembered hearing the van brakes screeching before it knocked down a trash can."

"We could have the marks analyzed in the lab." Titley said. "But that will take a couple of days, which is too long for any of us here."

During this time, Shaggy felt someone sniffing his hand and looked down and saw Scooby.

"Like, is this really a good time to be sniffing my hand, Scoob?" He asked.

"Ri smell rish in your rands, Raggy." Scooby said.

"Fish?" Shaggy asked. "I didn't have fish this morning for breakfast or lunch, Scoob, unless they..."

He stopped when he remembered rubbing the tire marks Velma had discovered at the scene of the kidnapping.

"Wait a minute." He said after sniffing his hand again. "We'd better take another closer look at those tire marks, gang."

"Why's that?" Sam asked.

"Because Scoob may have discovered another clue, Pops." Shaggy responded.


A short while later, the gang, along with the three law enforcement officers, were back at the scene.

"Like, I didn't eat any fish for breakfast or lunch, and yet my hands smelled like fish." Shaggy explained. "Raw fish, to be precise."

"And you rubbed those tire marks after Velma discovered them." McCormick said as Fred rubbed the marks again and sniffed his hand.

"You're right, Shag!" Fred said. "Those tire marks have the smell of fish!"

"That means the van the kidnappers used must have in contact with a lot of fish." Sam observed.

"Perhaps a restaurant or more likely from the harbour, where fish is caught!" Fred snapped his fingers.

"And there are a handful of fish processing plants at the harbour." Titley added. "One of them is closed down due to the economic downturn."

"A closed down fish processing plant is an ideal location for a hideout." Sam said. "If you're in the shoes of a criminal, you'll definitely want to pick a run-down, abandoned place as a hideout as to not raise suspicions."

"If that is where Daphne is being held at, we need to move in." Titley said. "The kidnappers might be hurting her bad now."

"We'd better split up." Fred says. "Shag, Scooby, you and our two silent witnesses go to the Harbor Convention Center to check things out while Velma and I head for the abandoned fish processing plant."

"And I'll go with the two of you." Titley said to Fred and Velma. "You kids should know that this could get dangerous and we might need backup, so it's always good to have a law enforcement officer accompanying you."

"What about us?" Shaggy asked. "I don't want to end up like those fourteen officers and I don't feel safe without a law enforcement officer around to back us up."

"Don't worry, with that cat and mouse accompanying you, you four should be alright." Titley said before directing Fred and Velma to his car.

"I guess if you say so." Shaggy sighed. "Where should we meet after we're done?"

Fred responded by tossing Shaggy a radio. "Here, Shag. Use this radio and wait for my instructions."

Shaggy nodded as the trio got on the car and drove off.

Watching Titley driving away with Fred and Velma, Tom frowned. He didn't like how the lieutenant made that last remark.

As if knowing the cat's thoughts, Sam turned to Shaggy and Scooby.

"Norville, Scooby, I'm afraid you four are on your own." He sighed. "I can't trust any of my men in backing you four up, not when someone leaked the details of our operation to the kidnappers earlier this morning."

"Well, sir, surely you can trust me." McCormick said.

"Yes, I can, Nelson." Sam nodded. "But I need you to help me handle the leak back at Central, and I can't help but feel something suspicious about Titley."

"Like, was he among the first of the officers to be at the scene where the ransom was to be dropped off at, Pops?" Shaggy asked.

"That's right." McCormick nodded before checking his watch and added, "We'd better drive you boys over to the Convention Center."

Nodding, Sam said, "And remember to remain vigilant, boys. Those kidnappers may be after you."

"We understand, Pops." Shaggy nodded before they went to the other car.

As they drove past the front entrance to the Blake Mansion, Shaggy hoped that they aren't too late in rescuing Daphne.


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