Paradise Lake: A Love Story
A/N: My delayed thanks to Ally82 for the help with the "Dwight Saunders" name.
Chapter Nine: At the Library and Velma has dessert
Daphne and Shaggy
It was four days until Valentine's day. The day dawned gray, overcast with the clouds threatening a deluge of Biblical proportions. Weathermen would turn knobs, read dials, input information into their computers to determine when rain would begin.
The sun tried to break through the semidarkness with only limited success. The diffused light filtered through the curtains into the man's room, disturbing his sleep. He turned his face away from the light and drifted back to sleep.
On the floor, the big dog roused himself and walked to the window. Scooby looked into the darkened sky and with instincts millions of years in the making, determined that rain would fall in two hours. One hour and fifty nine minutes later the first drops hit the window.
Three hours after the first rain drops fell, Daphne's eyes fluttered open. Fluttered would be the proper term as Daphne Blake was not to imply she was lazy, far from it; simply put, she was practical. A streak of lightening lit up the morning sky followed by a thunder clap. Daphne watched the rain streak down the window pane for several minutes. It would be hours before the library opened if it opened at all, there was no need to rush. She sat up in bed, stretching leisurely.
She glanced over at the empty side of the bed. It seemed to be a huge bed. She like so many young women wondered what it would feel like to wake with a man (hopefully Fred) occupying the cold half of the bed. Perhaps they would snuggle down into the covers, whispering, enjoying the warmth and peace inside while a wild storm raged outside. And perhaps they would make their own wild storm before facing the day.
But she was a down-to-earth girl at heart with a job to do. After making up the bed she selected her clothes for the day and headed for a shower.
Later, showered, dressed and make-up freshly applied she made her way downstairs for breakfast. 'one good thing', she thought, 'with the rain there would be no low hanging clouds making a dense fog'. While having breakfast, she and Shaggy decided to leave Scooby at home.
It was still raining when they pulled the Mustang into the library parking lot. With the rainfall they found the lot only half full. Rushing from the auto under umbrellas, she and Shaggy reached the vestibule. Placing their umbrellas in the container set by the door for that purpose. If they were expecting an old fashion musty building, they were sorely disappointed. On the right several women stood in a welcoming kiosk; a well appointed modern looking office could be seen behind the women.
To the left a room devoted to children a young lady was reading to a group of pre preschoolers who were accompanied by mothers and a few fathers. One father was holding a bottle, feeding his baby son; Daphne hid a smile behind the back of her hand thinking of the scene with Fred in the place of the youthful father.
Past the kiosk is a reading area. To this area Daphne and Shaggy headed each selecting a newspaper and begun their search. They were lucky in the fact that a complete weeks worth of daily papers were available and they struck gold almost immediately. With each article the pair were drawn into a world of crime, greed and general evildoing. The thefts of jewelry appeared to go back several years; only in the recent past was Ashley Saunders mentioned in connection with the thefts.
"One thing, Shaggy, almost all the jewels stolen were very expensive. Only the best of the best. It looks like the thieves center on pearl necklaces and bracelets. In some cases diamonds were taken but only those that would be easy to get rid of. I think we need to go back further; you stay here, I'll see about the morgue." Daphne patted his shoulder knowingly.
"Okay, Daphne. I want to brush up on something I remember from high school days." Daphne wondered what Shaggy would want to brush up on as he had never shown an interest in books but went away to the reference area.
True to his word Shaggy commandeered a computer and the help of a little girl who helped him with the nuances of the computer. Shaggy settled back after locating the particular section and began to read.
When Daphne returned she was shocked to see Shaggy deeply involved in a large book. He was so caught up she had to shake his shoulder lightly. "Shaggy, you'll be happy to learn that they don't call it the morgue anymore."
"That's good to know. What time is it? I feel like we've been at this for hours."
"That's probably because we have. Let's finish up here and go visit Velma."
"That is the best idea you've had all day!" Shaggy replaced the tome
At least the rain had stopped when they stepped out of the library. If it weren't for the coming in off the lake it would have been a near perfect day. They reached the Mustang to find the rear and both side windows busted out.
"I wonder why they didn't break the windshield too and do the job up right?" Daphne was near crying.
"Because of this?" Shaggy took the note had been taped inside the windshield, read it and handed it to Daphne, "they're not playing games anymore."
Daphne took the note which read,
"No need to hide...we know who you and your friends are! Go home!"
"I'm glad I got that insurance on this buggy." Daphne pulled her cell phone out and made three calls.
Velma
Lunch was above average as far as institutional food was concerned but having lunch with a room full of strangers wasn't exactly Velma's idea of a pleasant time. What she really desired as she pushed her plate away was a good old fashion hot dog, grilled to perfection by Shaggy. Funny how Shaggy stole into her thoughts lately.
Velma looked over the room of fellow residents. There was Mrs. Williams, with her nose so high in the air she'd drown if it were raining. Luckily for Mrs. Williams the sounds of the storm had passed; without looking out the window Velma knew the rain had stopped. With what Daphne had told her, Ashley Saunders should be among her fellow denizens but no one looked anything like how she had pictured Daphne's friend. If Ashley wasn't here, she had made a mistake and maybe she had lost her touch as a detective.
Lunch had been served buffet style. As the brunette rose to check out the sweets which she didn't want or need she heard a voice behind her.
"Don't look back," the voice was low, guttural, "the apple cobbler is decent. Are you Velma, a friend of Daphne Blake?"
"Yes," Velma whispered, choosing a small serving of the suggested dessert.
"What room are you in?" the voice asked.
"Number 14. I find it interesting even here there is no room 13." Velma wasn't comfortable giving out her room number but if she could learn something the risk might be worth it.
"I have some information for Daphne Blake. I'll meet you in your room at seven this evening."
TBC