Joker on the Beach
Chapter 7: The Plan in Action
Part one: The Run
One half hour later, they had a plan. The chief, true to his word, had located the locker and had an undercover officer on the way to the bus station.
"Chief, MJ and I have to run, have breakfast at Joe's and surf. If we don't our friend may think something is fishy. Can you have back up in place, just in case?" Shaggy asked.
"I have several officers in mind. MJ's group doesn't know them and if they're spotted I'll have their ears on a neckless by lunch."
"Then it's time to set our plan into action."
They all rose, Shaggy and MJ heading for the door. Gennie walked up to Shaggy, putting her arm around his neck.
"Keep yourselves safe. You are a fine young man and we'll be proud to have you as a son-in-law."
It was still dark when they pulled the mystery machine into the parking lot. Looking around, the only person in sight was an old beachcomber, out before the tourists. He paid them no mind as he pulled his old coat tighter around his neck, slowly walking along the shore line in search of treasures.
"The Chief was fast" Shaggy said, nodding at the old beachcomber.
"Our back up?" MJ asked.
"Part of it, he wont be the only one watching us."
They exited the van, leaving Scooby on guard duty. The markers where they would turn were hidden in the fog rolling in off the ocean. MJ described each as hand in hand, they walked down to the shore.
"Remind me to get some new sweats" Shaggy commented as they started their warm up exercises. "I didn't expect it to be this cool in California."
"making excuses this early?" MJ said, smiling.
Warm up exercises completed, the sun had just started its daily journey, peeking over the coastal mountain range when MJ, standing in front of him, put her arms around his neck and said,
"Shaggy, all that talk about running you into the ground was just that, talk. I want us to enjoy our run together, forget who's watching, forget every thing. Just enjoy being together."
"Why don't you set the pace?" Shaggy offered, knowing he could never forget, especially who was watching.
"Ready?" she asked, brushing his lips with hers.
MJ set the pace, Shaggy running beside her, his eyes constantly sweeping the area. He also took the opportunity to watch her. She ran with long, strong strides that ate up ground with a minimum of effort.
'Who ever had taught her to run had done a good job' he thought. Her rhythm was easy to follow and he matched her, stride for stride.
They had reached the first marker, turned , passed the parking lot and now the second marker was in sight, just ahead. They were to turn at the marker and end at the parking lot finish line.
"Still think you can run me into the ground?" Shaggy asked.
"I admit I'm impressed" she replied.
"Want to make this last leg interesting?" he asked.
"How interesting?" she wanted to know.
"Loser buys breakfast" came the answer.
"You're on...and I'll be ordering the most expensive item on the menu."
He had expected the extra kick every runner keeps in reserve for the finish line after they had turned at the marker, heading for the finish line. What he didn't expect was her ability to maintain the faster pace. She had pulled ahead a few feet and it took every ounce of speed he could muster to make it a photo finish as they blazed past the finish line.
"Guess it's dutch treat...let's get Scooby out of the van...then cool down" Shaggy said, breathing heavily.
With Scooby running around, Shaggy and MJ did their cool down exercises.
"Where did you learn to run like that?" MJ asked, when her breathing permitted.
"I did some track and gymnastics in high school, long distance and cross country was my specialty, I found I liked to run and I've kept it up."
"Unfair! You're buying! And I'm still ordering the most expensive item on the menu!"
Part two: Breakfast
They had used the public bathrooms to shower and change their sweats. He let Scooby run while he thought over the case so far. The seemingly innocent pranks had progressed to a break in at the Crowley's, Scooby had injured the intruder, the joker cards had contained payment for services rendered or to be rendered. The key to the locker they had left untouched. It was being watched by a series of undercover officers, the better not to be noticed.
He noticed the old beachcomber had returned, carrying a sack of treasures he had collected.
MJ came out of the ladies bathrooms dressed in her blue sweats, brushing her hair. Her hair, still damp from her shower, dripped water onto her sweats.
"I..."
Shaggy stopped her by wrapping his arms around her waist, whispering,"Being watched, talk in van."
Shaggy was right, they were being watched. Two sets of eyes had watched as they began their run, taking note of the beachcomber. They had stayed until the couple had finished their run then slipped from their hiding place, limping to the car.
The other eyes watched his partner, the beachcomber, walk the beach, unaware of the other watching eyes. They watched as the beachcomber returned, carrying the sack. 'nice touch, any beachcomber without a sack of treasures wasn't much of a 'comber'. When the targets entered the van, he met his partner, heading for their next position.
Inside the van, Scooby went searching for Scooby Snacks while Shaggy asked,
"What were you going to say?"
"When I got my brush out to do my hair, I noticed something about that joker card. Just wondered if you caught it?"
"That it was two jokers glued together?"
"Does it mean anything?"
"There are always two jokers in a deck...I think we have been looking for two jokers, Jon and some one else...here we are at Joe's."
"Scooby, I need you to stay here on guard duty...can you do that?" Shaggy asked Scooby.
"Scooby Snack?"
"Make it two"
"Roo Kray"
When they got out of the van, Shaggy spotted the drunk immediately. A quick look showed they would arrive at the door at the same time. The drunk, dressed in rags, shuffled along, bouncing into and off the walls.
"You're a pretty lass, How's about a little kiss" his voice rough and slurred from drink, trying to embrace MJ. She backed away in disgust. Shaggy stepped between the drunk and MJ, gently but firmly pushing the drunk away.
"No need to get rough!" he slurred, losing his balance and engulfing Shaggy in a drunken hug to keep from falling.
"Enjoy breakfast, we have your back" the drunk whispered.
Shaggy pushed the drunk away from him. The drunk waved his arms in dismissal.
"Just wanted a little kiss from the missy" he slurred and shambled off down the street, his message given and received.
"How horrible! And this early!" MJ said disgustedly.
"Never judge a book by it's cover" Shaggy said.
"You mean...?"
Shaggy's answer was to open and hold the door for her...
Most of the gang had ordered and were eating when MJ and Shaggy entered.
"Hi gang...let me order then I'll introduce Shaggy" MJ called out. "Joe, I'm paying so how about two orders of your California breakfast burritos with a cup of fruit each?"
"Coming up...grab a table and I'll let you know when it's ready"
"Every one! This is my friend Shaggy from Coolsville. You've met Duke and Sugar, Alisa and JD next to them, and my best friend De De and Jan. Every one else, you can meet Shaggy at Shipwreck." MJ looked over the room as did Shaggy.
"I don't see Jon, any one know where he is?" MJ asked the group.
"He left town,said he had bigger fish to fry" came a voice from the back.
"One other thing...don't challenge Shaggy to a run...he just beat me, which is why I'm paying for breakfast."
This admission brought several whistles of admiration and whispers, the group knowing MJ's running ability.
Shaggy picked up their breakfasts, letting MJ pick the table. Their meal was interrupted several times as friends dropped by to meet Shaggy and say they'd meet at Shipwreck.
"Ready for your big acting debut?" Shaggy asked.
"It'll be easy, I won't be acting" MJ replied.
Their lips met in a sensuous kiss, her lips telling their own story of her love.
"Whew! A girl could get to like that" she whispered in his ear after they broke their planned kiss.
The reaction of the group was as expected, woof whistles and "I Hear wedding bells" were heard among others.
"This should be interesting" Shaggy whispered.
They had almost finished their meal when one couple got up to leave. They paid their tab and left, waving at Shaggy and MJ, the guy favoring his left ankle.
"I don't believe it!" MJ whispered.
"We now know who the 2nd joker...'The Joker' is. Is there a pay phone on the way to Shipwreck? We need to get a message to the Chief."
"Come on...I'll show you."
Shaggy returned from the pay phone.
"Message spent...all we need now is to spring the trap!"
Part Three: Beach and surfing
They drove into the parking lot, their eyes searching...
"There it is...he's here" MJ said, pointing at Duke's white car.
"Scooby, I need you with us...protect MJ...you can have all the Scooby Snacks you want."
They removed their boards, walking the short distance to the horseshoe shaped beach. MJ sat her tote as planned, setting her board upright in the sand along side Shaggy's.
"Where's Duke?" Shaggy asked the group, several pointing out over the water.
"Said he'd hurt his ankle, wanted to get some surfing in before it hurt too much...said he was calling it an early day" someone informed him.
"Same with us...MJ's got a doctors appointment. We'll be calling it an early day too."
"Is Scooby friendly?" someone asked.
"Sure, he's just a big ham bone" Shaggy answered.
"ram bone? Where?"
Soon, Scooby was in doggie heaven, being petted and scratched.
"Guess we might as well get changed and do a little surfing" MJ remarked, removing her sweats. It was obvious that the group had seen MJ in the bikini found in the tote, carrying on business as usual, not so for Shaggy. He had removed his sweats, now stared shamelessly at the beautiful woman before him.
That may explain why no one saw Sugar and Duke walk out of the surf, or Duke handing his board to Sugar, explaining his ankle hurt and he was calling it quits for the day. He would pick it up later.
No one took notice as Duke knelt beside MJ's tote, pretending to massage his ankle while he reached inside the tote, found the two items he searched for, placing them inside his wet suit. He had spotted MJ and Shaggy standing side by side. If he could use the crowd as cover, he could reach his car and be gone in minutes.
MJ felt Shaggy's eyes on her and smiled. That wasn't the reason she felt reluctant, had delayed putting her wet suit on, she suddenly didn't want to be on the same ocean with 'the Joker'. She felt other eyes on her, sending chills up her spine. 'he's here...on the beach' she shivered. She placed her hand on Shaggy's arm, intending to tell him, when they were jerked back to reality when they heard Scooby bark.
"Raggy! Rary Rain!"
Shaggy spotted Scooby in full alert mode, skirting the crowd, his tail curled over his back. With everyone milling around, going and coming from the water, it was impossible to tell who or what had caused this action from Scooby, but Shaggy trusted his pal. He knelt, pulled an object from his sweats, handing it to MJ.
"Here, spring the trap!"
MJ blew the police whistle hard and long. Sirens were heard immediately, police cruisers entering the parking lot within moments. His cover blown, 'The Joker' began to run, it was his only chance.
"Not so fast!" Alisa stepped from the crowd, sticking out her leg, tripping him. The pain was horrible, she'd hit his injured ankle! His ankle wasn't the only problem he had.
Scooby attacked! This was the intruder that had threated MJ. His orders were to protect MJ. His attack was relentless and ferocious. The Chief led the police onto the beach, barking orders over the sounds of Scooby's attack and "Get this mutt off me!"
"Call your dog off! He's not going anywhere!" Alisa yelled at Shaggy.
"Give me one good reason why I should!" The steel in his voice made Alisa take a half step back, involuntarily, against the force of his voice. She reached into her tote, removed a leather case, flip it open, the gold badge reflecting the suns rays.
"FBI...Field Agent Alisa Rupp...call...your...dog...off...NOW! He's my prisoner, I have to read him his Miranda rights!"
"You do...I don't...Scooby! Down!"
Scooby stopped his attack but stood at the ready, his muzzle only inches from 'The Jokers' throat, continuing to growl.
"Scooby! Come! Heel!" the voice had come from behind Shaggy. He had said nothing, allowing Scooby to threaten 'The Joker'. He was surprised when Scooby broke off his stance, snorted in dismissal, trotting to MJ's side and sat down, looking up at her for approval. He watched as Scooby had sat by MJ, raising his eyebrows. Her only answer was a shrug of her shoulders, kneeling on her knees, giving the big dog a hug.
Shaggy turned to agent Rupp. "I'd appreciate a word with your prisoner, Agent Rupp." The steel still in his voice, just at a lower level.
"I still have to read him his rights and handcuff him...Chief, these bikini's don't have much room for handcuffs, may I borrow a set?" she walked off towards the Chief.
MJ had watched as the scene played out before her. Alisa a FBI agent? And the steel in Shaggy's voice, enough to make a FBI agent take a step backwards, where had that come from? She didn't know what Shaggy had in mind, only that if she was going to trust Shaggy with her heart and love, ( and she did, she realized ) now seemed like a good time to begin.
"Not the usual trap employed by Mystery Inc. I grant you, this one actually worked. Now, I'd like a word" Shaggy had turned his attention to 'The Joker'.
The crowd had gathered around the action, as close as the police would allow, MJ included. She was close enough to hear their conversation.
"You're a private citizen, you can't ask me anything! She's hasn't read me my rights! You're nothing!"
"Your right, I'm just a private citizen but you misunderstand...I said I wanted a word, you don't have to say anything" Shaggy corrected.
The scream was one of agony, born of surprise, 'The Joker' dropped like a rock after being lifted on the brats knee. He rolled into a fetal position, clutching his groin. 'the brat hadn't flinched or blinked, no warning at all' the thought fought its way through the pain to his brain. Now it felt like his hair was being pulled out by the roots, being jerked into a kneeling position, his head jerked back exposing his throat.
"Now that I've gotten your attention, I'll have my word...
Joker...Duke...whatever your real name is, I have a message for the committee, company whoever you work for, I trust you can deliver it...
I don't care about them...If I ever feel your employers trying to get revenge on me, MJ, our families or our friends, I wont be coming after them...I'll be coming for you personally... and there wont be a hole deep enough to hide in! Oh I almost forgot... the joker card you got from MJ's tote? It's empty! A little bait for our trap."
He threw 'The Joker's head forward. "You can have your prisoner Agent Rupp, I've had my word."
"I'll be talking to you later!...do you think they'll get the message?"
A car was heard driving out of the parking lot. " I think they already have, 2 pm at MJ's be Ok with you?"
"I'll be there!" Agent Rupp said, then turned to her prisoner "Oh shut up..you're not hurt...You have the right..."
When MJ saw Shaggy walking toward her, she turned to De De, standing beside her.
"Tell everyone we'll be back will you?"
"Sure...That kiss at Joe's...wedding bells?"
"He hasn't asked."
"He will and I better be invited"
"Maid of Honor...promise"
When Shaggy came up to her, she turned, placing her arm around his waist, accepting his.
"Scooby...Come...Heel" she said.
"Amazing" Shaggy said as Scooby fell in beside MJ.
They arrived at the van, opened the side door for Scooby, who jumped into the van.
Shaggy started to open the passenger door for her. She placed her arms around his neck. The kiss lengthened, deepened as the tension of the past few days drained away.
"Let's go...I have a question I want to ask your father" Shaggy said when the kiss finally ended.
"Yes, I'm not scared anymore...take us home"