A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short. I couldn't put anything else in without it seeming out of place. I promise the story will start to pick up pretty soon. Thanks for the great reviews and support. I do not own Scooby Doo or the rest of Mystery Inc. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 5:
"C'mon, you scardy cats. We've got to get in there." Velma urged pulling on Scooby's collar and Shaggy's arm. Shaggy and Scooby refused to move from there spots safely outside the school.
"Ri'm not a rardy rat. R'im a rardy rog," Scooby replied.
"Whatever. We have to get in there and solve this mystery."
"Like, noooooo thanks. I'm staying right here," Shaggy said, crossing his arms. Scooby mimicked him.
"Really?" Daphne asked. "This new box of White Cheddar/S'more flavored Scooby Snax says different," she teased shaking the box of the oh so tempting Scooby Snax.
"White Cheddar and S'more Scooby Snax!" Shaggy and Scooby cried, forgetting their fear and snatching the box and began munching on the tasty snacks.
"Ok, gang, let's move," Fred commanded leading the gang to the empty school. "Scooby, you still got the keys Mr. Anderson gave you?"
"Ruh huh, Ruh huh," Scooby nodded, handing the keys to Fred.
Fred unlocked the door on the side of the school and stepped inside.
There didn't seem to be anyone in the halls, it was 6:00, classes didn't start for another 2 hours, plenty of time to look around. They still kept quiet in case there were some secretaries around or teachers catching up on their grading.
"Like, are you sure this this is a good idea?" Shaggy asked as they approached Mr. Anderson's office.
"Don't worry. Mr. Anderson doesn't arrive at his office until 7:00. We have plenty of time," Velma assured him.
As soon as Fred unlocked the door he handed the keys to Velma.
"Okay, now you, Shaggy, and Scooby search Mr. Feldman's booth and see what you can dig up. Daphne and I will look around here. We'll meet outside the cafeteria in 40 minutes. Got it?"
Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby gave a thumbs up and started towards the theatre.
"Ok, let's check this place out," he said motioning for Daphne to follow him. The office was very organized and impersonal. There wasn't a single photograph or personal touch in the in office, nor was there a paper or pen out of place. The room seemed very cold and unwelcoming.
"Well, this shouldn't be too hard," Fred said optimistically, "you check the filing cabinet and I'll check the desk."
As Fred riffled through the drawers, he couldn't find anything unusual. The desk was filled with basic stuff- school announcements, staff directory, letters on upcoming board meetings. He finally came to the last one, but couldn't get it open, "Aw man, this one's locked."
"I got this," Daphne said with a confident smile. She pulled out a hair pin and wiggled it through the keyhole, it only took her a few seconds to get it open.
"Hey thanks. Did you find anything in the file cabinets?"
"A lotta insurance records, health records on the teachers, nothing that will help the case," Daphne replied, now going through the last drawer.
"Peachy, well, maybe he didn't do it then, at least that's one suspect we can cross off our list," he said cheerfully.
"I wouldn't be so sure, look at this," she said handing Fred the papers.
He took them, flipping through the first few before gasping out loud. They were bank statements spanning the last six months, and it looked like the account was scraping the bottom of the barrel, or had been.
"Whoa….Look at this! There has been a transferal of funds to a private bank account after every single large deposit that's been made for the last six months!"
"But who's account is it? And why would they be moving the money?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know, but this is starting to look very suspicious…."
* * * * * * *
"Jinkies! This place is a mess," Velma said as she entered the stuffy lighting booth. The small room had papers littered all over. There were stacks of scripts, crumpled paper, odds and ends. It also smelled like a mix of burnt coffee and plaster.
"At least it's small so it shouldn't be too hard to search. You guys look over there and I'll look over here," she gestured.
"So what are we supposed to be looking for again?" Shaggy asked sifting through a stack of playbills.
"Honestly," Velma paused, "I'm not sure. I'm hoping we can just look around and stumble onto something. That's usually how things work out."
"Like, I hope we stumble across a triple fudge sundae with nuts."
"Rand a rerry," Scooby added.
"Yeah, and I great big glob of whip cream," Shaggy licked his lips.
"Can you too think about anything but food?" Velma asked.
"Yeah, like what good's a sundae without a cold glass of milk," Shaggy answered.
Velma rolled her eyes and started picking up the crumpled papers on the floor; lots of receipts, notes to self, to do lists, and then one piece of paper caught her interest..
"Jinkies," Velma said in a soft voice.
"What?" Shaggy asked, peering over her shoulder.
Dear Mr. Feldman,
I'm sorry, but I will not be able to work at the spring play this year. Some things have come up and I am unable to spend so much time on the remaining practices and performance as well as give it the care and attention it needs. I would like to talk to you to sort this out. And hopefully find a way to make this up to you. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Matt Palmer
