Curse of the One-eyed Phantom

Chapter Five: The Players

Part One: The Adults

"Frederick? Where has that boy gotten to?" Peggy Jones had a death grip on the photo album she pressed against her chest. "Skipper, go see if you can find our boy."

"He's fine, Peg. I'm sure he'd rather stay here with his friends." 'Skipper' (or Skip) Jones, so called from his little known days in the Navy, was irritated by his wife's fixation on Fred's whereabouts at any given time. The two fires had rubbed their nerves raw. "He's a man now; he can take care of himself. We need to leave, get to our motel."

"Don't worry, mom. I'm right here. Dad's right, I want to be here. We need to stop this arsonist before anyone gets hurt." One hundred eighty five pounds of muscle stretched over a frame only an inch shorter than Shaggy's six feet made for an imposing figure when Frederick (Fred) Jones walked into the Blake Mansion living room.

Four other figures arrayed themselves on either side of Fred. This movement by Scooby, Shaggy, Velma and Daphne made a statement to the four adults in the room. Fred was their leader and had their support just as they had his back.

"No one is going anywhere." All eyes turned in surprise to Elizabeth Blake. "We have plenty of room and I will not have my friends and the parents of my daughter's boyfriend staying in a," Elizabeth Blake shuddered just at the thought, "A motel. Maria has already made up your room."

"Mom! Fred isn't my boyfriend! We're just...good friends." Daphne Blake shot a blistering look at her mother but a crimson blush rose from neck to the base of her red hair.

'And I'm a monkey's uncle.' George Blake covered a smirk with a cough and the back of his hand.

"Very well, D. I will not have the parents of my daughter's friend stay at any...motel, and that's final."

"Would you kids like to see some pictures? It's all we have left." Peggy sniffled, her eyes begging.

"I'm just a S.O. W. G. W. P."

"What's that, Mrs. Jones?" Everyone wanted to know but it was Velma that voiced the question.

"Silly Old Wannabe Grandma With Pictures, Velma. Now come sit down." All four young people flushed and stared nervously at each other.

"Not now, Mom!" Fred was in no mood to be mortified, knowing just what pictures his mom was referring to.

"Actually, Mrs. Jones, that might be a good idea. I'd like to see Freddie in his birthday suit lying on a bear skin rug." Daphne snickered. "Do you have any clippings of our cases?"

"I'm glad you think it's a good idea, Dee. I'll get our album with you on a bear skin rug. And I may have some old clippings myself."

"Mom! That's so embarrassing! I'm sure Freddie doesn't want to see those pictures."

"I think I know what Daphne means. This arsonist has targeted Mystery Inc. in general, me in particular. Maybe we can get a clue from an old case of ours."

"Skip, would you like to join me in my study? We'll let them reminisce." George thought having eight eyes to watch over two young couples was better than four.

An hour passed quickly as Daphne and Fred sat through the humiliation of bare bottoms on bear skin rugs, no clue worth its salt emerged from the clippings. Every one drifted away. George and Skip heading toward the study while Maria showed Peggy to her room. Fred, Shaggy, Velma and Scooby walked back to Daphne's room, which had been converted to a temporary, if small, headquarters. Daphne waited until everyone had left the room before approaching her mother.

"Mom, Would it be okay if..." Daphne began.

"...If Fred was your boyfriend?" Smiling, Elizabeth Blake finished for her.

"Yes. I...think I love him. It's just so confusing. And Dad..."

"Dee, I've been waiting for you to say that. Maybe it'll help if we talk about it. As far as your Dad is concerned, between the two of us..."

"...Dad won't stand a chance will he?" This time it was Daphne who finished the thought.

"None I can see." Elizabeth agreed.

-Xxxxxx

Skip relaxed in an overstuffed chair in George's comfortable study while pictures were being poured over.

"Skip, I need your help. Those two don't fool me as much as they think they do. They haven't admitted it to each other or to themselves but they're in love."

"And you want an extra set of eyes. Can't say I blame you, George; we were they're age once.

Daphne is a wonderful and beautiful young woman. Peggy and I would welcome her as a daughter-in-law." Skip had to laugh then changed to a more serious subject. "What do you make of this arson business?"

"Must be a crazy person. It doesn't make much sense otherwise."

"I'll agree to a point, George, but I think he's very smart; he's left no evidence the police have been able to find."

"You said 'he'; you think it's a man doing this?"

"I think Fred might be onto something about their past cases."

"I've got a few ideas that might help. I want to talk to Elizabeth first, this concerns her too."

"Same here. I think we should talk to Harold and Marilyn too. They might be in danger also. Let's sleep on it and talk it over in the morning."

"Good idea, Skip." George looked at the antique clock on the wall. "It's not too late, I'll call Harold, then turn in."

-Xxxxxx

Part Two: Mystery Inc.

"That wasn't such a bad picture of you Freddie." Daphne joked when she joined the rest of her friends in their irregular headquarters.

"I wouldn't talk, Daph. That was a lot of bare skin on that bear skin. Good idea you had, too bad it didn't pan out." Fred commented, hoping to change the subject from the awkward pictures both had had to endure.

"Thanks, Freddie. Guys, mom is putting out snacks in the kitchen if you want some."

"Thanks, Daphne. Maybe later, we need to talk over some things first." Colby indicated to her sisters that it was time to disappear and ushered them out the door. Shaggy and Scooby had ran out of the room straightaway after Daphne's announcement.

"I think I better make sure Shaggy and Scooby leave you guys something." Velma followed the retreating forms of Shaggy and Scooby.

"Well, that cleared the room," Fred's facial expression made Daphne giggle.

"Good, it was supposed to." Daphne sat on the edge of the bed, "Freddie, I wanted to talk to you alone."

"What about, Daph?" Fred joined her, speaking in his best 'big brother' voice.

"This might not be the best time to bring it up but I was talking to mom earlier...mom's okay with it."

"What, Daph?" Now Fred had no idea what was making Daphne so nervous. He had never seen her in such agitation.

"Freddie, Jeepers! This is hard...Freddie, would you be my boyfriend, not just my friend? There! I said it!"

A stunned Fred could only stare at the girl sitting beside him. His mouth had suddenly become as dry as any desert in the world.

-Xxxxxx

Part Three: The Phantom

Early the following morning the Phantom awoke with a startling realization! After so much careful

planning in the attempt to leave no clue, a mistake had been made. It was a silly, careless error but a slip up none the less. Quick action was the only alternative. The Phantom plumped up the pillows, staring at the ceiling. The whispering voices came as expected; an evil smile appeared as the Phantom listened to the vocalizations.

Let the games begin!