Chapter 4

Duckman and Wilt had Goofball seated in a chair, and were asking him questions while they took notes on legal pads. They were in the room Bloo, Wilt, Co-co, and Eduardo shared. "So you are telling me," Duckman said, "you did not know of Frankie's demise until later today?"

"Yeah when you guys told me," Goofball answered, "so uh…Frannie is like dead huh?"

"You could say that," Wilt said coldly.

"So why should I care if a human is dead," Goofball said shrugging his shoulders.

"You should care," Duckman said, "by your not caring, makes you even more a suspect."

"Lemme 'splain sumtin' to ya yellow feathers," Goofball said pointing an index finger at the imaginary fowl, "in the first place, Frannie and I settled our differences after my first visit to this house of pretendies. In the second place, I do not have a motive for doin' sumtin' of that proportion. And there is no way I could kill Frannie; that would be too immobile and stuff."

"You mean immoral," Wilt said.

"Yeah - that's it." Duck looked up to Wilt and shrugged his shoulders. Wilt responded by shrugging his. "Should we let him go?" Duckman asked.

"Might as well," Wilt answered. Goofball got up and started to head out the door.

"Be close Goofball," Duckman said after him, "we may need you again." Goofball turned and gave Wilt and Duckman the "okay" with his fingers.

Duckman closed the door and sat down in the very chair Goofball sat in. He wiped his brow with his ballcap. "Do you think he would do such a thing?" He asked Wilt. Wilt was pacing the room in thought, "I do not think so Duckman. Sure he was a stinker when he spent time here, someone like that would not kill Frankie."

"Let's see," Duckman said, "I interrogated Khones, Fluffernutter, Clumsy, Eurotrish, Big Baby, and Two Head Fred. They all corroborated their stories of playing hide and seek."

"Eduardo, and Coco caught Dylan at the park," Wilt said, "and brought him to Mac. It turns out he had the game Mac loaned Frankie. After questioning, Mac let Dylan go."

"I would not have let him off so easy," Duckman muttered.

"It is not your call," Wilt said softly.

"Well," Duckman said getting out of the chair, "let us go round up some more likelys." Both he and Wilt made their way to the foyer.

When both Duckman and Wilt were nearing the front door, there was a knock on it. Duckman opened the door. "Hiiiiiyeeeeee!" A redhead which looked a little like Frankie, entered with a little blonde girl in tow. Mac appeared in the foyer with Bloo at the same time. "Hi IF Frankie," Mac said as he gave the waving redhead a hug, "what are you and Melanie doing Here."

"Frankie wants to clean something," Melanie answered, "she has kept our house so clean, there is nothing left for her to do at the moment."

"Yepper," IF Frankie said, "we all know I love to clean."

"For reals?" Duckman asked sarcastically.

"Yes for reals silly!" Duckman rolled his eyes upward, "c'mon Wilt, let's go so what other suspects are available." They started out the door, and IF Frankie and Melanie started toward Herriman's office.

"WAIT!" Mac yelled with his index finger in the air. Everyone in the foyer froze. Mac regained his composure, "um Duckman and Wilt - see ya later. IF Frankie, would you come here a minute?"

"Okayeeee!" The figment approached Mac with great caution.

"Hold out your right hand," Mac instructed. IF Frankie started to stick her hand out when Mac grabbed it, and slowly started examining her pretty fingers.

"What are you on to?" Bloo asked. Mac was examining IF Frankie's middle finger, "that is a nasty cut you have," he observed.

"Isn't it though," IF Frankie cooed batting her eyelashes, got it earlier today."

"How?"

"I was cutting an apple for Melanie," IF Frankie replied. Mac let the IF's hand go, "did you wash your hands?"

"No, IF Frankie answered, "I did not think to."

"Hmmmm….," Mac mused.

"What does that have to do with her cut Mac?" Bloo thundered, "that is like me asking her, 'was there anyone besides Melanie with you today?'"

"Actually there was someone with us today," IF Frankie volunteered.

"Who?" Bloo sarcastically asked rolling his eyes.

"Amy," IF Frankie replied, "or Herriman says 'Miss Amy.'"

"She live near you and Melanie?" Mac asked.

"She lives in the apartment complex not far from my house," Melanie impatiently volunteered, "what are you doing with my friend?"

"Melanie," Mac said, "go hang out in the arcade room; Bloo, go after Duckman and Wilt, and bring them back here." Melanie headed in the direction of the arcade room, while Bloo dashed out the front door.

Mac had IF Frankie sit in one of the foyer chairs. Just then, Herriman's office opened and a young red haired woman who looked a lot like Frankie stepped out with the large IF rabbit. "Well thank you Mr. Herriman for giving me another chance to work here for the moment," Amy said shaking Herriman's gloved hand. "Do not mention it Miss Amy my dear," the rabbit replied in his Edwardian manner, "however, remember this is only temporary until a permanent solution can be found." They both proceeded toward the fron door until Mac blocked it.

"My word," Herriman said, "Master Mac what is the meaning of this?"

"Herriman," Mac instructed, "get Madame Foster - and call Lt Woolwine."

Mr. Herriman hesitated, "now Master Mac, there is no reason…"

"NOW!" Mac bellowed. Herriman skittered off to find Madam Foster. Amy stood there looking at Mac with her jaw dropped. Mac pointed to a second chair next to IF Frankie, "sit!"

"I am not your dog!" Amy said with her hands on her hips.

SIT DOWN NOW!" Mac once again bellowed. The redhead sat down sheepishly. She looked over to Imaginary Frankie, who shrugged her shoulders.

Just then a very tired Bloo puffed in through the front door with Duckman, and Wilt in tow. "I managed to catch up to them," Bloo huffed, "fortunately they did not get very far."

"We were just heading out the gate," Duckman said rolling his eyes.

"What is going on Mac?" Wilt asked, "is everything okay?"

"It will be," Mac said with a smile," I need you both to watch Amy and IF Frankie until Madame Foster, Mr. H, and Lt Woolwine arrive."

"No problemo," Wilt said. Mac approached IF Frankie and took her right hand. He grabbed her cut finger and ran a swab across it, causing it to bleed a little again. He then dipped the swab into the blood. "Hey Bloo, come with me to Herriman's lab." Both Mac and his blue companion dashed up the stairs.

IF Frankie stirred nervously in her chair, and looked again over at Amy. The other Frankie-look-alike gave her a mean look, and shook her head. Duckman jumped at the chance, "you guys know sumthin'!"

"I do not know what you are talking about," Amy shot back.

"Well whatever it is," Wilt said, "it is not okay." Amy shot the tall one-armed figment a dirty look.

"Sorry," Wilt apologized, "is that okay?"

Chapter 5

I know who killed Frankie," Mac announced to the crowd gathered in Herriman's office. Madame Foster, and Lieutenant Frank Woolwine were now present. "This had better be on hardcore evidence," Woolwine cautioned, "or there will be consequences."

"You do not have to worry Lieutenant," Mac said.

"He is very bright Frank," Madame Foster pointed out.

"As long as he has evidence," Woolwine answered.

Mac continued, "the killer had to be jealous of Frankie, and have knowledge of the park she was murdered at." There was a gasp among those gathered, and Mac pointed his index finger in the air, "yes! Frankie was murdered in the park - not the furnace room where her body was discovered by Jackie Khones." Jackie looked around at the others, who returned his look. Mac started pacing the floor in front of Herriman's desk, "she was killed, and her body was moved from the park to the furnace room of Foster's. I have not figured out how that was done, but I know who the killer, and the accomplice is. IF Frankie had cut her hand, and there was blood on the front of Frankie's hoodie, and the zipper. I assume that is how IF Frankie cut her hand helping the killer MOVE the body." IF Frankie started to fidget and she looked around the office nervously. Her gaze settled on Amy (the other Frankie look-a-like), who returned with an angry look and shaking her head.

Mac stepped up to IF Frankie, and point his finger in her face, "I assume you know who the killer is." IF Frankie broke out into a sweat, and smiled nervously, "why would I know who killed dear Frankie?" Mac did not waver, "I analyzed your blood IF Frankie - I know you helped the murderer move Frankie Foster's body." IF Frankie again looked nervously at Amy. Mac followed IF Frankie's gaze, "why are you looking at Amy? Did she do it?" Mac turned and stepped toward Amy, "yes she did! There you have…

"WAIT!" Lieutenant Woolwine roared, "this is the most…

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"…ridiculous thing I had ever heard!" Frankie exclaimed. She stood up from the computer, "come on Mac, this role computer game is stupid. I mean, Herriman having a full DNA lab? Miss Amy, who actually is a sweetheart, killing me. IF Frankie here being an accomplice." Mac was seated at the computer with Bloo, and IF Frankie. He hung his head, "okay so the game had some flaws."

"And the way you made me lying dead," Frankie continued with her hands in the air, "that was totally macabre!"

"I thought it was interesting," Bloo said.

"Can it Blooregard!" Frankie snapped. She looked over at IF Frankie, "why on earth did you want me to be the victim in this game?"

"Because I am always the victim in Mac's other silly games," IF Frankie shot back.