The White Russian

Chapter four: Strangers In A Strange Land

Somewhere, 10:30 am

The man sitting at the old worn desk had one job: answer the phone that sat on the desk whenever it rang. Only a few people had the number. He worked a twelve hour shift, replaced by another man (once it had been a woman). It was boring work but he was paid well, answer the phone, take the message, pass the message to his 'boss'. The job involved a lot of waiting; like now. The phone rang...

"Go."

"They've accepted. Jones visited a Professor Anya Gorkovsky at the University. Any new orders?"

"Call back in an hour, I'll have an answer for you." He hung up, dialed a number.

"Sir, they've accepted, Jones visited a Professor Anya Gorkovsky at the local university. Any new orders?"

One hour later the phone rang... "No new orders, same as always for now. Follow, observe, report but don't interfere...for now."

The man hung up, picked up a paperback book and waited for the next call.

University, 2:00 pm, Professor Anya Gorkovsky's office

Anya tapped a pencil against her teeth, half listening to the student sitting across her desk from her. The man's visit had disturbed her more than even she wanted to admit. No one had mentioned the White Russian in many years. Not enough years to satisfy Anya. He had been good looking, blonde, blue eyed like herself; above all, she hadn't lied when she told him he intrigued her. Not many men intrigued her. That had been the main reason why she had accepted his invitation to dinner.

Perhaps the fish wouldn't be the only thing being grilled tonight. She had to know what this Fred Jones knew and why his interest in the White Russian.

Velma's home, 2:00 pm

Velma had just installed a new search engine, one that would look beyond the usual hits. She glanced at her watch for the forth time in fifteen minutes. Shaggy should have been back by now. He'd left as soon as they had returned from FBI headquarters. He'd held her close, nuzzling her neck that left her wanting more. He had opened a door she wanted to explore, day by day.

"If I am going to arrange that surprise, I have to go out. I'll be back in time for dinner, promise. Hamburgers and hot dogs be okay?"

Anything would be fine with her. She hoped the surprise would involve a ring, this was to be their anniversary dinner after all; but he had indicated it was for all of them.

She hadn't wanted him to leave but he had slipped away. She entered the required parameters and hit 'search'. The forth hit yielded the information she desired.

Later that same day...

Hearing the sound of a vehicle pulling into the driveway, Velma powered down the computer. Rushing outside she saw Shaggy emerge from a van that looked like the old Mystery Machine but this one sported a new paint job. She jumped into his arms, showering kisses over his face.

"I've missed you."

"Come see my surprise." Like a boy with a new toy, he opened the back of the van. "Let's say I had a lot of time on my hands and the barter system is alive and well."

To say Velma was amazed at the transformation of this new Mystery Machine would be a major understatement. As Shaggy showed her the improvements he had made, from two bench seats that folded down into beds, to a complete kitchen (if small) minus a dishwasher, Velma's astonishment increased.

"I think we have some time before Fred and Daphne get here." Velma lifted his T-shirt, pushing it over his head. "...Seems a shame not to try one of the beds...see how comfortable it is."

"If we're going to make our engagement official tonight, I'd like you to wear this." He had extracted a velvet box from his pocket; taking the ring from the box, he placed it on her finger.

"Jinkies! It's so beautiful, Shaggy!"

They found the bed very comfortable indeed.

Xxx

Later, after Velma and Shaggy had taken the time to freshen up...

Fred and Daphne had arrived almost simultaneously to find Shaggy working over the grill while Velma was preparing the veggies to be added to the hamburgers.

"Better get them while they're hot and before Scooby gets to them." Shaggy laughed.

Fred and Daphne had split up, Fred grabbing a plate to collect the cooked meat while Daphne had stayed inside, assisting Velma.

"I'm not shocked or surprised at this development." Daphne admired Velma's new adornment on her finger. "But this is sudden isn't it?"

"Not really, Daphne," Velma set cut tomatoes and onions on the table. "When we met there was the usual awkwardness while we caught up, you know, the usual 'where have you been', etc."

"And..." Daphne added lettuce and pickles to the table.

"After that, it was like we'd never parted. I'm sure you and Fred felt the same when you reunited. Anyway, this is a big house for one person and it's hard to cook for one. I got into the habit of cooking for a week, then freezing the leftovers. I had a spare bedroom and asked Shaggy if he and Scooby would like to move in. It was surprising when he asked me to marry him, true, but it felt right, like an extension of our friendship. I said 'yes' and the rest is history as they say."

"Have you two set a date?" Fred asked, coming in with Shaggy who went to the window.

"Not an exact date," Velma answered, "I imagine it'll be sometime after this mystery is solved. There's a lot of planning to do yet."

Shaggy had gone back into the kitchen, taking a magnetized shopping list pad from the refrigerator before joining his friends at the table. He scribbled a note, pushing it in front of Velma.

'Has anyone come to the house while I was gone?' she read. 'No, no one. Only the mailman and he didn't come inside. Why?' she wrote, pushing it back.

"The house is being watched," he explained. "If no one came inside, we can assume the house isn't bugged. I was followed after I left this morning. Any of you feel followed or watched?"

"I wasn't sure, but I felt like it." Fred volunteered.

"I may have, I was so involved in the paper's morgue, I wasn't paying attention." Daphne added, "Who would be watching the house, or us?"

"Take your pick from the alphabet soup." Shaggy replied, "FBI, CIA, NSA...KBG."

"But why?" Daphne wondered.

"That's easy, Daphne," Velma explained, "whoever is following us wants the same thing we do: The White Russian. They're letting us do the leg work..."

"And what pretty legs you have, Vel." Shaggy smiled, "Any one find any clues?"

"Something or someone has the Professor terrified. I have a date with her tonight, maybe I can find out what or who." Fred went first.

"Our morgue has an extensive library going back to that time frame." Daphne went next, "Anastasia loved horses and rode regularly until she had an accident, she fell of her horse. The stableman's son helped her get over the fear of horses and got her riding again. His name was Nikolai Dragomirov, but get this, she called him her white Russian."

"And I found there were rumors floating through the palace that their friendship went beyond just helping her get over her fear. He was a year older and they were very discreet but the rumors were that they became lovers." Velma shared what she'd found, "I couldn't find anything on him after Anastasia was supposedly murdered."

"Guys," Shaggy finished, "we have one chance to find this White Russian and solve the case. Mystery Inc. has to become 'the gang' again; we can't do it working separately.

"Fred, keep your date with the Professor, it'll look suspicious if you don't.

"I think we all should stay here tonight. I am about to suggest something Mystery Inc. has never done before. After tonight, we go off the grid."

"Someone will have to sleep on the sofa." Velma smirked, "unless you two want to share the spare room."

Daphne drew back, hitting Fred on the shoulder. "What was that for, Daphne?"

"I don't have a club!"

TBC