After a restless sleep, the gang met in the lobby the morning after their frightening encounter. "I was up late researching the Camp Chase last night," Velma began, setting down her laptop and tilting it so the gang could see. "This is the necklace that Kendra is looking for." An egg-sized ruby-red jewel glimmered on a slender golden chain studded with diamonds.
"Beautiful," Daphne whistled.
"And pretty valuable, I'd wager," Fred replied, studying the grainy picture carefully.
"Well, it certainly isn't edible," Shaggy mumbled, as he and Scooby gorged themselves on the hotel's continental breakfast. "Therefore, a waste of time if you ask me."
Fred rolled his eyes. "All right, we need to get moving. I want another look at the cemetery!"
After a short drive, the Mystery Machine screeched to a halt in front of Camp Chase. The gang clambered out of the van and entered the cemetery through the massive stone gate. "Guess Spooky Sam only comes out at night," Velma remarked, noticing a definite lack of theatricality in the cemetery.
"An' believe me, no one appreciates that more'n I do," a voice replied, causing the gang to jump slightly in surprise. "Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you. I'm Russ Masterson, th'caretaker." Russ was a heavyset man in dirty beige coveralls. In his gloved right hand he held a dirt-caked shovel, which he shifted to his other hand for a round of hand-and-pawshakes. "Spooky Sam wears me out," Russ explained, pulling off his beige cap and running his gloved fingers through his close-cropped dark hair. "Some people're jus' too excited about ghosts!"
"I know the feeling," Shaggy murmured quietly.
"Make-believe's a waste a-time," Russ mumbled. "His tour groups, they come in here and tramp around, messin' up all my hard work and immaculate landscapin'."
"We're sorry to hear it, Mr. Masterson," Fred replied.
Russ waved a hand disdainfully. "Eh…call me Russ! An' it taint your fault, sonny. "Spooky" Sam's the one ter blame, and he'll get 'is soon enuff!" Mumbling to himself, Russ stalked away quickly, swinging his shovel wildly as he walked.
"My, he certainly was…interesting," Daphne remarked.
"And suspicious," Velma finished. "We should keep an eye on him, too."
"Good idea, Velma!" Fred announced. "Let's split up, gang. Shaggy, you and Scooby tail Russ. Velma, Daphne and I will go look for clues around Ben Allen's tombstone."
After a bribe of three Scooby Snacks apiece, Shaggy and Scooby agreed to the plan.