Chapter 20: All is revealed and a brief hostage situation
As everyone looked at the former chemistry teacher, the officers unmasked the two zombies, revealing two sinister-looking faces.
"Why, I recognize those two men." The sergeant recognized the faces. "They're James Suckle and Peter 'Pistol Pete' Roven, two counterfeiters wanted for fraud and robbery."
"Those three people were using the school's abandoned underground bomb shelters to produce counterfeit currency." Fred begin.
"Wait, there's an underground bomb shelter?" Augie asked.
"Yes." Shaggy nodded. "Like, it's connected to a secret passageway that begins from behind several bookshelves located on the far wall of the library."
"That area was also where the Phantom of the Library appeared and warned us to stay away from it." Daphne added.
"Wait, how did you know that Ms. Christopherson wasn't behind the disguise of the Phantom, Velma?" Reddy asked.
"Simple." Velma replied. "When she was telling us the legend of the Phantom of the Library, I noticed that she was holding her pencil with her right hand, and while we were in the bomb shelter room with the printing equipment, I noticed that all of the equipment were designed to be used by right-handed people."
"However, we do know that the real Ms. Christopherson is left-handed." Fred added. "While she may be able to operate many of the library's equipment with ease with her right hand, I noticed that she frequently writes with her left hand."
"The equipment we discovered in the bomb shelter are the type that can only be operated by right-handed people smoothly, while left-handed people are prone to experience difficulties operating it."
"Since such operations require fast and smooth operations, it is obvious that Ms. Christopherson can't be involved in this." Daphne nodded.
"I see." The principal nodded understandingly.
"Anyways, back to the wrap-up." Fred continued. "Our first clue was the powdery luminous paint Scooby found on the library floor near where the Phantom was standing at."
"It was the type that is commonly used in chemistry classes, which fits the profile of Ms. Gosnell, who was a chemistry teacher." Velma said.
"Then, Shag discovered a counterfeit five-dollar Note on the floor of the bomb shelter." Daphne continued.
"Upon closely examining the Note, I noticed that the colourization of the Note is based on a certain type of ink used in conventional stationary instead of the ink that the Mint uses while printing the Notes." Velma added as she showed the police sergeant the counterfeit Note.
The officer nodded as Shaggy continued. "Like, however, the biggest clue will be what Scoob, Velma and I caught a glimpse of in another room prior to our run-in with the Phantom."
"There were several costumes in the room, as well as the chemicals which Mr. McDabble mentioned to be stolen." Velma added. "Just prior to the encounter, I happened to have shined my flashlight at the dust-covered flasks and noticed several fingerprints on them. Now, I know that those flasks have been touched by the students and others before, but there were fresh ones that I know meant that they have been handled by someone recently, similar to the fresh fingerprints on the key and cash register."
"One thing to take note of is that Velma's got a sharp memory." Fred said. "She can remember any of the small details she have taken notice from a month ago."
"Yes." Velma nodded. "I did a quick comparison between the fingerprints I saw on those three items, and two different fingerprints were found on all of those three items. Now what's the probability of a chemistry teacher having access to keys that are only used by librarians? Similarly, what's the probability of a librarian handling dangerous chemicals normally handled by chemistry teachers?"
"Like, as far as I know, that's slim to none." Shaggy said.
"Indeed, Shaggy." Velma agreed as everyone else nodded at her reasoning. "That could only mean that the three equipment was handled by a former chemistry teacher posing as a librarian and her two henchmen."
"And with the legend of the Phantom of the Library floating around." Fred concluded. "They were able to work on their counterfeiting operations in the bomb shelter and took on the disguises to scare away anyone that may get suspicious of their activities."
"Brilliant work, kids." The police sergeant said. "Now where is this secret bomb shelter you kids were talking about?"
"And more importantly, where's Ms. Christopherson?" Principal Spears added.
Moments later, the gang, the school principal, the rescued librarian and the police were at the room in the bomb shelter where the counterfeiting equipment is housed.
"Well, Ms. Gosnell, Mr. Suckle and Mr. Roven, you all are under arrest for fraud, kidnapping and robbery." The sergeant said before ordering the officers to secure the bomb shelter.
"I'm sure thankful that you kids had helped out when you did." Ms. Christopherson said to the gang. "If it weren't for you kids, I sure wouldn't want to know where I might be at or what I might encounter."
"Ah, no worries, Ms. Christopherson." Fred said. "We were just trying to help."
Just then, Alice Gosnell managed to break free from the arresting officer's grip and grabbed his weapon.
"Curses!" The former chemistry teacher hissed as she grabbed the gun and aimed it at the gang. "You meddling kids ruined everything!"
"Jinkies!" Velma exclaimed as they saw the gun aimed at them. "She's going to..."
"That's right." Alice said. "You kids may have ruined my plans, but I'm not going down that easily."
She then pointed her gun at Shaggy and continued, "And since you're the one that figured out what I was up to and is the son of the police chief, you're the first one to go down."
"Quick!" The sergeant called into his radio urgently. "We've got a hostage situation down here! We need backup!"
"On the way, sarge!" The officer on the other end replied promptly.
"Zoinks!" Shaggy said as he froze while Scooby, Daphne, Fred and Velma looked on in fear.
The former chemistry teacher then fired her weapon before anyone could make a move.
Everyone closed their eyes as the bullet sped towards Shaggy's chest.
Shaggy quickly squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact while his mind flashes through the possible news headlines in the city the next day.
He imagined his family and friends and peers mourning a young life lost, particularly with his sister and Scooby crying upon learning the news.
He imagined that his funeral will be packed as everyone he knew gathers to say goodbye to him.
He also imagined Daphne receiving the honour of keeping his belt collection, as well as his guitar and other collections.
His thoughts came to a halt, though, when he felt that his hand is holding something metal-like.
Opening his eyes, he looked at his left hand and was surprised to see it still gripping the bullet that was meant for his chest. He didn't even feel anything.
He looked up and saw Alice Gosnell looking in shock after witnessing him subconsciously catching the bullet with his left hand.
Turning to his friends and peers, he saw similar looks on their faces.
However, the surprise will be when he saw Daphne's right hand right above his left hand, the former also partially holding onto the bullet that was meant for him.
At that moment, he understood what has transpired and let go of the bullet and marched towards his would-be killer.
"Taking a shot at me, will you?" He growled at the former teacher and impostor.
Alice responded by taking another shot, only for his hand to catch the bullet as soon as she fired.
"Th-th-that can't be...how could that...have happened?" Alice said, experiencing a loss of words from the surprise.
"Like, that's a good question, Ms. Gosnell." Shaggy said. "But I'm sure this can answer it!"
He then made a fist and knocked the gun right out of Alice's hand just as she suddenly had a foolish look on her face before slumping to the floor.
Standing right behind her was Tom, who was armed with a frying pan.
Seeing the cat, Shaggy said, "Thank you, Thomas."
Tom nodded in reply before shaking hands with Jerry, who led him to the impostor.
At that moment, the backup officers entered the hallway with their weapons drawn.
"All clear!" The sergeant quickly yelled. "Don't shoot! The suspect is under control!"
The officers moved quickly to handcuff Alice before escorting her and her henchmen to the police cruisers.
"How did you do it, Shaggy?" Fred asked once they exited the school on their way home.
"Yeah." Velma nodded. "How did you and Daphne manage to catch the bullet with your bare hands?"
Shaggy, Daphne and Scooby looked at each other.
"Uh...like...I...uh..." Shaggy wasn't sure how to explain. "It somehow just came to me."
"I think his constant watching of the Green Hornet and reading martial arts-related comics may have influenced him in doing that." Daphne offered.
"True." Fred nodded. "But that doesn't explain how you manage to catch the bullet with your bare hand, Daph."
"Yeah." Velma said. "As far as I know, she's not the type that watches action shows or reads action comics."
Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne turned and stared at each other as the rest of the trip to their respective homes was done in silence.
Meanwhile, over at the Coolsville Police Department headquarters, Chief of Police Sam Rogers was preparing to head home when he received a phone call.
"Hello?" The chief answered.
There was a pause as the party on the other end explained the arrest made in Coolsville Central High School and its relation to the department's on-going operation to put a stop to counterfeiting rings across the city.
However, he became alert when he was informed of the brief hostage situation and was shocked when it was mentioned that the hostage managed to catch the bullets with his bare hands without hurting them and turned the tables against his would-be killer.
His eyes narrowed with a serious realization as he hung up.
A realization that his children needs to be told of a family secret.
He then reached for the phone and dialed another number.
Wonder what that family secret is? And how did Shaggy and Daphne manage to catch that bullet with their bare hands without getting hit?
All I can say is stay tuned, and please read and review!