Chapter 19

"Regrouping at Mystery Inc."

When we left the hospital to return to the FBI New Orleans office, all I could think of was the fact that Mystery Inc had a dangerous new enemy to contend with. From the way Fred was acting, Daphne had been targeted by the Ghost of a demonic reverend. Even though I had been laid up in the hospital for a few days nursing my injured leg from the Vomit Monster attack at Six Flags New Orleans, it felt like I was there amidst all the action that went on in the park.

"So the photographer orchestrated all of the kidnappings and killings?"

"All under Reverend Kane's orders," Fred replied as he followed Beau's car back from the hospital. "Jocco aka Jack Ramsay was given a promise that was never going to be honored."

"Like, what makes you say that, Fred?" Shaggy asked, eating a foot long sandwich along with Scooby. "Scooby and I had a choice, either work for Jocco or work for this crazy Preacher. Not to mention I was being interviewed in my underpants. What would you have done?"

"Reah?"

Fred was not hesitant in his answer.

"I would have tried fighting back," Fred said, causing all of our mouths to drop. "Especially if it meant protecting all of you. I'm telling you, gang, we have a new enemy to deal with and he is not of the living!"

From the sounds of Fred's voice, it was a look like he was treating this like his own personal war. Then again, Fred was always kind of the one who had a lot riding on him as leader of Mystery, Inc.

"Fred," Daphne suggested. "Just because I am targeted by this Reverend, it doesn't mean that you should all be targeted as well. I'm capable of defending myself."

"How can you say that after being in a lake filled with alligators?" Fred asked in a shocked tone. "If Beau hadn't intervened…"

"But he did intervene, Fred. By the Grace of God, he did."

Daphne then reached into her purse and pulled out a silver set of rosaries.

"What about your gold chain?" I asked.

"Agent Gordon needs it more than I do," Daphne answered. "Besides, if there is one thing I can replace along with my clothes is my religious artifacts."

"But Agent Gordon will never walk again," Fred reminded, the fear of seeing us end up like Agent Gordon still fresh in his mind. "That's something you can never replace, among other irreplaceable things."

Still feeling slightly paranoid, we pulled into the parking lot and followed Beau and Clarice inside.

…

Once inside the building, Beau was trying to come to terms with the fact that he was going to find a new partner. He insisted on being alone, but I decided to stay with him.

"Beau, I'm sorry," I whispered as he stood staring at his partner's desk. "I'm so, so sorry."

"Sure you are, Velma, sure you are," Beau sighed, looking back at me for second before turning away. "She had a bright future ahead of her, dammit! How the hell is she going to live her life now, making a living when she may never be able to walk?"

"Maybe she can do desk work here," I suggested. "It's not much, but it's something."

"It won't be the same, Velma. Being in the field was her passion. Without it, she's better off dead right now."

Beau then walked over to Agent Gordon's desk and sat down in her chair, seeing pictures of her life from her private and personal life.

"I'm just saying that there are other options she can pursue," I said. "Take it from me, I'm really good with solving mysteries and gathering clues. She could work in the lab."

"She doesn't have a medical doctorate or any kind of medical or science degree, Velma," snapped Beau, before sighing in embarrassment of his action. "I'm sorry, Velma. It's just that…"

But I understood fully of what was going through his mind and it was not just because I was a regular smart alleck.

"You love her, don't you, not just as an agent but as a person?" I asked and with a wordless nod, he replied that he did. "In that case, all that matters is being with her in this time of need. You love her and she loves you, that's greater than any job being FBI or whatnot."

Of course, those words did little to help Beau, however it was the truth and the truth alone.

"Then maybe you need to do what is best for her and for you," I suggested. "Even if it means giving up doing the thing we love."

A lot went through Beau's mind, but if he wasn't going to spend the rest of his life at the FBI without Agent Gordon at his side, where was he going to go?

…

Meanwhile in Clarice's office, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby were pondering just exactly where Reverend Kane was going to go next. Now that Daphne had a target on her back, we needed to be ready for him.

"Are you quite sure he will not rest until Daphne is his?" Fred asked in a worried tone.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Jones," answered Clarice. "Spirits are restless and will do just about anything to get what they want. If you want to capture him, it is going to be difficult."

"Like, how are we going to capture him?" asked Scooby.

"Your best option is to follow him wherever he goes next because he will not rest until he returns to the world of the living," Clarice explained, turning all of her attention over to Daphne. "And that includes capturing you, Ms. Blake."

It was apparent to all of us that we were at war with Reverend Kane and wherever he was going to next remained to be seen.

…

…