Chapter 9 - Revelations
Marin General Hospital, Marin County
January 8, 2023
9:45 pm
The doctor was talking a lot. Velma was looking into his eyes, but she couldnt pay attention to a single word. Her thoughts were stuck on the image of Shaggy smiling, waving goofily through the window. She smiled fondly and Shaggy proudly showed her a paper bag, with the logo of her favorite restaurant on it. In Norville Rogers's world, that was a declaration of love, like a bouquet of flowers after a date. Velma laughed involuntarily, and the doctor stopped talking, offended by the interruption.
Velma: Sorry, Dr. Smith, but I'd really like to see my boyfriend now.
Embarrassed, the doctor summarized what he had to say to her and said goodbye. Shaggy entered the room like a dog and threw himself into his girlfriend's arms. The tight hug made her scream, due to her broken ribs. Frightened, he released her and apologized, but continued to show his joy at seeing her well, after such a horrid accident. Velma felt lucky to have someone like Shaggy by her side. Even after she had been rude to him, and after she had made a decision that ended in a car accident, he was there to support her. With tears in her eyes, she kissed him tenderly. Then, she apologized for what she had done, and thanked him for coming to Marin to help her. After a public display of affection, Shaggy felt embarrassed and ran his hands through his hair, to hide his shyness. Velma noticed his embarrassment, and that his arms were bruised.
Velma: Did you fight for a place in the food truck line, or for extra ketchup sachets?
Shaggy: Nah! Like, the food festival was ok! These bruises here I got at a fight in a Retirement Home in Bernal Heights…
Velma made an interrogative expression and looked at him, waiting for an explanation about the absurd she had heard. However, Shaggy's priority was setting up the small table next to the hospital bed, and serving all the food that was inside the paper bag. Velma was impatient with his lack of attention.
Velma: Norville, Im talking to you! Why the hell were you in a Retirement Home in Bernal Heights?
Shaggy: Oh, right! Like, forgot to tell you! Remember that chick at the library,"Lisa Genau"? And that she said her grandmother was the former librarian who worked there for 60 years? So, like, when you left yesterday, I decided to search for the old hag and…
Velma: You mean, "the old lady", uh?
Shaggy: …yeah, like, I searched for the old ladys name…her name is Gertrudes Genau, and she's in a Retirement Home in Bernal Heights. So, when they ran out of Yorkshire puddings at the festival, I realized there was no point in staying there anymore, because there's no point in eating gravy without Yorkshire puddings… Damn, they put cream in that gravy! It tasted really…
Velma: Shaggy, please, focus! What happened in Bernal Heights?
Shaggy: Oh, sorry… like, Scoob and I went to visit her. I wanted to ask if she knew about the book!
Velma: Wow, Shags, and how did you get in?
Shaggy: Like, Scoob helped me… I pretended he was a therapy dog and the nurses believed…
Velma stared at her boyfriend in awe and waited for more details, while she was dipping some fries in a small container of ranch dressing. But instead of talking, Shaggy copied her. Velma decided it was a good time to embarrass him again, and hugged.
Velma: Honey, you're amazing! Tell me, what did you discover?
Instead of being embarrassed, Shaggy was annoyed, because the hug prevented him from bringing the fries to his mouth. When Velma released him, he bit the fries he had in his hands, and after chewing, he explained.
Shaggy: Like, literally nothing. She was nice to me, she played with Scoob and stuff, but when I asked her about the book, she literally freaked out…
Velma: What do you mean by "she freaked out"?
Shaggy took a bunch of fries to his mouth, then answered.
Shaggy: Like, she literally became another person when I mentioned the name of the book. She yelled, swore, started throwing things at me and even tried to rip my shirt!
Velma: Oh no, did she hurt you? Did she make these bruises?
Shaggy: Of course not! Like, I got scared of her and ran away… she was weird, too strong, as if she was possessed! I had to go to the cafeteria to calm myself down. There, they were celebrating a veteran's 90th birthday… the nurses didnt let me get a piece of cake for Scooby, so we argued and we had a fight. How shitty a person can be? To deny a piece of cake to a therapy dog?
Velma laughed and agreed, as she dipped the last fries into the dressing.
Velma: Anyway, it was a great job. You were very brave, and I'm proud of you!
Shaggy was embarrassed by the lingering kiss Velma left on his forehead. Her compliments made him continue talking about his accomplishments.
Shaggy: Like, there's more! A few hours ago, when you told me about the fabric… Mailand's shirt… I decided to research into it... and, like, look how creepy!
Shaggy ran his greasy fingers across the screen of his phone, until he found a picture from a website, showing a gravestone with Toby Mailand's name on it. Below the name and the dates, there was a small inscription:"Matthew 25:46," the same Bible verse written on James Arthurs and Jane Does headstones.
Velma: JINKIES! THATS THE SAME VERSE!
Velma accidentally raised her voice, and Shaggy said "shhh!". Then, he showed her another photo and whispered.
Shaggy: Like, look at this old pic, Stevins and Mailand knew each other. They served together, but Stevins was a shitty soldier, while Mailand was a real hero. When Mailand died, some miracle happened: Stevins' career took off and he became the hero. Like, Stevins literally took the guy's place, you know? So, it's not a coincidence that Mailand's shirt was wrapped in a satanic book that belongs to Stevins...
Velma: Jinkies! Stevins murdered Mailand!
Shaggy: No, Velma! Like, Stevins SACRIFICED Mailand to get fame! Like, it's a cult, remember? That's what cults do... sacrifice people to get something in return!
Velma was shocked by her boyfriend's reasoning. But, instead of embarrassing him with another display of affection, she squeezed his hands, letting out all the strong emotions she felt.
Velma: Well, if our reasoning is correct, Toby Mailands case definitely proves that we're dealing with a cult, and these deaths are part of a ritual involving the book and the mysterious drawings at the crime scenes...
Shaggy: Like, it also proves that Joel sacrificed Jane Doe. Fred found an article talking about the sudden success of his company right after her death, remember?
Velma: Jinkies!
Startled, Velma took both hands to her mouth. Shaggy was so curious about what she had to say that he ignored the portion of nuggets right in front of him.
Shaggy: What? Like, it's obvious, Vel! If Elandra's DNA proves that Jane Doe is Allyra, we can prove the killer is Joel... like, we have the article, we have the fabric that was around the book, we have...
Velma: No! I just thought that... maybe... Emmanuel sacrificed James too... he won the Nobel Prize right after Mr. Arthurs death, and Fred said he was arrested for destroying James Arthur's garage last night... I think he was looking for the book!
Shaggy: Like, but if he really used the book in a ritual to sacrifice Mr. Arthur, why would he want the book back?
Velma watched Shaggy chew some nuggets while she thought about what he had said. When she came to a conclusion, she did a quick search on her phone and showed the result.
Velma: Because if someone digs out the book, who buried it dies!
Velma showed Herbert Stevins' obituary, which said he had died the night before, by unknown causes. The revelation was so shocking that Shaggy stopped chewing.
Velma: The couple who sold me the book mentioned they had found it by accident last week, while playing with a metal detector… a few days later, Stevins died. Fred mentioned that Raffalo is desperate, and keeps sayinghe needs to recover something, because he's running out of time. Maybe, that's because he knows the FBI has found the book, and he'll be dead in a few days!
Velma immediately called Fred, but her call was promptly rejected. She tried to contact him three or four more times, but Fred refused to answer the call. Shaggy calmly stuffed the last five nuggets into his mouth. After chewing a little bit, he looked up at the ceiling, opened his mouth, and emptied a sachet of ketchup into it. Then, he finished eating. Velma watched in disbelief and in disgust, but before she could comment on what she had seen, Shaggy wiped his mouth with a napkin and started talking.
Shaggy: Like, why do you want to call Fred? There's nothing we can do! The book the FBI took must be gone, just like Stevins' book, and the book we found in San Francisco, there's no way to get them back! Raffalo and Marlow are screwed...
Shaggy punctuated the sentence with long sips of soda, and Velma looked at him and nodded.
Velma: Well, I guess you're right. Apparently, the killer is a supernatural entity, so, police cant help us. Now, all we can do is figuring out how many days left Marlow and Raffalo have. I'll contact Meg and Greg to find out when exactly they have found the book.
The straw made a loud pressure noise as Shaggy drank the remaining soda at the bottom of the cup, and Velma scolded him. After throwing the empty cup in trash, he continued.
Shaggy: Like, why dont we get in touch with a person who survived the entity's attack? Didn't Fred say that Daphne Blake bled to death last night? Then, she returned to life saying she saw an old man, Herbert Stevins, and Hannah Renner? So... seems like someone dug out her book... who knows what kind of satanic shit she must have done to escape... Zoinks, those damn celebrities are all occultists!
Velma thought he was a genius, so she praised him for his conclusion and kissed him on the forehead. Then, she called Fred again — and, again, he declined the call. After another attempt, Velma realized that Fred had turned off his phone, so she tried to contact him by text. While Velma typed, Shaggy nudged her and showed her that a man was at the door, calling her. Velma recognized him immediately: he was the driver of the other car involved in the accident, the father of the injured children. She was intimidated by his presence, but he smiled and asked to come in.
Mr. Usher: Miss Dinkley? May I talk to you?
Velma silently agreed, but fear made her bite her lips. Shaggy was also afraid, but he held his girlfriend's hands tightly, to protect her. The man pulled up a chair, sat down next to the bed, and stared at her.
Mr. Usher: I'm Ed Usher. I'm the father of the three children you hurt...
Velma's heart raced, and before the man could finish his sentence, she hid her face in her hands and cried desperately.
Velma: Mr. Usher, I'm so sorry! Please, forgive me! I... I really, really didn't want to do that! I swear I wasn't drunk, I wasn't distracted by my cellphone, I wasn't speeding, I just… saw something… and had a fright... please, forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt your children!
Velma sobbed, and Shaggy squeezed her hand to comfort her. He glared at the man, but dared not to say anything to confront him. Mr. Usher was moved by her despair and comforted her.
Mr. Usher: It's ok, dear. The kids are out of danger, and my wife only suffered superficial injuries. I didn't come here to blame you for the accident. I came here because God asked me to pray for you. He told me the devil was in your car, and he tried to take your life. That's why you swerved off the highway and hit our vehicle.
In shock, Velma stared at the man and held her breath. She noticed that Shaggy was also in panic, because his hands were shaking. To prove what he had said was true, the man showed her a completely burned Bible, with blackened pages full of burned holes. After flipping through a few pages, the man pointed to an intact piece of paper that had not been affected by the fire and read it.
Mr. Usher:"They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life", Matthew 25:46. That was the only verse that remained intact in my Bible after the accident, Miss Dinkley. And as you know well, our cars were not on fire. So, as a Christian, I believe this was a message from God, Miss Dinkley. The Lord wants you to know he is by our side, we are the righteous. And he will not let any demon destroy us.
After hearing those words, Shaggy immediately grabbed his girlfriend's arm. Mr. Usher continued to preach and say religious messages, but Velma was unable to show any reaction. Her heart was afraid to face the feelings that revelation had awakened. However, the moment the man started to pray, reason made Velma react: she held the hands of both men and prayed with them.
Velma: I hope you're right, Mr. Usher.
Crystal Cove Road, January 8, 2023
10:15 pm
After a sharp turn, Daphne read on a sign:"You are leaving Crystal Cove County".The warning added extra doses of fear to her heart. She was already an hour away from her home, driving the FBI chief's stolen car, and she had by her side the only person she couldn't be with. Besides, she was injured, and she was crossing the state to talk to a stranger about an evil book that had already caused her many problems."You know what youve seen, Daphne, it's real! You need to find out the truth, don't let fear make you give up!" cherryredmade her think. But… there were lots of evidence that was an ambush, and she, like a fragile and stupid damsel in distress, would be the next victim. Starting with the impulsive and sudden way the trip had started. Fred Jones said half a dozen words to her, and she simply believed him… just because it was Fred Jones saying."How could you be so naive? You literally spend hours reading about brutal crimes, and apparently you haven't learned a thing!", Daphne was angry with herself. But… Fred really wanted to help her. He cared about her. He had saved her life! He had fought Raffalo to help her! And, many times, he had proved he was a good man. He was polite and gentle, he had a great family and a good relationship with the community…"Just like Ted Bundy, Daphne! Damn, how could you fall into the trap of a psychopath?", the anger came more violently, and Daphne felt her hands turn cold. On the highway, a sign announced she would soon enter a mountainous path, with no return. Suspiciously, Fred Jones turned off his cell phone after refusing several calls. The signs were clear: he was planning something against her. Then, on impulse, Daphne decided to leave the road and stop the car on the last available shoulder. Her heart told her to scream, run, call the police, or even attack him, but Fred's peaceful and protective reaction disarmed her.
Fred: Are you ok, Daphne? Do you want to go to the hospital? You seem pretty much injured…
His face was serious and showed real concern. Daphne felt horrible for thinking so many bad things about him, so, she couldn't look at his eyes.
Daphne: It's ok... I... just want to go home!
Involuntary tears appeared in her eyes, and she hid her face in her hands. Feelings of guilt and fear were still in her mind, and she couldnt decide which one she should feel at that moment, about Fred Jones.
Fred: Ok. I'm sorry, Ive convinced you to come here, it was a terrible idea.
Fred was worried and embarrassed, and all the fear she felt of him disappeared. He really was a good man, and he wanted to help her.
Daphne: It's ok, Fred... it was my idea too...
Daphne wiped her tears with a tissue, and felt her heart race as she noticed Fred was staring at her. Silently, she started the car again and accelerated, until the car reached the road that led back to Crystal Cove. Fred didn't say a word, nor did he show any reaction other than concern."Youre so ridiculous, Daphne, you were rude and immature, he just wanted to help you!", cherryred teased her, bringing the guilt back to her heart."In fact, he CAN help you, Daphne... he's the ONLY ONE who knows about the book... and the only one who can help you solve all those cases!", cherryred emphasized. Suddenly, Daphne saw a sign that said:"Marin County return, 2 miles",and again, an impulse made her leave the road and stop on the shoulder. Fred looked at her and waited for an explanation, but she was silent.
Fred: Are you really ok? If you prefer, I can drive…
Daphne: I'm fine! I... I'm just scared. Well, I'm afraid to go to Marin... but I'm also afraid to go home without the answers I need...
Daphne's heart was beating so fast that her breathing had trouble keeping up with it. Fred looked at her and smiled tenderly.
Fred: Are you scared to be here? If you're not, we can stay here and talk.
Daphne nodded. Fred's smile stirred undefined feelings in her chest and made her blush.
Fred: Ok. So what kind of problem can I cause you this time, Daphne Blake?
Daphne laughed at the joke, and felt her heart beat faster when she saw him looking at her. Those were the most charming eyes she had ever seen.
Daphne: Well… I'm in trouble…
The serious, worried look returned to his face. Secretly, Daphne enjoyed being the reason of all that concern.
Fred: What happened to you yesterday?
Daphne: Please, no rough questions,Freddy!
The question made Daphne panic and lose her sweetness. Immediately, she regretted her rudeness, but Fred didn't let her apologize.
Fred: Ok,Daph, no rough questions.
When she looked at him, he had a beautiful smile on his face. To make matters worse, she had accidentally called him a stupid nickname. Daphne blushed so violently that she couldnt look at him again, then she laughed.
Daphne: Sorry, Fred, I didn't mean it…
Fred: No, it's ok, Freddy is great... I've never been called Freddy before, but it's nice…
His answer made Daphne shyer. To help her forget about that, Fred changed the subject.
Fred: So… Ill tell you my rough story, ok? It might be an answer to some of your rough questions…
Daphne nodded without looking at him.
Fred: Well… it's about the book you had inside your purse. Two days ago, my friend's dog sniffed out something in a garden, and while he was digging the place, weve found a copy of this book, wrapped in a piece of fabric. My friend thought it was something odd, since the book had the stamp of the local library, so, she decided to take it there and look for information about it. However, the book disappeared. My friend said the librarian called her, and told her that, when she opened the book, a sinister old man appeared and the book disappeared.
Fred stopped talking, waiting for Daphne to say something, but she remained silent, looking at him.
Fred: My friend has found another copy of this book in a second-hand bookstore. The couple who sold it found it buried, wrapped in an old shirt. Then, my friend left the book open in the backseat of her car, the old man appeared, she had a car accident and the book disappeared. So, I really need to know if…
Daphne: In the place where the book was, there was a mandala, right? A strange stain on the floor…? In both places?
Fred widened his eyes and agreed with what she said.
Daphne: Well, the FBI calls these spots"fractals",and they're crime scenes. Aren't they? Werent the books buried near a place where someone died?
Fred agreed again.
Fred: My friend's dog found the book at the place where a young woman's body was found decades ago, in San Francisco.
Daphne: Oh my god, did you dig out the crime scene of the Moon Pendant case?
Fred was disconcerted and remained silent, showing that he did not want to answer that question.
Daphne: Rough question?
Fred nodded.
Fred: If the FBI finds out about it, I'll know you told them.
They laughed and Daphne crossed her fingers, swearing she would keep the secret.
Daphne: Let me guess…True Crime Forum?
Fred felt embarrassed to admit it, so he nodded and quickly changed the subject.
Fred: And the book my friend bought was buried in the place where Toby Mailand's body was found.
Daphne: The same happened to me... I found the book buried under a fractal, wrapped in a piece of fabric. Then, I left it open under my bed, the old man appeared and the book was gone.
Fred: And it happened before or after you rushed to the hospital and…?
Daphne looked at him with a scared expression, and Fred realized he had crossed the line.
Fred: No rough questions, I get it. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...
Her undefined feelings made her trust him.
Daphne: Well, I read some of my father's documents… I know I shouldnt, but I did… and I discovered there are hundreds of unsolved crimes involving these fractals, some crimes happened more than 90 years ago! So, when somebody leaked the photos of James Arthur's house, I decided to go there and take a look. Then, I found the book under the floorboards. When I picked it up, I opened it, and I felt sick while I flipped through the pages. Suddenly, I saw the old man standing right in front of me. I got scared and ended up hurting myself. I managed to escape and brought the book with me, but on my way home, I got worse and decided to go to the hospital... well, you know what happened after I arrived...
Fred was surprised to hear so much information, and she took a deep breath after revealing her secret. Daphne felt relieved to tell someone, but… could she really trust Fred? Or was he just using his charm to make her talk?
Fred: Unfortunately, I do. The scariest scene I've ever seen...
Fred smiled at her tenderly, and she realized he was being sincere. He really cared about her. The shyness made Daphne look down and smile.
Fred: …and I can imagine how scary it was for you to go through all that… you were in panic…
Daphne: I saw some crazy things, Fred, and all seemed like a nightmare. But, when I got home, Ive researched everything… and Ive found out those things were real…
Fred: Real like…Herbert Stevins?
Daphne: Yes! I heard a woman screaming that name. Then, I saw him bleeding, it was horrible! I felt worse when I searched for the name on the internet and found out the man really existed. And he bled to death on the same day!
Fred: Actually, he died while you were unconscious, I saw the paramedics taking his body to the morgue. But don't feel bad about it, it was just a near-death experience. Many people report similar things... they see tunnels of light, people who have passed away, shadows, their vision and their hearing increase... but neuroscience explains everything.
Fred smiled, but his kind words did not calm her down. On the contrary, Daphne's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the scene. On impulse, he moved one of his hands towards hers, intending to comfort her, but halfway through, he realized it was inappropriate to touch her, and he gave up.
Fred: But… it wasn't just it, right? You saw other people too…
Tears rolled down her face.
Daphne: I saw three children… one of them is a little boy named Otto, he's been missing since 1962. I saw him in a very old living room… and while researching, I found out that room was the last place he was seen… there, he looked scared and sick…
Fred: Then you saw my mother… right?
Daphne wiped the tears and nodded.
Daphne: She was in a very old house on Myrna Street…
Fred: We lived in a house on Myrna Street when she disappeared!
Daphne: But… it didn't feel likethe dayshe disappeared, in the year of 2002. It was like… as if we were in another time, Fred, in the early 80s. The clothes, the furniture, everything seemed from another time. In fact, in that house, there was a calendar from the year 1981, as if I was really in that year… more specifically, on April 5th, 1981…
Fred's frightened face made Daphne feel ashamed to continue. She was afraid that Fred would think she was crazy.
Daphne: Look, Fred, I know it sounds crazy, but I swear…
Fred: Crazy? No, it makes perfect sense. April 5th is her birthday… please, continue…
Daphne: Well, after I saw the calendar, Hannah took me upstairs. But when I got there, there were no rooms… it was… Crystal Cove cliff… just like it was in the early 80s…
Fred laughed, and Daphne stopped again, fearing he would doubt her sanity.
Fred: It was her! Hannah took you to her favorite place… when I was a boy, Judy and I used to write her letters, and leave them at the citys viewpoint. Judy believed Hannah would return one day to see that view again… even if she didn't want to return to her old life, to her son and to her husband…
Daphne: Do you think she has ever returned?
Fred sighed and fell silent. His silence bothered her.
Daphne: Sorry, Fred, it was a rough question… I didn't mean to hurt you…
Fred: Honestly, I don't think she has ever returned, because I don't think she has ever run away. I think something happened to her inside that house. And maybe her body is still there.
Daphne: I know it's a rough question, but... do you think the book and the old man have something to do with her disappearance? After all, you know there's a fractal on that house…
Fred: After all the supernatural experiences this book has caused, I'm sure.
Daphne: And… you know it means that…
Daphne looked at him in fondly. She was afraid to hurt him with the words she wanted to say.
Fred: Yeah, its a crime scene, someone killed her, I get it.
Daphne: And theres more: there must be another book buried somewhere in that house, Fred. If we find it and read it calmly, maybe we will be able to understand what is causing all these deaths!
Fred raised his eyebrows in surprise. Apparently, he hadn't thought of that before Daphne mentioned it.
Fred: Brilliant, Daphne! If we dig out the book, we'll know who killed her!
Daphne: What do you mean, Fred?
Fred: Remember Herbert Stevins? There was an old bill in his name, in the middle of the book found at Toby Mailands crime scene. I think the book belonged to Herbert, and he buried it during a ritual or something, right after taking Tobys life. Well, days after that book was found, Stevins passed away in a mysterious way. It must be a curse or something. So, if we find the book used in the ritual that took my mothers life, in a few days, her killer will die too!
Fred was pleased with that conclusion, and smiled. Daphne made an expression of horror.
Daphne: Fred, this is terrible! Herbert Stevins died in a horrible way, we can't do this to someone!
Fred: What those people have done to my mother, to Toby, and to Moon Pendant Jane Done was terrible, Daphne. Using innocent peoples lives on rituals is terrible. Digging out a magic book is just a consequence. Were not responsible for the terrible decisions those psychopaths have made!
Anger made Fred raise his voice, and Daphne tried to calm him down.
Daphne: Revenge is not justice, Fred! What kind of justice death is? Do you really want to give the killers the same sentence the victims have received? Look at you, you grew up without your mother, your family was destroyed, and you were put into adoption system. Do you think the killer deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, or he deserves to agonize for just five minutes and sleep peacefully for all eternity?
Fred sighed and agreed with her.
Fred: Yeah... I think you're right... but if we don't dig out a book, we'll never understand this mystery.
Daphne: We need to find the place where the little boy Otto disappeared, there must be another book there. We can dig it out without the risk of hurting anyone, after all, the boy disappeared in 1962. Whoever buried it, must be dead by now.
Fred looked at her with such admiration that Daphne felt uncomfortable and looked away.
Fred: Brilliant, again. You'd rock atTrue Crime Forum. I really think you should apply... or apply for the FBI. You're really good at crime solving.
Daphne smiled and blushed.
Daphne: You're great at it too, Fred. And at hearing crazy stories about evil books and near-death experiences. Thank you for believing in me.
As a response, Fred placed one of his hands over hers and squeezed it briefly. The moment Fred let go, Daphne repeated the gesture and took his hand. Contrary to what she expected, he did not pull his hand away, nor did he look away. She also did not feel like pulling her hand away. Reason bombarded her head with hundreds of reasons why that attitude was inappropriate, but her feelings urged her to stay there, next to the kind man who cared about her and, somehow, could see the real Daphne. However, after two or three minutes, the gesture became uncomfortable, and the silence became dangerous. The absence of words became an invitation to actions that could not happen. Then, Fred squeezed her hand for the last time and ended the contact.
Fred: Well, it's late, I think Bart Blake needs his car and his daughter back.
Daphne agreed, started the car and left the place. Her confused feelings were offended by his attitude, but reason made her understand that, in fact, that was the most rational decision they could have made. During the way back, they shared an awkward silence. They were not only embarrassed by what had happened between them, but also by what they knew they could have done — and they have almost done. Daphne thought of hundreds of excuses to break the tense atmosphere between them, but she didn't have the courage to vocalize them. After all, if she said, it would be worse. If she said, her intentions would be obvious, and she knew the only place such feelings could exist was inside her heart. Fred also had a hard time repressing his emotions. Despite being silent, he was restless. Daphne concluded the best way to get out of that uncomfortable situation was returning to the previous subject, before the moment their hands had touched.
Daphne: If you and your friends find out something about the book, please, let me know. I'll try to find out more details about the little boy too.
Fred nodded shyly as he stared out the window. The moment he saw a sign on the road that said"Riverdale, 6 miles,"an idea disturbed him.
Fred: Daphne, even if we dont want to, we will kill two people! The books we have dug out! They are gone!
Daphne looked at him with concern.
Daphne: Youre right, but, unfortunately, we don't know who buried them... the moon pendant cases killer was never found! And the FBI says James Arthur died of a heart attack, so, if he was killed, we have no clue about his kil…
Fred: We do, Daphne, it was Emmanuel Raffalo! That's why he's in a panic, he knows about the curse! That's why he has attacked you, he knows youve taken his book! We need to talk to him, he can help us!
Daphne: Fred, it's dangerous, youve seen how abnormally strong he was, my father shot him several times and he didn't even get hurt!
Fred: But he can die at any time! And all information will die with him. We have to take the opportunity to solve the other crimes!
Daphne: Fred, the police and the FBI are watching him right now, they wont let us in. Now that we know a lot about the book and the cases, the best thing we can do is telling the sheriff and the FBI everything. I bet they dont have a clue.
Fred: We cant tell the police and the FBI we dug those crime scenes! No matter how important the information we know is, its a crime and we will be arrasted! We need to find a way to talk to Raffalo first, hell help us understand the mystery!
Daphne sighed, then nodded in agreement.
Daphne: I guess youre right about the police. But we cant talk to him, Fred! He's possessed, youve seen his eyes!
Fred: Thats exactly why we have to talk to him. We need to help him deal with the curse. Plus, hes a menace to himself and to you. I cant ignore the fact that he can go after you again and attack!
Fred soon realized his Freudian slip, so he sighed and fell silent. The unexpected confession made Daphne blush. Embarrassed, he tried to remake his sentence.
Fred: Sorry, I didnt mean to say that. I know you have your father and the FBI agents to protect you. I just think we should do everything we can to save Raffalo from the entity and prevent him from hurting people.
Daphne nodded and sped. When she realized she had not only her father and the FBI agents to protect her, she smiled.
Marin General Hospital, Marin County
January 8, 2023
11:15 pm
Shaggy: Like, I don't know how much you pay for your health insurance, but it's worth every penny! Damn, look at this pumpkin soup with bacon strips, this is something you'd expect at five-star hotel!
Shaggy smiled before picking up the spoon and eating the soup at a rate of 7 spoonfuls per minute. Velma nodded silently, as she watched her boyfriend eat the food that had been served to her. Outraged, the nurse intervened.
"Miss Dinkley, you need to eat to recover!"
Velma: Don't worry, I'm not hungry.
The nurse was frustrated that she couldn't prevent Shaggy from eating Velma's meal. After sighing, she tried to stop him once more.
"Miss Dinkley, I'm sorry, but the meals served in this hospital must be consumed by the patients!"
The nurse was emphatic, and her words made Shaggy sulk.
Shaggy: Like, didn't you hear that she's not hungry? If she's not hungry, someone needs to consume all this food, right? Damn, didn't your mother ever teach you not to waste food?
Shaggy was aggressive, and Velma gestured to make him stop and be nice. Annoyed, the nurse shrugged and left. While Shaggy was muttering a series of swear words about the woman, Velma called Fred again, but his cell phone was still off. As she read and responded the messages from her parents and her sister Madelyn, her cell phone rang. To her surprise, it wasn't Fred, it was Lisa Genau.
Velma: Hi Lisa, how can I help you?
Lisa: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO GO AFTER MY FAMILY? YOU PSYCHO BITCH, ILL REPORT YOU RIGHT NOW!
Velma: What? What are you talking about, are you crazy?
Lisa: YOU'RE A SICK BITCH! YOUVE SENT A MAN TO MY GRANDMAS HOME TO FIND OUT ABOUT THAT DAMN BOOK! HOW DARE YOU? THAT MAN MADE HER FEEL SO NERVOUS THAT SHE EVEN ATTACKED ME!
Velma: Lisa, I'm really sorry about that, but it wasn't my idea. The man who visited your grandmother is my boyfriend, and I assure you he did nothing to her and…
Lisa: STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY! OR I'LL SEND YOU TO JAIL FOR EMOTIONALLY ABUSING AN ELDERLY WOMAN!
Lisa continued to shout threats, not letting Velma explain herself. When Velma realized it would be impossible to have a civilized conversation, she ended the call and turned off her phone. Shaggy had finished his soup and he was licking the sides of the bowl.
Shaggy: Like, I thought her grandmother's emotional outburst was due to her age... but, apparently, it runs in the family...
Velma: What the hell! I can't believe I was stupid enough to involve Lisa in this mystery. I should have never gone to that damn Library!
Shaggy: Like, you shouldn't blame yourself, it's my fault! I went to see the old lady and I caused the trouble. Sorry!
Velma: But if I hadn't given her the book, none of this would have happened, and maybe it would still be here with us...
Shaggy: Like, but if you hadn't given the book to her, you wouldn't know everything you know about it.
Velma: And what do I know about it, Norville? We have discovered nothing! Lisa and Gertrudes didn't help us, and I even had an accident that almost ended up being fatal!
Shaggy: Hmmm... like, I wouldn't say Gertrudes knows nothing about it...
Velma: What do you mean?
Shaggy: I mean, I wasn't exaggerating when Ive said the old lady was possessed! She got really mad when I asked her. Like, she got up from her wheelchair and grabbed me by the collar! And her eyes were weird... like, I don't know, like the eyes of an animal... just because of a simple question!
Velma felt a shiver run down her spine when she heard her boyfriend describe Mrs. Genau's eyes.
Velma: I think she was really possessed... by the spirit of that old man. His eyes were just like that.
Instead of describing his experiences in the Retirement Home, Shaggy shivered and grabbed his girlfriend's arm. At the same moment, the nurse entered the room to remove the meal tray and interrupted their conversation. The nurse had a serious expression on her face and approached Shaggy.
"Sir, the visit is over. You must leave immediately!"
Shaggy didn't like what he heard. The end of the visit meant being alone with Scooby. And being alone with Scooby meant having to face the ghost of an old man, alone with Scooby. Like a spoiled child, he gripped Velma's arm tighter, signaling that he wouldnt leave. Feeling challenged, the nurse crossed her arms and glared at him, waiting for him to obey her order. To avoid a conflict, Velma gently removed Shaggy's hands from her arm and placed a kiss on his forehead, encouraging him to leave.
Velma: Ok, honey, it's time to go, Scooby needs you. I'll see you in a few hours, right?
For a moment, Shaggy resisted. As soon as Velma released his hands, he grabbed her arm again, tighter.
"Sir, unfortunately I will have to call the security guards if you dont comply!"
After hearing the threat, Velma looked at her boyfriend seriously and told him to leave. Shaggy sighed, gave her a quick kiss on the lips and left, muttering a compilation of creative swear words as he walked.
As he opened the hotel room door, Shaggy was violently pushed by Scooby-Doo's ecstatic paws, and he fell to the floor. He uttered a string of compound swear words as the dog jumped on his chest and licked his face with joy. Scooby gave up the warm welcome when he smelled the food his guardian had brought in half a dozen paper bags, and he concentrated his efforts on tearing the bags.
Shaggy: Hey, Scoob, calm down, there's enough for both us!
The dog obediently sat and smiled, as he watched Shaggy unwrap the dozens of hamburgers he had bought. After putting the dog's burguers on the floor, Shaggy sat on the bed with his food and turned on the TV. While he chewed, he looked for some cheap entertainment to make him forget that he was alone and the spirit of an evil old man was stalking him. Unfortunately, he found nothing interesting to watch: the talk shows were talking about serious topics, the news only talked about politics, the reality shows didn't show fights nor girls in bikinis, and he had already seen the best series on the streaming platforms. So, with no other option, Shaggy turned on his laptop and accessed the best entertainment he could get at that moment:True Crime Forum.
For almost fifteen minutes, he enjoyed reading the endless clash between Joel Marlow's daughters and the users who accused the old man of being Jane Doe's killer. However, on the last page, a video made him shudder. In it, one of Joel's daughters showed the old man in dirty clothes, extremely disturbed, knocking wildly on a door and asking to leave.
"Congratulations, you bastards! Look what youve done to my father! You said so many horrible things about him that he is mentally ill now! He wanders around the gardens of houses, digging holes with his hands! Today, we found him in an abandoned house! I hope you are satisfied!".
In the video, Joel Marlow had a frightened expression, and he looked from side to side, as if he were looking for something. Then, he ran to the door and tried to open it violently. As he couldn't, he started screaming.
Joel: Open up! Open up now, you bastards! I need to get back what's mine! I'm running out of time, you bastards!
Shaggy was so scared that he immediately paused the video and pushed the computer away. Seeing his owner's behavior, Scooby-Doo stopped eating and approached. He offered his paw in a friendly way, but Shaggy was in shock and didn't respond. Upset, he jumped into his owner's lap. Shaggy petted him for a moment, then pushed him onto the bed, because he was too heavy. Then, Shaggy forwarded Joel's video to Fred and Velma, and Velma called him.
Shaggy: Hey Vel... Like, what do you think? I wonder if he's looking for the book…
Velma: I'm sure! Fred said Raffalo is on the same way, repeating the same phrases.
Shaggy: So, like, weve solved the mystery of the Moon Pendant. Whatever Jane Doe's identity is, Joel made the sacrifice!
Velma: We have discovered the killer, we havent solved the mystery. To solve the mystery, we need to keep Joel and Raffalo alive, so they can clarify what the hell this book and this old man are. And for that, we need to talk to Daphne Blake.
When he heard they still had to deal with all those things, Shaggy got scared. Then, they said goodbye and ended the call. Scooby-Doo approached and rested his head on his owner's shoulder to comfort him. Shaggy thanked him for his support and gave the dog an extra burger as a reward. While he finished his meal, Shaggy browsed through the new threads onTrue Crime Forum,looking for some answers fromcherryred. Suddenly, a new thread appeared, and its title was so shocking that Shaggy dropped his burger:"The mysterious book "Kabbalistic Numerology" by Frank Melker".
Shaggy: Zoinks!
Shaggy picked up the burger that had fallen onto the bed with trembling hands. To his surprise, the user responsible for the thread was Lisa Genau, and in it, she told everything she had experienced with the mysterious book—from the moment she received it from a woman at the Community Library, to the moment a spirit made the book disappear. In the end, Lisa asked users to share information about the book, and within minutes, the thread received dozens of responses. Fortunately, none of them revealed new information, but Shaggy panicked at seeing so many people interested in a subject that should be kept as a secret.
Shaggy: Holy shit, Lisa, what the hell youre doing?
Darrow Hospital, Crystal Cove, January 9, 2023.
12 am
The hospital parking lot was full of police cars and media vehicles. Daphne froze in fear and immediately slammed on the brakes, refusing to move forward. Her frightened eyes sought comfort in Freds.
Daphne: Fred… I… I have a bad feeling. I think something really bad has happened!
Fred: Don't worry, hospitals are like that. It must have been a serious traffic accident.
Fred was also afraid, but he didn't want to show his fear. He felt like holding her hand again to comfort her, but he knew that if he did that again, it could ruin the little friendship and trust they had built. Daphne felt comforted by his words, and smiled confidently as she accelerated the car again. When the car approached the other vehicles, Fred became more apprehensive. He noticed the journalists were euphoric, and the police officers were tense. Suddenly, a police officer appeared at Daphne's window and forced her to stop.
"Miss, please stop the car, get out and return. Police has isolated the area and you cant continue!"
The police officer's eyes widened as he recognized her, and he called Sheriff Stone several times on the radio. Daphne stared at Fred, as if she wanted to tell him something. The next moment, taking advantage of the police officer's distraction, she opened the door in one quick movement and ran towards the hospital entrance. Fred followed her, and the police officer ran after them. When she passed the yellow tape that isolated the area, Daphne stopped running. When Fred arrived, he noticed that some FBI agents were pushing a stretcher, carrying a corpse inside a black plastic bag. There were several journalists from various stations reporting that Professor Emmanuel Raffalo had taken his own life. Immediately, Daphne stepped back and desperately looked for Freds hand. When she found it, she squeezed it tightly, as if all the pain she felt could be dissipated by that touch. Their unexpected arrival attracted everyones attention, including some police officers. Fred noticed some officers were approaching them, so he pulled her by the hand towards the entrance hallway. However, when they passed through the door, they both saw Bart Blake and Sheriff Stone. Frightened, Daphne immediately let go of Fred's hand and tried to explain herself.
Daphne: Dad, it's not what youre thinking!
Bart: IT'S WAY WORSE THAN IM THINKING, DAPHNE!
Bart raised his voice, and it called everyone's attention. Furious, he grabbed his daughter roughly by the arm, and pulled her towards the door. Fred had the reflex to go towards her, but Bart grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and stopped him.
Bart: DON'T YOU DARE, JONES! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I CAN DO!
To prevent Fred from reacting, Sheriff Stone grabbed him by the shoulders and kept him in his place, while he watched the scene of Bart pulling his daughter roughly by the arm towards the exit.
Stone: Raffalo hanged himself while we were looking for you both like idiots. We thought you were kidnapped. I hope you're satisfied.
The sheriff patted Fred on the back sarcastically, to congratulate him on the huge mistake he and Daphne had made. Looking around, Fred noticed that everyone was looking at him with disapproval, including Brad Chiles, who was staring at him with his arms crossed, a few feet away. Disconcerted, he looked down and left. Fred drove mechanically to his house. His thoughts were elsewhere: on Raffalo's lost life, on the mysterious book, on his mother's disappearance and... on Daphne Blake. When he parked in his garage, he opened the messaging app, clicked on her photo, typed"Are you okay?"and... he couldnt hit send. He couldn't start another conversation, he had already caused her too much trouble."Please, no rough questions, Freddy!", her voice echoed in his mind, and he smiled as he remembered the nickname she involuntarily gave him. While he deleted the inappropriate message, a rough question haunted him:"Will I ever see her again?". Fred hesitated, and stared at her photo for a moment."Dude, you literally can't see her again! Get her out of your head!", he said out loud to himself, so that he could understand every word of that rough answer. Then, Fred got out of the car and tried to forget all the difficult emotions and moments he had experienced in the last few hours. However, when he entered his house, he had to deal with one more: on the living room table, there was an engagement ring, and a long letter, written in Alice's handwriting.
Blake Manor, Crystal Cove, January 9, 2023.
1 am
All the way to the mansion, Daphne apologized and briefly explained what had happened between her and Fred Jones. However, all her attempts to start a conversation with her father were in vain. Bart remained silent, with a furious expression on his face, and despised all his daughter's attempts to talk to him. When they reached the main room of the mansion, Daphne lost her patience.
Daphne: Dad, you cant treat me like this! I told you everything, and you refuse to believe me! You prefer to believe your outdated ideas!
Once again, Bart showed no reaction to his daughter's anger, and walked towards his office. Furious, Daphne followed him, and along the way, she continued accusing him. When they both reached the office, Bart locked the door, looked at her sternly and crossed his arms. Daphne shuddered and fell silent. She knew she had walked into a trap.
Bart: Very well. I'm willing to forget my "outdated ideas" and believe you. But, to do that, I need you to tell me the truth, Daphne. Oh, sorry… should I call you Daphne? Or… you prefer to be called cherryred?
Thanks for reading! Thanks for your time! Thank you for your kudos and reviews , they make me very happy
As always, I apologize for long chapters, and for the language mistakes :)