Gomer sits uneasy at the bar. He looks down at his glass one fifth full of soda pop as he slides it from one hand to the other. He suddenly throws his head back and pours the drink into his mouth, swallowing it hard.
"You look like something's bothering you, Gomer" the bartender says as he wipes a glass dry.
"You don't know the jest of it,"replies the other, playing with the empty glass "I'm an accomplice to murder."
The other man looks at his companion strangely, "Do you really think it is really all that bad?"
Gomer does not answer. He pushes his glass towards the other, "Just fill it" he grunts.
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Inspector Jeong looks at his notes. He had just finished talking to all the guests at the party. "Just my luck" he mutters under his breath, "No one knows who took them away. Or what time they left, for that matter!"
His thoughts are interrupted as a man walks up to him. "Are you a cop?" the stranger asks.
"Yes," Chan replies, "is there anything I can do for you?"
"I'm here to confess."
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Jess rubs the back of his head as he replaces the receiver and paces back and forth in the den. He turns to the gang. "I can't believe it" he says, "Gomer has just confessed to your murder!"
"He's that guy who we spoke to at the bar, right?" Fred asks.
The others nod.
Thelma gets up and calls up the stairs, "Jack! Jill! Sarah! You three get down here, NOW!"
"Are we in trouble?" Sarah turns to her cousins.
"When mom's like that," replies Jack, "you bet!"
"You wanted us?" Jill asks innocently as she and the other two come to the bottom of the stairs.
Her mother does not have to say much. Only point to the direction and instantly, the children know she means "In the den."
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Chan looks at the badge and identification a woman in a black suit handed to him. "What is it you are here for, again—" He looks down at the name "er...Agent Stratford?" he asks.
"I am taking over the Mystery Inc. case" the agent replies, in a distinct American accent.
"You know you are a little out of your jurisdiction."
"I have been authorized by your government" the she replies, "They were U.S. citizens and my government shall be responsible for their investigation. So, if you were to kindly give me your file."
"Yes," Chan says, feeling a little defeated, "yes, I'll get it for you." He gets up and pulls a file from his filing cabinate. "There have been no real developments. All I can really say is this case has 'WTF' written all over it."
"I admire a man with a sense of humor" she grins as she looks over the papers. She closes the file. "I understand that someone has confessed to the murders?"
"Yes" the other explains, "However, we have good reason to believe that he is just making it up."
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"Gomer?" Jack parrots in astonishment.
"I can not believe it!" Jill says, nearly punching her fist into the wall, "I told him to be quiet!"
"What was it that he said, exactly?" asks Sarah, trying to keep her cool.
"Not much" Fred replies, "only that he feels responsible because he told a friend about your little joke."
"And," continues Daphne, "he believes that his friend may have been the murderer, or at least, connected to him."
"He didn't mention us, did he?" Jack asks scared.
"No," replies Shaggy, "luckily for you, he didn't."
The three children breath a sigh of relief.
Returning to their rooms, Jack whispers to his companions, "I think we better call in some reinforcements."
"Oh?" chuckles Sarah, "Like whom?"
"She's right," Jill sides with her cousin, "We can not risk Velma and her friends anymore by including others in this."
"Well," the boy replies, "I happen to know Norville Rogers."
"Shaggy's nephew?" asks Sarah.
Jack nods. "And Fred also has a second cousin, Jane."
"And, Daphne's nephew Brian!" Jill snaps her fingers.
"Am I the only insane one among you?!" Sarah exclaims, "Do you realize how much trouble you will get into if you were to bring them here?"
The brother and sister look at each other.
"Not only that:" the other continues, "what possible reason would they have for coming over?"
The twins smile, "We'll think of something."
Sarah rolls her eyes, "Someone, shoot me now! Please!"
"Bang!"
"You have been extremely quiet, Velma" Thelma says.
"I've just been thinking" the other replies.
"About what?" inquires Shaggy.
"I don't know. Just, somehow, I feel responsible for this whole mess."
Everyone looks at her, not knowing what to say or react.
Velma rephrases her statement, "Just right now, I wish I had never gotten you involved in my plans to convict Pam."
"Maybe," Fred tries to reason, "but if we were not involved, you would have died."
Velma smiled, "Doesn't seem a big deal now, since we all already are dead."
Daphne throws a real curve ball, "Yes, but then you would not be able to see everyone's face as we walk around in public for the first time back home."
Velma takes a while to ponder the statement over. "This has to have been the best argument all day" she says in her sarcastic tone.
Everyone else laughs. Scooby comes up to Velma and places his head on her lap. She reaches down and strokes his nose and little whiskers, causing him to giggle.
Their jokes are cut short by a sharp sound of the door bell. Thelma leaves to answer it. She returns later with Chief Inspector Jeong behind her.
He backs off a little and shakes his head. "I still have to get used to the fact that you are still alive" he says.
Scooby runs to him, jumps up and licks his face, "Ri'm ralive rand real!" he barks happily.
"Yes" Jeong chuckles, wiping the drool from his cheek, "Yes, I can definitely tell!"
"What is it, Chan?" asks Jess, "Is there any news?"
"Well," the detective begins, "you know about Gomer and his confession."
The others nod.
Chan rubs the back of his neck. "Ah, I just wanted to let you know that I am off the case."
"What?" asks Thelma, "You mean the case is closed?"
"No" Chan replies, "Only that the FBI has taken over."
"How more complicated can this get?" groans Fred.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I have been pretty busy. Maybe I will have enough time to do the next chapter in less time.