Chapter 10: Explanations and a letter

"Mr. Ladderton!" The sheriff asked when the gang identified the culprit behind the ghost truck. "What's the big idea of pulling this stunt?"

"Well, sheriff, we can explain." Fred began. "Rung Ladderton was responsible for both the ghost truck stunt and the theft of thousands of doorknobs across the city."

"That's right." Velma nodded. "We first started to suspect Rung of pulling the ghost truck stunt and stealing the doorknobs when Shaggy discovered a newspaper page dated from this past Tuesday on the Ladderton Oil Company's massive layoffs and it's application for bankruptcy protection last month."

"Given that he works in a heavy industry like Ladderton Oil Company, it didn't take long for us to figure out that he was capable of operating the equipment he used for stealing the doorknobs in the city." Daphne continued as the deputies opened the trailer door and found a handful of heavy equipment used for stealing the doorknobs.

"During our investigation, I happen to have done some bit of research into Rung's background." Velma said. "I saw that he has a license class that allows him to drive tractor trailers, hence the reason why he was able to skillfully drive that ghost truck, and he was also qualified in operating heavy machinery typically used by his family's company."

"Like, our biggest clue was the crystal doorknob diamond allegedly that went missing after a theft that was connected to former mayor Theodore Avocados." Shaggy added. "That missing diamond is said to be worth over millions of dollars, and according to the research Fred and Velma did in the library, the diamond was supposedly disguised as a regular crystal doorknob after its theft, hence the reason why Rung was pulling all of the doorknob thefts in town."

"He was doing it so he could recover the diamond and sell it for a fortune and save his family's company from bankruptcy." Daphne continued.

"With the legend of the ghost truck as a cover." Fred concluded. "He was able to steal all the doorknobs as he searches for the missing crystal doorknob diamond."

"Huh." The sheriff remarked as two of his deputies handcuffed Rung, one of them saying. "Mr. Rung Ladderton, you're under arrest for grand larceny and dangerous driving. You have the right to remain silent. If you gave up the right to remain silent, anything you say can be used against you in the court of law."

Rung nodded as he was escorted to the cruiser, not saying a word.

Just then, Daphne stopped them. "Wait!"

"What is it?" One of the deputies asked as they prepare to get Rung on the cruiser.

"Shaggy's belt!" Daphne said before proceeding to remove the belt from Rung.

"Oh, I forgot about that." Rung replied as Daphne removed the belt as Shaggy removed the belt Rung had given him earlier.

Once the duo got their belts back, Rung was seated in the back passenger seat of the cruiser before the deputies drove off.

As the gang and the sheriff watched the cruiser drove off, the sheriff turned to the gang and said, "Now that we've got that out of the way, how do you suppose the people will respond to that sinkhole that I'm sure will take weeks to repair?"

"Like, tell them that the city needs to move beyond its so-called 'tourist attractions', sheriff." Shaggy replied. "That sinkhole is yet another example of what kind of damage those 'tourist attractions' can do to the city's crumbling infrastructure."

"Not to mention the city's high crime rate." Daphne added. "I don't get why you consider protecting the city's 'tourist attractions' a priority?"

"Somebody really needs to teach you kids economics." Stone sighed. "If we don't protect those tourist attractions, how can the city make money? You all know that the police department's been under serious budget constraints recently, so if we protect those tourist attractions, the city can make more money and solve the budget problems. We don't need you kids meddling around, you know."

With that last remark, Stone returned to his cruiser and drove off.

"Like, I'll be happy to cast my ballot and vote for Undersheriff Bucky if I'm eligible to vote." Shaggy remarked as they watched Stones cruiser driving off. "He's the only undersheriff that looks promising in cleaning up the house."

(Realistically in larger-scale sheriff departments that administers a major city or a whole county, undersheriffs are ranked just below the sheriff and are the ones that run in the sheriff's election against the incumbent sheriff (Or to replace the incumbent sheriff when he/she retires or resigns or reaches the end of his/her term) instead of deputies, so there's no way Bucky, as a deputy, can replace Stone as sheriff unless he (Bucky) is an undersheriff, but even then, he has to be elected by the population in order to become sheriff.)

"Yeah." Velma nodded. "I'm getting rather sick of listening to this whole nonsense on 'tourist attractions'."

"In the meantime, I'm sure Mom and Dad are going to have a fit when they learn that Rung got arrested." Daphne sighed.

"And I'm sure they're going to blame me or Scooby, Daph." Shaggy nodded.

"Yeah." Daphne sighed as she turned to Shaggy and Scooby. "I really wonder when will they see and understand that you and Scooby are my true friends and are the ones that fully understood me."

"Like, I guess only time can tell, Daph." Shaggy replied as he slipped his hands into Daphne's hands.

April 15, 2012

That day, the Crystal Cove Times' Sunday edition had the following headline:

"GHOST TRUCK SCAM REVEALED TO BE DOING OF HEIR TO TROUBLED OIL COMPANY

Rung Ladderton, heir to troubled Ladderton Oil Company, in police custody for grand larceny and dangerous driving"

As Daphne had predicted, her parents were indeed frustrated by the news and placed the blame squarely at Shaggy and Scooby.

"You really should put a stop to your association with that meddling hippie and his mutt, Daphne." Barty said to his youngest daughter.

"Yeah!" Nan agreed. "They're both bad influences to you. It's bad enough that you continued to hang around with Mystery Inc., but those two disgusting walking appetites are worse!"

"Mom, Dad! You don't understand!" Daphne snapped. "You two are always blaming my two best friends for anything that goes wrong with your agenda on me! I don't see why you both have such a huge issue with me hanging out with them?"

"How many times do I have to tell you this, Daphne Anne Blake?" Barty boomed. "Their low social status brings in shame to the Blake family, not to mention that that hippie wants to be a musician. A musician! I don't see a career in music lasting long."

"Now I understand why you never listened to music, Dad." Daphne said in her thoughts.

After the fallout at Blake Mansion, Daphne was back at the Rogers place in spite of her parents strict orders not to go back there.

"Here we go again." Shaggy sighed as he gave Daphne, who was crying in his shoulder, a comforting hug as they sat in the living room. Colton and Paula were both away, which was a relief for Daphne, who needed to go over to Shaggy and Scooby's place to lighten up her mood. "Like, just ignore anything they say about me, Daph. That's the only way to move forward, I'm afraid."

"I just don't understand why are they so vain?" Daphne said.

"Well, ri guess rhat's one mystery re can't solve." Scooby remarked.

"Yeah, I suppose so, Scooby." Daphne sighed.

Shaggy nodded as he let go of Daphne and stood up.

As the trio walked to the front door to head out, Shaggy noticed a letter on the floor.

"Like, what's this?" He inquired as he leaned down and picked up the letter.

"Let me guess: Mr. E." Daphne said as she and Scooby leaned in to look.

Sure enough, the sticker labelled "E" was on the back of the envelope.

Opening the envelope, Shaggy took out the letter. It read:

"Greetings, Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers, Scoobert 'Scooby' Doo and Daphne Anne Blake:

I see you and your friends at Mystery Inc. has solved another mystery, this one being the legend of the ghost truck. And I also see that you three have identified the couple in the locket.

This couple in the locket should be a warning to you guys, not to suffer the same fate as the Mysteries Five did. If you all carry on with your mystery-solving hobby, you'll soon understand, but I should warn that it might be too late to realize the danger associated with the curse of Crystal Cove."

At the bottom of the letter was some weird-looking symbol that is also shaped like a pizza slice.

"Like, what's this symbol that shapes like a pizza slice?" Shaggy asked.

"And what brings a popular school band like the Mysteries Five down to the caves?" Daphne added.

"'Suffering the same fate as the Mysteries Five did.'" Shaggy repeated. "Like, I sure don't like the sound of this."

"Me neither, Shaggy." Daphne agreed. "But no matter what happens, we'll stay together as a team."

"Yeah." Shaggy nodded. "Like, there's nothing stronger than the power of friendship when it comes to teamwork, Daph."

"Reah. Friendship is re important ingredient for a team." Scooby added.

Daphne nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, guys. We can do this together."

"Indeed we can, Daph." Shaggy smiled back as Daphne slipped her hand into Shaggy's hand.

And so, this ends my revision of Secret of the Ghost Rig. What awaits the gang?

All I can say is...Stay tuned!

The adventure continues in: D3 SDMI: Revenge of the Man Crab!

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