Mystery Incorporated in Lawndale - Part 1

 Mystery Incorporated in Lawndale

The brightly colored panel van approached the large town. Fred Jones looked over at his friends, but found that they were all sleeping. He sighed. It had been a long trip. He saw the Welcome sign. “Welcome to Lawndale.”

 

He wasn’t sure why they had come halfway across the country on an anonymous tip, but Velma had insisted. He grabbed the map of the town from the glove box. ‘Where is this Dutchman Inn?’

 

 

Two Days Earlier

Velma Dinkley exited the van. “We have a tip,” she said.

 

“Where?” Daphne Blake asked.

 

“In a suburban town in Maryland, named Lawndale. Strange lights and sounds have been observed in several old houses.”

 

“Maryland?” Fred asked. “That’s quite far.”

 

“It may be far, but we need to find out what is happening.” Velma said.

 

“Of course,” Fred said. “It would just take days to get there.”

 

“Only two, if we’re strategic with the route,” Velma pointed out.

 

 

Present

‘Of course, Velma was right,’ Fred reflected as the Mystery Machine pulled into the Dutchman inn. Daphne stirred as the van came to a stop. “We’re there?” she asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

 

After the quintet (including their canine member), had checked into their rooms, they looked over the tip Velma had received.  There had been reports of strange noises from a house on the western outskirts. “Tomorrow, we will contact this Jane Lane, and then investigate that house,” Velma concluded.

 

 

Early the next day, Daria Morgendorffer arrived at her friend’s house early. She wasn’t sure why Jane had called in Mystery Incorporated. There may have been mysterious noises at the house next door to the Lanes, but it wasn’t something to concerned about. “Hey, Daria,” Jane’s brother, Trent, said as he opened the door. “Janie is waiting out back, in the gazebo.”

 

“The Gazebo?” Daria asked.

 

“She says it’s helping her inspiration today.”

 

“Sure.”

 

 

Jane saw Daria come out of the house. “Finally!” she said.

 

“Finally?”

 

“The Gang are going to be here any minute.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

“There it is,” Velma said, pointing at the white house with an unkempt yard.

 

“Like, the one with the strange lawn ornament?” Shaggy Rogers asked.

 

“Yes,” Velma said.

 

The Mystery Machine pulled up in front of the house.

 

 

Daphne knocked on the door. It was opened by a young man wearing worn clothes. “Hi, I’m Daphne Blake, with Mystery Incorporated.”

 

“My sister is waiting for you,” the man said. “She’s out back with her friend.”

 

“We’ll come through then,” Daphne said.

 

“Sure,” the guy said.

 

 

Scooby Doo looked around as he followed Shaggy through the door. The house looked dilapidated, like many houses the gang had seen during their cases. Maybe there was a mystery here?

 

 

Daria saw the group come out of the house. She noticed Velma Dinkley straight away. ‘Of course I would notice her first,’ she thought. She had recognised Velma as someone she could get along with once she began hearing about the group of mystery solvers.

 

“Jane Lane?” the other girl, Daphne Blake, asked.

 

“I’m Jane Lane,” Jane said, stepping forwards. “This is my friend, Daria Morgendorffer.”

 

“Hi,” Daria said.

 

“So, what is this mystery?” Fred Jones asked.

 

 

Velma listened as Jane explained what was going on. “You have recordings of course?” she asked when she had finished.

 

“Of course. I hope my brother’s band haven’t recorded over them.”

 

 

 

“Band?” Shaggy asked.

 

“They try to play grunge,” Jane said.

 

“Emphasis on the word try,” Daria added.

 

“Right,” Shaggy said.

 

“Let’s listen to those recordings,” Velma said.

 

 

Daphne followed the others into the Lanes basement. It looked much like many other basements she and her friends had investigated over the years. However, it was rare that a band had their practice space in a basement. Most often they practiced in a garage or a spare room. There had even been a couple who practiced in an attic. “Mystik Spiral?” she asked.

 

“But we might change our name,” Jane’s brother, Trent said in response.

 

“It sounded interesting,” Daphne said.

 

“Well, it was something Daria said,” Trent said.

 

“Really?” Velma asked.

 

“I said that the name sounded like one for a Doors cover band,” Daria answered.

 

“We’re entirely original,” Trent explained. “We’re not about selling out.”

 

“OK,” Velma said.

 

“Where are these recordings?” Fred asked.

 

“Over here,” Jane said.

 

 

Trent loaded a cassette and pressed play. An earie sound then came from the speakers. Velma wasn’t sure what to make of it. She would have to analyse the sound. “So, this did come from next door?” she asked Jane.

 

“Yes,” Jane answered. “Several nights ago, as I stated in my tip.”

 

“I’ll have to examine this sound with my equipment in the van,” Velma said.

 

“You can take the tapes,” Trent said. “We have plenty more.”

 

“Thanks,” Velma said.

 

“But what else can you tell us?” Fred asked.

 

“Not much,” Jane said. She looked to Trent.

“We haven’t seen the neighbours there in years,” Trent added.

 

“Not much to go on,” Fred said.

 

“I guess we could see if someone’s home,” Daphne suggested.

 

 

Fred looked over the yard of the neighbouring house. He wanted to be sure that there weren’t any traps. “It’s clear,” he said.

 

“Clear of what?” Jane asked.

 

“Traps,” he answered.

 

“You thought there would be traps?” Jane asked.

 

“Anything can be a trap,” Fred said. “There are many ingenious ways to hide them.”

 

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” Jane commented.

 

Daria cleared her throat.

 

“Daria?” Daphne asked.

 

“We should go to the door, rather than continue to talk here.”

 

“Good point,” Jane said.

 

“Like, anyone could be watching,” Shaggy said in a fearful tone.

 

Fred continued looking for traps as he walked up to the door.

 

 

Fred rang the doorbell. Then they nervously waited for a response. ‘Maybe no one’s home,’ Daria thought.

 

“I guess no one’s home,” Jane said after a minute.

 

Fred then rang the doorbell again, stepping back from the doormat as he did so.

 

Nothing happened. They waited again.

 

“No one’s home,” Daria said.

 

“We could wait,” Daphne said.

 

“Or we could go back to the Lane’s,” Velma suggested.

 

“Like, let’s do that,” Shaggy added.

 

“It’s almost certainly a good idea,” Daria said.

 

 

They re-entered the Lane’s kitchen.

 

“We could try again later,” Trent suggested.

 

“Of course, we are,” Velma said.

 

“The question is; when?” Daria asked.

 

“At nightfall?” Jane asked.

 

“So, we can see if there are any lights on?” Daphne asked.

 

“Yes,” Jane answered.

 

“I’m not sure I want to wait that long,” Fred said.

 

“I can use the time to analyse the sound,” Velma pointed out.

 

“Of course,” Fred said.