User:Lewis M Callahan

== The Mystery of Die Oberstgeist == == A novel by Lewis Callahan  ==  CHAPTER ONE

 Dr Westwood leaned back in his office chare and rubbed his tired eyes. He had been running and re-running this computer simulation now for sixteen hours and it still did not work right. Even thought all of the data he put in was identical in every way the computer came up with a different solution each time. Computers should not do that. Not even computes with artificial intelligence. There had to be a flaw in the program some where.

 But he just couldn’t find it. Maybe after sixteen hours he was looking too closely. A little break was all he needed. Take his mind off the problem at hand for just a few minutes and then come back with a refreshed perspective.

 Westwood picked up the remote control to his office Television set and switched it on. The large screen glowed briefly then came into sharp focus on three pretty young girls dressed in reveling cat costumes. The familiar voice of Dan Druther was overlaid on images of the three girls as they cut a velvet ribbon with a pare of oversized golden sizers. Druther was saying; “Josie and the Pussycats opened the festivities today for the Cabot Youth Festival. Fore more details we now cut to Helen Honda on the seen.”

 The image changed to a close up of the three semi-naked girls in the leopard tights and a pretty again woman holding a microphone with the local TV station’s logo emblazoned on its side. She smiled warmly into the camera and said “Thanks Dan, I’m hear with Josie Jones of the popular singing group Josie and the Pussycats.”

 The camera paned a bit to include the perky redhead in the cat ears, her Blue green eyes sparkled with star quality as she addressed the audience.

 “Hi everybody out there, I’m Josie and this is Melody and Valerie. Together we  are the Pussycats! Come on down to Coolsville Park and check out the Cabot Youth Festival. There will be games and rids for the kids art exhibits and street performers and even a film festival, rapping up next weekend with the Cabot Grand Prix!”

 Helen Honda pulled the mike back in preparation for a more probing question “That sounds like lots of fun for the whole family, but isn’t there a darker side to the Cabot Grand Prix?” Helen Honda shoved the mike back in Josie’s face. Josie was stalled for just a moment but trooper that she was took the jab in stride,

 “I’m not really shore what you’re talking about.” She beamed “But there will be lots of fun even after dark. In fact tomorrow Josie and the Pussycats will be performing live at the grand opening of the Cabot Automotive Museum .”

 “I was referring to the Cabot Grand Prix Curse.” Helen went on.

 Just then a young woman rudely shoved her way out of the crowd. Her most remarkable feature was the snow white stripe running striate through he center of her otherwise jet black hair. Her hair was pulled back into a loose pony tail and cropped into curly bangs across the front witch framed her strikingly cold clear blue eyes. She was wearing a black and red A-line mini dress whose simplicity could only have been an extravagantly expensive designer label. She snatched the mike form Helen’s hand and started a tirade before anyone could stop her.

 “I’m Alexandria Cabot, and I am fed up with all this hooey about curses! There is no such thing as a curse. There has never been a curse on the festival or the race and, unless you count Josie’s singing, and there never will be! And another thing…”

 “But what about all the deaths associated with the race,” Honda cut Alexandria off. “Over a dozen drivers where killed the last time the “Race of Death” was run.”

 “Of curse drivers have been killed in the Cabot Grand Prix,” Alexandria sneered. “Racing is a dangerous sport and ascendants will happen. It’s sad but the risk is all part of the sport.”

 Eastwood clicked the button on his remote control and the screen faded black leaving the room suddenly vary silent.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hump, Kids today,” He mumbled and turned back to the computer on his desk. He typed in a few commands and cross checked the readouts with the computer bank built into his desk and the wall behind him. A long string of tickertape printed out from a device on his desk. Westwood tore it off and read it. Then he reached over and clicked on the intercom.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Miss Peabody, pleas bring me the positronic logic interface file.” A somewhat breathless voice answers “Yes Doctor Westwood”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Dr. Westwood busied himself with the controls on the box on his desk and did not look up as the door clicked open and a strange woman walked in. She was in her late twenties, with short platinum blond hair and intense blue eyes the color of early morning spring time skies. She was vary tall and the skin tight black leather body suit she wore showed off every detail of her muscular body to perfection. The long legs, round hips, small waste and full bust. Over the black leather she wore a knee length red leather trench coat. Her right hand hung casually at her side and held a huge nickel plated Colt Python .357 magnum with an 8” barrel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">After a brief moment of silence Westwood looked up from his work, and stared at the sexy visitor with a slightly puzzled look on his face he said, “You’re not Miss Peabody.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“I gave Miss Peabody the rest of the night off,” the stranger cooed in a purposely seductive stage whisper. “In fact I gave her the rest of her life off.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Slowly, with all the deliberate strut of a stripper she walked over to Westwood’s desk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“This is a restricted area,” Westwood stammered. “Who are you and who let you in hear?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Who I am doesn’t matter. Now be a good little egghead and just hand over the ‘Box’”.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Never,” Westwood said flatly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">She leaned over his desk making shore that he got a good long look at her generous breasts. Ever so slowly she brought the gleaming revolver up and pressed the muzzle to his forehead. In a flirtatious voice she almost whispered, “We can do this easy or we can do it hard. Now Miss Peabody, she wonted it hard. But you, your supposed to be some kind of a genius, aren’t you? I bet your smarter then she was, aren’t you doctor? Tee hee. If you hand over the ‘box’ I would be …Ever so grateful.” She smiled wantonly and exposed just a little more of her full breasts. From this angel Dr. Westwood could see her hard nipples pressing through the tight leather and he knew that the possibility of killing him had her turned on.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“But if you don’t,” Westwood heard the distinctive three part click of her Colt revolver being cocked ku-kluc-klak “I will become vary cross with you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Westwood knew that it was pointless to argue. No mater what he did she was planning to kill him anyway. Wonted to kill him, needed to kill him for her own release.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“What kind of psychopath are you?” He said as evenly as he could. He tried to think of his wife and children, knowing this was his last few moments of life.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“I am not a psychopath! ''I am a sociopath! Now open the safe and give us the ‘Box’ ''or we will open it the hard way,” she snarled at him, all pretence of flirtation gone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Not in this lifetime.” Mostly now Westwood was sorry that his funereal would disrupt his grandson’s T-ball game next week.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Ok” She said matter-of-factly. With the slightest pressure of her finger, just over a pounds worth the heavy revolver barked, shattering the silence of the room. The back of Dr Westwood’s head exploded and bits of skull, bran, and blood spray splattered all over head rest of the dead scientist’s plush leather chare. His body jerked backward violently, for an instant the chare tattered then fell over and left Westwood’s feet sticking up from behind the desk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Blondie tittered a little at that, the lafter sweet and child like and for an instant she seemed like a little girl enjoying the antics of a silly daddy. Then her face once again turned to the mask a femme fatale.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Boyz!” she spat and two large men dressed in military gear rushed into the room, one had a distinctively Russian look about him, heavy set and thick jowls the other was clearly and Arab complete with __________. Silently the two men tore a large family portrait off the wall and revealed a wall safe. With out a word the Russian begin to force gray putty into all the seems around the safe’s door. As he worked the Arab ran a length of electrical wire across the floor and behind a heavy padded couch.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Blondie examined the large boxy computer on the desk and careful not to close the lid she unhooked the wires took the large device and left the room.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The Russian turned and leaped behind the couch, as he landed the Arab pressed the button on the little electric detonator. With an ear splitting crack the safe door blue open. The house breakers rushed to recover there loot. The Russian pulled a small leather box form the smoking hole. With the Arab almost drooling they opened the box and revealed jewelry. The two dumped the valuables on the floor and tore open the lining of the box to revel a computer disk. The Arab snatched the disk and ran out the door, the Russian tossed the box aside and ran after him, shouting “Hay I found that first.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The came a loud whistle from the other room and both men ran for the door after there master.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">CHAPTER TWO

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The next morning was a soft early summer day in Coolsville, the sky was blue and the birds sang in the trees. It was going to be a beautiful day so Trixie Shimura got up vary early and made a picnic lunch for two. As soon as Speed Racer had finished his morning’s practous laps in the Mack Five she would meet him at the track and together they would quietly slip off to Crystal Lake for a romantic lunch by the cool waters. Maybe even a little skinny dipping.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> So when Speed said he had to run an earned for Pops first she was only a little annoyed. Trixie made shore Spritle and Chim Chim were not in the trunk and off she went with her gorgeous boy friend in his incredible car.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Trixie was not easily impressed, she was smart and beautiful, her lithe figure made her look taller then her 5’6”. She had flawless porcelain skin and brilliant blue eyes. All surrounded by silky coffee brown hare she wore in a cross between a bubble cut and a pageboy. She came form money too. Her father owned Shimura Aviation. She had her own Mercedes Benz 190SL Roadster, the use of small plane and even a helicopter when ever she wonted. What else could a beautiful 17 year old girl ask for? A beautiful 19 year old boy. And she had one of those too.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Trixie could have had her pick of all the rich young society boys the season had to offer but she had picked Speed Racer. Speed was not borne with a silver spoon in his mouth but he was rapidly becoming the best racing driver in the world. Not because his parents had sent him to the best schools or had the right connections, but because he was simply driven to the best in the world. The fact that he was gorgeous didn’t hurt matters either. Speed was tall and slender and muscular. He had Elvis Presley’s coal black hair and dark blue eyes that could see right into her sole. Trixie belonged to him and Speed belonged to her. They both knew this as mater-of-factly as they knew the laws of gravity.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As they walked into the bank and took there place in line Speed turned back to reassure her, “ <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">This will only take a few minutes Trixie, I just need to get a computer disk from Pop’s Safe deposit box.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“What’s so important about this computer disk?” As Trixie spoke there was a jingle of bells and a new customer intend the bank. Speed could not help but watch her as she took her place in the queue behind Trixie. She was at least 5’9” and most of that was legs, the kind of legs that looked like they were in heels even bare foot. They were emphasized by the too short skirt she wore. Speed was sure he could just see the tops of her stockings. Even better she wasn’t all legs. The tight blue off the shoulder dress she wore did little to conceal her consummate breasts. As Speed pulled his gaze up to make eye contact she winked almost imperceptibly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“It’s a secret new formula for an experimental fuel invented by Doctor Quest,” Speed blurted out as he realized that Trixie was aware that he was looking over her shoulder. “It’ supposed to double the power Mach 5”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Trixie through a dirty look at older woman then said, “But why keep it hear?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed concentrated on looking directly into his girlfriends blue eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Because if the formula fell into the wrong hands it could be used to develop a dangerous explosive.” But just as she turned back to Speed the tall dark haired woman in the short dress dropped her keys, turned her back on Speed and bent over to pick them up. Speed could hear the blood pounding in his ears. But he was saved by the sound of the teller’s voice calling for the next customer. Speed turned his back on the sultry stranger and faced the teller.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Hi, I’m Speed Racer. I would like to go to my safe deposit box please.” He tried not to sound too forced.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Certainly Mr. Racer,” the cute brunet teller chirped happily. “Mister Gotlocks will show you to it. If you would kindly step over to the office door please.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed walked to the side door of the teller’s partition and was buzzed in as Trixie went to the waiting aria and picked up a magazine. A bank guard stood by the door and watched Speed go in then turned to smile at Trixie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Trixie watched the tramp in the come and get me dress and wondered where she bought it, and if she only had to pay half price because she only got half of it.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The Coolsville bank was original built in 1917, it was all hard polished wood and looked more like something out of the old west them a modern institution. The mane floor was separated form the teller’s cage by a heavy oak wall about 7 feet in height. Wile the lobby was quite large the tellers space was rally little more then a narrow hall about eight feet wide leading back to the large old-fashioned steel vault.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Gotlocks lead Speed to a desk and then went into the vault to retrieve his safety deposit box. A moment later the banker retuned with the locked steel box. He sat down opposite Speed at the table and they each inserted and key into each end of the box and turned them simultaneously. There was a click and the lid popped open Speed reached in, pulled out the disk and looked at it for a moment.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Outside in the lobby Trixie was leafing through a popular fashion magazine and was suddenly annoyed when she saw the same blue dress. In the magazine it was on a famous statuesque super model, complete with a fore digit price. But it didn’t seem to have quite as many carves in it as the one in the bank did. Just as Trixie looked up for a second peek at the real blue dress a young woman came in and went to the weighting table to fill out her deposit slips. The Devil in the blue dress finished up with the teller and headed for the door. Yes that was defiantly the real thing, not a copy. And so were the Prada shoes, handbag and Chanel <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> #5. The woman was not an expensive call girl, Trixie decided, not exactly. She was most likely a trophy wife. Second or third trophy wife of some rich old man. That’s why she was flirting with Speed, a hansom young man would be just the sort of thing an old woman like that would like to buy with her husband’s money. As the woman walked by she gave Trixie an argent sideways glance and made the 17 year old girl drop her gaze and blush hiding behind her magazine.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">As the trophy wife reached the door it burst violently open, A man in Arab garb crashed through the door way and grabbed the woman around the neck. She tried to twist away but the Arab smashed his colossal .50 Deserteagel agent the side of her head. Trixie wasn’t sure but she thought she saw the woman’s scalp come loose. The trophy wife went limp as the Arab tossed her to the side and she crumbled to the floor motionless.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">A second man came in right behind, it was the big Russian, he pulled a matching pare of Tokarev TT-33 <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">s from under his camouflage vest and shouted with a thick Slavic accent, “Every body on the floor! This is a robbery!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Do as we are telling and no one will be getting hurt…or worse!” snarled the Arab.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Every one in the bank sank slowly down to the floor. The old bank guard looked the robber over but kept his hands up. The Russian walked casually to the elderly guard and placed the mussel his pistol to the guard’s temple.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Just keep your hands on your head copper, and you’ll live to tell your grand kids about this,” he said with rehearsed cruelty. The office had no choice but to compile.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Then the cheerful brass bell tinkled lightly and the door opened. Blondie slinked in like a cat in heat. She was still dressed as she had been the night before but this time with out the coat. The outlandish .357 in her hand. She looked around the room and took in the handy work of her two goons. As she entered all eyes tuned to her. She was clearly the one in charge. And she liked it. Even her own men were fascinated by her as she spoke.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“All right then, lets all be nice and cool,” she said in a poor imitation of a famous movie star. “Nobody trays to be a hero and nobody has to die. Dig? Boyz go to work!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The two thugs followed there bosses orders eagerly. The Arab went to the teller’s window with a suite case wile the Russian jumped on the weighting table and vaulted over the oak partition.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">He came down with both feet heavily on the same table where Speed and Gotlocks were sitting. At the instant his hobnail boots crashed onto the wooden table top he spun and drove a vicious kick in to Mr. Gotlock’s chest and sent him over backward over his chare. Speed sprang out of his seat and overturned the table as he stood. The Russian and the table went down in heap. But he didn’t stay down. He had dropped one of his Tokarev TT-33 <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">s behind the desk when he fell but the other was still ready for bear as he sprang up like a deadly jack in the box. Speed was even faster. Before the Russian could aim and fire Speed pivoted over the table and drove a ferocious round house kick to the Russian’s think wrist. Speed heard the sound of bone break from the force or the blow and for a brief instant the Tokarev <span lang="EN" style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">seemed to hover in mid air. The force of the kick sent the Russian spinning too. Speed followed through using his momentum to deliver a second kick the back of the Russian’s knee. The bearish man buckled and collapsed to the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed turned and darted for the Tokarev <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> but as he did a hand clamped around his ankle like a hangman’s noose. The Russian bear still lying on the floor yanked Speed’s foot out from under him and through the teenager off balance. At the same instant he graded Gotlocks overturned chair and swung it at Speed with incredible force. The chare smashed into Speed’s chest and sent him sprawling backward.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">As Speed went down the Russian bear used the momentum of the chare to swing himself back to his feet. Using the care as a battering ram the Russian pinned Speed against the overturned table top. Speed was in trouble but not beaten yet. Speed rammed his right foot into the Russian’s groin heel first. Speed saw the Russian’s face blanch and his eyes cross as the low blow hit its mark. But the Russian was an expert fighter and vary tuff. Speed used the momentary advantage to push himself back up on to his own feet and began pushing the robber back. The Russian was strong, and had almost 100 pounds on Speed. But Speed in superb shape.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Like two bulls with locked horns they Speed began pushing the robber back. Slowly grunting sweat running down his temples the Russian gave ground to the younger man. It was only about 15 feet but to Speed it seemed like 15 miles of unpaved up hill road. Inch by inch he made it to his destination. Then with a quick twist of the chair and a last shove to through the brigand off balance Speed pulled away. The Russian barley realized he was inside the vault when Speed slammed the door shut and spun the locking wheel. He looked down at Mr. Gotlocks on the floor and said with relief “That out to hold him until the police arrive.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Then fore shots rang out from the mane floor, the teller screamed in terror. Speed snatched up the Glock from the floor and ran out the office side door into the mane lobby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">In the few seconds that Speed had fought the Russian things had not gone well in the lobby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Blondie stood over the prostrate form of the trophy wife and watched everyone unconnectedly stroking the long hard barrel of her Python like a lover. Trixie was not shore but she thought she saw the trophy wife’s hand move slightly toward her bag. But she lost all interest in the unconscious gold digger as the sounds of the fight in the next room filled her mind. With all her strength she tried to will  Speed to be careful.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Wile the sound of the fight distracted Blondie the old guard saw his chance. With the speed of a tortes he lowered his hand to the old .38 in his holster. As carefully as he could he pulled the well worn servos revolver and took am at the Arab. He just didn’t feel right about shooting a woman.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Just as the guard’s finger began to tighten on the trigger Blondie saw him form the corner of her eye. With the speed of a cobra she swung the gaudy revolver around and fired. Blondie’s hollow point slug tore into the guard chest just as he fired and through off his aim just a little. The guard’s slower wadcutter went low and hit the Arab in the thigh. The Arab dropped to one knee and squired like a stuck pig.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In all likely hood Blondie’s first shot had killed the old bank guard, but Blondie was nothing if not through. Besides, she riley liked shooting people. A lot. So she fired again this time it split his head open like a ripe melon.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Trixie was sure that Blondie would execute everyone in the bank and now with the Arab incapacitated Trixie thought she had a chance. Just as Blondie blue the smoke form the mussel of her revolver Trixie tossed her magazine in the air in front of Blondie with a loud flutter of pages.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Blondie reaction was almost reflexive. She snapped the gun down and shot the magazine out of the air like a duck on the wing. The glossy pages scattered in all directions and the gun was pointed decidedly away from Trixie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Trixie sprang up and grabbed Blondie’s Shooting whist. She planed to use her momentum as leverage to twist the robbers arm and make her drop the gun. But Blondie was tuff then she looked. She used Trixie’s on momentum against her by turning with the petite girl and slammed her left fist into Trixie’s jaw. Blondie fallowed that with a knee like a steam drill that drove all the breath out of Trixie’s lungs. Trixie felt her knees go out form under her and she toppled backward to the floor. She would have lost conchesness if it wasn’t for the iron claw that snatched a hand full of her dark brown hair and yanked her up onto her knees in front of the mad woman. Now flushed with arousal Blondie pressed the mussel of her glistening six gun to Trixie’s forehead. She gently caressed Trixie’s face with the gun and beamed down at her basking in the terror she saw in the young girl’s eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“That was the last mistake you’re ever going to make little girlie,” Blondie almost whispered senchouisoly. She slowly cocked the hammer back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">There was a loud electronic buzz as the partition door popped open. Speed stood in the threshold holding the Russian’s Tokarev TT-33 <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Trixie,” Speed gasped as he took in the seen before him. “Let Trixie Go!” He demeaned leveling the gun on Blondie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Blondie slowly tuned her head to face Speed “Speeeeed Racer. What an unpleasant surprise.” She said venomously. With a cruel yank of Trixie’s hair Blondie pulled her up between herself and Speed, as a human shield.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Drop the gun or I drill Chickie hear,” Blondie hissed pressing the mussel of the gun to Trixie’s temple.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Don’t do it Speed!” Trixie pleaded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed froze for an insert staring into Blondie’s cold empty eyes. Speed knew he had no choice, she would kill Trixie if he didn’t do as she said. Speed slowly let the Tokarev <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> drop from his fingers and clank heavily on the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“You’ll never get away with it,” He warned Blondie as he razed his hands. For the first time Blondie realized that Speed had a disk in his hand. Her eyes sparkled merrily at the sight of the disk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Achmed!” She shouted “Get the money and the disk. Hurry we don’t have much time!

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The Arab drug himself off the floor and leaning heavily on the counter he limped his way toward Speed. He got a few steps but the bullet in Achmed’s thigh was taking its toll. He staggered and fell. Then he droge himself up on the writing counter and shoved the briefcase he had stuffed with cash at Speed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“The disk or doxy,” Blondie said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Reluctantly Speed put the disk into the case and shoved it back to Achmed. Achmed scoffed at Speed and then began to hobble over to Blondie and Trixie. He stumbled several times in the short distance and left a bright trail of bloody footprints across the floor. When he reached them Blondie shoved the girl back down to her knees.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“She all yours Achmed, enjoy,’ she said sweetly as she took the briefcase from him with one hand. Achmed grind at the prospect and racked the slide of his gargantuan handgun with a loud rasping clank. But before he could shoot Blondie shot Achmed in the temple with a girlish giggle. The body of the dead Arab fell over Trixie and prevented Blondie form shooting her too.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Sorry Achmed, nothing personal, but I gatta' move fast and I cant have a gimp slowing me down.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Blondie leaved her gun on Speed and walked backward out the banks door. At the threshold she blue Speed a kiss and dashed across the parking lot to a black Trans Am.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Trixie squirmed out form under the dead bank robber and ran to Speed’s arms.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed held her to his chest for a moment, and “Trixie are you aright?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“I’m fine Speed. But quick she’s getting away” Trixie replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">That’s my girl Speed thought. Never the historical damsel in distress. Hand in hand they ran out the door and jumped into the Mach Five and sped off after the fleeing murder.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">In the distance sirens could be heard responding to the banks silent alarm. Mr. Gotlocks and the young teller rushed out into the lobby to help the victims if they could. As they tried vainly to revive the dead guard the Trophy wife razed her head and peered around. When she saw that no one was watching her closely she nimbly got to her feet and dashed out of the bank jumped into a Black Cobra and sped off in the opposite direction of the chase.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">CHAPTER THREE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The black Trans Am was fast and it had a head a good head start on the Mach Five. The Trans Am had a 455 cubic inch Pontiac V8 engine that the factory rated at 310 horse power. This one had been supped up so it was closer to 350. Still it would be no match for the Mach Five. The Trans Am could go fast in a strait line but with its light back end it would be no good in the turns. It would fish tale badly and likely loose control. Speed knew he could easily catch the car his biggest concern was that Blondie would lose control and crash into some innocent bystanders. She clearly didn’t care who she heart. She also had the advantage of knowing where she was going. She had obviously planed out an escape route, probably several. But this was Speed first visit to Coolsville and he did not know the streets well.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As if reading Speed’s thoughts Trixie pulled a local map from her kit and began to help navigate.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She seems to be heading out of the city and into the suburbs!” Trixie shouted over the wine of the engine.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She’s probably going to try and lose us on the side streets. We have to catch her before she causes a smash up.” Speed shouted back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In the distance sirens could be heard faintly, Speed said “Those squad cars will never be able to catch up with her.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The black car locked up it’s back wheels with a fierce shriek of rubber on pavement and billing smoke. The car jerked sideways violently as it spun out its back end arced around almost 110 degrees before the tires regained there grip in the road. It skidded around a corner about a mile ahead of the Mack Five and shot down a busy commercial street.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh Speed! Trixie yelled looking up from her map “There an elementary school that way,”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She’s trying to make it too dangerous for us to follow her.” He pressed down hard on the accelerator and the Mack Five accelerated like a commit cutting the distens between the two cars almost in half. Speed snapped the Mach Five around the corner with out losing any traction even though he was going nearly twice as fast.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Speed, why didn’t she just shoot us both in the bank when she had the chance,” Trixie asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She shot the guard twice you’re your magazine once and one shot for her accountless. That left her with only two bullets in her gun. And not enough time to reload.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> At the next intersection the Black Trans Am made another hard left turn, this time all fore tires lost there perches on the road and the car spun sideways through the intersection. It jumped the curb up onto the sidewalk heading off to the left. Speed could see Blondie spinning the wheel coolly to the right as the mussel cars spin continued. It plowed sideways along the sidewalk toward a crowded bus stop. The office workers and students leaped out of it’s path. The hotrod Firebird’s rear quarter panel smashed broadside into a news stand sending newspapers and glossy magazine paged raining down over the entire street. The impact snapped its rear end out strait again and the fleeing Bank robber burned rubber strait down the center of the side walk. With out ever even touching the breaks Blondie punched through a street vender’s hotdog stand. Blondie never even looked back at the vender shaking his fist and shouting. She yanked the wheel hard to the right as she reached the end of the block and skidded sideways out into the street in a wide arc. As she accelerated the car drifted across three lanes into the on coming traffic. Horns blared and brakes screeches as motorists swerved to avoid her reckless driving.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed and Trixie in the Mach Five serpentined through the last block as if the Mach Five were on rales.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She’s one of the best drivers I have ever seen.” Speed said begrudgingly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What do you mean Speed, she can’t even keep her car in the street.” Trixie asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She is driving that car ten times faster then it should be driven. Any one but an expert driver would have crashed by now.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But what about that News stand and the Hotdogs? She crashed into those.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “On purpose! I’ve seen racers that drive dirty like that. The try to wreck into the cars around them witch not only forces them out to the race, but makes obstacles for the other cars behind. She did that on purpose. We have to stop her before she hurts anyone else.”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER FORE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed and Trixie weren’t the only teenagers with troubles in Coolsville that morning. Fred Jones was the classic all American nineteen year old boy. Tall, almost 6’3” with the wide shoulders, thick heavily muscled arms, narrow waist and sturdy long legs of an athlete. He had a thick hay colored pompadour and sky blue eyes. He dressed well too, Tan loafers, Light blue slacks, light blue sport shirt, a white crew neck swatter toped off with a bright orange ascot. But in spite of his looks Fred was not a dumb jock, he got top grades too. All through high school he was first in his class, second in the school only to Velma Dinkly who was two Grads behind him. He had his pick of scholarships to choose from to go to any collage he liked. Fred had it all even his pick of the ladies. He and Daphnie Blake and been more or less a couple ever since grade school. Wile it remained un-official Fred considered Daphnie to be his girl friend. Daphnie Blake was the bell of Coolsville high. She was just eight-teen, five feet eight inches tall with the cervatious figure of a movie bombshell. She had shoulder length copper red hair and eyes like emeralds. She usually wore a designer purple a-line micro-mine dress that clung in all the right places and none of the wrong ones, with opaque pink tights, tasteful 2” purple pumps and a lime green scarf. Daphne could have been the queen of her school, the center of all social circle, but inserted she spent her time with Mystery Inc. She loved solving mysteries because it was the only real challenge in her over-privileged life. Everything else was just too easy for a rich, pretty, and smart girl. Daphne’s fashion model appearance was in direct contrast to Velma’s. Velma Dinkly was the real banes behind Mystery Ink. Wile everyone regarded the charismatic Fried the leader it was always Velma that did the real thinking. Velma had a somewhat tom-boyish look about her. She wore her dark brown hair in a bubble cut and hid her large deep brown eyes behind thick blue tinted black plastic horn-rimed glasses. She was younger then the rest, only 17, and she stood just under five feet tall. Shy and insecure about her looks she tried to hide her figure with a bulky orange turtle neck swatter that hung over her burgundy pleated school girl kilt. She finished the outfit with matching orange knee socks and brown penny loafers. Daphne had tried to make her over many times but Velma had always resisted. Every time Daphne pointed out that Velma was really very pretty and with just a little effort she could attract all the boys she wonted Velma would say she was not interested in attracting boys. Velma had more important things to think about. And she did. She was the class valedictorian. She had the highest grade point average in the entire state. Even in high school she was already working on several collage degrees in her spare time. Like Daphne she chummed with Mystery Ink for the challenge. Appling science to real world problems appealed to her. So did matching wits with adults and solving mysteries that even trained professionals could not unravel. Then there was Novell “Shaggy” Rodgers. He, as much as his Great Dane Scooby-Doo, was the groups mascot. Shaggy was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and he really didn’t care much about mysteries. But he was a good man to have around in a pinch. In spite of all the good natured teasing the gang gave him about being a chicken Shaggy was the go to guy if anyone was in danger. He would, and quite often did but his own life on the line for any of the others, including the dog, with out a second’s hesitation. If there was a dangerous task to do it always fell to Shaggy and Scooby. If things went wrong, and they almost always did, some how Shaggy and Scooby always managed not only to survive but to come out on top. Shaggy was a tall drink of water about 6’5” with long spindly arms and legs a pencil neck and a slouching gate. In spite of his height and his prodigious apatite he never seemed to gain any weight staying constantly around 120 lbs. He almost never brushed his long light brown hair and always had a wispy goatee on his long chin. He usually wore the same old pare of tattered old bell bottoms so faded that it was impossible to tell if they were burgundy or brown. And a baggy lime green t-shirt. And of cores there was Scooby Doo, Shaggy’s some what anthromoprophic constant companion. A ravenous gangly comical dark brown Grate Dane with a hand full of black spots.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The gang emerged from the Molt Shop that was there favorite hang out and piled into an incredulous turquoise blue and lime green van with the words Mystery Machine in bright orange on the side. Daphnie slid into the middle of the front bench seat, Fred took the wheel with Velma ridding shotgun. Shaggy and Scooby Doo clamed into the cargo aria through the back doors. As Fred stared the motor and pulled out of the parking slip he tried not to show his annoyance. He had a bad feeling about this set up, but he didn’t dear tell his friends. That would be an opening to other conversations he just didn’t wont to have. Especially with the whole gang there. He pulled out of the lot and onto the light mid morning traffic and headed toward down town.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ What a groovy way to commemorate the opening of the new Cabot Automotive Museum,” Velma said off handily. “To have Josie and the Pussy cats play at the grand opening.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ Just in time to tie it into with Cabot Grand Prix next week.” Daphne said excitedly. “This is the hottest ticket in Coolsville! It shore was nice of Alexander to send us back stage passes to the reception.” She looked sideways at Fred and saw his jaw mussels tighten ever so slightly. “Why do you suppose he went to all that trouble Fred?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like it doesn’t take Velma to figure that one out.” Shaggy guffawed form the back, Daphne blushed a little embarrassed at her attempt to get a rise out of Fred. Even Velma joined in the laughter.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He just sent us the passes because we helped the Pussycats solve that mystery on the old Steamboat last year.” Fred said a little more sternly then he had intended.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma pressed her lips then said innocently to Fred “Then why were the passes addressed to Daphne?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> This was really getting to Fred now and he wonted to put an end to it. It was bad enough that he had to spend the rest of the day watching Alexander Cabot trying to put the moves on Daphne.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Probably because Alexander’s father and Mister Blake are both members of the same country club.” Fred’s irritation showing in spite of his attempt to sound casual. “It was just easer for Alex to get Daphne’s address and have her give them to the rest of us than to send them to all of us individually.” Fred’s foot began to get a little heavy on the gas they made there way into town. There was a pause and Fred was convinced that he had put the matter to bed when Velma fired another salvo

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right but if that’s true, why dose the invitation say: Miss Daphne Ann Black, and guests?” Fred was on the simmer. It was bad enough coming from Shaggy. He almost expected that but insubordination form Velma was too much.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh-oh I know the answer to that one,” Shaggy called form the back sounding like student eager to answer a teachers question “Like Alex digs redheads man!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Raw, revrerbody rows that” Scooby barked and broke up the girls.

<p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred lost his temper at being made fun of by the dog. He turned his head back and scolded Shaggy and Scooby. “That will be enough of that cant you see your embarrassing Dapf“

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Look out Fred!” Daphne screamed cutting him off. Fred snapped his head back to the road just in time to see a black Trans Am Leap off the side walk of the crossing street. It skidded sideways into a right turn parallel with the Mystery Machine. The Trans Am’s light back end kicked out and clipped the front bumper of the Mystery Machine just as Fred desperately yanked the steering wheel into a left turn and slammed on the breaks with both feet. The top heavy van went into a counter clockwise spin careering around the intersection like a giant green pinball. The gang were all tossed around in the van like rag dolls as the Mystery Machine spun like out of control.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Blondie never even looked back, the Black car took off like a shot.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed and Trixie came around the corner even before the Mystery Machine had stopped spinning. The bright green van just seemed to appear out of nowhere in the path of the mach Five. It came to a stop with its front end pointing directly at the Mach Five. Speed could see the faces of the kids inside frozen like in terror. He heard Trixie scream and he knew, even with Pop’s superior brakes their was no way to stop the Mach Five in time.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed jabbed the “A” button on the steeping column and the automatic jacks catapulted the Mach Five over the Mystery Machine’s roof. Speed felt the back wheels of the nimble racing car bounce on the luggage rack on the top of the stalled van.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As soon as all fore wheels were on the ground again Speed did a controlled bootlegger stop, leaped out of the car and dashed over to the driver’s side window of the van. With both hands on the window frame Speed asked hurriedly

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is any one heart?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No,” Fred says “Thank goodness, No thanks to you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like did that car just fly away?” Shaggy wined from the back of the van.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That was a really close call you need to pay more attention to the road when you’re driving.” Speed said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I was driving just fine buddy,” Fred said. “Maybe you should try driving the speed limit.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred shoved hard on the car door and pushed Speed back a step.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “If you had been paying more attention to the road,” in the commotion they had all been tossed around the front seat so Daphne was pulling the hem of her skirt back down over her exposed panties and Velma was crawling around on the floor looking for her glasses with her bottom sticking up in the air. “Instead of checking out the pretty girls, maybe this accident could have been avoided.” As he said this Speed slammed the door shut and pushed Fred back into the van. Fred retaliated by shoving the door open with surprising strength and knocked Speed back two steps. Fred stepped out of the van. He was a taller and a little heaver then Speed but Speed was wiry and had vary fast reflexes. Fred shoved a finger in Speed’s face,

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Listen you,” he snarled “if you and your friend in that black car hadn’t been drag racing..”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed stepped in and shoved him hard against the side of the Mystery Machine.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I wasn’t ‘drag racing’ with anybody!” Speed snapped “Because of you a murderer just escaped.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Police cursers with waling sirens began flying through the intersection. Speed looked back over his shoulder at Trixie. She had climbed up out of her seat onto the back deck of the Mach Five,

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Come on Speed,” she called “We might still be able to catch her but we have to hurry!” Speed looked back at Fred.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t have time for this now. I have more important work to do. But you watch out if I ever see you again.” Speed turned around and ran back to the Mach 5. He jumped over the door and had the car in gear even before Trixie could get back into her seat. With a spray of gravel the Mach Five sped away into the distance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You’d better run!” Fred shouted after him as they pulled away. More police cars blue by as Fred climbed back into the van.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy leaned over the seat and asked Fred “like who was that dude?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t know Shaggy, but I was just about to teach him a lesson.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I can’t be shore bit I think that was Speed Racer,” Velma said wiping the lenses of her glasses. “I didn’t see him at all” but only the famous Mach Five could just jump over the Mystery Machine like that.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So that’s Speed Racer?” said Daphne absently.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I heard on the news that he is one of the racing drivers in town this week for the Cabot Grand Prix.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He’s vary hansom.” Daphne said, much to Fred’s annoyance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You think so? I didn’t knots.” Said Velma

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He’s nothing special,” Fried grumbles. “Come on or were gona miss the Pussy Cats first set.” Fed started the van and pulled back into traffic.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed and Trixie drove aimlessly around the streets of Coolsville for the better part of two hours before finally giving up on the mysterious black Trans Am. It just seems to vanish the moment they lost sight of it. Grudgingly Speed turned around and drove back to the police station where he and Trixie spent the rest of the day making statements.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER FIVE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Cabot Automotive Museum was a huge sprawling building on edge of downtown. The neighborhood had once been mostly industrial but in resent years it had been become the artistic and cultural center of Coolsville.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> At the front door a liveried door man greeted Mystery Inc and told Fred that as the Pussycats had already gone on stage absolutely no one was to be admitted until intermission.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We are personal guests of the Cabot twins,” Fried instead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am sorry sir,” the door man said with is nose in the air. “Mister Cabot himself gave me my instructions. The consort is being recorded and they don’t wont any interruptions.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We where invited hear today by Mister Cabot himself. We are personal friends of Pussycats.” Fred went on trying not to let the annoyance show in his voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Look kid,” said the door man, as all pretence of civility left his voice. “Every teenager and gear-head in Coolsville has been giving me that line today. It didn’t work for them and it ant gona’ work for you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Daphne slinked forward and gave the doorman her best pout. “Please sir, we rely do have invitations form Alex. See?” She held out the embossed card. The doormans face colored as he read the card.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am so sorry Miss Blake,” he stammered. “I didn’t realize it was you. Mister Cabot is expecting you and your friends. Come right in.” He ushered them through to a lobby where he flagged down a young girl with a red mullet dressed as a tore guide. He gave the girl some orders and she led them through the cavernous museum. As soon as they entered the mane display room the thunderous sound of the Pussycats music hit them with a soled wall of sound. They were covering the Beachboys classic “Little Duce Coop”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The butch tore guide led them on a winding cores through the displays. Antique cars were parked everywhere. Each one surrounded by red velvet rope. There were sports cars, racing cars, limizieans and compact cars. There was even a 1920s stile fire truck and an entire section devoted to military vitals.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As they passed by the various cars the tomboyish tore guide would point out one feature or another and recite some factoid about each car. Daphne leaned close to Fred cluing to his arm and shouted to be heard over the music, “Is she whereing ‘Old Spice’?” The guide brought them to a conpleat stop as infront of an old WWII German Command Car. With reverence in her voice she said “This is the prize of our collection. It is a Mercedes-Benz W31 tipe G4 a German three-axle off-road vehicle that was first produced as a staff/command car for the Wehrmacht in 1934. The cars were designed as a seven-seater touring car or closed saloon and were mainly used by upper echelons of the Nazi regime in parades and inspections as they were deemed too expensive for general Army use.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Of the 57 cars produced only 3 exist in original form. One is in the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum. Another G4, originally a gift from Hitler to General Franco, is in the car collection of the Spanish royal family. This one is on lone to the Cabot Aoutomotive Museam from the Hollywood movie studio Five Star Pictures. This vehicle has also appeared in sevrial Hollywood films, mainly in war movies. It is enshured for three milion dollars.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In the back of the mane auditorium was a large stage surrounded by crowded cocktail tables. Velma and Shaggy pointed out several celebrities and local people of importance. On the stage Josie and the Pussycats were rocking out in their signature pussycat costumes. The guide led them to a table in the front row but far to the right of the stage. Alan M. Mayberry and Alexander Cabot the third stood up and waved Mystery Inc over.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred was not exactly sure what he thought of Alexander Cabot III, in many ways he reminded Fred of Shaggy. But Alex’s disheveled appearance was a deliberate affectation. Shaggy took things as they where. He did not base his own self esteem on what others thought of him only what he thought about himself. This gave Shaggy something close to serenity. But Alex worked at appearing as if he didn’t care. He tried too hard to be cool. To look the part of the hip rock band manager. His shaggy hare do was blow dried and styled to look uncombed. His boots where not chosen for comfort they were hand made Italian leather, The Purple and blue striped slacks were form Paris. The orange linen shirt was hand made in Hong Kong and the green raw silk pull over came Savel Row. Even with the lights down for the show he was wearing his designer shades.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alex’s conspicuous display of wealth was a stark contrast to Alan. Fred did not know whether Alan was a former folk singer that had put his own singing career on hold to become the Pussycats rodey because he so devoted to his girl friend Josie, or if it was to keep an eye on Alex who had never mad his infatuation with Josie a secret. Alan was a big cone fed guy. Wile he was an inch or two shorter then Fred, he had probably twenty pounds on him, Alan’s arms were as big around as Josie’s waste. Alan had a vary blue collar look to him. Even in for the swank museum opening he wore jeans and a light blue work shirt. Although Fred had to admire the red ascot. Alan’s round face was surrounded by curly blond hare and ground with wide set blue eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The gang all took there seats and tried to make some polite small talk but the Pussycats were waling it out on stag. They all soon gave up the pretext of chat and surrendered themselves to the music.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Between songs Alex was able to covey that he wonted Mystery Inc to meet with him in the Pussycats dressing room after the show. “I have a little problem that’s just in your line,” Alan yelled in Fred’s ear as the girls segwayed into an original Pussycat capitation called “Nock Down Drag Out Race”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But we need to keep a lid on it or it could rune the entire feasible .” Alan said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What?” Fred yelled back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He said like, he’s going to make a bid on an onion and prune edible vegetable.” Shaggy shouted in Fred’s other ear.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No no no” said Alex, “I said I need your help with a mystery.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What?” Fred shouted back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think he said” Velma chimed in, “I herd your head was blistery.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No no no,” Alex said shaking his head violently. “I kneed your help to solve a mystery.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh,” said Fred nodding “I got it that time. “You have weeds in salvage history?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Just then the Pussycats finished there number Helen Honda and a news camera man descended on the table. Just as the camera man turned on the spot light mounted on his portable television camera Alex shouted even louder then ever before. “I need your help to salve a mystery!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> This time everyone in the auditorium heard him in the silence between songs.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen Honda shoved the microphone in Alexander’s face, “Could you repeat that for the viewers at home Mr. Cabot?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexander froze like a dear in the headlights, momentarily speechless.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Could it be that you are trying to persuade Coolesville’s own armature teenage sleuths to investigate the mysterious Cabot Grand Prix Curse?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Zoinks! No body said anything about any curses.” Shaggy gulped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Daphne leaned into the camera and turned on her thousand what smile. “Hi folks, Mystery Incorporated is just hear visiting with our friends and to hear the Pussycats sing.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes that’s right Daphne.” Fred slid in smoothly. “We’re only hear to hear the groovy sounds of one of our favorite rock groups.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby began shaking his head and saying “uh ah, un ah, no rurse no rurse!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There is categorically no empirical evidence to support the existence of any sort of curse, hex, spell, enchantment, jinx, damnation, execration, imprecation, malediction, or malison.” Velma rattled off casually.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What did she say?” Helen asked blankly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There is no such thing as a cures.” Velma said dryly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alan toured to Josie up on stage and gestured for her to start playing. Josie turned to the band and yelled “Hit it Pussycats!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> They broke into a cover version of “Little GTO” so ruckus that it made any sound recording imposable for Helen Honda.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen Honda and her Camera man headed off for greener pastures. Alex waited for a lull in the music and said “Well talk in the dressing room after the show. Right now just enjoy the swinging sound.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Pussycats brought the house down. It was a great show. Josie was in particularly good voice and the band was tighter then there costumes. Every other song was a Pussycat original composition, between witch they covered all the classic car songs. About half way through a hot version of “Pink Cadillac” Alex gestured the gang out a side door and unshed them down a back hall way into the Dressing room of the Pussycats.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER SIX

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Pussycat’s dressing room was actually a lounge for museum staff. It had been put to the task of being a dressing room just for the concert. There where several couches and chars, all about the big open space. Three lighted dressing tables with mirrors had been set up along one wall with three Japanese paper screens. Woman’s clothing was scattered all around but the thing that caught Shaggy and Scooby’s attention was the elaborate buffet table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh boy Scoob, were just in time for a Super Shaggy Sandwich. Boy these rock and rollers really know how to live” Shaggy said as he and Scooby dove into the buffet with gusto.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Come on you guys cut it out that’s for the Pussycats,” Daphne warned Shaggy. Scooby razed his head from the food just long enough to meow like a cat then giggle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s ok I ordered extra because I was expecting those two chow hounds. There’s plenty more where that came for,” Alex reashored. “Besides the girls are always on some fad diet or other.” He gave Fred a sly look. “You know how women are. Make your selves at home.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred and Daphne sat side by side on a plush couch. Fred couldn’t help but knots that she sat just a little closer then usual and rested one of her small hands on his thick forearm. Velma gravitated to a bulletin board covered with knots and messages for and by the museum restoration staff on topics as varied as suppliers of historically accurate pants, where to find original parts for antique cars, to personal matters like room mate searches.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Alex you said that you needed some sort of help?” Fred asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The words were barley out of Fred’s mouth when the door banged open and the Pussycats came charging in with a clatter. The three pretty girls were all chatter and noise still riding the buzz for the concert. There was greetings and hugs and some small talk as the two groups of old friends got reaquentated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Now Alex, about this mystery you were talking about.” Fred began again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ah girls,” Alexander intruded tapping his Rolex. “You’d better get changed wile we talk. We don’t wont to be late to the personal appearance at the children’s hospital.” There was some dissention in the ranks but reluctantly the Pussycats all filed behind the screens to the make up tables to change into there street clothing.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What was that reporter talking about out there?” Fred asked. “She said something about a curse….” Fred’s mouth fell open as one by one the Pussycats flicked on the lights for their makeup mirrors. The thin white paper dressing screens became back light, creating shark detailed silhouettes of the three lovely ladies as they began to peel off their skimpy costumes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Zoinks!” Groaned Shaggy as he looked up from the food just in time to see what had stopped Fred. Shaggy's chin came unattached and hit the table top with a loud thud, his eyes bulged out of his head. Scooby, never one to miss an opportunity to eat, snatched Shaggy’s sandwich form his hands wile he was distracted and ate it in one bight.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Now Alexander,” Daphne said with the slightest hint of annoyance in her tone. “What were you saying about needing our help with a mystery?” She reached over and gently closed Fred’s mouth.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We have to keep this all vary hush hush” Alan said. “If it got out it could ruin the feasible, and there are a lot of charities counting on the success of the Grand Prix and the Youth feasible .”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Not to mention my favorite charity, me.” Alex added.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred tried to bring his attention back to business. “Keep what a secret?” he asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Let me stare at the beginning” Alexander said “As you know my sister and I live on a trust fund. Our father set aside a large sum of money that we can’t touch until our thirtieth birthday. In the mean time we can live off the interest rather comfortably.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I have a similar trust fund, I can get the capital wine I get married.” As she said it Daphne saw Fred’s eyes were still locked on Josie’s silhouette. “Which won’t be any time soon.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What you probably don’t know is that in order to get my father to agree to let me manage the Pussycats I could not use any of the family’s money. So all of the expenses of the Pussycats have to come out of there own earnings. Travel costs, costumes, hotels and promotions. Its all vary expensive. Over the cores of the last couple of years I have managed to build up a little nest egg for the girls.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody leaned out from behind her screen barley covering up her bare chest, “Velma, would you be a sweetie and hand me my cloths. There on that chare, tee hee”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “hh-hh Who me?” Velma said startled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes you silly. You’re the closest.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma was suspired at how the light green garments were folded and stacked so neatly. Melody was such a free spirit that Velma assumed she would leave clothing scattered everywhere. As if in a trance Velma carried the garments around the edge of the screen. Melody stood there completely naked, a natural blond with long legs full shapely hips, small waste, flawless breasts, and sparkling blue eyes. Melody had a natural easy going innocence that made he seem some how more naked to Velma. Velma stood stupefied unable to pull her eyes away for the Melody’s glorious body. Melody dressed with casual nonchalance as if she did not knots Velma’s stare.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Putting on a Feasible like this one, and the expenses associated with the Grand Prix are astronomical. In order to get big investors to shell out the start up money not only did I have to put in all of that nest egg but I also had to borrow against the trust fund. So if the Youth Feasible and the Grad Prix don’t at least break even Alexandria and I will both be in the poor house.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Valerie pocked her head over the top of her screen, “That goes for the charities that also invested in the Youth Feasible.” Valerie wore her curly black hair in a medium natural stile that set off her chocolate brown skin, and dark smoldering eyes. “Some of them put a lot of money into it. Money that the people they help depend on.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So we just can’t risk any bad press scaring people away from the Youth Feasible or the race. It’s not just about Alex’s money or even for the girls. A lot of needy people are counting on us. It’s all for a good cause,” Alan added.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So where dose the mystery come in?” Fred asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Right hear.” Alan said as he pulled an irregular sized paper form his pocket. He handed it to Fred and said, “Professor Hudson I fond this pined to the display sign on the Mercedes Staff car in the military exhibit last week.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred read aloud:

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">'' “To die Scheißkerl that has dared to disturb my Schlaf. ''

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">'' You have awakened me form my long Schlummer with your petty Gier and Wunsch. ''

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> If you dear resurrect die Rennen von Tod, 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> like wie ein Phönix aus der Asche I too will rise again 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> und '' take my Revanche on die ganz Cabot Familie.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Gib Acht the Cabot Curse 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> No sterblich Mann will ever finish die Cabot Grand Prix leben.”  ==<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: windowtext; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Die Oberstgeist <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: windowtext; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> ==

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">This doesn’t make any sense.” Fred groaned in frustration.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Like is that even English?” Shaggy asked.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Behind the dressing screen Melody had turned her back on Velma and was slipping on her dress. “Can you zip me as long as your hear?” she said giggling. Velma blushed and zipped up the little pale green frock Melody wore over her hunter green schoolgirl skirt.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“It sounds almost German to me,” Josie said as she came out from the other side of the screen now dresses in a daringly short dark blue mini skirt and a light blue jumper.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right,” Alex said. “Professor Hudson is a specialist on old German cars. He told me what it says.” Alex cleared his thought.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> To the er person that had disturbed my rest, 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">'' You have awakened me from my long slumber with your petty greed and desire. ''

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> It you dear resurrect the race of death 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Like a phoenix I will rise form the ashes 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> And take my revenge on the entire Cabot family 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Beware the Cabot Curse 

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">'' No mortal man will ever finish the Cabot Grand Prix alive. ''

<p style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in"> Signed, the Ghost Colonel 

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Rost rolonl?!” barked Scooby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “D-D-Did he say ghost colonel? Is that like the ghost of an ear of corn?” Shaggy stammered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ghost corn, that’s silly,” Melody said as she walked out from behind the screen.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think it means the military rank colonel,” Valerie said as she emerged form behind her screen now fully dressed in a purple and pink .mini dress that accented her trim brown legs. She laid her hand on Velma’s shoulder as she passed and said quietly in her ear, “Did you enjoy the show?” Velma just nodded weekly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Daphne took the letter form Fred and looked it over then sniffed the paper.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There is perfume on hear.” She said incredibly “it’s” she took a long sniff then said “Notorious. Defiantly .”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexander pulled an annoyed face, “Of curse it is. Any one that would pull a stunt like this is trying to be notorious.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No no. That’s the name of the perfume.” Daphne said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “And if there’s anybody that knows about fashion it our Daphne” Velma said as she crossed the room trying hard not to star at Melody.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “’Notorious’ is one of the most expensive perfumes ever launched and it can be only bought from Harrods in London. The perfume was designed by Ralph Lauren for a segment of ultra premium people. A bottle of Notorious costs around $3,540.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma took the note and red it over once.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But what dose it mean Alex” Josie asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> What it means is that there is a ghost of a dead colonel with a grudge against my family and his planning to interfere with the Grand Prix.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t be silly there is no such thing as ghosts.” Velma said as she pulled a magnifying glass from a pocket and began to examine the paper.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What made this hole in the paper Alex?” Velma asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The letter was pined to the display plack with a dagger.” Alex ansered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Could we see the dagger too?” Velma wont to know.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “If you like its back at my hotel now. I’ll get it for you later,” Alex said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ghost or no ghost,” Alex went on “If anyone finds out about any of this the Racing Commission will cancel the Grand Prix. No race no feasible. And then I really am in trouble because every one that invested in the feasible will lose everything.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think that’s what this is all about.” Fred said. “Somebody is trying to disrupt the feasible for some reason. Who would stand to gain if you went broke?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Did you have to say ‘broke’” Alex groaned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Almost nobody” Valerie said. “The feasible has helped everyone in town. Whit all the visitors the towns merchants are doing a thriving trade. The local artists are getting showcases and over half of everything the feasible takes in goes to several charities to help the needy.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what do we know?” Daphne said. “A German speaking colonel with expensive taste whets to stop the race.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Not quite Daphne,” Velma said. “Who ever wrote this note doesn’t really speak German. They just won’t us to think so. The grammar is all wrong. It’s as if someone sat down with a German to English Dictionary and translated words at random. This paper is interesting too. It is vary heavy linen bond, with a watermark. It's vary expensive. But the size is all wrong.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What are you talking about?” Alan asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Most modern paper is a standard size eleven inches high by eight and a half wide. But this is closer to nine high by eight and a half wide.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what?” Josie said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Somebody cut it,” said Valerie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Precisely,” Velma went on “they cut off the top part to hide that it is monogrammed stationary. Probably form a fancy hotel.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Fred rankled his brow and said to Alexander. “Dose anyone have a grudge against you or your family?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Not that I am aware of.” Alex said. “But maybe we should ask my sister. Alexandria is the family historian, not me.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “By the way where is Alexandria?” Daphne asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She and Sebastian are probably into some mischief no drought” Valerie said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “My sister is in the office counting room,” Alex said a bit houtly. “She was keeping an eye on the take.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What I would really like to know is how did Helen Honda hear about this curse and what she knows about it all.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well why don’t we just go and like ask her.” Shaggy chortled. “I’d rather ask a pretty girl questions than and old German ghost.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “NO WAY!” Alex insisted. “Noooo way. That woman has been after me with this curse business ever since I got to Coolsville. If we go and talk to her it will be all over the six o’clock news faster then Shaggy and Scooby can get out of a creepy old house.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s pretty fast.” Shaggy laughed

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Raw, Relly rast” Scooby chortled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “If news of this leeks to the press the hole event will be ruined.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody suddenly cupped her hands to the sides of her head. “Uh oh, my ears a wiggling.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s not the only part of her that’s wiggling” Daphne said under her breath.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Melody’s ears only wiggle whine she’s in danger,” Josie said “and if Melody is in danger were all in danger.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t be silly,” Velma said a little irritated. “There is absolutely no such thing as extra sensory perception. So there is no possible way for Melody to be able to sense danger. That’s just a bunk of superstitious nonsense.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The muffled sound of a sub-machinegun burst from the next room ended all conversation. A harsh woman’s voice was barking orders in the auditorium. Then more gun fire sounded. Shaggy, Scooby and Alexander all dove under the buffet table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What was that?” Alan shouted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We’d better find out.” Fred said boldly.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER SEVEN 

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The redheaded tore guide with the mullet quietly slipped away from the crowd and unlocked a fire door in the side of the mane building. Ghost like, fore unsavorily tuffs walked in and began to make there way around the hall. They were all dressed in an odd combination of World War Two German uniforms, modern military gear, and biker leather. One wore an old fashion Prussian helmet with a spike on top and carried an M-16 assault rifle. An other wore the tunic of a German privet solder and the horned helmet of a Viking. He was so large that the sawed off Remington 870 pump shot gun he carried looked like a toy in his meaty hands. But the most odd was the one they called Matilda. She stood almost six foot three. She was clearly a body builder, and the gym had left her no trace femininity to her. She wore engineers boots, black leather chaps, tattered hot pants and a black leather push up bra, not that it had much to push up. As she entered she hafted an M-16 rifle fitted with a wicked oversized bayonet in one hand and a German Schmeisser in the other. She handed the submachine gun to the tour guide and then kissed her savagely. The last was a small man with shifty beady eyes and a tendency to walk sideways. He gave the tore guide a pat on her bum and got a slapped face for his trouble.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The five thugs fanned out around the perimeter of the room, keeping to the shadows as much as they could.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">As if on cue Matilda brazenly walked through the crowd to the stage. She leaped up on the bandstand and took the mike that Josie had been using only a few moments before.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Listen up you bushwazie vermin,” she shouted over the microphone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Prepare yourselves for the Oberstgeist.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen Honda shoved her cameraman forward and hissed in his ear “Get that camera on you putz.” The young man stepped foreword and pointed the camera up at Matilda, he switched on the light and began to tape. The tour guide just appeared out of the crowd and fired a short burst of led directly into the camera. In a cascade of sparks and shattering glass the portable TV camera exploded. The cameraman crumpled to the floor trying to shield his face for the shrapnel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Thank you Jet” Said Matilda form the stage “There will be no photography, the Oberstgeist values his privacy.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred, Alan, Alexander, Shaggy, and Scooby crept out of the dressing. Fred gestured for the others to be quiet and to follow him as they inched into the auditorium and crouched down behind a 1929 Cadillac Sixty Special.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred whispered “It looks like there’s just fore of them. I think we can surround them, then take them from behind.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Take ‘em where Freddy?” Shaggy groaned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Out” said Alan

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea, easy for you to say mussels. I say we go back into the dressing room and hide under the table.” Alexander said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea we like that plan a lot better too,” Shaggy added.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Come on you guys we could get to the bottom of this mystery right now. All we have to do is catch those guys.” Fred said

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Or thay could catch us and then we’ll get to the bottom of our graves,” Alex wined.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred, Shaggy and Scooby went to the left Alan and Alex to the right. Alan looked back and saw that Alexander was trying to turn back. He grabbed Alex’s collar and pulled him along.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “And so, with no further a due, I give you that Demon of Destruction, the Revenat or the Race Track, the Un-Dead Officer of the Day, the one, the only, the Oberstgeist!” <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda stepped off the stage. A cloud of smock rose up from trapped door in the stage. With the flare of a master showmen he rose slowly up through the smoke. He wore a long black double breasted leather trench coat with SS tank core insignia on the collars and colonel’s badges on the epilates. On his head he wore a black officer’s peaked cap with the Reichswehr- eagle emblazed in silver on the peek and the SS death’s head insignia on the band. It’s face was a fleshless gray skull. It walked forward to and stood a still as a corps at the microphone, arms folded across it’s chest head slightly bowered. It waited.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen Honda stepped over the prostrate form of her wounded camera man and approached the stage.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m Helen Honda with Channel 13 On The Sean Action News. Mister Oberstgeist, can you tell us what you wont?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slowly it razed its dead face to the crowd.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am der Oerstgeist.” He almost whispered the first two words, but his name was a guttural shout.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am der Oberstgeist,” it repeated comely. “und I have come to rächen mine name und take back that witch is ritfualy mine. I vill punish those kike scum zat dared to zieve from me.” It suddenly stepped forward, pointing at it’s barest and shouted “From pron!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “und now der Verräter vill pay. No one that enters der race of death vill finis it alive!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “By the race of death do you by any chances mean the Cabot Grand Prix?” Honda asked, “and who is this Verräter ? Are you referring to Alexander Cabot III, the primary organizer of the Cabot Grand Prix?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ja vhere is der schmutzig little cowered hidink?” the Oberstgeist replied as is it were speaking to a slow chilled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Can you tell us what Mr. Cabot has done to you? What did he steel?” Helen went on not knowing when to leave well enough alone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Oberstgeist took a long slow berth and put it’s hand on it’s hips. “Vhere is he?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am afraid that I just don’t know. But maybe you can tell us what he has done to you to incur your prodigious wrath.” Helen persisted. The Oberstgeist drew a Luger P08 form his holster and with exaggerated slowness it pulled back the toggle, holding the gun up close to the microphone so that the rasping clank could be heard throughout the auditorium. He leveled the pistol on Helen Honda ’s forehead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I vill ask only once more, vhere are you hidink him? Ve have vays of makink you talk.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen went pale. She was not supposed to be part of the story. She was just the commentator, not one of the victims. The Oberstgeist had just crossed the forth wall. She started to stammer but before she could completely panic some one yelled out from the crowd.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He over hear!” the small thug with the beady eyes turned around suddenly and pointed his M-16 rifle right into Alex and Alan’s faces. He chucked and said under his breath to the two teens. “Next time you try to sneak up on somebody, make shore there's no mirrors around.” Alan looked at the door panel of the bottle green Duisenberg that the small man had been standing by. Alan could clearly see himself and Alex in the side mirror.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Exhalent vork Spider.” Said the Oberstgeist. “Brink him hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Spider prodded Alexander with the mussel of his M-16. Alex climbed the stars to the stage shaking.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “O Gott!, this is Hexerei. You have not aged a day in thirty years  Jünger .”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ Jünger ? How’s Jünger ?” Alexander stammered. “I’m not Jünger. Pleas don’t kill me I’m too young to die.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Kill you?” The Oberstgeist laughed mirthlessly. “I will do far vorse zen kill you. First I vill heart you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’ll do anything you say just don’t heart me” Alexander’s knees and teeth began to knock together loudly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like you did to me, first I vill take vhat is most precious to you, I vill humiliate you, zen and only zen I vill destroy you.” The Oberstgeist razed his head “Spike. <span style="background: yellow; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda find his precious Miezekatze s!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The big guy in the Prussian helmet clicked his heals and shouted “jawohl!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh unt Spike,” the Oberstgeist mused “Take your time, have some fun.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Jawohl, Dankeschön !”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike and Matilda did not take long to find the Pussycats dressing room.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER EAGHT

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma had her ear pressed against the door listening when Spike and <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda crashed into the dressing room. Velma tried to get out of the way but Spike grabbed her arm and shoved her into Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hhoooo EEE!” Spice snared “It’s a fucking shmorgiousborg ! We are gona have us a time!’

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There’s one of each,” <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Matilda cooed pointing her gun in tune at each girl. “Blond, a set of redheads, a coon and even a brunette for me.Only thing missing is a chink. Yum yum yum.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But where to start? Who will go first?” Spike pondered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Go first for what?” Melody asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What are you planning to do to us,” Josie demanded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Why I am goina’ rape the shit out of each one of you. So who’s first?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The girls were all terrified into silence.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “How about the nerd, I bet she’s a virgin.” <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda taunted. As she spoke <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda pulled the oversized <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">bayonet off the mussel of her rifle and slung the gun over her shoulder. She stood close to Velma towering over her. <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda grabbed Velma’s bicep and held the edge of her knife to Velma’s plump cheek. “Isn’t that right. girly. I bet you’ve never been fucked have you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Tears began to well up in Velma’s eyes; it was not clear weather fear of the smell. <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda had not bathed in weeks. “How bout it?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike leaned in and got close to her face.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is that true? Are you relay a virgin?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I bet this one don’t even like guys,” said Matilda.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma shut her eyes tightly and tried to hold together.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is that true? Are you a dike? Well that’s ok cuz Matilda hears gona’ have a turn with all of yous too.” Spick said chorteling.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> After a long silence Spike slapped her with the back of his hand and sent her glasses flying across the room. Daphne stepped forward and shouted “Leave her alone.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike rammed the stock of his rifle into Daphne’s abdomen, she crumpled gasping for air.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh you have spunk. I like that. I bet your fight back wont you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right I will,” Daphne choked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You know what; I think I’ll save you for last Red. I wont you to watch. See what I do to your little friends.” He tossed her

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> ‘So who’s gona’ ride the Spike first? How about you Blondie?” he said to Melody but before she could answer he shook his head no. “No not you, you look like you’d like it too much.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma crawled towed the corner feeling around for her glasses. Melody knelt down to help Daphne up from the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I know you all wont your turns so be patent. You can’t all go first.” He stood stroking his chin for a moment then his eyes locked on Valerie's. “I know how to settle this fare and square.” He pointed his rifle at Velma as she reeled around feeling for her glasses. “Eniy, meni mine moe,” he started to tick off each girl in turn. “Catch a nigger by the toe. If she hollers Fuck ‘em mo’.” He ended with his rifle pointed at Valerie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Matilda shoved all of the food and plates off the table with a shuttering crash. She grabbed Valerie by the arm. Valerie tried to struggle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh no you don’t” she tried to say. But <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda was a bit bigger and a lot stronger. <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Matilda twisted Valerie's arm around behind her and slammed her face down onto the table. <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda drug the stunned girl across the short side of the table top. She moved around behind and put Valerie in a sort of half nelson with one arm and with the free hand she pressed the edge of the razor sharp knife to Valerie's thought. “If any body moves, I will cut this jungle bunny’s watermelon’s right off.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike shouldered his rifle and walked slowly around the opposite side of the table. He stood and admired Valerie for a moment. She was a truly beautiful young woman.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I ant never been to Harlem afore. Tell me is it true that you pickninies are pink on the inside?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Valerie struggled a little in <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">’s grip. A few tiny drops blood appeared on her thought along the edge of the blade. Bright red on her brown skin.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Something clicked in Dauphine’s head. The terror was gone and a cold calculating realism kicked in. This guy was for real. He was going to rape them mutilate them and kill them one by one unless she did something. She rose up from the floor calm and slow wile the two animals were distracted with there fun. As she stood she saw Josie huddled with Melody frozen in fear. Fore an instant the two redheads were on the same wavelength. Josie untangled her arms and legs from Josie and slid backwards across the floor and under the table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike pushed Valerie's legs open and stood between them. Valerie glared up at him with out blinking. “Think your man enough to get it up white boy.” She snapped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike shoved Valerie’s short dress up past her waste. He grabbed the crotch of her pink and purple panties and ripped them off tossing them over his shoulder.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh you are a little slut ant you?” he snarled. “I was hopping to see some watch springs. But I like this better. Nice and smooth.” He grabbed Valerie's knees and shoved them back hard against her chest.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Josie slipped out from behind the table and rose slowly behind <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda and rapped her slender fingers around the neck of her acoustic guitar. Daphne seemed to glide closer to Spike. Daphne focused her entire being on her next move. It had to be perfect. It had to count. There was no second place hear.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spike squatted down on his hunches and with his fingers pried Valerie open. “Oh look <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda, it is pink on the inside.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Go on lick it,” <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda urged breathlessly. “Lick that jugaboo twat.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Daphne took a deep berth cleared her mind; she gave Josie an almost imperceptible nod. Then Daphne took two long steps and with all the skill of an NFP place kicker she planed her pointed purple pump squarely between his legs. She was shore she felt one of his testacies pop. The kick was so perfect and so well placed that she lifted Spike completely off the ground. He collapsed back onto his knees and banged his forehead on the table top between Valerie's legs. Slowly he crumpled into the fetal position on the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Just as Matilda looked up to see Spike going cross eyed Josie swung the guitar like a bat. All the years of girl’s softball played off in that fatal moment. The Gibson smashed a home run into Matilda ’s color bone. As the guitar splintered with a ranching twang Matilda toppled over backward and collapse against the wall. Down but not out.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Velma suddenly grabbed a bole of japinos peppers form the buffet and splashed the juice in Matilda ’s face. The large woman screamed shrilly clutching her eyes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Run for it girls!” Josie yelled as she grabbed Valerie's hand and tugged her off the table. Valerie seemed dazed for a moment. She looked down at Spike and spit on him. “ Dickles Cracker punk” she snarled. Then just for good measure she kicked him hard in the ribs. The girls fled as fast as they could.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER NINE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Fred Shaggy and Scooby crouched down behind a 1929 Cadillac Sixty special as Spider prodded Alan in the ribs with the mussel of his assault rifle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The Oberstgeist is going to kill Alex if we don’t do something.” Fred whispered to Shaggy.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’ what were gona’ do Fred. Like those cats have real guns. Did you see what the chick did to the cameraman?” Shaggy replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think I have an idea.” Fred said with that sparkle he always got in his eye when he set a trap. “Do you and Scooby think you can sneak over to the old fire truck with out getting caught?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think so. We’re far out sneakers.” Shaggy said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right, when you see me get to that Half-track over there start siren on that truck. That should create a distraction and give me time to crash the half track into the stage and rescue Alex.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t know Freddy it sounds pity risky to me.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We are Alexander’s only chance Shaggy, we have to try it.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> That's when things went from bad to just plane weird.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria Cabot finished with the double checking the take form the ticket windows in the security room. The Security room was a large room with steel reinforced walls and heave steal doors. The room was used primarily for things too valuable to be left on the museum floor over night.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria slipped out of the door connecting with the mane auditorium carrying her cat, Sebastian in her arms. When she saw Alex on the stage and the Oberstgeist holding a gun to his head she thought it was some sort of publicity stunt. It would be so like Alexander to stage something corny like that to get some extra attention. Well Alexandria wasn’t about to be upstaged by her chicken brother. It was bad enough that she had to put up with that obnoxious Josie, but this would be just too much.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay what’s going on in hear ?” She shouted as she stormed over to the stage. “Did tall dark and boney hear find out that it was you, brother dear , that booked Josie to sing?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Oberstgeist jaw dropped open and he gasped in shock when he saw Alexandria.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ Liebhaber ! Mine Liebhaber !” he monad. “Don’t you recognize me? It is me. I have come to rescue you form der Saufkopf .”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Rescue me?” Alexandria gaffed at the Oberstgeist “Listen buster the only thing I need to be rescued form is the caterwauling that Josie calls music.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Oberstgeist’s struck Alex across the face with the Lugar and Alex collapse to the stage. “Swine, you have brain vashed her against me. Against her one die wahre Liebe. For zat you vill pay.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Brain washed? Her,” Alex said in shook. “I can say for a fact that nobody has ever brain washed Alexandria, in fact her mind may be the only thing dirtier then her mouth.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria began to realize that the Oberstgeist was not part of some sort of publicity stunt. She stared to back away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ nein nein Liebhaber, you must come vith us. Ve vill help you to remember who you relay are.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I know exactly who I am and I'm not going anywhere with you bone head.” She turned and stared to run for the security room again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Moos seas her and put her in my Kraftwagen. See no one harms her.” Oberstgeist shouted.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria sprinted back toward the security door but Moose cut her off. She turned to run between the old fire engine and the American Half-track but Moos was fast for a big guy. In just a few steps he was on her. Moose grabbed Alexandria and tossed her over his massive shoulder in a firemen’s carry. As Moose tossed Alexandria over his shoulder she lost her grip on Sebastian.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The tuxedo cat tried to help his mistress by running up the giants led and sinking his sharp claws in the gorilla’s flesh. Moose tried to kink the cat away. He balanced on one foot and violently kicked with the other twirling in circles as he did flaying one arm. Alexandria screamed with rage.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby Doo saw Sebastian the cat and his dog instincts took over before he could stop himself. The Great Dane leaped out form behind the fire engine and charged the goliath. Sebastian hared the dog barking and ran state up the gunmen like a ladder and perched on top of his Viking helmet. Scooby Doo piled into them at full speed and sent everyone sprawling across the floor.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred k new better then to wait any longer. He jumped into the Half-track hit the starter and pushed the peddle to the floor. The heavy truck was vary loud and surprisingly slow. When Shaggy heard the half track start up he leaped into the fire engine. No point in using the siren now, he thought nobody would hear it over Alexandria’s screaming anyway. Shaggy turned on the mane pumps and grabbed water cannon mounted on the antique firebrick. He turned the hose on the Oberstgeist and knocked him clean off the stage. All of the guests scattered in every direction.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria did not waste a second. She staggered to her feet as soon she had squirmed her way out from under Moose and Scooby and sprinted for the security door. Moose got to his large feet and chased after her. As she was reached the door Moose was on her again He grabbed by the collar of her little red dress and yanked hard. She fell backward and landed sitting upright on the floor. Moose grabbed her by the pony tale and would have had her if not for Scooby Doo. The heavy dog leaped onto Moose’s back with all the force he could muster. Moose was throne off balance and staggered a few steps away form Alexandria.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria’s since of self preservation was intense. She was on her feet again. Alexandria yanked the oversized key to the security door from her pocket and jammed it into the key hole.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Oberstgeist climbed up from behind the stage and began firing his Luger P08 at the approaching half-track. But the 9 mm. parabellum bullets barley scratched the paint on the heavy armor on the half track. Fred crashed into the stage sending d ebris everywhere.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Not wonting to miss out on the fun Alan leaped over the hood of a World War II Weelys jeep wile Spider turned to run. Alan darted under the band stand just as it began to come down around him. He quickly found Alex in a feade le ball whimpering in terror among the debits. Alan yanked Alex to his feet. The rowdy tucked the stage manager under his burly arm like a football. Alan pushed forward to the half track and slam dunked Alex over the armored side into the bed of the truck.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Moose managed to get a grip on Scooby’s collar over his shoulder. With a vicious twist he made Scooby’s collar into a make shift garret. The big dog’s face went blue as his airway was cut off. Scooby began to go limp and lose his grip on the big ape’s back. But now it was Sebastian to the rescue. The black and white cat leaped form a near by car top onto Moose’s hand. Sebastian rapped his forlegs around Moose’s wrist, sank his sharp needle like teeth into Moose’s cores flesh and began to rake as fast as he could with his hind legs.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> If Moose’s wrist had been a sequel or a rat or even an other cat Sebastian would have torn out its throat and evisorated it. But Moose’s wrist was not a small mammal. But the effect was enough to save the Great Dane’s life. Moose bellowed in agony as Sebastian’s claws opened a manger blood vessel. Moose’s grip on Scooby’s collar loosened and the prostrate pooch fell to the floor.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy heard the grails and yelps of Scooby through the din. He swung the water cannon around and pinned Moose to the wall with the gushing torrent. Sebastian leaped back to the car he ad come from and shook the water out of his soaking fur. Sebastian then showed Shaggy his favret claw.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> This all bought Alexandria the time she needed to get through the security door and relock it behind her. She dashed over to the compaction panel and slammed her fist down on a big batten marked “Emergency Lock Down” In big red letters.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Klaxon sirens began to whale, heavy steel bars slammed down over all the doors and windows of the museum securely locking everyone inside. Ten blocks away, at the Coolsville Police Headquarters a red light began to flash on a big bored and a buzzer sounded to alert the officers that the Cabot Automotive Museum was benign robed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> It aw about then that the girls came screaming out of the dressing room. <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> Alan shouted from the rear compartment of the half track, “Fred, Josie and the girls are right behind us”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Fred through the half track into reverse and backed out of the stage. Fred had never driven a 30 year old armored military troop transport before so his control left a little to be desired. The heavy truck lumbered backwards across the auditorium floor chugging away.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The Oberstgeist climbed up from the pile of rubble “Roust! ROUST SHENLL! Mock Shell dumbcufs!” he shouted “The polizei are communing Roust roust! No time to waste Roust you swhinhunts!”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred made a subtle turn, barley missing the priceless Duisenberg that had once belonged to Clark Gable and came to a stop directly in the girls path.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Josie was in the lead holding Valerie’s hand with Daphne in the rear spurring the stragglers along. They stopped short ten feet from the half track, not knowing that it was there friends. Alan and Alexander struggled to open the tale gate to let the girls.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jet had been sitting at the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz G4 all this time. When the Oberstgeist gave his orders she pulled a Nazi officers peeked cap from under the driver seat and fired up the old truck. Thought it into gear with ease and ran it up to the stage. The Oberstgeist jumped down form the stage and stood upright in the back seat of the heavy truck still shouting orders.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The dressing room door burst open. Spike and <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda stumbled out. Spike razed his assault rifle in the air and shouted in a high pitched voice that heart Scooby’s ears.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Nobody Kill that redheaded slut she’s mine!”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexander figured out the latch and the tale gate of the half track dropped open in front of Josie and the others.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay good looking,” Alan shouted “goin’ our way?”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Josie pulled Valerie’s had and ran for the truck. “We’ll go any way you wont,” she quipped as she lead the girls up the ramp into the half track.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda saw Daphne pushing Velma, still with out her glasses up the ramp and looked back just in time to see <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda point her out.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There she is!”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Spike brought his rifle to his shoulder to fire. Daphne was frozen like a bird staring into a cobra’s eye. Then a geyser of cold water hit Spike square in the chest and blue him down the hallway. Daphne shook off the spell just long enough to see Shaggy wave form the fire engine. Daphne climbed into the truck and with Allen’s help they pulled the hatch shut with a resounding thud.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexander slipped into the passenger’s seat next to Fred.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I have good news and I have bad news.” He said

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “OK let me have the good news first,” Fred said.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All the girls are in the truck with us. Alexandria is locked inside the security room and there’s no way they can get in there short of dynamite. She has hit the mane alarm and the police are on the way. All the outside doors are locked and the bad guys can’t escape.”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “And the bad news?

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All the outside doors are locked and we can’t escape.” Alex wined.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alan poked his head into the cab. “In that case we should concentrate on getting to Shaggy and Scooby there still out there .”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Right” said Fred.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Cant we just concentrate on hiding until the police get hear,” Alex monad.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Outside the armored half track police sirens were growing louder. The water tank on Shaggy's fire engine ran dry. Shaggy leaped off the engine and ran towed Scooby and Sebastian.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Behind the wheel of the big Mercedes-Benz G4 Jet was an artist. She glided around the rubble of the stage and flanked the half track. Spike and <span style="background: yellow; color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-highlight: yellow">Matilda climbed in to the Command car and jet was moving again.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy reached Scooby Doo. The big dog was just then reviving after his near strangulation.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Come on Scoob,” Shaggy said “We gatta get out of hear”

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Moose got up with a grown and spit a stream of water out of his mouth. The gunmen racked the pump of his shot gun as he approached Shaggy and Scooby. Before ether Shaggy or Scooby could run he pulled the trigger of his 12 gage shot gun at almost point blank rang. But instead of a bang and a spry of buck shot the gun fizzled and stream of water tricked out of the barrel.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jet pulled the Mercedes-Benz G4 around and drove it state at Shaggy and Scooby. Spike stood up in the back seat and leveled his M-16 on the guys and smiled.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy and Scooby didn’t hesitate. They ran in opposite directions. The grenade launcher mounted under the M-16’ barked once. A heavy grenade hit the wall and blue a large hole in the barrier. With out slowing the Mercedes-Benz G4 charged through the hole. As it passed Moose jumped onto the running boards and they disappeared into the down town streets of Coolsville. All of the guests that had not escaped earlier pored out through the hole in the wall blocking Fred form pressuring the bandits.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well at least they didn’t get the reseats form the consort,” Fred said to Alex in an attempt to cheer him up.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No” Alex said letting his irritation sow in his voice. “All they took was a used car, worth about two million dollars.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Pussycats and Mystery Ink spent the rest of the day and most of the night making there statements to the police. But some how they all held back. None of them wonted to tell the police anything about the letter Alexander had found on the Mercedes-Benz G4 the week before, and none of them relay knew why.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">CHAPTER TEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> About ten blocks away at the Sundance Plaza, down town, close to the stadium, up on the fifteenth floor Trixie’s trophy wife in the blue designer dress, <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Prada shoes, handbag and Chanel <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> #5 let herself into her large sweet. She double locked the door and even set the bolt. She went strait to the bathroom. Whine she tossed the Prada bag onto the marble top of the bathroom vanity the clasp popped open and a nickel plated Browning FN 1910 .32 ACP with ivory stocks clattered out. She turned on the hot water in the shower stall and steam began to fill the air. She sat down at the vanity and stared at her face for a long time, contemplating her face. She razed her hand to her eye pinched her eyelid between he thumb and finger and with one swift motion tore the eye lid off. Then came the other. She took a hand full of cold cream foam a jar on the counter and smeared it over her entire face. Then she fingered the flap in her hair line where Trixie thought she saw her scalp come away when the Arab hit her with his gun. She pulled the long black wig away and then a hair net that was under it. Her own wavy light brown hair fell down around her shoulders. She stood and wriggled out of the little blue dress, slipped off the black lace panties to reveal a truly magnificent body. She stepped into the shower stall and began to lather up.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">In the hall outside her room a pare of large hand with hairy knuckles silently tried the knob. He produced a lock pick from the sleeve of a red sports coat and “presto” the door was open. The intruder heard the shower running and posed a moment. He slipped off his clunky brown shoes and padded silently across the plush carpet of the sweet. He stopped and listened at the bathroom door. His chimp like face had the gleeful grin of a child on Christmas morning. He turned the knob with out a sound.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">In the shower the woman washed her face and hair. Rinsed them and reached for a towel. She raped her wet hair with the towel with her back to the bathroom.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The intruder stood drooling with glazed eyes as the woman finished. He stood just over six feet tall and was slimmer then Shaggy. Unlike Shaggy there was nothing gangly about him. He could be as comical as Shaggy too, but underneath the monkey like capering there was a feral hunger that could never be satisfied. His face had a distantly monkey like quality but was also hansom at the same time. He wore his black hair short with long slim sideburns. He was dressed in white slacks a blue oxford shirt, pastel yellow tie and a red sports coat, all with the distantly made to measure British cut. With out even turning she said calmly “If you’re just going to stand there and stare at my ass you may as well hand me a towel”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Arsène Lupin III, grand son of the infamous gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, took a face towel the size of a handkerchief and handed it to Fujiko Mine. She took the tiny towel and scaled at him.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Grow up you little pervert,” she said as she stepped out of the shower stall and got a large bath towel to rap around her body, just as casually as if she found Lupin standing in her bathroom every time she took a shower. She walked by him and into the master bedroom with cool indifference. Lupin tried to grab the towel as she passed by but Fujiko ducked him easily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In the master bedroom she dropped the towel and slipped on a white fleece hotel robe.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You where right about following that Racer kid,” she said, “he led me right to Blondie.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko walked into the living room of the sweet and gave a start to find yet two more intruders. She pulled her robe closed a little tighter.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hall hall the gangs all hear,” she said sarcastically “Did you two get a good look?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “More to the point did you?” said Daisuke Jigen. Jigen was a tall lanky man that always wore the same black ‘Blues Brothers’ suit and black fedora pulled down over his eyes. He was, as usual, stretched out on the sofa with a bent Lucky Strike hanging from his mouth and a glass of Jack Daniels at his elbow. The lower half of his face was framed by a protruding chin and pointed black beard.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The other man was dressed as a samurai, he sat in the lotus position on wing backed armchair with out the slights hint of movement.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin came in behind Fujiko and draped an arm around her shoulder, “So it was her?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes it was, and the Barcka Brothers,” Fujiko went on “But how in the hell did you know she would try for the Racer kid.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh I have my souses,” Lupin said trying to look innocent as his hand snaked around her shoulder and tried to fondle one of her breasts. Fujiko twisted out of his grasp exasperated.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The Barcka Brothers,” Jigen whistled “Are you shore it was them?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ Yes it was them all right. I was close enough to smell them. I had to play possum if they had recognized me they would have killed me on the spot.” Fujiko answered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Those two are bad news.” Jigen mumbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Not any more. The Kid locked Boris in the vault. Achmed got hit in the leg by one of the guards. He would have needed a doctor. He couldn’t keep up so she just ….executed him.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We heard on the news about her shooting her own man,” said Lupin.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She has no honor. Her type dishonors all thieves.” Goemon said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what is this kid to Blondie?” Jigen asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “And how did you know they would make a move on him,” asked Fujiko.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea…But banks are so small time you’d think Blondie would be after a bigger score than that. Did you get any idea what she was really after?” said Jigen.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Racer had a computer tape of some sort. It was in his fathers safe deposit box. That’s what Blondie was really after. The bank robbery was just a blind,” Fujiko said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That complicates things,” said Lupin. He began to pace. “I got it from a local fence I know that the Barcka brothers were hanging around the racing tracks folioing the Racer kid. Blondie almost always uses the Barcka Brothers for all her heavy work. But I figured they would go after the car.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What car,” said Jigen

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The Mach Five. Speed Racers car,” said Lupin. “It’s full of high teck gadgets. That seems to be what she’s after but I just can’t figure why. Fuji-cakes did you get any idea what is on the disk?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko answered “I over heard the Racer kid telling his girlfriend that it was some sort of formula. It was invented by some egg head named Dr. Quest. But I didn’t catch what it was”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What would a crazy mercenary like Blondie wont with a tape?” Goemon pondered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That all depends on what it is. We have to find out if we wonet to clear ourselves of this arms dealing beef. I guess we’ll go pay a visit on this Dr. Quest and ask him?” Lupin said almost to himself.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What makes you thing he’d talk to us Boss?” Jigen said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He won’t talk to us. But have you ever met an egg headed scientist that could keep a secret for our little Fuji-cakes?”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER ELEVEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The early morning Coolsville sun shimmered from the hot black asphalt of the race way. Speed Racer in the Mach Five charged into the sharp turn and accelerated out spraying gravel on three boys and a chimp standing on the guard rail.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Boy look at that beauty go!” shouted Jonny Quest. “It can really move with dad’s new fuel!” Jonny was all of 11 years old and he had already seen most of the world. But he still was the all American boy in blue jeans an black t-shit and Keds tennis shoes. He had clear piercing blue eyes and wore his honey blond hair in a ducks tale.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The Mach Five is already fast! It doesn’t need your dad’s old fuel to make it fast,” instead Spritle Racer, Speeds eight year old kid brother. Spritle had a round open face short brown hair and the same sparkling blue eyes of his brother. In spite of having his father’s thick build and beefy hands he was still a full head shorter then the older boys. He always wore red overalls, a faded pale red T-shirt, a red and white striped bill cap and white sneakers. He liked the outfit so much he invariably dressed Chim-Chim

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">, his pet chimpanzee, in the outfit, mines the T-shirt.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I think maybe it is the result of the combined genius of both your fathers that has achieved such spatuler results,” said had Hadji. Hadji was a Calcuttan orphan razed mostly by American Marians. A few years earlier he had saved Doctor Quest’s life from an assassination attempt. The Quests had adopted him and sins than he and Jonny had been best friends. He was about the same age and height as Jonny, but a little lighter. He had dark almost black eyes and skin the color of walnuts. He wore a white turban with a ruby broche on the forehead. Most of the time he dressed in tan slacks and matching Nehru jacket, no mater what the weather.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t care what you say, gas is gas. The Mach Five is the most powerful car in the world and my brother is the best driver in the world. It is so fast because my father made the best engine in the world. So there!” Spritle stood on the guard rail and pocked Jonny in the chest as he told the older boy off.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Gee Spritle, I never said the Mack Five wasn’t a great car. I just said that my dad’s new fuel formula made it even faster. With my Dad’s new fuel it should be a synch for your brother to win the Cabot Grand Prix.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh so now your saying that Speed cant win the race with out your dad’s fuel. Speed could win that race with any kind of gas at all,” Spritle was becoming irate. Chim-Chim

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> stood behind him mimicking his posture.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Now take it easy little guy, I didn’t say that at all, I was just saying…” Jonny began but Spritle cut him off.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “How are you calling little? I big for my age, and I’m a really good fighter so you just watch out,” Spritle stared to jab and punch in the air. “If you don’t take back what you said about the Speed and the Mach Five I’ll give you the ‘old one-two’.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jonny reached out and put his hand on Spritle ’s forehead to held him back as the smaller boy through punches wildly around.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Calm down Spritle I don’t wont to heart have to hurt you,” said Johnny with a snicker.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">“Come on I’ll cut you down to size. You just think ‘cuz your bigger then me you can push me around, but I’ll show you a thing or two. Now come hear and fight fare,” snarled Spritle <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN"> still swinging with all his might.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">“It looks as though you have a tiger by the tail there Jonny,” said Hadji greatly amused by his friends predicament.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t know what to do Hodg, I really don’t wont to hurt the little fellow, but if I let him go….”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spritle landed a vicious kick to Jonny’s shin. Jonny let out a shout that drew the attention of Race Bannon and Pops Racer away form the speeding car. Both men left the pits and headed toward the commotion.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">OW! All right small fry you asked for it,” Jonny snapped. With a quick side step and Jonny allowed Spritle <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN"> to charge closer in. Using Spritle <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">’s own weight against him Jonny easily put the smaller boy into a headlock.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">“Now I’m warning you for the last time shrimp, cool it or your guana’ get a licken,” Jonny said trying hared not to lose his temper. After all Spritle <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN"> was just a kid.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">Whine Jonny grabbed Spritle <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN"> Chim-Chim <span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">saw red. The chimpanzee leaped onto Jonny’s back screeching, scratching and yanking hand full of Jonny’s ample blond hair. Bandit, Jonny’s small white bulldog, was no less loyal a pet then Chim-Chim

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">. When the ape leaped on the boys back the dog charged the simian. Bandit leaped up and sank his small sharp teeth into the trapped door of Chim-Chim’s overalls. This triggered a whale of rage form the ape.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Hodji was at a loss as to what to do. Jonny was now running around in a circle with Spritel under one arm and Chim-Chim on his back with Bandit flailing around like a monkey’s tail.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Help Help,” Hodji shouted. “Mr. Racer, Race Help, pleas before some one gets heart.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Roger T. "Race" Bannon was only thirty five and still in top shape, so he was able to reach the fight long before the older and rounder Pops Racer. Race was a large powerfully built man with prematurely white hair that he wore in a close crew cut. He wore brown engineer’s boots, gray slacks and a bright red double breasted shirt.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Whine Race reached the seen he grabbed both Jonny and Spritle by the scruffs or there necks and pulled them apart. As soon as the boys were separated the Chip and the dog retreated to neutral ground.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hold on there boys,” Race said firmly, he seemed to readeat natural authority. People just seemed to do what he said, with out any need for a badge of authority.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Now Jonny I’m suspired at you. Why don’t you go find somebody your own size?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But Race he started it.” Jonny began to protest.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t care who stared it. You know better then to then to pick on little kids. Now I wont you two boys to shake hands and make up.” Race said as he put the boys back down.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay who are you callen’ little you big ape?” shouted Spritle. The instant Race let go Spritel chard in and kicked Race in the knee and ran. Race doubled over and cried out in surprise and pane.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You see Race, I tried to tell you,” Jonny began.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Look out! Incoming!” Hodji shouted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spritle and Chim-Chim had regrouped about twenty feet away and opened fire on race with their sling shots. Race Jonny and Hodji all jumped over the guard rail on to the track side for cover.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You right Jonny,” chortled Race “That kid is a mennes .”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What are we guna' do Race” Jonny asked. “We can't hide hear all day.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Several rocks bounced off the rail with considerable force. Then there was the bear like voice of Pops Racer echoing over the black top.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That will be enough of that.” He shouted. “You’re both going back to the hotel with me right now! You will stay in your room and there no TV for either of you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Spritle began to cry hysterically. Pops racer was a bear of a man in his late forties. He had a round open face. Pops tucked bolt miscreants under his arms and stomped over to the guard rail to apologize to Race and the other buys.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Mach Five pulled off the mane track and glided to a stop. Trixie ran over holding the stopwatch in her hand

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That was your best time ever Speed” she with glee. “You cut five and a half seconds off your best time.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed pulled off his helmet as he climbed out of the low slung sports car. Trixie leaped into his arms with a giggle as he twirled her around.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I guess Dr. Quest’s new fuel really dose work!” Speed said laughing with the sweet young girl.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Go Team’s ace mechanic Sparky, and Dr Quest came up to the car together. Sparky wasted no time at all. He popped open the bonnet and began checking over the super charged V12 engine. Speed put Trixie down as Dr Quest approached him. Speed stock out a hand and shook the older mans vigorously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Congratulations Doctor Quest, your new fuel is a success. I can really feel the added power whine I drive.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s encouraging to hear Speed. But I still wont to look at all the data before we call this a success.” Said Dr Quest as checked on some interments in the passenger’s seat of the car. “It would be a terrible tragedy if we released this new formula to the world and found out later that it has some sort of flaw.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I understand,” Speed said zealously. “That’s why you’re testing the fuel with professional racing cars. Because only professional racers have the skill to push there cars to the limits of there performance. By studding how the fuel performs whine it is being used to its maximum you will be able to understand its capabilities.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right Speed,” Said Dr Quest as he pulled a long strip of graph paper from one of the interments in the passengers seat of the Mach Five. “I have to be absolutely shore that there is no flaw in the formula. It is my responsibility as a scientist to be absolutely shore that this new formula is safe before it can be used by the general public,” he shook his head a little as he studied the read out. “Like this for instance. The rate of molecular decay increases sharply with rate of consumption.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Dose that mean the fuel could be dangerous for Speed to use?” Trixie asked

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No Trixie,” Dr Quest reashoured her. “But that could be a problem later on. It could cause the fuel to brake back down into it’s component parts and render it inert. If that happens in the Mach Five the car would just lose power and cost to a stop. But it would be a disaster it that happened in an air plane in flight, the plan would crash.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t understand what you mean by component parts Doctor Quest.” Trixie said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well the active component of this fuel is much more potent that traditional gasoline. Just a few drops can produce he same energy as ten gallons of traditional fules. But in it’s condensed state it is ten times more unstable then nightrogliserion. So we mix the catalyst with an epoxy base. The base on its own is not fuel at all. In fact with out the catalyst the base will solidify and turn to a hard rock like resin that would seas up any engine it was in. That’s what this seares of tests is all about. We are trying to optimize the mixture of catalyst to base resin. If we are successful we could be able to produce a gasoline that will give 100 miles per gallon in an average passenger car wile still using the same amount of crude oil to produce.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That would be a tremendous boon to all of mankind. It would help to end our dependence on fossil fuels,” Speed said. He paused a moment and looked down at his feet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What’s the trouble Speed,” Quest asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I can’t help but feel like I let you down yesterday in the bank. Especially now that I know how valuable the fuel really is. What if that bank robber sells the formula to a foren power?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t worry Speed, the formula on that tape was in a triple code. There is no way anyone could brake it. Besides it was only the formula for the epoxy base were using. The only place I have the formula for the cartelist written down is the one place in the world that only I can get to.” Quest pointed to his temple “In hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN">Sparky pulled his head out from under the bonnet of the Mach Five and called out “Hay Speed, Doctor Quest, sorry to interrupt but I think this could be important.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What is it Sparky?” Speed asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The engine is running quite a bit hotter then usual. It could mean a problem. With the higher burning tempture of the new fuel it could cause the engine to over heat and break down right in the middle of the race.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed leaned against the door and studied Dr Quest as he began to recheck some of the interments in the car. Quest was a tall man in his early forties. H wore a auburn van dike and mustache with a medium length conservative cut to his hair. Even with his ‘business as usual’ manners his massive intellect was given away by his bright blue eyes. Today he was wearing brown slacks a white short sleeve oxford shirt with a brown tie and a long white lab coat. He seemed to Speed like a farley fit man and Speed wondered why he would need a body guard. Even as the thought crossed his mind Race Bannon was approaching the little group around the car.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is there any problem Sir,” Bannon said as he approached.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No Race, just some techanal details to work out.” Dr. Quest said dismissively.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There’s still one thing that worries me,” Speed said. “Those crooks at the bank were after your formula. They knew it was there. They just used the bank robbery as a distraction to through the police off the real trail. So as soon as they relies that they don’t have the entire formula they will probably try again. So you should be careful”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Your right about that Speed,” said Bannon. “But you kids don’t need to worry about us. We can handle ourselves if they want to play ruff.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t know about that,” Trixie giggled. “You didn’t too to well protecting yourselves from Spritle and Chim-Chim just now.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well that’s different,” Race said blushing a little. “This gang is just a bunch of phicopathic killers armed with automatic military weapons. They’re no were near as dangerous as an 8 year old with a sling shot and a chimpanzee”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> There laughter was interrupted by a police car pulling into the pit stop. A pretty black police woman stepped out and approached the group with a serious expression on her face.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Sques me gentlemen, miss,” she said nodding to Trixie. “I’m looking for Speed Racer.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s me,” Speed said cheerfully. “What can I do for you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am Patrol Officer Poivre.  I kneed you to come down town to police headquarters with me please,” she said dead pan.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What’s this all about?” Dr. Quest asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m not at liberty to say,” Poivre said in her flat even tone. “I was just told to come and get him.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s all right Doctor Quest,” said speed. “I’m shore it’s O K.” Speed said as he climbed into the back of the patrol car. “Besides it will give the Mach Five time to cool down for the next test. We can do the next test as soon as I get back. By the way where are you staying?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We are staying at the Sundance Plaza, down town, close to the stadium,” said Race.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Okel Dokel,” said Speed. I’ll see you later.” He climbed in to the portal car and Patrol Officer Poivre drove off.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">CHAPTER TWELVE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">It was not the first time Speed had been asked to help the police solve some mystery, and he was always ready to help in anyway he could. So he was not worried whine they asked him to come down to the station. They most likely had caught the Blond Bank robber form the day before and need him to make a formal identification of her. So with out a second thought Speed climbed into the police car with the pretty officer and headed down town.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Speed checked in with the desk sergeant and was shown upstairs to the twelfth floor. He was lead through a sally port and down a dimly lit corridor with heavy steel doors. His escort rang a bell at the last door in the hall. A dingy plastic placard on the door read “Interrogation Room 6”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">A thick heavily jawed sergeant opened the door and lead Speed in. From the hash marks on the sergeant’s uniform Speed knew he had been with the Coolsville Police department for close to thirty years. The room was dark and two huge real to real tape recorders were mounted into a table in front of a large window overlooking the next room. Through the glass Speed could see Boris, now dressed in an orange jumpsuit, seated at a table with his hands flat on the table top. He stared strait ahead and did not move. Behind Boris was a large window inlayed with heavy wire. In front of him with his back to Speed was a dark haired man in a dark blue suit. Speed could not see his face.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Who are you kid?” the wizened cop said

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“I am Speed Racer,” Speed said. “Some one sent for me.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Right, that would be me. I was expecting someone a little older. I’m Sergeant Plod. The Inspector wants to see you,” said the cop. He hit a button on the counter and said into a microphone, “Lt Muggeffin, paging Lt. Muggettin you have a phone call.” He turned to Speed and gave him a sort of conspritionl wink. “That’s our coed. That way the perp don’t know I was pagenin’ the Inspector.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Over an intercom speed heard the muffled voice of the Inspector as he interrogated Boris.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ok let’s try this again. What is your name?” he asked sounding tired. No answer. Bores didn’t even blink.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “This tuff act is not going to help you. Two people died in that bank, which means I can put you away for two life sentences, back to back.” The Inspector passed for effect but Boris remand as still as a gargoyle statue. “Your loyalty is entirely misplaced. That woman you were working with killed your other partner the second he gave her the money. Shot him right in the bank. And laughed about it. She is not going to help you. If you don’t talk to me, you will spend the rest of your life in a ten by ten cell and your double crossing girlfriend will be laying on some tropical beach with her new boy friend, laughing about what a fool you are.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Still no answer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Fine, you sit here and think it over a wile. I need some coffee.” The Inspector stood up and went to the door to the connecting room. Speed Racer was surprised to see his old friend Inspector Detector. Inspector Detector was a tall heavily built man with a lantern jaw covered by a carefully sculpted beard. He wore a double breasted dark blue suit that was almost a uniform. Everything about him said professional police officer. Inspector Detector pressed a buzzer and Sergeant Plod opened the door. The two cops traded places. Plod stood with his back to the window towering over Boris.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Inspector Detector shook Speeds hand and greeted him warmly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s good to see you Speed. Are you going to be ready for the big race next week?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I hope so Inspector Detector.” Speed said. “But tell me Inspector Detector what are you doing in Coolsville? Isn’t it a little out of your jurisdiction?” Speed asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I was called in for this case because it involves Dr. Quest’s formula. Because of the destructive power it could have this case is being given high priority.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes, It was vary smart of Dr Quest to only put part of the formula on the tape. Did you catch the girl in the Firebird?” Speed asked hopefully.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No as a matter of fact we have drawn a complete blank.” The Inspector said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He hasn’t spoken a single word since we got him out of the volt. He won’t even tell us his name. He refuses to speak to the Public Defender. He had no indemnification on him at all and neither did his partner. We ran both of their finger prints for priers and got nothing. If either one has ever been arrested it wasn’t in this contrary. Most of the labels in his clothing were in Russian so were pretty shore he’s not from around hear. Interpol is running a check on them now.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Unfortunately he is the only clue we have to the location of your tape and Dr. Quest’s secret formula.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what can I do Inspector?” Speed asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s obvious that his gang was not relay after the bank. They were after your tape. Did any one know you were going to get it,” The Inspector asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Just Pops and Doctor Quest,” Speed said. “The information on the tape was just transferred to the bank that morning by ‘telex’ from Dr Quest’s lab in Florida.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So how did they know it would be there,” speculated Inspector Detector, “the only way they could have found out is if some one leaked it to the gang. That leaves us one of three choices; it was either someone on your team or in Dr Quest’s lab or someone in the bank.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> I thought that because you caught him that if you went in there it would provoke him enough to say something. Maybe you could get a clue about who told them that the tape would be in the bank. Anything that could give us a lead on the girl.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Boris sat and concentrated on not moving. In his mind visualized himself as a stone statue. He herd Speed Racer and Inspector Detector talking on the other side of the two way mirror in front of him. Did they relay think he would talk? That time when he was captured by the rebels in the Congo they had torched him for thee days and he never cracked. There was nothing these cops could threaten him with that had any meaning to him. Life sentences? Baw. No prison could hold Boris Barcka. All he had to do was bide his time and wait for the right moment. Some opportunity would come along and he would make his escape. He had no illusions about Blondie ether. He knew she would never risk her operation by attempting a rescue. Boris knew the risks whine he signed on for this job and that was his hard luck.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Boris stared into the two way mirror in front of him and studied the reflection of the city through the window behind him. On the top of a distant building there was a glint of light. Only a fraction of a second but he saw it. And he knew what it was.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No, no it can’t be. I didn’t talk. I would’ve talk!” Boris almost whispered. Sergeant Plod was startled by the almost imperceptible sound.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What you say tuff guy?” he said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Boris sprang out of his seat and seized Plod by the collar. Almost effortlessly Boris lifted Plod off his feet and slammed him against the inteaer window.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No it’s not my fault! I won’t talk!” Bores shouted hysterically.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed rushed to the door but he was too late to help Plod or Boris

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right now buddy, lets just calm down and talk about this,” Plod choked out. “There’s no way we’re gona let yous oytta’ hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Shut it copper you’re just as dead as I am. I won’t talk! Never!” Boris screamed. “He’s Hear! Let me out of hear! He’s hearing he’s come to get me!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Who’s Hear?” Speed asked as he slowly advanced on Boris.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> He's hear to keep me from talking.” Boris babbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “There’s nobody hear but us. No one can hear anything you say. Now just let him go and we can talk.” Speed said trying to sound calm.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Boris looked up at the ceiling and began shouting “I didn’t talk! Not me man, I didn’t talk. Don’t take me don’t take me!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Who are you talking to,” Speed asked as he circled closer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No way kid! I won’t talk! No to you not to the cops not to nobody.” Bored began to laugh madly as he babbled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The police can protect you. Just tell us who you’re afraid of and they can protect you.” Speed said. “Just let Officer Plod go and they will do there best to help you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You don’t get it do you? You can’t protect me from …..From …….Him. Not all the cops in the world. He can see everything hear everything. Nowhere is safe.” Boris giggled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Nobody can get in or out of hear. You’re safe in hear, now just let Plod go and...” Speed was cut off by the sickening crack. The window behind Plod spiderweded. Plod’s thought erupted like Mount Vesuvius, splattering blood over Boris’s face. The two way mirror behind Speed shattered sending tiny shards of glass cascading down on them. Plod’s body slumped back on the damaged outer window. There was a second impact. this time the 14.5mm bullet passed through Plod’s upper back and took most of his sternum with it when it shattered Boris’s skull. It then punched a hole as big as silver dollar in the heavy steel door Speed had come through.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Inspector Detector dropped to the floor instantly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When Boris collapsed onto plod the outside window gave way and both bodies flopped out the window. Plod hung from the frame by his knees and Boris lay on top of him. His dead weight held Plod in place.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Get down Speed” Inspector Detector shouted from the floor. “It’s a sniper!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed tried to pull Boris back in the window but a third shot ripped into Boris’s upper body. His body jerked like a puppet on a string. It fell back with a heavy thud onto Plod’s body. Both corps over balanced and toppled head first form the window.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In a last desperate try Speed grabbed Boris’ ankle as he fell. The dead weight dragged Speed toward the prepis and slammed his ribs hard against the window frame. Speed would have been pulled out the window too but the forth shot hit Boris in the knee. The heavy slug tore through flesh and bone, separating his calf. Boris’ foot and calf came off in Speed’s hand.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Slug tore through the brick and mortar of the building, missed Speed’s chest by mere inches then tore through the inner wall finally lodging in one of the tap recorders on the desk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As Boris’ leg came free all of Speed’s efforts to pull the heavy crook back into the window sent Speed cartweeling backward into the table. A fifth slug whistled by Speed’s head close enough to singe some stray hairs. Speed knew the difference between courage and stupidity. Her flung himself on the floor and tried to crawl out the door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Stay down Speed,” ordered Inspector Detector. The Inspector grabbed the wire leading to the telephone on the desk and pulled it down to the floor. “There is a sniper shooting at us!” He shouted down the line. “Get some help, quick. One officer and the suspect are both dead.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Through out the building cops mobilized. S.W.A.T. Teams suited up and charged in all directions.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Half a mile away on the roof of the Statewell Building in the shadow of a billboard showing a 30 foot Josie and the Pussycats bedecked in there skimpy costumes The Oberstgeist stood peering through powerful binoculars.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Shist! You missed Goldmädchen,” It snarled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I won’t miss again Onkel,” Blondie said through gritted teeth, as she jammed a fresh five round magazine into the six foot eleven inch long Simonov, PTRS-41, 14.5 x 114mm. Russian anti-tank rifle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ da muss ich Nein or nein sagen,” Said the Oberstgeist almost kindly. It put one boney hand on her shoulder. “Der Polizei vill be hear any second. Ve must roust.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Blondie fired three quick rounds into the window of the police station just to keep them down, but didn’t hit anything. Then with a controlled calm she did not feel she and the Oberstgeist disassembled the big Russian rifle, put all the parts into two back packs and ran across the roof top to the fire escape on the back side of the building. With well rehearsed precision they rappelled down the eighteen stories to the ground where Jet was waiting with them motor of the big Mercedes-Benz G4 running.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER THIRTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Some time later Speed Racer and Inspector Detector stood in the detective’s squad room staring at a table top model of down town Coolsville. Detectives and uniformed officers where bustling in and out of the room all around them as each man tried to contribute something to the case. Cops didn’t like it when one of there own was shot. Especially when it happened inside there own headquarters. The Coolsville Police were all angry and that made a bad situation even more dangerous. The potential for more violence increased.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> An officer in the black jumpsuit, and heavy flack jacket of the SWAT Team came in looking rather sheepish.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m sorry Inspector it looks like they got away,” The SWAT officer said looking at his scuffed combat boots. “They had a snipers nest set up on top of the Statewell building on 35th street.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But that almost half a mile away” Speed said incredusly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “They had some sort of big military anti-tank rifle and a real powerful scope. By the time we got there they were long gone. All that was left were these.” He held out a plastic evidence bag containing 8 spent 14.5×114mm shells.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The markings on these are Russian” Speed said as he examined the shell casing through the plastic bag.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Fine,” said Inspector Detector, but his voice shoed that it was anything but fine. “Let me know if you learn anything useful.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> A young officer close to Speed’s age approached them nervously. He stood for a moment fidgeting then cleared his throat theatrically.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Er. Excuse me for interrupting Sir,” he stammered. “T his is Inspector Zenigata of the ICPO. He insisted on talking with you. He says he may have some information on this case.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Inspector Koichi Zenigata was a tall burly Japanese man with a square jaw, and a badly broken nose. He wore his jet black hair in a tight crew cut with long side burns running all the way down to his slightly protruding chin. He was wearing a tan rain coat over a cheep rumpled dark brown suite. Everything about the man said cop. Not the tipe that would ever make it up stares to the offices. He was an old school street cop, through and through.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The dead guy on your door step is Boris Barcka” Zenigata said as he shook Inspector Detector’s hand. “and the one in the bank was his half brother Achmed Barcka. There just hired mussel on this caper. The Barcka brothers were a couple of mercanaries working out of Africa. The last five years or so they have been trying to move up into the arms dealing market. Neither one of them as a crimalial record because they have never really committed any crimes. Not legally anyway. But they have been suspects in a lot of gun running cases. The real brains behind this job is Arsène Lupin the Third.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am Inspector Detector and this is Speed Racer. Speed was in the bank during the robbery. It was him that caught our suspect.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I read the report on flight over. Locked him in the vault, nice work. You’re lucky to be alive kid. Boris Barcka is no push over,” said Zenigata amiably.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Was,” said Inspector Detector. “He’s dead now, and so is a good cop.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Zenigata pulled a file out of his pocket, thumbed through it. He pulled out an 8x10 color photograph of Fujiko Mine. The photo showed her on a topless beech in some exotic resort relaxing as a water handed her a drink with an umbrella in it. Speed colored a little when Zenigata handed him the provocative photo.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Was that the woman in the bank Speed,” he asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Gee no,” Speed said a bit embarrassed. “The bank robber was a blond, and she wasent as, er, big, as this girl. You could tell she was really having fun hurting people.” Speed studied the photo a bit longer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you sure Speed. This is Fujiko Mine, She is a know <span lang="EN-GB" style="background: yellow; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-highlight: yellow">accauntless of Lupin. She is an expert at disguise”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m positive Mr. Zenigata, But …”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But what,” Zenigata said getting excited.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I have seen her somewhere before,” Speed said. “I can’t quite remember where, but I know I have seen her some where. Who is this Lupin,” asked Speed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Lupin is the most dangerous, lying, thieving scoundrel on the ICPO’s ten most wonted list.” Zenigata started. “He fancies him self a gentleman thief like his great grandfather before him.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what makes you think he’s involved in this case,” Speed said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’ve read the repots on Lupin,” said Inspector Detector. “This just doesn’t sound like his M.O. It’s too direct. No stile. Lupin is known for announcing his intentions before the crime. There was no worming in this case.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s just what I thought at first too. And I am the world’s most foremost expert on Lupin. I have been chasing that basted for years. But then there this.” Zenigata snatched the spent 14.5mm shell casing form Speed’s hand and head them up. “one of Lupine’s gang; Daisuke Jigen, has been known to use a Russian made Simonov, 14.5mm PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle. There aren’t vary many men that could shoot accurately enough to get five hits through a window on a moving target form half a mile away. It was Jigen doing the shooting today I’m shore of it. The Barcka Brothers were expendable that all. Lupin was probably planning to kill them as soon as the job was done anyway.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But,” Speed said “You said you read the file on the flight over. That means you were already on your way to Coolsville before the bank robbery took place. How did you know in advance?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I was on my way to investigate an other case that I can link to Lupin and his gang.” Zenigata cleared he throat and stood a little strater. “It would be best if I started at the beginning.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin and his gang had never been involved in anything inherently violent. No out right murders. His thefts have always been vary sophisticated. Meticulously planed and executed. Lupin would never stoop to simply killing someone to rob them. Until six months ago.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Professor Clouse Dresden PhD and a brief case full of secret documents about his latest project left his office at the ThyssenKrupp Foundation for Scientific Research, in Essen on, Germany on a Friday evening at the regular time but he never made it home. Two weeks later a Russian made in a sleazy motel in Düsseldorf found Dresden’s body when she let herself in to clean the room. Dresden had been shot six times at close range by a .357 Magnum with hollow points. The shooter made shore that the face was completely destroyed. It took two more days to identify him. But the lab boys were able to identify the slugs they pulled out of the pillow under of what was left of his head. They are a match for the slugs they pulled out of what was left of Doctor Westwould the night before last. That’s the case that brought me to this birg. When the ballistics report came back on your bank robber it turns out your bank robber used the same gun to kill the guard and Achmed.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I see but what makes you so shore that this Lupin had anything to do with it,” asked Speed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ The desk clerk told the local cops that Dresden checked into the motel late Friday night with an astrictive young brunette ,” began Zenigata. “Dresden paid for three weeks in advance. They spent the night together. Then early the next morning the made saw a hansom young man in a red and black Mercedes-Benz SSK come and collect the girl from the hotel. She assumed the man was the girl’s pimp, so she didn’t think any thing more about it until she found the body. The Russian made is in Germany illegally and is vary motivated not to go back to Minsk. She picked Lupin and Fujiko out from some photos. And then we found this in the room.” Zenigata pulled a plastic zip lock bag from his pocket containing a platinum Ronson cigarette lighter. The name Arsène Lupin III was engraved in flowing script along it’s stylish barrel.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The local cops searched the room and came up with little bobble. It has Lupin’s finger prints all over it. When they ran his name through Interpol I rushed to Germany and the made recognized Fujiko as the girl that was with Dresden. What they did not find was Dresden’s briefcase. So it looks to me like Lupin is getting into the military secrets business.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But why would this Lupin wont to kill scientists?” Speed asks

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That's just what we have to find out before someone else gets killed” Inspector Detector said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I let you down. We didn’t even get a clue.” Speed said turning back to the inspectors.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But we did Speed. Now we know that this gang is probably some sort of paramilitary fanatics and well armed. Mostly foren mercenary tips. That makes them vary dangerous. We also know the gang member are more afraid of their leaders then they are of us. So we can start by looking at resent arrivals in this country. I don’t know whether or not Lupin is behind all this but will put out an all points bulletin on him and his entire gang. In the mean time Speed you keep your eyes open. They may try again.”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">CHAPTER FORTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">After school let out for the day Mystery Inc met at the Malt Shop like they did almost every day. Shaggy and Scooby were just finishing off there forth Super-Blockbuster Triple anchovy, pepperoni, mushroom, and liverwurst, alamode pizza pie whine Fred brought up the Pussycats and Alexander’s problems.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“It just doesn’t make any sense at all to me,” Fried said out of the blue. “I have gone over it in my head a hundred times today and none of the peaces fit together.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“What’s that Freddy,” asked Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“This case with the Pussycats,” he said matter of fact.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">At the mention of the case Shaggy’s hair suddenly stood on end.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“No way man! We’re done with this one Fred. Those cats mean business. They were shootin’ as us with real guns. Real guns man! I’m done with this case for good, and so is Scooby.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“But we can’t just let Josie and the gang down like that,” Fred protested.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Oh yes we can.” Shaggy insisted with Scooby mimicking him.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Alexander is in real danger and it’s up to us to help him.” Fred replied.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“No its not! Like let the Fuzz do it. They have real guns too.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“I think Shaggy is right this time Fred,” said Daphnie. “Those creeps were planning to rape all of us. Pussycats or not. Didn’t you hear what that dirt ball did to Velma, and to Valerie <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">? My stomach is all purple where that nasty Nazi hit me with his riffle but. I think this is a job for the police too.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“We can’t let anyone do that to Mystery Inc and get away wit it. We can’t just turn tale and run just because someone threatened us.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Yes we can.” Shaggy said vehemently. Scooby stood up turned his back to Fred and tucked his tale under his legs “''Ree? Ro rale''”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Cut the comedy you guys,” Fred said gruffly, “the least we can do is look around a little and then tell the police anything we learn. O.K?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Fine well ask a few questions and then were out, said Velma. “I’m not in any hurry to see any of those,, , , people again. Just remember Fred Jones, if they get you all they can do is kill you. They have other plans for Daphnie and me”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“That’s all the more reason we should follow this up. We can’t have people like that running around loose in Coolsville. Who knows where you might run into one of them.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">Daphnie gulped and said to Velma, “He’s got a point there. The one I kicked seemed like the type to carry a grudge. Maybe we had better find them before they find us.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Ok ok,” Velma gave in. “But promos me we wont try and catch them ourselves, well let the police handle that part.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Fare enough” said Fred.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“So why would the ghost of a Nazi coronal have a grudge against Alexander Cabot? Alex wasn’t even born during the war,” Fred started.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“We can rule out ghosts for shore. Ghosts don’t use guns,” Shaggy said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Or try to rape people,” said Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“They are defiantly corporeal,” mused Velma rubbing her sore jaw. “So what is there grudge against Alex?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Hay you guys remember what that butch tour guide said about the car they stole.” Imitating Jet’s voice exactly Shaggy said “‘ '' This is the prize of our collection. It is a  Mercedes-Benz W31 type G4 a German three-axle off-road vehicle that was first produced as a staff/command car for the Wehrmacht in 1934. The cars were designed as a seven-seater touring car or closed saloon and were mainly used by upper echelons of the Nazi regime in parades and inspections as they were deemed too expensive for general Army use.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">'' Of the 57 cars produced only 3 exist in original form. One is in the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum. Another G4, originally a gift from Hitler to General Franco, is in the car collection of the Spanish royal family. This one is on lone to the Cabot Automotive Museum from the Hollywood movie studio Five Star Pictures. This vehicle has also appeared in sevrial Hollywood films, mainly in war movies. It is ensured for three million dollars. '' ’” He switched back to his own voice “That old car was worth a lot of bred. Maybe it was all just a trick to steal the car”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Just because something is insured for three million dollars does no mean its worth three million dollars.” Velma said in her lecturing voice. “There are only three of those cars in the world. They can’t exactly repaint it and sell it in Tawanajha.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So they need the car for something else,” said Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m not so shore. It could be that they just wont to harm Alexander. If the enshernce companies think it is a risk they will pull out of the race and the feasible and that would end the hole thing. With no ensherance no business will participate in the feasible ,” said Velma.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “ The Oberst geist kept calling Alex and Alexandria by some strange names,” Fred said. “But I didn’t hear them clearly, Shaggy do you remember what they where?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy scratched his head in deep thought. “I think he called Alex Jung something. Jung er like I don’t remember. But he called Alexander ‘ Liebhaber’  I’m sure of that one.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Liebhaber?” Velma shook her head. “You must have heard it wrong with all the noise. It couldn’t have been Liebhaber.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Why what dose it mean,” asked Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The literal translation is lover. But Liebhaberin can mean an enthusiast or even a collector. I would guess it was a reference to the collection of cars in the museum.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “This is all just guess work,” Fred said in frustration. “The big questions we need answers to are,” he held up two fingers and ticked them off and he listed them. “Who would stand to gain from stopping the race and the festbel, Who would have a grudger against the Cabots?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “In that case I think we should start be asking Alex and Alexandria those vary questions.” Daphnie said. “Where did they say they were staying?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma looked in a tiny note book and said “Suits 1503, at the Sundance Plaza , down town, close to the stadium.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Stan the shop owner turned form the counter and said excitedly “Hush up now kids, this is important.” He picked up the bulky remote control for the television mounted above the counter and turned up the volume. An announcer broke into the afternoon dance show with late braking news. Dan Drather cam on the screen looking vary grave, “A thirty year veteran police officer and a suspect in yesterdays bank robbery were shot and killed inside police headquarters earlier today. For more details we go now to Channel 13 On The Sean Action News reporter Helen Honda live at the seen.” The screen changed to a close up of Helen Honda standing in front of the Coolsville Police headquarters. Directly behind her the police had cordoned off a section of the side walk with yellow do not cross tape. Paramedics were loading two gurneys, draped in bloody sheets into the back of an ambulance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am Channel 13 On The Sean Action News reporter Helen Honda live hear in front of police headquarters where earlier today two men were shot then fell to there gruesome deaths from a <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">twelfth floor integration room window. Police spokesmen announced that the still unidenafied suspect captured in yesterday’s back robber was shot and killed by a high powered 14.5mm. military type sniper rifle wile being questioned in a police integration room. One police officer was also killed by the same bullet. Police say that the shot came from over half a mile away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">The suspect was captured yesterday after a daring daylight robbery yesterday at the Coolville national bank. One bandit, described as an astrictive blond woman, made off with over one hundred thousand dollars in cash. A bank guard and one of the bandits were killed in a brief exchange of gun fire with two of the thieves. The apparent leader of the gang then abandoned the reaming robber who was trapped in the banks volt by the world famous racing driver Speed Racer (who was in the bank on personal business at the time of the robbery). The leader of the gang made her escape in a black sports car witch eluded the police and Speed Racer after a high-speed chase through the streets of Coolville.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In a shocking development today An unnamed confidential informant close the investigation revealed to this correspondent in an exclave  Channel 13 On The Sean Action News report  that the police ballistics lab have matched bullets taken from the body of the bank grand and the sill unknown bandit from yesterdays back robbery with bullets removed from the bodies of Doctor Westwood, world renown expert in artificial intelligence and his assistant Miss Peabody. Dr Westwood and Peabody were murdered in there offices late last Monday evening.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“Jenkies” gasped Velma “You don’t think that car that almost hit us yesterday was the bank robber?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Jeapers, I bet it was.” said Daphne.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “With police unable to protect even there own men inside their own headquarters it is no small wonder that no witnesses have had the courage to come forward. So far no one in this busy commercial center is willing to talk to the police or speak on camera about this shooting. Everyone in this neighborhood is afraid to talk for fear of reprisal by some unseen supernatural force hovering over the neighborhood.” Then with a sparkle in her dark eyes Helen said “Except this man. He has asked not to be identified or be shown on camera. Role tape.” The screen flickered and the words prerecorded appeared at the bottom of the screen. Helen was standing across the street form a narrow ally way between the Stillwell building and a sprawling whearehouse. The police had the ally cordoned off. Phorensic technicians were crawling on there hands and knees examining the pavement. Others were taking twenty seven 8x10 color glossy photographs of ever detail they could imagen.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Helen Honda stood facing the camera over the shoulder of man in a gray hooded sweatshirt. The hood was pulled over his head so not even the color of his hear could be seen.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So could you tell us what you saw hear?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The man’s voice was heavily altered by electronics with gave it a sort of mechanical sound as he spoke. But even with the distortion the word were slurred and he swayed a bit as he talked. The witness had to be a homeless street person.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well I waz,” he began, “just er resting down at the end of the ally way there when I hear this weird noise from up above. I looks up and what do I see. The Grim Reaper his self just walkin’ state down the wall. Him and the most beautiful angel by his side. Well they just sort of float down to the ground and gets in this big ol’ fashion car and drives off just like that. Not even a how you doin’ or nuthin’”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Can you describe this Grim Reaper?” Helen prodded the drunk.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea,” he stammered “How could I ever forget it. He was about eight feet tall. All dressed in black roves he was. And his face,” the drunk shuddered. “It, it was just all bone.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “And the angel that with him?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “She waz gorgeous. Had the biggest set of..” the tape abruptly cut off and back to the live feed of Helen Honda. She had crossed the street to the steps of the Police headquarters and was rushing toward Patrol Officer Poivre as she escorted Speed Race out of the building to a patrol car parked near by. Honda shoved the microphone at Speed and shouted questions

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Aren’t you Speed Racer? What were you doing inside police headquarters? I see you have a police escort are you in protective custody?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Speed said nothing to the reporter he just climbed into the back of the police car and stared striate ahead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Zoinks. That’s him that’s the guy that almost got in a fight with Fred.” Shaggy said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well gang this mystery just got a hole lot more mysterious,” Fred said

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Your not sayin’ this has somthn’ to do with what happened at the museum,” Shaggy wined.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Didn’t you hear that description? That ‘Grim Reaper’ and his old fashioned car have got to be our Oberst  geist  .” Fred said with enthusiasm.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But Fred don’t you think this is a little out of our league” Daphne said, “I mean murder.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Correction, six murders, so far, and counting,” said Velma. “Not to mention five attempted rapes.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Rix?” Scooby barked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Six, Dr.Westwould, His assistant, the bank guard, the bank robber in the bank, the bank robber at the police station and the police officer today. That’s six that we know of,” ticked off Velma casually. “And I bet they weren’t the first.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Freddy you’re just embarrassed by the way Speed Racer talked to you yesterday. You just won’t to get even by solving the mystery first and showing him up,” said Daphne.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s not it at all Daph. Its …Its just I ..feel a little responsible. If it wasn’t for us the bank robber might not have gotten away.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Still Fred, were talking abut murder hear, not just some creep in a rubber mask trying to scare off the tourists for a real estate swindle,” Velma said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea man these cats are like playing for keeps. Even if there not ghosts they wanna’ make us into ghosts” Shaggy said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s just it Shaggy, If we don’t stop them more innocent people could get hurt.” Fred said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea like us.” Shaggy says

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Besides what makes you think we can do anything in this case? We don’t have one single clue. And I for one don’t have the slightest idea were to start looking.” Velma said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">“We start with the Pussycats. And find out why the Oberst geist is after Alex and Alexandria.”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER FIFTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Sundance Plaza Hotel, down town close to the stadium was a new modern high-rise made of glass and chrome. It glittered in early even sun towering eighteen stories over Coolsville Park dominating the downtown skyline. It had been built two years ago by an enterprising land developer named Henry Parker that had hoped to bring casino gamboling to Coolsville. The project was nearly stopped in the building process because the high steel construction workers began seeing the ghost of an Indian shaman haunting the open guarders.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The building would never have been finished but Mystery Ink got involved and discovered that the Indian shaman was rely Butch Longabout. Longabout was the original owner of the some of the land where the Royal Arms now stands. Longabout learned of Parkers plans to build the high-rise after Longabout sold his plot Henry Parker. Longabout felt that Parker had cheated him out of the true value of the land.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Longabout sued Parker for an outrageous sum based on the clam that the land was more voluble because of the planed hotel. Not only did Longabout lose the suit he was forced into bankrupsy by his legal bills.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Longabout swore that the hotel would never be built and he would get revenge on Parker. So Longabout discised himself as a Ghost Witch Doctor and tried to frighten off all of the construction workers, most of whom were native American.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Mystery Inc caught him in the act and now Longabout is staying in the J-bar hotel, for three to five.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Down town in suite 1710 of the Sundance Plaza Hotel Benton Quest sat at his desk with a slide rule in one hand and papers scattered all around him. His keen eyes jumped form one chat to another and he scribbled commutations on a yellow legal tablet. But he just cold not find the ratio that caused the variable rates of molecular brake down in the base component. His train of thought was shattered again by the sound of loud rock and role music coming form Jonny and Hadji ’s room. Josie and the Pussycats were belting out their hit single “Road Runner” on the hi fi. Doctor Quest tossed his pencil down on the desk in irritation. His fertile imagination suddenly consumed with the image of Jonny’s record player flying out of the seventeenth floor window.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Jonny,” He shouted down the hall “can’t you turn that racket down, I’m trying to work in hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Ah Daaaad it’s Josie and the Pussycats. They the grooviest group going,” Jonny wined back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You heard your father,” Race intoned form the living room of the sweet. “Now just turn that thing down or I will.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh all right,” Jonny mooned “But I have a good mind to right to my congressman. Your interfering with my right to freedom of speech.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest was just about to act on his day dream when his telephone rang. He grabbed the receiver and answered. His face went slack as he listened.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I can’t bereave it,” he gasped.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What is it Doctor?” Race asked rushing in to the make shift office.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right Speed, I understand. I will see you in the morning then.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jonny and Hodji cam in behind Race, sensing that something was vary wrong.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That was Speed Racer on the phone. There has been a shooting at the police station. The bank robber has been killed by members of his own gang. Speed is a witness and will be stuck at the station until late tonight.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The bad guys got into the police station,” Jonny said in shock.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No,” said the Doctor. “A sniper got him through a window.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s some fancy shooting,” said Race shaking his head. “Is Speed ok?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes yes he’s fine. But that means we won’t be going back to the track today. I think we’ve all been cooped up in this room for too long. We could all stand with a break and little fresh air. Boy why don’t you get your bathing suits on and we’ll all go down to the pool for a wile.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yeapie!” shouted Jonny. Bandit began to run in circles barking excitedly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I guess that makes it unnamanomes ,” chuckled Race.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Down town in suite 810 of the Sundance Plaza Hotel Lupin sat with his back to the wall in the darkened living room. He sat fixated staring through a pare of powerful binoculars mounted on a tripod wit a swiveling head. Every few seconds he scanned the pool looking for his pray. Jigen was in the kitchenette of the luxury sweet seated at the little breakfast table. He had his Smith & Wesson model 19 .357 Magnum Combat Masterpiece dismantled and the component scattered randomly about on the table top. He pulled a bandana from his pocket and blindfolded himself. His large hands fumbled about on the table until he found the timer. The instant the clock began to tick Jigen’s hands were a blear over the scattered parts. In less than fifteen seconds the revolver was completely assembled and loaded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hear he comes” Lupin said softly. “All fore of em’. Even the dog.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you shore boss?” Jigen asked slowly rising. Because Dr. Quests work was so valued by the government not even Lupin could find any pictures of him or his family. The best he could do was a vague description he had wheedled out of the bell hop. But this guy had to be it. How many single men would be staying in this hotel with two eleven year old boys, one blond one Indian. The Indian kid was even wearing a turban. A swimming suit and a turban. This had to be them.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin sat up and pressed the binoculars to his tired eyes. He watched the Quest group wend there way out of the mane hotel and settled at table seven near the shallow end of the pool. That was them; there was no drought in his mind. Quest was tallish and lean; he had red brown hair and a goatee. The other guy with him was a typical government gorilla baby sitter. Big, mussel bound, not too bright looking. And there were the two kids with the little white dog.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We’re a go,” Lupin calmly. “Radio check, Lupin picked up one of two wacky talkies pressed the squelch button and said “Check one two check One two”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen’s duplquite responded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right you know what to do.” Lupin said. Jigen pulled out his revolver, opened the cylinder and checked the action. He slammed the weapon closed and put it snugly in its custom holster.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t worry about me Boss. Just make shore Fujiko dose her part.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Fujiko is all ready, you can trust her to play her part,” said Lupin calmly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I wouldn’t trust that broad to hit the ground if I saw her fall,” Jigen mumbled under his berth as he left.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Pearls before swine,” Lupin said half to himself as Jigen left.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody Jones never let things she didn’t understand bother her. And there was so much that she didn’t understand that there was not much left over that did bother her. She was almost always happy and enjoyed her life with total abandon. She gave no thought to the pare of sadistic neo-Nazis that had tried to gang rape her and her friends the less then twenty-fore hours ago. That was such a long time ago and she just dint have time to worry about that now. The only thing on Melody mind today was the sun. She knew that she had to look her best for the upcoming conserts and those stage lights always made her look so washed out. So she just had to get some work in on her tan.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Whine she stepped into the courtyard surrounding the Olympic sized swimming pool of the Sundance Plaza Hotel she felt the weight of every pare of eyes turn to her. One thing that Melody did understand was the effect she had on men. She understood it and she liked it. It felt good to me young and beautiful. The worm sunshine on her skin felt marvelous and it felt really good to know that she was even hotter.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> She passed at the gate way and looked around to see if there were any cute guys at the pool. It was the middle of the week but still it was summer and the pool not too crowded. Most of the people there where families with kids on vacation. Married middle-aged men with pudgy wives and two screaming kids. Nothing to interest Melody unless she felt like braking up a marriage, which she most certainly did not.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> But then someone did catch her eye. Not her usual type, but he might be worth a couple of laughs. He was an older guy in his thirties as least. He was two headed with crew cut but what a chest! He was whirring Speedo swimming trunks and he looked good enough to eat. And he was unattached too. No misses anywhere in sight.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody began the walk. She planed it well so it would look spontaneous. She walked slowly but not too slow. Just enough to give him a peek, not a show. As she walked passed his table she saw the other man for the fist time, sitting back in the shad of the umbrella. Oh gawd I how there not a couple she thought as she went by to a lounge chare three places past the table. Two would have been too close and fore would have been out of range. ==<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: windowtext; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> With her back to the men she spread out her beach towel on the lounge chare, carful to bend at the hips to show off the <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: windowtext; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">whale tail of her new bikini bottom. == <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race Bannon prided himself on his professionalism. One of his most important job skills was being aware of everything and everyone around him. It was essential that he could recognize a potential threat, and nullify it before it could do any harm. He also had the knack of sizing up people at a glance. So the gorgeous blond in the teeny tiny yellow tiger striped bikini had his attention before she was out of the gate. Race thought she was probably around nineteen; she was tall and leggy with big blue eyes that sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. The two small triangles of tiger striped cloth that made up her top were held together by three links of golden chain just loosely enough to display the deliquit carve her perfect breasts. Her scoop front bikini bottom was held in place by two bows on either side of her succulent hips making her legs look even longer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The blond walked slow to a near by lounge chare and gave a little wiggle of her back side as she laid out her towel

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Yes Race Bannon prided himself on being able to regencies a threat, and being able to read people’s body language. And that tight little rear end was clearly saying “hallow sailor!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> This girl was so fine even Doctor Quest looked up from his scientific papers for a peek. Since the death of his wife Benton Quest had not pressured the opposite sex at all. To him he still felt married. He still even wore his wedding ring. So a young girl like that may be fun to look at for a moment, but then he would rambler that she had a father. And he was probly Dr Quest’s own age.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> In sweet 810 Lupin’s binoculars began to fog over. The intent he saw Melody inter the courtyard all the blood darned form his brain to other organs.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh Mommy,” he mooned as Melody walked across the court toward the Quest table.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh yes oh yes, that’s right you dirty little thing you.” Lupin was trembling with desire whine she bent over he lost his composer. “Oh yes! That’s right bend over! Look at how those legs start at the ground then work themselves up untie that make a perfect ass of themselves!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin’s radio crackled,

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay boss,” Jigen whispered, “I’m in position out side there room, are they all still there?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin zoomed in the binoculars on Melody’s chest as she sat down in the lounge char.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea, yea, yea” Lupin snapped into the radio. “There still there. Go on ahead.”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER SIXTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> On the seventeenth floor Jigen slipped out of the stairwell and looked around. The hall was silent except the hum of the air conditioner. He glided along the thick carpet to suite 1710. The ornate door lock was not a challenge to an expert like Jigen he slipped in silently and listened for any sounds. The sweat was twice the size of the room they were using down stars. It had a large living room, a kitfchenette, three bedrooms and an office room, but witch was witch.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The first room he tried was obviously the boy’s room. Kids clothing was scattered on the twin beds. A couple of text books were open on the table. Jigen didn’t expect to find anything of use in hear but in the interest of being through he decided to give a quick search.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Under the mattress all he found was a dog-eared copy of “Pop-Beat” magazine fetching a photo of Josie and the Pussycats on the cover in there sexy little cat suits. Jigen didn’t think much of there music, but they filled out the leotards well. Especially that blond. He stopped and rankled his brow. What did this remind him of? The he had it. He had seen the redhead in the down in the lobby yesterday. They must be staying in the hotel. He put the magazine back and went on.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Through the connecting bathroom he found the second bedroom. This one must be the bodyguard's. Something about the chest of drawer was amiss. He stood and looked for a long moment. Then he saw it. A fine sprinkle of talcum prouder rested on the top edge of the drawer. How lame, he thought. That mussel headed body guard must have thought that none would see that. If the prouder is disturbed he could tell that someone had been in hear. All this relay did was tell Jigen what drawer to look in first.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> But all that was in the top drawer was a well worn Colt Government issue 1911 .45acp. It was lorded and well maintained. A box a shells, two full magazines and a field cleaning kit where next to it. It was a fine gun in his opinion. It could be quite formable in the right hands. But it required a lot of upkeep, and it would be any good to anyone up hear in a drawer. Now the talcum prouder made since. It wasn’t for burglars, it was for the kids. There was not much more of interest in hear. Carefully he replaced the talcum prouder and returned every thing as he had found them.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> He crossed the living room and entered the master bed room.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Today was the first time since the Sundance Plaza was finished that Mystery Ink had returned. At the time Parker did not wont any publicity about the Longabout affair so it was not surprising that none of the lobby staff reignited the teen age sleuths whine they cam to call on the Pussycats.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred felt exsuded confidence as he strode across the lobby. Why not, he knew he looked his best and he had Daphnie at his side, they were the vary model of the fashionable couple about town. As he reached the desk the clerk turned around and greeted them before Fred could even ring the bell. He was a middle aged man with a slightly French air about him. His eyes sparkled as he looked Fred and Daphnie over but then he frowned coldly and folded his arms across his chest as he looked down his nose at Shaggy and Scooby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “May I help you” he said with so much condensation in his voice that it sounded more like “go away and don’t bother me you presents,” to Shaggy.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m Fred Jones, and this is Daphnie Blake, Velma Dinkly, Shaggy Rodgers and our pall Scooby Doo. We would like to see Alexander Cabot please.” Fred said cheerfully.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The clerk just stared at him. “Yes I am shour that you would,” he said icily.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like look man” Shaggy started trying to sound friendly. “Like the Pussycats are friend of ours.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Every teeny-bopper and hep-cat in Coolsville is trying to get in to see the Pussycats. The leas you could do is come up with an original cover story. Now kids, if you don’t mind I have work to do.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The least you could do is call up and ask them,” Fred said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right,” said Velma “If we didn’t rely know them don’t you think we would have come up with a more convincing story?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The clerk rolled his eyes and picked up a clip board from behind the counter with a list of approved visitors. Theatrically he ran his finger down the list finally stopping and rolled his eyes again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh hear it is Daphnie Ann Blake and party. I guess you relay are on the list.” He sneered. Suite fifteen oh three. I will ring ahead and let Mister Cobit know your are on your way.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like thanks man,” Shaggy said amiably. As Mystery Ink began walk away form the desk the clerk called out.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Excuse me, er children, but only pets of paying guests are allowed up stares. I am afraid the dog will have to wait elsewhere.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby looked around and gnawed ''“Rog? What Rog?”''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Scooby Doo is our friend and he goes every where we go,” Fred began to argue.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay Fred like don’t sweat it man, me an’ Scooby can go cool it by the pool while you guys go up stares. Well catch up with you later.” Shaggy said with a grin.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Well as long as it’s o.k. with you I guess it’s all right,” Fred conceded. “But don’t you two get into any trouble.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Who us?” Shaggy guffawed as he lead the great through the lobby to the massive glass doors leading to the Olympic size pool.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody wonted the attention of the guy at table 7 and she knew how to get it. Men are all so simple relay, just a little wiggle and little giggle and they were all yours. All she had to do was put on a little suntan oil and he was be buying her dinner.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The application of sun tan oil is a science unto itself. One witch required great dedication and skill. For example one applied it differently for different reasons. If you just trying to protect your skin and actually go swimming then one pores it onto the palm of the had and rubs it on the exposed aria as quickly as possible. But today was not about protection skin it was about showing it.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> She razed one foot and half sat up in the lounger carful to arch he back to emprise the shape of her breasts. She drew a line on oil from the middle of her foot to just below her knee along the centerline of her calf. Then with both hands she began to spared the oil outward and up, carful to cover the sides of her calf. One she reached her knee she made a second line from knee to the lower hem of her bottom. She worked the oil out and up ever so slowly opening her legs just the slightest bit when she reached the hem. She ran her fingers along its edge suggesting she slip then under. Or not. The she hole process was repeated in reverse going down the other leg.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race was enjoying the show. He knew what she was doing and he knew she knew what she was dining. But right now, like it or not, he was on duty. He was not a liberty to take her back to his room; after all he had the boys to look after, and the doctor. The last thing he wonted was an erection in his swimming trunks at a public pool. He tried to think of something else. He thought about baseball but the first thing that popped into his mind was hitting a home run with that blond. He tried to concentrate on business. Then he remembered Speed’s description of the female bank robber. Could it be the same blond? Race could not imagine where she could have hidden a weapon in that bikini and fond his mind wending to ways he could search her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest had brought a copy of “Refractive Development And Ocular Structural Correlations In Infant Rhesus Monkeys” by Dr. Ying Qiao PhD. As light reading by the pool but now he was begging to have some ocular troubles of his own. He just could not tear his eyes off that young girl in the tiger striped bikini. He had seen pretty young girls before and he was old enough to be her father, he guessed she was maybe seven or eight years older then Jonny. But there was just something about this girl that held him transfixed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When Melody began to apply the oil Lupin almost went blind. Muttering and drooling he held the binoculars locked on her hands as she smoothed the oil in ever widening circles. Closer and closer to her most privet places. “Oh pleas oh pleas just do it. Yes that’s it you bad girl. Who’s your daddy?” A vane stood out on his temple and he’s forehead glistened with sweat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> With Herculean will power Race pulled his mind off of the blond. Suddenly he felt vary exposed, as if he was being watched. It was partly the thought that this blond just might be the bank robber, or another distraction for some other trick. He pulled his eyes away form the girl and scanned the court yard for anything unusual. And he was reworded for his efforts

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Coming into the court yard form the lobby entrance was the strangest looking dude he as seen in Coolsville. He was about six foot six and maybe one hundred and twenty pounds socking wet. He was whirling a lime green T-shirt that fit like a tent and faded brown bellbottoms. The shirt was so baggy it mad Race suspicious, you could hide anything under there. But the color was so loud in the afternoon sun that it seed almost to glow. The guy had long unkempt reddish brown hair and some stubble on his chin. With him was a sorry looking big brown Great Dane. The guys head turned form side to side slowly as if looking for something. Then it snapped in Races direction. The odd strange pare began to head directly towed them.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When Shaggy and Scooby stepped out of the cool lobby and into the hot court yard it took Shaggy's eyes a couple of minutes to adjust to the bright light, He looked around for an unobtrusive place to hang out when he saw Melody.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay look Scoop its Melody,” he said to the dog as they began walking toward the beautiful girl.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy boldly walked up to Melody’s Lounge chare as if he belonged there. No trepidation no nervousness. It was just Melody after all.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay there Melody, like mind if we hang out,” he said as he approached the Pussycat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Sour Shaggy, what are you two doing hear?” She asked in her sing song voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The gang came buy to talk to Alex about yesterday. But the desk clerk wouldn’t let ol’ Scoob and me go up stares so were waghtn’ hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh well it’s much nicer hear than up in that stuffy old room anyway” Melody said cheerfully.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody looked up at Shaggy and Scooby standing there and smiled sweetly. She liked Shaggy; as a matter of fact she had liked Shaggy three times last year on the old riverboat in one of the life under a tarp. She liked him because he didn’t over think things. Didn’t complicate things. Like last year, she had gone up on the deck between sets during the benefit consert the Pussycats held to raze money to restore the Dixie Queen. She had run into Shaggy wile he was tockin’ on some potent home gone. The shared a couple joints then climbed into one of the life boats and had some fun. After he did get possessive or brag or any of that macho stupidly. The just went on being friends, and that was just groovy with her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race could not believe this walking scarecrow had just walked up next to the blond and struck up a conversation. How could that pencil neck geek get anywhere near a swinging chick like her?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody began the second stage of her oil application, starting at the top of the scoop front of her bikini bottom and slowly working her way up her flat stomach.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER EAGHTEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby Doo like the opposite sex as much as any red blooded all American male, the only problem was Scooby was after all a dog. No mater how anthromporfic he was he just did not find human girls sexy. Now a permisques little poodle, lascivious Labrador could relay get his motor running but Melody Jones just did nothing for him. So he began to look around the pool for something to do.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Like Scooby Doo Jonny and Hodji were indrefrent to Melody’s obvious charms. The boys had been too deeply involved in tossing a toy football form one end of the pool to the other to care about any “old women” no mater what they were whirring. As they took turns throwing the ball Bandit would charge form one end of the pool to the other barking and panting.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Hodji pulled back and let fly with all his might for long one when he suddenly realized who that woman in the lounge chare was. It was the tiger strips that gave it away.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay Jonny look! Isn’t that Melody J ones ?” he said pointing at her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hua? Where,” shouted Jonny. In the instant Jonny took his eye off the ball it sailed over his head and landed on the pool side bouncing over to Scooby Doo.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Your right Hodg.” Jonny said “Come on lets see if we can get her autograph.” The two boys swam for the edge of the pool.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Foot ball bounce twice and landed at Scooby's paws. As he knelt down and sniffed it Bandit came charging up barking fiercely. Scooby razed he head and barked back but Bandit suffered form small dog complex. The fur on his small back bristled and Bandit began growling.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yips,” said Scooby and he backed up away from the ball. Bandit liked the idea of a dog fully ten times his own size being cowed so he charged forward barking. Scooby Doo jumped strait up in the air as Bandit ran through his legs lost his footing and was unable to stop himself. He skidded into the side of Melody’s lounge chare with a thump. The blow to the head dazed the pug pup. Scooby turned to face the smaller dog and with the slippery edge of the pool now behind him giggling at Bandit’s undignified impact with the legs of the chare.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Bandit did not like to be laughed at, especially by other dogs. If he was not color blind he would have seen red. Bandit shook his head furiously and charged again.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Look out Scoob, here he comes again,” Shaggy chortled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby tried to jump out of Bandit’s way again but the little dog was a fast learner. Just as Scooby jumped, so did Bandit. The two dogs collided in mid air and both went toppling backwards toward the pool.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jonny and Hodji had just reached the side of the pool and where haling them selves out of the water when they where hit with a wall of fur. Both dogs tumbled into the boys sending all fore sprawling into the pool. The resulting tidal wave leaped up onto the deck by Race and Doctor Quest. Race stood his instincts said that the beatnik kid with the dog were harmless, but still they where getting too close to the boys.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby doge paddled to the edge of the pool and drug himself out right by table seven. He spat water out of his mouth and muttered unintelligibly. Then before anyone cold stop him or get out of the way he shook all of the water out of his coat.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race managed to shield himself with the table but Doctor Quest was still too enraptured by Melody to see the dog until it was too late. Scooby drenched Doctor Quest.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody thought the whole thing was just too funny for words. It was her almost musical laughter that cooled the tempers of everyone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Whine Scooby saw Doctor Quest he hung his head and muttered “Rorry”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy dashed over to table seven

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race looked over at Shaggy and said levelly “Is this your dog?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like sorry man” Shaggy said blushing

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jonny came to the side of the pool with Bandit in his arms and said “I’m sorry dad. It was as much Bandit’s fault as the other dogs.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest stood up his shirt and slacks where socked. “I must smell like a wet dog,” he said,

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Me too” barked Scooby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We’re really sorry, like it was an accident,” Shaggy began.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t worry about it son, I needed a cold shower any way,” Said Doctor Quest. “Race, stay hear with the boys. I’m going to run up to the room and get changed.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “All right sir”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest walked back to the hotel lobby.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you a guest hear in the hotel,” Race asked Shaggy.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like no way man that won’t even let us go up stares,” Shaggy said shyly. He began the story of how he came to be in the pool area leaving out the reasons for his visit with the Pussycats.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER NINETEEN

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin was about to loose his mind when the other radio crackled to life. Fujiko’s sultry voice came over the airwave.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is the target in position?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Lupin picked up the radio and spoke into hurriedly. The binoculars were locked on Melody’s breasts as they jiggled with her laughter. He didn’t know what she thought was so funny, but he hoped it would last.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Where is Quest?” Fujiko demeaned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Over at table number seven. Tall lanky looking guy with reddish brown hair and a little beard. He’s sitting with some ruff trade with a bleach job and Speedos.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko lingered just outside of the mane lobby door to adjust her sunglasses and wait for her eyes to adjust to the bright afternoon sun. Just as she did Doctor Quest was reaching the doors. He paused to take in the amazingly attractive woman standing by the entrance. She was vary tall with chestnut brown hair that shimmered with auburn highlights in the reddening sun. She was in her early twenties and if his expertise in physical anthropology was correct she was of mixed race, mostly European, the height and the build, but there was some Asian heritage there too, evidenced by the delicate bone structure and high cheek bones. Doctor Quest guessed she was around five eight or nine it was hard to tell in the high heel sandals she had on. She was wearing a large round white sun hat with a red band. Her designer sunglasses were almost completely opaque. Her bikini top was made of an iridescent red cloth that shimmered in the bright sun. The butterfly stile top she wore was cut to give a little support wile at the same time show off more cleavage. Witch she had in ample abundance. She had a transient reddish scarf raped around her hips concealing the low cur scoop front of her bikini bottom and at the same time showing off the shape of her leg and the fullness of her slender hip.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> For an instant they looked directly at each other and Quest found himself thinking the mane differences between that woman and the girl out at the pool was not weather one Blond or brunette, or witch one had larger breasts, or a smaller bikini. The big difference was this one was a woman the blond was a girl.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Something in Fujiko’s head told her that this was her guy. Instinct or intuition or what ever but something told her that the guy staring at her jugs with his mouth open was Benton Quest. But she didn’t dear use the radio concealed in her earbob for fear of being over heard. So she did what she did best, she played it cool. Let him have a good long look then she deliberately brushed against him as she passed by.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> She flashed her dark brown eyes over the top of her glasses she passed by and with coy smile said “Oh pardon me” and headed toward table seven.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh excuse me” Dr Quest mumbled as the sent of her Chanel #5 worked its magic on his hormones. Then she was gown. He indulged himself in a last look back as she walked away, the pucker bottom of her bikini showing just enough of her backside to entice with out being vulgar. “Now I defiantly need that cold shower” Doctor Quest said to himself. He tuned toward the elevators and headed for his room.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Half way between the lobby doors and table seven Fujiko risked the radio. She could see a tall scrawny beatnik talking with the bodyguard, but that guy didn’t look like a genius egghead to Fujiko, he looked more like a hippy bum. There was also a little competition on the seen. Fujiko apprised Melody as only one woman can size up another. But Fujiko dismissed her quickly as it was obvious that the blond was making eyes at the bodyguard, not the scientist. If that was the scientist Fujiko still had her droughts.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Is the target still in position?” Fujiko whispered into the hidden radio. Lupin didn’t answer. She called again. “Is the target still in position?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes,” Lupin snapped back. He sounded strange out of breath.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you alright?” she called back fearing something had gone wrong.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes yes, I fine. Go on now and do your job. And maintain radio silence.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The blond was putting on quite a show now she had slipped one spaghetti strap of her bikini top off her shoulder. With one hand she held the small triangle of cloth over her breast wile she rubbed oil on the bare shoulder with the other.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko went to the lounge chare closest to the Quest table. She didn’t have time to waste if she was to get her mark away form that scheming blond. She positioned herself on the far side of the lounge so that her back was to the blond and she faced the scientist and the bodyguard. First she reclined the back of the char all the way making shore that the two men at least thought that saw up her top as she bent over to lie out her towel. The she began to undress.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko understood that the art of seduction was not about offering sex to a man, it was about making him wont sex. A man that thinks he will get somewhere is far more generous and easily controlled than one that has already got it. Men always wont what they can’t have more than what they already have. Even if what they have is better then what they wont.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> First she took off the hat with a little flourish that gave her dark hair a bounce. Then she slowly untied her rap and let the silken scarf flutter to the ground.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> All pretence of conversation had stopped at table seven. Even the boys were now so stupefied that they forgot all about asking Melody for her autograph. Melody was glaring at Fujiko and wondering how she could get the dogs to fall back into the pool and splash that old broad with some icy cold water. Or even better get a water to spill something on her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko pulled out her bottle of oil and lay down on her stomach on the lounger. She propped herself up on her elbows, careful to push her breasts together and forward to emphasis there shape. She made shore that she looked the scientist state in the eye and said “I’m so sorry to impose on you like this, you must think I’m terribly rude but could one of you gentleman rub some of this on my back? My skin is so tender it will burn to crisp with out it.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Not the old “rub oil on my back trick” This meant Melody would have to break out the big guns. This was war. There was only one thing left for her to do. She would have climb to the high diving bored, Do a graceful high dive and accidentally loose part of her bikini. That always worked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> All Shaggy could say was “Zoinks,” when Fujiko handed him the bottle of lotion. Fujiko looked right at Race and said in the dismissive tone reserved for servants, “You don’t mind do you?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Be my guest,” Race chuckled as Shaggy took the bottle and knelt down next to Fujiko with trembling hands.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Some guys have all the luck,” Race said to himself shaking his head.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER TWENTY

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen moved silently into the next room. It was a study of sorts, a work desk with a telephone and typewriter were in the center. Two metal filing cabinets were against the back wall. Three chares and a couch faced the desk. Jigen sipped around the desk and tried the darers, locked of cores. He pulled out his lock pick and undid the top drawer. Nothing just pens pencils and blank paper. The next drrower had a small surprise, a second Colt 1911. This one was loaded too but with the hammer down and no round in the chamber. It was not a well looked after either. Jigen put the gun back and tried the last drawer, empty, not even a bottle. He decided that this Dr. Quest must have a safe some where in the sweat and kept his work locked in that when he left.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> One last room to check. Jigen entered the master bedroom and looked around. The room was huge with a massive bed, a vanity dressing table complete with full length mirror and a full chest of drawer in addition to the closet and a wardrobe. It would take a little time to search this place.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> On the dressing table next to the bed was a framed black and white photo of a beautiful blond woman in a black one peace bathing suite. She was on her knees helping a small blond boy build a sand castle. They were both laughing and looking into the camera. Jigen know at once they were the Quest’s son and hi snow dead wife. He put the photo down and was about to decide where to begin his search for the safe whine he heard a key slip into the front door lock.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The made Jigen thought. She just wants to clean the room. These guys are relatively neat so it won’t take long, but Jigen could not risk being seen. Jigen slipped into the closet and held his breath. Shell be gone in a couple minutes and he could get back to work.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest interred the room and paused for a moment. He had that strange feeling one gets when one is not alone. Race and the boys are all down at the pool, so no one could be hear. But something was amiss. He couldn’t put a finger on it but something was strange. Did he smell cigarettes? It was hard to tell the aroma of his own black Cavendish tobacco still permeated the room. Anyway it was most likely his imagination. He went through his own room state to the bathroom.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen peered through the lovers on the closet door. And saw Quest as big as life pass by no more then six feet away. What the hell was he doing in hear, where the hell was Fujiko? Why didn’t Lupin worn him that Quest had ditched the broad?

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen saw Quest head into the bathroom and heard the shower come on. Jigen saw his chance to get out. He bolted out of the closet and made three steps toward the bedroom door when Quest came out of the bathroom between Jigen and the exit. Quest had a large hotel towel raped around his head blocking his view as he vigorously dried his hair.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen had no choice; he dropped to the floor as silently as he could and rolled under the bed. Doctor Quest froze in his tracks. He pulled the wet towel away and peered around the room. Did he just hear something? After a long pause he sat on the side of the bed and pulled his golf shirt off.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Under the bed Jigen was nervous. Quest’s feet were planted directly in front of Jigen's face. Did Quest bring Fujiko back to his own room? Jigen imagined her coming into the room and seducing Quest on the bed with him trapped beneath.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest kicked off his loafers and he pealed off his socks. Jigen was shore that was what had gone wrong. Any moment now Fujiko was going to join Quest on the bed. Quests stood and the slacks came off then the white boxers. His bare feet padded toward the bathroom. Jigen saw his chance and knew he would not have long to take advantage of it.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest’s imperious eye for detail landed on the closet door. It was now slightly ajar. It was shut tight when he had come in. There was no drought about it. There was someone else in the room with him. He went in to the bathroom and dropped his clothing in the hamper just inside the door grabbed a clean towel for the rack and raped it around his waste.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen knew that if he tried for the bedroom door he would have to pass by the open bathroom door. That was far too risky besides there could be some one in the living room now. Jigen saw Quest’s feet inter the bathroom and made a brake for the French doors that lead out to the baloney. It was his only chance of getting out unseen. Crouching he darted to the doors only to find they were locked. He glanced back and saw a shadow moving toward the open bathroom door, Quest was coming back out. Jigen disappeared behind the floor length drapes that framed the ornate French doors and held his berth.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest side stepped out of the bathroom door now with a towel around his waste, careful never to turn his back on the empty room. He was shore he had seen the draperies move. Once in the bed room he did not hesitate. He sprinted to his study and snatched the old Government Issue automatic form his desk. Carefully he made his way back to the bedroom.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When Quest slipped sideways out of the bedroom door Jigen know the situation was going from bad to worse. He pulled his lock pick and with almost no effort had the feeble lock on the French door open and reset so it would lock after him. He had only seconds to pull this off. He leaped across the balcony and flung himself over the edge. He hung there suspended in space seventeen stories high for what seemed like an eternity. Then his legs swung back in. Using the momentum of the swing he let go of the balcony railing and tumbled onto he balcony of Suite 1610.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest burst into his bedroom with the .45 in both hands. He moved sideways around the room to the French doors and through the drapes open to reveal nothing. He knelt and looked under the bed. Nothing. Then he checked the closet and the bathroom. Nothing there either. Doctor Quest had kept the bedroom door in sight the hole time he was gone so who ever was in there could not have gotten out. They had to be on the balcony. That was the only other way out. Cashusly he tried the French doors. They were still locked. He turned the bolt and stepped outside. The air was brisk and clear in the reddening evening. There was no one there. Quest moved quickly around open space looking behind the lounges and under the small table. Then he went to the edge and pear over. He half expected to see some commando dressed all in black repelling down the side of the building, but he was disappointed. He peered into the lengthening shadows on the balcony below but he could see nothing.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When Jigen landed in the balcony of 1610 he instantly rolled under the table. He pulled his model 19 and listened. Then he saw it. Quests shadow, he was leaning over the edge of the balcony now. Jigen heard the sound of Quest racking the slide of that old .45 and for an instant he thought he would have to shoot his way out of this one but after a hart stopping silence the shadow was gone.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Doctor Quest stared down into the balcony below. There was nothing below. Then he looked up. There was no balcony above him. Race always instead on that. It was too easy for some evil-doer to drop in form above. Quest racked the slide once loudly and went back into the sweet. He swept through the other rooms meticulously making sour he was totally alone. At length he decided that it had all been his imagination.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> On the balcony below Jigen gave Quest full minute before he slunk out form under the table. Keeping to the purple shadows he peered into suite 1610.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The drapes were not pulled entirely shut across the French doors, a narrow gap gave Jigen a clear view of the happenings in suite 1610 and he did not like what he was seeing. Just to be shure he jimmied the feeble lock and pushed the door open an inch so he could hear what was happening. Jigen regnised the young man in the room. It was Zoomer Slick, one of the young up and coming racing drivers on the international cercet. Jigen had seen him a couple of years ago when he and Lupin had pulled a job at Lamonse. The kid had a bad reputation as a dirty driver, but he was well known for doing anything he had to do to win. Last time Jigen had seen he was driving for the Alfa Team.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen did not regnise the girl but he knew jail bate when he saw it. She was tall about five eight at least. She had the slender figure of a fashion model. Her legs were long and well toned. Her shoulder length hair was so black that the highlights shined blue, and she had dark come heather eyes. She was dressed in a knee length bright red sheath dress with long sleeves and a turtleneck carefully tailed to hint but not reveal. She had poise but still Jigen could tell she had been drinking and she was not vary good at it. In spite of being a little too drunk for her own good she had class and a good deal of will. In five or six years she would become one hell of a woman, but right now she was a seven-teen year old girl, and no match for Zoomer Slick.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> An idea began to colas in his mind but he would have to time it out just right to make it all work. He pushed the door open a little feathr and listened for his queue.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The girl sat primly on the sofa; her ankles crossed a fan in one hand

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I just don’t know what came over me.” She said with a slight hint of a southern drawl. “I just came over all dizzy all the sudden.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slick was poring two glasses of champagne at the bar. He was a thick set guy of about twenty fore. Broad shoulders, narrow in the hips and wiry. He wore his black hare in a short crew cut like a coarse scrub brush. His had small black beady eyes and a sharp pointed nose. He was dresses in dark red slacks and a red sports shirt with white piping and the Alfa team logo emblazoned on his barest, reminiscent of his racing colors. An expensed woman would have nothing to do with him, but his bad boy quowsi celebrity states would be like cat nip to naive teen princesses like this one.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hear drink this down and you’ll feel better,” he said handing the flute to the girl.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What is this?” she asked sniffing the glass.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Champaign.” Slick said smoothly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “But I can’t drink this,” she said with a giggle. “It’s alcohol.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slick took a sip of his own drink and smiled like a snake “What do you think those six margaritas you had in the bar where? Now be a good girl and drink up…you’ll feel better.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica was shocked. She had never been drunk before, and she wasn’t shure she was now. She was just a little dizzy that all it would pass in a minute and shed be fine. And she had always wonted to try campaign anyway. She took a sip and smiled

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The bubbles tickle my nose” she giggled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slick rolled his eyes and sat down next to her on the couch, sliding close to her. Jigen got ready for the pass.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “My isn’t it hot in hear,” Veronica said fanning herself more furiously and hiding her mouth form slick. Slick put his hand on her knee and to run it up her thigh. Veronica stood up. Or at least she tried to. The combination of her heels and the margaritas had taken its tole. She stood swooned and sat right back down again. Slick was not wasting any more time. He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers thrusting his tong inside. Veronica dropped her fan and tried to push Slick off of her but gave up and let herself enjoy the kiss. At the same time he groped one of her breasts like he was choking the ripeness of a melon in the market. With out breaking the kiss Veronica guided his hand off her barest and down to her hip. Slick went with the flow but when she released his hand it continued south and slipped under the hem of her skirt. His other hand was busy too. It glided lightly around her waste then up the small of her back under her long silky black hair to the base of her collar. Slowly and silently he slid the zipped down.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Whine his other hand had reached the top of her stocking Veronica suddenly reliesd that he had entered no man’s land. She grabbed his wrist and jerked his hand out of her dress. Then she felt a cool braes on the bar skin of her back and realized that he was trying to undress her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> With both hands she shoved him back off her and with all her strength she slapped his face leaving a bright red hand print on his cheek. She stood up successfully this time and headed for the door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> She world round holding the front of her dress up and snared “How dear you? Don’t you ever touch me again! What kind of girl do you think I am?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slick just sat there looking rather smug as he sipped his champagne.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I guess you really are just a girl,” he said with casual distain.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica began to back away toward the door. “How dear you treat me like that! Why I have never.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Of coarse you have never!” he cut her off. “Stuck up prude small town little daddy’s girl like you? Of coarse you have never. I thought you were a woman. But I was really wrong wasn’t I? Your just a kid. A little girlie. Go on. Get out I won’t stop you.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica froze. This did not compute. She rejected men not the other way around. She stood and stared at him open mouthed not knowing what to do next.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Shut the door on your way out kiddo, there’s a good little girl,” Slick said dismissively as he picked up the TV’s remote control and turned on the local news.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica could not understand what was happening. Men did not just dismiss her like that and there was no way on earth that this blue collar present was gonging to reject Veronica Lodge. I’ll show him who’s a little girlie. She thought.

<p style="text-justify: inter-ideograph; text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Slowly she let the bight red dress slip off her shoulders and tumble to a heap around her red pumps. She had on nude silk stocking held up by red lace garter belt. Her panties and bra were made of fire red Irish lace that contrasted with her pail skin.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fred was only fourteen years old whine he and Daphne had made love for the first time in the hayloft over the stables on the old Blake estate. It would take Shaggy another four years to discover girls. But in that time he had more then made up for his late start. Where Fred had remained entirely fateful to Daphne Shaggy had worked his way through half of the girls in Coolsville high and at least two thirds of the co-eds at the University of Coolsville. In fact Shaggy was one of only five guys to have been with all seven of the varsity cheerleaders, and the only one to have done it simultaneously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Of all of his conquests (even Melody) they all had two vary important things in common; first they were all at least within two years of Shaggy’s own age, and second all of them were after the same thing. Grass for ass. A little of Shaggy’s finest home grown for a little no strings fun. Everybody got what they wonted and there were no complications.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> But this woman was vary different and Shaggy knew it. She wonted something and it wasn’t a wacky tobacky. She was older, at leas twenty-five. She had enough money to stay in this hotel so she could afford any weed she wonted, and she was gorgeous enough to have any guy she wonted. So he couldn’t figure out why she had picked on Shaggy?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy's hands trembled as he unsecured the top of the Supre Bronze no 9 tanning lotion. They shook so violently that he splattered at lead half of vary the expensive lotion all over he back and the lounger. But Fujiko did not complain about spill.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Be shore to get it everywhere, my skin is so sensitive.” Fujiko almost wisped. Shaggy began to smooth the lotion over her bar shoulders and down her spine. The bottom of Fujiko’s bikini did provide ample coverage of both cheeks, but a seem ran along the center of her bikini bottom that created a slight dip in the exact center of the top hem, witch just barley revealed the cleft of the backside. Shaggy was almost hypnotized by the detail. Using both hands he made small circles in the oil working his was down ever so slowly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Scooby Doo looked up from his confrontation with the smaller dog and saw Shaggy begin to apply lotion to the woman’s back. Scooby instantly didn’t like her, but he understood that there would be no stopping Shaggy now. Shaggy was in heat. So Scooby relied he would have to make his own fun for now. He snatched up the football and shook it in the little dogs face then took off around the pool. Bandit was furious. He tore off after the Great Dane barking madly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jonny and Hadji were busy too. Jonny pushed Hadji toward Melody now whispering fiercely “You go ask her.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I will if you will” Hadji replied. “I would not wont to disturb her on her on her vacation.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Vacation?” Jonny said incredusly “She not on vacation she on tour. The Pussycats are playing hear in town.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race chucked at the boys, and decided that he would intervene in a moment. It would be a great icebreaker for him to ask her to sign autographs for the boys. Then turn on a little of the old Bannon and charm and she would be putty in his hands.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Melody could hear the boys arguing about who was going to ask for the autograph. She wondered what the relationship the buys were to the hunk with the white hair. She heard the blond call the other guy dad and the Indian kid was defiantly not his. She know it was only a matter of time before he came over now that the kids gave him the excuse, so she wouldn’t have to do any high diving today. She glanced over at Fujiko and severed her victory.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy’s hands came to Fujiko's backside; the tips of his fingers were about to slip under the bow tied on her hip when Shaggy’s stomach growled. Loudly. Everyone heard it. Even Scooby from across the pool. The boys stopped there argument. Race grinned at him and Melody giggled. At first Fujiko did not know what the sound was she, thought that the dogs were growling at each other. But then it came again and she relied that it was Shaggy. She rolled onto her hip covering one barest with her hand and smiled up at him and said coquettishly, “I am just famished.” Shaggy could not speak his mouth just drooped open and his eyes glazed over and he giggled nervously.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you hungry too?” Fujiko purred up at him. “I do so have to eat alone. Why don’t we go up to my room and we can order some room serves.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy felt like steam was coming out of his ears, all he could do was nod dumbly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t think your buddy will mind too much, looks like he’s busy with is new friend.” Fujiko sad with a sly look over at Melody. Shaggy of cores thought she was talking about Scooby and bandit. Shaggy just nodded.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko pulled the strings of her butterfly top bake for shaggy to retie but hands were too slippery from the oil to get a hold of the slender strings. Fujiko finally had to do the job herself. She handed Shaggy her bag as she retied her rap. Nonchalantly she reached up and toyed with her ear bob. Two taps on the squelch batten told Lupin she had the target and was heading for her room and the trap that had waiting for Doctor Quest. Lupin responded in kind, with out ever taking his eyes off Melody.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Race shook his head in disbelief as they walked off.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Boy some guys have all the luck.” He said to himself.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You may still get lucky yourself big boy,” Melody thought.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> The Sundance Plaza had offered the Pussy Cats fore suites but Alexander Cabot the third had politely declined the extravagance, settling for suite 1503, it was a fore bedroom suite with the same basic layout as the Quest’s room. Alexander was a meticulous man when it came to hotel bookings. Not from any attempt to economize or to maintain a low profile for the Pussycats, he payee so much attention to the details of hotel rooms out of jealously. It was no secret that he had become the group’s manager because he was smitten with Josie. This infatuation had led him to participate in many of his sister’s ill-conceived plots to break up Josie and her boyfriend Allen.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> To keep the couple apart Alex put Josie and Alexandria in one room and himself and Allen in another. That way neither could sneak in to the other’s room. Melody and Valerie sheared the third bedroom and the reaming was used by Alex as a business office from witch he managed the festbel and the grand prix.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Josie was glad to see Mystery Ink when they arrived. Not only for the help that the teen detectives offered to her friends, but also because Fred was just Alexandria’s type. The big athletic kid form Coolsville would take a little of the attention form her own guy and give him a chance to pay a little attention to Josie. To hear Alexandria charring on all day one would almost think that it had been her that was almost raped by a pack of rabid dogs. If anyone had the right to be upset it was Valery, but no one her complaining.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As Josie shoed the gang into the suite she guided Fred and Daphnie toward Alexandria.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Where’s Shaggy and Scooby?” Josie said with a smile.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “They’re down at the pool,” Daphnie answered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “They only allow pets of registered guests in the rooms,” said Fred.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria Cabot had been parked on the art deco sofa in the center of the suites high ceiling living room all day. She had been playing victimized socialite all day in an attempt to get Allen’s sympathy. She had never bothered to dress that day, reaming intend in a nearly transparent black silk camisole and a ruby red silk dressing gowned hoping to arouse other feelings in the burly roadie. The only feelings Allen had been able to manage for was contempt for her shallowness and pity for her total lack of dignity. Sebastian the cat was sprawled out on a puff beside the sofa mimicking his mistress histrionics.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Valerie was sitting at the dinner table that separated the formal living room from the dinette. She was hearing white cotton gloves and minutely examining a wicked looking dagger. She mumbled her greetings to the newcomers and continued to study the vicious artifact. Velma leaned over Valerie’s shoulder for a closer look at the dagger. Softly she asked “Where’s Melody?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Down by the pool working on her tan,” Valarie said softly. “You can still catch the matinee if you hurry.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alex was phasing the living room floor ranting and raving in fit of self pity. As Mystery Ink entered Alex pumped Fred’s arm frantically and asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Have the police caught the  Oberst  geist  yet? Have you learned anything new?” he asked. '''

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Hay slow down Alex,” Fred began. “We’re only just starting out on this and we kneed some background information form your and the Pussycats.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What do you mean background information?” Allen asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “We know that the Oberst geist is not any kind of supernatural being,” Velma picked up. “and we know that nobody stands to gang from stopping the Grand Prix so it most be a human being with a grudge against you, or your family.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So Alex,” Fred went on, “We don’t wont to pry but is there anyone that might wont to hear you or Alexandra or your damage your family name?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “No, No one. There’s no escalations in the Cabot family closet going back for generations as far as I know,” Alex said. “But Alexandria is really the family historian.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria saw he chance in the lime light. She sighed heavily and struck a dramatic pose, one that allowed her rob to fall open a bit more to ravel a tiny bit more cleavage and I little leg.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I can't think of why anyone would wont to harm our illustrious family. It’s all so …..distressing.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Josie rolled her eyes and Daphnie shook her head in disbelief as Fred pulled one of the start backed chaise form the table to sit at Alexandria’s said. He took his hand in his and looked deeply into her pale blue eyes. “If he doesn’t have a grudge against your family, maybe he has something against the race itself. He did call it ‘the race of death’” Fred said soothingly. “Could you tell us a little bit about the history of the race? I understand it hasn’t been run in over thirty years. Why was it stopped?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma sat down at the table next to Valery where she had a better view of the knife. Daphnie turned her back on the room and stared out the window annoyed by Alexandria throwing herself and Fred. And even more annoyed that Fred was so receptive.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s a terribly tragic story.” Alexandria began with a coy flutter of her eyelashes. “Before Daddy met mother he had aspirations of becoming a movie producer. So went to Hollywood and started to cultivate friendships in the film industry.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He stared crashing Hollywood parties,” Alexander intruded in cynical tone “to chase starlets and models.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Alexandria glared at her twin brother “This was all long before he met Mother of curse. He met a famous actor named Steve MacKlatt and they became good friends. Steve MacKlatt helped Daddy meet the right people and get his foot in the door. In return Daddy put up the backing for several Steve MacKlatt movies.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “MacKlatt fixed him up with chicks and the Old Man put picked up the tab” Alex heckled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Are you telling this story or am I brother dear?” Alexandra snared at him.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Steve MacKlatt, I’ve hear of him,” Daphnie said. “I’ve seen his movies on the Late Late Show. He was vary hansom. He did a lot of adventure pictures. Swashbuckling and cowboys stuff. I heard he did all his own stunts.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right,” Velma said off handedly. “He stared out as a stuntman before he got discovered. Didn’t he like to drive racing cars too?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yes that’s right.” Alexandria went on. “Daddy and Steve MacKlatt were both big racing fans. To this day Daddy still collects classic sports cars. So they came up with the ideal for the Cabot Grand prix. It was the first European stile Grand Prix to be held in the United Stats. Daddy would promote the race and Steve MacKlatt drove in it every year. It was vary popular.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So why did they stop,” Fred asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “The last year they had the race there was a terrible tragedy. That was the year that Daddy Met Mother. She was dating Steve MacKlatt and it was MacKlatt that introduced them. The three became inseparable pals. Steve MacKlatt fall in love with Mother and asked her to marry him. They planed to be married as soon as MacKlatt finished his last film. They were shooting it right hear in Coolsville in an old military base or something, and of curse he was driving in the race too.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> But whine MacKlatt told his best friend lightning struck. Daddy realized he was in love with Mother too. Daddy went to her and told her he loved her and asked her to marry him instead of MacKlatt. She said yes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> They were planning to tell MacKlatt but before they could Steve MacKlatt found them together right before the race. He and Daddy had a fist fight.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Of curse MacKlatt gave our old man a licking,” said Alex.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Before he could heart Daddy too much, the girl got between them and told MacKlatt that she loved Daddy and she was going to marry him. She said the only reason she had agreed to marry MacKlatt was to make Daddy jealous and that it was Daddy she really loved all along. MacKlatt was devastated. He didn’t say another word to either of them; he just went out and got in his car for the race.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh my goodness what happened next?” Daphnie asked breathlessly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “They started the race and MacKlatt went out of his mind. He began driving like a maniac, with no regard for his own safety or any of the other drivers. He started deliberately crashing into the other cars. He caused six or seven other drivers to have fatal smash ups.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Twelve,” Alex said dryly. “Twelve drivers were killed and sixteen others were badly injured.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What happened to MacKlatt” Fred asked thinking he had a suspect.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “He won the race. Sort of,” Alexandra went on. He was the first to cross the finish line anyway. He never even slowed down. He came across the finish line and plowed right into the judges stands. Luckily Daddy was not up there because of the fight. But in the crash the gas tank must have sprung a leak. When he came out the other side the car burst into flames. He shot down the long pear into the marina. The car exploded just as it went off the end of the pear into the ocean.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Jeepers!” gasped Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “How come you never told us any of this before,” asked Josie?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It all happened over thirty years ago. Before any of us were even borne,” Alex said mater of flatly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “So what happened next,” Velma said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Daddy was just distort over the death of his friend and all the other people. He just couldn’t face going back to Hollywood or professional racing. He soled out all his interest in Five Star Pictures and canceled the race permanently. They never held it again, until now.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What happened to Steve MacKlatt?” asked Fred.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Dead,” said Alex. “They had to finish the movie with out him. Used a stand in where they could. It coast the studio a faction. Luckily for the old man the movie was a big hit otherwise it would have cost him a small fortune.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Then who is organizing the race now?” Daphne

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I am. I thought it would be a great venue for the Pussy Cats, and a chance to cross promote them in to a hole new market and dramatically increase there fan base.” Alex said with a swagger.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Besides, Josie needs all the fans she get.” Alexandria sniffed sarcastically.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s all vary interesting,” said Josie. “But it’s a dead end. And what could any of that have to do with Nazis?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I don’t think there are any real Nazis involved in this at all.” Valarie said looking up from the dagger for the first time. “This knife is a fake. And not even a good one. The handle is made of cheep cast reason not ivories, and the blade is cheep stamped sheet metal. The markings on it are all nonsense. It’s an approximation of a Nazi relic.” She handed it to Velma. “Do you know what this mark means?” she asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Velma pulled out a magnifying glass and peered at the symbols Valerie was pointing at.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What was the movie MacKlatt was working on at the time of his death?” Velma asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It was call ‘Escape the Eagle’ or something like that,” said Alexandria in a dismissive tone. “How could that matter at all?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “This is a prop mark,” Velma said. “This knife belongs to the prop department of Five Star Pictures.” She looked up and saw that everyone was staring at her. She blushed and said a bit shyly “We have run into a lot of movie props over the years.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Your can say that again,” said Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I know that film,” Fred said “Escape From The Eagle’s Nest” is what it was called. It had a whole bunch of stares in it. All the big action stars of the time. It’s about a group of allied prisoners of war that escape from a German POW camp during the second would war. Steve MacKlatt played the evil commander of the camp.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right” Allen said excitedly. “I remember that movie too. Isn’t there a seen in that were MacKlatt catches Vincent Van Gule right after the escape and trochees him with a fancy knife, that knife, to make him reveal the plans of the escaped P.O.Ws?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Supposedly the movie was shot right hear in Coolsville,” Alex said “The Old man and MacKlatt arranged it that way so all the stars could come into and add to the party around the race. I think there was an old abandoned army base or something.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “You don’t mean Camp O’Niel?” said Fried.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Yea that sounds right” said Alex.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Isn’t that place supposed to be haunted?” gasped Daphnie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What’s Camp O’Niel?” asked Josie.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “During the second world war the army built a prisoner of war camp outside of Coolsville,” began Velma in her mater of fact lecturing voice. “Back then Coolsville was a small agricultural town out in the middle of nowhere. In 1942 the P.O.Ws tried to escape by attacking the guards. There was a fight and most of the prisoners and about half or the guards were killed. After the war all the surviving P.O.Ws were sent back to Germany and Japan and the camp was abandoned.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I dimly remember hearing something on the news about that place about a year ago,” Daphnie said vaguely. “Something about a motorcycle gang.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That’s right, I remember it now too,” Freddy added. “It was written up in “True Detective” Magazine.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I can’t believe you still read that sensanalized trash Freddy,” said Velma.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Sensanialisezd trash or not, it could be a clue. There was a material gang made up mostly of ex military guys that couldn’t return to normal life after the war. They were running a stolen car ring. They were using the old abandoned camp for there chop shop and hideout. They would repaint the cars, put on fake V.I.N. numbers and ship them down to Mexico for resale. They used the money to buy guns on the black market because they were planning some sort of revaluation.”

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As Fujiko let Shaggy into suite 1705 she still could not believe that this kid was Doctor Benton Quest. He more or less fit the vague description that had of the guy, but looked too young to a world renown scientist. Of cores he could have been some sort of boy genius. The type that graduated collage at twelve. But he was also supposed to be a widower with a ten year old son. But some people always look younger then they really are. Sill if Lupin had not confirmed the target she would have been shore it was the guy she ran into at the gate.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy couldn’t believe his luck. He didn’t know what this woman was really after and he didn’t care. Room servos and a bit of fun? What could possibly be better?

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko flowed into the room like Napoleon brandy into a Waterford crystal snifter. She casually doped her rap as she swayed towed the bedroom door. She paused as the silk settled and pared back at the trembling teenager.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Why don’t you pore us a couple of drinks and order lunch wile I freshen up and bit and slip into something a little more convertible.” As she walked away she untied her top and let it drop to the floor just as she crossed the threshold into the bedroom and shut the door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko stepped into the shower and rinsed the oil slick off her body.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy’s tong rolled out of his mouth like a red carpet and hung limp as he watched he go. He would have reamed transfixed to the spot if his stomach didn’t growled like an unfriendly grisly bare and snap his out of his stupor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Like, all right old pal,” he said out loud to his stomach. “Don’t blow this man, I take car of you, don’t get crabby with me.” He grabbed the phone and died room servos.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “This is room 1705 man we need some food,” he posed “You’d better get a pencil to right this down, ‘cuse I think I’m gona’ need all the energy I can get.” He paused a moment then said “Ok are you ready? We need two whole turkey dinners with all the fixens', a roast covered in chocklet saws. Yes I said chocklet saws. Three extra large pizza pies with everything, a dozen double cheese burgers with extra onions,” he stopped and thought a moment. “No better make that no opines. Two monster size hogies with the works. The triple-decker chocklet fudge cake. No I wont the whole cake no just a slice. Tow pints of Rocky Road Ice-cream, a hole bucket of fried chicken wings, with extra hot, hot saws, a triple order of spare ribs; two dozen oysters on the half shell, no better make that six dozen. A pint of the macaroni and cheese, with brown gravy, five pounds of French fries a whole lazonia and…..”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Fujiko stood framed in the door way casually leaning on the jam. She was dressed in pink Prada mules, a shimmering translucent pastel pink baby doll nightly and a splash of Chanel <span style="color: #292929; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US"> #5.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy’s fingers tightened around the hand set of the phone, he could feel steam poring out of his ears, and his eyes bulging our of his head like telescopes.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “like zoinks man.” He mumbled as Fujiko strolled toward him. His hair stood up on his head. Fujiko reached him and with one hand she pressed down the cradle of the phone. With the other she hooked one finger in the collar of his t-shirt and wisped softly “What are you really hungry for?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Shaggy felt the hand set of the phone shatter in his grip and he knew that his hair was not the only thing standing up. Shaggy released the broken interment as Fujiko lead him to the bedroom by his shirt collar.

<p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> CHAPTER TWENTY FOURE

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> When the beautiful girl dropped her dress to revel her weekend in Paris under where Jigen was shocked. Not that she had willingly undressed he expected that. He was struck by how the delicate underwear made her look even more chilled like. Physically she was all grown up, in all the right places, and the lingerie fit to perfection displaying her curves gloriously. But some how the vary adultness of the garments and the room and the situation enfisiesed that she was just a child. He ego would make her go through with this. But she would regret it for the rest of her life.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica stepped out of the dress and swayed over to the T.V. set and switched it off. With out a word she crossed the room and knelt down in front of Slick. She had never done anything like this before. She had always assumed that when she did do it Archie would be the first. But she just couldn't let this guy reject her like that.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> On her knees she began to unbuckle his belt and fumble with his fly. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend it was Archie she was about to pleasure.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> It was time. Jigen stood up and kicked open the French doors with his billfold in one he charged into the room.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Freeze. Hotel Security. Your under arrest Slick. This girl is clearly under age.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Zoomer Slick used a series of words Veronica was not familiar with. Veronica collapsed to the floor screaming and tried to cover herself with her hands.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen flashed a fake ID badge “All right Slick pull your pans up and lets go.” He said in his best cop voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What are you talking about, I didn’t do nothing.” Slick protested

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “If I were you son, I’d keep my trap shut and get a good layer ‘cause your looking at about twenty years.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “What for?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “This girl cant be more then fifteen years old.” Jigen knew she was a little older, and that she would fill in the blank

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I’m Seventeen” Veronica mumbled from the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “O. K. so she’s seventeen. That’s still under age. Contrubutining to the delinquency of a miner, providing actable to a miner, and Statory rape. Your goin' to prison for a long time.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I thought she was twenty one. I met her in the bar. If she’s a miner what was she doing in a bar?” Slick argued.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It was the restraint.” Valarie corrected.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “That doesn’t matter Slick. Your going down.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “I never laid a finger on that girl,” Slick instead.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “It’s not your fingers we’re worried about.” Jigen sneered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Then you’ll have to prove it cop,” Slick got to his feet with his fist clinched.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Prove it?” Jigen chuckled, this was going too well. He would be back with Lupin in five minuets. “All we have to do is take the little ladies statement and your groining to trial. Even if you beet it with all the publicity this will get the Alfa teem will drop you like a hot rock. And you’ll never get another sponsor again. No commercial endorsements nothing.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Pub-publicity?” Veronica stammered from the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Oh yea, your gona' be famous little girl. The press loves a good sex scandal. And this one is just right. Beautiful wealthy debutant, and the bad boy racing driver. Every newspaper and TV channel will wont the story. All the gory details. They may even wont pictures.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Do…er Do I have to testify?” Veronica asked with a catch in her voice.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen knelt down and said softly to her in a fatherly tone. “Well there’s no way we can make you testify, but if you don’t there’s no case. It’s just my word against his.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica stared into Jigen’s eyes, for a freethinking second he thought she might make a stand and be willing to testify. She sniffed and her sultry eyes dropped to the floor.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “My father is a vary important man,” she mumbled “I just couldn’t embarous him like that. And if Arichiekens ever found out I was about to ….” She sobbed but controlled herself. “How could I look him in the eye.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “If you don’t testify against Mr. Slick he will get away with this. He’ll probly do it again to some other young girl.” Jigen cajoled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Cant we just forget this all happened?” Veronica begged.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “With out you pressing charges there is nothing I can do. But if that is really what you wont. You wont to let him get away with it then that’s what I will have to do. Go on get out of hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Veronica jumped up thought her arms around Jiggen's neck and kissed his cheek.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> "Oh thank you, thank you.” She purred. She scooped up her dress and headed for the front door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Don’t except any more drinks for strange men kid,” Jigen said in a fatherly tone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “OH don’t you worry about that officer, I’ve learned my lessen,” Veronica said enthuseathaly. She grabbed up her dress and with out even bothering to put it on she ran out the door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> As soon as the door clicked close Jigen drove a fist into the soft flesh of Slick’s stomach. The racing driver doubled over and collapsed back onto the couch. Jigen put the mussel of his Magnum into the open fly of Slick’s slacks and cocked the hammer.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “Get out of my hotel.” He said evenly. “Pack your bags and be gone within the hour. Do not pass go do not collect two hundred dollars. Just get out and do not ever come back. Baby rapiers are not welcome hear.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen stepped back still pointing the big magnum. Slick just nodded still gasping for breath. He stood leaning heavily on the arm of the char and headed to the bed room to pack is bag. Jigen backed to the mane door and was in the hall. The elevator door just sliding closed Jigen darted in to find Veronica slipping on her dress. When she saw him she blushed ouckwordly. Not shore what to do.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> Jigen smiled coyly and said “Eight please. She was puzzled for an instant then came to her senses and hit the button. As the elevator began to descend she turned her back to him and asked softly “Would you?” Jigen helped her with the zipper of her dress. The doors slid open on the eight floor and Jigen was out. As the door closed he paused to catch his breath.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> “They didn’t make em like that whine I was seventeen.” Then he dashed down the hall to Lupin’s room.