Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. The use of characters from the television show Scooby-Doo are trademarks of Hanna-Barbera/Warner Brothers.

Author’s note: I got the idea for this story from a program on old-time radio called “Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar”. Johnny Dollar was known as “The man with action-packed expense account.” Each episode Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator, would take on a case where the insurance company who hired him mainly to recover priceless jewelry, artwork, and sometimes act as a bodyguard would record his expenses as he solves the case. At the end, he totaled up his bill, made remarks and signed it, “Yours Truly Johnny Dollar”. For the first time ever, Fred, Velma and Daphne (without Shaggy and Scooby) try their hand at freelance insurance investigation. Here is how it happened in Daphne’s own words.

YOURS TRULY, DAPHNE BLAKE: THE STAR OF PARIS MATTER

For the first time in a long time, Fred, Velma, and I got a chance to take it easy. I invited Fred and Velma over for a day of fun and relaxation at my father’s mansion. Fred and Velma were splashing around in our massive swimming pool. I was sitting in a lounge chair by the poolside, when my butler Jenkins came up to me and said telephone for you Miss Blake. I thanked Jenkins, picked up the phone and said Hello? Daphne Blake speaking, the voice on the other end replied are you the same Daphne Blake who solves mysteries? I said yes I am what can I do for you? The voice replied my name is Larry Millstone, president of Tri-State insurance in Hartford, Connecticut. I was wondering if you and your friends were willing to solve a mystery for us in the form of freelance work? I said, that sounds interesting. Mr. Millstone replied in relief oh, good!

We need a top notch team of investigators like yourself and your friends to help us solve a mystery for us. When can you be in Hartford? I said tomorrow morning. Mr. Millstone replied, I look forward to your arrival and I will explain everything to you then. I thanked the man and the call ended. I called Fred and Velma over to where I was sitting and said, I hate to break the news to you guys but we have another mystery to solve.

Fred replied, what kind of mystery is it Daphne? Daphne said we are to go to Hartford, Connecticut tomorrow to an insurance company. All the details will be explained to us when we arrive to their office. Velma asked what’s an insurance company want with us? I answered, we will be doing freelance work by working a case for them. The man on the phone said that he wanted top notch mystery solvers, and we are it. Fred didn’t like the idea but replied, I guess we have yet another mystery on our hands. And I thought we would have more time off. I told Fred with concern, I know you do dear, but it’s in your nature as well as Velma’s and mine not to pass up a case, especially when someone halfway across the country gets my private number here. Then we have to go and do it.

My chauffer drove Fred and Velma back to their houses to pack up and prepare for the trip, while I went to my room and do the same. Early the next morning, we boarded a plane bound for Hartford. Once in Hartford a cab took us to the office of Tri-State Insurance.

We were in the office of Larry Millstone and the secretary asked what can I do for you? I replied I’m Daphne Blake and these are my friends and associates Fred Jones and Velma Dinkley. We are here at Mr. Millstone’s request. The secretary said, he did mention to me this morning that you would be here today. Just a moment please. The secretary was verified by Mr. Millstone to send us into his office.

Once inside, we introduced one another, shook hands, sat down as Mr. Millstone said, thank you for being here today. Have any of you ever heard of The Star of Paris? Velma replied I’ve heard of it. It was supposed to be the prized possession of Louis XVIII of France. Mr. Millstone said that is correct. After Louis XVIII died and France became a republic, The Star of Paris became the centerpiece of the Louvre Museum before the Mona Lisa came along.

In 1920, The Star of Paris was stolen by theives and was eventually sold to an American collector living in France. Here is what the jewel looks like. The Star of Paris was just that, a star shaped jewel consisting of a large ruby with a border of diamonds and sapphires. I looked at it in awe and replied that is the most beautiful gem I’ve ever seen. Where is it now? Mr. Millstone said, currently it was stolen again recently. It’s owner has it insured with us for twenty-five million dollars.

Fred replied in disbelief, whoa! That’s a lot of money! Mr. Millstone said with concern and worry in his voice, if it isn’t recoved in two weeks, we have to pay out this claim. Velma replied, I can see your concern sir. We will try our best to retrieve it for you. Mr. Millstone said thank you Velma. At last report, the jewel could be here in The United States right now. The thieves came here from Europe and attempted to sell the jewel here on the black market.

I must give you this fair warning, this is not a type of case you are known to handle where you find the theives disguised as ghosts, goblins or phantoms. They will be in plain sight. And this is especially dangerous for they might be armed. I said in shock, a mystery where we don’t have to unmask someone? It’s the type of mystery we’ve always wanted to solve! We will do it for you Mr. Millstone!

Fred and Velma stood behind me and nodded their heads in agreement. Mr.Millstone said, the owner has offered a one million dollar reward and we will cover your expenses. Mr. Millstone took out some papers from his desk and said, this piece of paper is known in the insurance business as a swindle sheet. Beginning now you are to record all of your expenses as you try to find these thieves. Also include what it cost you to get here too.

We will cover your transportation, hotel accommodations, food, medical expenses, and other items you feel are necessary to help you in your efforts.

But we won’t cover personal items it’s a policy of ours. These other papers you will need to file your report with us. Attach the swindle sheet to it and you will be reimbursed. We understood the instructions as Mr. Millstone said, the best place to start looking for the jewel would be New York City. Because there is a huge call for stolen jewels on the black market there. I called you because you have solved some big mysteries in the past and I know I can count on you.

But isn’t there supposed to be another young man and a dog with you? I replied Shaggy and Scooby aren’t with us this time. After our last mystery, they took our van and went away for the summer and we have no idea where they are right now. But I think we can get along without them but we never have to before. This is truly our greatest challenge ever but we won’t let you down. Mr. Millstone said in delight, I can’t thank you all enough. Please keep in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns any of you may have. Good luck my young friends.

As we left Mr. Millstone’s office, I began to fill out the swindle sheet. I normally let my accountant handle this sort of thing for me. But since he wasn’t around, I had to do it. So I wrote the following;

Expense account submitted by Daphne Blake, Fred Jones and Velma Dinkley. To Mr. Lawrence Millstone, President of Tri-State Insurance Hartford, Connecticut, the following is an accounting of expenditures we incurred during our investigation of The Star of Paris Matter.

Expense Account item 1; $1,375, airfare from Coolsville, USA to Hartford Connecticut.

Expense Account item 2; $25.75, cab fare from the airport to the office of Tri-State Insurance Company.

Expense Account item 3; $439, airfare from Hartford to New York City.

Expense Account item 4; $31.60 cab fare from JFK Airport to Police Headquarters where we met an old friend of ours, Sergeant Ross Benson, who we helped over fifteen years ago.

As we went inside the police station, a burly but pleasant man came up to them and said, Fred, Daphne, Velma, it is good to see you again! I replied, it’s good to see you too Sergeant Benson! Sgt. Benson asked what are you doing here? I replied we are here to help find The Star of Paris for an insurance company in Hartford. Sgt. Benson said you are working for an insurance company now? I replied, no not really. We are doing freelance work for them. It sounded interesting and we agreed to do it for them. I admit though that it’s a little out of our league, but you know we always wanted to try a case like this and here we are.

Sgt. Benson said I know that this isn’t the same kind of mysteries you are known to solve. And if anyone can crack this case, it’s you guys. By the way, where are Shaggy and Scooby? Fred replied, after our last mystery, they took off in the Mystery Machine for the summer and we have no idea where they are. Those two chickens finally got the drop on us. They figured to split before we have another mystery.

Sgt. Benson said now then let’s get down to business. The last we heard, The Star of Paris was here in New York. But we don’t know where in New York it could be. But we fear that it might be sold on the black market. I replied that’s what we heard from Mr. Millstone in Hartford. Where was it reported last to be at? Sgt. Benson said we got last word that the jewel was at an auction house. But we aren’t sure if it was Christie’s or Sotheby’s.

Velma asked what about the big jewelers like Tiffany’s? Sgt. Benson replied we aren’t sure about it Velma. We have all the jewelers, pawn shops and fences to keep an eye out for it and report to us, so far nothing. I said with worry without the Mystery Machine, we have no equipment at our disposal. We need to get to a security shop and purchase some tracking equipment before we can get started.

Sgt. Benson said it’s getting late anyway for you to look around if you don’t even have The Mystery Machine with you. You should check into a hotel for the night and begin first thing in the morning. If we should turn up anything, we will let you know. Fred replied, OK Sarge we will do that. Talk to you tomorrow if not sooner.

Expense Account Item 5; $19.65, cab fare from Police Headquarters to the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. We stayed there for the duration of our investigation.

The next morning we rented three cars and to Expense Account Item 6; $2,500 communications and surveillance equipment to try and find the ones responsible for the jewel’s disappearance.

In three cars, we split up for the first time go alone in different directions. Fred checked out all of Manhattan. Velma searched through Brooklyn and Queens. And I went through the Bronx and Staten Island. We each had a two-way radio to communicate with each other. Each day we took turns driving through The Big Apple in other locations and for the first three days nothing.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, I was again in the Bronx. As I was driving and at a red light, a older man who looked like he was homeless, came to my car and knocked on the window. I opened the window a bit to see what he wanted. The man said, you’re Daphne Blake aren’t you? I replied with some hesitation, yes I am. Is there anything I can do for you? The man said with a faint smile on his face, there might be something I can do for you. I know you and your friends are here to help the police recover The Star of Paris.

I took a chance and replied to the desheveled man, hop in sir. The man didn’t hesitate and as he sat down, he said, thank you very much. What I have to say can’t be said here. I know of a place where I can tell you everything and we’ll have complete privacy. I replied in a defensive tone, OK. But if you try anything funny, I carry mace with me. I’ve learned a few things from being kidnapped all the time. The man looked surprised as he replied, Miss Blake you don’t understand. I have important information for you that can help you a great deal. I have no intentions of kidnapping you or harming you in any way. I grew up watching you on television, I’m honored to be sitting in the same car with you. After he said that I felt awful and I said, I’m sorry sir. Please forgive me and call me Daphne please.

The man smiled and replied, that’s OK Daphne. I’m Kyle Maxwell. Everyone calls me Max. I said OK Max, show me this place you know about and we can talk. The place where Max took me was a seedy dive. But the patrons were so wrapped up in their own business, no one but the bartender noticed we were there. Max and I decided to have lunch while we spoke. During lunch, Max told me that he was one of New York’s hottest financial planners. He worked in The World Trade Center and nearly escaped death on 9/11. He worked in Tower 1, the building first hit by the hijackers. He was on the 30th floor and had no trouble escaping.

After 9/11, the company he worked for went out of business and the bad economy caused him to end up the way he is now. He used up all of his savings, a bank foreclosed on his home and car, and his wife and three children left him and she filed for a divorce. I didn’t think he was playing on my sympathy, but I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for him.

After lunch which is expense account item 7, $43.29, Max revealed to me what he knew about The Star of Paris.

Max said, Daphne you aren’t looking in the right place for The Star of Paris. All I know is that it’s in Manhattan. You and you’re friends are wasting your time and effort looking in the other boroughs.

In shock, I replied, are you for sure Max? Max said with hesitation, the fences here and in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island wouldn’t touch that hot rock with welder’s gloves. And in The Bronx, it’s especially dangerous. The jewel is in Manhattan unless it’s left New York. But don’t look for it in a high class joint like Tiffany’s, look for it in the worst parts of town and you and your friends might find it. But I must warn you, rumor has it that the police department have crooked cops. And even if you retrieve it before they do, you turn it in to the police, you could still be in grave danger.

I looked at Max with surprise and concern. I replied, Max if we don’t find this jewel in the next ten days, the insurance company that hired us to find it will be out twenty-five million dollars. Max said, well Daphne then it’s up to you and you’re friends to find it first. Even the one million dollar reward is enough for anyone to kill over. Just be careful my dear and you might make this out alive. I said with great concern, OK Max, we will. Thank you very much for this information, as soon as we leave here, I’ll have my friends meet me and I’ll tell them what you told me. But I would like to give you something in return.

I reached for my wallet and pulled out one thousand dollars and handed it to Max. This expense was on me Mr. Millstone.

Max was grateful but he said, I can’t accept this from you Daphne. It wouldn’t be right. I said in gratitude, I want you to have it Max. Use it wisely and get back on your feet again. Max replied joyfully, thank you Daphne. I promise that you will get back every penny.

But can I ask you for one favor? I asked sure Max what is it? Max replied, my kids are fans of yours too. They wouldn’t believe me if I told them that I was sitting here talking with you. Can I get your autograph to give to them? I said with a smile on my face, of course I will Max. After I gave Max the autograph, we left the bar and I dropped him off in front of an inexpensive motel so he could begin to rebuild his life. We shook hands and parted company.

As I proceeded down the street and headed back to Manhattan, I radioed the others. Fred responded first, then Velma did moments later. I instructed them to head back to our hotel and call it a day. That night at dinner, Fred asked, why did you call it a day early Daphne? I had a clue I was working on to find this jewel. Velma said, yeah Daphne, I too had a lead to go on. I replied you’re were both wrong. I got a tip that might crack this case. And I called it a day early because I’m convinced this tip will lead us to the jewel. A homeless man named Max told me that the jewel is here in Manhattan. Fred said in disgust, Daphne have you finally taken leave of your senses? You’re relying on a tip from a bum to recover a priceless jewel?

In equal disgust I replied, Fred. He was thorough in his explaination. And for your information, he’s down on his luck. Before 9/11, he was one of New York’s most sought after financial planners and advisors. I bought him lunch and gave him some money to help him turn his life around. Velma said, a free handout and his next bottle? Real ingenious Daphne. I replied in anger, neither one of you were there to see it for yourself. The jewel is here in Manhattan! We will begin early tomorrow to locate it! We have to look for it in the seediest parts of town. Give me three days. If we turn up nothing, I’ll call it quits and tell Mr. Millstone that I’m finished with the case. If you two want to go on without me that’s OK by me! Now if you will excuse me, I’m finished here literally! See you tomorrow at 6AM sharp! Good Night!

As I walked away from the others, I was fuming. Meeting Max today made me realize just how lucky I really am. I don’t have to worry about where I’ll sleep every night or where my next meal is coming from. But I also realize now maybe more than ever, that certain people need to work just to survive. They lose their job, they lose everything. Fred and Velma are my best friends and if they were with me, they would’ve seen just how nice Max really was. Making fun of a man who is down on his luck was no way to go about this. He might not look or smelled too good, but he was a perfect gentleman.

I turned in early that night and early the next morning, met Fred and Velma in the lobby. Once we got our cars, I took lower Manhattan near Ground Zero, Times Square and Broadway. Fred took Midtown around The Empire State Building. And Velma took upper Manhattan around Harlem and the other areas. Remembering what I told them about looking in the worst areas of the city, I was scared and so was Velma. But each had mace and we’ve both have had our share of scrapes in the past. Fred didn’t seem nervous but he kept on his toes too. For that three day period, we again took turns through Manhattan and still found nothing. But Fred told me that while in Midtown, he thought he had found something but he wasn’t absolutely sure. But he wanted to explore that area again the next day. I told him to do so and we again called it early.

Then on the eighth day, Fred said, Daphne, Velma, I think I’ve found something. I replied with anticipation, what is it Fred? Fred said I found an abandoned warehouse on the west side of Manhattan on 77th Street near the Hudson River, this may be the place where the jewel could be. Velma came in and replied, I’m near Ground Zero and Daphne where are you? I said, I’m in Harlem and I could be there in ten minutes Fred. Wait for me and stay hidden. Fred said I will Daphne. I’ll be here when you arrive. Velma replied and I will you join you both in thirty minutes. I’m stuck in heavy traffic at the moment.

I arrived in less time and it gave me a chance to check in with you in Hartford, that’s Expense Account Item 8; $20.00 for a long distance phone call from New York to your office in Hartford.

I said I’m sorry we haven’t checked in with you Mr. Millstone. We’ve spent every waking moment trying to find this jewel for you and Fred thinks that it’s in an abandoned warehouse near the Hudson River. Mr. Millstone replied, I was getting worried about you three Daphne. But each time I saw an expense made to your account I knew you were OK. You think you found the jewel? Daphne said, Fred thinks so. And most of the time he’s right. Mr. Millstone replied, once you find the jewel and the police are done with their investigation, bring the jewel back to Hartford with you. No matter how long it takes, I must have the jewel here within the next six days.

Daphne said, count on us Mr. Millstone, we will take care of everything here. Mr. Millstone replied, I will hear from you soon Daphne. I said thank you sir good-bye. And the call ended. I joined Fred in his car as they waited for Velma who still hasn’t arrived. Fred asked, what took you so long Daphne? I replied, I had to check in with Hartford and Mr. Millstone was concerned about us but he didn’t seem too upset. He said that as long as we’re working on the case, he has no problems.

Fred said that’s good to know. While we wait for Velma, there is something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time now Daphne. I asked in curiosity, what is it Fred? Fred replied I know that Mr. Millstone said that this case could be dangerous for us, so I will come right out and say, Daphne I love you. I replied with shock and surprise, I love you too Fred. I always have. But I’ve waited a long time to hear you say those words.

Fred said, if we didn’t come through this alive, I wanted you to know this before we… you know die. I replied don’t think like that Fred, we will take care of this matter for Mr. Millstone. And maybe we can discuss the future together. Fred leaned over and was about to kiss me when a knock on the window interrupted him. It was Velma. She said with and angry tone, you two get a room later, right now we’ve got a jewel to find. I replied, we got rooms at the Waldorf remember?

We went to the back of the warehouse where Fred discovered a broken window pane. He took a towel he found nearby, wrapped it around his hand and broke the rest of the pane. He found the latch and opened the window. He swept away the rest of the glass so neither of us would cut ourselves. Once inside, there was a maze of boxes we had to follow.

The warehouse was abandoned and the crates were mainly empty. Fred noticed a dim light near the back of the large warehouse. Once we found the light, there was a small table with a box on it. Fred gently opened the box and in front of us and it was what we were after in plain sight, The Star of Paris! I said, we found it! I can’t believe it! But why would it be here where someone could find it easy like we just did? Velma replied, for once Daphne, I have no idea. But whoever put it here will come back for it.

Then a familiar voice to us said, you are right Velma! We turned around and it was our friend Sgt. Benson. I said, Sgt. Benson, we found The Star of Paris! Sgt. Benson didn’t seem to embrace in my delight. He pulled out his service revolver and replied now with a nervous tone in his voice, Daphne I want you to hand over the jewel to me now!

I replied, what are you doing Sarge? You’re a cop. Sgt. Benson said Daphne just hand over the jewel and none of you gets hurt. Fred asked, why are you doing this ? Then Sgt. Benson put down his gun and said, OK I might as well tell you. You know that I’m normally a straight arrow of a cop ? But I have ties with the mafia. We looked stunned as Sgt. Benson continued, I heard about the jewel’s disappearence and I know the man in Paris who owns it.

He offered that million dollar reward. And I owed the mob a few favors. So I cashed them in all at once. If I gave them the jewel, they would forgive me for everything and I would keep the reward and they get the jewel. Before you showed up here in New York, I found the jewel on the black market and confiscated it. But I also understood that the jewel was insured for $25 million dollars. And if the jewel wasn’t found in the next six days, the insurance company had to pay my friend off.

Once he got that money, I was going to pay my old friend in Paris a little visit and bump him off and collect the money. I asked, you are our friend? How can you do this to us now? All those criminals you brought to justice for all these years were right, you are nothing but a bunch of meddling kids.

Velma replied, for once Sarge, we aren’t meddling. We were hired to do this job. Sgt. Benson said, I’ll let you go if you just let me go away with the jewel. Once the money is paid out, I will return the jewel to the insurance company myself. But Fred wasn’t convinced and again asked, Sarge why all of this ? You are close to retirement ? Sgt. Benson replied, because Fred, I’m desparate for money. My mortgage is almost ready to foreclose. My family has no money to even buy food. No bank in New York will touch my loan application with a ten foot pole.

Daphne said, all you had to do was ask us and my influence with banks, I could have helped you out. Sgt. Benson replied, I know Daphne. But you really are good friends of mine. I couldn’t ask you. I have pride you know. At that moment the mafia broke into the warehouse and began to open fire, we scattered to escape injury and even death. Bullets were flying everywhere.

Wouldn’t you know, that I would have to duck behind metal crates. A bullet exploded on contact with a metal crate and a piece of shrapnel lodged into my arm and I began to bleed. Sgt. Benson was killed instantly right in front of us. Fred managed to come to me, tore off one of his sleeves to make a turniquet to stop the bleeding. Velma normally loses her glasses within her reach, but this time as she ducked for cover, her glasses fell off her face and slid halfway down a corridor made by the crates. Then the police steeped in and arrested the whole gang of mobsters. The police was able to retrieve the jewel and took it into custody. The police called the paramedics for me as I lied in Fred’s arms while he kept me propped up.

Expense Account Item 9; $794.35; medical expenses to a local New York Hospital where they took the shrapnel out of my arm. Thankfully the doctor told me that no major artery was hit. And I was released and we went back to the Waldorf Astoria to wait out the police investigation.

Four days later, We got a call from the chief of police and told us to come to headquarters. We drove there and met up with Chief Peter Munson. Chief Munson said, Miss Blake how are you today ? I replied, I’m OK Chief. My arm will be as good as new in no time. Chief Munson said that’s good to hear. We are done with our investigation. You can take the Star of Paris back to Hartford so the insurance company doesn’t have to pay out all that money. I replied, thank you Chief. We must go now so that doesn’t happen. Chief Munson said, you three please come back again and see us soon. Velma replied, we will if we have another mystery to solve here.

We said our good-byes, turned in our rental cars, checked out of the hotel and Expense Account Item 10; $26.15; cab fare from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to JFK airport

Expense Account Item 11; Same as Item 3, $439; Transportation from New York to Hartford.

We made it back in time to Mr. Millstone’s office with the jewel in hand. Mr. Millstone was pleased and said, Fred, Velma, Daphne, well done! I’m sorry to hear about your arm Daphne, are you alright? I replied, the doctor said my arm will be like new very soon. I just have to keep it in this sling until further notice. Now what will happen to The Star of Paris now? Mr. Millstone said, the French government wants it’s treasure returned to where it’s supposed to have been for over eighty years. In the Louvre Museum. Our insurance policy must be terminated with the man who insured it with after we explained it to him that it was stolen property.

I replied, I speak on behalf of the three of us when I say that this was an unusual experience for us. But we enjoyed it. If you ever need us again give us a call. And next time all five of us will be here for you. Fred said, we don’t know where they went to, but where ever they are, I hope that they are enjoying themselves.

Velma replied, Fred how can you say that ? We lost a good friend, Daphne was injured and we had to solve this mystery without them or the Mystery Machine. Fred said, I was being sarcastic. I replied with sympathy towards Shaggy and Scooby, don’t be hard on them Fred. We have made them endure all those years of being scared out of their minds. I wasn’t severly hurt and this was a new expereince for us. We pulled through just fine.

Mr. Millstone said Daphne’s right Fred. I know you guys from all the years I’ve seen you on television and believe me they needed a break like you needed a break from all those guys in masks trying to scare people out of their minds. Daphne you can send me that report once you finish adding all the expenses and we will reimburse you for your efforts. I replied thank you again Mr. Millstone. You will have my report in the next few days. Mr. Millstone said it has been a pleasure my young friends. Good luck to you all.

When we headed back home to Blake Manor. My arm was fully healed by the second day back. The next day, we tried again to try to have fun by the pool. Again I was sitting in my deck chair finishing the report for Mr. Millstone when Jenkins came to me and said, this package came for you Miss Blake, and here is the regular mail too.

One letter caught my eye, and shouted Fred, Velma, come over here for a minute! Fred and Velma jumped out of pool not bother to dry off and Fred replied, what’s up Daphne? Take a look at this letter I got in the mail. But first dry off, it looks important. After they both dried off, Fred said, this is from the French Consolate in Washington. He opened the letter and read it;

To Mr. Fred Jones, Miss Daphne Blake, and Miss Velma Dinkley,

On behalf of the French Government, I would like to send my sincere thanks for returning The Star of Paris back to us. We haven’t had in our possession for nearly eighty-five years. Now that we have it again, we will showcase it with pride in the Louvre Museum. If you should come to France especailly Paris in the near future, it will be at our invitation and as our honored guests.

Merci beau coup,

Pierre LaFleur,

French Ambassador to the United States

After Fred read the note, he asked, what’s in the package Daphne? I replied with distain, it’s from that “bum” as you eloquently put it in New York. Since you weren’t too concerned about what he told me about helping retrieve the jewel, why should share this with you now Fred? After I said that, Fred did become apologenic. Fred replied in guilt, I’m sorry Daphne, really sorry. We weren’t there to meet this guy. I shouldn’t have been so hasty. Velma said in agreement, I’m sorry too Daphne. I too shouldn’t have been so harsh on him or you. Please tell us what he gave you.

As I opened the package, there was an envelope, a wrapped box and a note that read as follows;

Dear Daphne,

Thank you so much for your help. In just one week, I went from being homeless to being back in demand again. I was given a large signing bonus to work for a very prestigious broker in New York. Enclosed in the envelope you will find the $1000 you gave me to restart my life. And as a bonus, the wrapped box contains some really nice perfume. I don’t know if it’s your brand but I had no way of knowing.

If you should return to New York again, look me up your friends are also welcomed to come with you. And my kids thank you for the autograph and my ex-wife and I might get remarried. You made all the difference in my world.

Thank You Very Much,

Kyle “Max” Maxwell

Fred and Velma both hung their heads in shame for doubting Max’s promise too me. But I knew that being kind to someone in need has its rewards. The next morning, Shaggy and Scooby returned from their vacation. They asked us what we did while they were away. I gave Shaggy a big hug, pet Scooby on the head and replied absoultely nothing guys, absoultely nothing.

Expense Account Item 12; $3075; hotel and incidentals while in New York.

Item 13; same as Item 1; $1375, Transportation from Hartford back to Coolsville.

Item 14; $945; miscellanous. Expense Account Total ; $11,108.79

End of expense account, end of report.

Remarks : Mr. Millstone, the three of us insist that you give our reward money to Sgt. Ross Benson’s widow. She needs the money more than we do and she will have the money she needs to save her house, feed her family and put their youngest child through college. Ross Benson was a good and honest man. But temptation got the best of him and he wound up on the short end of the stick. As for us, I hope that the next time you have another case for us, make sure that the crook is in a mask. That way we don’t have to end up fighting a friend.

Yours truly, Daphne Blake

THE END