Chapter Text
Chapter 2: The aftermath
March 12, 1969
"I really shoulda seen this comin', Fred." Red said hoarsely as he laid flat on his hospital bed while Shaggy, his father Sam, Fred, Velma and Daphne looked on.
It was a cloudy afternoon as the group got together after school to make the visit, and neither of them could've anticipated just how roughed up Red looked.
The jock was practically wrapped up with white bandages, and he had his left arm and forehead wrapped in a cast.
Fred winced. "Can you recall any particular details on the bastards that did this to you, Red?"
"I could if this poundin' headache goes away." Red winced. "For all I know, the motherfuckers that did this to me were very hellbent that I don't rat out Troy."
"Troy?" Shaggy arched his eyebrows as Velma and Daphne glanced at him. "Is he involved in this mess? The beating itself I mean."
"No, no." Red shook his head softly. "Troy's too much of a wimp to touch me, but that hasn't stopped him from getting close to those goons to make himself look tougher while keeping his hands clean on the dirty work they do."
"Considering how often you guys accused me of supplying painkillers to Troy, it does bear asking if he has always acted the way he did whenever he manages to get his hands on painkillers." Shaggy said.
"He does, Shag." Fred nodded. "Though considering the slam I saw that other day, I highly doubt it came from those painkillers that he's been taking."
"Maybe it was from whatever else he was taking to offset whatever side effects that comes with whatever he took that gave him the ability to make that slam." Velma offered.
"Is it actually possible?" Daphne asked as they turned towards Velma. "Whatever physical enhancing drugs Troy's taking has the potential for side effects that would require painkillers to neutralize them?"
"It is." Velma nodded as she adjusted her glasses briefly. "From what Fred gathered, the PEDs that Troy's been supplied with has side effects that includes muscle spasms, spasms that are quite severe that only painkillers could mitigate the pain."
"Except that once he takes those painkillers, it leads into a cycle of dependency where he could be using other drugs to offset the side effects from the painkillers." Shaggy pointed out. "Almost like...what I went through after that accident..."
"Sounds like it, Shag." Daphne said as the others nodded in agreement.
"But the beating you received goes further than the performance enhancement drugs Troy was taking." Sam interjected.
"Indeed, it does." Red nodded. "What, with the match-fixin' goin' on lately."
"Just who do you think benefits the most from all this match-fixing, Mr. Rogers?" Velma asked as they turned towards the lieutenant.
"Given what was uncovered by the feds, it won’t be surprising if the ringleaders are benefitting a whole lot from this match-fixing as a way to further supplement their profits from their drug trade." Sam explained.
"Sounds like Troy's hardly the only one involved when you put it this way, Pops." Shaggy remarked.
"I won't be surprised if that is indeed the case." Sam nodded.
"Isn't there something you could do to combat all of this, Lieutenant Rogers?" Fred asked.
“It’s easier said than done. The feds may have successfully indicted the mayor and his co-conspirators, however that doesn’t mean their criminal enterprise collapses overnight." Sam frowned. “In the criminal underworld, there are always players out there ready to fill the void when it presents itself, especially in a scheme as sophisticated as the mayor’s criminal enterprise. And to top it all off, you must wonder if the mayor and his co-conspirators were simply the fall guys and if so, don’t forget the mastermind behind the scenes doing whatever it takes to preserve his or her tentacle grip over the city.”
"Sounds like there’s more to the ex-mayor’s scheme than what was presented to the public by the feds.” Velma offered.
Sam nodded but didn’t say anything. As he had long suspected, since the indictment of Francis Jones and his co-conspirators, the feds have placed a very tight lid on the progress of their investigation into the ex-mayor’s criminal enterprise and racketeering. That included with the police department, and the feds’ aversion to sharing updates with him was starting to get on his nerves.
“There is, but until the feds go public with the latest in their investigation, about how deep this criminal conspiracy goes, your guess is as good as mine.” Sam said.
After parting ways with the gang at the hospital and upon returning to his office, Sam found the preliminary case summary on the Herring beating waiting for him on his desk. As he sat down and picked up the report, his mind grinded on the conversation at the hospital.
He was intrigued by what the victim had to say to him and the gang, particularly with him pointing the finger to the assailants involved in supplying PEDs and match-fixing in high school football.
The lieutenant sighed and pinched his eyes gently before they darted to the glass window overseeing the squad room. It was mostly empty, as most of his men had gone home for the night, while those that were still actively working cases were out, either for dinner or chasing down a lead.
Detectives Welker and Silverman were in the latter category, having had been provided some names pertaining to the case on who would've wanted to harm Randolph Herring the most.
Considering the jock's bullying ways, the list of suspects was very long, and there was nothing regarding Red Herring's parents that could be of any assistance in narrowing down the suspect list.
Of course, both Welker and Silverman knew that the likelihood of the beating being connected to PEDs, and match-fixing was very high, but after the events from months ago, Sam didn’t need to do much to get them to understand the necessity of having all sorts of leads being a cover as they chased down the real leads. Francis Jones and his accomplices and co-conspirators may be in federal custody, but as with anything in this fine town, there’s no shortage of figures in the underworld yearning to fill the void left behind by them.
And based on what they have gathered so far, it would seem at least three figures have moved in to take over the racketeering following the federal indictment of the former mayor and his accomplices. Neither of them has been identified yet, however, the preliminary findings have pinpointed one of them to be in the Coolsville Police Department.
It most certainly couldn’t be the previous chief of police Louis Strickland, given he has been indicted along with the mayor, nor could it be the current chief Rupert Gosnell, who remains preoccupied with containing the fallout from the federal indictment of his predecessor.
Even so, he didn’t like the chances that one of the figures could very well be someone he sees at the police department every day. Already smarting over how a leak from the police department came close to claiming his daughter’s life months ago, Sam was determined to not see a repeat of that again.
And with the second figure identified as a member of the judiciary, Sam figured that Skip Jones has likely had similar thoughts about the likelihood the figure being someone he sees everyday. Given what he had seen so far with the gathered evidence, he wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out one such figure was Chief Judge Earl Thomas, who he has seen to be instrumental in the likes of ex-mayor Jones getting off with a slap in the wrist.
Thus far, they’re no closer to identifying the third figure that has taken over the racketeering, however preliminary intelligence suggests that they may be in City Hall, perhaps even in the new mayor’s office. As his father would say, “Garbage in, garbage out.”
With the feds not speaking to anyone about any updates in their continued investigation into the former mayor’s racketeering, Sam was starting to feel restless. He did not like to have his hands tied by anything ranging from improbable alibis to bureaucratic red tape. Idle hands and a stagnated mind were his worst enemies.
That restless feeling was shared with his team, and Sam disliked having to put them to work on something else in the name of efficiency and thus stall any momentum they were gathering in the case.
The former Marine Raider exhaled as he sipped on his mug of coffee while reading the preliminary case summary, then he took off his reading glasses and pinched his eyes again before checking the time on the clock. It was getting late, and he had a long day.
After the visiting hours were over, the gang made their way out of the hospital. Sam had already parted ways with them to head back to work, and there was silence between them as they made their way to the hospital’s main entrance.
Once in the parking lot, Fred exhaled and said, “I really don't like this one fucking bit, guys."
"About Red Herring getting the shit beaten out of him?" Velma asked.
"That, and what Red implied about PEDs and match-fixing." Fred frowned. "Hell, if what he said about match-fixing was true, then what the hell did we put in the effort for in the previous season."
"I thought you have already figured that someone was involving the high school football team in match-fixing, Fred." Shaggy interjected.
"I did, but I never would have imagined that this goes way deeper than just our school, Crystal Cove High and Ridge Valley High." Fred replied. "I mean, if it was indeed as deep as I think it would be in light of what we've got, then what are the chances that this all goes back to the unfinished business with what ex-Mayor Jones and his accomplices were up to."
“PEDs and match-fixing, those are just about some of the worst sorts of combinations anyone can think of.” Daphne remarked.
“Yes.” Fred nodded. “Hell, for all I know, this scheme has Coach Clay’s foul stench all over it, there’s no fucking way he ain’t involved in this, not with the way he complimented Troy for that drug-induced slam that snapped a bench that game.”
“Sounds like the game’s afoot, Fred.” Shaggy quipped. “Like, when you put it that way, it wouldn’t be surprising if not only he knew about the drugs and match-fixing ring, but also looked the other way. Someone who would do whatever it takes to win, regardless of the means, however moral and ethical it is.”
“Sounds about just right, Shag.” Fred nodded again. It was at the tip of his tongue to continue when Shaggy’s stomach growled loudly.
“You hungry, Shag?” Daphne asked.
“Yeah, and before any of you ask, no, I’m not eating at the hospital’s cafeteria. I’ve already had enough of their food for a lifetime.” Shaggy replied.
“I know just the place where we can grab something to eat, gang.” Fred said as he nodded towards the nearby bus stop, in time for them to see a GM New Look approaching in the distance.
A short while later, the gang were seated in a booth at a diner back in downtown Coolsville.
“So, what’s Coach Clay like as a coach, Fred?” Velma asked once they finished their orders.
“He’s very ruthless, that’s for sure.” Fred said. “Always tough talking and pushes anyone to meet his expectations, those who can’t are weeded out from the team. Apparently doesn’t like weaklings.”
“I sure get the vibe.” Shaggy remarked. “Did he get along with Red?”
“Red is like the coach’s pet.” Fred said. “Coach Clay always liked Red, having had said that he’s like the son he never had.”
“Imagine that.” Velma remarked.
“Had anything happened between Red and the coach as of late, Fred?” Daphne asked.
“Not that I noticed, though the coach has been shifting the centre of his admiration within the team towards Troy.” Fred replied.
“What gives?” Shaggy asked.
Fred shrugged, “Red thinks Troy’s replacing him as the coach’s pet because he’s slipping, though I suspect the coach is probably concerned about him getting cold feet.”
“That is, if we have evidence that actually suggested that he’s involved in this.” Velma pointed out.
“True.” Fred nodded. “We gotta think of something and shut this down before the team’s name gets shattered by this scheme.”
“Oh, absolutely.” Daphne nodded. “Anyone on the team’s going to have their future prospects tarnished should the school team’s involvement in this scheme comes to light.”
As Daphne was speaking, Scooby's ears perked up when he heard something, which prompted him to get up and start sniffing.
Before Shaggy could say something on the matter, their attention was diverted when Scooby started growling, prompting him to turn towards the Great Dane immediately.
"Like, what's the matter, Scoob?" Shaggy asked.
Scooby's growl only intensified, prompting the gang to frown.
"What is it, old pal?" Shaggy pressed.
Scooby abruptly started barking towards the nearby window, prompting the gang to turn towards the window.
Through the window, they spotted a trio of dark-clothed figures gathered at the fire escape on the side of the jewelry store across the lane.
As the gang looked on, the trio managed to get onto the walkway aligned to the building's second floor and move towards a window.
"Holy shit, you guys thinking what I'm thinking?" Velma remarked as one of the figures used a crowbar to force the window open.
Watching the trio breaking into the jewelry store from the second floor, the gang stood up from their seats in the booth.
"I'd better call Pops." Shaggy said as he moved towards the counter, but as that was happening, another customer walked through the door.
Before anyone could react, the Great Dane suddenly rushed towards the opened door, startling the customer and prompting the others to said, "Scooby!"
Shaggy turned his attention towards the front door, in time to see Scooby rushed out of the shop, prompting him to drop what he was doing and took off after him, shouting, "Scooby!"
Scooby didn't stop as he rushed towards the lane sandwiched between the shop and the jewelry store, prompting Shaggy to shout, "Scooby-Doo!"
Seeing that Shaggy wasn't going to return with Scooby anytime soon, Fred and the girls glanced at each other briefly before the blonde said, "I'd better go help Shag."
"Good idea, Fred." Daphne nodded before the blonde took off while she and Velma turned towards the counter and asked to borrow the telephone.
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