Peep perused the Scooby Doo gang. Finding himself on the set of another cartoon felt strangely familiar. Even though each character looked and sounded as they did on television they were much more human now. His stomach rumbled. Presently he wished he were back home eating a hot, cheesy pizza and not playing detective.

Trying to act the part Peep asked, "Does anyone have a pad and pen? I'd like to keep notes."

Locket materialized the goods and floated them in front of Peep's face.

Shaggy and the gang didn't blink an eye. Peep supposed in a cartoon world things were more likely to be out of the ordinary.

Peep began scribbling in the notepad. "Shaggy let's have the timeline of the events."

Shaggy stroke his scraggly beard. "I had just woken up from a nap. Whenever Scooby lets me sleep I reward him with a snack. I went to the panty and shook the box. Nothing! I knew Scooby would be super mad if he woke up from his third nap and didn't get a snack so I left for the store."

Peep asked, "What time did you leave?"

Shaggy scratched his head. "3:30 this afternoon."

"How long were you gone?" Peep continued scribbling notes.

Shaggy answered, "Not more than a half hour. I took my bike and rode to Krogers on Pine Street."

Peep pried for more clues. "So you returned home at approximately 4:00pm?"

Shaggy shook his head. "Yes sir."

Peep snickered. He had never heard anyone call him 'sir' before.

Slyly Velma sauntered up to Peep. Out of the side of her mouth she asked, "What's your deal?"

Peep looked surprised. He found himself in yet another cartoon setting where the characters seemed so alive. He definitely didn't relish another cartoon crush so he kept things professional. He replied, "I'm only here to help."

Velma looked suspicious. "Is that right? What's with the weird hair and face tattoos? You from the future kid?"

Peep laughed. "Honestly I don't know. I think I'm from another dimension."

Velma wrinkled her nose. "That makes sense. How do you know so much about Scooby Doo and the gang?"

Peep replied, "Well I've seen every episode."

Velma became confused, "Huh?"

Locket flew to Peep's aid and interjected, "Peep means he's gone over the particulars." From behind Velma she secretly gave Peep 'the fairy look,' and added, "Just stick to the facts Peep—just the facts."

Peep stuck the pen behind his ear and began pacing back and forth. Shaggy got in step with him. Soon the entire gang paced with Locket flying behind them. Peep stopped, held up his pointer finger to say something. Then he shook his head and kept pacing. Something bugged him about the whole thing. He'd seen too many episodes to believe they were in real danger. The show still had a rating of PG.

Finally Peep blurted out, "After careful consideration I think this might've been an inside job!"

Locket didn't like this turn of events. She feared Peep would offend her friends. "Peep what are you saying?"

Shaggy agreed. He asked Peep, "Are you accusing me of kidnapping my own dog?"

Fred and the girls complained out loud siding with Shaggy.

"Here me out,'' Peep explained. "I'm not accusing any of you of anything--especially you Shaggy. I know you love Scooby more than Scooby loves snacks..."

"You know I do," agreed Shaggy.

Peep asked, "Let's be reasonable here... Do any of you have any money?"

All of the characters pulled out their pockets and dumped their purses on the ground. The only thing that fell out were marbles, lipstick, gum wrappers and a few fluttering moths."

"See what I mean?" Peep questioned. "Why would anyone dognap Scooby? He's so needy and you guys are broke!"

Suddenly they heard a ghostly noise from behind a gravestone. "Oooooo Oooooo..."

Shaggy began shaking and jumped into Peep's arms clinging on for dear life. "W-w-w-what w-w-w-was that?"
Peep pulled Shaggy off of him and said, "Not what but who!"

"Huh?" Shaggy looked more confused than usual.

Peep held up the ransom note and sniffed it. Then he stuck it in Shaggy's face. "Lemme ask you something... Does this note smell at all familiar?"

Shaggy sniffed it and said, "Smells like home."

Daphne grabbed the note and smelled it. "Ew! It smells like dog slobber."

Shaggy started blubbering. "I miss my dog!" Tears fell from his eyes as he clung to Peep and sobbed heavily.

Once again Peep pulled Shaggy off of him and objected, "Get a hold of yourself man!"

Shaggy wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve. "I can't help it. I love my dog."

From behind the gravestone someone said, "I ruv roo roo!" Scooby bounded out and pounced on top of Shaggy, knocking him to the ground. He licked him in the face over and over.

Shaggy giggled and said, "Dog slobber! I love that smell! I've missed you buddy!"

Daphne became angry. "Hold on a second! Shaggy don't you get it! Scooby kidnapped himself!"

Scooby sat up and said, "I rorry." He looked ashamed.

A cartoon lightbulb appeared over Shaggy's head. "Scooby why would you scare me like this? Why would you want me to think you'd been dognapped?"

Scooby said, "I ruv roo."

The gang merely laughed. No one had hard feelings. This happened to be a regular occurance in the land of "Scooby Doo Where Are You?"

Shaggy shook Peep's hand extra hard. "How can we ever repay you?"

Peep asked matter-of-factly, "How do you normally pay your private detectives?"

Velma shouted, "With hugs!" Scooby and the gang dog-piled on top of Peep.

Peep yelled, "Locket help!"

Locket waved her magic wand over them and magically they levitated above Peep. They hung midair as Peep rolled out of the way. Then they crashed to the ground with, "Oofs and ouches."

Peep shook his head regaining consciousness.

Shaggy pointed at the left side of Peep's neck and said, "Look!"

Instinctively Peep grabbed his neck and asked, "What?"

Locket stammered, "Uhhhh... It's nothing—we gotta fly! Bye-bye!"

Scooby trotted over to Peep and licked his entire face. "Roo ruv Rooby Roo?"

Peep looked confused.

Shaggy slapped Peep on the back and said, "Scooby thinks you must love him since you have his picture on your neck."

Angrily, Peep shouted, "LOCKET!" as the two of them vanished back into the real world.

~End of Chapter 32~

Author's Note: I'm been trying to fininsh the last chapter of "Escape From Fat Camp." Didn't mean to neglect Peep! He's the best! Can't wait until writing one book at a time!! Love y'all! 😊😍🤗