Chapter 3: The Investigation

THE NEXT MORNING...

(MONDAY 4 DECEMBER 2023...)

M&M: Auri, just the man I wanna see.

Auri: That's a coincidence, you're just the man I wanna see.

M&M: We saw you on the TV, last night... and I wanna just say that we are impressed with that Press Conference that you did, over at the Merseyside Police Station.

Auri: Are you, now? What a surprise.

Mr. Monitor: Come on, Auri... where's that smile? We're proud of you.

Auri: Sorry, it's just that Gino & Emily are somewhere out there... in the freezing cold! It's nearly Christmas and my friends are crapping themselves, they're also praying that they'll survive!

M&M: I know... but we've got a surprise for you!

Auri: I'm listening.

M&M: We're going to Liverpool to team up with the Merseyside Police!

Auri: Really?

Mr. Monitor: Yep!

Auri: Oh thank god... I'm glad that we're gonna be involved in this investigation!

M&M: Right, let's set off... we're gonna head off to the Crime scene that took place.

Mr. Monitor: Don't worry, Auri... we're gonna save those Toddlers.

Auri: Liverpool, here we come!

Meanwhile...

Bob: OI, ANYBODY... CAN YOU GIVE US A HAND HERE?!?!?! These kids are missing!!!

Shroomy: Bob, what are you doing?

Bob: Oi, sir! Have you seen these kids?!

The person walked by.

Bob: Have you seen the News?!

Shroomy: Bob!

Bob: OH SCREW YOU, THEN!!!

...

Saiko: No need to be that aggressive.

Bob: These people in Liverpool are rude!

Shroomy: That's because you're scaring them off.

Bob: Am I, now?!

Melony: Come on, guys... we can't just give up hope! We're doing this for Mario's Family's sake!

Saiko: She's right, you know.

Bob: Yeah, but the fact is that nobody gives a shit about Gino & Emily!

*SMACK*

Bob: Ow!

Saiko: Just be patient!!!

Bob: ...

At Mario's House...

Chief: Welcome.

M&M: Hello.

*HAND-SHAKE* 🤝

Chief: I'm the Chief Inspector of the Merseyside Police and I believe you must be the Officers from the Mushroom Kingdom Police.

M&M: That us.

Chief: One of your Officers did well in that Press Conference.

Auri: *sigh* Don't embarrass me.

Mr. Monitor: Why not?

...

Auri: Anyways, let's get on with this.

Chief: Certainly! Would you like to step into the House, so we can get started with his investigation?

Auri: Please!

Inside...

Auri: Bloody hell.

Chief: As you can see, this place has taken a little bit of damage... the Picture Frames have been smashed up and the suspect sprayed a message saying; Murderers.

Auri: Mario & Meggy wouldn't murder anybody... well except for when a Inkling Rapist took over everything.

Chief: I remember a Headline about that.

Mr. Monitor: I also heard that there was a Note saying that the suspect is finishing a job for a Son.

M&M: This abductor might be somebody's Parent.

Chief: To be fair, it might be.

Mr. Monitor: What do you think Auri?

Auri: ...

Mr. Monitor: Auri?

Auri: Um...

M&M: What's wrong? You got a Brain Freeze?

Auri: No... I've got a Brain Wave!

Chief: Really?

Auri: You don't think the kidnapper might be... you know...

M&M: What?

Auri: Do you think it might be... a Parent of... Dylan Cumber?!

Mr. Monitor: Are you sure?

Auri: That's what I'm predicting.

Chief: Right... how about we go down to the Station and discuss it with everyone else.

M&M: Sounds like a plan.

Over to Mario...

Meggy: *sobbing* Mario... 😢

Mario: *sigh* Meggy...

*KISS*

Tari: This is breaking my Heart...

SMG4: I know it is.

Mario: Listen Meggy... Auri is finding our kids and the whole Police are not gonna give up, and they'll never give up!

SMG4: Yeah, it's not like they're gonna call off the search.

Meggy: S- Search...

Mario: Um...

Meggy: You know what?! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!

SMG4: Meggy, don't get too stressed!

Meggy: This is taking way too long... my precious little Gino & Emily are out there in the cold and it's taking way too long!

Tari: Patience is the key.

Meggy: If they're taking way too long... then, I'll have to find them myself!

SMG4: You what?!

Meggy: Come on, Mario... we're gonna find Gino & Emily by ourselves! And, we're not coming back here until we've found them!

Mario: Ourselves?

Meggy: Once I get my Hands on the kidnapper... He or She is dead!!!

SMG4: Can I come too?

Meggy: NO!!! 😡

...

Tari: Stay safe out there, you two!

Mario: We'll try!

Back with Auri...

M&M: Are you sure that this must've been a Parent of Dylan Cumber?

Auri: There's TV logos on the Note... and I'm sure I've seen that logo before.

M&M: Where did you see one?

Auri: When Peach's Castle was in Space.

M&M: I see.

Mr. Monitor: Yeah, I saw something like that... when an Escape Pod landed in the Park.

Auri: Anyways, that's what I'm predicting.

M&M: Right... the Merseyside Chief is now driving us to the Station and we're gonna have a meeting whether if you're right or wrong.

Auri: Fair enough.

Later...

Chief: Hang on, what's this?

Auri: Bloody hell... looks like an Inkling Girl.

Mr. Monitor: She looks old... she could be an Inkling Woman.

Auri: Come again?

Mr. Monitor: You can almost see some Wrinkles on her.

Chief: Yeah, but she's got Cuts all over her Face.

M&M: She looks like she's getting into that Car, as well.

Chief: She's not going anywhere, because there's a dirty licence plate.

M&M: I see.

Auri: She kinda reminds of someone else.

The Inkling Woman opened the Boot.

Chief: What's she doing?

Mr. Monitor: She got her Boot open.

The Inkling looked around.

Mr. Monitor: Looking around her surroundings.

And, she closed it.

Mr. Monitor: And, she now closed it.

Auri: That's strange.

Chief: Hold up, I'm gonna pull over... and I'm gonna talk to this Woman.

The Chief got out of the Car.

Chief: You lot stay in here while I speak to her.

M&M: Okie-dokie.

Auri: Hmm... those last 3 letters of that registration.

Mr. Monitor: Come again?

Auri: T.V.A

M&M: What about them?

Auri: TV Adware.

The Chief spoke to the Inkling.

Chief: Excuse me, Madam? Can I have a word with you?

Inkling: What seems to be the problem, Officer?

Chief: You have an obscured index plate.

Inkling: And?

Chief: It's an offence.

Inkling: Really?

Chief: You know... I should give you a ticket fine.

Inkling: But, you're not going to!

Chief: I won't, if you clean the number plate.

Inkling: *sigh* Look... I have a bit of a bad time, recently and I'm not thinking straight.

Chief: Okay?

Inkling: You see... I used to be a Mother and I heard that my Son got tragically killed, earlier this year.

Chief: Ah...

Inkling: He was murdered.

Chief: Well, I'm sorry for your loss.

Inkling: By a couple.

Chief: I see--

The Chief froze.

Inkling: You alright?

Chief: By a couple?

Inkling: What?

Chief: Do you mind if I ask how you got those Scratches on your Face?

Inkling: I tripped.

Chief: Tripping doesn't make those kind of injuries.

Inkling: Look, can I go? Aren't you supposed to be looking for that kidnapper who abducted those kids?

Chief: Where were you when that happened?

Inkling: Home.

...

Chief: One last question... do you mind if I ask what was in your Boot?

Inkling: Um... why?

Chief: I kinda saw you opening and closing it... you also looked around.

Inkling: Okay, hang on a minute... let me get my wipes as the back of my Car is a little muddy.

The Inkling went through her Bag.

Chief: If there's nothing there, I'll let you off... there's a kidnapper on the--

Suddenly...

https://youtu.be/K6dZ5kxICRE

Chief: *SCREAMS IN PAIN* AHH!!! 😱😱😱

Auri: *GASP*

M&M: What?

Auri: OMG!!!

The Inkling Woman drove off.

Mr. Monitor: THE CHIEF!!!

M&M: *GASP* SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!!!

The others quickly jumped out.

https://youtu.be/Y02sMcyVJlE

M&M: MATE... TALK TO ME!!!

Mr. Monitor: STOP THE BLEEDING, AURI!!!

Auri: O_O

Mr. Monitor: AURI, DON'T STAND THERE!!!

Auri: H- Huh?!

M&M: MONITOR, YOU DO IT!!!

Chief: *chokes*

Mr. Monitor: OH JESUS!!!

M&M: *SCREAMS* HELP... POLICE!!! SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE!!! 😱

Auri: *panting*

Mr. Monitor: Auri?!

Auri: OH GOOD GOD!!!

Auri ran off.

Mr. Monitor: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!?!?!

Chief: *chokes*

M&M: STAY WITH ME!!!