Haven’t Got A Clue

By:  Salt*N*Pepper (Adrienne and Christine)

Chapter 2

"I can’t believe this, look at my hair!" Jesse complained. She took her long red hair and squeezed it out, watching the water drip down onto the ground. "James, we’ve got to find shelter…and quick!"

"Yea, I hate water!" Meowth screeched.

James squinted through the thick fog, and suddenly saw the twerps run out of the Ketchum’s house. "Look there!" he cried pointing.

"It’s them!" Jesse gasped. "Are they crazy! What are they doing!?"

Jesse ran ahead to catch up, but when she got near, they were gone. James followed close behind her, Meowth at his heels.

"Why would the twerps run out of the house like that?" James asked, stroking his chin. Jesse made her way to the door.

"I don’t know, but while they’re out, we can get in!" She laughed. "Look they left everything unlocked!" Jesse pushed open the door, let James and Meowth inside and quickly slammed it shut.

"Hello? Hello, is anyone here?" Jesse called. Nothing but the rain pounding on the windows could be heard. "Perfect…" she smiled.

James walked past the living room and into the kitchen, his black wet boots squeaking against the wooden floor. Meowth eagerly followed him, admiring the Halloween decorations along the way.

"I’m starved! I wonder what kind of food the twerps eat…" James said making his way to the refrigerator. Suddenly he stopped.
"Hey Jess, look at this!" He picked up the note Delia had left on the kitchen table.

"Let me see that!" Jesse demanded, ripping it out of his hands. "A party? Tonight?" she asked, surprised.

Meowth grabbed the note from Jesse.

"If dere’s a party then at means dere’s food and if dere’s food…"

James and Jesse exchanged excited glances.

"WE’RE THERE!" all three of them cried.


Panting, Ash, Brock, and Misty had finally made it to the top of Professor Oak’s stairs leading to his mansion.

"I can’t believe…we made it." Misty sighed.

"Just as the storm was getting worse…" Brock replied, looking over his shoulder at the dark swirling clouds.

Ash rang the bell on Professor Oak’s door. Minutes later the door opened, and Gary appeared in a suit. Ash quickly hid the umbrella behind his back, as his rival stepped aside to let them in.

Gary grinned. "I’m so glad you could make it."

Ash stared at Gary coldly. "What are you doing here?!"

"Well it’s my grandpa’s party, why shouldn’t I be here? And besides…I’m the host of it!" Gary replied innocently.

Ash was silent.

"If I would of known you’d take a break from traveling now, I wouldn’t have…" he muttered.

"Well I’m so glad you did, Ash," Professor Oak said, standing next to Gary. He too was wearing a black suit. "I see you got your mother’s note, you all look very nice," Oak said.

"Where is my mom?" Ash asked, looking around for her.

"Oh we ran out of ice for the champagne, so she ran out to go get some," Gary answered quickly.

"Oh…" Ash replied. He suddenly noticed his surroundings. Professor Oak always had a laboratory, but connected to it was his huge mansion, one in which Ash had never really been in too often. The place sort of gave him the chills, he didn’t know why, it was just one of those things.

"Wow…" Misty suddenly said quietly. "I’ve been in the laboratory part before, but I never realized how big the house is itself!"
Brock nodded his head in agreement.

Ash frowned. "Is she coming back soon? I was really looking forward to seeing her again…"

"Don’t worry Ash, your mother should be back in no time," Professor Oak said cheerfully. "In the meantime why don’t we all go into the dining room and help ourselves to some appetizers?"

Ash’s face lit up. "Great I’m starved!"

Just then, the doorbell rang. Gary opened the door, revealing two extremely well dressed people and a sharp looking Meowth.

"We’re here!" Jesse cried, twirling around in her deep purple gown.

"Let the party begin!" James said happily, dressed in a tux with a bow tie matching Jesse’s dress.

"You invited Team Rocket?!?! Out of all people you invited TEAM ROCKET?!?!" Ash cried.

"Uh…we uh…." Gary stuttered, looking just as stunned as Ash. He looked worriedly at his grandpa.

"Why yes we did…" Professor Oak said quickly. Brock, Ash and Misty exchanged horrified glances.

James leaned closer to Jesse. "I didn’t know that invitation was addressed to us too…" he whispered.

"It wasn’t…just play along…I guess…" Jesse replied slowly. "Ahem, yes we were invited twerps…because unlike you, we know how to party!" Jesse said. She turned to Gary. "Now excuse me but I believe I just heard the word appetizers being mentioned…"

"Uh, yes, everyone, follow me…" Gary replied as he headed for the dining room.
Everyone took a seat at the long rectangular table, each place set up with gleaming silverware and sparkling wine glasses. Trays after trays of delicious appetizers were set in front of them.

"Look!" cried Ash excitingly. "They even have those mini hot dogs!" He grabbed at least fifty and plopped them on his plate. Jesse James and Meowth wolfed down food faster than anything. Misty sweatdropped as she watched them eat. She glanced over at Brock, who seemed to be in some sort of daze.

"Brock? Brock are you okay?" Misty asked, waving a hand in front of his face. Suddenly a large red blush mark streaked across his face.

"That pink hair…those blue eyes….I knew it! It really is you!" Brock cried, jumping out of his seat. He rushed over to a quiet maid who had been standing in the corner, holding a tray at her side. "Nurse Joy, what are you doing here?!? Why aren’t you working at the Pokémon center?!" Brock asked.

"Oh, I uh…needed a part time job… and Professor Oak was hiring for a maid so…I took it!" Joy replied.

"Wow, I can’t believe you’re here! This is great! You know you could give me service anytime…" Brock said smoothly. Suddenly he felt a sharp tug at his left ear.

"The only service you’ll be getting is at a gas station…" Misty grumbled, pulling Brock back to the table. Ash laughed quietly at the two. He suddenly turned to Gary.

"Hey Gary! What’s this party for anyway? And why were ‘we’ invited," Ash asked, glaring over at Team Rocket.

"I’ll tell you why the people here were invited, Ash-boy…" Gary said, smirking. "Would everyone please follow me to the living room?"

"But we’re not done!" Jesse protested.

Gary ignored her and started walking. Ash, Brock and Misty were behind, while Team Rocket reluctantly followed. They all entered the large living room and each took a seat on the brown sofas. Gary stood in the middle of the room, his hands clasped together.

"Gary…" Ash said, one eyebrow raised. "You can cut the butler crap, why don’t you just show us your real obnoxious self and tell us why we’re here?"

Gary glared at Ash, then smiled.

"Alright, Ash…." he simply said. "Everyone here has one thing in common."

Jesse looked up. "What do you mean?!?! What could we possible have in common with them…" she snarled, giving Ash a dirty look.

Gary smiled again.

"You all are going to be blackmailed!"

"What?!?" everyone cried at once.

Ash’s jaw dropped. "You can’t black mail me!" he gasped. "I didn’t do anything wrong!"

"Oh no, Ash?" Gary sneered. "What about that time you were gambling for badges with that trainer Otochi, back in the Indigo league?"

"Well I …how do you know about that?!" Ash shouted.

"I believe that’s against the rules Ash, and a trainer can be stripped of his license."

"But that’s crazy! Professor Oak, this can’t be true!" Ash cried to him as he walked into the room.

"I’m sorry Ash, but my grandson is telling the truth…you will be penalized for that…" he said quietly.

Ash sat back down, his mouth slightly opened in shock.

"And how about you, Misty?" Gary said, looking directly at her.

"What about me!?" she shot back defensively.

"You like to sing a lot, don’t you… well I just happened to have heard you one night and as I was listening to the lyrics, it appears someone has a little crush…" 

Misty’s eyes widened and her cheeks turned red.

"That was a long time ago…things have changed now…" she said. "And you don’t have any proof!!"

Everyone exchanged strange glances at each other before focusing back on Gary and Misty.

"Oh but I do…" Gary smiled as he took out a tape recorder. His finger was just about to press the play button, when Misty shrieked and threw herself towards him. 

"No don’t do it, please!" she screamed.

Gary put the tape recorder away, back in his pocket. Misty sat back down, her eyes fixated on the floor.

Gary suddenly turned to Brock.

"And you! Giving Ash a badge he didn’t even deserve!!"

Brock’s eyes widened.

"What!? Ash earned every ounce of that badge! He took mercy on my Pokémon, he knew when to quit!"

Gary put his hands on the coffee table and leaned closer to Brock.

"Yea, but did he actually beat your Pokémon? Did Ash win?" Gary asked.

Brock opened his mouth to say something, but sadly shook his head instead. He looked over at Ash who was staring at him in shock, tears beginning to form at the base of his eyes.

Gary looked toward the other side of the living room.

"And finally Team Rocket….I don’t think there needs to be much more said in this case…we’re calling the police on you, and they’ll be here shortly."

Jesse’s mouth dropped open.

"What?! Why you little twerp!" She jumped up to grab him, but was held back by James.

"Nah-ah!" Gary said, wagging his finger. "Nasty temper…that will also be held against you in court…"

James and Meowth looked worriedly at each other, as Jesse loudly banged the armrest as she sat down.

Ash suddenly jerked up.

"You can’t do this!" he cried, the tears flowing rapidly down his cheeks now. "You can’t take away my license! That means I would have to give up Pikachu, and he means the whole world to me! I know we’ve always been rivals, but please Gary, this is going to far!" Ash let one more sob escape his lips before sitting back down.

Gary took a step back, and looked like he was going to change his mind for a minute, but after glancing quickly at Professor Oak, he shook his head and remained stern.

"Ash…. everyone, listen you’re secrets will not be exposed…only under one condition…you all have to give up your Pokémon Training," Gary said quietly.

Professor Oak suddenly walked closer to the center of the living room, carrying a large black bag in his arms.

"Ash, this is for you…." He said, handing Ash a wrench. Ash wiped his eyes, to get a better look at the object he was just given. Misty received a lead pipe, while Brock was given a revolver. He stared at the lethal weapon in his hands for a moment, before speaking.

"What is this for?" he asked.

Professor Oak seemed not to hear him as he handed Jesse a candlestick, James a rope, and Meowth a knife.

"Now…" Professor Oak said in a low voice. "I think to protect yourselves and your future…. You should get rid of him…" Everyone looked wildly at Professor Oak, then to their weapons and back to Gary.

He gave a startled cry.

"Grandpa! What are you doing?! Don’t let them kill me!!!" he stumbled back into a corner.

"I’m sorry Gary, but I can’t let these secrets get out…" Oak said slowly. "Ash is right, a boy and his Pokémon should never be separated…."

"Help, someone! My grandpa’s gone crazy! Someone please help!" Gary screamed at the top of his lungs. Professor Oak suddenly flipped a switch, turning out the lights.

A gunshot and a loud scream followed shortly.

Brock fumbled in the dark, finally finding the light switch. He flipped it on quickly with a trembling hand. The lights returned, revealing Professor Oak lying face down on the floor.

Gary screamed, and rushed to his side.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" he cried repeatedly. Gary thrust his head against Oak’s chest desperately tying to listen for a heart beat. He found none. Gary stood up quietly, his head down.
"He…he’s…dead…" he said, just above a whisper.

Silence grew overwhelming as everyone stared at the body in the middle of the floor. Jesse suddenly screamed and pointed an accusing finger towards Brock.

"You….you killed him!" she shrieked. She suddenly jumped back behind James.

"Killer!" she cried again.

Brock’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Who….me?!" he asked, his voice trembling.

Gary grabbed Brock’s vest.

"I heard a gun shot…and you’re the one with the gun…" he said angrily through his teeth.

Brock looked down at his gun.

"But someone knocked into me! They set the gun off!! I didn’t do it I swear!" He glanced down at Oak’s body sprawled out on the floor. "And look! There’s no blood! Not one wound! The gun was shot, but it didn’t hit him!"

Jesse blinked. "I can’t take this…." She said holding her head. "I need a drink…"

Jesse picked up a wineglass from the table and was just about to sip it when Misty found her voice crying,

"No it could be poisonous!"

Jesse threw down the glass and looked at her, a horrified statement filled her face.

"Did Professor Oak drink any of that!?" Misty asked, still unable to take her eyes off the body.

"I- I don’t think so…" Ash stuttered, his mouth still hung agape.

"Well then if no one here did anything…then there must be someone else in the house!" Brock cried. He turned sharply to Gary. "Who else is here?!" he demanded.

"Uh, Mr. Mime was in the kitchen, helping with the appetizers…"

"Mr. Mime!" everyone cried. They all began racing into the kitchen. Ash had gotten there first.

"Mr. Mime?! Mr. Mime it’s me Ash…you remember me, don’t ya old buddy?" Ash called out meekly. Pikachu, who had been on Ash’s shoulder during the whole ordeal, gave a small "Pika!" and pointed towards the large freezer, which was slightly ajar. Ash slowly walked up to it, with Brock, Misty, Gary and Team Rocket following close behind. He opened it with a trembling hand, and a frozen Mr. Mime fell out of it, face down at Ash’s feet. A large butcher knife was embedded in its back. Ash screamed and fell back.

"Mr. Mime!" Brock cried.

Misty looked at the bloody Mime in horror.

"I can’t believe this…this can’t be happening!" she shrieked.

Gary’s eyes suddenly widened.

"The knife…" he muttered. "Mr. Mime was killed by the knife!"

"No kidding, Sherlock…" Ash screamed. "And Meowth was the one who had it!!"

Everyone turned to stare at Meowth.

"What?! Who me!?!? That’s impossible I was wit youse guys da whole time!!!"

Before anyone could say anything else a blood curling scream echoed through the house.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .