On a dark and stormy night, Minos King, the eccentric shipping tycoon, sits in his candlelit study. He wears an expensive silk kimono and reads Successful Businessman Magazine.
Lightning flashes and thunder rumbles.
Mr. King heads toward the window. He pulls the velvet curtains back to peer outside. The rain patters rapidly against the pane.
The elderly gentleman squints and focuses on a tall, leafy wall.
I hope my new garden can withstand this terrible weather, thinks Mr. King.
Then he sees a shape shift in the darkness.
That’s impossible!
The tycoon hurries into the hallway and calls for his help. Wadsworth, the British butler, comes running from the dining room. Yvette, the French maid, dashes out of the kitchen.
“What is it, Master Minos?” Wadsworth asks.
Mr. King catches his breath. “There’s someone in the garden! Sound the alarms, call the—” Mr. King stops and stares at Wadsworth.
The butler’s tailored tuxedo is glistening with drops of water. His shoes are wet, leaving a puddle on the Persian rug.
“Why are you wet, Wadsworth?” Mr. King asks.
“I asked him to take out the trash,” Yvette offers. “I was not going out in that weather.”
“Yes, sir. I’d just come in from the east wing when I heard your cries,” Wadsworth replies.
“I saw someone in the garden,” Mr. King bellows. “Why haven’t the motion detectors gone off?”
“I’ll go to the security control room and check it out,” Yvette says. “The storm must have interfered with the sensors.” She runs down the hall, her high heels clacking against the tiles.
“Sir, I shall check the fuse box in the maintenance room. Perhaps there is a faulty circuit,” Wadsworth says and rushes toward the basement door.
Mr. King is left alone in the foyer.
“Hmm . . . I wonder where I should go?” he says out loud.
SKEEEEESH!
The tycoon is startled by the sound of breaking glass.
“To the gallery!” shouts the master of the house.
Minos King is quite sprightly for an old man. Within seconds, he reaches the dark chamber where he keeps many valuable and ancient artifacts.
Mr. King fumbles for the light switch.
“Where is that blasted thing?” he curses.
Another sound echoes through the darkness.
GRRRRROOOOAARR!
Mr. King’s blood runs cold.
He turns to see two glowing red eyes staring at him. Lightning crashes, outlining the silhouette of a hulking brute. Mr. King glimpses two polished white horns atop a bull’s head. Steam puffs out of its nostrils. The rest of its body is that of a muscular man with hooves instead of feet.
GRRROOOARR!
The creature swipes at the billionaire with a massive paw, knocking him down. Then it hurtles over the billionaire, crashing through another window. SKEEEEESH!
Moments later, Mr. King feels a strong set of arms lift him up. The lights flicker on, and he is facing Wadsworth and Yvette.
“What happened?!” they ask.
“I was attacked by a . . . a . . .” Mr. King searches for the right word. “Minotaur!”
The servants exchange looks.
“The mythical creature from ancient Greece, sir?” Wadsworth says.
“Don’t look at me like I have ten heads,” Mr. King says with a huff.
“No, sir, that would be the Hydra.”
The billionaire grabs the butler by the lapel and points to the far wall. The large display case that housed many priceless relics is now empty.
“I’ve been robbed blind, and that creature is the culprit!” he shouts.
“What do we do?” Yvette asks, clearly shaken.
“Isn’t it obvious, my dear?” replies Mr. King. “We get Nedley Blake on the phone!”
“At this hour, sir?” Wadsworth asks.
“YES!”
The butler pulls out his cell phone and dials Mr. King’s best friend.
He hands the phone to his employer.
“Blake?” barks the billionaire. “Minos King here. Is your daughter, Daphne, still working with those kids? The ones that meddle? Good. Send them over first thing in the morning. Now go back to bed, Blake. It’s late!”
Mr. King hands the phone to Wadsworth.
“Never you fear, my friends,” he says, looking confident. “The daring detectives of Mystery Inc. are on the case!”
***
The next day, the Mystery Machine cruises up the long, winding driveway leading to Minos Manor. Driving the green van is Fred. In the front seat sit Daphne and Velma. Rounding out the gang is Shaggy and his hound, Scooby-Doo.
The vehicle stops at a leafy wall of vines. Extending to the left and right is a tall hedge.
“Like, Daphne, are you sure this is the right place?” Shaggy asks. “Because it looks like we hit a dead end.”
“Reah, red end,” Scooby-Doo agrees.
“Of course,” Daphne replies. “My family has known Mr. King for years, and we visit often. This is his new garden maze.”
“Garden maze?” Fred asks. “Is that what this thing is?”
“Yup,” Velma adds. The clever detective downloads a recent article onto her tablet computer. “It says here that Minos King, retired billionaire, built a hedge maze on the property around his massive mansion to ensure the protection of the King fortune. The living labyrinth’s many paths, twists, and turns were designed in such a way that any intruders or unwanted guests would get lost for days.”
“Days!” Shaggy gasps. “I hope we packed enough snacks, Scoob!”
“Re, too!” Scooby says.
Suddenly Mr. King appears from a hidden entrance in the maze. “Thank you for coming,” he calls out to Daphne.
He approaches the Mystery Machine and looks inside. “Lovely to meet your friends,” he says. “Would you like to go straight to work or have a quick bite? My staff has prepared a large lunch for you!”