Author Note: I'm a little bit ahead of schedule so here is the story to kick off my one month anniversary of being on this site. I'm unsure on how to spell her henchman's name, so I just made it up. I searched for the correct spelling but didn't find anything.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Carmen Sandiego, Zack, Ivy, the Chief or any henchmen related to the cartoon. They are owned by whoever owns Cookie Jar (WOEICS) and the Learning Company (Carmen Sandiego franchise).

(Youth karate tournament – Sat)

Ivy and Jeremy were doing a doubles kata. Each stance, punch and kick was in perfect unison. It looked like a beautifully choreographed synchronized dance, worthy of an encore. When they were finished they bowed at the judges, each other and the audience. Everyone clapped.

"Sounds like we did a great job" said Jeremy putting his hand on Ivy's shoulder.

Ivy smiled and said "Well, we did practice a lot."

Jeremy could hear the excitement and relief in her voice, and this made him happy. They joined the ACME team and waited for the score. It felt like an eternity, but more like a couple of minutes.

"The score for the ACME doubles kata is 9.0"

All the ACME team members jumped up and cheered. It was the score they needed to put ACME in first place.

(ACME HQ – Mon)

Zack and Ivy had just entered the main compute room, as it was their turn to use the main database.

"Man Ivy I can't believe you won first place. ACME hasn't won first place in over 7 years!" Zack said looking at his sister with admiration.

"It wasn't just me, little bro, it was a team effort. We all have been practicing for months. Everyone has improved tremendously" Ivy said looking at her impressionable little brother.

Jeremy came in with Stretch the Crime Dog. Stretch was sniffing the floor, like he was following a scent.

"How's it going?" he asked, pulling in Stretch who was tugging at the leash. Zack walked over to them.

"Hey Jeremy my man. I want to say congrats on winning first place. Wish I could have been there but I was at a skateboarding contest." he shook Jeremy's hand and bent down to scratch Stretch behind his ear.

"Thanks Zack"

The Chief appeared on the computer screen. He wore a party hat, blew a kazoo and chanted "We're number one. We're number one" A parade appeared and showed people waving and cheering.

Then sirens went off.

"Hot Tip! Hot Tip! Hotter than a hot potato. (a smoking and sizzling potato rolls past the Chief's head who just watches it roll by) Carmen and her henchman Forchen Hunter stole a painting by the famous French artist Claude Monet called Water Lilies from right here in San Francisco at the Fine Arts Museums of, you guessed it, San Francisco. Monet painted numerous paintings about the water lily pond in his back yard. They can be found in museums around the world and private collections. Good thing his inspiration wasn't things you can find stuck to the bottom of your shoe. (a brown shoe with gum stuck to the bottom of it appears and steps on the Chief's head and gets stuck. Then a bigger potato rolls on screen and the Chief runs away screaming with the shoe still on his head). Zack, Ivy and Jeremy laugh.

"From the way the Chief sounded he must have looked like a sight" said Jeremy who was still laughing.

"He was" laughed Ivy.

"Well what are we waiting for let's head on over there" said Zack who was already walking out the door.

Ivy and Jeremy followed. Stretch jerked the leash out of Jeremy's hand. He was hot on a scent and was in a sniffing hurry. Jeremy and Ivy laughed. Then Jeremy took out his white cane and talking to Ivy as they walked to the C-5 car.

(Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco)

The curator was standing by the wall where the painting once hung. She had her hands on her hips and was shaking her head. She turned around and saw three children headed her way.

"I'm sorry this part of the museum is closed."

"We are with ACME Detective Agency" said Ivy in an authoritative tone and showed the curator her badge.

"My apologies detectives, it's just that I am so upset. That painting was supposed to go on display with the others that we have leased for a special viewing. Now what am I going to do?"

"We will get to the bottom of this" said Ivy, Jeremy and Zack nodded their heads.

"Thank you. I know I can count on ACME to bring back the painting. Now if you excuse me I must go make arrangements for the rest of the viewing" the curator walked away.

"I don't see any sign of a clue" said Zack looking at the nearby walls and floor.

"That's impossible. She must have left it here somewhere" said Ivy who began to look around.

"Um guys?...Do art museums have live flowers?" asked Jeremy.

"Uh..no" said Zack who was on his hands and knees looking underneath the benches.

Jeremy followed the scent moving his cane from side to side along the floor. He found the spot where the scent was very strong. His cane his something and it sounded like it contained water.

"Ivy? Can you come here?"

"What is it?"

As she got closer she could smell the flowers and saw what Jeremy's cane hit. She bent down to pick it up.

"Zack over here" Ivy yelled.

"Alright. You found the clue."

"Jeremy found it. It's a bowl that has floating wooden block in it. Irises are painted on the block and it's scented" Ivy said trying not to spill the water out of the bowl.

"I wonder what it means?" said Jeremy.

"I don't know. We should take this back to HQ and see what we can find. Zack you take the bowl and C-5 back. Jeremy and I will take the car" Ivy instructed.

"Why, you promised I could drive back" whined Zack.

"And risk you stopping short or running over a speed bump too fast and spilling the clue. Believe me Zack this way is a lot safer."

Zack reluctantly C-5'd back to HQ. Jeremy and Ivy headed to the car.

Author Note: I figured why C-5 to a local place when they can just drive there.