Disclaimer: I don't own WordGirl & co. this is simple a fan fiction I dreamed up for their universe.


For it being summer time, it had gotten pretty cold that night; probably due to the rain.

Scoops had wrapped himself in the thickest blanket he owned as he kept watch over the jewelry store. He was pretty well hidden from the store's view and he had managed to hide the camera in some bushes. He was more than certain this was the next shop on the list to be robbed.

There had been a recent string of jewel thefts, but as of yet no suspects. Scoops was determined to be the first reporter to catch the thieves in the act. Next to disclosing WordGirl's secret identity, this story would be a good way to impress his middle school paper.

He could just see it now,

"Perilous Jewel Thieves Caught by Ace Reporter Todd 'Scoops' Ming."

What a wonderful headline.

Scoops' imagination began running away with him. In his inobservance, however, Scoops failed to notice he was being observed.

Two men had stationed themselves atop the building across the street from the jewelry store. They had been watching Scoops for the better of the evening.

"Stupid kid." Such a cold yet calculated statement.

The first man seated himself on the edge of the roof top. The second man continued to stand, watching the boy intently.

"He's not stupid; just naïve."

"Then explain to me why genius down there is sitting outside waiting for criminals to appear; doesn't sound too bright to me."

The standing man rolled his eyes before responding.

"And that, Curtis, is why you will never amount to anything but an assistant."

"Hey," Curtis rose from his seated position to face his partner. "I am capable of doing this mission alone. I'm the one who stole the files. . ."

"And lost one."

"I already told you, Adler, some stupid girl ran into me and I must have dropped one."

At this Adler took hold of Curtis' collar and brought him close to his face. It was a fast motion that startled the man.

"You lost half of the fifth grade files, the only files that mattered. Because of you, and solely you, we are now forced to stoop this low. I don't like stooping this low Curtis, so I suggest you stop flapping your gums and start making yourself useful to me. Are we clear?"

Curtis gulped at his partners words.

"Crystal."

"Good." Adler turned his attention back to the boy releasing the man in his hold. "Read me his file."

Curtis pulled a folder from his coat labeled School 131 Fifth Grade II. He sat back down and began thumbing through the documents and pictures of students. He finally stopped on the picture of Scoops.

"His name is Todd Ming. He's been in the school since his first grade year, he's eleven, uh…"

"Do you think you could read any faster?"

"Be patient." Curtis shivered before continuing. "He was tardy four times this year. He works on the school paper, The Daily Rag."

Adler held a hand up to stop Curtis from reading.

"He works on 'that' newspaper?"

"Indeed," Curtis returned to the file. "Says here he's head of the paper and he has raised its sales by over thirty percent. The school's going to give him an award for it when he leaves."

"I don't care about awards Curtis," Adler turned and headed for the fire escape.

"Where are you going?" Curtis rose to follow his partner.

"I think we need to introduce ourselves to our little ace reporter."

Scoops had finally quit his dreaming and focused his full attention on the store. Any second now the criminals would be coming out and he would be the only reporter with the whole story.

Scoops couldn't help but smile, but that quickly faded.

A strange noise could be heard; a rustling in the bushes next to him. Scoops swallowed hard. Could that be the thieves? They weren't supposed to come through the bushes!

Calm down. Scoops took a deep breath. He was a professional; he was still in control here.

Suddenly the branches covering him from the view of the store parted. Scoops let out a short yelp of fear before covering his face with his hands.

Curtis and Adler stood before the boy exchanging grins. Curtis couldn't resist whispering to his partner about the sad state this boy was in.

Scoops sat waiting for the villians to act, but he slowly removed his hands upon hearing the laughter of the two men. Before him stood two professionally dressed reporters; hats and cameras included.

"What are you doing hidin' in that hedge son?" Adler extended his hand offering a warm smile.

Scoops was a bit uncertain, but took the man's hand and allowed him to help him up.

"I, I was . . ."

Curtis then began circling Scoops giving him a through once over. Curtis then stopped in front of the boy.

"Tell me, are you that boy that sells the Daily Rag?" Adler pushed his partner aside so that he could face the boy.

"Why, yes I am." Scoops felt a little more comfortable at the mention of his paper.

"That paper shows a lot of potential."

"Potential? My paper's better than potential!"

Adler shook his head with a smirk and spoke.

"Do you know what 'potential' means?"

"Uh, yeah, it means my paper is close to being good or something greater than what it is, but I'm telling you it's the best."

Adler crossed his arms. This kid was going to be easier to manipulate than he originally thought.

"I can see that it is almost the best,"

"Almost?! I'll have you know that the Daily Rag is one of the highest ranking papers in the city. I'll also have you know that more than seventy-five percent of the people in this city read it, thanks to your's truly."

"That's good to hear. Very good." Adler unfolded his arm and glanced over at Curtis.

"Yeah," Scoops stepped back from the men and back into the bushes. "Well if you don't mind, I need to get back to work if that paper's going to stay on top."

Adler leaned over the boy wearing yet another smile.

"If you're hoping to catch the jewel thieves' story, I'm sorry to tell you, it's already been done."

"What!?" Scoops jumped up.

"You see, we're from The Big City Times."

The mouth of the boy nearly dropped to the ground.

"Are you really?"

"Yes son, and I can tell you this story's already in the bag; we're just holding out till our audience is really desperate to find the truth. That's how news is really done."

"Oh." No wonder the Times had such high ratings; they understood how to build suspense. He couldn't even find the thieves first. All his research on this story had been for not. Now he'd never be able to impress his middle school paper, and he had already lost face with the Times.

Unless . . .

"It's okay boy, not everyone is built to be an ace reporter." Curtis laughed; receiving a glare from Adler.

"I am an ace reporter." Scoops was as good as they came. Just because he muffed one job didn't mean he couldn't be as good, or better, than the Times. "I have reported hundreds of stories in this city."

"Kid's stuff." Curtis spat. Adler joined his partner's jest.

"Anyone can regurgitate what they see on paper, son, what real reporting is involves investigation."

"Investigative reporting is like my life!" Scoops protested with a shout.

"Quiet kid." Adler glanced up and down the street. These two men didn't need someone seeing them having this conversation. "You don't want those thieves to know your watchin' em, eh?"

"I can do research."

"Not research son, but solving crimes and finding clues."

Scoops knew one thing that would silence those two; WordGirl's secret identity. There was no way they knew; no one knew. But he was going to find out. Scoops was the best reporter there was and he was going to prove it.

"I bet you guys aren't as good as you think you are."

"Is that a challenge boy?"

"If you guys are half as good as you're trying to sound, then tell me why you haven't found WordGirl's secret identity yet."

Adler faced Curtis and gave him a wink before addressing Scoops' remark.

"Alas, WordGirl is the big story that eludes us all. Whoever finds her would be the greatest reporter of all time. But there's no way anyone could do that."

"Not just anyone, but me."

"You?" Adler tried to act as surprised as possible. "What can you do? You couldn't even solve this story."

"I have several leads as to who she is; I'm going to expose her and then you'll have no choice but to admit I'm the best."

"If you did that there would be no doubt in anyone's mind as to who was the best."

Scoops couldn't help but try to stand taller. Adler continued.

"If you found out WordGirl's secret identity I know the Times would accept you as a paid employee."

"Really? I didn't think kids could work on the paper for pay."

"Oh we've had many kid reporters; they just go by different aliases until they're older."

Wow. How come he had never heard of that? Scoops was excited. This was the big brake he had been waiting for.

"Hey son," Scoops gave his full attention to Adler. "If you find out who she is, give me a call." Adler handed Scoops a business card from his pocket. "Make sure you print a paper first though."

"Why?"

"So no one steals your idea."

"Thanks!" Scoops took the card.

"Why don't you head home now, son. Get your rest so you can catch her."

Scoops gathered his equipment within seconds and was on his way.

"Nothing like inspiring the next generation, right Adler?" Curtis laughed as he watched Scoops. "Stupid kid."

"Well, you better hope that stupid kid is able to find her. WordGirl's secret identity is proving harder to find than I thought. She walking around in one of these schools and only an insider is going to find her. At least I can trust he won't drop the information."

"I already told you . . ."

"Yes I know, some weak little girl lightly tapped you and you dropped the folders." Adler sighed in frustration. "Regardless I need you to go back tomorrow and get that file."

"Why; I thought genius was going to find WordGirl for us."

"Because," Adler took another breath trying his hardest not to deck his partner. "Somewhere out there, some ten or eleven year old Lexiconian is playing human and she's in one of these schools. I must find her."

Adler began walking. Curtis followed at a distance.

"How do you know she's WordGirl?" Curtis reached for the folder in his jacket and began thumbing through it again.

"According to this city's data base, WordGirl has claimed to be from Lexicon; that and I don't see too many human beings flying around."

Curtis stopped following his partner to think about what had just been said.

" Lexiconians don't tend to fly either." Confusion lined Curtis' word as his partner truned toward him.

"Good boy, you actually noticed something on your own."


(A/N) Thanks for the reviews everyone.