"So we're just going to wander around?" Melissa asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Yeah" Shaggy replied with a shrug.
"But aren't we supposed to do something?"
"We are we're looking for clues"
"How is this looking for clues?" Melissa asked gesturing to the hall around them.
"I don't know this is just how we do things Melissa"
"If you say so" Melissa shrugged.
The three continued to look around in silence until Something caught Melissa's attention.
"Wait a minute," she said backing up to a painting of a girl in a meadow.
"What is it?" Scooby asked walking over to Melissa who was staring at the painting.
"This is wrong her dress is supposed to be red with an apron not blue"
"How do you know that?" Shaggy asked as he joined them.
"I like art remember? I've seen this picture in a couple books"
"What's the painting called?" Shaggy asked.
"In the Meadow"
"Hey you're right"
"Good catch Melissa" Scooby complimented.
"Thanks"
"We should find the others," Shaggy said.
…...
On their way to find Fred and the girls they ran into the janitor.
"Hey I just mopped there" he yelled
"Then maybe you should put a sign here," Melissa said coolly she did not like being yelled at.
"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job young lady?" he asked towering over Melissa.
"I ain't a lady jerk," Melissa said pushing the grumpy janitor aside and pulling Shaggy and Scooby away.
Melissa didn't like the janitor. True she didn't like people in general but there was something off about this guy. His uniform was sloppy and he was greasy looking for a janitor. He was looking around when Melissa looked back at him. He appeared to be looking for something. Melissa turned back to Shaggy who had taken the lead. They soon found the others and informed them of what Melissa had discovered.
"Then where's the real painting?" Daphne asked.
"We could check the basement" Fred suggested.
"Like do we have to?" Shaggy asked shaking slightly.
"Yes, we do" Velma replied simply.
"Are you scared Shaggy?" Melissa asked with a smirk.
"Very" Shaggy admitted.
"Come on you chickens," Melissa said grabbing Shaggy and Scooby and hauling them to the basement.
…...
"It's creepy down here" Scooby whimpered once they'd reached the basement.
"Smells like a sewer" Daphne added looking around with a flashlight.
"Reminds me of home" Melissa quipped unfazed by her surroundings.
"Let's get to looking, Melissa, " Fred said opening an old box.
While the others Melissa stood in the corner and watched.
"You could help you know" Daphne snapped.
"I am helping" Melissa replied.
"How?"
"I'm keeping watch for the phantom"
"Ha ha now get over here and help"
"You aren't the boss of me!"
"Easy Melissa just let it go" Shaggy ordered calmly.
"She's not doing anything" Daphne protested.
"It's fine Daphne" Shaggy replied.
"Hey guys I found something" Velma cried.
"What is it?"
"A secret room and all the missing art"
"I found something too" Melissa added.
"What?"
"The phantom"
"WHAT?" Shaggy cried.
"He's behind you"
"RUN"
While the others ran away Melissa remained in place not scared of the phantom, in fact, she was going to try to beat him to a pulp. Before she could do so, however, Shaggy returned picking Melissa up and throwing her over his shoulder.
"Put me down" she demanded beating on his back in protest as they ran from one door to another.
"Like no way Melissa"
After making a sharp left turn the phantom tripped and fell into a waiting net proving he wasn't really a phantom. Shaggy finally set Melissa down after coming to a halt.
"Okay let's see who's behind this mask," Melissa said before ripping off the mask to reveal a middle aged guy with a gruff look on his face.
"It's the janitor" Shaggy observed.
"Of course Carson here wasn't happy with his job so he decided to sell the art and make money" Velma explained.
"And he replaced the art with knock offs" Melissa added.
"Well Officer you can take him away" Fred declared.
…...
"Good work finding that clue Melissa," Velma said later.
"Thanks"
"See you later," Shaggy said as the van pulled up to Jenny's house.
"Bye," Melissa said before jumping out of the van and heading inside.
Melissa was secretly happy with herself she'd had a really good day after all.
…...
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