Disclaimer: I don't own Scooby Doo or anything related. But Dylan's my original character.
Dylan went back from the basement, her hand grimy and smelly from the oil. She also had splotches of dirt and dust on her face. Velma noticed her coming back and was surprised to see her so dirty.
"Dylan! What happened to you???" She exclaimed, rushing over to the 7th grader, brushing some dirt off the girl's face. Dylan made no answer, and instead directed her attention to Patrick.
"Is anyone else in the museum?" She suddenly asked. Velma stopped and looked at Dylan.
"Why? Did you see someone?" Patrick asked.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Velma interrupted. Dylan showed her smudged hand.
"I saw someone go down the basement." Dylan said. "And I slipped on some oil, too." Velma examined the oil on the girl's hand.
"Hmm…Pat, is there any mechanical device in the museum basement?" The older woman asked.
"No. The basement is mainly for old and damaged items." Patrick explained. "All the mechanical equipment are in the boiler room, which is separated from the basement." Velma then turned to Dylan again.
"But where did the oil come from?" Velma was asking herself. Dylan's half-lidded eyes went to Patrick again.
"Is there anyone else in here right now?" She queried. Patrick was thinking.
"Ah, yes! The janitor, Mr. Thomson." Patrick said. "But he's up in the north wing right now." Dylan was suspicious. Velma wasn't able to say anything. She couldn't determine if this will count as a mystery.
"…Um…I guess we'd better get going." Said Velma, gesturing to Dylan to leave. "See you, Patrick." Dylan nodded and walked off with Velma. She passed Patrick, but then stopped.
"…Hope nothing gets stolen." She said, then turning her back on the curator.
Coolville Central Park, about 10:20 A.M., near an ice cream stand
"That was really weird." Velma said in between licks of her chocolate ice cream cone. "If there weren't any heaters or boilers down in the basement…then how…"
"I'm putting the janitor as a suspect." Dylan quickly said. "He's the one who has access to the basement and boiler room…" She took a bite of her wasabi-flavored ice cream. Velma was intrigued by the girl's taste for food. This made her feel even weirder about her student. Yes, Dylan James was sort of unusual, but Velma could tell that she was really of investigative material. She then tried to get closer to Dylan.
"So…um, how do you like your ice cream?" She asked awkwardly.
"It's OK…I guess." Dylan said in a nippy manner. "But…the actual thing is way better…"
"Actual thing?" Velma asked, confused of what the girl was saying.
"Wasabi." Dylan simply replied. She EATS…that!? Velma wasn't able to say anything. She didn't bother ask questions anymore. The girl was downright cuckoo. A man in a blue jumpsuit then went to the ice cream stand and ordered for an ice cream cone. He was sort of in his middle 60's. His skin looked like a chicken's and seemed to hang on his bones.
"One pistachio praline scoop, please." He said, paying the person in the stand a dollar. He got the cone and was very excited. "How I love pistachio!" Dylan noticed the man in the jumpsuit. She looked at him for a long time. Dylan saw an identification card dangling in the man's pocket.
"…The museum's logo…" She quietly muttered, seeing the logo printed on the man's ID. The man then noticed that Dylan was staring at him.
"What are you starin' at!?" He asked Dylan crossly.
"Stolen anything lately!!??" Dylan said for a comeback. Velma was then alarmed at the noise of the forming argument.
"Is there a problem, sir?" She quickly asked the man. The man pointed a bony finger at Dylan.
"Teach this kid some manners!" With that he went off. "I hate kids!" Dylan stuck out a tongue. Velma saw it and directed Dylan's attention to her.
"What happened back there?" She asked her student, in a sort of panicky voice. Last thing she needs now is trouble.
"I was just looking at his ID." Dylan explained. "Then he started going nuts…"
"His ID? What's up with his ID?" Velma asked, completely ignoring the melting ice cream.
"That…" Dylan started. "Was the museum janitor, Mr. Thomson."
Back in the headquarters…"So you're saying that I'm supposed to be your mentor for career day?" Asked Daphne, gesturing to the nerdy kid. The boy simply nodded. Daphne eyed the boy. Being a haute couture-oriented person, Daphne cannot stand a fashion victim. She put an arm on the kid's shoulder.
"Don't worry, kid. I promise you this career day will be one you won't soon forget." She got her purse and beckoned the kid to come with her as she walked towards the door.
Back at Central Park…
Velma and Dylan saw the man board a bus and decided to follow him. The two followed Thomson onto the bus. Velma and Dylan immediately seated themselves in front. Thomson went to the back.
"Are you sure about this?" Velma asked Dylan. Dylan just nodded. "And you are aware that this is interfering with the Career Day, aren't you. At this point, Dylan cleared her throat and faced her mentor.
"Isn't this what your job's all about?" She began. "Solving mysteries? Well, in case you forgot, it is!" Dylan folded her arms across her chest. Okay, this was going through the roof, Velma thought.
"Slipping on greasy goop doesn't always lead to a mystery!" Velma raised her voice. "Now, you've led me to this wild goose-chase-" Velma's cellphone suddenly rang. She got it and flipped it open.
"Hello? Patrick?" Velma said. Dylan remained motionless. "What!? OK. Bye." Dylan, not making eye contact, spoke.
"Something was stolen, right?" She asked without even looking at Velma. Velma, knowing that Dylan already cornered her, had no choice but to confirm.
"…Yeah. Patrick said that the stolen items were from the Mystery Inc. exhibit." Velma elucidated. "Again. I guess we have to turn back."
"Nuh-uh."
"What…did you say!?" Velma never really had a temper problem, but this kid was giving her one.
"I said, nuh-uh." Dylan insisted. "Following Thomson is our main priority right now!"
"You don't even have evidence that he's the criminal!" Velma retorted.
"That's why we're following him!" Dylan said back. This had to stop. Velma pulled on the brake cord on the bus. The bus immediately stopped. Dylan frowned.
"We're going back to the museum to investigate. First rule, always collect clues!" Velma said, getting off the bus.
"…Clues." Dylan thought. "I guess she's right. Hey, Velma! Wait up." Velma say Dylan going down the stairs. Velma felt relieved and happy that Dylan was coming with her.
"So you decided to join me after all?" Velma asked mockingly. Dylan folded her arms and smirked.
"I'm only doing this for my Career Day grade!" She said.
"Yeah right!" Velma said, taunting the girl.
"Don't push your luck, Velma!"