THAT night I told Papi about my latest news story at school.

“Pobrecita Sophia,” he said in Spanish. Poor Sophia.

“Yeah, she’s pretty upset. Bendito,” I added. That means “poor thing.”

Papi helped me set up my laptop computer to record another report.

I wrote my news story on my purple reporter pad. Then I adjusted the laptop so the camera was pointing toward me. Once I saw myself on screen, I laughed. I love seeing myself on TV!

I looked into the computer screen again with a serious reporter face. That was better. As usual, I was wearing my green velvet reporter blazer and my chunky white pearl necklace. My chocolate-pudding Slinky curls were in just the right position around my face. I looked just like a real reporter and I was ready to go on the air. I clicked record and said, “This is Emma and I’m on the air!”

I decided not to sing the intro like I normally would. Even though it sounds funny and famous that way, this was a serious report and I knew I had to be more serious. Then I read the story I had written on my purple reporter pad:

“As some of you may have heard, Sophia’s Lion costume was stolen from the art room today. She worked very hard on this costume and needs it back. If she doesn’t get it back, Sophia can’t compete in the costume contest. And neither can I. Or Javier. We were a group costume from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Without Sophia’s costume, Miss Thompson’s class will win fewer categories and that means we might not get the pizza party. Also—P.S. 387 might not win the grand prize! Sophia’s costume was really good. P.S. 387 has to win … So we have to find her costume!”

Then I pressed play to show the two interviews we did that day with Javier and Melissa G. Afterward, I explained the clues I had discovered so far. And then I wrapped up my report.

“The case continues tomorrow. Stay tuned. We will get to the bottom of this!”

“Nice job,” said Papi as soon as I was finished.

“Thanks, Papi. We don’t have much time. The contest is the day after tomorrow and Sophia doesn’t have a costume! I know Melissa G. took it and I’m going to prove it at school tomorrow.”

“But, Emma, it sounds like Melissa couldn’t have done it. She wasn’t even there when it went missing, right?”

“I know but … she’s not nice at all, Papi. Ella es muy mala. She’s so mean!”

“Okay, okay. But remember, when you’re a reporter and a detective, you can’t let your feelings about someone cloud your judgment.”

“What do you mean, Papi?”

“I mean, just because you don’t like Melissa G. doesn’t mean she took the costume. That’s called bias—when you judge someone based on feelings instead of facts.”

“So you think I have bias?” That sounded like I had a disease.

“Yes, I think you’re being a little biased. It’s not fair to Melissa G. And it’s not nice to accuse someone of something you know they didn’t do. Eso es mal. That’s wrong.”

“Okay, Papi. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, honey. You’re learning! So, based on the facts, what do you think about Melissa G.? I want you to think about what you know for certain happened so far.”

“Well, I know Melissa G. wasn’t in the art room when Sophia’s costume went missing. That’s a fact. So I guess that means she didn’t take it. But if Melissa G. didn’t take it, then who did?”

Papi shrugged. “Sounds like you have to interview some more witnesses.”

“Yes! You’re right! Tomorrow I’m going to talk to Adrian. He was there when Javier walked into the room with his wardrobe costume. Maybe he saw something?”

“Great idea! Remember, a good reporter and detective keeps her mind open to all possibilities.”

“Got it.”

I said good night to Papi. Tomorrow I would solve the case for sure!