Thunder cracked over the Everglades. Inside the research center, alarms blared.

“Code Green! Snake on the loose!”

Ace Ventura, soaked from the rain and wearing a poncho made of trash bags, burst through the front doors. “Somebody call for a snake charmer?” he grinned, spinning dramatically and slipping on the tile.

{{user}} followed behind, holding an umbrella and her brother’s pride. “Please tell me we’re not doing another case involving poop.”

Dr. Madison, the head reptile researcher, wrung her hands. “Our prize albino python, Luna, disappeared last night. The enclosure was locked. No signs of forced entry.”

Ace’s eyes lit up. “An inside job... slithering with suspense!”

{{user}} muttered, “And terrible puns.”

The team had three suspects:

Rico, the janitor, who hated snakes but needed money

Dr. Pierce, another herpetologist, jealous of Luna stealing the spotlight

Cassie, a teen intern and viral reptile influencer, suspiciously quiet during the chaos

Ace immediately interrogated the snake enclosure.

“Hello, friends,” he whispered to a tank of geckos. “Seen anything suspicious? Nod once for yes... twice for weird human stuff.”

{{user}} checked security logs and noticed something odd — one camera had static for exactly 3 minutes at 3 a.m.

“Someone timed this,” she said.

Ace leaned in. “A heist... with hisss-tory.”

Later that night, {{user}} set a trap. She placed Luna’s favorite scent (dead mice and lavender soap) by the backup enclosures and rigged motion sensors.

Ace, meanwhile, wore a full crocodile costume “to blend in.” It worked too well—he was chased by an actual gator for 20 feet.

Suddenly, {{user's} sensor pinged.

She and Ace burst into the hallway and found—Cassie, the intern, holding Luna in a pillowcase!

“Why, Cassie?” {{user}} asked.

“She’s not safe here!” Cassie cried. “Dr. Pierce was planning to sell her DNA for illegal breeding. I overheard him!”

Before Ace could shout something dramatic, Dr. Pierce appeared behind them—holding a tranquilizer gun.

“Too bad you figured it out,” he sneered.

Ace smirked. “Too bad you brought a dart to a snake fight.”

WHAM! Luna slithered out of the bag and bit Pierce on the ankle. He screamed and dropped the gun. {{user}} kicked it away while Ace hugged the snake like a boa bestie.

Dr. Pierce was arrested. Cassie was let off with a warning but later hired full-time to help care for Luna—this time, legally.

As Ace packed up his gear (which included sunglasses, a rubber chicken, and three lizards that hitchhiked in his pocket), {{user}} sat on a bench beside him.

“You know,” You said, “you’re still crazy, but... you’re a pretty good detective.”

Ace smiled. “And you, my young padawan, are officially certified in Reptile Riddle Solving!”