Bill: "I think he ran into that alley, maybe jumped over the wall and ran through the sawmill?"
Still breathing heavily, Rance replied, "Yes, good observation. The beach is in that direction, let's circle around and see if there are any tracks. The trail is hot, and we're close to solving the mystery, all my years as a sheriff tell me that."
Agreeing with his suggestion, they went around the sawmill and headed toward the beach. As they ran, Rance looked over his shoulder and said, "Deputy, huff huff, when we corner the suspect, let me handle it. You're doing great, huff huff, after this case you might become a full-fledged junior sheriff, but for now huff huff, let the professionals take the risks."
Nodding in agreement, Bill added, "Alright, I'll cover you!"
When they reached the beach, they found clear tracks leading away. Bill couldn't help but admit that this fruit thief was indeed fast.
Gazing excitedly in the direction of the tracks, Rance said, "Look! They ran toward those rocks — there must be a secret hideout!"
Nodding again, Bill glanced at the sky: "Yes, there's probably a fort somewhere over there, but it's getting late, I need to head home."
Rance: "Deputy?! We're so close, you can't just leave!"
Although Bill also wanted to see the ninja base, he knew he needed to be home for dinner, so he said, "I really have to go, I need to be home for dinner, and I'll have to run to make it in time...
But listen, how about we meet again tomorrow by the fruit stand? Like you said, bad guys aren't smart; this ninja will probably show up around the same time again. He only got away today because we were chatting. So tomorrow we can catch him right by the stand, make him apologize to the vendor, and then we can find his base!"
Still displeased but somewhat calmed down, Rance asked, "Where do you live that you have to run to be home for dinner?"
Bill: "I live on the base."
Rance: "Oh, that's why I haven't seen you around before... how long are you staying here?" he asked cautiously.
Bill: "My dad is stationed on the base permanently, or at least, I've lived on the base my whole life. Today was the first day I was allowed to go this far. So I really can't be late getting home. My mom probably won't let me come back here again.Rance shrugged and said, "Alright, but you'll definitely come back tomorrow?"
Pointing at himself and Rance, Bill laughed and said, "As long as we haven't caught this Fruit Ninja, as your deputy, I have to back you up! Okay then, we'll meet at the fruit stand tomorrow?"
Rance: "Okay, see you there right at noon!"
With these words, Bill turned and ran home at full speed. He spent most of the day playing sheriff with Rance. Who knows, maybe the boy wasn't pretending about the ninja? he thought to himself.
He returned home just as his nanny was setting dinner on the table, greeting his family with, "Phew, made it just in time!"
Seeing Bill, who was still wearing a hat that was too small and a large [Junior Deputy Sheriff] badge, Miss Angie asked, "Did you have a good time today?"
Bill: "Yeah, the town was interesting. I saw them cutting down one of the Rainbow Trees. It's interesting that the inside of the tree isn't as colorful as the outside," he said, recounting what he did before meeting Rance.
Dina asked, "Where did you get that?" pointing to his new accessories.
Reaching for his plate, Bill replied, "I met a boy named Rance McGrew and borrowed it while we were playing."
As they began dinner, Bill told his mother and nanny about how Rance was the "sheriff" and how they hunted the fruit ninja. Both women showed interest in his story and surprised Bill by saying that the local sheriff's surname was also McGrew.
Bill asked, "By the way, what would happen to that boy if the real sheriff caught him?"
"Hmm," Miss Angie pondered for a moment before replying, "Here on Vallipo, the boy would probably be made to apologize, and depending on the vendor, his parents might have to pay for the fruit."
Bill: "And what if his parents couldn't pay?"
Miss Angie said, "Despite its rural appearance, Vallipo is a wealthy island. I can't imagine anyone here unable to pay for fruit."
Waving his hands, Bill emphasized, "But I mean, if they just couldn't, regardless of the circumstances?"
After this persistent question, his mother answered, "Then the boy would be taken in by the Marines, and his behavior would be properly corrected."
Bill: "I see, and what if it were an adult thief?"Looking directly at Bill, Miss Angie replied, "It depends on the island or kingdom. In large kingdoms, there are chain gangs, while on smaller islands, the thief's debt would likely be sold to a merchant, and they'd be forced into service on a trading ship."
Bill had indeed spent a lot of time studying cases at Headquarters, but almost all of them dealt with piracy or other maritime crimes. The Marines typically didn't get involved with minor criminals and simply didn't have the authority to do so in kingdoms allied with the World Government