Something must be eating my boss. From the way he goes through wine and beer, I think he's a man trying to drown himself. Either way, it didn't matter. I had a job to do. Murder and theft and close to home. When my partner finally sauntered in, some kind of pie still stuck to his whiskers and a deer dog in each hand, we were already behind and the scents were getting cold.
"Want one?" he offered a deer dog to me. It looked delicious, but I'm watching what I eat.
"I'm just gonna have this salad", but it stung to turn him down. He knows how much i love those.
Case #1
The murder trail lead us North and then West, away from the usual suspects. The victim was a known thief, and I suspected this was just gang violence. When we reached our target, I was surprised to see him walking around outside like a man with no guilt. But the man had an alibi.
He said the thief had it coming. That the thief robbed his brother. Maybe it's true. Maybe it's not. But I agree with one thing. That same thief, well, I nearly killed him myself (see the thread "Sometimes you get mercy". Same thief.). This was just justice delayed. Case closed.
***
Case #2
Afterwards we chased scents south. Whomever the thief was, he was close. Very close. We ditched the boats and went on foot. Backup met us on the way, and the three of us went hunting.
The thief saw us the same moment we saw him, just walking through the woods, whistling, like he hadn't a care in the world. That changed when my partner shouted out "Stop!". The thief ran, a sure sign of guilt.
We gave chase and amazingly, the thief ran well. Very well. I couldn't help but noticing his ranger boots. Obviously purloined.
Eventually we caught up to him, but the punishment fits the crime.
We fined him one pair of pants, and let him walk. Case closed.
