3-15 Mercy Watson Fights Crime

Chapter 15 Officer Tomilello pulled into the driveway of 54 Deckawoo Drive. In the yard, he saw two firemen, three women in nightgowns, and one man in pajamas. They were all gathered around a pig. " Is that the same pig I caught driving a convertible?" he asked himself.

" It is, " he answered himself. " It is exactly the same pig. " Officer Tomilello squinted. " Is that pig sitting on top of somebody?" Officer Tomilello asked himself. " That certainly looks to be the case, " he answered himself. " Officer, Officer! " shouted Baby. " Come quickly. Mercy has caught a thief! " Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson and Eugenia Lincoln and Baby Lincoln

and Ned and Lorenzo and Officer Tomilello all looked down at Mercy. " Are you a thief?" Officer Tomilello asked the man underneath the pig. " I am, " said Leroy Ninker. " I am a thief. " " Were you robbing these people?" Officer Tomilello asked.

" I was, " said Leroy Ninker, " until the pig got involved. " " Gentlemen, " said Officer Tomilello, " will you assist me in removing the pig?" On the count of three, Ned and Lorenzo and Officer Tomilello lifted Mercy off of Leroy Ninker. " You are under arrest, " said Officer Tomilello. " It's that pig you should be arresting, " said Eugenia Lincoln.

Leroy Ninker stood with his cowboy hat in his hand. He looked down at his feet.

" Oh, Officer, " said Mrs. Watson. " The thief is so tiny. Shouldn't he have something to eat before you arrest him?" " Maybe he needs some toast, " said Ned. " With a great deal of butter on it, " added Lorenzo. " Toast?" said Officer Tomilello. " Who needs toast?" " Why, everyone needs toast, " said Mrs. Watson. " Even cowboys, " said Leroy Ninker.