The sound of gallop could be heard outside.
-The sheriff's off again isn't he? Said a customer.
He was a middle-aged man with a soft look on his face. He had a wife and two children and currently worked as a shoemaker.
Lavi nodded. He was a one-eyed thirty years old man, and also was the bartender and owner of the saloon.
-Yep, I heard there were many robberies lately.
-Yes I heard that too. It's the Crimson Fox isn't it.
-Him again. He really is a piece of work!
He laughed loudly.
In the restaurant part of the saloon, Lenalee was standing next to Allen, the saloon's gambler. Lavi had kind of adopted him since his parents were dead in a fire and he was good friends with them, and now the boy earned money by playing cards against anyone who dared.
-What do you think? She asked.
Allen lifted his gaze from the cards to stare blankly at her.
-Huh?
Leanlee laughed a bit too seeing the young man's expression.
-I know that face... You're hungry aren't you... I'm going to ask Jeryy to cook something for you.
The young man smiled at her.
-Thank you...
He looked back at his cards. He didn't like to lie, and he managed to escape it this time.
Nobody knew he himself was the famous Crimson Fox. He sighed and looked out the window.
He had good reasons to steal. His goal was to save the local hospital which was menaced to be shut down because of the lack of money. He stole from the rich and gave the money to the hospital without consideration. He knew the sick needed more that money than the rich. But he felt guilty anyway.
A big plate full of rice and chicken was set in front of him.
-Thank you, Lenalee!
He smiled at the girl, who smiled back and went back to work, leaving Allen in his thoughts.
The sheriff, Kanda, was quite the serious guy, and it was very hard to escape from him. He nearly got caught last time, but hopefully he managed not to be seen. He had to work out his skills...
The night was set and the town was quiet.
Allen silently slipped out of his bedroom and made his way to the door.
He slowly turned the door knob and soon he was outside, ready to commit one more sin.
The moon shone full and high that night, and Kanda couldn't find any rest. He was too worried.
That thief seemed as consisting as a ghost, never had he even seen him.
He just knew the guy left a red petal everywhere he went to steal money or expensive items. He didn't know why but instead of hating the guy, it really pissed him off. Something about it just seemed to get on his nerves. And patrolling by night really was a pain, he had to walk across all the drunkards of the town.
He sighed and sat on a bench, just in front of a big house. He really wanted to keep his job, so he'd better catch the guy soon.
What the poor sheriff didn't know was that the young thief was slowly sliding into the house just behind him, through the window...