Allen raised his head.

-Hello, who's th...

He staid silent. The sheriff was standing right there, looking at him with a dead-serious face.

He had seen the roses. The only red roses in the town.

Allen smiled.

-Can I help you, Sir?

The sheriff folded his arms on his chest.

-Roses?

-I've always loved them. They are the symbol of love aren't they.

Kanda lowered his head to hide a blush. Why was that brat talking about love now.

-But since the Crimson Fox case started they've been disappearing. I've tried to lock my doors but he just seems to go through the walls. So I've given up.

-I see...

He wanted to believe the boy. He could, right? He looked so innocent and kind, why would he be a thief? Plus, he had free lodgement.

-Well, tell me if you catch a glimpse of him.

The boy nodded.

-By the way, do you have a map?

-Of course, wait a minute, I'll get it.

He went to take it in a cupboard and gave it to the sheriff.

-There.

-Thank you, Allen.

He returned to his office, thinking about what he had just seen. He really thought the boy was innocent now.

That Allen just had to smile and he would believe anything from him. But he had to know.

He studied the map during hours, trying to guess which place the Fox would rob next. By following a logical order, the next place was...

XXX

He checked twice behind him to see if there was someone. It was pitch black but he was trained to see in the dark, and could tell that he was alone in the street. It was raining and the sound of the drops hitting the floor covered the sound of his footsteps.

That sheriff really had scared him. He was sharp, and Allen couldn't believe he had swallowed his story about roses and love. He probably was planning on something, so he had to be twice more careful than usual.

He planned on robbing the manor on the hill, a bit far from the town, so basically he didn't expect anyone to see him. He pick-locked the door and entered. He sighed. He had made it without any problems.

It was darker than outside, so he lit a match.

Only to see the sheriff standing in the living room.