A/N: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I was A. Finishing up the semester and B. in the middle of a bad writing slump. But now I'm back, and ready to write again. So sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Chapter 101: Stop Thief

One day, Thomas was at Ffarquhar station with Annie and Clarabel having lunch. They had just finished their morning run and were having a lunch of tea and sandwiches before their next train. Just then, Thomas noticed the stationmaster looking glum.

"David is everything alright?"

David jumped up.

"Oh, hello Thomas. And I'm afraid not. Some crooks broke into my home while the family and I were visiting my brother. We came home this morning to find the place ransacked. Everything was gone, the TV, the furniture, even my gardening cups."

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I was, Annie. The worst part is that they stole my new car, too. The wife needs her car for work, so I'm stuck riding the bus to work."

He sighed sadly.

"First an engine comes crashing through my dining room wall, then my home gets robbed by thieves. Why does everything happen to me?"

Thomas felt sorry for David.

"Have you telephoned the police."

"Yes, but no sign of the crooks yet. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it."

"Well, we're happy to help in any way that we can."

"Thanks, Thomas, but you should worry about keeping your trains running. We both know Sir Topham Hatt doesn't like it when you're late."

"No kidding."

It was soon time for Thomas to leave. He, Annie, and Clarabel got in the cab, and with a quick blast of the whistle they were off. David sadly waved until they were out of sight.

A little while, the train was running smoothly. They soon approached a tunnel.

"Hey Annie and Clarabel, remember when we beat Bertie in a race?"

"Yeah, if it wasn't for that hill who knows who would've won."

"Um, guys?"

Thomas and Annie turned to where Clarabel was pointing. Up ahead was a very familiar looking car. Thomas opened the regulator to get closer. Upon closer inspection they could see it was the stationmaster's car. In the front seat were to gruff looking men. They waved to them, and not wanting to look suspicious they waved back. Before anyone could say anything else, the car roared out of sight.

"That's David's car!"

"Yes, and I bet you anything that those were the thieves who stole it. They took a path that we can't follow, but I know where it leads. They'll be heading for maithwaite forest. If we can notify the police, they should be able to catch them before they get too far."

"But how?"

Knowing a signal box was up ahead, Thomas got an idea.

"Annie, do you have any paper and something to write with?"

"Yeah, me and Clarabel brought some to draw while you were on break. Why?"

Because we're going to use it to write a message. We'll put it in my lunchbox and toss it out at the next signalbox."

Annie got to work. The message read: "Ffarquhar stationmaster's car spotted headed for maithwaite forest with suspected thieves inside. Call the police."

As they passed the next signal box Thomas tossed it at the door. The signalman read the note and immediately notified police.

Later that day, Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel arrived at Ffarquhar station. Waiting for them were Sir Topham Hatt, David, the police, and the two thieves, who were now in handcuffs.

"Well done, you three," Sir Topham Hatt boomed, "Thanks to your quick thinking, David's belongings were recovered and these two have an appointment with a judge and jury."

"We would've gotten away with it," grumbled one of the thugs, "If it weren't for you meddling kids."

"Gee, George, I don't know. Maybe we would've slipped by them if we hadn't waved to them."

"Shut it, Lennie."

"If it weren't for their quick thinking," said one of the policeman, "We would've had a harder time catching them. You should be proud of them."

"And I am," said Sir Topham Hatt, "They have once again proven to be really useful."

Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel beamed proudly.

A/N: And done! Originally I didn't want to do a story not from the railway series so soon after my adaption of Mountain Engines, but I couldn't think of much else to write. I wanted to adapt a Christopher Awdry story, and it came down to this or More About Thomas the Tank Engine. And don't ask me why, but I do not want to touch those stories yet. Anyway, see you guys next time.