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Vesta’s little red Peugeot had been fixed in record time, and once again declared fit for duty, and tonight they were patrolling the area where the rich and famous lived. It was a narrow strip of prime real estate along the beach, where actors and singers and businesspeople had built large and impressive McMansions, and it was along here that the Hampton Heisters had struck six times in a row, and it was only to be expected that soon they’d strike again, attracted by all the wealth that was on display there.

“Don’t you think that with one of their crew in prison they might give up?” asked Scarlett as they slowly cruised along the boulevard that connected the large mansions. Not that they could actually see those mansions, since they were mostly hidden from view behind large fences and tall hedgesat the end of long and winding driveways.

“I don’t think they’re going to be stopped by a little thing like that,” said Vesta. “These people are obviously addicted to the thrill of breaking into the homes of the celebrities they admire.”

“Admire? That isn’t the word that comes to mind when I think of this gang.”

“Of course they admire them, Scarlett. They collect their memorabilia, don’t they?”

“Probably to sell online.”

“Nothing they’ve stolen has been offered for sale, so it stands to reason they intend to keep that stuff.”

They passed a dark sedan, and when Scarlett glanced over, she recognized the two cops riding in the sedan.“Looks like we’re not the only ones patrolling tonight.”

“The police are under a great deal of pressure to stop this gang. Alec told me that the governor himself called today and expressed his concern.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah, ouch.”

“So is it true?” asked Scarlett.

“Is what true?” asked Vesta as she scanned the street ahead for possible nefarious activities in progress.

“That you offered Charlene Butterwick money in exchange for a building permit?”

“And how do you know about that?”

“Someone saw you two arguing at the golf club today, and caught a few snippets of your conversation.”

“Probably the caddy,” Vesta grunted. “Yeah, so what if I did? It’s just a regular business transaction. If you want something, you pay for it. No big deal.”

“It’s also called bribery, and I’m pretty sure it’s illegal,” Scarlett pointed out.

“You shouldn’t listen to gossip,” Vesta grumbled. “Besides, she turned me down, and then my son had the gall to lecture me about it, so as far as I’m concerned, that chapter is closed.”

“You’re not going to try to build those extra floors?”

“I didn’t say that. I just said that this particular chapter is closed. Now will you look at that. Bold as brass!”

She was referring to four masked and hooded figures trying to crawl over a fence up ahead.

“That’s them!” Scarlett cried.

“Let’s get ‘em!”

Vesta quickly parked and they both got out, armed to the teeth with stun guns, cans of mace and Vesta’s old shotgun, and hurried in the direction of the hoodlums. And they would have reached them if another car hadn’t suddenly blocked them off by jumping the curb and two familiar figures crawled out: they were Wilbur and Francis Reilly!

“Drop your weapons!” Wilbur shouted, as he aimed what looked like a banana in a sock at them.

“They’re getting away, you old fool!” Vesta cried, gesturing to the Hampton Heisters, who’d noticed the altercation and were now getting back down, and onto four scooters.

“Drop your weapons right now!” Wilbur repeated, and pointed his banana—or it could have been a gun, of course—in their direction.

Meanwhile, the crooks had started up their scooters, and were taking off!

“You idiot!” Vesta screamed. “Just look behind you!”

“You’re not fooling me,” said Wilbur, still brandishing his weapon. “There’s nothing behind me.”

“The Hampton Heisters are behind you!” said Scarlett. “Francis, just look!”

And Francis did look, just in time to see the Hampton Heisters turn a corner.

“Hey, wasn’t that…” the aged priest muttered.

“That was the gang!” said Vesta. “You let them get away!”

“But…”

“Why did you stop us?”

“Because this is our territory,” said Wilbur. “This is where Francis and I patrol.”

“What territory?”

“We’ve decided that you can have the North side of town, and we’ll take the South,” said Francis. “That way we can both coexist peacefully, and not get in each other’s way.”

“Well, you just got in our way—big time!”

“Yeah, you could have told us about this territory thing,” said Scarlett.

“We just thought about it,” said Francis sheepishly.

“Oh, God—you two are hopeless!” said Vesta, stomping the ground and throwing her can of mace at Wilbur. “Hopeless!”

“What is that weapon you’ve got here?” asked Scarlett.

“Um…” said Wilbur, and removed a banana from the sock.

“I knew it was a banana,” said Vesta.

“People, maybe we should work together from now on,” Francis suggested. “That way maybe we can actually catch the bad guys, instead of sabotaging each other.”

“And now you think of that!” said Vesta.