We were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast when we heard a knock on the door. Meowth opened it and we saw Officer Jenny along with two male accomplices.

"Are you James Morgan?" Officer Jenny asked James.

He looked scared, but not terrified. I felt the same way. This wasn’t the first time we’d been caught at something, and we seldom spent any time in prison. I caught his eye and nodded. There was no point in lying.

"Yes," he said to the policewoman.

She held out handcuffs. "You’re under arrest."

I sat, waiting for her to ask my identity. But she didn’t, she just began dragging James out the door.

"Wait! What’s going on? What are you arresting him for?" I asked.

"Yeah, how come you ain’t arresting both of them?" chimed in Meowth. Fortunately, the officer seemed trained to ignore pokemon, even if they could speak

"None of your business," replied Officer Jenny to me.

I walked toward her threateningly, but one of the male officers warned me with a gesture toward his gun and I backed off.

Now James began to look panicked. But all the Team Rocket warnings not to talk to arresting officers took effect and he stayed silent and walked willingly to the waiting police car.

"James!" I shouted after him. "I’ll get help! Don’t worry, whatever it is will be O.K.!" I couldn’t yell that the boss would bail him out, but I was sure he would.

I turned to Meowth. "We’ve got to get over to the Boss," I said.

"Yeah," replied Meowth. He looked genuinely shook up, and I hoped I didn’t look that bad. But I was frightened.

At headquarters I was allowed in to see the Boss right away. Meowth came in with me, but I made him promise to keep his mouth shut. He stayed beside me and glared at the Persian instead.

"Well, if it isn’t my least favorite Rocket member," he said. "I’d ask where your partner is, but I already know."

"Then you know why I’m here," I said, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. "You’ve got to get James out of jail!"

"I don’t think so," replied Giovanni.

"What do you mean? You’ve never treated Rocket members this way, not even us!"

"James wasn’t arrested for anything related to Team Rocket, or they would have arrested you as well."

"I suspected that," I replied. "But do you know what he was arrested for?"

"As it happens, I do. James’s parents were found murdered yesterday evening."

"What?" I shouted. "You know James wouldn’t murder his parents! And anyway, he was working with me yesterday like always!"

The Boss shrugged. "Go tell the Jennys that if you like. I wash my hands of this whole business."

I decided to leave before I told the Boss something unforgivable. We both knew the law wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say, especially about my own partner. I ran through yesterday evening in my mind. Had anyone seen us?

Of course! The twerps had seen us. We had been chasing down Pikachu, and we hadn’t even been in disguise.

"Meowth, we have to find those kids!" I said.

"You want to go after Pikachu now?" asked Meowth.

"No, you idiot, I want them to give them James an alibi for last night."

"Why would they do that?"

"Because they’re honest, Meowth. Or at least I can hope it works that way."

Part 2

The twerps (I couldn’t help calling them that) had been camped out in the woods the night before. We had shown up in the balloon with some embarrassing plan involving a high-pressure hose. The plan had seemed promising at first of course, but all that had happened was that everyone involved had gotten soaking wet, and Pikachu had used the water to electrocute us. They were probably still pretty angry. I could only hope that they would listen to me.

We found them camped out in the same place. Evidently we hadn’t even scared them away. For once I was glad.

I sent Meowth in to tell them I was coming and I didn’t want to steal anything. He came back a bit battered; evidently Pikachu had shocked him without asking questions first. But he had managed to explain, and now they were waiting for me.

Misty was the first one to speak. "Meowth told us some weird story about us providing an alibi for James? An alibi for what?"

"James’s parents have been killed," I answered.

All three of them looked shocked.

Ash spoke up nervously, "Look, we’ve met James’s parents, and they’re a little, well…"

"Sick," interrupted Misty. "I mean, they forced that bizarre fiancée on him."

I shook my head in frustration. "I know, but James didn’t kill them. First of all, he’s not capable of cold-blooded murder. Don’t you see what I’m saying?"

They nodded.

"Second of all, at the same time that this happened, he was miles away from their house. Right here, and you saw him."

Finally they all agreed that it was only right to tell Officer Jenny the truth. I went along with them; if the law had been after me for anything they’d have picked me up with James. But when we went to the station, Officer Jenny just shook her head.

"Kids, I can’t order the release of a suspected murderer on your testimony. When he gets a defense attorney I’m sure you’ll be asked to testify at the trial."

"It’s not like we’re his best friends," protested Ash. "We wouldn’t lie for him! He deserves to be in jail, just not for something like this!" I glared at him, but I hoped the officer would be impressed by his frankness. She wasn’t.

I asked Officer Jenny about visiting James, but she said he had been transferred to solitary confinement in prison and he would not be allowed visitors for a few days. That also put a damper on any plans I might have to help him break out.

I left the place totally despondent. James was one of the only people I had ever cared about and now he faced life in prison. Even the kids looked sad.

"Well," I said, "there’s only one thing to be done now. I have to find out who really did this."

"You’ve got to be kidding," said Brock. "I’m sure the police have already explored other possibilities."

"Well, they can’t have explored enough, or they wouldn’t have arrested James! He doesn’t have anyone to defend him but me, so it’s up to me to do this." I was practically crying, and I felt ridiculous showing weakness to those three. I walked away so they wouldn’t see me.

When I turned around I saw them still there, having some kind of big argument. I couldn’t hear them, but I could see angry gestures. Then gradually they all calmed down and came over to me.

"Maybe we could help," said Misty. I looked at her in surprise.

"Why would you help me?" I asked.

"Well, none of us would really believe James did this even if we hadn’t seen him last night. And it’s not fair you should have to do it yourself," said Misty.

"Yeah, it’s not like we’re helping you steal pokemon," added Ash.

"Hey, what do you mean you’re going to help us?" said Meowth.

"Meowth, shut up!" I said. "We need all the help we can get."

Meowth shook his head. "Fine, whatever, as long as I don’t get any more electric shocks."

Pikachu giggled and Meowth glared at it.

"I think we should start with whoever gets the money from the will," I said. "I know it isn’t James. I remember the butler saying it would go to charity, but maybe there’s a person somewhere who will get rich off this."

"Maybe that freak fiancée gets rich," said Ash.

"I want to check her out too," I said.

"I think we need to ask the Boss," said Meowth.

I glared at him, and dragged him off to one side. "What do you think you’re doing, talking about the Boss here?"

"Well, they don’t know who I mean, do they? But I think the Boss coulda done it. He’s capable of murder, and I bet he knew something about James’ parents, too. Maybe he thought he could get the money somehow!"

"We’ll never find out, then. He wouldn’t have done it himself, and he wouldn’t have told anyone who’ll speak to us… except…"

I began to look at Meowth. He backed away, looking nervous.

"Meowth, I want you to run a little errand for me and talk to Giovanni’s Persian."

"Not the Persian! I hate that cat!"

"I know, but it goes almost everywhere with Giovanni, and I’ll bet Giovanni forgets to keep secrets around it too. And you’re the only one who could understand it and then talk easily to humans! So you have to talk to it."

I was wondering whether to encourage Meowth to help save James or just hit him. Finally he shrugged and said he would give it a try.

I went back to the kids. "Meowth’s going to stay here and… um… explore another lead. We need to get over to James’s parents house and see if the butler or anybody is still there to tell us anything."

Hopkins was indeed still there, preparing the house to be sold. He glared at us a bit, since he remembered all of us being chased out of the house, but he agreed to answer a few questions when I told him it was on behalf of James. "Yes, Master James… they never did manage to give that boy any sense. But kill them? No, no, he would never have done that."

Police tape blocked off the living room. I almost expected to see coffins again, this time for real. Ash actually asked where they were, but Hopkins only sniffed and said that holding a viewing in the murder site would be "in poor taste."

I began to wonder what exactly Hopkins himself had been doing the night of the murder. I asked if he had discovered the bodies.

"Yes, I did," he answered. "It was my evening off, and I was eating in a restaurant in the next town. When I returned home I found the master and mistress both dead in the living room. They had been shot to death. I called the police immediately of course."

"And did they suspect you?" Brock asked.

He sniffed again, angrily this time. "They could tell that the murder had taken place long before I returned, and I have many witnesses to vouch for my location that entire evening. Now, do you have any more impertinent questions?"

"Yes," I said. "Do you know where the money from their will goes?"

"To a foundation for the care of abandoned pokemon. They will probably either sell the house or place pokemon in it."

"And who administers this foundation?"

"Erika, the leader of the Saffron City gym."

Part 3

We left and began heading back to meet Meowth.

"Surely no one could suspect Erika of murdering James’s parents!" said Misty.

"Yeah, she loves her Pokemon but not enough to shoot people for them. And she may not even know she gets the money from the will," said Ash

"I’ll bet she does know," I said. "I’m not saying she’s a murderer but we ought to talk to her."

"Hey, I wouldn’t mind seeing her again," said Brock.

"I wouldn’t either, now that you mention it," said Ash.

"Ash, I doubt she’ll recognize you in boy’s clothes…" snickered Misty.

Ash turned red.

Brock looked at me nervously. "Didn’t you guys burn down her gym?" he asked.

"Look, are you going to help me, or not?" I snapped. "I’m not going to burn this one down, at least not until I get James out of jail."

We had to take a bus for part of the trip and Misty sat next to me.

"Listen, I know you’re concerned about James," she said.

"Look, I’m grateful for your help but you don’t have to pretend to be my friend," I said.

Misty shook her head. "I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. You may not be able to do this by yourself, even with our help. It might be up to James’s attorney."

"James can’t afford to hire a decent attorney. Neither can I."

"And you’re really all he has. And even though we’re not friends… I feel bad for you," said Misty.

"And he’s really all I have. And that’s almost OK, until something like this happens."

I turned away from her, and she settled down in her seat for the rest of the ride.

We got back and met Meowth, and I pulled him aside for another conversation.

"What happened?"

"Well, it wasn’t easy. First I had to get into headquarters, the guards don’t want to let in an unattended pokemon. Eventually I snuck in behind some new trainees, the guard thought I was one of theirs. Then the Persian was in with Giovanni as usual, but finally he stepped out and we had our little conversation."

"And?"

"Well, Persian didn’t want to talk much, but since I’m a Team Rocket pokemon and I tried flattery…"

"What happened?" I almost screamed.

"Persian’s never heard the Boss mention the Morgans, and he doesn’t talk much about James either, except to laugh a little bit. And Persian hasn’t seen any hit men around in a while. I really don’t think the Boss was in on this."

"O.K." I said. "Now you need to come with us while we interview Erika."

"The woman with the wimpy plant gym? Right, like she murdered James’s parents…"

"Just shut up and I’ll explain on the way."

When we got to the gym we all went in. Erika did remember all of us, and she did call Ash "Ashley" a couple of times just to see him blush. When she first saw me she said she was going to call the police. I told her I didn’t think I had warrants out for me here so the police might not listen. She eventually calmed down.

I told her as quickly as I could about James, his family, and the accusation. None of it seemed to surprise her.

"You knew they were dead?" I asked.

"I did know, but only because the police were already here this morning." she replied. "And I didn’t even know they had a son; I thought they were giving me the money out of generosity, not spite."

"But you are the beneficiary of their will," I said.

"My foundation is," she replied. "I don’t get any of that money personally. Surely you’re not suggesting I’m… involved in this somehow."

"No, no," interrupted Brock. "We would never suggest that!"

I wanted to hit him. But even though I was more objective than he was, I agreed with him. I didn’t think I could accuse this girl of murder.

All the same, I asked her. "What were you doing yesterday evening?"

"As I told the police, I was rounding up the vileplumes at dusk, it’s their spore season and I need to bring them inside where the spores can’t hurt people. My employees can tell you that! I think you’d better leave now."

That was about the time of death of the Morgans, and this place was miles away. Unless all her employees would lie for her she was probably innocent.

We left. Brock was still sulky that we had interrogated a pretty girl.

"There’s only one option left." I said. "Jessiebelle."

"You really think she killed James’s parents?" asked Ash.

"I don’t know, I can’t really think why she would. But maybe she knows something else about their upper class friends that will help us."

Even Brock wasn’t eager to see Jessiebelle. But even going with the twerps would be better than going on my own, and eventually I convinced them to go with me. We would set off tomorrow morning, and see if I could possibly help James by talking to his worst enemy.

Part 4

We all set off, but Meowth insisted on staying behind. He didn’t want to get near Jessiebelle again and I couldn’t blame him. Jessiebelle Greene and her parents lived in a mansion much like the one James’s family had lived in, and it was almost next-door. When we knocked, a butler answered. He stared at us for a long time before lowering himself to ask who we were.

Finally, Jessiebelle came up behind him. "Well, if isn’t James’s charming friends!" she said in her syrupy voice. "Won’t you come in?"

I was reminded again that this woman was not mentally balanced. Between the nasty expression on her face and the hours of tiredness showing on mine we didn’t look much alike anymore. I wasn’t jealous of her money or her tie to James anymore. It had been a long time since I had had anything but contempt for Jessiebelle.

When her parents saw us they were clearly not thrilled at their daughter’s decision to let us in. The kids were too frightened by Jessiebelle to say a word; they just cowered behind me.

"We have some questions about the death of the Morgans," I began.

"I thought their criminal son had already been arrested," replied Mr. Greene.

"Oh, but this is his little friend," giggled Jessiebelle. "She probably can’t believe just how awful he turned out to be. But I could have told her that!"

I had to sit there counting to myself silently for a minute before I gained control. I decided not to hit her in the head, or send Arbok after her. Anyway, that nasty vileplume of hers was still peeking out from behind her chair. Finally I could speak again. "Where exactly were you on the night of the murders?"

Jessiebelle laughed her horrible laugh again. "Why, we were at a dinner party at the Yances. Everyone who is anyone was there. The Morgans weren’t invited, they’ve been a bit in disgrace since the last time their son showed up."

"Where do the Yances live?"

"They live way out in the country."

"And no one left early, or disappeared for a long time?"

"No… well, my father did leave early."

Her father spoke up. "One of the servants called the Yances complaining of an intruder in the garden in back. I didn’t know at the time of course, but now I think that maniac Morgan kid was coming here to get Jessiebelle too! But by the time I got here the intruder was gone, I looked everywhere and didn’t bother calling the police."

"So basically everyone who knew the Morgans was at the same party that night?"

They nodded. I couldn’t believe it. There was no way I was going to figure out who really killed James’s parents. I began to remember all the things I had hoped might happen someday for James and me, and I wanted to burst into tears on the spot. But I’m stronger than that, and I just shrugged my shoulders and turned to go.

Suddenly Brock spoke up.

"So, Jessiebelle, you took your pokemon to this party?"

I couldn’t tell what he was getting at, but I was impressed at how tough he was being. Evidently Jessiebelle didn’t appeal to him much.

"Why no, a dinner party is no place for pokemon."

"Oh, I see, so your vileplume stays in its pokeball for events like this."

"No, my vileplume can’t stand its pokeball. I left it in the garden."

Now I understood. I turned to Mr. Greene. "It’s spore season for the vileplume, Mr. Greene. So how would an intruder be in the garden without the vileplume throwing spores at him? And how would you be in there yourself?"

Mr. Greene looked nervous. "The intruder… I don’t know, maybe there wasn’t one after all. And I, I ordered the vileplume away."

Jessiebelle turned to her father. "Daddy, that vileplume has never listened to anyone but me! Why are you lying to this woman?"

So Jessiebelle hadn’t done it but her father had? I didn’t wait to hear any more. I shouted, "Arbok, go!" and ordered Arbok to wrap itself around him. I yelled to the kids to call the police. Mrs. Greene began to go into hysterics. Jessiebelle began to yell at her father.

"Daddy, how could you? You ruined my only chance with James. And murder!" Jessiebelle’s values seemed a little out of order.

Her father began to shout. "Jessiebelle, you never had a chance with James, he ran away from you twice! And his parents were trying to get back into society by telling everyone about your little hobbies with whips. If I hadn’t done anything, we’d have been the next family in disgrace!"

"Looks like they will be anyway," muttered Ash. The kid has a gift for the obvious, but for once he had made an appropriate remark.

Jessiebelle began to cry. When the police came, I lost it completely and began threatening them with Arbok if they didn’t call and order James’s immediate release. I didn’t quite achieve that, but they told me that if I left now he’d probably be out by the time I got to the prison.

When I got outside, I saw Hopkins. The noise and police cars must have brought him over. When I told him what had happened, he smiled and said he always knew James was innocent. He wrote a note on a piece of paper and told me to give it to James. I asked him if he had anywhere to go now, and he looked around and said in a hushed voice, "Anywhere I want. I’ve been stealing money from James’s parents for over twenty-five years."

I thought the kids would take this opportunity to leave, but they insisted on following me to the prison. I was too grateful to Brock (and the other two, really) to tell them to go.

When we got to the prison gates James was standing in front of them. He was wearing the wrinkled clothing he had been taken away in, and his hair was a horrible mess. I ran forward and threw my arms around him. We just stood there for a few minutes, holding each other. Then I did what I wished I had done before all this had to happen. I kissed him. I didn’t even care that the twerps were watching. Evidently he didn’t care either, because he kept kissing me for a long time.

"I’m sorry I look so awful," he murmured to me.

"Well, I’m glad I got you out or who knows how you would have ended up."

For the time being, that was our way of saying "I love you."

Finally we looked around and saw the backs of three kids who were pretending to look at trees. I called them over and explained to James how much help they had been.

Misty said, "James, I’m sorry about your parents."

I had to give her credit for saying that. I hadn’t spent any time thinking about them except as the murder victims, but James probably had.

James nodded. "I’m sorry this happened to them, in spite of everything."

Then I remembered the note from the butler. James opened it and read, "Please do not forget to retrieve Growlie, he misses you terribly. And keep in mind that Growlie’s residence is not part of the house and was not distributed in the will. Technically I suppose it belongs to Growlie, but you may wish to make use of it yourself."

James was shocked. "Do you have any idea what that place is worth?" I didn’t but I could imagine.

"We could sell it or rent it, we could live off that kind of money!" said James.

"We should throw a party in it first, after a decent time goes by," I said.

We even invited the twerps.

The End