Officer Smitty squinted at Rodney from behind his dark mirrored aviators. "What's this?" he murmured.
"Ain't that yer nephew from out westwards?" Replied Officer Bales, jabbing Smitty with his elbow.
Smitty turned his cool gaze on Bales. "Mr. Bales, I would be dog-goned if that was Rodney! That boy's as straight an arrow as I've ever seen."

Bales twiched his moustache over his shoulder as he watched the boy disappear into another ally between two brick buildings. You can't save 'em all, Bales thought to himself as he and Smitty made their way lazily towards the station.
"I tell ya Bales," mused Smitty with contemplative look. "That sure brings me back. Why, I haven't seen Susan or her boy Rodney in ...2 an 7, take away... well I guess it's coming on three years now."
"I'll be! An you were always goin on about ol Rodney!" Exclaimed Bales, removing his hat to swipe at the beads of sweat. "Always goin on about 'what a character the boy had' an 'he's got the ol Groverland intuition', 'couldn't pull a fast one on ol Rod' and so forth..."
Smitty smiled at this recolection, nodding.
"Whatever happened there Smitty?" Bales inquired as they crossed the dusty boulevard. "Wun't there something? Some.. and I mean no discourtesy, some scandal associated with that sister of yours?"
Smitty's eyes stared dead ahead and his mouth grimaced. "Mr. Bales, I'm afraid you have touched on a rather delicate subject concerning my poor sister."
"Ah! I uh," Bales twiched his moustache nervously, "I didn't mean to pry, Smitty" he said apologetically.
"Well, Bales, that was all a long, long time ago."

Phones were rattling off the desks and the air was thick with excitement when Smitty & Bales finally reached the station. Lost in his memory, Smitty strolled into the apparent chaos looking straight through everything.
"Officer Smitty?" A voice shattered his thoughts. "Smitty, I think you'd better get over here." The voice pointed at a small TV in the corner, "It's Susan, your sister's on TV again."