Part 1

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.”