How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Smiling, Roy dropped to the lawn and took two steps back from the Matherson house. He proceeded to do something that was drastically out of character for a boy who was basically shy.
What he did was salute crisply, spin around, drop his pants, and bend over. (15.23-24)
Oh, no he didn't! Oh, yes he did. This takes some major guts to do to another person—let alone a bully. We're starting to doubt the severity of Roy's shyness.
Quote #8
Chuck Muckle whipped off his shades and eyed the patrolman dubiously. "You wouldn't happen to be the same crackerjack lawman who fell asleep in his car while the vandal trashed our survey stakes, would you?"
[...]
"The same genius," Mr Muckle went on, "whose careless sleep habits resulted in a newspaper article that unfairly smeared the good name and reputation of Mother Paula? Was that you?"
"Yeah, that would be him," Curly said. (19.79-82)
This is not the fame Delinko is looking for. His reputation is getting to be the screw-up cop instead of the future detective. Delinko wants to save the day, not be a joke.
Quote #9
"How'd you get here?" he asked.
"Hopped the fence last night. Then I hid under the backhoe," the boy said. "You walked right past me about five times."
"You're the one who painted my patrol car last week?"
"No comment."
"And ran away from the hospital?"
"Double no comment," the boy said.
"And hung your green shirt on my antenna?"
"Man, you don't understand. The owls got no chance against those machines."
"I do understand. I honestly do," Officer Delinko said. (20.97-105)
Looks like Officer Delinko finally figured out who has been messing with him and the construction site. But instead of slapping handcuffs on Mullet Fingers and hauling him off, what he does next is lie for the kid. This is quite the turnaround from the policeman who was determined to catch the bad guys. Maybe he had a change of heart regarding who the bad guys are.