THIS WEEK'S EPISODE.........

"HERE TODAY, GONE TOMATO"

"Well this is strange. All of my tomatoes are gone. They were just about ready to be picked and brought to the market. Hey Ma!" "What is it Pa?" "Did you pick the tomatoes from the garden this morning?" "No dear. I thought you were going to do that." Farmer Fred shrugged his shoulders, wiped the sweat from his brow, and resumed working on his garden. But what happened to the tomatoes?

THE BIG RAGU

Tamburelli and Tuccio were the coolest cops on the beat. They drove around town in a red cadillac, solved crimes, and were very popular with the ladies. The pair planned to enjoy the day cruising around town until they got a call from their Sergeant. "Change of plans Tamburelli. Looks like we're needed at the police station." And so the pair turned around and headed downtown to the Pomodoro City Police Department: Produce Division.

"Sorry to have to call you on your day off boys but we seem to be in the middle of a crime spree." "Crime spree?" Tamburelli queried. "Tell us more Sarge." "Farmer Fred's garden was hit earlier this morning. An entire crop of tomatoes went missing before sunrise. There have also been reports of tomatoes disappearing from other gardens across the city." "We're on it Sarge! We'll solve this case and have plenty of time to hit the beach!" an enthusiastic Tuccio shouted. "Let's hope so Detective. There are a lot of frightened tomatoes out there."

"So Tamburelli, where do we even begin?" "I think it's time we paid a visit to our eyes and ears on the street." "You mean Huggy Berry?" "Did somebody call my name? Well if it isn't Pomodoro City's finest. What can I do for you fine gentlemen?" "Tomatoes are disappearing from gardens across the city and we want to know who's behind it" Tamburelli sternly announced. "I don't have a name but I know where you can find this cat. But it's gonna cost ya." "What do you want this time?" "You have to let me take my lady friends for a ride in that sweet red cadillac of yours." "Okay" Tamburelli grudgingly agreed.

"Where can we find him?" "He's been spotted at a joint called 'The Groove'' the past few nights." "Thanks Huggy Berry. Be careful with my...." Before Tamburelli could finish his sentence, their informant had sped off into the night with two giggling raspberries. Tamburelli and Tuccio rolled over to 'The Groove.' After being accosted by the doorman, the pair was able to sneak in with a group of Eggplants enjoying a Bachelorette Party. When the tomatoes walked in they were met with icy glares by the patrons. "Um, I don't think we're welcome here Tuccio?" "Hey, how you doin' girl?" "Sigh! Not now lover boy."

Suddenly a big, burly bouncer grabbed the pair and roughly escorted them out of the club. "Hit the bricks!" he snarled. "Do you have any idea who we are?" Tuccio smugly asked. "No." "Oh. Alright then. Have a good night. Now what Tamburelli?" "I think we should call it night and start working on this case again tomorrow." As the tomatoes were leaving the parking lot they overheard a couple of men loudly talking about tomatoes. "Hold up. Let's listen in on this conversation." The tomatoes quietly rolled up next to a red tractor out of sight from the two men.

"What's the plan Stan?" a man in blue coveralls asked his friend. "The boss man wants us to go on another tomato raid. This time we're going to knock off Blue Moon Farm. This might be our biggest haul yet. We'll meet here with the rest of the boys at 9 p.m. tomorrow night." "Are you thinking what I'm thinking Tuccio?" "That I probably wear too much cologne?" "No. We're going to be at Blue Moon Farm tomorrow and catch these creeps in the act."

The next night, Tamburelli and Tuccio waited in the garden for the tomato thieves to arrive. It was dark and eerily silent except for a little chirping from some crickets. A group of men with flashlights and burlap sacks began rummaging through the garden, tearing the tomatoes from their vines. "I have an idea Tuccio" Tabmurelli whispered. "We'll hop into one of the bags and hide. We'll blend right in with the other tomatoes. They won't know we're in here and they'll lead us straight to their boss."

"Hey Sarge, we ran the prints on the last tomato robbery and we got some interesting results." "Go on Officer Roma." "The kingpin of this seedy 'Tomato Underworld' is a man known as 'Beefsteak Bruno.' He's named after the tomato. He's originally from Poland and emigrated here in the 1960s. He worked at a number of farms over the years before he went into business for himself. His henchmen steal tomatoes and bring them to his factory. From there they are stewed and put in a can. The canned tomatoes are then labeled 'organic' and sold for five times their worth." "Diabolical! I hope Tamburelli and Tuccio can bring this thug to justice!"

BEEFSTEAK BRUNO'S

ORGANIC TOMATOES

"Yo Tamburelli! You awake?" "Yeah. Feels like we're slowing down. I think we may have arrived at Beefsteak's headquarters." "Stay still when his men unload the tomatoes from the truck. Once we're inside we can do some investigating. Okay quiet. They're grabbing our basket." A couple of men opened the back of the truck and tossed the bags of tomatoes to their cohorts. They were then loaded onto a cart and wheeled inside.