The door banged open with unnecessaty force and a grey raccoon bolted up the stairs, another door slamming shut momentarily. Behind her walked a young red fox with long, braided black hair. She was looking angry and disappointed.
An older red fox asked, "What did she steal this time, Carmelita?"
"Megan's ruby sunglasses." Carmelita told her father. He sighed. That coon was an embarrassment to the Fox name. At only seven years old, Carolina Arianna Fox was getting detentions almost every other day for stealing, had been expelled twice, and had more in school suspensions than anyone bothered to count. Inspector Luciano Fox had tried everything he could think of, to no avail. Carolina was stubborn, that was for sure.
Carmelita went upstairs to talk with the the thieving raccoon. She came back down within minutes. "The note says she'll be back before midnight."
"I'll be waiting for her," Luciano said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Carmelita, do you have homework?"
"Yes, father." She headed back upstairs. Luciano picked up the newspaper, though he was too exasperated to read a word. Why now? The girl had never had a problem before they'd moved. The only thing that had really changed is their location. That, and her klepto problem. What had happened?
Inspector Fox had to be honest with himself; he had always had half a thought that Carolina would be a thief. He had tried to stop it, but it seemed to be in her blood. No, nothing seemingful about it. It is in her blood.
xxx
Sly Cooper, Bentley, and Murray were enjoying a nice afternoon in the park, trying out some of Bentley's new contraptions and generally having fun. Without any real plan, they wandered along until they came across a well dressed raccoon with unevenly cut hair and a red beret. She was laying on the grass and absently watching a family across the park. Sly gave an unfathomable look. "Anyone want to guess how much her clothes cost? I'm on a hundred and fifty, total. Wonder how much her mom is gonna scream when she comes home grass stained?"
"She'll probably just throw tham away and get new ones." said Murray. Bentley wisely did not say anything.
"I bet I could pick her pockets without her noticing."
"Sly, I don't thing that's a good idea. I mean..." Bentley tried, but Sly was already sneaking over to her. No one saw her eyes flick to him and then away. She casually got up. Sly stayed out of her sight, and winked at his buddies. He snuck up behind her...
The girl swung around and pushed him. He fell on the ground and sat there, stunned, long enough for her to run. She sent Bentley a hurt glance and disappeared into the and Murray ran over to Sly. "Anything hurt?" asked Murray.
"Just my pride. What did I do wrong?"
"You messed with the wrong person. That's the daughter of Inspector Fox."
xxx
Carolina waited until she was at the Haven, as she called it, to break down. She did not want to cry, so she raged. "Damn you, Bentley! You knew! I've always treated you as a friend! Betrayer! Damn you, Damn you! Damn Cooper!" She paced until all her rage had left her, and only a feeling of betrayel , Carolina sat on the floor. Dad was helping Cooper, and Cooper goes and tries to rob his daughter! Carolina pulled out a ragged piece of paper. On it was a copy of the only thing she had had since birth.
In my despair of the loss of my father, I had found a unique ability that I wish for my decendants to learn. In order to vanish from plain sight, only imagine the worst possible memory that you can muster. Once this has been achieved, wish to disappear from the world and you shall vanish from sight.
It had been only a scrap of papyrus, but Carolina treasured it more than anything, though she had never been able to make it work. Now though, Carolina had already done it, running from the park. Betrayel was a harsh feeling.
xxx
At 11:59 pm, Carolina snuck in her bedroom window. "Out stealing again?" Carmelita switched on a flashlight from her bed.
"No, so get off my tail." Carolina silently snuck under her covers. She didn't want to deal with her dad. Not tonight.