Chapter One

Lara Croft listened to the band playing on her hi-fi system while polishing her 9mm handguns. Suddenly an annoyingly loud voice cut through the song:

"ATTENTION DWELLERS OF SURREY! THE POLICE HAVE MISPLACED A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL AT THE GATES OF THE LOCAL MUESEUM. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CRIMINAL HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED. MALE, BROWN EYES, BROWN HAIR, GREEN PANTS AND A WHITE AND BLACK T-SHIRT! IF YOU SEE THE SUSPECT PLEASE CALL 555-9867"

Lara zoomed to her cell phone and was just about to tap in a number when the phone rang in her hands startling her. She answered quickly when she saw the callers name flashing.

"Hey Paine. Did you hear the broadcast too?"

"Yeah… I guess this calls for a conference…right?"

"Yep! Time for a conference. Call Yunie and I will call Rikku. Meet me here at the mansion in 20. Bye"

"Bye"

45 minutes later…

Paine sat on Lara's couch with her sword propped up alongside the wall, while Lara stood pacing in front of a window looking for signs of Yuna and Rikku.

"Hey Lara, is something wrong? You seem edgy…"

"I think I recognize the description of the suspect."

Paine leaned forward excitement blazing in her red eyes.

"What? Really Lara? Man, who is he?"

At that moment, Winston came through the doorway.

"Ms.Croft, Ms.Rikku and High Summoner Braska's daughter Ms.Yuna are here." He said in his old hoarse voice.

"Thanks Win!" Lara yelled as she sprinted to the hallway. She walked back in dragging Rikku and Yuna by their arms.

"Well you're quite early." Paine smirked. Rikku stuck her tongue out at Paine and turned to Lara.

"Well Lara the reason we're late is-" Rikku started as Yuna interjected.

"Her dumb shower was broken so she came to my house to get ready only to realize that she forgot her thief dressphere. We then had to go back and got stuck in the traffic on the way to the harbor then we had to wait for the boat which was slower than usual and that, my dear Lara, was the account of our last 45 minutes." Yuna finished off in one breath. Lara coughed looking amused.

"Well let's get to it." Lara said leading the way to the attic where they had set up the Yurilapa Head Quarters.

When they had all settled in and Paine had told them about Lara recognizing the criminal, they all leaned in to hear the name.

"Well," Lara said slowly, "I figured it might be…" She cleared her throat.

"Kurtis Trent"