Chapter 2

Crime and Punishment

The next morning, Carmelita woke bright and early. She showered, and got dressed in her best set of clothes. It was a black business suit with long black pants, heeled shoes, and a matching black purse. Carmelita would have worn the usual skirt with her suit, but decided to not give Sly the pleasure of seeing her legs. Other then that, Carmelita put her hair in its usual ponytail, making sure each hair was tightly braided before she grabbed her purse and headed out the door.

At 8:00 the court was ready to begin, Interpol had used every one of its connections to get the trail made the next day. A large group of officers and other people had shown up to watch the proceedings. At the defense's table, Sly and the others sat perfectly still. They were all dressed in full suits except for the Panda King, who had chosen to dress in his white meditation robes. Bentley had gone online, and using Thief Net gotten the best criminal defensive attorney available. It was a cheetah by the name of Lewis P. Sherman. He had never lost a case, but the same could be said of the prosecuting attorney. Interpol had brought in the very best prosecutor, a King Cobra by the name of Steve G. Reaper. It would be the first time both Sherman and Reaper had been in court together, and that day one of their records would fall. One of them had to win the case, and in such shatter the others reputation.

The bailiff, a sturdy black bear, looked around the room as he called out, "All Stand, Judge Lander presiding." At the sound of his name, a young looking mountain lioness entered the room, taking her seat at the head of the room. She was dressed in the common black robes, and on her nose rested a pair of small, half-moon glasses.

Judge Lander's eyes slowly skimmed the room, trying to identify any trouble makers as she said, "Now, I was supposed to see a divorce case this morning, but it appears that has change. So, prosecutor, you may make your opening statement."

Reaper nodded his head, standing up from his chair. Like most snake people, he had a normal torso, but where his legs should have been was just his long tail. Reaper slithered up to the front of the court, turning toward the jury and the audience in general as he said, "Thank you your honor. Now, I am sure everyone has heard about the Cooper gang. There are even history books that reference the Cooper line as the greatest thieves of all time. Still, being the greatest at such a foul trade, to be so skilled in taking what others have bought through their blood, their sweet, and their tears. The Coopers have been caught before, but each time they escaped and went to pass on this tradition of law breaking along to a new generation. Today, we have a chance to end it all, and stop this gang, this group of thieves, from ever stealing anything ever again. So, lets seize this opportunity, and finally put a end to the Cooper gang, to the Cooper line, and the line of criminals that have plagued our planet for far to long."

Reaper bowed his head, returning to his seat as he smiled over at Sherman. The cheetah looked coldly back as the judged called him up. Sherman stood up, adjusting his tie a bit as he stepped in front of the room. He cleared his throat, checking to make sure he had everyone's attention as he said, "My colleague, Mr. Reaper, has told you the face value of the situation. The Cooper gang is a band of thieves, but have any of you ever considered what was stolen. I have looked through all the records I could in such a short amount of time before this trial began, and found out a very interesting set of facts. First, I want you all to listen to a series of names, all of which you will easily recognize."

Sherman walked over to the defense table, picking up a single piece of paper. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a pair of glasses. He gently set them on the bridge of his nose, looking over the paper a few seconds before he began to read, "Now, let's see here. We have Sir Raleh, Muggshot, Mz. Ruby, Panda King, Clockwerk, Dimitri, Rajan, The Contessa, Juan Bison, Arpeggio, Neyla, Don Octavio, General Tao, and the pirate Lefeww. These names belong to some of the worst criminals of our time. All of them except two are now either behind bars or honest citizens. Why, it was through the help of the Cooper gang that all of these criminals were finally brought to justice. Today you are not trying criminals, you are trying thieves. The gang steals from criminals, hurting them in the place Interpol can't hit, their pocket books. Then, they take what the criminals have stolen and return them to their rightful owners, taking the reward as their prize. So, you can put the Cooper gang behind bars because they are thieves, but know that by locking them up you are opening up the world to criminals like Clockwerk, who had been planning to hold the world ransom with his giant death ray."

Sherman smiled, turning as he returned to his seat at the defense table. Judge Lander nodded her head, looking over at Reaper as she said, "You may call your first witness Mr. Reaper."

The King Cobra stood up, bowing a bit as he said, "Thank you your honor. For my first witness I would like to call Sly Cooper to the stand." The judge nodded her head, and then turned with the rest of the courtroom as Sly slowly stood up, and moved over to the witness stand.

Reaper walked up, stopping by the evidence table as he picked up a tattered book. He turned to Sly, holding the book up as he asked, "Mr. Cooper, can you tell me what this is?"

Sly nodded his head, "Yes, it is the Thievius Raccoonus."

"And can you tell us what a Thievius Raccoonus is?"

Sly nodded his head an again, "It is my families guide to thievery."

Reaper nodded, gently opened the book up as he gently flipped through the pages, "So, you can learn to become a master thief, just by reading this book?"

"No, the Thievius Raccoonus does not create master thieves. It takes master thieves to create the Thievius Raccoonus."

Reaper snapped the book shut, setting back on the evidence table as he asked, "So, Mr. Cooper, I am going to read off some names. I want you to tell me if you recognize them, Okay."

Sly nodded his head, and Reaper began to read off a long list of museums, government facilities, and other legitimate businesses. When Mr. Reaper was done he looked up and asked, "So, do you recognize these names Mr. Cooper?"

Sly nodded his head, "Yes."

Reaper set down his list and asked, "So, why do you recognize the names of all those museums, art galleries, national archives, and other places that are a far cry from being a part of the criminal element."

Sly shrugged, "I recognize them because I have stolen something from all of them."

Reaper nodded his head, "Can you tell us why you stole from these government facilities and hardworking citizens?"

"Yes, I stole from them for the challenge of the heist."

Reaper raised an eyebrow, "So, you did it for fun. You did it just to prove you could."

Sly nodded his head, and Reaper returned to his seat as he said, "No further questions your honor."

Judge Lander nodded her head, looking over at Sherman, "Your witness Mr. Sherman."

Sherman nodded his head, slowly standing up as he slowly stepped up to Sly. He also picked up the Thievius Raccoonus, flipping open the cover to the first page as he asked, "So, Mr. Cooper, can you say you have read this book over several times, even to the point you know it all by heart?"

Sly nodded his head, and Sherman continued, "Then, can you tell me please what it says on the first page of the book, just after you open the cover, and who it was written by?"

Sly shifted his weight in the chair a bit, and said, "Yes. That first entry says that the Coopers only steal from criminals. That there is no honor, no challenge, and no fun stealing from normal people. That when you have stolen from a master criminal, you know that you are a master thief."

Sherman smiled, "And who was it written by, Mr. Cooper?"

"It was written by my pioneering ancestor, Slytunkhamen."

Sherman turned toward the jury, holding up the book as he asked, "So, Mr. Cooper, have all your ancestors lived by that code?"

Sly nodded his head, "Yes."

"Have you followed that code, to only steal from those who commit crimes, from criminals?"

Again, Sly nodded his head, "Yes, I have."

"What about all those museums you have stolen from, all those people who weren't criminals? What did you do with what you stole from them."

Sly smiled a bit, looking out into the crowd of people watching the proceedings as he said, "I would always return the items, placing them on the desk Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox along with my calling card."

Sherman nodded his head, "Very well, no further questions your honor."

The court continued, Reaper trying to make each member of the Cooper Gang look bad while Sherman tired to show that they were doing a service to the world community. Finally, Reaper was down to his final witness. As Reaper stood up, he picked up a paper and said, "Your Honor, I would like to call Carmelita Montoya Fox to the stand."

The judge nodded her head as Carmelita slowly made her way to the front of the room. Carmelita quickly said her oath, taking a seat at the witness stand as she glanced over at Sly, who just smiled at her and gave a small wink. Reaper came up, drawing Carmelita's gaze as he asked, "Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself Inspector."

Carmelita nodded her head, "My full name is Carmelita Montoya Fox. I am a fifth generation cop from my father's side, and have been working on the Cooper case for the past several years."

Reaper nodded his head, continuing a string of questions that showed how Sly had been hurting honest working people. It was a weak line of attack, but it was the last thing Reaper had. When he finished, it was Sherman's turn. The cheetah stood up, and moved in front of Carmelita as he asked, "How are you doing today Inspector Fox."

Carmelita bowed her head a bit, "Just fine thank you."

Sherman smiled, "That is good. Now, I would like you to tell something to the court. I am sure everybody here is familiar about the story where you were framed by the Contessa and Constable Neyla for being a secret member of the Cooper Gang, correct."

Carmelita frowned, but nodded her head, "Yes, I do."

Sherman smiled, "Tell me, who helped you escape arrest while you were trying to clear your name."

Carmelita's frown grew larger, but she replied, "Sly Cooper."

Sherman nodded his head, "Can you also tell me who saved your life after Clockwerk captured you, locked you in a gas room, and left you for dead?"

"Sly Cooper."

Sherman smiled, turning to the judge as he said, "No further questions your honor." Another hour passed, and soon the case had moved to closing statements. Reaper had tried to reinforce the fact that a thief and a criminal was the same thing, but his statement fell flat. It was then Sherman's turn, and the cheetah already had a grin of victory on his face.

Sherman stepped in front of the Jury as he said, "Today we have heard a lot about the actions of the Cooper gang over the years. You have heard about their hands in bringing down the Fiendish Five, the Klaww Gang, and several other crime lords. You have also heard that Sly Cooper, the master thief, has had the common decency to help Inspector Fox and to even save her life. It is because of the Cooper gang Interpol can boast of such important arrests as Mz. Ruby, Muggshot, and Clockwerk. It is through their efforts many terrible crimes have been stopped and innocents have been saved. They have even converted two hard core criminals, The Panda King and Dimitri, into upstanding and honorable thieves. So, I ask you this. If the law was written flatly, all of these people are guilty. Still, I want you to think about what the law would be doing without them. Where would are world be today without the help of Sly Cooper, Bentley Turtle, Murray Hippo, Dimiti Lounliz, Panda King, Penelope Baron, and Guru?"

Sherman then paused, walking over to the evidence table as he picked up the Thievius Raccoonus. He held it up to the jury, a serious tone in his voice, "Where would be today if it had not been for the Cooper line in general, a family of honorable thieves that value life over gold, and do not seek to harm the honest working person. Finally, I want you to think about this. Some of this crime lords were untouchable by Interpol, their own attorneys knowing the loop holes and laws that kept them out of jail and on the streets. Interpol had hit a brick wall, but it was the Cooper gang that opened a new door for them. So, by giving these people their freedom today you also give the world a chance. For, as the old saying goes, it is sometimes best to fight fire with fire, and that it takes a thief to catch a criminal."

With that, Sherman returned to his place at the defense table. Judge Lander dismissed the jury, and announced a thirty minute recess. When the recess was over, the jury had still yet to decide on a verdict. A day passed, and then a week. Finally, ten days after Sly and the others were arrested, the jury had made a decision. With everyone back in the courtroom, a tall giraffe fellow stood up, a piece of paper in his hand as Judge Lander asked, "Jury, have you reached a verdict."

The giraffe nodded his head, "Yes your honor. In the case of Interpol against the Cooper gang we find the defendants guilty."

A great silence settled on the room, and Sly looked over at Bentley, Murray, and the others as he saw there expressions. It was a mixture of surprise and sorrow, an expression he was sure was also across his face. Judge Lander nodded her head, turning to the defendants as she said, "Well, Interpol has asked me to do the sentencing of this trial today, and I will. As I look over the Cooper gang, everyone can admit that the good they have done to the world outweighs the bad. So, I will be using my power and sentencing them to the lowest possible jail time I can. I am also taking to account the large service they have done for Interpol, and cutting off further time. In conclusion, every member of the gang will serve six months under house arrest in a Interpol funded home, and will be obligated to serve a 500 hours of community service a piece, all of which must be served during their term under house arrest. Court is adjourned."

Judge Lander smacked her gavel, and an explosion of cheering filled the room. Apparently, the people who had come to watch the trial had been hoping the Cooper gang would get off easy. Sly was smiling widely as watch Murray high-five Panda King. Penelope had leapt up onto Bentley's lap, and planted a kiss on the surprised turtle's lips. Guru was muttering something, and going far to fast for anyone to understand him. Finally, Dimitri was blowing kisses to the crowd and acting like, well, Dimitri.

Sly turned, looking over at Carmelita as he flashed a charming smile at his favorite Inspector. Carmelita glared at Sly, fighting the temptation to pop him with her shock pistol. Still, she held back. If she did that now, she would be the one breaking the law. For now, Sly was safe, protected by the law instead of hunted by it. A few minutes later, outside the courthouse, that Sly and the rest of the gang began to get escorted to a waiting police car. As they walked, hundred of cameras were flashing and reports were asking questions at a mile a minute.

One reporter, a robin from Channel 4 news asked, "Sly Cooper, what's your opinion on the judges ruling?"

Sly glanced back at Bentley, who just covered his eyes a nodded his head. Sly smiled, turning back to the reporter as he said, "I would truly like to thank Judge Lander for not being as black and white about the law as some people I have met."

Another reporter pushed through the crowd, "Sly Cooper, will you return to your life of crime after this 6-month term of house arrest is over?"

Sly shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. It all depends on a couple of things, for me at least."

"What are those things?"

Sly held up his hand, "Now, I can't tell you all of them. I can tell you one. If I do choose to go back to thieving I will always hope to see Inspector Carmelita Fox is the one leading the chase?"

The robin reporter spoke back up, "Why is that?"

Sly smiled, "Thieving is no fun if you don't have someone to keep you on our toes. Carmelita does that because she is the one officer I think can keep up with me and the rest of the Cooper gang. Also, I would miss our nighttime rendezvous, though I sometimes wish she would leave the shock pistol of her at home and come in a nice evening dress."

Some of the reporters laughed, but Sly was rubbing the back of his head where Bentley had conked him with a device on his wheel chair. Sly smiled, finally getting pushed into a police car before driving away. Carmelita stood at the top of the courthouse steps, thankful that the reporters had not noticed her presence. Otherwise, she would be just as swamped as Sly was. Also, she was in no mood to deal with the pushy news people.

Carmelita glared at the police cars that were carrying Sly and his gang to some holding cell until a house for their house arrest could be found. Sly, Bentley, Murray, all of them had gotten off with nothing worse then a slap on the wrists. All her hard work, all the years she had put in trying to catch him and he would be back at his old game in six months, and Interpol would have nothing to arrest him until he stole something else. Even then, how long would it take for Sly to slip up again, if he ever would? Carmelita clenched her fist, pounding it into a nearby column so hard it made her all of her knuckles crack. Years of work, and it all amounted to Sly being under house arrest for six months.

Carmelita had her sirens on the entire way home, not wanting to deal with the Paris traffic. She wasn't supposed to use her sirens like that, but she really didn't care at that point. She just wanted to go home, take a bath, watch the evening news, and then go to bed. Carmelita pulled up to her duplex, and began to wish Keith was still there. He had gone back to his ranch five days before the jury had reached a verdict, and Mrs. Hoot was at a friend's house playing cards. The one time Carmelita needed someone to talk to, there was no one there.

In a few minutes Carmelita was up in her apartment. She slipped into the bathroom, quickly changing out of her stuffy business attire and submerging her self in a tub of hot water and bubble bath. She let out a great sigh, the heat slowly taking away the aching her muscles and the stress of the day. It had been far too long since she had enjoyed such a nice bath. Still, if she ever needed to take a half hour and calm her anger, it was that time.

Carmelita came out of the bathroom an hour later. She dressed in bathrobe with her hair wrapped in a towel. She quickly changed into her normal clothes, since it was still only 2:00 in the afternoon. She did some long overdue cleaning through the house, and as she worked she flipped on a local channel. She then went into the kitchen, and began to clean. It was around 4:00, just as Carmelita was starting to wash dishes, when strange beeping filled the room. She took the glass she was cleaning, and moved into the living room just in time to see a local news reporter come over the screen.

It was a tigress woman with black fur and white strips. She cleared her throat, looking up at the camera as she said, "We are sorry to interrupt, but we have a special news bulletin. At 3:30 today, in front of the headquarters for Interpol Paris, the master thief Sly Cooper was shot."

The sound of breaking glass filled Carmelita's apartment as the water glass she had been cleaning crashed to the floor. As Carmelita stared at the TV in disbelief, the reporter continued, "Reports are sketchy, but it is said that the criminal Muggshot, who escaped jail for the third time in recent years, was waiting for Sly and the rest of his gang outside the Interpol headquarters. When the police cars that were transporting Cooper gang pulled up, Muggshot pulled out a rifle and shot Sly through the window of the car. Muggshot then reportedly took aim at Murray, the alleged muscle of the Cooper gang. But, before he had been able to fire off a second shot, he was wrestled to the ground by ten Interpol officers, and in such arrested. Sly Cooper is currently in the care of the doctors at the Saint James General Hospital. His condition is unknown at this time, but Interpol is showing a kind eye by allowing the rest of the gang, the only family Sly Cooper currently has, to stay at the hospital for the time being. Now, we take you back to your usual programming, which is already in progress."

Carmelita never saw the end of that movie. The second the news report was over, Carmelita was out the door. She literally jumped the fence of her balcony, and down to the grass in front of Mrs. Hoot's house. She ran to her red convertible, and with sirens blaring began to tear through the Pairs streets.

Ten minutes later, Carmelita pulled into a parking spot outside Saint James. Carmelita was out of her car before the engine had even turned of, and ran up to the hospital. She burst in the doors, looking around quickly as she spotted the nurses station. She quickly ran up, her breaths coming in quick, painful gulps, "Where… is…Sly… Cooper's… (pant)…room."

The nurse looked up, a little surprised to see Carmelita breathing so hard. She quickly typed a few things on the computer before saying, "Let's see, according to this Mr. Cooper is still in the emergency wing. If you wish to wait, the rest of his friends are currently in waiting room five-C." Carmelita thanked the nurse quickly, and ran down the hall at a full sprint. Several times she had to dodge people with large boxes or in wheelchairs, but nothing would stop her.

Carmelita finally found waiting room Five-C, and stopped outside the door. Did she dare wait inside, with the rest of the Cooper gang? Would the others even let her wait, or would they ask her to leave. Carmelita decided to take her chances, gently reaching out as she opened the door.

The room was dead silent when Carmelita opened the door. Every one was seat, even Bentley had gotten out of his wheel chair to sit beside Penelope on the only couch. There were several soft chairs in the room, all of which were occupied by the rest of the Cooper gang. There was also a coffee table, on top of which were books, magazines, and a paper. There was even a TV, but it was left off just as the books, magazines, and newspaper had been left untouched.

Bentley looked up, a glare flashing in his eyes as he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Carmelita looked over at the turtle, a kinder tone to her voice then usual, "I just heard what happened."

Bentley growled, sitting up a bit, "So, you came to rub it in our faces! Came to say Sly got just what he deserved!"

Penelope set a hand on Bentley's shoulder, trying to calm him down, but it was to no avail. Bentley continued on, his voice getting louder, "We all know you wanted Sly to be put in jail for the rest of his life! Since that happened, this is probably the next best thing, isn't it. ISN'T IT?"

Bentley took a few deep breaths as he glared at Carmelita. Carmelita returned the turtles glare, slowly walking up to him. Then, with a resounding smack, Carmelita slapped Bentley across the face, "Don't ever say those things about me. I wanted Cooper in jail, but I didn't want to see him get shot. I came here to wait, and find out if he was going to be all right. Still, if this is the company I would have to keep I think I would rather wait in the hallway."

With that, Carmelita turned, walking over to the door leaving a very stunned group of thieves in her wake. She glared back at them one final time before slamming the door, making one of the paintings on the wall fall to the ground.

Carmelita fumed out in the hallway, but soon her anger cooled as other emotions took its place. Worry, fear, and countless other depressing things crossed Carmelita's mind as she wondered, who Sly be all right. A few minutes after she left, Carmelita heard the door to the waiting room open. She turned, looking down at Bentley, who had resumed his place in his wheel.

Bentley looked up at Carmelita, a bit of guilt in his eyes, "I am sorry Inspector. I should not have jumped to such a conclusion. Please, would you like to come take a seat and wait with the rest of us?"

Carmelita nodded her head, following Bentley in. Then, they all waited together for several hours. The time seemed to crawl by, but no one bean to fiddle with anything, or try to pass the time. They all just waited. Then, at around 8:00 that night, a doctor came in asking, "Are you the ones waiting to see Mr. Cooper." The gang and Carmelita looked up as the doctor shut the door, and began to give them the news.