having fun with this.
Chapter 3: What a Day!
Carmelita, Sandra, and Adina walked into the Interpol district 3 station of Paris. Sandra mumbling while the other two girls began to get annoyed. "Elizabeth, calm down. You wanted this opportunity remember?" Adina stated before asking the reception to talk to Chief Barkley, holding out her modified credentials.
The receptionist gasped in shock before immediately getting up and escorting them through the hall and passed the other offices. She knocked on the door and opening it slightly to peak her head in, "Sir, Inspector Fox is here with some guests." she then opened the door all the way to let the three inside.
"Fox? Who are your friends?"
Adina stepped forward, fishing out her credentials at the same time, "I'm Sandra, we talked earlier." She placed it away before he could get a closer look at it. "Something has popped up in our annual reviews and an informant has come forward in concern of one Sly Cooper. A thief that resides in Paris that you have assigned the case to Inspector Fox. What I want to know is why he hasn't been mentioned in any of the case reports that have been submitted." She turned to see Carmelita looking at Barkley in confusion. "Inspector Fox has already stated that she is truthful in her reports."
"She's tricky."
"Really, well even if she didn't mention him in her reports you should've caught that since you are acting chief of the district." Barkley struggled to say anything. "I will have two of my most trust agents by the names of Jacey Hart and Cameron Ferguson to partner up with a different officer every day to document your protocols. As for the thieving problem, Constable Elizabeth Eaglehart, from district 5 of Berlin, will be joining Inspector Carmelita's case." She said motioning over to Sandra who stepped forward.
"Why not one of your agents?"
"Most of our agents are dealing with more dangerous folk. I am only curious in why Sly Cooper is uncatchable and why he isn't mentioned on the reports."
"Only if Inspector Fox agrees." He stated.
"I've already agreed and Constable Eaglehart can use the spare bedroom in my apartment." She stated.
"This will start today, take her out and show her how our district handles things." Chief Barkley ordered.
"Jacey and Cameron will be here later in the evening after their debriefing. I suggest you have a list ready and be warned if they order to be with someone else you better allow it." The three girls stepped out of the room and headed toward the lockers.
"Did you do it?" Sandra asked, once the locker door closed.
"Yep, he was too busy trying to think of excuses to notice." Adina's hand brushed through her hair. "I'm not sure how you can do that on a regular basis, that's really nerve racking."
"One, you get used to it. Two, you did a good job. I see a skill coming through." Sandra stated. "The device should turn on whenever someone walks into the room, Tabor should get the live recordings in the communications wing."
"What's the next step?"
"You are going back to base to meet up with Jacey and Cam to get them situated. Lil' Lita will do as Barkley ordered and begin my 'Training'." Sandra looked at her, only when she nodded she asked her. "Do you do your own patrols?"
"Yes. What's that got to do with anything?"
Sandra and Adina pulled out two phones each, "These are similar to the UIS back in Berlin, and one of each is a contact to the director and the main communications wing back at HQ. Unfortunaly, unlike the UIS, these are traceable. Which is why we only grabbed four." Adina explained as she gave one to Carmelita.
"We will drop these at random points and since there are thieves afoot everywhere we go hopefully someone will call with information regarding a few subjects. Mainly regarding the Red Tail and Inner Circle that no one wants to talk about back in Berlin." Sandra finished.
"How are you going to get them to call?" Carmelita asked, staring at what was in her hand.
"Each phone, when turned on, has the initials UIS. If the underground search those letters than they will come up with what it stands for and the rules that follow. If they go searching through the phone, they will begin to understand that it is not a joke since there will be no contact lists or other information besides the numbers."
"How does it work?"
"By pushing the call button it will answer to either my spare phone or the communications wing. The silver phone is the communications, the black is mine." Sandra stated, showing her the matching phone.
"Elizabeth?" Adina called smirking, earning a glare from Sandra, "I'm gonna head out."
"Go ahead." Sandra turned around to Carmelita, "What's first Lil' Lita?"
"Now, we head out." She stated making her way out the door with Sandra close behind.
"Fox!" Barkley called, the two girls turned to him, "There's a weasel on the loose shoplifting also there's been an attempted murder on the south side. If you see Cooper make sure you bring him in this time. No more mistakes!" He turned back in his office, "Constable Eaglehart, stay out of her way and you'll get far."
They sat in Carmelita's red cruiser and Carmelita had her head resting on the steering wheel. "Is he always like that?" Sandra asked as she glared into the chief's window.
"It varies on his mood, but after getting the interrogation this morning he's stressed."
"So he takes it out on you. With Sly evading arrest and you have his case he's adamant about getting him into custody."
"Yeah, but at least Sly hasn't killed anyone." She paused for a moment before continuing, "That at least doesn't deserve it."
She was lost in thought, Sandra knew it'd be a good idea to change the subject. "Who you planning to go after first?"
"We'll head to the south side to get some interviews. The shoplifter is most likely on camera and won't take much to track down."
"I approve of your decision."
"Barkley wouldn't have, he would've said to go for the easiest to have the rest of the time to go for the hardest."
"While he would've had a point," Carmelita frowned. "Someone probably would have died. The shoplifter has no evidence on them of anything too serious. Which would make the south side more of a priority."
"Hearing that wants me to go yell at him."
"You can do that when we know your family is safe. Don't worry as Director of the UN FBI Agency, I'll back you up." She smirked at her answer and she drove calmly, yet maxing the speed limit. This didn't bother Sandra in the least, she dealt with faster speeds.
After fifteen minutes of driving they made it to a brick house with blue shutters and a red canopy over the door. Sandra followed Carmelita up to the door where she knocked. The door opened a smidgen, "Can I help you?" a voice called from inside.
"I'm Inspector Fox, I'm here to ask some questions about the attempted murder suspect." She stated calmly.
"I-he, come in." The door opened further to reveal a white Pomeranian wearing black except for the orange pair of earrings. We were escorted into the home and sat on the sofa offered to us. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"No thanks, ma'am." Carmelita answered.
Sandra placed a voice recorder on the table between them, "Do you mind?"
She shook her head, "Go ahead."
"Were you here when everything happened?" Carmelita began.
"No, when I walked into the room there was a fight going on upstairs in my son's room. I headed up there since it wasn't a normal thing and I found my son, Alex cowering in the corner with a cut on his arm. I ran to his aid, but he was in a form of shock." Sandra searched for a box of tissues and found some on the wall between the living room and kitchen, she got up and brought them over. "Thank you." She wiped the tears away gathering at her eyes. "I-I turned around to see what he was staring at to see my husband, Dillan with a knife in his hand." She placed her head between her hands. "What shocked me the most was his eyes weren't the normal blue that I was so used to seeing, they were almost black. The next moment he blinked, he seemed to realize the situation and dropped the knife. He whispered an apology and ran out. I should've gone after him but I was too worried about Alex."
"Is Alex okay?" Carmelita asked.
"The doctors are urging for therapy, but other than that he should be fine." She smiled before losing it, "I just don't understand."
"Was there anything unusual before then?" Sandra asked, her hand under her muzzle in thought.
"What do you mean?"
"Any ailments or something happen in the workplace?"
"For the past two weeks, Dillan came home with migraines and after some medicine it went away. I didn't think of anything of it."
"Do you know if there was anything at work that might've been stressing him out?"
"He gets headaches whenever there's too many jack hammers going at once. He doesn't allow his stress from work to bother him here at home, so he doesn't really talk about work too much."
"Where does he work?"
"Denis and Autumn Construction, two blocks down the road."
"Thank you for your time." Sandra and Carmelita left the house and sat in the car for a moment, "I apologize for taking control back there."
"I understand." She began, "Just the way you started listing the questions." She drove down the road heading towards the construction company.
"Just a thought. All questions should be asked as the answers are revealed."
"You must be the Inspector that my employees have been talking about." The tiger asked, "What is it that you want?"
"Just some questions about Dillan." Carmelita stated. "Is it okay if we record this conversation?" Sandra held out the voice recorder.
He nodded once, confused before the moment hit him. "My hardest worker? What happened?"
"He attempted murder."
"That can't be!" he gasped in shock.
"How can't it be?"
"He was against all kinds of violence, being the mediator between the workers that got into fights proved that."
"Were you using any jack hammers in the last few weeks?"
"No. We won't be using them for some time yet. Why is it that you ask?"
"His wife mentioned that he gets migraines when too many jack hammers are used at once, is this true?"
"Yes, but we make sure that he takes breaks long enough that it doesn't become severe."
"Has he acted strange anytime that you've seen him?"
"I've only gotten one complaint from one of my workers that have been recently hired. Saying how he smashed his mug into the wall. I sent him home early that day to cool off."
"Can we speak with your employee?"
"Just let me call him up." He moved to his desk and picked up a radio connected to the system that controls the speakers outside the office. "Michael Van, can you please report to my office."
A moment later a boar walked into the room, small since he hasn't reached his mature size. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"These two here want to question you about what happened with Dillan that day as long as you're okay with being recorded."
The boar turned their way, "One moment he was drinking his coffee then the next he had his head in his hands, gripping it actually with his ears flat against his skull. I decided to try and get him to calm down and the moment I spoke he threw his mug against the wall. I backed out and reported the incident to Denis."
"Anything you want to ask, Constable?" Carmelita asked toward Sandra.
"How long ago was this and has anything else happened since then?"
"Only four days ago, then after that he found ways to take more breaks at longer periods of time."
"Why didn't you tell me this?" Denis asked, standing up.
"He seemed to need it. I picked up some of his work so he wouldn't fall too far behind."
"He will thank you for that, but next time please tell me everything."
"We thank you for your time." The two ladies sat in the cruiser, "Is your thought expanding?" Carmelita asked, watching Sandra deep in thought as she turned the cruiser around to head back to the main part of Paris.
"I just thought that the past would stay the past. I never thought I would bring a case file out again."
"My father?"
She nodded than shook her head, "We'll think on this later. Where you headed?"
"We're going after this shoplifter."
"Something normal then."
Right at that moment the police, aka chief Barkley came over the radio. "Fox! Constable! I placed you in charge of that shoplifter, I expected it done earlier!"
"Then give us the locations and what is happening!" Carmelita growled back annoyed.
"Triangle d'Or. Suspect is still in the store. Get there now, you two!"
The two growled in response and Carmelita floored the cruiser lights bright and sirens deafening. "Remind me to get him the right retraining when we are finished." Sandra growled.
Arriving at the scene, Carmelita pulled out her shock pistol. Sandra followed with no weapon in hand. Opening the doors to the shop they stared at the figure huddled in the corner, holding its head in its hands. Carmelita stridded forward shock pistol steady. Suddenly it screamed and stood up with a smirk on her face, fur slick with sweat. Then she began to laugh, "It's mine," the ferret stood up with a purse filled with cash stashed inside. "Finally I'll have the money needed and this purse can be added to my collection." She stated. Her eyes were near black, which was described by witnesses.
"Stop, right there."
Her eyes began to clear, "Help, me!" she yelled, before grabbing her head and screaming in pure agony. A bright light filled the store and the ferret was knocked unconscious.
"Good thinking." Sandra said from where she stood.
"What's happening around here?"
Sandra walked over to the now unconscious ferret and felt around the skin, "Maybe I'm wrong." There was a groan as the ferret opened her green eyes, cleared from what happened earlier.
"I surrender," she raised her hands up away from the items that she supposedly stole, "I don't know what happened."
Carmelita put the cuffs on her loosely so she has some room to move around. "We believe you. You're still being taken in for questioning."
"I'm fine with that."
When the cruiser began its way back to the station, night began to fall. Sandra fought back a yawn as the ferret in the back fought not to fall asleep. 'I didn't get to eat yet.' They walked into the station, meeting up with Barkley who just gave them a nod of approval. They took the ferret back to the interrogation room and sat her down, releasing her of her cuffs.
"You can take this, Constable." Carmelita leaded against the wall, knowing that Sandra needed the time to get what she needed.
"What is your name, ma'am?" she asked placing the recorder down in front of her.
"Marry Arella."
"Marry, can you explain what happened tonight?"
"I was doing some shopping when I had this sudden thought that the store owners wouldn't miss a few items. Then I just started threatening people and went for the cashier I grabbed a purse and paused to question why I was doing this. Then pain, like a migraine, but like I was fighting with my morals. Then that's when you two walked in and blackness, I don't remember what happened after that until I awoke."
"Did anything strange happen before you went shopping?"
"Well, there was a beetle in the mail that had red crystals imbedded in the eyes. There was no note. I decided that I was going to take it to the jewelers before taking it to the police. Then a random badger on the streets began to pickpocket from people. I felt a nudge on my hand bag and stopped to make sure everything was there when I found a microchip, I thought nothing of it."
"How do you know it was a badger?"
"He's not pulling museum artifacts like that raccoon, so the chief doesn't do anything about it. Even if it's been called in enough times."
"Do you still have the microchip?"
"It's in my hand bag in one of the outside pockets."
Carmelita left to go retrieve the fashion item and came back angered. Sandra left it go, allowing her to calm down enough to continue. "Here."
They watched her search each pocket and watched her began to panic. "I swear I left it in here, where's it at!"
"Calm down."
"I swear I had it in here, I'm not lying."
"We believe you." Carmelita stated. "Without the evidence, you still need to serve the time. I'll only give you an overnight sentence." She escorted her out, Sandra following.
"Elizabeth Eaglehart, it's been a while."
Sandra turned to be met up with a white and gray ring tailed lemur. "Hey, Jacey."
"So Adina thought you would like these back." She handed over a case file.
"This is thicker than I remembered."
"We found some information that might help with who is hunting down the Fox family."
"Thanks." She left as Carmelita came back.
"She's in custody and her belongings are in a safe."
"Before we get cornered by Barkley, let's go."
By the time they both got to the apartment they were ready to fall asleep where they stood. "You go on ahead to bed. I need to stay up and think through a few things." Sandra stated holding up the case file.
"You sure you don't need any help."
"I'll be fine once I get some coffee." Once settled she took a look at the file, "Never thought I would have the chance to get some clues on your operations Damon." She took the pages and walked over to the wall, "Hope Lil' Lita forgives me for using her wall has a case map."
For a while she stared at the map, trying to figure out the how in it. Laying down on the floor, coffee mug beside her she finally sees it, "That can't be right, but so much of the evidence points it there."
"You're not Carmelita." A voice stated from the balcony window.
Without looking away from her map, she stood up and stepped forward. "She fast asleep in her room." She grabbed a different colored sting and connected it around the thumb tacks. "Really, now there is no way we are going to be able to get him arrested without a confession." She looked at the second map beside the first one. "Okay, so Damon Fox worked around to arrest innocent people by using a device to control them. Said device disappeared fifteen years ago after his arrest. Now the same signs are popping up here in Paris with deadly force by using a microchip that is more powerful by having the individual ignore their own morals. Meaning that Damon had an accomplice, which no matter what seems to point to one Chief James Barkley."
"Sandra, Sly Cooper is kinda on the balcony right now."
"I'm aware of that Tabor." She said glancing between the computer and the raccoon. "He's not my target."
"Then don't you think you should wake up Lil' Lita?"
"She's finally getting sleep. Her family is being hunted down, she probably feels safer now that someone is watching out over her."
"Her family is being hunted?" Sly asked.
Sandra turned around, "You two have more in common that either of you think."
"Sandra! We found information you're going to want to hear." Adina yelled coming onto the screen.
"Continue." Sandra laid back down on the floor.
"After continuous search through the UIS, I found what the underground mean by Red Tail and Inner Circle."
"Don't tell me it was in Paris from the phones."
"Breaking your bubble is a past time of mine." Adina stated saying exactly what Sandra didn't want to hear. "Red Tail is a code word for Damon Fox, many people labeled as criminals from his operations turned to the underground for help. This is where the Inner Circle comes in. The Inner Circle is an underground helpline that operates on deals and favors, but once you're in you can't leave. One name popped up constantly whenever Red Tail was mentioned. His name is Rattan Falconer. A longhorn who was arrested for three days after fighting with the police when Inspector Damon Fox wrongly accused his parents of being terrorists. He himself shot at them when they were out in public to create a scene large enough that no one would question where he got the information from."
"Any others?"
"A Boltallion and a Shadow Wing." There was a pause, "Shadow Wing is still at large, there is a small possibility we may get contacted because of wanting to know the truth."
"Great. Any news on that warrant?"
"We got through. Right now, Anouk and Chris are setting up a day to have a talk with Tal."
"Cooper!" Sandra and Sly turned around to see Carmelita aiming at the raccoon with the shock pistol. "How dare you enter my home!?"
"Hey gorgeous, you don't look too bad after just waking up."
'Flirting? Really? No wonder he gets under her skin.'
"Shut up, Cooper!" her fur was unable to completely hide the blush dusting her cheeks.
'Oh, no wonder she wanted that advice back at HQ.' Carmelita stepped forward and Sly tensed ready to dodge. "Lil' Lita, who are you right now?" Sandra asked not looking away from the two maps on the wall.
"Carmelita, just a person from Paris." She walked away from Sly and placed the shock pistol on the table. "Come in Sly."
Sly jumped in and asked, "Whose Damon Fox?"
Carmelita joined up with Sandra, ignoring Sly's question. "I heard you earlier."
"I'm sorry, I thought you were sleeping."
"I couldn't, not with the thought that my father's operation was still going."
"It's just the microchip, we don't know how it works just the basics. If I can get a sample sent to HQ we might be able to close the operation down. Then all we have to do is figure out whose hunting you down due to Damon's issue."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Sandra and Carmelita turned to Sly, cane loose in his hand and looking at the maps on the wall.
The two girls looked at each other, "It's up to you Lil' Lita." Carmelita nodded, Sandra walked over to her file and pulled out a picture similar one to the wall. "Here." She handed it to Sly, "See if you can get as much information on this as you can. It's not the same today but it still does the same thing just stronger."
"Sandra?" she turned around to Carmelita looking at the pictures on the second map, "I know him, and he was on the news when I was younger." She pointed to Boltallion.
"What can you tell me about him?"
"Kacper Bolt, he was the son of a crime boss that produce counterfeit money. My father supposedly found some in his pockets and was arrested. He was released and disappeared."
"He turned to the underground for help and revenge."
"He was killed, you made sure of that."
"Those who felt they were wronged by someone will do anything to get revenge." Sly stated, becoming lost in thought.
"Even if who they're targeting isn't the one who committed the crime." Sandra finished. She turned to the computer, "Adina, Tabor, spread the news to find the location of Kacper Bolt, known as Boltallion; Tal Delano, known as Poison Heart; Shadow Wing, and Rattan Falconer. We might be able to end their hunt by persuading them that Carmelita and Amelia did not know what Damon was doing."
"Yes, ma'am. We're going to have Jacey and Cameron give you a copy of their reports tomorrow." The computer shut off.
"Alright, it is five in the morning and I want some sleep before dealing with Barkley tomorrow." Taking one last look at the maps she walked away, "Man I really don't want put more agents on this case, it'll be too suspicious." Her bedroom door shut.
"You should get some sleep, beautiful." Sly said to Carmelita.
"I'm sorry." At Sly's confused look she continued, "I've continued to attempt to arrest you without hearing your side of the story. With the contract, I realized that your actions aren't as bad as anyone else."
"What contract?"
"Nothing." She stood up and headed back to her room, "I know I don't deserve it, but we may need some underground help. The FBI have been doing it for some time." She shut her door before he could reply.
"Carmelita, I'll do anything to help." He took out the binoc-u-com and took a few pictures of the case maps on the wall. Something caught his eye where the computer lay, charging. It was credentials, "Sandra Field, FBI Director." Two things were underneath, "UIS, Underground Informant System, what is that?" Then something surprised him, "Interview transcripts, according to victim Marry Arella a Badger slipped a microchip into her bag that disappeared after it was placed in evidence back at the station." Then he read the note on the side, "The microchip sounds familiar when Damon Fox used a similar device to use mind control on innocent people to lose control of their greed, anger, and revenge. Making them easy targets to arrest without trial and little evidence. These seem to be stronger by only being near the person, which ends up with fighting themselves on their morals. Usual signs are anger attacks, continuous migraines, and sudden violent acts associated with anger, greed, and revenge." Sly took a picture of that as well and left into the rising sun.
yeah, probably failing at keeping everyone in character given the situation.
