Chapter 7

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"Good evening Inspector how are you?" I ask calmly, leaning back against the railing not even worrying about raising my hands or that shock pistol she was holding.

"INSPECTOR FOX, GET OUT OF THERE CALDER!" I hear Bentley shout on my comlink. I didn't focus on it, I was looking at the Inspector, her coffee brown eyes were staring at me, tense and alert, ready to fight or for a chase across Paris.

"You can put down the shock pistol Inspector," I say

"Why, so you can bolt before I cuff you?" she asks, getting closer to me.

"Because you don't need, I'm doing nothing wrong this evening, just enjoying the view of Paris."

"Yeah, and for how long? Until you get a call from your friends to go steal another priceless artifact?"

"Inspector, we just did a heist. Why would we be committing another one the day after? Besides, I'm just relaxing, don't you do that back at Interpol?"

"Crime doesn't rest, so neither do I," Inspector Fox said plainly.

I blinked, "You…wow. I never knew someone so devoted to their job," I say surprised.

Her face broke out into a grin, "Yeah, if you want me to take a break, try not to break into a museum," she says, "Any museum," she adds.

"Yeah well I…fell asleep ok? And I'm not really a bad guy"

The Inspector got a look on her face, "Then what were you talking about just now?"

"Bentley was telling me about how you were on patrol and I told him that I wasn't worried about you catching me because I'm not doing anything wrong."

Her eyes narrow, but she does lower he shock pistol slightly, "I can still arrest you," she says, "You're a wanted raccoon."

"Calder! When she lowers her shock-pistol, jump over the railing. I-"

I yank out the earpiece, as it dangled from my neck the Inspector looked at in in surprise.

"Well, do you have a warrant and evidence of what I have done?" I ask innocently.

She blinks before saying, "You have been seen all around the world, from Paris to the States, so yeah I have those."

I sighed, "Please don't make have to run."

"Oh yeah, and why not?" she asked,

"Because… because…"

As I fumbled for an explanation, the Inspector got closer.

I sighed, "I don't have one Inspector Fox," I say pathetically.

Inspector Fox then is right in front of me; sighing again I extended my wrists for her to cuff me.

She looks at me before asking, "Is there anything important I need to know about you?"

I look at her confused, "None that's very pressing right now," I say uncertainly.

"First, for what I am going to do," she holsters her gun and reaches into her back-pocket.

I look at her confused as she then hands me a paper, "You and…Cooper need to look at this. Interpol is confused at the moment with a more pressing group then your gang, and you're at the center of it Jack, that…and I have a feeling that Cooper needs closure," Inspector Fox explains.

"…I take it that this isn't something like a robbery," I say.

"No, not at all. These people are dangerous and, as much as I hate you all, I need your help. So talk to me when you guys get any sightings," she says before turning on her heel and leaving.

As she begins to walk away, I say confused, "Why do you hate the gang so much, besides the fact we're all criminals?"

Inspector Fox stops, "…That is not important," she says.

"This wouldn't have to do with Sly would it?" I say.

"N-no," she stutters.

I placed a paw to my chin before I grinned, "Sly said he kissed you back at a volcano, were you two boyfriend/girlfriend?" I ask.

"Let's get something clear. Sly Cooper is a thief, a common criminal. I am a police officer of the law, there is no way we could like each other, further more I don't have any feelings about him!" Inspector Fox stated, turning around and placing her hands on her hips.

"Sly is your guy, you just have to lower your guard and see that," I continue.

Her face goes red, but she angrily says "I am NOT in love with that… that… THIEVING RACCOON!"

"Well that's odd, it seems that you get pretty flustered when he flirts with you," I reply with a smile.

With a frustrated sound, she walks off; throwing her hands in the air and began to curse in Spanish. I chuckle before placing my earpiece back into its respective place, "Bentley, are you there?" I ask.

"Calder, you had us all worried there pal, we were about to get in the van and bust you out of prison," I hear Murray say.

"Don't worry big guy, the Inspector and I had a little chat and she handed me something, a file."

"Interesting," I hear Bentley say, "What's in it?"

I look at the paper to see a faceless clock inside of a bird cage.

"I'm…not sure what it is Bentley," I say, "Whatever it is its connected to us."

"Oh, so it's more wanted stuff from Interpol," Sly says.

"No Bentley, this is much different, Inspector Fox was asking for help on this."

"Carmelita was asking for help? From US?!" I hear Sly exclaim, "Then this must be very important."

"Agreed, so…I think we need to check Interpol's files about this, something tells me Inspector Fox isn't telling us the whole story."

There was silence before an uproar emerged from the guys.

"ARE YOU NUTS?!"

"Calder, I can do this."

"Calder that place will be loaded with cops. How will you even get I there?"

"Guys, I am the closest one to Interpol right now and even though I know that Sly can break in, I can get in and out faster since I know the building. I know how to get to the Inspectors office and get out, as for a plan…I'll improvise."

The gang was silent.

"Look, I feel terrible after the last heist. I messed up badly and I want to try and make it up since…"

I stop, the realization coming back like a tidal wave.

"DANG IT!" I shout, slapping my forehead.

"What's wrong?" I hear Bentley say.

""It's my birthday tomorrow. Why didn't I use that for an excuse?" I say, "Anyway, I'm going to get going."

It was late when I approached the HQ; Inspector Fox was still probably on patrol so I quickly broke into her office. The window was unlatched so I just opened it and snuck inside, nothing had changed in the office except a plant near the window and a computer on Inspector Fox's desk; I quickly sat at the desk and turned on the monitor. Luckily she never logged out of her computer and I was easily inside, I searched around her documents before I found a file that said "Cooper Gang list" in it was more information, the paper she sent me was part of a picture with an explanation. Going back to the first page I saw a picture of the gang with my face circled in black. I began reading her notes.

*Apparently someone is out for this man, known as 'Jack' for a very important reason, alive. The only known image of this person or persons is this.

I skimmed down and an image came up that was the same thing I saw on the paper; I took out by binocucom and took pictures of the paper, knowing it would be forwarded straight to Bentley's computer.

*'Jack' has been identified as a potential threat to this gang he is now wanted for questioning and/or protection by Interpol.

That was all that was on Inspector Fox's computer, and then I heard noises coming from outside the door. I saw that couldn't get to the window in time; looking up I saw the rafters that were made of wooden beams. Quickly closing the windows I leapt up; lifting my legs and wrapping my tail around my body just as Inspector Fox and a ferret come into her office.

"Thank you Winthrop, please put these of Chief Barkley's desk," she said, handing the ferret some files.

"Of course Carmelita," the ferret said as he began to move outside of the office, "I was wondering, would you like to um… meet up tomorrow at Starbucks for some coffee?"

"Sorry Winthrop, have a ton to do tomorrow," then she quickly shut the door. After a breath of relief, she went to her computer and frowned. "That's odd, I don't remember turning on my monitor," she said.

"Oh crap," I thought, kicking myself for forgetting to turn off the monitor.

She was curious but she shrugged her shoulders and began to type on the computer, I began to sweat, I didn't know how long I could be like this. After ten minutes, my fingers were beginning to slip, my tail damp from drying the sweat on my face. Then she got up and began to head to the door, I was holding onto the rafters by my fingertips. Just as she went under me my hands fell off and I lost my grip and swung towards her, then she turned the doorknob and left, my head barely brushing her back as she left. I quickly dodged the door as it shut and fell to the ground with a quiet "Ooofff."

I sat back up and heard steps again; I hurried to the window and fumbled with the latch. As I placed my foot on the window sill, that ferret, Winthrop came in clutching some roses. He looked around and he saw me and stared, I stared back, then I say, "Don't bother with the flowers man, she is into someone else," then I jump from the window.

As I left I heard Winthrop shouting something and all the lights came on the HQ. "Brilliant, I go to learn something from the cops and now all the cops in the building are now after me, well at least I helped Sly with Carmelita." I thought as I sprinted across the rooftops.

I tap the earpiece, "I'm coming back guys, got the info we needed," I report.

None of the cops came after me so I slowed my progress but I made it back to the hideout as the sun was rising, I climb back into my room, which was strangely dark, the exhaustion from the nights work was quickly beginning to overwhelm me. I found the switch and after flicking it on the place was covered in red, blue, and black streamers.

"What the what?" I say out loud as I look at my bed and see it covered in Cooper calling cards. I look at the door, which resembled an archway; I stepped out in the hallway, quickly forgetting my fatigue. "Murray, Sly, Bentley, are you there?" I call out, the floor from my door down the hall to the kitchen was covered in gold sparkles and reflective green arrows were pointing in the same direction. I went down the hall, and saw the kitchen and living room, there were a green, blue, and pink present in the living room and in the kitchen was a large three layer cake, with candles and a note next to it. I crack open the note and read a mix of handwritings.

Calder,

This is 'The Murray', I hope you have a great birthday and I can't wait for you to see what we have planned for you. Just get some rest and we will see you soon.

Murray

Calder,

I'm very glad to share a birthday party with a fellow Cooper, I am certain you will enjoy tonight's entertainment. See you soon and enjoy the hideout, it is completely free for you.

Sly,

Calder,

I am not good with writing this stuff, I hope you have a good birthday and later we need to discuss those photos you took, see you soon.

Bentley,

'The Murrays' penmanship really needed work, it was hard to decipher it, but I was still happy that these guys planed this on the fly while I was gone. Now normally I would open the presents and eat cake but I had stayed up all night so I just took another hot shower and after being warm and content I fell asleep, but even the lull of that couldn't keep me from the excitement of my birthday with the Cooper Gang.