CHAPTER TEN

As Shego was sailing towards Italy, Marx and Tori were on a corporate jet going over the events that had unfolded within the last few hours. Shego had managed to escape from the helicopter and their attempts to kill her. It had dented both their egos somewhat but Marx had not always had everything go his way so he was somewhat more relaxed about his failure.

'I made the mistake of under-estimating Shego,' Marx mused. 'She'll be in contact with Kim because the annoying red-haired brat is the only person she can turn to now that she's blown it with the villains who would've helped her.'

'What about Junior?'

'Even him.'

'So we're off to Monaco?'

'We're returning to the United States. You have a meeting with Drakken.'

Tori groaned, 'Why do I get Drakken?'

'Call it your punishment for letting Shego escape.'

The Asian woman shuddered as she reflected on what happened at the cafe.

The town wasn't particularly big but it was enough to swallow up the green skinned woman. Tori was annoyed because she had been the one who had accidently released her in the first place. Then they got a tip off from a cafe owner that someone matching Shego's description had come into his cafe. Marx took the alleyway, she decided to go through the front door.

She saw Shego through the window.

Pulling the gun out of her blouse pocket she fired once – and missed!

Shego bolted for the back of the cafe. Tori stepped through the shattered window and picked up the phone handset. She swore as she saw just how close she had come to killing the green woman. A bullet had shattered the mouthpiece. At the last second Shego had switched the phone from her right ear to her left and adjusted her pose. That saved her life.

Although she could've chased Shego though the cafe she didn't bother because Marx and a couple of his security guards had gone into the nearby alleyway in case she made a dash for the alleyway. She walked into the kitchen but the open back door made it clear she had not bothered to stick around. Marx walked in, yelling, 'That bitch got away! I was that close!'

Tori replied grimly, 'I missed by a very narrow margin. I am most disappointed in myself. She was on the phone so it's possible she was in contact with Kim Possible.'

'She won't be heading for Monaco any time soon. She'll probably skip the country and hide out somewhere where she thinks we can't grab her until she thinks it's safe to meet up with Kim.'

'What do we do in the meantime?'

Outside the sound of police sirens could be heard. He took Tori by the hand and rushed out the door. Rather than run down the alleyway they darted across it into the back of a cobbler's shop. He startled the old man in the shop.

'Excuse me, sir, but would you be able to make myself and my partner a new pair of shoes?'

The Greek cobbler's jaw dropped. 'You break into my shop and ask me to make you some shoes?'

'We're willing to pay you €300 cash for each pair if you can start now.'

The Greek man watched as Marx took out the money and placed it on the table. The man snatched it and put it in his till. Then he said, 'Please, take a seat so I can take your measurements.'

By the time the cobbler had finished the shoes the police had strung up plastic cordon tape all over the place. Police officers milled around, doing their scene examination. They were so busy doing their own thing that they didn't notice the ashen coloured man and the Asian woman walk out of the cobbler's shop.

They drove back to the airport in amicable silence.

Now they were on the way back to the United States with Tori dreading that moment when she would be face to face with Drakken. Feeling somewhat downcast she got up from the seat and grumbled, 'I'm going to bed. I want to be on top of my game when I deal with Drakken.'

To her annoyance, Marx didn't acknowledge her statement. That usually meant he was suddenly fixated on something or he was angry with her. The moment she lay down on the bunk bed at the back of the aircraft she went to sleep.

In the cabin Marx was on the phone, speaking with a certain Hispanic teenager in Middleton. He had a new plan and that teenager was going to be a major part of it.

Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed the story so far. Whether good or bad I do read the reviews. Whether I act on them... that's another matter. To those who are following or reading the story I hope you have enjoyed the story up to now.