Chapter 11

Operation Tar – be gone

"You know, I was going to make a joke somewhere during this mission about how we should play some phantom of the opera music, but now I kind of think that's no point."

Kitty looked at the place they were in, an old sewer with candles burning and twisting.

"I mean seriously look at this place."

"Already have kiddo, this is my second time through this place… now shut up, someone might hear us."

Kitty shut up, by pure force of habit to listen to anyone who told her to do something, before a door opened and Sly let them through.

"Any problems?" Bentley asked.

"I encountered a two button door… but the Don himself was kind enough to help me out by opening it with me."

Bentley shook his head in wonder. "Only you… only you could manage… well no time to stop, we need to act quickly, everyone ready?"

Carmelita and Sly dragged out their canes, Kitty folding her blades into its staff form.

"Whenever you want to start Bentley."

Bentley nodded and drew out a bomb. He jumped up on one of the pillars and attached it. It blinked for 3 seconds before it blew up… and chaos was ensured.

Kitty didn't think, just acted, lashing out on everyone and everything until there was nothing more to hit. Kitty panted and looked around her, seeing tar spewing everywhere and her friends looking around.

"Nice work… now let's hurry, the recital is about to start."

Kitty just followed Sly as he spoke, running out into the morning. Kitty calmed herself down, then walked up to the area for Octavio's recital, noticing that the only one's there were the one's under his payroll.

"Morning Octavio… quite the crowd you got there, it must be almost 50 people."

Don Octavio growled, Kitty ignoring him as she stepped up.

"Pie Jesu, was it not?"

"It was… you may begin."

Kitty nodded, turned to the crowd, closed her eyes and started to sing.

Pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu, domine

Pie Jesu, pie Jesu, Dona eis requiem

Don Octavio looked at her surprised but was not to be overplayed by a child.

Pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu

Kitty smiled. For an old windbag who had tried to destroy one of the world's most beautiful cities he had a pretty good voice.

Qui tollis peccata mundi

Dona eis requiem, dona eis requiem

Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei

Qui tollis peccata mundi

Dona eis requiem, dona eis requiem

Dona eis requiem

Sempiternam

Dona eis requiem

Sempiternam

Kitty drew a large breath, holding the tone, so high that she was sure she had broken a few nearby windows.

Requiem

And next to her the Don followed suit, holding the last note

Sempiternam

"NOW."

As Kitty ducked away the chandelier fell… and moments before it crashed into Octavio a shock pistol blasted it to bits.

"Freeze. The lot of you are going to jail."

"Oh you have got to be kidding me" Kitty groaned, as Bentley, Carmelita and Sly face palmed themselves.

Octavio looked important for about 5 seconds. "THIS RECITAL… is over."

He turned and jumped into a boat and drove off. Kitty acted again.

"Sly, our boat is right here, we got to catch him. Carmelita you take Bentley and get to safety, we will meet you later."

They all ran off, Inspector Robeau growling.

"They never ever freeze. No mind… Sorry Cooper gang, this time I have got you surrounded."

SLYCOOPER

"Can't you drive any faster?" Sly complained.

"This is the top speed Sly, shoot out his engine; it's the only way we can catch up… holly shit look at all those cop boats."

"That's not our entire problem, Octavio is placing bombs."

"I got the steering covered" Kitty said.

"You just shoot."

"You sure?"

"With these eyes I could just as well have played a video game, just shoot him Sly." Sly and Kitty had barely jumped across the first boat when a helicopter came flying overhead, bearing inspector Robeau's voice.

"Attention criminals, you are traveling at an unsafe and illegal speed. Stop your engines and prepare to be boarded, cooperate now and be safe. Resist and I will make personally sure that you don't see the light of day for another year. I repeat, stop your engines or we will be forced to subdue you, we have been authorized to use lethal force. DO YOU HEAR THAT COOPER GANG, LETHAL FORCE."

As the helicopter flew away again, Sly grinned.

"That Jacqueline, what a sweet talker, almost as good as Carmelita."

"Yeah" Kitty said laughing. "For a moment there it was like hearing Carmelita herself. Now where are we on Octavio's engine?"

As Kitty asked Octavio's boat exploded and the driver lost control. The boat leered left and the Don himself landed in the square, their boat destroying what was left of the plaza around them, Kitty and Sly following behind him.

Up above Kitty noted Murray and Naomi had arrived, probably being worried with all the cops around.

"It's over Octavio, you're beat. Give us the demolition switch and we will all try to ditch these cops."

Octavio grinned, looking triumphant even in the eye of defeat. "You chasing me for this?"

He pulled out a basic black box with a single red button. Kitty had just managed to think of how cliché that stick was when Octavio spoke up against Sly.

Octavio laughed. "As you wish big shot, it took me 6 months to prepare this thing… but what the hey, I got more where this came from."

Murray finally spoke, looking at them. "Did you see that boat go out of control? And smash and jump into that thing? DESTRUCTION… So cool."

Naomi shook her head. Boys will be boys Kitty thought with a smile… but her smile faltered as she looked at Octavio.

"You think that was cool punk?" He laughed and pressed the button. Next to them a house fell into the canal, dust and wind blowing.

Sly growled. "You monster. Stop it… stop it now."

Octavio moved so fast that Kitty didn't even see him, kicking Sly into the wall behind him. Kitty looked up to Murray.

"Murray, I need your help, I'm not strong enough to take on this guy alone, he's too fast. He may be old but he still got it… I need help."

Murray looked unsure down at Sly. "But… but… I vowed to my guru that I'd renounce all violence… and the water is still not running pure."

"It will be clear any minute" Kitty said, drawing her blades as Octavio rounded on her.

"Now come on, let's take him."

Octavio grinned that blasted predatory grin Kitty had learned to hate and spoke.

"You are right to be scared hippo, your scrawny raccoon friend should have stayed away…" Octavio lunged again, Kitty felt the punch sending her straight into the wall.

"Murray… help" she managed, the pain flooding through her skull making it hard to think. Murray growled and suddenly he spoke.

"THAT IS IT. I WILL FLOSS MY TEETH WITH YOUR SPINE."

Murray suddenly stood next to Kitty, hitting Octavio away from Kitty, Naomi rushing down to her.

"I'm ok" Kitty groaned. "I have had worse, trust me… use the wheels, get tar out here, it will slow him down."

Naomi nodded. "All right, you are sure you are ok mon ami?"

"Of course Naomi… you two focus on getting Octavio."

Naomi and Murray kept on it, Kitty getting some help sitting up as Sly and Carmelita came for her. Bentley had run off to get everything from the safe house before they disappeared.

Following Naomi and Murray, the Don finally went down.

"So that's it… The old guard's out, and a new generation steps in."

"Yeah" Murray said shaking his fists, not even looking tired. "Stepping in big time."

"Come on guys, lets get Bentley and run off, we've got cops closing in."

"You guys go ahead" Kitty said. "I'll be right there."

"Kitty, are you sure?"

"Yes no worries, I know the rendezvous point, I'll meet you there in half an hour."

The others ran off, and once again they had just managed to get out of sight as Jacqueline appeared. She stopped up as she saw Kitty, and the Don on the ground in front of her.

"Well you took your time" Kitty said, ignoring the gun pointed at her head.

Jacqueline didn't speak, simply growled.

"Did you check the number I gave you?"

"Yes… I did. But it can't be true that you are… she died."

"And as I said, my name is Ghost." Kitty lifted her left hand and simply took it off for effect and placed it back down.

"The coopers saved my life Inspector… and as for now I am working with them… after all, it's pretty hard to get a job when you are dead. There is your mafia boss, as a present from the gang… see you around."

"And what makes you think that I will let you leave?"

Kitty smiled. "Feel free to try to stop me… just know this, I have for the last two years been kidnapped by a woman that forced me to learn all the tricks a thief knows… I also know all the tricks of a police officer… if you really think you can stop me by thinking as a mere cop, you are sadly mistaken."

And with that Kitty left with a smile, noting that Jacqueline did nothing to stop her from going.