Chapter Twelve: Problem Solved

The next morning Carmelita arrives at Paxton's house. She walks up and knocks on the door. The house is really big.

"Jeez how much money does this guy have? This place is huge and well designed!"

The house was painted maroon and the garden in the front was breath-taking. Flowers covered the garden area and two willow trees were planted on each side of the house. On his front lawn was a bird bath. Carmelita admired the sight and knocked again.

Paxton unlocked the door and opened it to a pretty fox in a black dress. The wolf smiled at her.

"Wow you sure dressed perfectly, yet again."

Carmelita giggled. "Thank you. May I come in?"

"Yes you may."

Carmelita entered the house and she was flabbergasted by the sight of the place. It was enormous! To her left was an office that was bigger than hers! To the right of Carmelita was a dining room, which held very expensive china as well. There were stairs next to the dining room and a hallway next to the office that led to the living room. A crystal chandelier hung right above Carmelita, and there was a huge window next to it. The walls in the office and dining room were painted dark orange.

"So..." said Paxton. You want to take a look around?"

Carmelita nodded, remaining amazed. Paxton walked down the hallway and Carmelita spotted picture frames on the right side of the hallway. They showed pictures of Paxton looking for artifacts and holding some.

They walked into the living room. Once again, very huge. The couches and chairs were made of black leather and the walls were covered in dark forest green paint. The floor was dark oak wood and a huge flat screen hung on the wall. There was an end table that was layered with more pictures of... well you know...

A coffee table sat in front of the couch that faces the TV. There was another window and you can see a pond in the back.

"So Carmelita, this is the living room, and over there is my kitchen."

Paxton pointed at the kitchen that was to the right of Carmelita. Most of the kitchen furniture was made of black marble. The cupboards were wooden but stained dark. The refrigerator was obviously made this year with its advanced technology.

"Through the kitchen is the dining room, and across the kitchen is my patio and one of my bathrooms."

The patio was astounding to Carmelita. There was only a small garden but the patio was well made, which also held a dining table.

"Do you have people come here often?"

"Yes, my mom, sister, and the rest of my extended family comes over for any occasion."

"What about your dad?"

Paxton frowned. "He died seven years ago in a mine that was held in the Australian Outback... he was murdered by a thief I was told..."

Carmelita's eyes enlarged. "Oh... I'm sorry for your loss Paxton..."

Paxton made a weak smirk. "It's fine. Now lets head upstairs!"

The two went through the hallway and went upstairs. The wall was painted dark red. The space upstairs had four doors.

"Okay, this one in the far left is the guest room. The one next to it, is my second bathroom. This one leads to my room and finally, the last room on the right holds my artifacts that I kept. The other artifacts I send to the local museum and they pay me a lot!"

"That explains the house... and car... and the flat screen TV..."

Paxton chuckled. "Let me show you around a bit.

Paxton opened the guest room and the walls were painted dark blue. The room had a twin size bed and it had a window next to it. A TV and closet were placed across from the bed.

"The door on the right of the wall leads to the bathroom. The same with my room. Lets check that out."

Paxton lead Carmelita to his room. It looked the same as the guest room except it was bigger and the walls were covered with yet again, pictures of his artifacts and him finding them.

Carmelita sneered. "Wow, you sure have a lot of photos of your artifacts."

Paxton glanced to her with a smile. "I capture every moment of my job and its artifacts. I absolutely love it! I take a picture of all the artifacts I found that day. Sometimes I feel like they are my children!"

Carmelita tries to hide a confused face. "Oh nice... let's just skip the next room and go in the living room. We can hang out there."

Paxton agreed. "Sure!"

Carmelita walks quickly to the living room and sat on the cooling leather couch.

Paxton joins her. "Would you like something to drink?"

Carmelita smiled. "I'd like some coffee if you have any."

Paxton ran to the kitchen. "Sure thing beautiful!

It was silent for a moment until Carmelita decided to start another conversation.

"You have an outstanding house Paxton! I'm very impressed!"

Paxton looked over to Carmelita. "Why tha-"

The wolf was interrupted by the sound of a door bell.

"Who else is here?"

Carmelita watches Paxton curiously walk down the hallway as she waits for her coffee. Then Carmelita hears the door open and then...

"Marcus! You finally came back from your vacation! Well come on in dude!"

Carmelita became confused. She then sees two men enter the living room, Paxton and some guy with white fur and long ears. The man was carrying a dirty book bag. He didn't look so appealing, thanks to his crooked buck teeth. Paxton glanced over to Carmelita.

"Hey Carmelita, meet my friend Marcus. He was the one I told you about yesterday. He's finally back from his vacation!"

"Wait!" Exclaimed Marcus. "'Dis here's ya gurlfrien'?!"

Carmelita was really surprised with his unexpected accent.

Paxton smiled at Carmelita. "Yes."

"Well Pax, she sure is purtty! An' I got sum' of dos' artifacts you wanted me to dig up durin' ma' trip!"

Carmelita mumbled to herself. "Oh no... here we go again..."

Paxton's face brightens up as Marcus hands over the bag. Paxton runs over to his office which is followed by his friend. Carmelita rolls her eyes as she walks into the kitchen to make herself coffee.

"I can't take this. All he cares about are his dumb artifacts! He probably just wants me to show off to others! Ugh!"

Carmelita finished making her coffee and decided to walk in the office with the others.

As she walks in with her coffee, she sees Paxton examining different objects. "Whoa... so interesting..." whispered Paxton.

"More interesting than me!" sneered Carmelita.

Paxton ignored Carmelita. "Wow! Marcus look at this one!"

Carmelita was raging. "Can we have one day together without involving your stupid pieces of garbage?!"

Paxton gave Carmelita a nasty look and gasps.

"They are not garbage!"

Carmelita crossed her arms and rolls her eyes. Paxton picked up a rock with some picture carved in it.

"Wow, this design is phenomenal!"

"Then why don't you date it?!" Carmelita exclaimed.

Marcus started laughing as Carmelita looked away. She glanced at the rock with an annoyed look. The design looked familiar to her, making the fox walk towards the rock to get a better view.

Carmelita's heart skipped a beat as she clearly saw the design. It was the same design as the blue calling card in the shape of a raccoon-head logo that Sly always left in his crime.

"It... cant... be... Can I have that?"

Paxton gave the rock to Carmelita.

"You can't keep it but you sure can look at it. Just be careful."

Carmelita stared at the rock more and more. She saw the initials under the design. It wrote, "S.C."

"Sly..." She looked away in disbelief. "Marcus, where did you get this?"

"Why, I got it fruuuum... Egypt! Y'know, da' place with dem' pyramids."

"I know what I must do..."

The fox ran to the door.

"Hey!" yelled Paxton. "What are you doing?!"

"Sorry Paxton..." Carmelita spoke in a sarcastic tone. "But this I'll take with me. Thank you, and please... NEVER talk to me again. Goodbye!"

Carmelita ended the sentence in a happy tone as she left the house. She ran to her car and quickly drove away.

Carmelita's car stooped at the hideout where the gang used to be. The fox got out of the car and ran to the building's door. All of a sudden, Carmelita takes her heel off her foot and BAM! The door is broken down.

She meets eyes with a shocked turtle's. He was behind a desk with papers all over. His face looked tired with his dark eye circles, aftershave, and worn out clothes.

"You know, you could've knocked..."

Carmelita ignored Bentley's statement and walked towards him. She placed the rock on his desk.

"Bentley, we are going to Ancient Egypt."

Bentley became confused and looked at the rock. He picked it up and as soon as Bentley saw the design, a smile grew on his face.


*Yay, they might find each other again! But... is Sly and Marta... closer than friends by now? let's find out in the next chapter! You like it? Please let me know. I have been a huge fan of Sly Cooper for years and I will never let this story remain unfinished! Thank you for reading so far, there will probably be no more than 30 more chapters and the story should be finished sometime next month (August 2013). Enjoy! :) *