Hey everyone,
So, as you can obviously see, I have changed the title of the story from Family Traditions to A Thief At Heart. The reason for this is because I no longer felt as if the title fit the actual story. The original story plan was for Sly to teach Carmelita the traditions and ways of his family, yet that story line just went nowhere.
Because of that did I feel that this story was better off ending in between now and a few chapters and after rereading the whole thing, did I decide that a title describing how well Carmelita transfers from being a cop to being a Master Thief and how she admits to her heart's desire was just a better concept for the title.
Thus A Heart Of A Thief was born and while I wish that it could have lasted longer as this is one of my stories that I got inspired to write thanks to a fellow fanfiction writer, do I still promise to make sure that the story will have a proper ending as I really hope to do Kitty Petro proud with what she inspired me to write.
Have fun,
Venquine1990
PS. Credits to this story go to Kitty Petro.
The next day
Carmelita's POV
Scavenging the cabin for possible goodies and treasures had been a lot of fun and we had found a good 60 bucks on all kinds of foreign coins and euros as well as a golden watch, a miniature version of the Eifel Tower and a purse that had actually brought the cop in me back out as it had been filled with pictures of a man and his family.
Sly had promised me he would leave the purse at the airport once we go back, yet after all these years do I know him well enough to know that the purse will still contain the pictures – but will probably be empty of cash and other impersonal valuables – yet this assurance had helped me push down on that part of me once again.
That night Sly had pulled me apart after dinner and had shocked me as he said: "Carmelita, just because you are now a thief, doesn't mean you can't have your cop-like sense of justice." This had shocked me and he had told me: "The difference between a Thief and a Master Thief is that the latter only steal from other criminals.
This man – as far as we know – is no criminal, so no matter how much I would love to take this sweet cash, I won't do it, because this man is just another civilian. Yes, sometimes when the level of criminal activity is at a low, we do steal from civilians, but the underworld of society will always be our main target.
And you may now be part of that, but that doesn't mean that you should change all that you are. You and I were the same in that even before you made the switch, so don't try changing that now that you are on our team, okay?" At this I nod and smile at him, happily kissing him on the cheek before he had taken his leave.
Yet while he had tried whispering it under his breath as he walked away, had I still heard him mutter: "Great Ancestors, I want her so bad." Before he had closed the door behind him and I had been required to remain where I was as the cold mountain air was the only thing that helped me calm down my heated form and needs.
Now it's the next morning and I am back in the shack and see that Bentley has gathered the rest of the Gang around a small table in one of the rooms. I move over and Sly happily moves me to stand beside him as Bentley coughs and says: "Okay, now that everyone's here – and awake – we can start our first meeting of this Heist."
And while I look at where he looked when we made the little side comment, do I see Cheren send him a playful glare before Bentley says: "We are currently at the North-Eastern part of the Himalaya mountains, are only a few feet under the border where oxygen becomes near too dense to breath and are well hidden by our shack.
Now, we know that the Politician is coming here sometime next week so we will have more or less one week to scavenge as much of the cave and – preferably – the mountain itself as possible, find out if the rumors of hidden treasures are indeed true, avoid other potential scavengers and get any possible treasure back to Paris."
And instantly the same kind of concern as what I felt yesterday comes back to me and while part of me hates the idea of questioning my team, can I not help but speak up and ask: "Uhm, Bentley?" And the Turtle smiles while opening a screen on his wheelchair and says: "Virtual Reality." Which only causes to confuse me as he says:
"I have installed a small device in the back of the Van that will hide our potential treasure under a cover of virtual reality. That way we can just take the plane back and get home quick enough that we can avoid possible dangerous border controllers or even the chance of making the cops suspicious of our involvement."
Here I turn red, but then Bentley smiles at me and says: "Still, thanks for speaking up, Carmelita. I was wondering to myself if I didn't need to check the device and now I feel confident that I need to do so. Now, why don't we go and discuss the plans for our first mission?" And I smile at my friend before I nod and the turtle says:
"Always helpful to have two cautious minds instead of one. Now, the main objective of this first mission is this level of the mountain, the level of the cave itself and everything above it, yet nothing above the oxygen level. The goal will be to check out at least the exterior of the cave and find potential escape routes.
At the current moment we only know of the newly discovered entrance and all of the mountain that we can see from this shack. Because of that would I like to divide you all into two groups of four and then for both groups to start scavenging around the mountain from both sides. And while you do so, make sure to take equipment with you.
I have already prepared several small camouflage cameras and set them ready to be taken with you guys. You will find them on the table next to the door. Take them with you and search the entire mountain from the height of the cave itself to higher and make sure you place them at strategic places and or possible exits."
Here we all nod and then Bentley says: "Okay, Cheren, Sophia, I would like you to go with Sly and Carmelita and I would like Murray and Guru to go with Helena and Marcus. Scavenge the mountain, place the cameras and make sure you take your most vital equipment with you." This confuses Helena and she asks: "Our Canes?"
Yet I shake my heads at this and say: "Our Binocucoms, so you can see any possible hidden spots or locate things through heat vision or otherwise that our eyes can't." And Bentley smiles at me before sending a really strange smile Sly's way, yet my beloved doesn't seem freaked out by it as he only winks back.
A few minutes later have both our teams found the cave and have Cheren, Murray, Guru and Helena worked together to map out the entire front entrance, to which Sly asks: "You getting all of this, Bentley?" And in my own ear I can hear the turtle answer: "Now that I am back from checking VRT, yes, yes I am, Sly."
And while I shake my head at this, already enjoying just the start of this mission thanks to how the team works together, do I press my own communicator and ask: "See anything unusual?" And while Sly smiles at me in pride, does the turtle say: "Just a second – my infra-red spots three holes further down the size of the Guru.
One of the teams should be able to find one of them on the right side of the cave while the other should find the other two on the left. Just do know that all of them – heh, interesting, all of them are located halfway up the ceiling. Looks like you'll have to do a bit of climbing when you find them. Make sure to video the entrances."
"Copy that, Bentley, Sly and I will take the Eastern side while dad can take Helena, Murray and Guru down the Western side. If there really are two there, they'll have more use of Guru than we would with just our one." And after Bentley compliments me for the idea, do I smile at dad and the man happily salutes before leaving.
Only for me to realize that I am treating all of this like an Interpol Assignment. Instantly I turn red and look at Sly in utter guilt, yet the Raccoon shocks me as he pulls me close and kisses me with great passion, making me almost weak with amazement before he whispers: "I cannot believe that joke actually came true."
Making me tilt my head confused before Sly shrugs and says: "Call me an old sap, my gorgeous, but long before you joined our Gang, the guys and I sometimes envisioned what it'd be like if you were on the team and we – more or less – agreed between us that you would be Co-Leader were that chance to ever occur.
We never expected it back then, but when you did join, we only needed a glance between the three of us for us to accept the truth behind that statement. It was meant as a joke as we really never expected this twist of fate, yet it happened and we couldn't be happier." This alone makes me blush and smile and then I say:
"Let's go find that exit and record it." Sly nods and with mum and Cheren behind us, do we start to move about the right side of the mountain leading to the cave, yet after leaving the path that actually took us to the mountain itself, do I feel very, very glad that we didn't let Murray take this side of the mountain for a new reason.
Where people who hear Himalaya would probably expect several huge, sturdy mountains that just grow apart the deeper into ravines they go, is this part of the mountain side actually something that looks like it came straight out of some RPG or Adventure Game that Cheren and I grew up playing ever since we were little.
There is not a single bit of straight and flat surface, except for a few ledges and small, thin mountains that are stacked together like a parkour course or something and most of the mountain wall is actually a combination of trees, bushes and small caves that have obviously been dug out by animals that came to either mate or hibernate.
"Murray would have never been able to cross this. The platforms are much too fragile to hold his weight. Even we will have to be slick and fast if we don't want those platforms to crumble." Cheren says shocked and I quickly look around before leaping to a nearby tree and planting one of the cameras between the branches.
"HOLY SARSPERILLA! Carmelita, where are you guys?" I hear Bentley scream in my ear as I must have activated the connection function of the camera and while I try to position the device so that it will be sturdy and stuck between the branches as well as have a perfect view of the landscape before us, do I answer:
"About ten minutes away from where the cave is. Looks like we'll have to call this side our Last Chance Escape Route." Here I hear Bentley hum in agreement and he says: "Make sure to put a few more there, I want to see if there are routes that are split from that route. Perhaps I can find something to lead to the van."
And while I like this possible Getaway plan, do I then stick my head out of the tree, now feeling confident thanks to Sly's earlier explanation and say: "Cheren, Bentley wants to see more of this part of the mountain. Think you can cross the platform and find a tree or two or a bush on the other side to equip?" And my brother happily nods.
Then Sly speaks up and says: "I hate doing this, mi señora magnífica, but this entire mission relies on stealth and speed. I'll go and take Sophia to the other side of the platform and see if we can find that Emergency Exit." And Cheren and I nod before Sly proves his brilliance as he lifts mum up and moves across the platform.
From slim, flat mountain top to pillar shaped mountain top, to a small edge at the side of the mountain that he dashes across on only his toes, to a couple of trees and then suddenly safely on the other side of the platform, setting my mum back down, yet also holding onto her as she had obviously not been expecting that much brilliance.
Mum regains her footing and Sly gives me and Cheren a two-fingered salute before he and mum vanish around a small side corner of the mountain and out of sight. I personally share a smile with Cheren and then hear Bentley say: "Just tilt the camera a little more to the South East and I'll have a perfect view, Carmelita."
"Copy that, Bentley. Can you see any other places you would want me to place cameras at?" I ask him and he answers: "Just on the other side the path. You seem to be on the right of it now and if Cheren can place one on the left and right from where Sly just saluted you, I should have perfect view on that entire area."
And Cheren replies in confirmation before he bends down and like the athlete he always was at school and Interpol Academy, does he sprint across the platforms, using some of the branches of the trees to swing from and dashing across a few more ledges with Sly's levels of perfection, to which I can hear Bentley exclaim amazement.
"Yeah, he was always like that." I happily tell the turtle over our communication and then Cheren says: "I got this side covered, sis. You go and find Sly and mum once you've finished your side, okay?" I give him a thumb's up and after hearing confirmation from Bentley that my camera is in place, do I continue.
I move back to the path and then take a quick look around my surroundings, before smiling as I see a small crevice of rock sticking out of the mountain just a few feet above the edge of the path that is covered by some weeds. I jump high and grab onto a tree branch that hangs down a little way above it and place the camera.
Yet I frown as the camera swirls, the lens aiming at the rock itself and I try to reset it so that it will gaze out over the platform, yet it does the same thing and this time, as I retry the repositioning, do I hear Bentley say: "Wow, wow, wow, Carmelita wait." And I stop, the camera in my hand and I let go off it to tap my communicator.
The camera again slides its lens into the wall, only then it vanishes and my eyes widen as I ask: "A – a hidden cave?" And Bentley remains quiet for a minute before he says: "Not just a hidden cave, Carmelita, but evidence that there will indeed be treasure found in that cave. Stick your hand in." And I tentatively follow his order.
The cave itself feels dusty and I feel at least one or two spider webs passing and getting stuck in my fur as I reach in, yet just when I think that I have lost the camera, do I feel its metal form – together with something else. I look in curiously, grasp onto the other item with two fingers and pull both of them out of the cave.
Only for my eyes to widen as I am holding a gorgeous bit of sapphire in between my fingers, the stone slightly dangling on top of the camera and I ask: "Wait – is this?" And Bentley answers: "A hidden stash. Yes indeed. Good work, Carmelita." And I smile at him and put the sapphire into my pocket before getting back to work.
Taking a few bits of rope out of my pocket, do I tie the camera lens first into the cave and then tie another one to the back of it and angle it so that it has a perfect view of the platforms and then Bentley asks: "Eh Carmelita, why a camera on the jewels?" And I answer him with a large smile: "Just call it a hunch, Bentley."
And the turtle hums in acceptance before he tells me to go join Cheren and the others. I then look at Cheren, who seems to have just finished how own placing of the two cameras and while I move across the platform, do my eyes focus on two things at the same time; the path I am taking as well as any other possible crevices.
I notice at least one or two more and the fact that each of them have a small tree and a bit of bush or weed covering them makes me feel quite confident of my hunch and when I reach the other side, does Cheren give me a happy, proud smile before we both hurry on and move past the rest of the path over to where Sly and mum are.
And when we reach them, are we only a few minutes earlier than Murray, Guru, dad and Helena, making me realize that the platform stretches across way more of the mountainside than I expected and when everyone has arrived, does Sly ask: "So, what was your side like? We had a natural practice platform on ours."
And Murray answers: "Our side actually has another one of the high mountains very close against this one. We actually had to climb onto a higher level of the other mountain for a while because our path had ended on this one. It's not too dangerous, but there were definitely parts on the path that were almost too slim for my girth."
Sly nods, a confident, but understanding look on his face and he asks: "How many cameras did you place?" And dad answers: "Seven. A few at parts where the mountain splits between going up and down and a few at where the path of one mountain ends and the path of another begins. We thought it would make latter parts easier."
"Good thinking, guys. And Carmelita, you willing to share your hunch with us now?" Bentley then asks us all through the communicator and I answer: "This may sound strange, but – I don't think the treasure will be in the cave where we began our mission." The others all look at me and I ask: "Did your side have any hidden crevices?"
Here the other team looks thoughtful and Helena says: "Describe hidden." And I say: "Covered by either a bit of weed, carved into the mountain in a very crude way and with a small tree hanging just above it." To this Helena nods and then dad says: "I think we came across five or six of those. You think there's a reason?"
To which I nod and say: "I'm not sure if I'm right or just guessing, but I think the stone that was found by the guy who found this cave was just a bit of nature letting go from the mountain itself. I think the treasure that might have been left by whoever might at one point have lived here – is hidden in those little crevices and caves."
This shocks the others and then Sly asks: "So you think there is a natural treasure in the mountain cave and possibly stolen treasure in all these crevices?" At which I nod and Sly's smile turns truly adventurous before he says: "Well, didn't this mission just turn a whole lot more exciting?" And all of us smile at him in total agreement.
And that is that.
Now, I will be honest with you all, the crevice thing was very, very much unplanned. I had a bit of a storyline planned out, which would lead to Sly getting in trouble within the cave at the end of the mission, yet the excavation mission took a life of its own and as it did, did I realize one little vital aspect of this scenario.
The cave had been found by some random person, yet the mountain itself is practically unlivable, so the chance of a civilization or tribe or otherwise once having lived there is a little small and the idea of some late criminal having left bits of his treasure in such inhabitable area just sounded a lot more believable.
Okay see yah,Venquine1990
PS. Credits to this story go to Kitty Petro.
PPS. Translations are back, finally:
Mi señora magnífica is Spanish for My Gorgeous Lady.