A Thief's Tale
Chapter 25: Chinese Morning
Lián's house…
Bentley, Murray, Guru, Penelope, Panda King, Dimitri, Jing King, and Lián sat at a table eating the breakfast Lián made.
"I wonder where Sly disappeared to now." Penelope said scooping food onto her plate, "He wasn't on the couch this morning."
"I have no clue." Bentley said.
"He must have split." Dimitri said, "Don't know if we'll see him again."
"If he did leave," Bentley said, "He didn't go far."
"You don't know that." Dimitri said, "Who knows how long ago he exited this scene."
"Dimitri, his cane's still here." Bentley said, "If he truly left, he would have taken his weapon and primary tool."
"Yeah, the only time I saw Sly leave his cane behind was after the Kaine Island job." Murray said guzzling down soup, "By the way Lián, this soup's delicious."
"You should actually compliment Jing for that." Lián said, "I may have made it, but it was Jing's recipe."
"You cook?" Murray asked.
"Nothing much." Jing said.
"There is no reason to be modest Jing." Panda King said.
"Either way," Dimitri said, "Where do you think Sly disappeared to?"
"That's easy, Carmelita's room of course." Penelope said, "There is no way those two can stay mad at each other for very long. Or upset, or even disappointed at each other for that matter."
"Oh really?" Dimitri asked, "I bet you five dollars that he's not."
"Deal." Penelope said.
Carmelita's Room…
Carmelita was still asleep but started to squirm a little as she woke up. Once slightly awake, Carmelita felt the master thief's arm draped over her shoulder. He was still sound asleep, breathing deeply. She grinned happily, enjoying the warmth of his body. Everything is perfect with the world. Carmelita thought. I never thought life could be this good. Sure, I'm not a cop anymore, but I don't care. I'm with a guy who loves me more than anything and has always been willing to help, even when our professions where on the opposite sides of the law. Well, I suppose I'd better wake him up, not that I'd be able to get out of bed like this anyway.
"Good morning Sly." Carmelita said softly, despite the appearance that he was sound asleep, the quiet phrase was enough to wake him up.
"Good morning Carmelita." Sly said, slight drowsiness in his voice.
"So what was the arm for?" Carmelita asked as Sly took his arm off her and began to stretch, "What were you, scared I'd run away?"
"Why would I be scared of that? You got someone else in your life?" Sly said jokingly.
"You know, you are a really light sleeper." Carmelita said, "You looked like a deeper sleeper when you're asleep."
"That's a skill that took years to master." Sly said, "The ability to get a good night's sleep but at the same time being able to wake up with the smallest thing is invaluable to thieves."
"So does that mean Bentley and Murray can do it to?" Carmelita asked, "They've been thieves just as long as you."
"Bentley maybe." Sly said, "But Murray, no way. Trust me, if you want him up and breakfast isn't cooking, you'll need a sledge hammer."
"Well would you mind leaving?" Carmelita asked, "I do have to get dressed."
"Okay okay." Sly said, "I'll tell the others that we're up."
"Could you not tell them what we talked about last night?" Carmelita asked, "Like I said, I don't want Dimitri to know he was right."
"I can promise not to say anything," Sly said, "But I can't make any promises that they won't find out."
"Thank you." Carmelita said as Sly left.
Eating Area…
"Morning guys." Sly said entering the room.
"Hey Sly, where did you disappear to last night?" Bentley asked, "Penelope said you weren't on the couch this morning."
"I took a walk to clear my head." Sly said.
"So I trust you and Carmelita were able to work things out." Penelope said.
"What are you talking about?" Sly asked.
"We're not stupid Sly." Bentley responded, "We know you spent the night in Carmelita's room last night."
"Yeah I did." Sly said, "Carmelita just didn't want me saying anything."
"Five bucks Dimitri." Penelope said holding her hand out. Dimitri grumbled and gave Penelope five dollars.
"Did Carmelita say why she didn't want you to say anything?" Bentley asked.
"Probably because it is none of any of yours business." Carmelita said entering.
"I know why she didn't want him to say anything." Dimitri said, "It's because I was right. She doesn't want to admit that her maternal clock is ticking away with the steady rhythm of a greasy sweet song."
"Uh Sly, I need to talk to you." Bentley said while Carmelita and Dimitri began to argue, "In private."
"Sure Bentley," Sly said, "I'd kinda like to be out of here if Dimitri pushes Carmelita over the edge. And since he never knows when to shut up, that is very likely." Bentley and Sly silently crept out of the room. About half way down the hallway, the sound of breaking porcelain, and a fist across a face was heard.
"And from that," Bentley said, "I believe Dimitri just said something he now greatly regrets."