Carmen is resting in Chase's house, while this one is taking ACME down.
Enjoy ^^
Bianca opened Chase's apartment's door. Carmen entered after her. Chase's house. Wow. Who would have thought she'd be there one day ? Anyway, she looked all around her.
" Wow. Nothing changed." commented Bianca.
That called Sandiego's attention. So she already came here. What was her link with Chase ? She opened the living room door window for some fresh air. Then, she showed Carmen the guest room.
" Oooh full of files, what-a-surprise." she commented.
There were dozens of them on the bed, at least the same amount on a dresser … Bianca sighed.
" Typical. I hope you have room in the wardrobe … ah si, perfetto."
" You seem to know Chase since long ago." noted Carmen.
" Hmhm. Dannazione¹ !"
Bianca had dropped a file. Sandiego went to help, and picked up a print representing her, and several receipts.
" What is … all this red wool ?" asked Bianca, pulling what seemed to be feets of red strings.
A board emerged from a dresser. Some papers were still pinned on it. Curious, Bianca pinned one on the right side. Then, the red wool on it. Carmen noticed that the receipts she was holding were coming from it. She pinned them according to the country they belonged to.
" What did he discover here ? All of this seems recent." said Bianca.
She looked in the file. A small note was in here : VILE ? Carmen rounded eyes together with Bianca. It had been pinned too, judging by the tiny hole on the paper. But where ? Sandiego, who had an idea, directly looked near the African continent.
" There." she said, pointing a hole.
" Really ? I think you're right, it's the only part of it without any red string, and there's indeed a hole. Meaning …"
" He found it. VILE headquarters. I'm … really impressed." confessed Carmen.
" And to think that ACME was chasing after this for twenty years with no idea ! What are they ? Snails or complete idiots ?"
Bianca put the board back in its closet. Carmen was pleased to discover that she had been the center of his attention lately. She finished tidying the place with Bianca, and cleaned the apartment with her. Then, she went to sit on the sofa. The place was full of his presence, and she was feeling safe in here. Bianca announced she was going to do some shopping. Carmen wanted to tag along, but the brunette refused : the Argentinian was supposed to remain hidden. Once Bianca was out, Carmen explored the place a bit.
" Wow. No photos, no decoration … this place could really use a feminine touch."
It also meant he was having a pretty lonely life. No wonder he didn't want to remember that. She arrived in front of his bedroom. She hesitated, then put a hand on the handle. Carmen felt like entering a sanctuary. His scent was still here, faint. She touched the pillow. After a while, Sandiego left. She went back to her own room and decided to have a look in the file about her. It was quite … heavy. She smiled thinking she gave him this much work. Anyway. She read all the sheets. It was written in both English and French. That was really a meticulous work : Chase examined every detail, even the insignificant ones. At first, he believed that she was keeping all the loot for herself. She chuckled when she spotted three big question marks and an exclamation one in the Vermeer paintings case, near a newspaper clipping announcing the return of the stolen paintings, with a sentence under them : what the hell ?!
" Yes my dear Chase, I do not keep it for me as you could see with your own two … pretty eyes." she said out loud.
The key being inserted into the door's lock announced Bianca's return. Carmen swiftly closed and stored the file, before coming to help the brunette. This done, Bianca announced she would leave, Carmen staying there until the owner of the place said otherwise. Sandiego thanked her. The door hadn't even closed that she rushed back to her reading. This time, she settled on the bed. As she continued, she noted that he was practically always almost correct about where to find her. Only his haste on the field prevented him from capturing her.
" Hm. Meaning he could be one hell of a problem."
Had Chase been able to control himself a bit more, he might have arrested her.
Sandiego frowned an eyebrow when noticing ACME parts on her own file. Apparently, Devineaux didn't trust this corporation at first. However, he couldn't find very much about it. She had another smile when she found a YAY ! written on one of the last sheets, announcing his return to ACME. She felt a bit guilty when she learnt he had been fired after his kidnapping. This Chief seemed to have no mercy. Then … the date on the following sheets were the most recent ones. It was written in French, and as for what she could understand well, he didn't understand anything anymore. Carmen wasn't the criminal he thought she was, despite VILE and her knowing each other quite well, she returned her loots, only kept what was necessary for her capers.
It was after his stay with her. Chase announced that he really misjudged her. He couldn't express it to her, and maybe she didn't care after all.
" Heck yes I care now !"
The man also shared his surprise about her decision concerning his collection by her, wondering why she decided such a thing. But in the end, he had been quite happy during those two months. He … missed it too, which made her bite her lip in a smile and coloured her cheeks.
Then … some sentences about her relation with VILE :
" Both sides know each other very well. The way they interact proves it. This nickname, Black Sheep, indicates that miss Sandiego was known as someone else for them. Changed it when changed sides, probably. All this, plus for VILE to want to capture her, then kill her can only have one meaning : she's a traitor to them. How and why it happened, is still unknown today."
So he finally got it huh. To think that this idea of treachery didn't seem to even cross Chief's mind. Talk about detective here. Carmen reached the last page. It was … full of rage. ACME was written in the center. Every word surrounding it, like a brainstorming, had been put there with anger, and it created relief on the sheet. There were insults. The word chief was furiously crossed.
You're going down. I'll break you and your bunch of slaves. No one uses me like that.
Sandiego sighed. She was wondering how he was doing back in there. Getting his revenge it seemed. Given what Chief did to her, Carmen didn't really mind. It was suiting her in the end. That was it. Carmen closed the file, and stretched. It was already evening, so she got up to get a cooked plate.
Meanwhile, Chase, Zari and Julia presented themselves on a case with VILE print. They showed their cards to the policemen already on site.
" Hum … I'm sorry but I can't let you in."
" What ?" asked Zari.
" Yes. Your authorization in this had been cancelled."
Julia widened eyes, while Chase had a smirk he quickly hid. Now, this was getting interesting.
" How come a level 1 had been cancelled ?" asked Zari again.
" How can I possibly know ? But you're aren't trespassing. Got my orders, and they're to arrest you if needed."
The policeman turned his back on them, attending other business. Zari never displayed so many emotions ever since Devineaux and Argent met her.
" What do we do now ?" asked Julia.
" Apart from reporting to Chief, nothing for now. It seems we're not considered as a justice organization anymore." replied Chase.
Zari swallowed, taking her pen in an automatic move. She walked away.
" This is your doing, isn't it ?" asked Julia.
" Exactly. Did you find what you were looking for ?"
" Got some news indeed. Let's see Chief's reaction then we'll talk."
" Got it."
Fraser summoned all her agents at once for the next day. During the following meeting, she appeared quite pale and defeated, to Chase's great delight and Julia's satisfaction as well. She had it coming after all.
" Agents. I summoned you all here because something happened. Something even worse than the breach in our severs."
Said agents exchanged surprised looks.
" Some of you couldn't get into a crime scene. It appears that all our authorizations, our accesses and our investigations have been declared illegal."
Sounds of surprise resonated in reaction.
" We're not allowed to investigate or recruit anymore, anywhere. You're all to be dismissed until further notice. You can also be individually called for examinations. That will be all."
An awkward silence followed this. No one seemed to be able to comprehend the situation. Feeling about to explode, Fraser dismissed her team with haste. All of her work, her life goal reduced to nothing. Every person she gathered influence from just let her down without explanation. She spent the whole day calling each of them, in vain. No one answered. ACME ... was over.
Julia and Chase met the next day at the airport. They waited to be on the plane to have this little chat.
" So how did you do it ?"
" With help from Interpol. One of them owed me a service. I asked colleagues to help me hack into their servers. They found illegal transactions in there, dirty money even. Interpol didn't like how ACME stole their agents, their cases and all. Sweet revenge for them as well. But our fight isn't over yet. We still have to protect Miss Sandiego against VILE."
" Right. About that. I got in touch with former comrades in the MI6. Someone did order an investigation about some VILE agents. For what I could get, those operatives were either dead or captured. I guess this is your handiwork as well." announced Julia.
" Precisely. Requested permission to kill."
" You're scary."
" That can happen, yes. Anything else ?" asked Devineaux, glancing at her.
" Well, this is weird according to my contact. This isn't the MI6 business, the one who did this must be doing this for personal reasons. Like being involved. Probably providing this to VILE."
" Hmmm, then maybe we should ask Carmen if she could possibly know someone connected to the MI6." continued the man.
" Exactly what I planned. So if you could arrange a meeting." said Julia.
" Very well."
They arrived at their destination during the night. Chase climbed his stairs in a relative silence. He opened his door then entered. Carmen was certainly sleeping at this hour, so he was careful about making as little noise as possible. Finally, he reached his room and switched on the light. An abrupt move caught his eyes. Carmen Sandiego awoke in a startle, eyes widened.
" Well ! If anybody would have told me you would end up in my bed !" he said, fists on his hips.
Carmen relaxed, recognizing him, but blushed in embarrassment. She didn't expect him so soon. And certainly not while sleeping in his own bed.
Truth was that she was feeling like being in his arms here. Chase was smiling, quite amused. The young woman didn't dare to answer. He approached and sat on the bed, back to her, and took off his shoes.
" Ohm … how come you're here so soon ?" she asked.
" Ah merde ! I knew I've forgotten something ! exclaimed Chase, facepalming. Sorry, I completely forgot about warning you. But to answer you, I'm here because I've been declared illegal as an ACME agent."
He had had a carnivorous smile. Carmen just nodded. Devineaux picked his pyjamas.
" Oh, I'll return your bed." made Carmen.
" No need, I'll just go in the guest room."
" But !" protested Sandiego.
" Carmen. Just go back to sleep, it's no big deal, okay ?"
Carmen just smiled gratefully. Chase returned her smile, then left the room switching off the light. The man prepared a snack before going to sleep. While doing this, he heard some moans coming from his room. Thinking Carmen might have nightmares, he swiftly entered. Just in time to see the young woman waking in a startle. She had trouble breathing, panic all over her face. Chase grabbed a mint she conveniently left on the nightstand. Hm, so she had other panic attacks. Anyway, he shoved two pills in her mouth. The effect was immediate. But … maybe a little exaggerated. He saw tears filling her eyes.
" Crap. Here, if you can't keep them. But only if you feel better." he said, handing over a handkerchief.
Sandiego spilled the mint in it.
" How can you … eat this … THING."
" Aaaaw too strong for you, red princess ? Well, I can eat five of those." teased Chase.
" Red … princess ?"
That made her blush, then she hid her face in her crossed arms so he couldn't see her smiling. Carmen felt a weight on the mattress.
" Want to talk about it ?"
Just like before … she offered a warm and thankful expression. Leaning backward, getting a little closer she confided. It was a nightmare about her drowning. She shivered when speaking. Chase passed a hand on her head. She closed her eyes, savouring this caress. It's been a while. The Argentinian was so glad he didn't change his mind after getting his memories back. It would have been a heartbreak.
" By the way … I never thanked you for saving me, and all the intel you gave me." she said, mid-voice.
" No need, not after all that you did for me. Don't forget I also did this to get revenge. This woman … She was also thinking about using me as a bait for VILE. She certainly didn't care about me being killed in the process. Not to mention she literally kidnapped me to recruit me." he revealed.
" Disgusting." commented Carmen.
" Yes, so I had to stop her. I hope you don't feel … like being used as a puppet ?" he wondered with worry.
" No. You simply transmitted datas so I can get away without harm. Which was of great help." she said.
" Good. You'll probably be glad to learn that a few operatives had been captured. Their communication devices allowed Interpol to prove VILE's existence. I also … found something that might have been a lair. If you could confirm it." announced Devineaux.
" If it's located on an island, and under the ocean then yes. It was their headquarters."
" How did you …"
" Read my file in the guest room. Sorry about that." she apologized.
" Hmph ! Well, if I were to find a file about me I'd be curious too. So I was right then. Wonder if we could collect something."
" I already tried. I doubt interesting remains are still there." said Carmen.
He just nodded. Sandiego added she could provide faces and code names. Perfect. On this, he transmitted Julia's wish about a meeting. She had results about her investigation but needed more. Carmen accepted.
" Now, just try to go back to sleep okay ?" he said with a soft voice.
Devineaux saw her stiffening. So he laid more comfortably, inviting her to do the same.
" That's okay, don't worry you're safe here." he said, seeing her preoccupied face.
" I know … but I'm not in a hurry to face those nightmares again." she whined.
" Ah, I can relate."
" Hm Chase ?" she asked shyly.
" Yes ?"
" Could you … sing please ? It … really appeases me."
He had a flattered smile. He closed his eyes to choose something. Then the first notes of a French song emerged. Carmen focused on his male voice. Then, she began to fall asleep, with a little smile. Chase contemplated her. She really had a beautiful face. So delicately sculpted. Long eyelashes, a mouth like a strawberry, long, silky hair … Chase approached a hand, letting small bangs of her brown hair sliding. He stayed until his stomach reminded him he hadn't eaten for hours. Better get going before his belly grumbles awoke her.
Meanwhile, Tamara Fraser had returned to her own home too, in a daze. Surely, what just happened was a nightmare. Her organization couldn't be over just like that. She finally managed to reach someone from whom she grabbed influence, to learn that what she had covered up for was about to be made public. And that was how it happened : afraid of the scandals, of the trials it might provoke everyone just withdrew. They denied her. No more influence. It wasn't all : Fraser believed she could buy her influence, before learning that due to an investigation about her past actions, all funds had been sealed. This was bad, really bad. But who could have done that ? Who was so determined to take her down ? The list was long alas. But she would fight. Fraser would find who did this, and confront this person.
First, she'll have to check on her HQ servers. There were certainly tracks on it. She'll have some people who owe her look into it. So she made a last call. Then, she let herself fall on an armchair. Her cat climbed to settle on her knees. Fraser caressed him absentmindedly. To think that some weeks ago she thought having a perfect plan to catch Sandiego, and it all backfired on her. Wait. Could it be Devineaux's doing ? Nah, he wasn't smart enough and how could he have done that ? He was alone. Then who ? All of her agents had always been loyal to her. She had to understand how all her past moves were discovered first. Commander meowed to claim his meal. Fraser stood up to feed him.
The following day, Chase was in conference with Onyx. He reported that ACME was under investigation about what had been discovered. All being supplied by an anonymous source, it had a more or less legal appearance. According to Onyx, their superior in Interpol was now gathering testimonies about dirty money collected.
" Fine, but we should take back our little spy." recalled Chase.
" Right, Bianca will handle that. That way you'll stay out of it. No suspicion."
" Of course. And how about the tracks of your intrusion in the servers ?" asked Devineaux.
" I already erased them after each passage, but me and Player are working on it to cover it at best. How is your protégé ?"
" Having nightmares, which isn't surprising. Did you warn her team about her location ?"
" Yep. They're waiting for your call to collect her." announced Onyx.
" Very well. We still have to find who ordered the MI6 to mingle in this. So it's not for now." warned the inspector.
" Call me if you need something about what you're investigating."
"Thank you so much Onyx. You did really great and nothing would have been possible without you." added Chase.
" You're welcome. After all, you're the one who recruited me, avoiding me jail." replied the young man.
The inspector smiled one more time. He heard Sandiego inside getting up. He hung up with his colleague, before closing his window.
" Good morning Carmen. Did you manage to sleep ?" he welcomed.
" Yes, thanks to you." she said with tenderness.
He perceived that, and got pink. He invited her to sit for breakfast. They began to eat in silence. Carmen tried to not stare at him too much. She was thoughtful : it was like when he was part of her team, but she couldn't help question this : wasn't he different now ? What if the man she came to know, and love, didn't exist anymore ? It would be such a shame. However, he didn't hesitate to rescue her. Plus, the way he comforted her during the night … it had to be a clue right ? Carmen was dying to know how he was seeing her now, if there was a chance for him to like her, even a little. She was so focused on this that she didn't hear him calling her.
" Carmen ?"
" Huh ?"
" I was saying that Julia wanted to meet you. About this MI6 involvement." repeated Devineaux.
" Oh right. Whenever she wants then."
Chase concluded by announcing he would call her this morning. Two hours later, Julia was on her way to her teammate's house. Chase for his part, had a call from Bianca. She was collecting the spy at ACME headquarters.
" What is going to happen to that corporation now ?" asked Bianca.
"Oh I suspect we'll cross paths with them, until the investigation about them is finished. They may not be allowed to have any case, but they're free to move. Arresting Carmen is still an option." replied Chase.
" Then this Chief is in for a surprise : Carmen isn't considered as a criminal anymore. That too, would be illegal." noted Bianca.
" Yes. That's why I'd love to see that. But I can't let that happen, it would be unfair for Carmen."
The doorbell interrupted the conversation. Chase hung up and went to welcome Julia. Carmen greeted her as well. Then, straight to the point. Julia reported what she found : an investigation had been ordered, officially about her and VILE. Recently, death of operatives had been reported to whomever ordered this. But little to nothing about the thief, except that she was still free.
" Do you know someone among VILE who could be linked to the MI6 ?" asked Argent.
" Hmmm … I should ask a teammate. He was part of VILE as one the heads. He must know." announced Carmen.
" Fine." agreed Julia.
She lent her tablet. Chase, laid in an armchair while the girls took his couch, glanced while the women were talking. Julia lent a tablet that Carmen used to call Shadowsan. She explained to him what Jules discovered. The man mused on this.
" Hmmm … Maelstrom had a friend connected to the MI6, called Roundabout."
" Whaat ? Roundabout ? What's this name ?" made Chase.
" Looks like they're out of good code names at VILE." remarked Carmen.
"And what's his role in there ? Teaching traffic laws ? Or how to turn beautifully around ? " continued Chase.
" Can we be back on a serious topic ?" mumbled Shadowsan.
" Seriously, on what criteria did you recruit him ? Constant joy and fun guy ?" asked Chase to Carmen.
That one had a little laugh, Julia sniggered. Shadowsan grumbled again. Anyway, Chase wondered if he could get a picture of the man. But he shook his head. He could describe him providing he didn't change too much.
" Then how are we going to get rid of him ?"
" I can still try to investigate, but this name is certainly an alias." said Julia.
" Do the best you can, I'll also inform Onyx about that, see if he's able to dig something." replied Chase.
Carmen thanked her teammate before ending the call. Chase invited Julia to stay and have lunch with them, which she gladly accepted. Carmen proposed herself for cooking, as a thanks to them. Devineaux was to have a meeting with his colleagues, so was Julia, so the Latina was on her own in the kitchen.
" …"
Except she never cooked anything. Always used to eat in restaurants or sandwiches. What should she cook and how ? Chase reported what he learnt to Onyx, when he smelled something burning. Then a shout :
" The hell are you doing ?!" exclaimed Julia.
" I don't know ! This isn't supposed to catch fire !" responded Carmen.
Catch … FIRE ?! The man gushed out of his bedroom. Carmen was holding, no, shaking a pan in flames, hoping by any miracle to make it disappear. Julia was filling a pitcher of water she just threw on the young woman, drenching her but extinguishing the fire. Devineaux's eyes strolled in his kitchen : vegetables peeling on a wall, a salt shaker half empty ( it was full this morning ?!), lots of spices (awful taste in perspective). A black cloud was completing this picture. The women coughed. Devineaux immediately opened a window once the shock more or less wore over. He noticed stains on the floor. Mustard apparently. As if all the spices weren't enough. Was she trying to poison them or what ? There was also something else being cooked. In the microwave. Meat. Or should he say a shoe sole ? Carmen noticed Chase's presence. He was … staring at her disaster, mouth opened.
" Oh no !"
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
" Out. In your room. Now." he said.
Carmen put her pan in the sink, before leaving sheepishly. Chase rolled up his sleeves. Julia helped clean. She watched him cooking. Wow, given the smell he seemed to know his business in this. Finally, the meal was done. Carmen was cursing herself. He was certainly resenting her for ruining his food and kitchen. Plus he was French, and this domain was kinda sacred for his people.
" Hm, welcome back chief Sandiego." he quipped.
She winced in embarrassment. Crossing his look while he was serving her she understood he wasn't really mad, which was a relief.