Disclaimer: Not mine. You know the routine by now.

Author's Note: I'm a driven woman, if you couldn't tell. I've forgotten to mention how I'd love reviews and how I'd love it if you could tell me if anything doesn't seem right. I like to know if I'm writing characters wrong. But tell me why, please. A special thanks to the reviewer who told me I was writing Hawk like Riley- you're quite right, I undoubtedly was. I've always had a hard time seeing Hawk and Riley as two different characters. Hopefully I've fixed that a little bit. Maybe. Also, it's been a long time since I've been to the Mall of America, so forgive the vagueness and any errors. I did a tad bit of research, but…what the hey.

Criminal Masterminds

Silverstone stared at the mall in horror. "How are we supposed to find him in here?" he demanded.

Hawk shrugged and grinned. "I don't know, but I'm sure we'll have fun trying. I mean, The Mall of America!"

"Yeah. The Rat is holding the entire Mall of America hostage, demanding forty million or else he'll blow it up, and all you can think is how much fun we're going to have." Silverstone shook his head. "Where do you think he is?"

"Food court, probably," Hawk said. "Where else would the Rat be?"

"Okay. Where's the food court?" They looked around, absolutely confused. "Wait, I think there's a map over there," Silverstone said in relief. They consulted the map, and groaned. "There's two food courts," Silverstone groaned. "On opposite sides of the mall."

"Do we split up or stay together?" Hawk asked.

"I'm thinking we need to stay together. Let's go, I want this over and done with. Rat's been getting on my nerves."

But they couldn't find the Rat in either of the food courts. "So what do we do now?" Hawk asked, staring down into Camp Snoopy hopelessly.

"I guess we start looking store by store," Silverstone said. He shook his head. "This is impossible. There have to be at least five hundred stores."

Hawk grabbed his arm suddenly. "Silverstone, look," she hissed, pointing across the food court to a woman studying a map.

"Sabyne DeWynter?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "How suspicious."

"Yep," Hawk said, watching as she began to move off. "I say we follow her."

"Sounds like a good plan," he agreed. "I bet she'll be able to lead us to the Rat."

They headed off behind her, figuring she'd never be able to see them in the crowd, but they quickly lost her. "Damn," Silverstone muttered.

"Damn is right," a voice behind them growled. They spun to see a very angry-looking Sabyne. "Care to explain why you were following me?"

"We're looking for the Rat," Silverstone said. "We thought you might know where he is."

Her eyes sparkled. "I do, as a matter of fact. But I do not need two bratty kids tagging along with me."

"We're coming with you," Silverstone snapped. "I know the Rat. I can handle him, stop him from causing any trouble."

"We are top agents for Mission Omega Matrix," Hawk said coldly. "You being here is an inconvenience, especially because you're probably working for him. But we need to find him, regardless."

She shrugged. "He is in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. First floor East." She took off, weaving steadily through the crowd as though the mass of people weren't even there, and never once looking back.

"I don't trust it," Hawk muttered.

"I know," Silverstone said. "But you're right- we do need to find the Rat."

They followed her to the chocolate store, and sure enough, there was the Rat. Silverstone snarled his name before leaping forward. Hawk hesitated, looking around for any other dangers, and saw Sabyne edging closer for the fight. She turned and delivered a kick that caught the older woman in the jaw, causing her to yell out and sprawl across the floor. Sabyne got up slowly and launched herself at Hawk, sending the two of them flying into the store.

Suddenly, Rafael appeared and reached down to pull Silverstone off a struggling Rat. The trio of villains cornered Hawk and Silverstone against a candy case, and the two exchange glances.

"Give up and I'll let you live," Rafael mocked, then gestured to Sabyne.

"Hold out your hands," she said, pulling a string of rope from her hands. At this point, mall security appeared, guns in hand. "Deal with them," she said over her shoulder as she finished tying the knots on Silverstone's hands, then moved on to Hawk.

When the two agents from M.O.M. were tied up, and security destroyed, Sabyne stepped back to regard the two men. "My work here seems to be finished," she said.

"It sure is," Rat said. "They're at our mercy, now."

Sabyne waited for a moment while Rafael and the Rat stood back, the full weight of what had happened sinking into their brains, before she spoke. "I believe we have one order of business left?" she said.

"What?" Rat asked. "Oh, your pay. Don't worry, you'll get it as soon as Artemus pays to get these two back." He chuckled and leaned in close. "And he'll pay handsomely."

"I thought we agreed that when I had finished my job, I would receive my pay." She turned her narrowed eyes to Rafael. "I could understand the Rat making so simple an error, but my dear Rafael, we have worked together enough that you know how I operate."

Rafael swallowed. "Well, the thing is that we don't have the money yet. But we'll get it, I promise."

Sabyne nodded. "I see." She withdrew a pocket knife and moved closer to Silverstone and Hawk. "Gentlemen, I hate to say it, but I do not work for free, nor do I appreciate your…false promises, if we shall."

"No, we need them alive to collect," Rafael said sharply. Silverstone flinched as he looked down at the knife in her hands.

Sabyne rolled her eyes. "You fool, I am not going to kill them."

"You aren't?" Silverstone asked gratefully.

"You aren't?" Rafael asked, dumbfounded.

"Of course not." She cut away the rope at his hands, then turned to free Hawk. "I am just going to stand back…and enjoy." She put the knife away and stepped back. Silverstone grinned.

"I think I like these odds a little better."

"I thought you were on our side," Rat hissed at Sabyne. She shrugged.

"No pay, no work." She paused. "Gentlemen." She walked out of the candy store and sat down on a nearby bench to watch.

"I think I'll just be leaving now," Rafael said, edging slowly toward the exit. Rat sprinted away suddenly, and Hawk made to follow. Silverstone stopped her.

"We can deal with him later. Let's take him down."

Rafael sighed. "No, don't bother. It isn't worth it." He held out his hands, and Silverstone cuffed them. The police were there within fifteen minutes, carting Rafael off to a prison cell.

"That was crazy," Silverstone said.

Hawk nodded. "Artemus is going to love this. It was all just a setup to get you and me."

"I wonder who planned it," Silverstone mused. "I mean, Rat isn't smart enough to come up with something like that all by himself."

"I'd guess Sabyne DeWynter, but it makes no logical sense," Hawk said. "Why would she go to all that trouble just to release us?"

Silverstone sighed. "Criminal masterminds. Who can understand them?"

"That's supposed to be our job," Hawk pointed out.

"I prefer the whole throwing them in jail part. Forget trying to understand them." He led Hawk to the Mission Omega Matrix helicopter.

Down below, Sabyne stood amidst the crowd watching the helicopter take off. As annoying as those kids were, they were at least charming, and they got right down to business. It was obvious that Artemus had been training Silverstone from a young age, and for that reason alone she had been reluctant to cause him any real harm. That was why she'd been quick to free them. In truth, for the amount of money Rat and Rafael had offered her, it was foolish of her to walk away from it. But still, Artemus would never have forgiven her if she hadn't helped Silverstone.

"What a twisted world indeed," she murmured softly.