Ch.6 The Not-So Dynamic Duo

Author Note: Italics are thoughts.

Location: Bleu Building, Paris,

Time: 9:15 pm

As Sly was adjusting to his new surroundings, Bentley and Murray had positioned themselves in front of the Bleu Building. Finding out that Sly had been sent to the feared prison, the two had snapped into action. Researching as much as they could about Owlcatraz was just the tip of the iceberg-sized task. They discovered that the only known blueprints of Owlcatraz were in the 20th floor of the Bleu Building. They had spent an entire day plotting the heist for the blueprints. But Bentley decided to repeat the plan to Murray, for the umpteenth time.

"Okay Murray, let's review. I will sneak into the air vents of the building and reach the elevator. Once there, I'll hack into the shaft's controls to get me to the 20th floor. I'll get to the blueprint room using the vents. Then I simply use my new index device to find the Owlcatraz blueprints. Do you have any questions, Murray?"

Murray yawned at hearing Bentley review the plan…again. He silently raised his hand.

"Yes Murray?"

"Why are we wearing these ski masks again?" Murray asked.

"They're to protect our identities so that we can't be identified by any passing civilians." Bentley explained.

"But they're ugly and really itchy Bentley!" Murray started to scratch the mask on his face.

Despite feeling the very same itch, Bentley persisted. "I know Murray. But think of it this way. At least you don't have to get out of the van. Seeing as how, I'm the only one who can crawl through the vents."

Murray was impressed with his friend's bravery. "Wow Bentley, you're taking you're first time out in the field pretty well."

"Well, it's just a simple mission. I have complete confidence that everything will be alright."

(A few minutes later, in the vents.)

"I am going to die!!!" Bentley thought as he crawled through the vents. "I didn't realize these vents were so small! I think I'm getting claustrophobic! The walls are closing in! Ahhh!!!" this went on until he saw the elevator shaft. "Great! Almost there…" Bentley hopped on top of the elevator and got out his laptop. "Time to get this party starte…" Just then the elevator lurched upward at a breakneck speed, pinning Bentley down. Fortunately, Bentley did what you or I would have done then. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" he screamed.

All of a sudden the elevator stopped. After a few minutes, Bentley looked at his computer to see if it was okay. Miraculously, not only was his laptop in one piece, but the screen indicated that the elevator had reached the 20th floor. "That's good." The turtle looked around to find the vent he was supposed to crawl through. He gulped. "Almost there, don't panic."

Things seemed to be going well. Bentley was almost to the room with the blueprints without incident. "I'm going to make it! I'm going to make it!" he thought, but his celebration was short-lived when a nearby duct started sucking up air. Unfortunately, Bentley was also getting sucked in. "Shoot! I forgot about the air conditioners!!" Bentley clawed at the floor, hoping to anchor himself to the vent. Then as quickly as it had began, the vent stopped. Bentley sighed in relief. But was once again getting sucked into another duct. "Not again!!!" Then it stopped. Then the duct on the other side was sucking him in. Then it stopped. Then the duct on the other side was sucking him in. And so on and so forth. It seemed never ending, but to Bentley's eternal relief the central duct was starting to suck in air. He was happy because that was the duct into the blueprint room. As he was being pulled towards the vent he wondered what he should say. Something that pronounced victory in the face of adversity. In the end, only one thing could express his joy as he crashed through the vent and into the room. "BANZAI!!!!" he shouted nervously.

Bentley landed on a table covered with blueprints. "Once again my intellect has triumphed in the face of adversity. Perhaps this is a sign. Maybe I can go out in the field without getting killed. Then again…" as Bentley pondered he did not notice the huge menacing figure behind him.

Then the large, shadowy being went up to the unwitting Bentley…and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. "Ehhh…heh…heh." Bentley sobbed as he looked behind him to see…Murray?

"Hey Bentley." Murray waved.

"Murray! I'm so glad you're not a guard! Wait what are you doing here?"

"Well you left your index thing in the van, so I went in the elevator to give it back to you." Murray explained.

"Wait, did you press the button to get you to the 20th floor?"

"Yeah, Bentley. I even used the extra speed feature on the elevator to go really fast!"

Bentley wondered if that had anything to do with his little 'elevator' adventure. "Go on,"

"Okay, then I found the blueprint room. It was kind of hot so I turned on the air conditioning."

"You…turned on the air conditioner?" Bentley shuddered.

"Right, but I had to constantly turn two air conditioners on and off to keep the room cool, you won't believe the regulation procedures here!"

"On and off huh?" Bentley started to put the pieces together. (Can you?) But there was still one missing piece to the puzzle. "How did you get up here without being caught by security?"

"I didn't." Murray stated happily.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"Well, do you remember Larry?" Murray asked.

"Larry?! From Vegas?!"

"That's him. Well he's now a security guard here. He recognized me, and to repay me for beating that burly guy in Vegas at arm wrestling, while simultaneously winning back all his money. He decided to help me get the blueprints as thanks. He even gave me the keys to the elevator's extra speed feature so I could catch up with you." Murray finished.

Bentley resisted every primal urge in his being to strangle his hippo friend. For not only making his perfect plan a failing rollercoaster of pain, but for also finding a simpler, easier way to get the blueprints. Bentley calmed down a bit and turned to Murray. "Did you get the blueprints with my index device?"

"No."

"What?" Bentley inquired tensely.

"No, it was too complicated. But luckily the blueprints are stored in alphabetical order."

Bentley slapped himself in the face. "Hand me the blueprints please." He silently commanded.

"Okie Dokie!" Murray removed the blueprints from his backpack and gave them to Bentley.

The feelings of anger and embarrassment disappeared as he looked at the blueprints. (Yep, that's how intimidating they were.) Murray couldn't help but look over Bentley's shoulder and laugh.

"Man! I wonder what kind of morons would try to break into that!" he laughed.

Bentley looked at Murray with a shocked expression on his face. "Murray, we're those morons."

"Oh," the truth had suddenly hit Murray with the speed of an out of control locomotive. "Crud."

To be continued…