Jealousy

Sly and Carmelita were seated across from each other. Both had a cup of coffee. Both stared at each other, as if sending messages that neither one could hear. They were each trying to get a number of thoughts out of their heads. 'I can't believe I invited him in! Maybe Alexia was right. Oh, damn, now he might think of us as more than partners,of courseeveryone else will.' 'Jeez, is this actually happening? I wanted to get close to her but I didn't mean entering her private life. Now everyone will think we're more than partners.'

"Nice place," Sly said, he already been here, just, not invited.

"Eh, months of saving up got me out of the dump I lived in before," she said.

"I'm guessing saving also got you your sports car?"

"Cost me a years worth of bonuses," she said. "So, who owns the ride?"

"Like I said, some friend who owed me a favor."

"What did he owe you for?"

"I put out a kitchen fire; how it happened? Don't ask me!"

"Interesting."

"So what was that all about with McBride?" Sly asked.

"Oh, well since day one he's been on my case, I mean, at first, I was willing to go out with him, but he showed his true colors on the second date, so I slammed his face down into a bowl of piping hot soup."

"Ouch! He was that bad was he?"

"He wanted try to get to know me better, if you know what I mean."

"Damn! To bad that didn't stop him; I'm still seeing him giving you problems. I would have thought he'd leave you alone after like the tenth time you bust his manhood inside out"

"Yeah, well he doesn't seem to learn. If it was no the first time I knocked them off, what makes him think that I won't say no and do it again the thousandth time he asked?"

"I'm guessing he thinks he can pressure you in for a date."

"You know, this was the first time I went out with someone for years."

Sly looked a little shocked, or at least he was; inside. 'How could someone as gorgeous as her not have dated anyone for a long time?'

"I would have…" 'Now would be a good time to shut up, you know how your charm set her off before you faked everything!' "…oh shoot, it's getting late, I better go."

Sly gulped down the last of his coffee, and took to the door. He didn't notice Carmelita get up after him. As he put his hand on the doorknob, he turned around. He meant to say "Goodnight", but instead, he found himself getting yanked from the door by his tie til his lips were locking with Carmelita's.

Sly pulled up to a garage. He then went through with dusting off fingerprints, readjusting the rearview mirrors, and putting the seat back. He then removed the keys from the ignition.

"Thank you Bentley for these skeleton keys," he said to himself. "The guy who owns this car won't know that I took it for a joyride!"

Sly then went to his apartment, plopped his keys on the bureau, and collapsed on his couch. 'Man, am I tired, good thing its my day off tomorrow. I should thank Bentley for the skeleton keys, and Murray for those driving lessons.' And then he fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in a warehouse in the industrial district of Paris, something was going down. A mysterious man entered the office, in front of him was a lit desk and two rats. The Krakow Brothers.

"So, you're willing to accept our proposition?" said Pierre Krakow.

"I'm willing to accept, if I get something in return," said the mystery man.

"Whatever it is, it is yours," said Jean Krakow.

"My request will benefit to all of us," the mystery man said. "I understand you have a problem with a one Inspector Sly Cooper?"

"That officer has been a monkey wrench in our schemes since we took our business to Paris," Pierre Krakow said, anger in his eyes. "Busting our shipments of goods, arresting me…"

"Well, I want him out of the way, as much as you do," the mystery man said. "I think we can help each other."

"I like you," Jean Krakow said. "You have some potential in this gang. You supply us with what we need, including a solution to the Cooper problem, and we'll help you with what you need."

"There is one more thing," the mystery man said. He tossed a picture of Carmelita on the desk. "There is Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox."

"You want us to snuff her out too?" Pierre asked.

"No, I want her to be left out of this. She gets harmed and the deals off," the mystery man said.

"Then congratulations, everything will come together nicely," the two brothers said in unison. "It's a pleasure doing business with you Mr. McBride."