Chapter 4
"See ya!" Kitty called after Ling Chu, after he had dropped her off, watching his bright green motorcycle speed away down the street. She then sighed contentedly, slinging her purse over her shoulder, and turned toward the door, casting a few lingering looks in his direction. She worked the locks of the front door, and moved inside, securing them again, one at a time. "Carmelita, I'm home!" she called, arching an eyebrow when she heard sounds coming from the living room. She put her purse and her keys down, eyeing herself a moment in the mirror in the hall…just to make sure she didn't look mussed. She grinned happily, for today, she had kissed Ling Chu good-bye, instead of the other way around. As she moved into the living room, she intended to let her friend know of her actions, but never got the chance, as her mouth opened in stunned surprise. "What the---?" she exclaimed, just before she put one slender hand over her mouth in surprise.
"Kitty…y-you're home!" Carmelita stammered in surprise, on her knees, caught in the process of…carefully placing her great-grandmother's wall clock, encased in a veritable cocoon of protective bubble-wrap, into a sturdy cardboard moving box (minds out of the gutter, all or you who expected something far more shocking! ;P). All about the living room, draped over chairs, stacked neatly upon the floor, and strewn all about on ever bit of furniture, seemed to be every piece of Carmelita's worldly goods.
Kitty got over her surprise quickly enough, though. She then gestured a the carpet of stuff in their living room with a jerk of her chin, a hesitant yet hopeful smile appearing on her face. "Yes. As a matter of fact I am," she stated, quite cleverly. "So, girl…I'm guessing---and this is only conjecture on my part, mind you---that Le Hotel Champlain did indeed prove to be the current residence of one Sly Cooper, Esquire, then?" Kitty finished, her smile becoming brighter as she spoke.
"You got it, kid!" Carmelita replied, getting to her feet, and moving over to the smiling Kitty. "Thanks so much," she added, just before she pulled the startled, yet very pleased Kitty into a fierce hug, which she eagerly returned.
"Ooh, I'm so happy for you!" Kitty squealed. She then sobered though, and gave her a more subdued smile. "It's still not going to be the same here without you around to give me a hard time…"
Carmelita laughed softly. "Sure," she teased. "Well, I'm pretty certain you'll soldier though somehow, sweetie."
Kitty tried to put forth her most heroic looking pose, before answering. "If I must," she proclaimed grandly, then burst into a fit of giggling. Carmelita merely smiled, and shook her dark haired head.
Carmelita began to move again, picking up things, examining them, then either putting them into one of the myriad moving boxes before her, or placing them back into a careful pile on the floor. "All the stuff I don't take with me, you're free to keep…if you want it, that is," she told Kitty.
Kitty moved over to look at the items there. "Are you sure, Carmelita?" Kitty questioned, picking up a crystal vase and eyeing it then her. "This is pretty nice stuff you're leaving for me."
"Yes, Kitty," Carmelita assured her. "I'm sure." She then eyed Kitty fondly, her big brown eyes glistening a moment. "I---I want you to have it. Won't you please take it? I couldn't stand someone I don't know to have them."
Kitty felt a flutter in her stomach, and blinked. "Of course I'll keep them, Carmelita! I'm---I'm so---well, it'd be a honor, really," Kitty replied.
Carmelita nodded, swallowing hard. "Thanks, I really appreciate it," she told her friend.
Kitty knew it must be very hard for Carmelita, having to decide what she could, and could not, take with her when she moved. Kitty felt a sudden rush of sadness, and her lower lip trembled. "I'm gonna miss you…so much!" she wailed and pulled Carmelita into a hug, beginning to cry.
"Shh," Carmelita soothed the distraught blond-haired vixen. "I know." She rocked Kitty in her arms, surprised at the tender feelings she now held for this impulsive, yet very hard to dislike young woman. "I know. I'll miss being with you too."
Kitty cried quietly…but only for a moment, then the storm had passed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," she admitted, still sniffling.
"It's all right," Carmelita replied, looking down into Kitty's blue eyes. "You know that if you ever need me, I'm only a phone call away," Carmelita informed her.
"Yeah, I know," Kitty said, smiling thankfully at her. "It's just…" she began, then faltered. "I've gotten so used to knowing that you're here all the time. I suppose I've become a bit dependent on you. I've never had a big sister before."
"Yes, well," Carmelita replied, pleasantly surprised by Kitty's admission. "Now you've got two of us, girl," she reminded her with a gentle smile.
Kitty blinked, then laughed. "Yeah! That's right now, isn't it?" she said. She then looked over to Carmelita. "That might just be, Carmelita…but it's not going to be the same."
"I know, Kitty," Carmelita admitted ruefully. "But, that's life. I have to do something with my life now. And…I think this is what will make me happy." Carmelita looked away from her. "Are you happy for me, Kitty?"
Kitty blinked, surprised. She then laughed…a happy, glowing sort of laugh. "Of course I am, silly! Haven't I been the one trying to get you and Cooper together for, well, ages now?"
Carmelita grinned, then ruffled Kitty's hair playfully. "Ah, yes…my little matchmaker, eh?" she remarked aloud.
"That's me!" Kitty avowed. "Ain't I just adorable then?"
Carmelita laughed. "As a matter of fact…and despite my better judgment, you are, you insufferable little rogue," she told her, then gently cupped her chin in her hand, and stared into her startled blue eyes. "I don't know how you managed to wriggle your way into my life, Kitty Petro," she said then. "But I can't think of life without you now. I love you, l'il sis," she said, moving in to kiss Kitty on the cheek fondly.
Kitty's eyes brimmed at that. When she had first moved in with this mercurial vixen, she had had hopes…such fond hopes. But, to realize---at long last---that she and Carmelita had finally become inseparable friends---sisters, even!---made her feel…well, complete somehow. Fighting hard to curb her emotions, she replied, "I love you too, Carmelita." She gave her a kiss back on the cheek, smiling at her. She then wiped her eyes, and grinned over at her. "Need any help, Sis?" she offered.
"Sure!" Carmelita replied, beckoning her over. "All that stuff in front of me is going with me. So, grab some packing paper and bubble-wrap…and get packing, girl!"
As the two girls packed boxes, they talked…about any number of things, things that two good friends might discuss. Eventually, Kitty asked about what had happened at the hotel with Sly. "So, they decided to vote you in, eh?" Kitty said, impressed.
"Yep!" Carmelita responded with a grin. "You, Ms. Petro, are now looking at the Cooper Gang's very first Apprentice, you are."
Kitty smiled. "Cool," she stated, meaning it. She then had another thought, about her 'other' older sister. "Um, that's great and all…but have you figured out how you're going to tell Carmen that?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Yes, I have," Carmelita replied, then retrieved an envelope out of her jacket's inner pocket, which she gave over to Kitty. "All she needs to know is in there. You just give this to her three days after I've moved out, okay?"
"You got it, Carmelita," Kitty assured her. She then grimaced, hoping she wouldn't manage to irritate her friend. "So…um, you still mean that we'll, er, be seeing each other after you move out?"
Carmelita turned and looked at Kitty. She could see that still being in touch with her would mean the world to the kid. "Yes, of course, we will, Kitty," Carmelita smiled. "I mean, after all…even Cooper and myself could always use some help now, can't we? And, it'd be even better, if we had some help from the inside of Interpol now, wouldn't it?"
Kitty, still packing items in boxes, nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that makes sense," she admitted, glad she'd be able to help.
"And," Carmelita added a moment later, "just think of how quickly you'll be rising in the ranks then."
"Hmm?" Kitty asked, frowning. "What do you mean?"
"Well, that's going to be hard to explain…exactly," Carmelita replied after a moment to think. "Okay, maybe an example might help. Give me a minute, okay?"
Kitty nodded, intrigued and curious, but kept her peace.
"Okay, then," Carmelita finally ventured after five minutes time. "You probably don't remember back in Cooper's heyday with me. So…let me give you an example, okay?" She watched Kitty nod her head, urging her to continue.
"Let's try this: you know that bastard, Enrico Giaovani? You know…that Mafia hood of a grizzly bear?" she began.
Kitty nodded, then grimaced. "He's a nasty piece of work, that one is," Kitty opined.
"You got that right, Kitty," Carmelita agreed. "Well, suppose that dirtbag has gone and stolen something. Something like that big diamond from the museum, you know…the Star of Rangoon? Oh, and along the way, no doubt, he's managed to knock off a goodly number of guards in the process."
Kitty thought about that, then nodded, gritting her teeth. "Yeah, that's sounds like him, all right."
"Okay. Suppose that happens then. Well, girl, don't be at all surprised then, when you arrive at work one day, and right there atop of your desk blotter, what would those big blues of yours see but none other than that missing diamond, which, by the way, proves to be the missing link in your case. And, which would land that hood, Giaovani in prison, facing a life sentence."
"That'd be cool, all right," Kitty confirmed, laying a stack of Carmelita's blouses into a box.
"Oh, yeah," Carmelita restated with a big grin. "Oh, and then, on top of that priceless sparkler, you'll find Sly Cooper's famous calling card…you know the one?"
Kitty smiled, nodding her blonde head. "Oh, yeah. But, you and he can do that sort of thing then?"
"You better believe it, kiddo!" Carmelita assured her, smiling confidently. "I mean, after all…he did that sort of thing routinely without me, right? So, with me by his side, sort of his Maid Marion to his Robin Hood---as you've said so many times to me before---we'll be an unstoppable team!"
Kitty thought it over, and then grinned mischievously. "I get it. Cool. Very cool indeed."
"Oh, yeah," Carmelita said, then canted her head a moment, adding. "And hey…should Trish Connelly need a hand now and again, you just let me know, okay?" Carmelita smiled, then shook her dark-haired head, rolling her eyes in a weary but accepting way, added. "You see, Sly, for some unknown reason, all of his very own, is fond of her too. Just like I am, you see…"
"Trish Connelly?" Kitty asked, frowning at first thinking hard. Then, it clicked in her head. "Oh, you mean that cute little doll of a Irish vixen then…that one with the reddish-blond hair and that adorable accent?" Kitty then nodded, adding to that. "The gal you used to hang out with each and every day at lunch? As well as on your breaks? That one?"
"Yep! She'd be the one, all right," Carmelita told her, smiling.
After that…it took one good long week for both Carmelita and Kitty, before the pair of vixens were able to finally pack away everything Carmelita wanted to take. The day, a Tuesday, of her moving out finally arrived, and after a long, long good-bye hug from Kitty---one that Carmelita finally had to pry Kitty off of herself---the two prepared to part ways. Oh, but only after Kitty had to ask if the landlord minded if she got herself a pet…because she wanted some company. Oh, after her saying that, Carmelita couldn't help adding, "You mean, along with Ling Chu too, you mean…right?"
Kitty bristled, "CARMELITA!"
So Carmelita finally pulled up in her Peugeot Spyder---that being her convertible, by the way---eased into the garage of Le Hotel Champlain, Cooper's residence, then knocked on the door. "Hello, in there!" she boomed.
As a matter of course, it was none other than Murray who finally opened the door. "Hey! Hello there, Ms. Fox!" Murray greeted her.
Carmelita hugged the hippo, saying, "Hey buddy! It's Carmelita…Ms. Fox is my mother! Hey, I could sure use some help getting my things out of my car." She jerked her chin to her car meaningfully.
"Oh! Of course, Carmelita!" Murray said and followed Carmelita back in to the garage, where he proceeded to move all of her boxes with ease…letting Carmelita carry the last one, a very special box herself. "I could carry that…if you'd like?" he offered generously.
"No need, Murray, I can manage this just fine," Carmelita said.
"Um, what's in there?" Murray asked, curious.
"Oh, this old thing you mean? Um, nothing much, just a few of my clothes, really," Carmelita assured him, showing him her favorite jeans, her jacket, and on top it all…her red thieving outfit. "Remember?"
Murray blushed. "Um, yeah…er, um…" he muttered. "Sorry bout that, Ms. Fox."
"Not too worry, old boy," Carmelita chuckled cleverly, "you and Bentley are quite forgiven."
As they moved her stuff inside, Sly and Bentley where waiting for them. "This is all?" Sly asked, for there really was only some five boxes to moved really. "I like a gal who packs light…" He grinned mischievously at her.
"Yep!" Carmelita said. "I have now officially moved in! Now, I just need to find myself a room in this place."
Sly gave a smile and a kiss. "Sure, we can do that! I'll be glad to give you a little tour," he said, linking arms with Carmelita before they started walking.
Carmelita was shown every room that was important to the Cooper Gang then. A few of the rooms were used to house Bentley's computer gear and experimental gadgets. One room of interest to Carmelita was an exercise/training room that reminded her of a dojo, where Sly could practice his thieving and combat skills. She figured that before too long, she too would be very familiar with that place. Soon, they moved to just before Sly´s bedroom.
Carmelita didn't take very long to notice the door opposite his. "Um, what's inside of there?" she asked.
"Not much, sweetheart…it's just an empty room," Sly said.
"Would it be all right if took a look then?" Carmelita asked.
"Sure!" Sly replied with a smile. "Problem is, well, the door happens to be locked right now. However, if you could give me a few minutes," Sly ventured, reaching into one of the pockets on the thigh of his pants to extract what looked to Carmelita to be a lockpick. Sly knelt down, inspected the lock, then got to work, adroitly maneuvering the pick just so, so that… "There! I got it!" Sly announced, getting to his feet, and moving aside for his lovely Carmelita.
"Amazing," Carmelita said in hushed tones, as she watched Sly deftly pick the lock of the mysterious room in mere minutes.
"Not really, love," Sly told her, putting his pick away in his pocket. "Actually, Bentley's the best at opening locks."
"Oh? Is he really that good then?" Carmelita asked, curious.
Sly smiled, and nodded the affirmative. "Oh, yeah. Do you remember that sweet red outfit of yours you wore on my birthday?" Sly prompted her.
Carmelita grinned, shaking her head. "Well, d'uh! How could I forget, Cooper?" Carmelita replied with a smile.
"Well, sweetheart, the reason that costume fit you like a glove was because the designer who created it already knew your size," Sly told her.
"Oh?" Carmelita replied, surprised. "And, how did they know my size already? I've never met this mysterious person before!"
"Well, Carmelita," Sly said in some embarrassment, "that was because Bentley and Murray raided your closet several days before my party, and er, stole some of your older clothes. That's how."
"Grr," Carmelita groused. "Is nothing sacred anymore?" She shook her head a moment later and chuckled. "So, six dead bolt locks, and still your buddy got into my house, stole my clothes, and got out…all without me knowing. Is that what you're telling me, Cooper?"
"Er, um, uh…yeah," Sly responded with a grin.
"Well," Carmelita replied. "Then I've only one thing to say…"
"And, that would be…what, my love?" Sly asked.
"That's simple, Sly," she answered with a laugh. "Teach me how!"
Sly laughed too, and reached out tenderly to cup Carmelita's face…just a moment before he kissed her soundly upon her lips. That kiss lingered for a minute, and only ended because Bentley and Murray returned. "Ahem," Sly gasped, trying very hard to regain his composure.
Bentley sighed, closed his eyes a moment, then grinned. "You two never stop, do you?" he accused, chuckling.
Sly grinned. "What can I say, Bent?" he threw back at his buddy. "She's cast a spell over me, buddy. And…I, for one, am certainly not complaining. No sir!"
"Flatterer," Carmelita replied, smiling at him, while raking her fingers through her hair to smooth it from their tussle a moment ago. "If it's all the same to you three, I'd like to see this room. I'd really like to get moved in today, if it's okay with you three gentlemen…"
"Of course, querera," Sly replied, bowing. "Your inspection awaits…"
Carmelita opened the door, and peered inside. "Whoa!" she whispered, impressed. This room was apparently no room at all, but more of small suite, she concluded. A double bed with a solid maple headboard and footboard dominated the room. She frowned as she noticed this room's bed was already made up…complete with silk sheets, pillowcases, and warm, comfy-looking quilt. "It's…why, it's beautiful," she intoned, moving inside. She then turned to Sly. "So…this room was locked, was it?" she demanded, smiling.
"You saw it was, querera," Sly threw back at her.
"Then," she reasoned. "Mind telling me why the bed was made up, the curtains are clean, and the floor doesn't have one speck of dust on it? Hmm?"
Bentley laughed out loud. "Looks like she's on to you, Sly," he said.
Sly shrugged. "Well, she was an Inspector, remember?" he replied, then frowned. He then guiltily looked over to Carmelita. "Y-You're not mad at me, are you?"
Carmelita chuckled, delighting in being able to catch him in his cleverness. "No, Sly, I'm not," she informed him, then took his hand and gave it a thankful squeeze. "I think it's sweet of you."
Sly blushed, but grinned broadly. "I'm glad you appreciate my efforts then," he told her. "So…is the rest of the room to your liking then, sweetheart?"
"Oh, yes," she answered, waiting for Bentley and Murray to move off. "It's perfect…and it's close to your room, amigo." She then regarded him with affection.
Sly grinned too. "So…since that's decided," he began. "Yo, Murray!" he bellowed.
Murray turned around. "Yeah, Sly?" he asked.
"Why don't you and Bentley move Carmelita's things up here? It seems like she's made a decision about where she's staying," Sly suggested. "And, while you're both doing that…I've got a welcoming present for our beautiful new guest."
Bentley looked over at Murray, who shrugged, then the two of them moved off, heading downstairs to retrieve Carmelita's things.
"A present for me?" Carmelita asked, curious now. "How thoughtful…"
"Eh, what can I say?" Sly said, with absolutely no modesty at all. "I'm just a thoughtful kind of guy…"
"Oh, my…and humble too," Carmelita teased.
"When I need to be, gorgeous," Sly answered slickly. "Now, think happy thoughts, querera…I'll be right back!"
Carmelita moved over to the window of her room, and threw back the curtains, and opened the window, throwing open the sash to get some air into the room. She looked out and was pleased to discover that her room was directly above the garden, which was reinforced a moment later when a soft breeze wafted the scent of flowers into her room. She sighed in contentment.
"I'm back, my love!" Sly called as he moved inside her room.
Carmelita turned around to see that Sly now bore a large slender, rectangular box which he now laid upon the quilt of her bed, working the closures. "Last week, you see, after you left, that is…I contacted this friend of mine who has some talent with making things…and well, I had him make these," he said, flipping open the case, then stepping back to let her see.
Carmelita moved up and looked down. Inside the case, lying side-by-side in a felt liner, were two canes that looked like miniature versions of the one Sly owned. One cane's c-shaped head lay at each end of the case. She reached down to reverently run a slender finger over the metal of one of the canes, and smiled. She then lifted one up and held in her hand, delighting in feeling the wonderful balance it had. "Oh, Sly…they're---they're beautiful," she told him, really quite truthfully.
"Perhaps," Sly replied, "But not anywhere near as beautiful as you, my love! You know, I hope these will prove to be an adequate replacement for that old bazooka you used to lug around," Sly said, his eyes teasing her.
Carmelita smiled and nodded. "Oh, yes…these will do just fine," she told him, then surprised him by grabbing his cheek fur firmly with each hand and pulling him into yet another kiss. "Thank you for these, Sly. I really do love them."
Carmelita began testing her new 'toys'…and as such, Bentley and Murray were rewarded by their timely return to see Sly and Carmelita sparring good-naturedly with their canes, the clack and clang of the implements ringing over their laughter and banter.
"You two are impossible!" Bentley shouted a moment later. "Gah, and she's moving in with us? Aw, great…" Bentley turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving Murray, Sly, and Carmelita grinning.
Sly and Murray---with Carmelita directing them---moved her belongings into her room, and assisted in storing them away. The suite she had selected had not one, but two, walk-in closets, so everything had its space. After three hours, most of her essentials were stowed away, and the three of them sat back in the chairs that were in the room. "Thanks, Murray," she said. "you too, Sly," she added, giving him a special look, one that left Sly grinning and Murray blushing.
"So…getting hungry, Carmelita?" Sly asked, hearing his own stomach beginning to growl.
"As a matter of fact, yes!" she answered, grinning when her own stomach growled. "But, Sly…can you give me fifteen minutes before we all set down to eat? I want to freshen up before dinner and…and…well, I want to show you all something. If that's all right, of course?"
"No problem, Carmelita," Sly answered, patting the back of her hand affectionately. "You take as long as you need, corazon," Sly said and kissed her upon her cheek before leaving.
Fifteen minutes later, Sly, Murray, and a fidgeting Bentley sat in the dining room, the table set, the food warming in the oven. "What's taking her so long, Sly?" Bentley groused. "I'm hungry."
"Gee, Bent," Sly teased. "You sound like Murray all the sudden…"
"Gee, thanks, Sly," Bentley groused again.
"Hello, boys," came a very familiar feminine voice at the entry to the dining room. They all looked up and over, and saw that Carmelita was once again dressed in the red clinging criminal outfit that Yuri Sing had specially created just for her.
"I like," Sly said in hushed tones, drinking in Carmelita's curvy form. "In fact, I like a lot, mademoiselle…"
Carmelita held her canes crossed before her chest, their heads resting in the crook of each of her arms. "So glad you approve, Mr. Cooper," she teased, curling her tail around the back of her left thigh. "Now, let's eat…because, after that, the only question I'm going to ask is: when does my training start?"