Chapter 5
Dinner was a lukewarm affair for Carmelita. She enjoyed sharing her meal with…well, with two-thirds of the Cooper Gang, at least. Sly was his normal charming self, so easy to talk to, making her feel as she were the most special woman in the world. Murray was wonderful too…laughing at her stories, telling her entertaining stories about Sly and their past escapades. However, Bentley said nothing to her…he didn't even deign to acknowledge she was even there! Carmelita tried her best to be civil with the taciturn turtle, but his stony silence was uncomfortable to her. She wondered why Bentley was being so, well…politely hostile, let's say, with her. She decided the best course of action was to follow what Sly had counseled earlier…just be herself, and let the cranky Bentley come to grips with her addition to the team on his own.
After dinner was over, and the boys cleared up the dishes, explaining she didn't need to help, as she was still a guest as of yet. Sly excused himself and Carmelita from his friends, so he could complete the first step of her being with the gang. He escorted the comely vixen up to his own room, opened the door, and ushered her within, closing the door behind him. Sly turned to Carmelita, and smiled, enjoying just being with her. "Hey, there," he said smoothly, giving her a charming smile.
"Hey, yourself," Carmelita replied, meeting his gaze, tossing her wavy black hair over her shoulder. She eyed him with a grin. "So, this is what you had in mind, eh? Just couldn't wait to get me alone in your room, eh Cooper?" she teased.
Sly laughed---though, to tell the truth, he was half-tempted by her somewhat scandalous offer---gazing at her fondly. "As tempting as that might be, querera…no, that's not why I've brought you here," he told her, a slightly rueful expression on his face.
"Oh?" Carmelita said, curious now. "Then, why?"
"One moment, gorgeous," Sly told her, turning around and moving over to his bookshelves. "There's something I think will be very beneficial to you during your training with us, Carmelita," he said, looking for a specific book on the shelves.
"Okay, you've got my attention, Sly," she replied, one eyebrow arching as she watched him searching for something. "What have you got for me?" Carmelita asked.
Sly acknowledged her with a grin, then exclaimed softly as he found what he was looking for finally. He reached up and eased an old book in nearly pristine condition down from one of his bookshelves. "Ah, here we are…the pride and joy of the Cooper Clan down through the ages," he proclaimed proudly, moving over to stand beside Carmelita so she could see. "This is the heirloom of the eldest child of each generation of Coopers, the Thieveus Racoonus."
Carmelita's eyes widened as he presented it to her, her hands actually trembling as she reverently took the somewhat heavy book. "The Thieveus Raccoonus," Carmelita read from the gilded letters on the blue leather cover of the book. "Sly, this book…this book is well, legendary."
"Yes, it is," Sly answered her. "Each generation of Coopers pass down this book to their eldest child upon reaching their eighth birthday…father to son, mother to daughter, father to daughter, mother to son. After this book changes hands, the newest Cooper then accepts the responsibility to become that generation's Master Thief," he explained to her, then paused, reminiscing. "However, it didn't come easily to me, as you already probably know…"
Carmelita nodded, knowing his story very well. She noticed, as she thumbed through the surprisingly fresh pages of the ancient text, that the binding was newer than the book, and sewn in five sections. "Is that why you've had to repair it then?" she asked.
Sly smiled, and nodded. "Very good, Carmelita," he said. "That book is how I first met that homicidal maniac, Clockwerk."
"Oh?" Carmelita replied, looking up. "I didn't know that."
"Yep, gorgeous," Sly continued, reaching up to gently rub Carmelita's back as he spoke. "It isn't common knowledge, but on the day of my eighth birthday, he and his gang of thugs crashed my party, stole the Thieveus Raccoonus, and…and, well, killed my dad."
Carmelita felt her heart lurch at hearing the pain in his voice. "I'm sorry, Sly," she said, her voice sympathetic.
"Eh, that's old news," Sly blustered, swallowing hard to ease the most familiar lump in his throat. "Anyway…that book was my inheritance. And, despite the fact that I was young, I had to get it back---all of it!---you know, for a number of reasons."
"Yeah," Carmelita replied. "Your Dad, right?"
"Right you are, clever girl," Sly agreed. "Well, that…as well as returning what was rightfully the Coopers." He paused again. "The Fiendish Five---you've heard of 'em---Clockwerk's gang, divided the book into five sections, then scurried off like the cockroaches they were…each to a different part of the world to their individual hideaways. I had to figure out---with Bentley and Murray's help---just where each lair was, infiltrate it, get back that person's section of the Raccoonus, and…give them the justice they so richly deserved."
Carmelita grinned. "And, in the process, allowing me to bust each of those creeps, and send them off for a long stretch in the penitentiary," she mentioned.
Sly grinned wider. "Making you an international heroine, too…as well as the heartthrob of many impressionable young men, no doubt," he added, remembering the steamy headlines Carmelita received for each of her busts on the Fiendish Five.
"Yeah, well," Carmelita grinned, embarrassed. "I didn't ask for that. I appreciated the praise from Interpol…but I definitely could of done without all that fan mail." She blushed softly then. "Some of it was…shall we say, downright disturbing."
"You have that effect on us guys, beautiful," Sly teased, leaning over to kiss Carmelita on the temple. She grinned, appreciating his compliments.
"Here. Just you take good care of this then," he said. "This contains the journals, insights, and instructions of all the past Cooper Master Thieves. Learning its secrets are the key to honing your special abilities."
"But," Carmelita suddenly interjected. "Why didn't Clockwerk just kill you then, Sly? I mean, I'm glad he didn't, mind you…but wouldn't that of been the end of the Cooper's then?"
"I don't know, really," Sly answered a moment later. "Clockwerk was one sick fella. He told me he wanted to eradicate the Coopers…once and for all. I was a child, remember. He told me that without our book, the Coopers would be nothing. I guess he was trying to hurt me…but the only thing he did was make me mad enough to make it my purpose to hunt him down and restore honor to the Cooper Clan."
"Well," Carmelita said with a smile. "That certainly made my job a great deal harder…"
"Do you regret it, querera?" Sly questioned.
"No," she told him quickly, reaching up to caress his cheek. "After all, as long as there have been Coopers…there have been Foxes to chase them."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Sly returned, grinning. "But, one thing…Clockwerk was wrong."
Carmelita snorted at that. "Yeah, but he was wrong about a good number of things, Sly. What are you talking about in particular?" she told him.
"I mean, he was wrong about the book's importance," Sly informed her. "Now, don't get me wrong, Carmelita…the book is a priceless asset. However, that book a Master Thief does not make. In fact, it's the other way around, you see. Master Thieves made that book; the book did make Master Thieves. It can teach you a good many things about the skills to become one…but, it is your own heart, your own ambitions, your own conscience that turns one into a Master Thief worthy of the name of Cooper."
Carmelita swallowed, looking down at the blue leather book in her hands, realizing for the first time the history, the tradition, the implicit challenge the book held…and had held down through the ages. This was no small responsibility, she told herself, feeling as if there were a line of ghostly figures of the past Coopers gazing at her, evaluating her. She shivered. "I don't know if I can do it, Sly," she told him hesitantly. "What if---"
Sly smiled and carresed Carmelita's cheek, making her smile, dispelling the chill she had felt. "Don't worry, querera…you have it in you, or I wouldn't of offered you this opportunity…no matter how much I love you."
Carmelita felt a rush of warmth at his saying he loved her, and turned a warm thankful smile on the suave raccoon beside her. "I'll do my best, you know that," she promised.
"I know you will," he answered. "So now…Carmelita, it's your turn. From now on you will studying the journals of my predecessors, learning what they have to offer, and putting it into practice through daily training. Don't worry…it'll be simple stuff at first. But, it will become progressively more difficult as you continue. Thankfully, you don't have to learn this stuff on the fly, like I had to. And, I'll be here to help, should you have trouble."
Carmelita looked over into Sly's eyes. "I love you, Sly Cooper. And, I promise I'll make you proud of me," she vowed, holding the book to herself in her arms.
"Ahem," came a voice.
Sly and Carmelita whirled around, and spotted Bentley, who stood in the doorway of Sly's room with something in his hands. "Yeah, Bent? Whatcha got?" Sly asked.
Bentley cleared his throat uncomfortably, turning toward where Carmelita stood beside Sly. "I figured Sly'd be handing you the Thieveus Raccoonus," Bentley began, his face impassive. "Not that I care or anything," he added, just a bit brusquely. He then cracked his neck nervously, and readdressed her. "Um, look…if you're going to be one of us, you'll need to properly equipped. So, bearing that in mind…here!" He thrust a rust-red case into Carmelita's hands, then retreated back to the safety of the doorway.
Carmelita blinked, surprised by his gift of sorts. She fumbled briefly with the snap holding the case closed, and finally opened it, peering in. She frowned a moment in confusion, then reached her slender fingers inside and pulled the object out to see. It looked a great deal like Cooper's own binocucom…a combination of binocular, camera, and communicator. However, while Sly's were matte black, this particular example was a dark matte red…a color that almost matched the color of her outfit. "Is this---?" she began, but was cut off by an irritable Bentley.
"Yes, it's your own binocucom, okay?" he informed her, crossing his arms before his scrawny chest, a frown on his face. "Look…if she's going to be out in the field, doesn't it make sense to make sure we can see what she sees, and coordinate things with her?"
"Yep, sure does," Sly agreed, nodding. It would be nice to have someone to do reconnaissance work with. It got boring and lonely out there sometimes. Not any more, he grinned mentally…thinking off spending time with his favorite lady.
"Thank you, Bentley," Carmelita responded, smiling as she was touched by his thoughtful gift. "I---"
Bentley cut her off again. "Hey, look…I did for the team, okay?" he growled. "Not you…but the team. Good bye," he finished, still frowning, and turned on his heel and stomped out into the hallway.
Carmelita blinked, hurt by his gruffness with her. What had she ever done to him? she asked herself, then looked over at Sly, pleading with her big brown eyes.
Sly frowned, then jerked his head after Bentley. "Go after him, Carmelita," he counseled. "You two have got to find a way to get along." He saw her open her mouth to protest, and he sighed, looking her in the eyes. "I know, I know, sweetheart…it's his problem, not yours. But…"
Carmelita sighed heavily. "Yeah, I know. I've got to be able to work with him. To be able to trust him…and have him trust me," she concluded. She hardened her eyes, lifted her head proudly, then said aside to Sly. "Wait here. I'll be right back."
"Go get 'im, girl," Sly teased, knowing just how formidable a woman Carmelita could be when she set her mind on something. He watched in soft pride as she marched out the door, leaving him slightly hypnotized by the soft swaying of her hips.
"Bentley!" she called out in her best cop voice, striding toward him with determination.
Bentley stopped, grimaced, then turned around to face her. "Yes, Ms. Fox?" he demanded, jutting his chin out pugnaciously.
"I've got a question for you," she declared, coming to halt before him, then looking down into his hardened eyes.
"You do? And what would that question be?" Bentley asked, suspicious.
"What's with all this hostility, Bentley? Far as I can tell, I've always played straight with you…even when we were opponents. So, since we're going to be working pretty closely together in the not so distant future…go ahead, say what you're feeling. Get off of your chest," Carmelita prompted him, eyeing the surly turtle warily.
"You want frankness, then?" Bentley countered, leaning forward, his eyes blazing behind his glasses. "Okay, I can do that. To tell you the truth, Ms. Fox…I just don't trust you. It's all a little too convenient, your suddenly leaving Interpol, your suddenly crossing over to our side. And, I won't even get started on you and Sly."
Carmelita blinked, feeling blood rush to her cheeks, then withheld the sharp reply she was going to make behind her teeth. "Okay, you don't trust me. I can deal with that," she declared, then her mood darkened, and she leaned over, poking her index finger into the turtle's chest, her lips peeling back to reveal her pointed canine teeth. "As for Sly and me…that's between Sly and me. That's not your concern, buster. You got that?"
Bentley felt his blood go cold, and he paled. "Um, yeah, I get it," he replied gruffly.
"Good," Carmelita barked softly, driving her point home. "Now, back to this trust issue of yours." She leaned back up and regarded the wary Bentley. "If I acted like that bitch, Neyla…I could perhaps understand your reluctance to trust me. However, and do correct me if I'm wrong, I am nothing at all like her. And…you know it!"
Bentley was forced to looked away, his face reddening, ashamed. "Okay, I agree…you're nothing like Neyla at all. Hey, if you were, would I of rescued from the Countessa? I think not," he replied, his voice a bit less gruff now.
Carmelita nodded. "Yeah, true…I thanked you for that, you know," she told him.
Bentley scoffed, but grinned ever so slightly. "True…but then there was that time you had me staring down the barrel of your shock pistol, remember?" he reminded her.
Carmelita faltered, yet couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, about that," she began, having to look away a moment. "In all my time at Interpol, I only used force when it was absolutely necessary, all right? I never drew my pistol unless I felt the situation warranted it, and even then, I never fired unless I felt I had to."
"Uh-huh," Bentley responded. "Like you did when Sly got you in one of your tantrums, you mean?"
Carmelita had the good grace to blush at that. "Yeah, well…he was the only one who could push my buttons that well. And, he knew what he was doing every time he did it to me…because he knew that I didn't have a chance of ever hitting him. He was just too damn fast," she conceded. She then looked back over to Bentley. "Now, about that time I was going to arrest you…" she stopped.
"Yes, Inspector?" Bentley softly coaxed.
"Look, I'm not proud of that," Carmelita told him a moment later. "But, c'mon, I was in desperate straits, okay? My job was on the line---due to Neyla!---and I had to do something to redeem myself with my superiors at Interpol. Besides, you did have outstanding warrants against you that would of justified my apprehending you, you know."
Bentley frowned, trying to absorb all this. "That's true…but, look, Carmelita…"
Carmelita smiled inwardly at hearing him finally call her by her first name.
"Okay, all right," Bentley said with a sigh. "Look, you have to understand something about the three of us. Me and Murray grew up in an orphanage, okay? We'd been there since the both of us were six years old. Then, when we were eight, Sly appeared. Life in the orphanage was…well, bad. Now, it got a whole lot better when we and Sly finally became friends…but, look…life in the orphanage means you trust no one. No one but yourself, all right? Oh, and your friends too. But, aside from that…you trust no one. Trust too freely, then all you get is hurt. Okay, at first---we were kids after all---you tried to…but, it hurt too much when your trust was broken. No one wanted us, no one cared one damn what would happen to us…except us. Understand?" Bentley fell quiet after that, turning away from her, feeling like he'd perhaps said too much.
Carmelita, for her part, was surprised in hearing Bentley's revelations. She had always had her parents, her home…those were anchors for her. She couldn't even fathom what it must have been like to not have the security of those staples of a young person's life. "No, I don't," Carmelita replied after a minute. "I didn't know. I suppose…well, I mean…I guess I understand it better now if you…you don't want to trust me."
Bentley looked back to her, and was surprised to see the sympathetic look upon Carmelita's face. "T-Thanks. Hey, look…I'm…I'm sorry I've been, well, so rough on you, Inspector," Bentley managed at last. "It's not you really…it's just, well…it's hard, you know?"
"After Neyla, I understand, Bentley," Carmelita confessed. "I understand a whole lot better after her…"
Bentley scrutinized Carmelita just then. "Yeah, I imagine you do," he said. "Hey, we all felt for you, Inspector…you didn't deserve to be betrayed like that. That's why we had to stay, you know…to get you back in good graces with Interpol."
"I never did understand why you guys did that for me," Carmelita said softly. "Until just recently, I mean…" she grinned.
Bentley smiled. "Yeah, we---I mean Murray and me---were pretty surprised too. But, to tell you the truth…it felt pretty good helping you," he told her. "Now, I still am uneasy having a former Interpol Inspector living with us. I'm sorry, but after all those years of being deathly afraid you'd throw us all in prison…that sort of leaves it's mark on a guy, don't you think?"
"I suppose," Carmelita agreed. "But, conversely, don't you think I feel sort of weird to suddenly be working with the three of you?"
"Yeah, I suppose," Bentley confessed. "But, if that's the case, why---?"
"You know why," Carmelita told him.
"Oh, yeah. Because of your boss, and the way those others treated you, right?" Bentley supplied hopefully.
"Those too," Carmelita replied.
"Oh. Oh!" Bentley then replied in a rush, understanding. "You and Sly, huh?"
"Me and Sly, yes," she agreed, nodding her proud head at her admission.
"Huh," Bentley muttered. "To this day, I just don't get how you two ever got together. The way you howled at Sly when he flirted with you…"
Carmelita felt uncomfortable. "Like I said before…that's between Sly and I, Bentley," she told him. "Maybe you'll understand one day when you might the right lady yourself."
Bentley snorted, a strange expression on his face. "Yeah, right. Like that will ever happen!" he tossed out.
"You never know, buster," Carmelita replied with a small, knowing grin. "It happened to Sly Cooper. Who'd of ever thought that…most of all me?" She grinned.
"Wha---" Bentley gasped. "You're kidding me," he accused, frowning. "C'mon, Carmelita…what woman would ever want a techno-nerd like me?"
"You'd be surprised, Bentley," Carmelita assured him. "There are lot of girls out there that happen to like smart guys like you."
"Huh," Bentley mused to himself. "But---" he began, only to cut off by Carmelita this time.
"Bentley," Carmelita insisted. "One of these days, you're going to meet a very special girl…and, when you do, you're going to have to ask yourself 'Am I willing to let this girl know me…the real me?'" She then looked bluntly at the startled turtle before her. "And, your answer to that question, my friend, will determine if you remain alone your whole life or not. Because if you want someone to share your life with…you're going to have to trust them. And, I mean really, really trust them."
"But…what if I do, and well, she leaves?" Bentley wanted to know.
"That's the risk," Carmelita told him. "Trust me, I know about that. It took me all these years of chasing your boss around to finally get me to trust him. And, when I did…I found that I loved him. And, he loved me."
"Huh," Bentley said again. "So, Carmelita? Was it worth it?" His eyes were very intent behind his spectacles.
"You better believe it, buster," Carmelita assured him. "Love is worth the risk, Bentley. You might get hurt, true…but if it works out…there's nothing like it in the world, my friend."
"Thanks," Bentley finally said, clearly thinking.
Carmelita hadn't heard him say anything in so many words, mind you…but she felt as if she had made some initial steps toward getting Bentley to trust her. "So…are we good?" she asked.
Bentley thought about it a moment, then grinned. "We're good, Carmelita. I may still have some moments of doubt regarding you, I hope you realize."
"I do," she accepted. "Just so you realize it isn't exactly easy for me to be working with the three of you either." She then thrust out her hand to him. "So…we're honest with one another then, yes?"
Bentley thought a moment, then clasped hands with her, shaking her hand once before releasing it. "Deal. Honesty first," he replied. "Look, trust will come in time, Carmelita. But…thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I…well, appreciate that."
"No problem," Carmelita told him, giving him a small thankful smile. "That's what friends do, right?"
Bentley blinked then looked up at Carmelita again. "Right. So, what do you say I show you how your new binocucom works?" Bentley offered.
"That's be great," Carmelita said with a grin. "You know, actually, it might be better if all three of you helped me to understand, hmm?"
Bentley nodded, seeing the logic in that. "The living room…five minutes then?" he suggested.
"I'll be there," Carmelita promised. "With bells and bows on, buddy…"
Bentley laughed, walking away smiling and shaking his head.
Three days later, Carmelita felt as if her head was stuffed with wool. She had so much new information to remember and act upon. Thanks to her being very fit and trim, the combat exercises and fighting moves came almost naturally to Carmelita. She could manage against Murray, but Sly still could penetrate her defenses nearly every session…and that bothered her more than she cared to admit. She was also frustrated with her seeming inability to perform even one of the specialized thieving skills she'd been learning from the Thieveus Raccoonus. However, frustrated that she might be, it didn't stop her from trying…over and over and over again. She practiced until her long dark hair was damp with sweat, until her muscles trembled with fatigue. She spent long nights studying the book, trying to memorize and understand even the most basic of techniques.
The fourth day found her cooling down after yet another grueling workout, paging through the Thieveus Raccoonus, only stopping when a page she thought she saw something interesting. Before she could really get too far into what it was saying, her cell phone began to ring.
Sly looked up at the sound, as did Bentley and Murray. She smiled as she moved over to sit beside Sly before she eyed the caller ID. She smiled broader then, allowing the phone to ring again. "Hey, you guys…if any of you are still doubting me and my commitment, you're gonna want to hear this call," she announced.
Sly smiled, guessing who it might be calling. "Go ahead, querera…we're listening," he prompted her, waving her to answer.
Carmelita did just that, pushing her damp hair back from her pointed ear, before she flipped open the phone and pressed the "Talk" button. "Hola! Carmelita Fox speaking," she answered.
Sly watched Carmelita wince, and he quickly understood why…the voice on the phone was bellowing quite loudly.
Carmelita held the phone away from her sensitive ear, and listened to her sister Carmen shouting at her. "MADRE Y DIOS! YOU JOINED THE COOPER GANG? CARMELITA MONTOYA FOX…HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Carmen bellowed, which was pretty loud. "OH, I SWEAR TO YOU WHEN MOMMA GET´S HER HANDS ON YOU…OY, CARMELITA, OUR POOR MOMMA IS GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK! AND, POPPA? AIEE, CARUMBA! LOOK, HERMANA…I AM TELLING THIS…I WILL NOT HELP YOU! NO, IT IS ONE THING TO QUIT INTERPOL, BUT IT IS QUITE ANOTHER TO JOIN WITH CRIMINALS, MY SISTER!"
Carmelita rolled her eyes, then plugged her phone into a device, so she put her sister on the speaker phone. "Really now, Carmen Fox…you're so overreacting! After all, was it not you who told me that my Sly is nothing more than some modern day Robin Hood, si? If that is the case then, hermana…why then I am nothing more than his modern day Maid Marion."
"Oh no, you don't, Carmelita Fox!" Carmen scolded. "Don't you dare start in on me with that Kitty Petro psychology. It won't work with me!"
"Oh?" questioned Carmelita, flicking a clever look over at Sly. "Carmen, do you remember when you had to convince me not to go through with my threat against Kitty…you know, that week at the beauty salon?"
"Yes, Carmelita…I remember. So, what of it?" Carmen asked, suddenly very suspicious.
"Ah, good," Carmelita replied, grinning. "Now, darling sister…do you remember what you said to me that day?"
Carmen snorted in frustration. "No, should I?" Carmen asked.
"No, hmm?" Carmelita answered, grinning even more now. "If that's the case, why don't you let me try to jog your memory, sister dear. Uno momento, por favor, hermana?"
Carmen, even more suspicious now, wasn't going to give Carmelita the satisfaction of hearing her worried. "Si. Get on with it, Carmelita," she grumped.
Carmelita turned quickly toward Bentley. "Bentley, may I borrow your laptop for the next few minutes? Please?" she pleaded.
Bentley was curious as to where Carmelita was going, so he assented to her request. "Sure, go ahead," Bentley answered and handed over his laptop to her.
Carmelita quickly typed into the laptop, her face eerie from the light flickering from the PC screen across it. "You see, mi hermana, I have top-notch video and audio system in my house. However, I am much too busy to review it all that often. However, on special occasions---such as this!---I can log in and check it out." She paused, typing short commands and making several mouse clicks. "Now, here we are! So, please listen to this, Carmen my love." Carmelita clicked the mouse on the laptop to begin playing Carmelita's and Carmen's conversation that day.
"…I'm fine, Carmen," Carmelitas voice said. "Mightily embarrassed maybe, but none the worse for wear, I assure you. Actually, it could have been far worse…Cooper was actually a gentleman about the whole farce, if you can believe that. He even let me go…though, he did blindfold me when he took me back home."
Carmen's voice replied. "Did he now? Then again, mi hermana…I have seen the way that thief looks at you. Somehow I am not surprised in the least to hear this. I think he takes a fancy to you, dear heart."
"He does not!" Carmelita's voice protested.
"Come now," Carmen's voice countered. "You know the way he treats you, Carmelita. I am surprised you have not suffered a nosebleed from being up on that lofty pedestal he puts you on…"
"Carmen, stop it!" Carmelita's voice protested.
"Say what you will, hermana," Carmen's voice commented. "That rogue is a charmer, oh yes. And, a very handsome devil too…don't you agree?"
"Carmen!" Carmelita's voice yelped in exasperation. "You've been hanging around Kitty too much again, haven't you? She's been inundating you with her Sly Cooper/Robin Hood malarkey, hasn't she?"
"I really have no idea what you're going on about, dear," Carmen's voice replied,
"Uh-huh," Carmelita's voice replied with a grunt. "Carmen, I don't know what's with you lately. Next thing I know, you'll be telling me I should be going out with that raccoon!"
"Well," Carmen's voice slyly suggested a moment later. "I did say he was a very handsome young man, did I not?"
"So, Carmen…would you like me to continue?" Carmelita's voice asked sweetly as their taped voices stopped.
Carmen groaned aloud on the line. "No, that is quite all right, Carmelita. You have made your point, sister dear… as always. You win, again. But, just so you know should Momma or Poppa figure out what you are up to, you are on your own. I will not lie to them for you."
"Don't worry about them, hermana…I can take care of them too," Carmelita said. "Now, good bye, hermana. Vaya Con Dios." She turned off her cell phone, smiling triumphantly.
Sly grinned, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek in congratulations. "Very cleverly done, sweetheart," Sly complimented her with a small laugh. "Carmen didn't have a prayer now, did she?"
"Nope," Carmelita said, leaning her head against his a moment, smiling. She then turned her gaze upon Murray and Bentley. "Okay, now…does anyone still doubt I'm done with Interpol then?" she questioned.
Even the normally skeptical Bentley had to shake his head in negation this time around.