Chapter 27
Yuri Sing, dressed in a medium green blouse and tan slacks, padded silently down the hallway to the room that housed her two new 'guests'. She was about to reach for the door's S-shaped knob when she heard the two girls talking. Yuri was pleasantly surprised to find both girls up and around, even at seven o'clock in the morning. With just a pang of guilt, she softly pressed one round ear to the door.
"Have you ever felt anything this soft before, Maria?" Yuri heard who had to be the excited Svetlana exclaim softly. "Oh, I could of lain here all day…" Yuri grinned at the young tigress' contented sigh.
Yuri heard Maria, the older girl, laugh softly. "Da! I quite agree," she said. "However, I am far too excited to stay abed any longer, Svetlana. Silk sheets or not."
Yuri heard the girls both get up off their beds. "Madame Sing is so beautiful, is she not?" Svetlana mused aloud, almost enviously.
"Da," Maria readily agreed. "She is…very lovely, indeed." Maria paused, then Yuri swore she could hear the amusement in her voice. "Though, she certainly thought the same of you, Svetlana, it seems."
"Eh," Svetlana replied. "Madame Sing seems to think so, at least." Svetlana was silent for a long moment, then sighed. "But, I apparently I am not beautiful enough to catch Sly Cooper's eye…"
Maria chuckled. "I was wondering if you'd admit to that, Svetlana," she mused aloud. "You need not worry though, my love…you did catch his eye. I could see him looking your way on more than one occassion. However…my dear, I am quite afraid that his heart belongs to Carmelita. I am sorry."
"You can tell this…all by looking at him?" Svetlana questioned, her emotions mixed. "I---" she attempted to continue, but Maria kindly cut her off.
"Svetlana," Maria reasoned softly with her. "I know you have…er, feelings for Cooper. That is to be expected…he is quite handsome and you are a beautiful young woman."
"Da…and?" Svetlana prompted, disappointment in her voice.
"But, my love," Maria pointed out…gently as she could manage. "You must realize that he does not return those feelings you have. He loves Carmelita, very much indeed. Even you must see this, da?"
Svetlana choked back a soft sob. "Da," she sniffled. "I know. It's just…" she could not complete her sentence, sniffling once more.
Maria's voice could be heard, full of sympathy for her friend. "I know…we two have not had much luck with men, nyet? And, now…you finally meet a nice man, one who says lovely things about you, and…he is already taken, da?"
"Da, Maria," Svetlana whispered, her voice muffled, undoubtedly because she was in Maria's comforting embrace. "It is just not fair!"
"Life seldom is, my dear," Maria observed wryly. "But, I think, once we have our new identities, and we find some productive work…our lives will change, and for the better, da?"
"Oh, I do hope so, my friend," Svetlana replied, her tone more upbeat finally.
Yuri decided it was time to intrude. She knocked upon the door with one smooth knuckle. "Bonjour, Mademoiselles!" she called through the door. "Are you decent, mon cheris?"
The door opened a moment later, as Svetlana, wiping at her tears, smiled weakly at Yuri. "Good morning, Madame," she greeted her, opening the door wide to allow her in. "Thank you again for your hospitality."
"You are welcome, of course, cheir. But, why do you cry, Svetlana?" Yuri questioned, her eyes full of compassion, even as she reached out one slender finger to gently wipe one tear from the tigress' face.
Svetlana smiled at her, but shook her head. "It is nothing, Madame," she assured Yuri. "A bit of childishness on my part…nothing more." She sniffled again.
"Ah," Yuri replied, then dropped her façade of innocent ignorance. "You have fallen prey to Sly Cooper's charm, have you not, mon cheri?"
Svetlana's rounded ears angled back, and her dark beautiful brown eyes went wide in surprise. "I---I have not," she countered…or attempted to.
"There is no need to deny it," Yuri told her, casting an inquiring look to the quiet lovely Maria, who nodded silently. "It is quite understandable, dear…you are young, quite lovely, and Monsieur Cooper is quite dashing, charming, and handsome."
"Oh, da…he is," Svetlana sighed, her expression moving from dreamy to disappointed in a flicker of moments. "But…he is already taken, nyet?"
Yuri moved forward to put comforting hands upon Svetlana's rounded shoulders. "Oui, he is, my dear," she stated. "But, that does not mean that he is the only charming, handsome man in Paris, you know…"
Svetlana blinked, then grinned a half-smile. "Hmm, you are right, Madame," she mused aloud, feeling better. "But…there is only one Sly Cooper."
"Oui, that is true," Yuri replied with a laugh. "And, he is for Carmelita, and she for him. Just as I and my Bentley are, you see."
Svetlana mulled that over a moment, then chuckled. "I am being silly," she finally observed. "Maria and I…well, we have not met many nice men. Most likely due to the company we have kept these past four years."
Yuri guided Svetlana to the nearest bed, and sat the poor girl down, then she beckoned for Maria to sit on the other side of her. Yuri felt sudden affection for both of these two Russian girls, much like an older sister to her younger siblings. "Now, my loves," she compassionately commanded. "Tell me of yourselves."
"There is not much to tell, Madame," Maria began, smiling as she saw Yuri slip a comforting arm around poor Svetlana's trim waist. "I had graduated from university, and began to look for employment, da? However, things in Mother Russia went from bad…to worse! Unemployment was very bad…and, I could not find a job…of any kind. Either I heard I had no experience…or too much. So, when I was evicted from my apartment…I was approached by an older woman, offering me a job." Maria shuddered then, but gamely continued. "It was that day I began my work for Comrade Polarsky's organization…unwittingly at first, but later…eh." Maria blushed, ashamed by where she had allowed herself to be led.
Svetlana looked on interested, having never heard Maria's tale either. "I too, Maria…was approached by an older woman," she told both Maria and Yuri. "She offered me a job as an administrative assistant for an import company. I was thrilled, of course, just out of college. I excelled at my job, and it was not long before I was offered a position in security."
"Da, me as well," Maria took over again. "It was interesting work…at first. Then, after I had been promoted again…I got my first inkling of what I had truly gotten myself into. Security…bah! I think not…I soon found myself becoming nothing more than a glorified thug, enforcing that devil Polarsky's evil ambitions."
Svetlana shivered. "I too, Madame," she told Yuri. "I am not proud…no, correct that. I did become proud…and arrogant. I believed all the lies I was told, I reveled in the hot stares and attention of the boys at work. I became my own worst nightmare…a bitch in the worst way." Tears poured down poor Sveltana's cheeks, but she gamely smiled, reaching across Yuri to firmly clasp Maria's hand. "That is, I did…until I found Maria, who soon tried to show me the errors of my evil ways."
"Don't," Maria replied, blushing. "I was no better than you, Svetlana…then. But, after our first assignment as Polarsky's masseuses…brr! I then realized, seeing how he treated us both, what a truly evil madman he was. Oh, Madame…you have no idea! He---Polarsky that is---would have we two dress like strumpets, in revealing, indecent outfits to cater to his whims. And, if that indignation were not enough…he would then say lecherous things to we both, pinching our bottoms, slapping us and, er…touching us in…er, let us say, inappropriate ways." Poor Maria hugged herself, closing her eyes as she recalled.
"You poor dears," Yuri exclaimed, drawing both of the girls to herself in a protective hug. "Why did you stay then?"
"You do not understand, Madame," Svetlana replied, wiping futilely at the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "Polarsky was brutal, immoral…he beat us if we complained…would of killed us both had we tried to leave. We were…afraid."
Maria interjected then. "Da! And, as his underlings, we sometimes emulated his ways…I am so very sorry to have treated you so badly, my poor Svetlana. I was jealous of the power you seemed to have over our male counterparts, and…I behaved badly to you. I beg your forgiveness, my friend."
"Maria," Svetlana replied, sniffling yet smiling. "It has already been given. It is fortunate that Sly Cooper arrived when he did…he was finally able to make me see I had a friend in you. Oh, my Maria…I am so lucky to have found you."
Yuri, before she knew it, was in tears herself, holding the two much-put-upon Russians in her arms like some mother hen defending her chicks. "I now have yet another reason to be thankful for Sly Cooper and his Gang…for they have delivered you poor dears from such lives of fear and cruelty." Yuri held the girls for several moment more, then smiled weakly. "But, come…it does not do to dwell in the past, mon belle cheris."
"Da," Maria replied, wiping the tears from her matted fur. "You are right, Madame."
"Please, Maria," Yuri pleaded with a smile. "Do call me Yuri."
Svetlana felt a surge of thankfulness to this elegant, caring woman, and turned and kissed her upon the cheek. "Thank you, Yuri…for listening to us. For not judging us, and for your kindness in allowing us to stay in your home," she told her.
Yuri grinned at that kiss. "You are most welcome…the both of you," she replied. "Now, both of you…into the washroom, and wash your faces. You look ghastly with those tear-stained faces," she instructed with a gentle smile. "Meanwhile, I shall find you some comfortable clothing to wear until we have the time to outfit you both."
Yuri watched the two girls, clad in their rumpled blue jumpsuits, move arm-in-arm into the room's bathroom. As she heard the sound of soft occasional giggling and running water, Yuri searched through her closets for something for the pair to wear. She soon found a periwinkle blue silk blouse with a dark blue mid-calf length skirt for Maria. "Ooh, but this blue will make her lovely white hair shine," she observed to herself. She then continued her search…but, was having difficulties in finding something that would fit the petite, though voluptuous, Svetlana. She searched and searched until she finally found a short-sleeved white blouse with a pleated knee-length skirt for the beautiful tigress to wear.
Svetlana and Maria returned then, their faces glowing and happy. They immediately spotted the clothing laid out on their respective beds. Maria was speechless at first as she lifted the light blue blouse in her hands, luxuriating in the soft feel of the silken garment. "Madame, this is too much," Maria stammered, her black-tipped ears angling back in her surprise. "I cannot---"
"Nonsense," Yuri countered, waving away her protest with a wave of one elegant hand. "It is nothing…something comfortable for you both to wear while you stay here. Now, go on…I wish to see if my choices were correct."
Maria collected up her clothing, and ducked quickly into the bathroom. In mere mintues, the door opened and the beautiful Arctic vixen reappeared in her new garb. She looked fabulous, the periwinkle blue made her bright white hair and fur seem to glow, and her plain skirt showed off Maria's curvy hips and long shapely legs to good effect. Svetlana laughed, and clapped her hands in approval. "Maria my love! You look wonderful!"
Yuri then sent Svetlana off to change. Five minutes later, the door to the bathroom reopened again, and a strangely shy Svetlana reappeared. The clean white blouse she wore accented the orange of her fur, making the white on her face, chin, and throat appear a creamy off-white, which with the black, pleated skirt did wonders to show of the girl's wondrous figure. "I feel…so beautiful," Svetlana whispered, her dark eyes aglow with her happiness.
"And you are, Svetlana my love," Maria affirmed, grinning, and shaking her white-haired head in awe.
"Ah, I see," Yuri observed, almost smugly, "that my choices were…how you say, fairly decent, oui?"
Svetlana and Maria laughed, and rushed forward to hug Yuri in their thankfulness. "Oh, thank you, Yuri!" they both exclaimed.
"Now, you two," Yuri commanded. "It is about time you two earned your keep around here."
"Da," Maria replied, Svetlana nodding her agreement. "We will do whatever you ask, Madame."
Yuri laughed. "Do not make it sound so dour, cheris," she commented with a grin. "It is the least I can do---after hearing your stories---to offer you both somewhere to live and gainful employment, do you not think?" Yuri grinned even more.
"A job?" Svetlana replied, hope shining in her lustrous eyes. "You are offering both of us a job…working for you?"
"That's generally how it works, cheri," Yuri teased, nodding her head. "So…are you interested, hmm?
"Bozhe moi! Of course!" Maria responded, grinning. "We accept…do we not, Svetlana?"
"Absolutely!" Sveltana crowed, excited.
Yuri sighed happily. "That is good," she remarked. "As I now find myself in a bit of a bind, you see. I am to launch my Fall line in two month's time, but I find myself short-handed. My competitor has underhandedly pirated away some of my workers with better wages, far more than I can really afford to pay. Thankfully, most have stayed with me…out of loyalty. But, I am still short-handed. So, what am I to do? If I do not launch this line this Fall…I am ruined!"
"Of course we shall help, Yuri!" Svetlana pledged, intrigued. "You may count on us both! It would be an honor, Comrade Sing!"
Yuri lifted an amused eyebrow at that honorific. "Hmm, I suppose this 'Comrade' business…it is a Russian thing, oui?" She grinned a most alluring smile.
"Da! Uh, I mean, yes," Maria said, grinning in embarrassment. "We will get over it…eventually, Yuri." Svetlana giggled.
"Oui, I'm sure you shall, my dears," Yuri replied, shaking her head in amusement, and the beginnings of fondness for the two. "Now, let us all go downstairs to some breakfast, yes? Before we head over to work, you understand…"
"Da, Yuri!" Svetlana and Maria replied, smiling broadly…then added cleverly, "We mean oui!" Yuri giggled and waved the two to follow her.
Meanwhile, back at Le Hotel Champlain…
Carmelita and Sly---as well as the others, sat at the kitchen table, eating their lunch, all the while watching the noontime news. "Nice job, querera," Sly offered as he wolfed down one of the chicken salad sandwiches Carmelita had prepared for lunch. "These sandwiches are heavenly!"
"Shh!" Carmelita hissed, but gave him a thankful smile nonetheless. "Listen!"
The anchorwoman for the Paris station smiled, then looked up from her notes. "Again, in breaking news, Interpol's Paris office---in a daring nighttime raid--- has arrested the notorious Russian syndicated crime boss, Raikon Polarsky." The anchorwoman was replaced with images of a woozy yet still dangerous-looking Polarsky was led into custody by faceless members of Interpol's black-clad QRF forces. The anchorwoman's voice continued behind the images, "Polarsky is being charged with one count of grand larceny for the theft of the priceless South American artifact called de Anillo del Fuego---or properly, the Ring of Fire---as well as four counts of first degree murder. Thirty-nine others have been arrested on numerous other criminal charges as a result of this most surprising raid. Despite our numerous inquiries, Interpol won´t release very much about the entire incident, other than the fact that the whole thing was the result of some anonymous phone call that was received by one of Interpol's up and coming detectives, one Inspector Kitty Petro. Earlier this morning, Inspector Petro provided the media with a statement---our one and only source of information on this developing international case. Here we go…here's the tape…"
The TV then showed a tired but smiling Kitty enter the press room at Interpol's headquarters. Carmelita smiled to see her friend where she had been so many times before. "Thank you, but I only got a brief prepared statement regarding this case at this time," Kitty pronounced, holding up a hand at the groan from the assembled reporters. "Sorry, folks…but we're still gathering evidence and interrogating our detainees. There are---however!---several things we are certain of: we have an air-tight case against Polarsky…phone surveillance, including a recording of Polarsky admitting to the theft of the Ring of Fire, as well as the four museum guards he personally killed. Now, item next: we have some evidence that our resident Master Thief, Sly Cooper, and his gang may have been involved…as we found his trademark calling card---" Kitty held up Sly's well-known blue calling card, "---at the scene of the arrest. We also found a new calling card---this one in red---at the scene, which may---or may not!---indicate that Paris has itself two Master Thieves now. We will call press conferences as information becomes available. Thank you all…and good day."
The anchorwoman then reappeared. "That was Interpol's Inspector Kitty Petro on the latest developments on the Polarsky arrest last night. Now, it's time for our sponsors…" A commercial started.
"The kid's not too bad, Sly observed with a grin. "Kitty managed to make sure we were mentioned in her press conference…that was nice."
Carmelita snorted, then added, "'Us'? Somehow I didn't hear my name being mentioned, Ringtail…"
Sly grinned over at her, putting a hand over hers. "C'mon, Carmelita…you've got to be patient, girl. We Master Thieves and our reputations aren't made in a day, y'know. Exactly how long do you think it took before anybody realized exactly who I was?"
"Well, yeah," Carmelita allowed, but added, "But---" Bentley cut her off.
"Sly does have a point, you know, Carmelita," Bentley told her. "Wait! The story's back on…"
The anchorwoman smiled, and resumed her story. "Authorities have been going through surveilliance video, and in doing so, spotted the Master Thief running down a corridor inside. Now…in an interesting development, it now seems as if Sly Cooper has acquired himself an apprentice of sorts…perhaps even another Master Thief. If you'll observe---" The anchorwoman's pretty visage was replaced with surveillance video, which provided a very grainy film of a blurry obviously female figure running down the same corridor Sly had just traversed. "---the figure---obviously a woman!---following in Sly Cooper's footsteps." The anchorwoman's face reappeared with the blurry image in a box to the right of her head. "Who knows? Perhaps the Master Thief has finally gotten himself a girlfriend? Whatever the case, this is the clearest picture the authorities have managed to get to-date."
Sly grinned over at Carmelita. "You were saying, querera?" he teased.
Carmelita smiled at him, noticing the picture showed the crossed canes she wore across her back. "Okay, so maybe I was just a little hasty," she admitted with a soft giggle.
They turned their attention back to the news again. "Just who is this mysterious new accomplice of Sly Cooper's? I suppose that time will only tell. Whatever the case, Paris can rest a little easier with Raikon Polarsky off of her streets. At least in this humble reporter's opinion. Now, let's move over to Madeline and Sports…"
Sly reached over and turned off the TV. "Well, there you have it, folks. Another Cooper Gang heist, only this time…with two Master Thieves," he observed, lifting Carmelita's slender hand up to kiss the back of it over and over again.
Carmelita grinned, pretending to try and pull her hand free, but not with too much effort. "Stop that!" she commanded, fighting off a giggle. "That tickles."
"It does, does it?" Sly countered, arching an eyebrow. "Then, how about this?"
He reached over a quick hand to tickle Carmelita's tummy, which made her convulse in giggles and lean away from him.
At just that moment, Carmelita's cell phone rang shrilly. Carmelita quickly controlled herself, having moved out of Sly's reach. She then checked the number as it rang a second time. She frowned, then sighed. "Eh, I suppose it had to happen, sooner or later…" she told Sly, then flipped open her phone, and pressed 'talk'. "Hola, Carmelita Fox," she answered, closing her eyes. Then, to the others, she quickly added, "Brace yourself, guys…it's my sister, Carmen."
Bentley winced, and moved quickly away from Carmelita.
"CARMELITA! ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE?" Carmen bellowed, loudly enough so that Sly's ears folded back flat against his head. "It is one thing to do as you do…thwarting criminals, si? But, mi hermana, it is yet another thing altogether to go up against a homocidial maniac like Raikon Polarsky!" Carmelita blinked in response to her sister's enraged tirade, and took a breath in anticipation of responded, but never got the chance. "Hermana…you could have been killed!" Carmen wailed, finally breaking down with a soft sob.
Carmelita quickly tried to soothe her distraught sister. "Shh, calm down, Carmen…I'm fine. Besides, hermana, it´s not good for your babies," she stated as matter-of-factly as she could manage.
Carmen sighed, collecting her wits. Eventually, she was able to wipe away her tears, and talk without screaming. "Carmelita…I swear to God, you're going to be the death of me," she grumbled, but affectionately this time. "And, then…who will help my Carlos to raise my children? Hmm?"
Carmelita grinned, knowing the crisis had passed. "I would, and you know it, Carmen. But, speaking of my impending niece and nephew, just how long until they make their arrival?" Carmelita asked.
Carmen grinned, and placed her hand over her distended belly, rubbing soothingly. She silently sent soothing thoughts her unborn children's way. "Why, any day now, Carmelita," Carmen replied. "I cannot wait…I'm so excited." She then frowned, realizing what Carmelita had done. "Nice segway, sister dear."
Carmelita laughed. "Thought you might like that," she quipped. "Hey, Carmen, you're not the only one that's excited," Carmelita added. "Now, my dear sister, my very pregnant sister…you take things easy and get your rest, dear. I´ll be in touch, okay?"
"Okay, I will, Carmelita," Carmen answered, smiling as she felt one of her babies kick. "You be careful, si? My children want to meet their Auntie Carmelita, eh?"
Carmelita laughed again. "They will! Tell them I can't wait to meet them both!" she teased.
"I will," Carmen replied, chuckling. "I love you, Carmelita."
"Love you too, Sis," Carmelita replied, then ended the call. Kitty chose that moment to come walking into the kitchen.
"Hey there, guys," she called, waving to them all, smiling.
"Hey, you…why aren't you at work…like you're suppose to be?" Carmelita asked, suspiciously.
"Because, Montoya my friend…it´s my day off," Kitty replied, smiling.
"Don't call me Montoya," Carmelita replied, almost by rote…though she did grin this time. "So, the Chief gave you the day off, hmm?"
"Yep," Kitty affirmed a moment later, taking a seat beside Carmelita, across from the grinning Sly Cooper. "Oh! By the way, Trish sends you her best, and wants you to know that she's pulling for you and Smiley over there. She told me to tell you to 'keep up the good work'."
"Trish said that?" Carmelita asked, eyeing Kitty shrewdly. "You didn't, by chance, let slip I was involved to her, did you?"
Kitty frowned, indignant. "No way! Hey, I can keep a secret," she insisted, then smiled. "Hey, Trish is a pretty sharp cookie, Carmelita. Let´s just say that she didn't have to think all that long and hard to guess just who Cooper's new friend might be."
Carmelita laughed, laying her hand over Kitty's a moment. "True. Good old Trish…I knew she'd figure it out before too long." Carmelita then leaned over to talk softly with Kitty…as Sly got up to clean up after lunch. "So, Kitty…what would you say to both of us having girl's day out?"
"Um, depends," a wary Kitty replied, eyeing the smiling Carmelita, "does this day out involve shopping for clothes, perfume, or make-up, by chance?"
"Actually, no," Carmelita promised, then she grinned. "But I can include it if you'd like me to…"
"Uh-uh!" Kitty replied, shaking her head emphatically. She then realized Carmelita was teasing, and laughed. "Since that's the case, girl, then count me in!" Kitty informed her, grinning even wider now.