Chapter 8

Ludmilla and Arkady slowly looked around Yuri's sumptuous office with thinly disguised looks of greed. Their larcenous thoughts---and the valuables that abounded in the office---nearly made their palms itch. There were some very valuable items in this office…all just for the taking! However, as fun as that once might have been---and no doubt lucrative!---they could not afford to indulge themselves…just yet. They needed clothing, and to get that---and escape the watchful eye of the French gendarmes!---they needed Yuri's help.

Ludmilla caged her bright blue eyes directly toward the many windows that allowed the pale Fall sunshine to pour into Yuri's office. She then arched a black eyebrow at Yuri, still not saying a single word.

Yuri smiled after a moment, understanding. "Pardonnez moi," she muttered aloud, then pushed a button on her desk, which caused the vertical blinds to extend and shut them all away from the view of the outside world. "There! Is that better, mon amis?" she queried.

Ludmilla sighed in distinct relief, nodding her lovely head, her hair---which she now wore in a thick black plait down her back---swaying. "Many thanks, Madame Sing," she said thankfully, still shivering though.

"Ah, you may take those wet cloaks off now, you poor dears," she instructed, then watched as the two divested themselves of the sodden garments. "That's right, amis…now, please stand by the fire and warm yourselves, no?" A cheery warm fire blazed in the small fireplace in Yuri's office.

Ludmilla wasted no time and was soon standing before the fire, warming her slender black hands eagerly. Yuri noticed the black mink's tail, which normally would of been sleek and fluffy was matted and sopping wet. "Spasiba," Ludmilla muttered thankfully as she felt the first warmth she had experienced in more than forty-eight hours.

Yuri knew that was Russian for 'thank you', but pretended to not know this, and quirked an inquisitive eyebrow at the duo…which Arkady managed to catch, then grin at. "Now, mon amis…may I get you something? Anything? Something hot to drink, perhaps?" Yuri asked solicitously.

"Oh, da! Some hot tea would be most welcome," Arkady voiced in anticipation, his thin body shivering as warmth began to pervade his fur and warm him. The raccoon began rubbing his arms and torso in an attempt to get his circulation coursing again.

Yuri could not blame him for this, for after all Paris had been having herself a cold snap of late, last night being one of the coldest on record. Yuri pushed a button on her intercom. "Desiree? Ah, cheri…could you be a dear and bring in a service of tea for three, please? Oui, quickly as you can, cheri," she instructed. Before too long, Desiree, the golden spotted margay women---very young and perky---entered, bearing a silver tea service with three porcelain mugs---with the C'est Sing logo painted upon them---and left it upon Yuri's desk. She curtseyed once to Yuri, then with a smile and a flip of her reddish-blond hair, she left, shutting the door behind her. Yuri poured two of the large mugs full of fragrant steaming tea and then sat them down in front of the two. "Now, what is it that I may do for you?" she asked…yet again. Yuri poured tea into her own mug.

"Madame Sing," Ludmilla said, speaking up. "My comr---er, friend and I find ourselves in great need of your expertise, you see."

Yuri nodded, smiling once she saw the pairs' orange jumpsuits. "I see," Yuri replied succinctly, one slender brow rising a moment. "Oui, I would hazard a guess that your thin prison garb does not keep either of you very warm at night," she ventured accurately. "Now, if you will indulge me a moment…do allow me to guess your current predicament, no?" she continued, looking at the two. "Now, quite obviously, the both of you have recently escaped from prison."

Ludmilla's face contorted as she prepared to protest, but Yuri cut her off.

"Non," Yuri said, raising a hand to forestall any protests. "I am not an idiot, you know. But, do not worry, your being convicts does not concern me in the least way, so…enough on that particular subject, no?" Yuri took a sip of her tea, then moved along. "Hmm, keeping that foremost in my mind, I take it that you are in need of decent---and no doubt warmer---clothing, nes pas? Oui, of course you are!" Yuri paused for effect, oh and to stall things a bit longer, of course…taking another sip of her tea. "This tea…it is quite good, is it not?" she reflected, seeing the two hungry, cold Russians gulping huge draughts of their hot tea.

"Now, I am fairly certain that at first you thought to purloin them yourselves, no? Oh, but to steal them yourselves…now that would prove a most unacceptable risk, would it not? I mean, as neither of you quite understandably wish to draw any unwanted attention toward yourselves…such as the tripping of some clothier's security alarm system might cause, no?"

Ludmilla, pouring herself another cup of warming, filling tea, nodded her agreement.

"Quite understandable. Quite understandable. So…that brings you both here…to me, oui? And, you have undoubtedly heard of both me and my business…and what we are capable of, no?" Yuri sipped her tea, then looked at the two stunned escapees over the rim of her mug. "Does that sum things up fairly accurately, mon amis?"

"Da! I mean, yes," Arkady said, quickly correcting his choice of words. "You have read us both very well, Madame." He bowed his head, impressed.

"Eh, it is a talent," Yuri replied, with a smug smile. "So…if you both do not mind, of course, may I inquire as to just how you ended up in prison? Mmm, call it professional curiosity, if you must." As you can see, Yuri was playing the two, trying to lengthen their stay to allow Kitty time to arrive.

Ludmilla sniffed at the word 'prison'. "We do not mind, Madame. My friend and I both are part of the Russian syndicate, you see. And, we were betrayed to the authorities by traitors to our own organization," Ludmilla said cruelly, her madness gleaming in her eyes. "And…that will have to suffice, Madame Sing. The rest…eh, it is better that you do not know, nyet?" The mink woman's eerie blue eyes loomed with barely controlled madness…which caused poor Yuri to nearly shiver with dread.

Yuri nodded her understanding once more. "Of course…as you will, mon amis. That is better for all concerned, no? Of course! Now, on to business, shall we? Oui!" Yuri put both of her hands down on her desktop. "I can procure you both the adequate, warm clothing you desire," she allowed, looking over at the two. "However, I will not do so for free. I'm sure you understand."

Ludmilla smiled, nodding her head. "Da, we do. However, there is the small matter---is there not?---that my comrade and I might be picked up by the Surete at any time, and who knows what we might tell them during our interrogation, da? Something like a well-known Paris clothier that aids and abets known criminals, hmm?" Ludmilla grinned surely and evilly.

Yuri chuckled, then laughed softly out loud…much to Ludmilla's obvious dismay. "Ah, cheri…were you perhaps a comedienne sometime in your past?" Yuri asked, her green-gold gaze clever, yet hard. "If I had a franc for every time someone tried that particular ruse, I would be even wealthier than I already am." Yuri sighed, then shook her head at the two. "Now, perhaps you'd care to try again, eh cheri?"

Ludmilla was stubborn if anything. "Perhaps, Madame…but it would still cause you embarrassment, would it not? Isn't something like that worth two suits of clothing, eh?" she wheedled.

"Hmm…no," Yuri replied, resolute. "Here…allow me to tell you something, oui? Let us say you do that…go to the gendarmes, I mean. Now, true…there will be a brief scandal, one that my lawyers will diffuse within the week. However, while they are doing that, and I hide myself from the press…you two shall most likely either wind up back in prison…or will show up dead, frozen to a park bench somewhere." Yuri smiled thinly…making sure the two realized she was not kidding!

Arkady shivered again, even though he had finally began to feel warm again. The prospect of prison or freezing to death were not choices he'd care to accept, thanks. "Ludmilla, comrade…I---" he began, bu Yuri cut him off.

"Besides that," Yuri continued on, glad that Ludmilla was in an argumentative mood…so much the better to allow Kitty the time she needed! "Even if you could get the Surete to take your word---that of a pair of escaped convicts--- over my own---those being that of a world renown clothier and much respected businesswoman---well, that is a risk I myself am willing to take, mon amis." Yuri gazed forcibly over to Ludmilla, who now looked a great deal less sure of herself than she had before. "Look, I am amenable to a compromise, no? I can create the clothing you both desire…but I must have something for my time and costs, no?" Yuri explained reasonably. "Come now…surely the both of you have something of value, oui? Something precious and valuable enough to leave behind as collateral until you have acquired the funds for my fee?"

Ludmilla frowned, then looked away, clearly thinking. Yuri could almost hear the wheels whirring in the unstable mink woman's mind. Ludmilla thought a while longer, then looked up and nodded her head. "Da, we…I mean, I do. One moment, da?" She then ducked her hand shamelessly down the front of her jumpsuit, pawed around there a moment, then pulled something from inside of the garment in her hand. It was a very handsome gold necklace bearing a golden round locket.

Arkady gaped, looking over at her dumbfounded. "You mean, you had that with you all along?" he demanded with a growl. "Idiot! We could of sold it to procure funds for ourselves! We could of avoided even---" Arkady was nearly beside himself with irritation at Ludmilla. That bitch! Holding out on me, he silently fumed.

"Stoy!" Ludmilla snapped, her blue eyes showing her caged fury, but she had enough control of herself to say nothing further. "Enough. We can discuss this all…later, nyet?" She added softly, then just stared directly at Arkady, until he was forced to look away.

"She is mad," Arkady hissed in a hoarse barely heard whisper. However, he gulped, as he saw that Ludmilla had heard him, and her eyes made him nearly reach for the thin stiletto he had in his boot-top.

"Here. Will this suffice, Madame Sing?" Ludmilla inquired as she handed Yuri the necklace and locket.

"Very pretty," Yuri complimented Ludmilla, then noticed the locket hanging from the golden chain. "May I?" she asked, indicating the locket, which she wished to open.

"Da," Ludmilla said proudly, nodding her head.

Yuri opened the cover, and had to work hard to stifle a gasp of surprise when she saw the cruel sneering face of Raikon Polarsky there. She wisely turned her gasp of surprise into one of awe.

"My fiancé," Ludmilla offered, blushing and looking girlish quite suddenly.

"An attractive man. You are lucky," Yuri somehow managed to get out.

"Spasiba, tovarisch," Ludmilla replied with a fond smile, then her face changed and she seemed to be on the verge of tears again.

"I will accept this as collateral then," Yuri declared, nodding…choosing to ignore Ludmilla's distress, allowing her to regain her composure. "Now, finish your tea, please. In a moment, I will need you both to stand up…so I may record your measurements, you understand. Then, I will ask you what sort of material you wish for your garments, and then finally the color and style."

Ludmilla grinned, liking the fact that things were finally starting to look up now. "Of course, Madame Sing," she replied. "We are ready when you are."

"Please, allow me to bring in one of my girls," Yuri explained. "It will only take a minute. Until I return, please feel free to have more tea. If you need more, you need only ask.'

Once out of her office, Yuri closed her door, sighed, then turned around and nearly yelped in surprise.

Naomi sat in Desiree's chair, grinning as she looked up at Yuri, her long-barreled Uzi submachine gun cradled lovingly in her slender hands upon her lap. Yuri also quickly observed the fact that Naomi had two additional 30-round magazines for her 'baby' on the desk before her.

"Naomi! What did I tell you?" Yuri growled sternly. "Did I not---?"

Naomi grunted, cutting her off. "I heard you. I just choose to disobey you is all," she replied, her amber eyes hard and unrelenting. "I refuse to let you come to harm…despite yourself, Madame," she added. "And, in case you have forgotten, now it is not only your life you risk, Yuri…but that of your unborn children as well."

The blood drained from Yuri's face at hearing that, and she gulped. "Naomi, I know. But, cheri---!"

"But nothing!" Naomi hissed, her eyes becoming angry now. "I love you, Yuri. I would die before I let anyone harm you or your children."

Yuri's anger melted away, and she leaned over to kiss Naomi's forehead. "Forgive me, my friend," she whispered. "But, it is the same for me, my Naomi…you know this, do you not?" Yuri's glorious eyes were very troubled.

Naomi nodded, not trusting her voice that moment. "I know," she said with a smile. "We two look out for one another, nes pas? That is what we do."

Yuri nodded, smiling. "Now, have you heard from our Kitty?"

Naomi nodded. "Oui, Yuri…she said that she was…eh, 'rounding up backup', whatever that means…and that she and her team would be here as soon as they could." Naomi grabbed the cocking lever on the top of her Uzi and gently, surely slowly drew it back, charging the gun as well as inserting a round in the chamber.

Yuri shivered at the menacing sound. "Is that really necessary?" she asked, frowning.

"Do I tell you how to design clothes, Madame?" Naomi challenged, her eyes hard again. The very thought that two of the scum that had subjugated and abused her friends Svetlana and Maria were just on the other side of Yuri's office door nearly made her blood boil.

Yuri grinned. "As a matter of fact," Yuri pointed out, defusing the situation again. "You have, cheri."

Naomi snorted, grinning…then just shook her head, draping her blue shawl over her slender shoulders…and thereby hiding her 'baby' from view.

"Very good," Yuri surmised, nodding her head in relief. She then thought a few seconds more before she smiled. "Naomi…I have a plan. I am out here because I told our 'guests' that I need to get one of my girls to help in measuring the two."

"Do you wish me to do it, Yuri?" Naomi asked…a bit too eagerly.

"Ah, no, I think not," Yuri told her, smiling at Naomi's quick pout. "But, please, my sweet Naomi…just who should I get to do this? Someone who knows what's she's doing, obviously…but who is also slow and sure?"

"Hmm, let me think a moment," Naomi replied, then thought about it a few seconds. "Ah, I know! Antoinette!" she suggested. "She is good, yet works most unhurriedly and meticulously."

"Ah, oui…I remember now! She will be perfect," Yuri agreed, nodded. "Now, do be a love and summon her here, quickly! Once she arrives, be sure to explain what is required of her. I do not wish for those two to become suspicious."

Naomi thumbed the intercom on Desiree's desk. "Antoinette? Cheri? Madame needs you here…immediately!" she commanded, though with a smile.

"Oui! I am on my way!" pledged Antoinette, the grey-furred, auburn-haired rabbit woman dropping her task at hand, and lifting her skirts, hurried along as fast as her feet could take her.

Meanwhile, at Paris' Interpol Headquarters…

"Chief!" Kitty thundered as she and Ling barged into Chief Rob's office. "We've---!"

"Lieutenant Petro," the Chief growled, his eyes narrowing. "What is it with you? Most of my officers have the decency to at least knock before barging into my office unannounced."

Kitty grinned a bit shamefaced. "Er, sorry about that, Chief," Kitty replied, her fair cheeks going pink a moment. But, then she just rushed ahead. "We just got a call from someone at C'est Sing, saying that they think they have a pair of convicts in orange jumpsuits in their offices!"

Chief Rob was instantly alert. "Two of them?" he shot back, an unlit cigar clenched in his teeth. "Damn! It's even money that those two are the Russian mobsters that busted out two days ago." Chief Rob shot to his feet, his eyes shining in his excitement. "What's the situation?"

Kitty took out her flip pad, reading her notes. "Two suspects, one male, one female. Both bear strong resemblances to the two escapees. Madame Yuri Sing is trying to delay them, so that we can move in and nab 'em both!"

"Yuri Sing?" Chief Rob yelped. "Aw, crap…just what I need. Look, you two…the last thing I need is a potential hostage situation, all right? So, get your butts over there, and get those civilians out of there. Once you do, I'll send for Lieutenant Metzer and the QRF."

"No need for Uma and her boys just yet, Chief," Kitty reasoned, frowning. "Do we really want a bloodbath on the streets of downtown Paris?"

"Bloodbath?" Chief Rob scoffed. "You read too many dimestore detective thrillers, Petro. You know very well we only use non-lethal weaponry."

"Still," Kitty fumed aloud, not wanting such a fuss. "Just give me and Ling some backup, Chief," she pleaded. "A small force will be able to contain and handle this far better than both battalions of QRF troopers."

Chief Rob chewed on his cigar as he thought. Finally, he grumped. "Approved," he finally told her, frowning at her big smile. "But…I'm sending in Metzer and Connelly with you two jokers. Trish'll be in command, and Uma'll be your backup. Got it?" Chief Rob glowered at the stubborn Kitty, his shaggy eyebrows scrunched up, his teeth showing.

"Agreed," Kitty replied, realizing that was the best she was going to get out of the irascible Chief of Interpol's Paris Division. "C'mon, Ling…let's find our backup and get a-moving!" She then waited to the last possible second, then whirled about, throwing out, "Thanks, Chief!" before she whirled back and ran.

Kitty and Ling didn't have to wait for Trish and Uma to be found…in fact, by the time they made it to their assigned Interpol Citroen, Uma was loading her huge FN-11 shock rifle in the trunk, while Trish sat patiently in the driver's seat. "Um, Trish…you're---" Kitty began, only to have the Irish vixen cut her off with a wave of one slender black-furred hand.

"I'm on to you, you fly rogue," Trish replied, then gestured to the passenger seat. "Get in, and we'll be off, buckos!"

Kitty didn't like not being in command, but at least it was Trish who was. "Okay, Trish," Kitty tossed out as she quickly slipped into the car, while Ling joined Uma in the back of the Citroen. "We're in. Hit it!"

Trish didn't let her down, and the big unmarked Citroen squealed its tires as it sped out of the Interpol garage and downtown.

Ten minutes later, Kitty directed Trish to the alley that led to the back of C'est Sing, and its loading dock. "Okay, we're here," Kitty announced, then looked over to Trish. "So, Lieutenant Connelly…how do you want to handle this?"

"A moment, luv," Trish told her, thinking. "What's the situation we're facin', Kitty darlin'?"

Kitty nodded, always liking how Trish did things. "We've got two suspects in orange prison jumpsuits. One male, a raccoon. One female, a black mink. Both fit descriptions of our escaped Russian mobsters. From what our caller told us, they are currently in Madame Sing's office, where she's trying to delay them until we arrive." Kitty finished, then looked up into Trish's bright green, troubled eyes.

"Quite," Trish grunted, still thinking. She then turned to Kitty. "Now, before I let yeh go a single step outta this car, luv…you tell me what you're holding back from me, do yeh hear?" Trish's lips were a thin line, and her eyes were hard.

Kitty blushed, stunned to be caught out like this. "Well…" Kitty hedged, then thought of Yuri and Naomi, and held nothing back. "I can't be the one that goes in…that Rezneykov dude knows me by sight. That bastard tried to put a bullet in my head…last time we met." Kitty heard the low growl from the backseat and added, "And, I wouldn't trust Ling here either…he's just a little miffed at our raccoon buddy for trying to pop me."

"Kitty!" Ling growled, but then shut up and just glowered at her.

Trish smiled, and nodded her head. "Thanks fer trustin' me like that, luv," Trish told her, patting her hand. She thought a while longer, then decided. "Okay, me darlins…here's how we're gonna handle this prickly set o' circumstances." Trish pointed to herself. "Uma and I will be goin' in the front, dressed as we are."

Kitty nodded…she didn't like it, but she did understand where Trish was going.

"You and Ling will take the back entrance, right," Trish ordered. "You two have some knowledge o' the place…so I expect you to make good use o' it, y'hear?"

"Aye aye, Trish," Kitty replied, grinning. She then frowned. "Um, just how are we going to keep in contact with one another?" she asked.

"Uma and I will be wearin' these," Trish explained, showing Kitty a small earpiece that fit behind the ear, and a whisper-thin throat mike that would hide under the girls' clothing quite handily. "And, we two will keep our mikes open, doncha know." Trish handed Uma one of the kits. "Now, if you'd be a luv and help me on wit' this thing…"

Kitty grinned, nodding. Trish, after placing the earpiece deep in her ear, shyly unbuttoned her green blouse a button or two, allowing Kitty to peel off the adhesive tape that would secure the microphone to Trish's chest, and lay it in place. Once secured, Trish hastily buttoned herself up.

"All set back there, Uma?" Kitty inquired a minute later, grinning. Ling's face was flushed, and he could not meet Uma's eyes.

"Ja, I am ready to go, liebchen," Uma replied, nonplussed. She then grinned over at Kitty. "Inspector Chu was the perfect gentleman, meine Freundin." She grinned wickedly over at Ling who blushed furiously.

"All right," Kitty threw back. "What did he do?"

"Nothing!" Ling protested in a strangled voice. "Really!"

Uma laughed, her laugh surprisingly girlish for so big a woman. "He tells you the truth, liebchen," Uma assured Kitty. "Let us say that he had an awkward moment when I opened my blouse is all."

Ling grunted, but said nothing. Kitty just grinned.

"Ready, buckos?" Trish directed, bringing them back to the moment at hand. "Let's do this!"

Trish and Uma got out and began to make their way to the front of C'est Sing, while Kitty and Ling rushed to the back doors, worked the handle and were inside in the space of a few moments.

"We're inside, Trish," Kitty whispered, smiling when she heard Trish's click of acknowledgement in her earpiece. Kitty nodded to Ling, and they both drew and activated their shock pistols. "This is it, buddy," Kitty whispered as they move through the shop floor.