Chapter 20
The next day…
Kitty, needless to say, wasn't her usual chipper self. She got up, went through her usual morning ablution, chose her clothes, you know, that sort of thing. But, as she was doing so, she worried. Oh, not about work…she knew what she was to do there. She and Ling were working on a number of cases, chief amongst them was a trying smuggling case. And, no, not about her and Ling, who were still getting along famously. No, what was concerning everyone's most beloved Norwegian vixen was her deal with Naomi…
It rose its ugly head most apparently as Kitty and Ling were just about to drive to work, in fact. Ling donned his jacket, a simple black leather zippered jacket, and ran a hand through his short hair. As he was doing so, however, he spotted the love of his life---yes, it was Kitty!---absently doing the same in the mirror that hung upon the foyer wall. He shook his head as he saw her zip up her jacket, all the while gazing absently around their flat, her expression one of obvious, yet stringently concealed worry. Ling ambled over to where she stood, looking outside, then smiled at her and gave her an amorous kiss on her cheek. "Good morning to you too, Kitty," Ling teased, reminding Kitty she had yet to greet him this day.
Kitty blinked, then grinned…though her smile was a wan one. "Oh, good morning, sweetheart," Kitty softly exclaimed, then sighed once again. "Why oh why can't I just let things lie sometimes?"
Ling smiled at that, then ran the back of a hand against Kitty's smooth cheek, which caused her to smile. "That would be, Kitty my love, because you are who you are. No more, no less," Ling stated, rather matter-of-factly.
Kitty laughed appropriately, if not a bit hollowly. "Thanks, Ling…but, don't remind me, okay?" Kitty groused, donning her gloves for the ride into work this chill October day.
"Relax, Kitty," Ling counseled, as he drew his gloves on and picked up his keys. "You will be fine, my love."
"Fine, he says," Kitty grumbled, eyeing Ling as if he'd somehow grown a second head at that moment. "Hey! Hello…have you seen Naomi and Yuri, pal? They're aiming to make me just like they are, Ling. Good God, I'm doomed. Doomed I say…" Kitty sighed again, as they closed and locked the front door, and headed over to the green Yamaha racing motorcycle that rested in the driveway. "Hey, no use of complaining now. I've told Naomi that I would do this, and I will. I always keep my promises---hell or high water, pal."
"I know, Kitty," Ling agreed, turning the key to bring the Yamaha to life, even as Kitty lifted her leg and climbed aboard behind him. "Now, hang on. We're on our way…" Ling smoothly rolled the Yamaha out into the street and then slipped it into gear, and they were both gone in a moment upon their green conveyance…
A half-hour later, Kitty and Ling, trays in hand, sat down within the cafeteria at work to eat their breakfast.
"You must eat, my love," Ling told Kitty softly, concerned. He beckoned to the toast and eggs that Kitty had before her.
"I know," Kitty replied. "It's just…I'm not all that hungry."
"That's just nerves," Ling assured her. "Now…eat! You will be worthless at your post if you don't." Ling reminded her…again.
"What's this now?" a dinstinctly amused, feminine voice with a charming Irish lilt asked with feigned incredulousness. "Our Kitty darlin'…not hungry? Faith! The very world must be comin' to an end, so it must be!"
"Ha, ha. Very funny, Trish," Kitty grumbled, looking up into Trish Connelly's softly smiling face. "If you were me, you wouldn't be eating either, woman."
"Woman, is it?" Trish answered, taking a seat across from the two. "My, aren't we formal this glorious morn, eh?" Trish had a bowl of hot oatmeal and a huge ceramic mug of steaming tea on her tray. "What's the matter, darlin'?"
Kitty couldn't stay grumpy…not around Trish. There was just something about the friendly Irish vixen that just wouldn't allow her to remain in her present funk for very long. Kitty narrowed her eyes, then savagely bit into a piece of buttered toast off her plate. She then eyed Trish and Ling pointedly, then groused. "There! I'm eating. Happy now, the both of you?"
"I'm fair ecstatic, so I am," Trish teased, taking a spoonful of her oatmeal, which had a huge mound of brown sugar melting atop it. "Why, I'm positively aglow now! What about you, Ling me lad?" Trish's green eyes twinkled merrily.
"I am satisfied," Ling said simply…as was his wont.
Kitty grinned, and shoved the remainder of the half-slice of toast into her mouth and chewed. She then shook her head, and laughed. "You two! Hey, that's not fair…a girl can't even have a bad day around the two of you jokers!" Kitty opined with a smile. She picked up the other half of her first piece of toast.
"What, an' lose our wee ray o' Sunshine this fair an' glorious morn?" Trish replied, then downed another spoonful of her oatmeal. She then quaffed two large swallows of her tea, then sat back. "Though, I do sympathsize, lass. I've not been havin' the most sterlin' o' weeks, an' that's a fact."
"With you, who'd notice, Smiley," Kitty teased Trish.
Trish grinned. "Ah, now…what's wrong with smilin'?" she countered. "You should try it more, luv. Ling here tells me we're all missin' that lovely smile o' yours, so we are! C'mon now, darlin'…lemme see them pearly whites o' yers, eh?"
Kitty complied, giving Trish her cheesiest grin possible...then, laughed, some of her worry dispelled for the moment. "Okay, I'll bite," Kitty then started, spooning a mouthful of her scrambled eggs into her mouth. "What's your problem, Trish?"
"Why, Kitty luv, tis nothing," Trish replied, waving her hand airily to make as if she was complaining for no reason. "Naught but me latest case a-painin' me a might, you see."
That got Kitty's attention! "Your latest case? Whatcha workin' on, Trish me darlin'?" Kitty asked, giving the Irish vixen a dose of her own Irish lilt.
As Kitty had hoped, Trish laughed softly. "Why, I'll be havin' yeh speakin' true before too much longer, so I will," Trish offered. "Now, about me case…since yeh were such a kind lass to be askin' an' all…"
"Go on," Kitty urged, her appetite apparently returned as she now ate with her usual gusto, her blue eyes intent on Trish and her problem.
Trish took another spoonful of her oatmeal, then a big swig of her tea before she responded. "Well…since yer draggin' it out o' me," she teased. "Now, look you…I've been workin' this case for o'er a week now, and I'm getting nowhere fast with it, that I'm not."
"Oh really?" Kitty asked, a rascally grin on her pretty face.
"Yes, really, you rogue!" Trish countered, laughing, then reaching over to pat Kitty's hand fondly. "It's a counterfeitin' case now…me first one." Trish then took a moment to finish her oatmeal before continuing. "Not in the true counterfeitin' way…wit' money, y'see. This is a far more odd case, lass. Here…lemme set yeh to rights. Yeh may---or may not---be aware that almost anythin' nowadays can---and is!---sold on the 'Net. D'ye follow? Aye, I see you do. Now, lately, we've received complaints from some of Paris' elite auto buffs. Apparently now…these gents---and lasses too!---arrange to purchase their antique, very expensive, and much sought after cars with an outfit on the 'Net, so they do. Nuthin' wrong wit' that, I say…happens every day, so it does. Now, the car finally arrives at its new home, glory be, eh? Aye, maybe so…but, that's when the real problem starts. The car arrives, lookin' like the millions they spent on it…but, when they have it authenticated fer insurance purposes…they find that the Duesenberg they thought they bought is no' really a Duesenberg at all! It's a fake!"
"Car knock-offs?" Kitty questioned, intrigued. "Who'd of figured that?"
"More than you'd guess, luv," Trish told her, nodding her head. "Now, me tech lads have done a fair amount o' searchin'…and haven't come up with anythin' too concrete, mind yeh. But, they haven't totally come up blank, y'see. Now, from their efforts, I've now got me one an' only clue as to who it is that's mastermindin' this chicanery. It's not concrete, mind, an' it would not hold up in court…but, evidence is evidence, in me book." Trish stopped, and finished the last of her tea.
"So, just who do you think it is already?" Kitty demanded. Kitty was the consummate detective, always wanting to know what was what.
"Think? Faith and begora, lass…I know who it is! The problem is…I can't prove a bloody thing!" Trish growled, frustrated, then grinned. "Yet, that is…"
"Gah! Trish!" Kitty complained, nearly bouncing in her seat. "Who the hell is it already?"
"Hold yer shirt on, darlin'! I was getting' there, so I was!" Trish complained in return. "Me money's on that Keiko Zuikawa! Why, it fits her M.O. to a tee, so it does. Has her larcenous wee fingerprints all over it, so it does."
"Zuikawa? Really?" Kitty replied, more to herself than anything, then nodded.
"That makes sense…though, Interpol's never been able to make a case against her yet."
"I beg your pardon, Lieutenant," Ling asked politely…this was Ling, after all! "I am unfamiliar with this Ms. Zuikawa."
"Not surprisin' to hear that, darlin'," Trish commented wryly, which caused Ling to blink.
"Keiko Zuikawa," Kitty interjected, more than a little familiar with this nefarious, yet still never found guilty woman. "She's kind of shadowy, this one is, Ling. She's Japanese, of course…a leopard and a good-looking one too. She comes from a well-respected family in Japan…and she uses those connections to both shield herself from the law as well as keeping her ear to the ground, so to speak."
"Nicely done, luv," Trish complimented Kitty. "She's been implicated any number o' times, she has…but she's a slippery as an eel, this one is. Always manages to slip outta harm's way by the hem o' her kimono, she always does." Trish then slammed her small fist down, rattling the silverware. "Aye, but not on my case, she won't!"
Kitty then surprised Trish, because she smiled a slow wicked smile of satisfaction. "Not if I can help it either, Trish. Hey, no one in Interpol's been able to nab Zuikawa. But, maybe that's the problem. I happen to know of someone---er, make that a pair of someones---who just might be able to outfox that slippery leopardess of yours," Kitty pointed out then, smiling…having totally forgotten what now awaited her in four days time.
"Ah, yeh do, do you?" Trish observed suspiciously. "Who might this dynamic duo be then…if yeh don' mind me askin', luv?" Trish asked, eyeing Kitty carefully.
"Can't say," Kitty replied, most mysteriously, "but I can show you." She slipped a pencil out of her pocket, pulled the napkin out from beneath her now empty tray, and quickly sketched a pair of simple pictures…one of a masked raccoon head, and the other of a masked fox head.
"What's this?" Trish said, canting her head to gaze down at her work. "Ah, I know that one on the left all right. So, yeh think he'd be willin' to help, eh?" Trish then looked at the other symbol, then gasped. "Faith! An' she'd help me too?"
"Aye," Kitty teased, mimicking Trish's accent. "She told me to let you know that should you ever need help with a case, you need only ask."
Trish looked up and over to Kitty. "Ah now…I don't know 'bout this plan o' yers, luv," Trish commented warily. "Why, if'n she were to come here, some o' the folks here might put two and two together an'…we don't want that now, do we?"
Kitty grinned, then shook her head. "Trish, Trish, Trish," Kitty observed with a soft laugh. "Whoever said she was coming here?" Kitty demanded, her blue eyes glinting cleverly. "You always take your lunch around noon, right?"
"Aye, I do. You know that," Trish replied. "What's that got to do with the matter at hand, eh?"
"You'll see, soon enough, me darlin' girl," Kitty told her, and chuckled when Trish closed her eyes as if in pain a moment. "Tell you what…you meet Ling and I down at the entrance at noontime, okay?"
"Aye, I will," Trish agreed, very reluctantly, but agree she did. "Most likely I'd be better off havin' me head examined, so I would…but, aye, I'll be there."
"Great, see you then," Kitty replied. She got to her feet, taking her tray with her. She beckoned for Ling to come along. "Remember, noon…downstairs." And, having said that, Kitty and Ling headed off get some of their troublesome, yet necessary paperwork finished.
Noon, later that day…
Kitty and Ling stood down at the main entrance to Interpol HQ, awaiting the appearance of Trish Connelly. It wasn't too long before they spotted her walking toward them, her face showing her hesitation with this whole arrangement. "Hey there, Trish," Kitty teased. "I was wondering if you'd show up at all…"
"Kitty Petro," Trish replied in a soft voice. "Don't think---even for a moment, you fly rogue!---that I don't know what you're up to. An', let me tell you straight off, darlin'…I ain't doin' it! Lord have mercy…if anyone were to see me makin' me way toward that friend of yers home, why---!"
Kitty cut her off quickly. "C'mon, Trish, have some faith, all right?" Kitty complained, then took Trish's elbow and began leading her out the door and down the street toward the garage that Interpol allowed their employees to park in. "Now, first off...let's get a few ground rules established, okay?"
"Fine, fine," Trish groused, but allowed them to go on.
"First, Trish…you are to keep that blasted Irish temper of yours under control, you got that?" Kitty demanded.
"Temper?" Trish questioned, feeling the blood rise in her cheeks. She then sighed, and relaxed…or at least tried to. "Fine, I'll do me best…that's all I can promise, luv."
Kitty nodded. "Second, you are not---I repeat!---not going to drive at all. Me and Ling will be…though, we'll have to take your car…there being three of us and all," Kitty iterated to her.
"Me Citroen?" Trish questioned, then frowned. "Aye, but who'll be drivin' me pride an' joy, eh?"
"That'd be me, Trish," Kitty announced, then waited for the inevitable---Bingo!
"God save Ireland!" Trish gasped, her green eyes blazing. "Jet yerself back a few steps, Miss! I---" Kitty cut Trish off before she could get a head of steam…by withdrawing a dark blue silk scarf and looping it quickly and accurately over a most startled Trish's pretty green eyes. "Faith, what are yeh doin', Kitty you rogue?" she demanded, bringing her hands up, intending to pull the offending material away from her eyes.
"You take that off, and the deal's done, Trish," Kitty softly barked, grabbing Trish's elbow to stop her. "Take it or leave it. That's the deal, sport."
Trish thought about it, her ire up at the moment. But, she did need the help, an' if they were goin' where she thought Kitty to be takin' her…why, that might just be the break she needed. "Fine. Fine, then. But, mark me, Kitty Petro…if yeh put e'en a scratch in me baby's paint…" Trish warned direly.
"I won't, Trish. I promise," Kitty assured her, even as she approached Trish's gleaming green Citroen C5.
"She promises, she does," Trish complained, then tried a new tack. "Kitty darlin'…could you please at least let Ling drive? Yer a darlin' girl, so yeh are…but frankly I don't trust you behind the wheel o' me car."
Kitty bristled softly at that! "Hey, I've gotten my drivers license now, you know," Kitty pointed out.
"Aye, that may be true, darlin'…but yeh aren't fillin' meself with confidence when you only passed the thing after yer fifth go-round, you know?" Trish pointed out in return.
"Hey, I only failed the written test, Trish…not the drving one," Kitty added. "So…relax. Enjoy the ride, Ms. Connelly."
"God save Ireland," Trish groaned as she felt Ling gently duck her head so she could get inside the back seat of her own car.
"Kitty?" Ling asked, indicating the time.
Kitty laughed and simply started the car, then briefly squawked the tires on the way out of the parking garage. "Lord have mercy," Trish muttered.
Twenty minutes later…
Kitty pulled the gleaming green Citroen into a secluded spot in the back lot of Le Hotel Champlain, and stopped the car. "All right, we're here, folks," Kitty announced, then got out. Kitty and Ling then carefully helped the blindfolded Trish out of the car, and headed for the back door. Kitty used her key, and then they cautiously led the wary Trish deep inside the hotel before deeming it safe to remove her silken blindfold.
"I was fair wonderin' if I'd be blind the whole time," Trish complained, blinking her eyes, getting used to the light. "Kitty Petro, just where in blue blazes have yeh taken me now?"
"Ahem," a voice sounded, evidently trying to get the three visitors attention. "As of this moment, you are currently inside the Cooper Gang's heretofore secret headquarters, Ms. Connelly."
All three turned to look for the source of that irate voice, but saw no one…then, as if one, the three looked slightly down, and looked into the seriously cheesed off eyes of Bentley, who stood with his arms crossed before his chest, his left foot tapping in his irritation. "Petro, I should of known… Have you got a hearing disorder or something? Hmm? Because I do recall telling you---on numerous occassions, have I not?--- my feelings on bringing forces of the law into this establishment." Bentley growled, his teeth clamped together firmly at the end.
"Relax, Bentley old boy," Kitty breezed, smiling. "Don't you worry you pretty little head about all this, okay, pal?"
"Kitty!" Bentley countered, not liking her tone of voice one bit. "If you don't come up with one heck of a good explanation in the next five minutes, I'm going to---!"
"Bentley, Bentley, Bentley," Kitty said, breezily again. "C'mon, no worries, buddy! This is just Trish. Cute little Trish Connelly. Oh, and besides being a real doll---isn't she though? (Trish blushed)---she's a real live Interpol Lieutenant…just like me! Ooh, and beside that, did I mention that she's probably one of Carmelita's best friends ever?"
Bentley sighed in the face of all that information…but still didn't like it…not one bit! "Fine! Fine, hey…next time, why don´t you bring the entire freaking QRF with you, eh? That way we'd get all of those troublesome introductions out of the way, huh?"
Kitty sighed, her patience with Bentley finally coming to an end. "Look, give it a rest already, Bentley, okay?" Kitty said sternly. "Now, be useful, pal…just where the heck are Carmelita and Sly at?"
"There upstairs in the gym, sparring with those goofy canes of theirs," Bentley informed them. "Though, knowing those two lately, that'd only be some of the things they're doing. Do keep in mind that they've been inseparable ever since they've become officially engaged and all that."
"Got it, Bent," Kitty replied, smiling. She then heard a thump upstairs. "Okay, that sounds like them all right." She then took Trish by the elbow again, and urged her along toward the stairs. "Come on, Trish…it´s about time you got to catch up with your old buddy, Carmelita."
"Aye, that sounds promisin', so it does," Trish commented, as they made their way upstairs to the end of the ahll where this dojo was at. Ling, Kitty and Trish made their way to the door, and leaned over to gaze inside.
Carmelita had her twin canes locked at either end of Sly's own larger c-headed cane, while Sly had his own cane locked behind Carmelita's elbows. And, the canes---apparently!---were not the only things that were locked either. The two were pulled tightly to one another, and Carmelita and Sly were locked in a pretty serious-looking kiss…well, if their heavy breathing was any indication of things, I mean.
"Carmelita Montoya Fox!" Trish bellowed, grinning wickedly the whole time.
Carmelita's eyes popped open comically, as did Sly's…and the two fought for an embarrassed moment or two to disentangle themselves. "Trish?" Carmelita questioned, hardly believing her own eyes.
"Aw, Trish," Kitty whined, grining. "You ruined my chance! That had the makings of some fine sketching material, girl."
"Aye, tis meself, so it is," Trish returned to her friend, feeling a lump in her throat as well as a joy at seeing her best friend again. She covered up her distress best she could, smiling. "Ah, good day t'yeh, Carmelita darlin'! Tis been a powerful long time since last these smilin' Irish eyes set sight upon yeh," Trish replied, laying on the charm.
Carmelita laughed and slipped her canes back into their sheaths upon her back. "Aw, Trish!" Carmelita squealed, then dashed over to throw her arms around the reddish-blond Irish vixen, then hug her to herself fiercely, affectionately. She then leaned back and kissed Trish on one cheek then the other.
"Faith, but yeh are a sight fer sore eyes, so yeh are, darlin'!" Trish told her, cupping Carmelita's face in her hands a moment.
Carmelita broke the ice. "Let me guess…Kitty here didn't just bring you here just so we two could reminisce, did she?" Carmelita exclaimed humorously.
Trish laughed. "Nay, she didn't, Carmelita luv,"Trish agreed, nodding her head. "I hate to be admittin' so…but, I'm seem to be havin' meself a wee problem with a case o' mine, so I am."
"Trish," Carmelita began, then groaned with happiness. "Trish girl…you are a life saver! Me and the boys haven't had a thing to do in what seems simply ages! Thanks!"
Sly had his cane twirling again, and smiled. "You can count on us, Ms. Connelly," he informed her with a grin. "Why, 'twould be our pleasure to help a fine wee figure of a lass such as yerself, so it would," Sly teased, waggling an eyebrow at Trish, who promptly blushed. Sly laughed softly, winking at Carmelita. "Now, if you lovely ladies would excuse me, I must be off to confer with my colleagues. Let's say we all meet, hmm, in the dining room let's say, in oh, about fifteen minutes, okay?"
Sly left and Trish shook her head, then happened to look down at Carmelita's left hand. "Mary, Mother o' God! Are me eyes deceivin' me or is that an engagement ring I see upon yer lovely hand, me friend?" Trish observed with her eyes gleaming. Trish, you understand, had been after Carmelita for ages to find herself a man. Now, Trish told herself, I wouldn't of thought of Sly Cooper, mind yeh, but…eh, whatever works, don't you know.
"Go on now, luv!" Trish demanded, holding Carmelita's hands up in her own, partly so she could see Carmelita's ring…and partly because she missed her friend so. "Tell me all about it…an' I want detail, lass! Lots and lots of detail, so I do!"
"Oh, Trish," Carmelita replied with a husky laugh. "I've missed you, girl!" She then turned and took Trish's hand, leading her over to the sofa by the wall. "Well, it was sort of like this really, okay?"
"There going to be busy for a while," Kitty observed as she watched two of her best friends chatting happily and animatedly with one another. Kitty sniffled and wiped at her eyes. She couldn't help it…she was so happy!
"Of course they will be," Ling replied, putting a comforting arm around his lady love as he escorted her out the door. "That is the way of friends, my love…"