*Chapter 4: Mesa City*

When the gang arrived, they found the city deserted. Muggshot scared off its citizens and populated it with casinos and hotels, initially making it his own turf for just him and his goons. Muggshot's office was located within his largest casino's tallest point. And that is where Sly is gonna go to get information about his book's whereabouts. The van parked outside the city to see broken bridges ahead of them. Sly looked down to see a long fall beneath.

"We have to walk from here." Murray suggested. "Our van is too heavy for those bridges that are broken."

"The city is full of Muggshot's goons, guys. We gotta be very careful. I bet they won't like strangers coming in." Bentley said.

"Got any ideas how to get in Muggshot's office?" Sly asked. Bentley got out the blueprints to show his friends how to get in without going to the front door or where the guards are lurking around. Sly will have to get in from the rooftops and crawl through vents. Murray will take care of the dogs by disguising himself as one of them while Bentley will remain in the van. Murray grabbed his binocucom and a earbud as did Sly.

"You sure you're gonna be okay out here, pal?" Murray asked.

"I'm sure. Somebody's gonna watch the van." Bentley said with a nod.

"Call us if anything happens." Sly told the turtle. So, the raccoon and the hippo went off as Bentley watches. He closes the doors and got his binocucom to guide his two friends in the city.

Sly and Murray carefully walk across the bridges, avoiding the guards who are patrolling the area outside the gates. Sly climbed on the pole as Murray hid behind the crash car, waiting for the Doberman to come by to knock him out. Sly made it to the end of the pole and see the wire with lights attached. He started to have a tingly feeling in his head. Something tells him to jump on the lights if the wire is too thin for him to balance on. Sly tried it and succeeded. Murray knocks the Doberman out by hitting him the back of the head and drag him out of sight. Sly jumps down and hits the other two guards with his cane. So far, they pass by silently without getting spotted.
The city is behind the gates, so Sly and Murray must climb over silently.

"So far so good, pal." Sly whispered. "Once we're in, Bentley will guide us how to get inside Muggshot's office."

"Yeah. After all this, I could use a good lunch." Murray said. Sly smiled at his friend. He told them they will get food after the job is done. They climbed over the gates and hid behind the wrecked cars. So many dogs guarding the place with tommy guns. Sly got out his binocucom and hear Bentley speaking from the earbud.

"Okay, Bentley. We're in Mesa City. Muggshot's office is in that building with the fire hydrant, right?" He asked, zooming up the building with a giant fire hydrant on top.

"That is correct. According to my calculations, that place is heavy with security." Bentley spoke. "Like we discussed earlier, you must climb on the rooftop in order to get inside. I will guide you and Murray in. Muggshot's office is a big office, so be very careful getting inside without alarming anyone, especially Muggshot. He is no small dog."

"Don't worry, pal! I can handle the bulldog with my own fists! Sly will have a partner by his side!" Murray exclaimed. Sly puts away his binocucom and look around the streets.

"Murray, we need to get behind the building so we can climb up the building." Sly told his hippo friend. The two quietly went around the streets, avoiding the dogs. As they were hiding behind the other wrecked car, Murray's stomach begin to growl. Sly turned to him. "...Was that your stomach?" He asked. Murray touches his pink belly that is rumbling.

"...Yep." The hippo replied. "I gotta find a snack."

"Murray, can you wait a little longer?" Sly asked. "You can find a snack machine from the office-" But Murray was gone. The pink hippo rushed over to the hot dog stand. Sly looked over to see a dog coming around the corner. Murray will be shot by him. "The plan is gonna change." Sly whispered to himself.
He hurries over to the guard and uses his cane to knock him out and drag him behind the car.

"Hey!" A deep voice yelled. Sly turns around to see three dogs with tommy guns. "Stop!" But Sly ran off from being shot by the tommy guns. Murray hears this while holding a hot dog. Sly rushed inside a casino, knocking away the other guards.

"Sly! Wait up!" Murray called.

"Murray! What's happening out there?!" Bentley voice asked from the earbud.

"Sly's being chased by a couple of dogs! I got this one! Don't worry about a thing!" Murray replied, eating the whole hot dog. He punches the guards and ran inside the casino. "Sly! Sly, wait for me!" He called. He stopped when he hears sounds and music playing through the casino. "Whoa..." Many dogs gambling around the tables, the machines, and drink from the bars. "Wow. This place is...awesome!" Murray exclaimed.

"Murray, where's Sly?" Bentley asked.

"Oh, right. I'll find him. He could be anywhere." Murray said. "SLY!" He hollered. The dogs turn around to face him with annoyance. Murray gave them a sheepish smile. "Sorry. Looking for a friend of mine." He walk pass the machines. He calls out a raccoon's name in a normal tone, looking under the tables. Where could Sly be? He must be here.

"Murray! Up here!" Sly's voice said from the earbud. Murray looked up to see Sly hanging on the ceiling fan chains. He gave Murray a salute, telling him he's unharmed. "Meet me behind the building to get to Muggshot. Stay out of sight." Sly told him. Murray gave him a thumbs up. But before the hippo could leave, the door burst open behind him and there is Muggshot.

"Time to make some bones and cash, boys!" He claimed to his bodyguard that are French bulldogs. The whole casino cheered for their leader, welcoming him inside. Muggshot took a beer from a waitress, taking a big chug. Murray watches the huge bulldog walk over to the craps table. Sly watched from above. Seeing Muggshot in person makes him nervous, but he had to get information about his family book's whereabouts.

Outside the casino, the Doberman smokes a cigar. Unaware that a female fox is sneaking around the entrance. Carmelita arrived to track down Sly and the gang. She quietly walked inside the casino, gripping on her shock pistol in her jacket, looking around the casino.

"Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask about-" She stopped when she looked up at the ceiling fan and see Sly climb up the chains. She made a grin and got out her gun. "This will be fun."