Hey everyone,
I promise! It's just going to be this chapter and the next and then I'll start moving onto the 24th and onward. I will give Michael and the others more screen time, especially Cheren and Helena as I have plans for those two when it comes to the 24th and I'll work towards Barkley's downfall and the revival of a new and better Interpol. And after that, I'll focus on properly training the new Cooper Gang, a few missions and finally,
The Cooper Vault,

Venquine1990

Chapter 12
The Final Plans

23rd of June 2007
Urmila's POV
Carmelita's POV

The kiss ends and Sly and I stare into each other's eyes for a few minutes. Then, just like he did when he got me away from Neyla and the officers that had arrested the Contessa, the racoon takes me in his arms and lifts me up. I feel the strength in every muscle in his arms as he holds me and yet the way he holds me, I feel as if he considers me a priceless treasure that needs to be handled with the utmost care. I smile as I know that Sly respects my personal strength, yet I love his need to care for me all the same. Then, as he caries me over to the others, I realize something.
I look from where the others are seated back to the man that holds me in his arms. I hold onto him with one arm, but use my other hand to turn his face my way. The racoon stops walking and I peck him on the lips one more time before I whisper: "I love you too." And the goofy grin that is now on his face as he smiles at me is just too precious. I wrap both my arms around his neck again and lay my head on his shoulder.

Sly retakes his seat yet unlike last time, he doesn't give any hint that he would want me to sit elsewhere. And I have no intention of doing so either. Yet Sly's voice sounds determined as he says: "Alright, let's talk business. We best plan ahead for tomorrow as well as Monday. We need to have at least some kind of plan of action, especially considering all the decisions that have been made today and how they will affect our future plans."
The others nod and I mutter: "Not to mention my little interview with Darcy." The others all turn to me, but I smile and say: "Barkley had sent some sweet innocent little thing. A teenage zebra named Darcy. He had given her some advice on what questions to ask, but she easily recognized them for what they were. I struck a deal with her and gave a quote that, unless he wants to look even more like a jerk, Barkley won't be able to object to."
"You think he'll care about how it will make him look?" Murray asks and I shrug as I say: "To an extent. Barkley might have most of my floor under his thumb, but he knows that they'll only keep certain rumors about his behavior from spreading. I hardly implicated him and even used the ages of those reading the paper in my defense of not answering the questions. If he tries to complain about my actions in regards to that, it'll look bad on his rep."

The group smiles, yet Michael don't. "However, that doesn't mean he won't try something. Keep his mouth shut, but work to create some kind of situation or event that will just undo the good work Carmelita's interview did. Because of that, I think it's best if Bentley and I hack into the security system tomorrow and keep an eye on him through the security cameras." The group at large nods and Bentley asks: "You willing to hack into your own system?"
There's a huge grin on his face as he asks this and Michael's grin is equally as huge as he says: "One, we both know that the security system is basically prehistoric. Two, I do it all the time. Heck, I've been sending derogatory emails to Bentley's superiors for the past two years, while using a system that will make it impossible for them to trace it back to me. The emails were meant to make them complain to him and I usually sent them when Barkley was screaming Carmelita's hide full.
Needless to say, it hasn't worked yet, but I haven't given up yet either. I have a copy of every email I sent as well as the time I wrote them. They are also linked with files that come from the camera system on my floor. I'm well aware that, when I show these off to the International division on Monday, it might land me in a bit of hot water, but – I consider that more the fault of the security department's manager and Barkley's disgusting behavior."

Bentley nods and asks: "May I have a copy of these files, Michael? In case International proves difficult for you on Monday." Michael smiles and says: "I've been making a few friends and doing some odd jobs for members of International for the past half a year. I'm sure I can count on their help to support me on Monday. But, if there is one thing I have always lived by, it's that you can never have a plan without having a back-up."
At this Sly grins widely and says: "Like my old man always said. If you don't have a Plan B, you don't have a plan at all." The others and I nod in agreement to this and Michael opens his phone at the same time that Bentley opens the laptop on his wheelchair. The two seem to work together for a few minutes and I notice Bentley's eyes widen shortly behind his glasses. The turtle whistles and he says: "I – I don't think I've ever seen a phone so well secured. Impressive."

"So is your skill with hacking." Michael returns the compliment. Then the two are done and close their devices again. "Okay, so Michael and I will keep an eye on Barkley tomorrow. What else?" Bentley asks and mama answers: "I'll start negotiations with my manager at work tomorrow. Get the ball rolling for when shit hits the fan and make sure I can have the promotion my way. And like Michael, I have some friends at work that can help me with that."
Then Urmila says: "Cheries, if you will spare me five minutes each, I can take your measurements. Then I can make some outfits like I did for our precious Miss Fox tomorrow, both for Heists and for your training." The idea of even more outfits made by the incredible designer makes a large grin grow on my face and Sly says: "I'm sure you can do that once we have some more plans discussed." The cobra nods in agreement.

"I know it's not much, but I'm sure that dad and I can, at least, gather a few more negative and derogatory comments from Barkley's men about sis tomorrow. We'll make sure to send those your way before you head out on Monday. Also, sis, considering that you're free tomorrow as well, you could do us a favor and pack a few of our things. Prepare our homes for when we make the move to the hide out." Cheren suggests to me.
I nod at this and Bentley says: "Great idea. Though we'll only need one set of living room furniture. Trust me, our hide out has plenty enough bedrooms and quite a few bathrooms as well.""What? Are you hiding in an old abandoned hotel or something?" Helena jokes and yet Murray shocks her as he says: "Exactly." My family stares at the Cooper Gang in shock and Sly smirks: "The bigger the hide out, the better you can secure it.
Plus, who expects just three lowlife criminals to hide out in such a huge location? Most officers would sooner think of the sewers or some underground bunker or cellar." Bentley nods and says: "And while that is true as we mostly use just the cellar of the hotel and the first floor of bedrooms, I did spend the last few years rigging up the upper floors with security measures and reinforcements. Just in case some jerk tries to bomb our building or something, you know?"

Please note that I mean the British English version of first floor, aka the second floor in American English version. I'm Dutch myself and that makes more sense to me as we too call the ground floor, the ground floor.

We nod in understanding with the explanation and Sly turns to me as he says: "I think it's best if you come home with us tonight, gorgeous. That way tomorrow, you can take a couple of Binocucoms with you. You can use your own to take pictures of the living rooms of you and your family and leave the other ones at their places. That way we'll have a way to let them know when we come to pick them up. Though we best leave that till tomorrow night, when it's dark."
Everyone nods in agreement and I gently peck Sly on the lips as I say: "I was already planning to leave with you, Sly." A huge grin is on his face at this. But then Cheren confuses me and says: "Just a heads up, you won't need to take a picture of my interior. Trust me." We all turn to him and he says: "Believe it or not, I'm still dealing with the mess left behind from that one party two years ago. I've been working towards earning enough money for a new interior for years."
"What happened to your current one?" Murray asks and Cheren rolls his eyes as he says: "The party that I decided to hold to celebrate Carmelita's defeat of Clock-La two years ago happened. A few friends of mine – former friends, to be exact – decided it would be a good idea to bring firework – and then light it with the fire from my fireplace. They thought the damned things would just shoot out the window and out into the night, but – that didn't happen."

"And they refused to pay damages?" Sly asks appalled and Cheren sighs as he mutters: "They did. Even when they were arrested for later causing public damage, they refused. They actually had to do time in prison instead and had to hand their paychecks over to the people whose properties they damaged. I didn't find out about that last bit until they had already done so. And while it wasn't Barkley who was in charge of it, the one in charge wasn't much better."
"Why didn't you tell us this sooner, son? We would have helped you." Mama asks Cheren with worry clear in her voice. Yet Cheren just gives her an impish grin and says: "Come on, mum, you know what we Foxes are like. How stubborn we are. Besides, I was maybe one or two paychecks away from living comfortably and paying for a whole new, high-class interior. You know, the Egyptian style that I promised myself when I went out on my own."

Sly lets go off my waist and leans back in the loveseat with his arms behind his neck as he says: "Well, lucky you. Another reason we picked that hotel for our hideout was because of its own interior. Several of the bed and bathrooms have unique styles and interiors. And I'm pretty sure that there's an Egyptian style among them." Cheren smiles at this, yet Helena asks: "If that's the case, then why did it go down? I mean, it had to for you guys to be able to hide in it, right?"
Bentley nods and explains: "It cost them too much. The interiors were all of different kinds of material, so they all needed different kinds of handling. That meant expert level of cleaning and that meant that they constantly had to hire a professional cleaning company. After a while and a few bad years, they just stopped being able to. They probably could have survived if they had just renovated, but they decided to relocate instead."

We nod in understanding and I say: "Okay, so I'll just pack a few of my own things tomorrow morning and then head for your places. Mum, I assume you still keep a spare key under that one loose brick in the floor?" Mum nods and Cheren laughs as he says: "And I still create a little puzzle out of where I hide my key and Lena here still forgets to lock her balcony door from time to time." This last one really excites me as I say:
"That's great. That can be my first training as a Master Thief. Getting to Lena's floor and balcony door without being detected." Sly, Bentley and Murray show huge grins at this and Sly pecks me on the cheek as he says: "I'm sure you can do it." I smile at him and say: "Right, so my place first, then mum's, Cheren's, Helena's and then back to the hide out. There we'll decide which set of furniture we'll pick up to take back to the hide out."
Everyone nods and I turn to my family as I say: "When you guys get home, write down a list of things you want to take with you. That way, I can start putting that in boxes. I can then hide those boxes away to make sure people don't know about your moving plans until they're complete. Also see if you can get in contact with your rental companies without alerting your neighbors.""What about you, sweetie?" Papa asks me.

I sigh and mutter: "My landlord has been raising the rent on my home way more than he's actually allowed to. But Barkley always keeps me so busy, I never really have time to make an issue out of it with the rental services. Then again, the bastard does it with others too. He seems to get a kick out of just upping the rent until someone is unable to pay, have them leave and then lower the rent again for the next person."
The others all share an angry glare at this and Murray slams his fist into his hand as he says: "Looks like we've got our first target for when the Foxes have finished their training." Instantly I can tell that my siblings are excited to begin their training. I smile at the two as they have always been able to both be very protective of me, but also respect my need to stand on my own two feet as well. Bentley nods, as if assessing all we just discussed and says:

"Right, onto the last bit of our plan. Carmelita, once you're done packing the things that your family lists for you, it'll be best if you leave the other Binocucoms in their bedrooms under their pillows. That way, they can make it an early night, but we can use the vibration function to wake them when we approach their location. Oh, and don't you worry about having to carry boxes up and down staircases. The Guru here can levitate stuff with his moonstone staff, so we'll use that."
The little being's ability really intrigues me and I think: "He's able to hide himself from sight by changing into a random object that's found in the room and able to levitate things up, down and around. His skills are seriously impressive." Sly keeps one arm behind his head as he happily wraps the other one back around my waist and says: "Okay, I think we have a game plan, guys."

Yet I shake my head and say: "No, there's one more thing. Lena, I need you to head to the unisex changing rooms tomorrow. I'm sure Barkley will do something to my uniform when he reads my article. I – I fear he might take my ring and use it as leverage. You need to get to it before he does." My sister nods with a solemn look on her face, yet Murray asks: "Wait, why is your uniform stashed in the unisex changing rooms?"
I sigh and mutter: "Liesbeth. She's the captain of multiple Interpol sports teams. She's also the girlfriend of Jason, an elephant that works on my floor. And I say girlfriend, because she really just treats her boyfriend like boytoys. To be honest, it still amazes me that she's been keeping up with Jason for the past year. Usually her dating record spans a month and a half before she gets bored and ditches the guy.
What's even more confusing is that Jason loves to gush about Barkley and how he treats me. Anyone with either ears or a functioning brain can tell that Jason really likes Liesbeth, while he just thinks of me as – well, you catch my drift. But Liesbeth doesn't seem to see things like that. Instead, she – for who knows what reason – considers me an intruder in her relationship. And she convinced most of her teams of the same.

They try to give me a hard time whenever I enter the female changing room on my floor, but I don't feel like dealing with more than one confrontation a day. And because, for whatever reason, the changing rooms are only on my floor, the top floor and the basement, I don't feel like taking a detour off of my floor just to change, so I use the unisex changing rooms instead. Besides, it's usually where Michael and I meet up before we file our stuff."
The others obviously don't seem to like this and papa asks: "How long has this been going on?" I shrug and say: "The last two months. At first Liesbeth was able to just stomach and ignore her idiot's blabbering, but I guess it got to her in the end. Though why she didn't come to me when it first started to bother her, I really don't get." At this Helena leans back with her arms crossed and says: "I'll see if I can get that out of her tomorrow."
But I stare her down and say: "Don't forget about my ring. That's way more important to me than Liesbeth, especially now that I've more or less quit my job. And I say more or less, because I still need to file a resignation form." Yet Helena humors me with a wink as she says: "I can easily arrange that while doing your enormous pile of paperwork." Both of us giggle and Sly grins widely at me. The look on his face proves how happy he is for me.

"Okay, the ring, security, article, statement gathering, packing list, Binocucoms, resignation forms, potential promotion discussions and new outfits. I do believe we covered anything and everything that life might throw at us over the next 48 hours. The only real wildcard we still have left is what Barkley might plan in retaliation for Carmelita's interview. Though we do already have a plan ready to make sure he can't create potential leverage out of her personal possessions."
Yet at this Sly frowns and turns to Murray as he says: "Murray, once Carmelita leaves her own place for that of her family, I need you and the Guru to keep a watch on her place. Helena might be able to make sure that he can't use her ring, but I don't trust that runt not to try and break into her place to steal something personal instead." The Hippo nods and Guru says: "Sheshe migga du petro." Before he snickers to himself.

I raise my eyebrow at him and Sly mutters: "He said I'm sure I can easily gain control of such weak minds, guide them elsewhere, on a different mission." This intrigues me and I wonder what kind of mission the little koala might have in mind. Then Sly stretches himself out and says: "Well, this really has been the best birthday ever, but – I don't know about you guys, but I am ready to head home and just relax. Prepare for our next busy couple of days ahead."
We all nod at this and Sly pulls me closer against his form as he says: "Besides, I can't wait to introduce our hide out to the first of our new members. Show her just how our team lives when we're not out on a heist or busy making sure she can't use her incredible skill to do us in." And while the others laugh, I feel impish and happily reward the cheeky racoon with a short peck on the lips. One that Sly, of course, turns into a full blown kiss.

Of course he does.
So yeah, now you've got a bit of an idea on what's in store for the next upcoming chapters. And trust me, I have plans when it comes to Barkley. Plans that will allow Helena to shine even before Michael gives the International division of Interpol the evidence they'll need to arrest the damned runt. Trust me, I plan to make sure that everyone on the new team gets a proper chance to show their stuff and shine by their own rights.
Fun, right,

Venquine1990
PS. I also plan to incorporate Thieves in Time without Le Paradox involved. You'll see.