Hey everyone,
HERE IT IS! This is the chapter where it's all going to go down. Here Michael is going to show just WHAT a true Interpol Inspector is capable of. Also, I am going to let Barkley's corruption slightly reach into International, but not to the extent that it will hamper Michael's efforts to take him down. On the contrary, Michael discovering about this will help him prove everything, including his own incredible skill.
This'll be fun,

Venquine1990
PS. Nineteen chapters and we're not even halfway through the story – Yikes!

Chapter 19
Inspector Edwards In Action

25th of June 2007
Interpol International
Michael's POV

This is it. This is the day I have waited almost a year and a half for. This is the day I have been working towards for much longer than I had really wanted. This is the day that I can finally really start doing right by the young woman who has worked herself into my heart since I took her in as a mentor. This is the day I can put an end to what Neyla started and that Barkley never should have continued on with after she fell.
Last night after I got home, I quickly entered the basement and did the research that I said I would. I had been pretty shocked to realize that Barkley had actually messed with the DNA of the spices and changed them that way. What was even more messed up was that the spices now reacted the same way all other spices did; put them in or on food and their hypnotic substances would activate. Yet at the same time this made me very happy that Helena had put the other portion in the pasta.

Naturally Barkley has been trying to call me all morning and I have no doubt he has been doing the same for Carmelita. After the first four calls, I quickly used the earpiece that Bentley had given me to check up on my little sister. It had been a big relief to know that she had turned off her phone before going to bed the other night and I advised her to keep it that way, that I would use the earpiece to stay in touch with her.
I had quickly sent a call to all those who might want to call me today and told them that my phone was almost dead and that I accidentally lost my charger. I promised them that I would buy a new one after work and they told me it was no big deal. After this I turned off my own phone, just as Barkley tried calling me for the sixth time today. It had felt incredibly cathartic to close my phone on the sick twisted piece of mud that was once my respected chief of police.

By now I'm standing in front of the building of Interpol International, yet just when I want to go in, a feeling of fear overcomes me as I suddenly realize something. I quickly turn away and head over to a small side alley on the other side of the street. I try to casually lean against the wall and while I keep my eye on the front door, I put my finger back on the earpiece and whisper: "Bentley, I'm in front of International, but I just realized something. I need you to –."
But Bentley interrupts me and his words calm my beating heart as he says: "Ask Murray to get your wife and your little girl? Don't worry, Carmelita already thought of after you contacted her. Melanie and Angela are here and they're safe. You just go do what we need you to take care of and let us keep each other safe." I sigh in relief and my relief fuels my self-confidence. "Copy that. Thanks partner." And with that I head back to the building.

I didn't really see anyone go in or out while I was talking and the reception area of International is quite similar to the one at my own building, even if the entrance hall is a lot larger and wider. I take a quick look around and as my eyes rake over everyone, I try to determine who might be best able to help me, who can get me to meet with the higher ups as I'd rather gather as much help as possible before I take on Barkley today.
Then suddenly I get startled when I notice that George Burns, a hare with the face of a rat, is heading my way. "Michael, what are you doing here?" He asks and just the grin on his face sets me on edge. I keep my face passive and mutter: "I can ask the same of you, Burns." And Burns proves what I've always known of him; that his pride makes him blind to threats and warning signs. He grins and just the grin alone is enough to annoy me.

"Ah you know how it is. I'm just delivering some money to Rogers, the one in charge of keeping an eye on our division. Got to keep those funds going, you know what I mean?" And as he says this, he wraps his arm around my shoulder. And what's worse, his grin has turned into a leering smirk of pride and arrogance. The whole look on his face easily says one thing: "You know what I'm doing and I know that you can't do a thing about it."
"Alright, that's it." I growl and I call upon the strength, speed and reflexes of my species. I grab his arm, yet I keep my claws retracted, at least for now. I crouch down and swipe my leg across his from the back, causing him to trip. Yet because I still have a hold of his arm, I pull on the appendage and lift the hare over my shoulder and onto the floor on his back. I let go of his arm and grab my Shock Gun instead while stepping onto his chest.

Instantly those that see me draw my weapon do the same and aim it at me, but I stay strong. "Officer Edwards, explain yourself this instant." Someone from the side demands and I think: "I can either completely ruin this or get this moron to implicate himself." And instantly I get an idea. I keep my gun aimed at the bastard's face and with my other hand, I slowly grab the bottle that Helena gave to me the other night, of which I only took a small percentage for my research.
Instantly Burns whitens and loudly screams: "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT! THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN JASON'S LOCKER! HOW DID YOU GET IT! WHY DO YOU HAVE IT! IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN FOX'S FOOD! THAT WAS –!" Yet only then the man notices that the more he talked, the wider I smirked at him. I step off of the man and hold the bottle up high as I declare: "I don't think anyone here doesn't know what these are, right?"

And even from the corner of my eye I can see a lot of heads shaking. "Good, because they're not exactly that. As Officer Burns just implicated, these mutated spices were supposed to be in the locker of Officer Jason, who – as of the last year and four months – has been the closest assistant to one James Barkley. And I have all the evidence that can prove that Barkley was well aware of Jason's mutations, just like Officer Burns over here.
Oh, and I would like to remind everyone that Officer Burns just stated that these spices, that are in my hand right here, are supposed to be part of Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox's meal. Now why would he want that, I wonder?" Burns looks around fleetingly and I really want to use this and continue talking him and his reputation into the ground, but he speaks up first: "What the hell, Edwards! You've known of this for years and you did nothing!"

I quickly blink left and right myself and raise my voice as I say: "That's because I know of Barkley, Burns. I know he was able to completely ruin Emanuel Levarence, just because she wasn't too happy with her protection detail. I wasn't going to give him the same chance with me. So, like the panther I am, I waited for the perfect time to strike. Though I will admit –." I pull out the bottle again and grin: "I didn't expect your help in picking out said time."
A moment later my reflexes make sure that Burns' shot from his own Shock Gun misses the bottle and my grin grows into a smirk. "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!?" Burns screams and I mutter: "You just tried to destroy evidence. Well done, Burns. You might as well have shot yourself in the foot just now, literally that is." The hare drops his gun out of shock and a voice behind me shouts: "Baile, Dale, get that hare. And get Officer Rogers as well."

And two huge huskies rush out of the crowd standing around us. One heads for one of the stairs heading up, the other actually tackles Burns and forces the hare on his back. And while I grin at how the runner has his arms forced behind him and his wrists cuffed, the person who gave the orders comes to stand with me. The being is an albino gorilla and he says: "Come with me, Inspector Edwards. I do believe it better if you present the rest of your case to the High Court."
I feel slightly amazed at seeing his incredible white fur and the strength of his muscle, yet I also nod in agreement and say: "That's indeed what I came here to do today." The Gorilla winces and says: "Well, I do hope you've brought more than just the bottle for evidence, Inspector. The High Court is hard to convince. I even believe you'll have the biggest trouble with the second in command as he – well, he's actually your chief's uncle."

Instantly I whiten and freeze and one single thought goes through my mind. "How deep does this corruption run?" But while I think this, a couple of memories surface. Carmelita crying while held by Urmila. Carmelita kissing Sly while he holds her ever so lovingly. Sly helping Carmelita relax through a massage. And Bentley's reaction to the recording I gave him. I draw strength and determination from these memories and continue walking.
"Are you alright?" The gorilla asks and I mutter: "I needed a moment. Barkley and his ability to ruin a person now makes more sense and what allowed him to pull the crap I have been forced to swallow does as well. But – I've had to swallow that garbage for long enough. I know I have all of the evidence I need to take him down. Him and anyone who tries to back him up. I am done with him and his making a mockery out of our division."

The Gorilla nods and says: "Well, no one can say that you're not patient or determined. Besides, if you can present the right evidence to the others, you might be able to convince them. Then High Lord Barkley won't have a choice." By now we've headed up a few floors and seem to be heading towards a pair of high double doors. The Gorilla opens them for me and a voice inside speaks: "Mister White, what brings you so high up?"
The voice is disturbingly familiar and already I know that it's Barkley's uncle who is asking this. I also notice the Gorilla named White – though for some reason I actually doubt this – looking greatly annoyed. "Barkley, do you need to give everyone such simple-minded nicknames? Can't you call anyone by their actual name or honorific? Honestly. Please take our apology High-Inspector Depui." And this honorific makes me feel better.

Yet the short interaction also gives me another idea. I tap Depui on the back as I pass him and say: "There will be no apology necessary, my Lord. After all, High Lord Barkley and his cousin really aren't all that different now, are they? It runs in the family, really. So when I asked High-Inspector Depui to escort me and heard about High Lord Barkley, I already knew exactly what I was in for. His cousin really helped with that, you know?"
There are five people in the room with me and it really doesn't surprise me that one of them is an actual black and white striped badger who has the same shape and eye-color as that damned sick bastard that I have had to call my boss for the last two years. Yet to my amusement and relief, the others are all felines with the leader in the center of the line being a majestic lion with an incredible dark red and orange mane on his head.

"You dare to insult my cousin like that, lad? Your own chief?" Barkley growls and I grin as I mutter: "I most certainly do. Personally, I think my insults, as you call them, are quite tame. Though that is really out of respect for those around you, naturally." The badger seems to be slowly losing his temper and he growls: "And what about me, boy?" I shrug and say: "Unless you prove me you're better than your – ahem – family, I don't care about you."
The Badger jumps from his seat and snaps: "EXPLAIN YOURSELF, YOU RUNT!" I grin and turn from him to the female lynx that sits on the other side of the lion. "Excuse me, Miss. Would you like to receive the evidence that contains my explanation?" The woman seems confused, yet she nods and I keep my victorious grin aimed at Barkley as I approach her. And as I walk over, I say: "To be honest, I have two objects that contain my evidence.

The first is this –." I again pull the bottle out of my pocket and put it down on her desk. All eyes, bar Depui's, widen and I notice that the black of Barkley's fur now resembles his white fur more closely. Yet unlike Burns, the Badger keeps quiet while the lynx in front of me asks: "These – aren't the same spices that were used by the Klaww Gang, are they? They're – different? Mutated?" I nod and Barkley growls:
"My cousin can't even grow daisies. There is no way he could have been responsible for that." Yet I grin and ask: "Can you really be so sure of that, High Lord Barkley, when both you and your cousin are in charge of quite a lot of talented workers and employees? When you are both known for your temper? When your cousin is known to ruin reputations like he did to poor Miss Levarence, who only wanted better female rights in her protection detail?"

The badger seems to have trouble holding in on his own temper, obviously in the desire to prove me wrong and then the African cat that sits next to the lynx asks: "Inspector Edwards, you –." But Barkley proves that I was either wrong about his need to prove me wrong or proves that his fuse is shorter than I expected as he snarls: "DO NOT CALL THAT PUNK THAT! HIM AND THAT SLUT FOX DON'T DESERVE SUCH TITLES!"
And while I want to get furious, instead I feel pure satisfaction fill me all over. "I'm so sorry, Barkley, but when exactly did any of us here mention Inspector Fox? I must have missed it." And just like Burns downstairs, Barkley's fur whitens while I walk over from where I was standing in front of the lynx to the other side of his desk. I tower over the other predator and while I finally feel like his cousin must always feel when around Carmelita, I ask: "Well?"
And Barkley seems to think that he might as well go down fighting as he tries to jump over the table to attack me. But while I head my arms behind my back, my right arm was already tense. And a moment later my fist connects with his face and he grunts as his face gets forcefully turned to the side. And right after my reflexes has his shoulder in my grip and I force him to turn around, off the table and then force him onto the table with his front.

I pull his arms behind his back and growl: "I've wondered for years why Barkley had the ego that made him think he could get away with his sick, perverted ways. I already knew that he was bribing Chief Roland Cheswick and I just found out that he's also bribing an Officer here named Rogers. In fact, I am almost positive that he is bribing the guy, just to receive the funds needed to grow and mutate those spices.
At least I heard Officer Burns admit to funds that Officer Rogers supposedly provides our division. And because I myself have been keeping a close eye on the finances of our division for the past two years and never saw such a thing, but did often find evidence of the bribes going through Chief Roland's bank account, I can only imagine what these funds are being used for, really. And unfortunately for you, Barkley, I have several other officers who can say the same, who, like me, are known for their honesty – and their ability with paperwork."

Barkley is trying to get out of my grip, yet I am using all of my strength and all of my need to just finally get back at Barkley – any Barkley now, really – to keep him down on the table with his arms behind his back. And thanks to my years of training, I am able to keep him down with just one arm. And so I quickly use my other to pull a small flash drive out of my pocket and I swiftly throw it back at the Lynx, who is seated behind a computer.
The feline looks slightly startled and I say: "You will be interested to know, my fine High Lady, that you will be able to find a total of two years of evidence on that drive – and much more. You see, Barkley junior pushed me and mine so far that we decided to request aid from the grey side of the law. And this was a good thing too as they managed to find even more evidence than I could ever dream of. Such as the fact that Barkley apparently has a restraining order with Carmelita."

"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT!" Barkley rages and I growl: "I just said how. And I sure as hell wonder why he felt he needed to pretend to be a dog to go to college. Though personally, I find it a lot more disturbing that he has abused that fact for the past several years, just to circumvent said order. And the fact that, instead of proving he deserves to have the order rescinded, he just continued the behavior that caused the restraining order –."
I shake my head as I really just have no words for this. The lynx grimaces at this and as she sticks the drive in her computer, I tell her: "Just plug your ears and listen to file #20070517. That is practically what helped me gain the help of those people from the grey side of the law, as I said. Though I do warn you, it's just all levels of wrong. And I'm not just saying that because Carmelita saved all of Paris or because she has basically become my little sister over the years."

The lynx nods at me while she puts earphones in her ears and we all watch her as she listens to the recording. And just like Bentley, her face slowly goes from shock and horror to a primal sense of rage that makes her almost look scarier than the mighty lion in the center of the line. And while Bentley had actually listened to the whole file, the Lynx pulls the earphones from her ears just before the end and she lets out a roar that again draws my eyes to the lion.
"YOU APPROVE OF THIS! YOU'VE KNOWN OF THIS! YOU HAVE BEEN ALLOWING THIS!" The woman growls and at first I wonder if she is accusing me. But while I grimace and notice Barkley grinning underneath my grasp, the Lynx proves me wrong as she screams: "ANSWER ME BARKLEY!" And while I take great pride in my speed and reflexes, I am almost a minute too late before I realize that she is about to strike.
I jump back and actually feel a gush of wind as her arm strikes down and Barkley screams out in pain. "SHUT UP, YOU DISGUSTING ROTTEN SCUM! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SCREAM! I SHOULD BE RIPPING THAT PIECE OF FLESH FROM BETWEEN YOUR LEGS! RIP IT OFF AND FEED IT TO THAT CREEP YOU CALL FAMILY!" And these words make me think: "I wonder if the gang is listening in. Because I'm pretty sure that a lot of them would probably agree with her, if only to a degree."

Then the lion finally stands up and says: "High-Inspector Depui, take suspect Barkley to the high-level containment cells. High Lady Lennes, please calm yourself. Inspector Edwards and Fox need you, they need all of us to put a stop to this." And the ordering tone as well as the reminder that there are people who need her seems to help the Lynx calm down and regain herself. She breaths in and out several times and nods at her superior.
Then the only actual regular cat that sat at the far left of the line speaks up and asks: "Inspector Edwards, when you speak of the grey side of the law, you are talking about the Cooper Gang, aren't you? You're making use of the Otto van Cooper law to request them for their aid, aren't you?" I smirk at him and say: "I did not make use of this law, High Lord, but that is because I did not need to. In different manners, Sly Cooper and I both care for Carmelita most deeply."

The cat nods and I smirk as I say: "In fact, both Carmelita, her family and my own are currently enjoying the protective company of the Cooper Gang. And the fact that I am relying on – ahem – criminals to protect my own colleague really proves just how bad the situation at my division has become, don't you agree? Let alone the fact that I am subjecting my four year old and my pregnant wife to their treatment."
The group nods and I quickly go on: "However, do not get me wrong. I have been in Cooper's presence and I can honestly say this; your genuine care and respect for me and my colleague are most certainly shared with them all. It is not just because I distrust my own men that I am willing to trust them. They truly have earned my respect over the time that they have helped Inspector Fox grow to be the woman she is today."

The group around me grins and then High Lady Lennes asks: "Inspector, am I correct to assume that you and Inspector Fox were invited to Cooper's 23rd birthday party? That this was when you requested their aid in gathering this evidence you have presented me?" I grin back at her and say: "No and yes, High Lady Lennes. We were not, per say, invited, but we were indeed guests at his party and it was indeed at the party that they agreed to help us.
In fact – Bentley, you still there?" I ask while tapping my ear and yet I hear Carmelita instead of Bentley. "Michael, it really doesn't surprise me that Barkley junior had someone senior up top to support him, but I am glad that senior at least hasn't tried to corrupt the rest of the High Lords and Ladies. Also, Bentley hacked into the camera security of Interpol France and we just saw Barkley and the others on my floor eat the spiced pasta.
And I know that some would call me a coward for not daring to confront Barkley until he is under the effects of hypnotic drugs, but – I need this, Michael. So the team and I made a decision just before you called. Sly and the team will be with me, while my family will stay here to protect and entertain yours. We'll meet you and, if possible, International in front of our Division in 20 minutes, okay?" I look at the line in front of me and the Lion states:

"Lady Fox, I give you my personal and official vow as a predator and the High Lord of Interpol International. All of our Offensive, Defensive and Patrolling Units will be with you when you put the chains on James Barkley and anyone else who has caused you grief instead of respecting you for what you have done. For Interpol France as well as all of Interpol International and the world at large. We will indeed meet with you, Lord Cooper and his team in 20 minutes."
Carmelita thanks the lion over my earpiece and I let go off it. The lion grins at me and yet I grimace and say: "I'm sorry to say this, High Lords and Ladies, but – while I'm sure you can understand why my colleague wants to be part of this, it's not just because of all Barkley has done to her. Again, you can find all that evidence on the stick I gave you. I am sad to say this, but – it will also be her last arrest – ever. She has actually already signed her resignation forms."

The group's eyes widen as one, but then Lennes sighs and says: "I really can't say I don't understand that. Tell me, Inspector Edwards, how long has Barkley been subjecting her to – well, that?" I growl: "For two years. He started it all three days after Carmelita saved us all." The Lynx shakes her head and mutters: "I would have caved within a few months. I commend that feisty fox for her strength, but I can definitely understand why she's decided enough is enough."
I grin at her and then grin at them at large as I say: "Of course, Carmelita wouldn't be Carmelita if she didn't decide to just keep doing what she loves. She just decided to change the method through which she would do this." And while I don't say it, the others in the room all get what I'm not saying. Yet then the last of the line, who is an Ocelot, makes me laugh as he asks: "So when is the wedding between her and Cooper, exactly?"

Oh, this was FUN!
And I haven't even gotten to Barkley's actual arrest yet. However, now that the ball is rolling and now that we are only one more chapter away from the whole thing being cleaned up, expect more qualified work out of the Interpol Officers and Inspectors. And naturally our very own Michael Edwards is going to be at the head of all of that and he will appear more often to provide aid to his favorite "criminal" team.
Nice, Michael,

Venquine1990