Okay, I tried really hard to get this one done sooner. Sorry if it's not as soon as we wanted. Things have been so, so, SO crazy. But I'm sure you don't want to hear about that mess. Just a little something to say: thanks to all of those who reviewed during my long absense and to show my joy for these reviews I went through and re-edited all of my previous chapters. But, enought about that. On with the show!

Chapter 19: Recon Gone Wrong

Ken woke with a yawn. He had shifted from where he had slept and was about to wonder what the heck was going on until he saw the girls up front. Alexa was at the wheel and Jamie looking at her laptop. He got to his feet and got in between the two chairs and mumbled a groggy, "Hey."

"Hey, Mr. Sunshine," Alexa grinned, keeping her eyes on the road. "How'd you sleep?"

"Alright for leaning up against metal for… how many hours?"

"Um… let's say, over twelve," Jamie supplied.

"For over twelve hours," he yawned in agreement. "So, what I'd miss?"

"Nothing much," Jamie stated. "Alexa's been driving for a while now. We were about to wake you too; we're going to make a pit stop for food."

"You guys must've read my mind. I'm starving."

"Nah, we heard your stomach," Alexa chuckled with Ken and Jamie joining in. Though most of the jokes that were shared between the gang were the dorky kind, it would always lighten the mood and make them feel better in any situation. They needed that sometimes to have the feeling that everything would be alright.

They soon reached a good rest stop with gas and food. As Ken filled up the tank with gas, Alexa and Jamie went inside to order.

"Oh my god, it feels like for-ever since I had a good burger," Alexa stated happily, as she put her tray of food on the table.

"Agreed. The food looks amazing," Ken smiled as he sat by the window and Jamie sat next to him.

"So, is that why you got two burgers, two fries, and a large milkshake?" Jamie questioned with a hand on her stomach. "Just looking at all of that makes my stomach ache."

"What? I'm a big guy. I gotta eat."

"Right…" Alexa put a fry to her mouth when it was snatched from her hand. "Hey!" she turned to see the other teen raccoon. "Chase!"

He tossed the fry into his mouth and grinned, "Mind if I sit with you guys?"

"Hmpt, you'd sit with us anyways."

He chuckled, "That's right."

He plopped down besides Alexa as she asked, "How do you keep finding us?"

Chase put a finger to his lips, "It's a secret. Besides, where would the fun be if I told you?" Alexa rolled her eyes as Chase looked to Jamie, "Anything new? Like, where we're going?"

"Oh, we're going to the Swiss Alps," Jamie replied taking a slip of her milkshake.

"Really? Sounds interesting."

"It will be. But it's not a vacation. We're dealing with a crime boss named Fyodor Borislav. Ever heard of him?"

"Nope," Chase said very nonchalant. "I haven't had the chance to keep up with the news."

"That's true for us too. We don't exactly get cable," Ken noted, taking a bite out of his second burger.

Alexa sighed, "Well, he's definitely higher up the scale compared to Rico. So, we're gonna have to watch it. These guys are going to be more elite and cunning. There are going to be more challenges this round, so let's hope for some luck," she said as she sipped down the rest of her milkshake, making a crackling sound.

"Says the typical teenager, trying to get the last drop by making that obnoxious noise," Chase stated.

Alexa elbowed him and he only chuckled. "We're also going to need to take this seriously," Alexa growled.

Chase smirked, "But I'm always serious."

"Yeah right," Alexa rolled her eyes.

Ken and Jamie looked to each other and chuckled.

"What?" Alexa questioned.

"You two look like just a cute couple," Jamie giggled.

Alexa's face turned blood red as Chase turned pink with a goofy smile.

"Jamie!" Alexa nearly yelled.

"Well, it is true," Ken agreed.

"Ken," Alexa called.

Chase just laughed, "Aw, come on, Alexa." He put her arm around, pulling her close to him. He then whispered in her ear, "You know you like me."

Alexa's heart nearly pounded out of her chest. But she remained composed as she pushed Chase of her and out of the seat. She then got up, gathered the rest of her food and muttered, "I'll be in the van," before she stormed out.

Chase sighed as he got up, brushed himself off and then sat back down in his seat. "She's not very happy with me, is she?"

"Well duh," Ken blurted.

Jamie elbowed him, "What he means is that she's… confused."

"Confused?" Chase cocked his head to the side, "Oh, with what I told her?"

The wolf and fox nodded.

"I see…"

"Could you enlighten us?" Jamie asked, finishing off her food. "Alexa doesn't really tell us much about you."

"Really?" Chase mused.

"Alexa doesn't like to repeat things that didn't come out of her mouth," Ken explained wiping his face. "It's how she shows respect for the person. She doesn't saying anything unless the person doesn't mind."

Chase chuckled, "I see." He paused for a moment trying to figure out how word the story, "I guess for it to make sense, I have to start from the beginning. My father is… a man who has to get what he wants and will use any threat to get it. My father put me in charge of 'handling' the heir to the Cooper line, Alexa. But…" he looked away from the two teens, "I don't have the nerve to do such a thing." He sighed, "I really am a coward."

"No, you're not a coward. You just care about her, right?" Jamie said putting a hand on Chase's arm.

"I suppose," he agreed with a sad smile.

Ken then finished of his last burger adding, "Oh, and don't you have a brother too?"

"Hm, she told you about him?"

"Ah, no… she showed me that picture she found. The kid looked a lot like you."

"Oh. Yes, I do have a younger brother. His health situation is the main reason why I was dragged into this."

"What's wrong with him?" Jamie asked.

His adopted father. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh, that's fine," the fox scratched the back of her neck. "I'm just being nosy…"

"It's okay. It's just…" he looked off into the distance, "some things are better left unsaid."

Ken looked at the time, "Um, Jamie. We need to get going."

"Oh, right." She got up with him and looked to Chase. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be right behind you," and he followed them out.

After throwing away their trash, Ken and Jamie headed for the van, while Chase got on his motorcycle. Jamie opened the back door and Ken started up the van. "Alexa?" she questioned when she saw her friend leaning up against the van wall with her hat over her eyes. She lifted the hat and Alexa opened her eyes with relief on her face.

"Thank you for taking me out of my thoughts," she mumbled. "I was about to lose it…"

"What's wrong?" Jamie questioned, sitting across from her as Ken pulled out of the parking lot.

She adjusted her hat, "I have too many thoughts in my head right now."

"About Chase?"

"Him, what he said, and what might happen next…"

"Well, he clarified some things for Ken and I since you apparently weren't telling us everything."

"His life, his privacy. If he wanted all of us to know he would've told us all," Alexa retorted.

"Either way, from what he's told us, I think he has a love complex."

An eyebrow went up, "A love complex?"

Jamie nodded, "Between you and his brother. He first did the job for his brother's health. Then after watching you for so long he started falling for you and that's proven by how he helped you."

Alexa sighed. "Whatever you say. But I just have a bad feeling there's some hidden agenda. And when it finally comes out it's not going to be good."

"Aw, you're just being paranoid. Why would he go through all of the trouble of falling in love with you and then making it end," she snapped her fingers, "just like that?"

"Hmm… I guess you're right." Alexa laughed, "We shouldn't be thinking this hard anyway. We're supposed to be having fun."

"Glad you finally said that, Ally," Ken chuckled. "Cuz I don't think you'd let me get a snowboard with that attitude."

"Ha, ha, ha," Alexa hit him upside the head. "Keep talking like that and you won't get one. Remember we still have to be ready for the worst with this new baddy."

Ken merely stuck his tongue out at her and she replied with the same.

"Alright you two," Jamie interjected, pushing Alexa back into her seat. She then crawled into the front seat, "Let's just try and get to Switzerland without any problems, okay."

"Aw, come on. We were just—" Jamie glared at her. "Okay, okay. I need a nap anyway." She leaned up against the wall of the van putting her hat over her eyes. "We've got a lot ahead."

…

"That's the place," Jamie pointed to a shabby cabin in the distance with a thin layer of snow covering the landscape.

"Cool," Alexa said glancing over Jamie's shoulder. "Almost there. And then we can get this party started!" she grinned. But then she turned to see out the back window that Chase was still right behind them. And maybe I can figure out what his angle is… if he has one.

They pulled up to the cabin and began to unload everything since they did plan to stay there for a while. Chase soon arrived to see Alexa coming back to the van to carry more boxes inside while Ken and Jamie were setting up equipment.

"So, what is all of this stuff?" Chase asked as he peered inside some of the boxes.

"Nothing much. Just some supplies, clothes, and nick-nacks. We all made a box for ourselves before we left so we wouldn't bring too much." Alexa replied lifted up her own box.

"I see." He then tried to open the box in her hands.

"Hey!" she turned away, "Stop that!"

"Why? I just want to see what kind of nick-nacks you brought. It tells a lot about you, I'm sure." He grinned.

"If I wanted you to see them, I would've done a freakin' show and tell." She sighed and said, "Jamie says there's an extra bed in the basement. It's open for you if you want it."

"Is it the one next to yours?" he questioned with a sly smile.

Alexa went wide eyed, "Ha, ha, no. You'll be rooming with Ken while Jamie and I are upstairs. No ideas too cuz you know I can kick your ass." She then turned on her heels and headed back to the safe house. That's when the blood rushed to her face. Stupid. Why'd he have to ask that…?

He grinned as he went back to his bike to get his things. "This is going to be interesting," he chuckled.

Alexa went through the door and heard Ken grumbling. "This is ridiculous. Look at this," he pointed at his ears and how they were flattened against the ceiling. "I swear this place was made for little people."

Alexa laughed heading for the stairs, "At least you won't be sleeping out in the snow."

"I guess but at least I would have room out in the snow," he pouted.

"Oh, stop it," Jamie elbowed him. "That's why you and Chase get downstairs. It's much bigger. So, come and help me with the computer for a second."

"Okay," he muttered following her.

Alexa chuckled shaking her head. She went up the stairs and saw that it was a trap door leading to the upper room. Using her back, she pushed the door open. She walked all the way up to see it was a pretty airy space with some windows letting in the sunlight and two beds on either side of the room. She put down her box on one of the beds and looked out the window to see snow begin to fall. She opened it and stuck out her hand to catch some flakes that instantly melted in her warm hand.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

She wasn't surprised. I knew he'd come up here anyway. "Yeah." She brought herself back inside and looked to Chase. "So… you explained things to Jamie and Ken."

"Yeah." But then his smile softened, "I want to thank you."

"For what?" she cocked to her head to the side, causing her earring to jingle.

"For not talking about what I tell you."

"That's noth—"

"No." he interrupted. "I appreciate it. I really don't have much privacy when working for my father. He knows almost everything that goes on, so to actually talk to someone and know that it's private is nice."

"N-no problem." She couldn't stop staring at him as he looked down at his feet embarrassed. He's being so sincere and sweet and… damn, I'm gonna regret this later. She took a deep breath and hugged him. "You're among friends now. Your information will be safe and so will you. We'll until we have to go steal things or you make me mad."

Chase went blood red in his face but couldn't help laughing as he put his arms around her. "Thank you." I feel so warm. I haven't had this sort of feeling in a really long time.

"Hey, Alexa, you wan—" Jamie then saw the two them as she came up. "Oh, am I interrupting something?"

Alexa gasped and jumped back, "Nope. Nothing at all. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to look at the blueprints I was able to find," she said looking at Chase, trying to figure out his response to this.

"Right. Sure. Coming," Alexa mumbled heading past Jamie down the stairs.

Once Alexa was out of an ear shot, Jamie said, "You really shouldn't be doing that. Won't your dad be mad if he finds out?"

"Of course. He'd be furious," he replied with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "But it's hard."

Jamie laughed, "Don't give me that excuse." She went right up to him and poked his chest, "I promise if you hurt her, you'll get three times worse. Got it."

"I figured I'd get the wrath of the gang," he walked passed her and stopped for a moment. "But I'll try cuz I really don't want to hurt her."

Jamie put a hand on his shoulder, "I'll take your word for it. Let's head down with the others, kay?"

Chase nodded and followed her down.

The other two came in to Alexa looking over the blue prints with Ken next to her. "Hmm. So, do we have any ideas on where to infiltrate this place?"

"Not a clue. This is the most we could find. This guy is definitely security conscious," Ken noted.

"That just means you're gonna have to go do recon, Ally," Jamie said looking over Alexa's shoulder.

"Awesome," she grinned. "I'll go get my stuff." And she ran off past Chase in the doorway.

He watched her run up stairs and then walked over to the other two saying, "I'll go with her. We can watch each other's backs."

"Ya sure?" Ken asked scrunching down a little so his ears wouldn't hit the ceiling again, "She's kinda been seething all day."

Chase chuckled, "I can handle her. Do you have any extra gear?"

"Oh, sure," Jamie stated walking off and coming back with a hand full. "Here's a head piece, binoc-u-com, and some extras for support if you guys in into a fight like smoke bombs, etc."

"Cool," he nodded, putting the various items on his person. Then Alexa came out seeing him geared up and had an eyebrow raised.

"Where are you going?"

"With you."

Alexa sighed. I really didn't want to worry about anyone but… "Fine. I'm not able to stop you from coming so fine. Just don't get in my way," she grabbed her jacket opening the door.

Chase was in a little shock, "Wow. That was easier than I thought it would be."

"Well come on!" Alexa called waiting in the doorway. Chase snapped out of it and grabbed his jacket heading out the door.

"Good luck. Stay in contact too, okay?" Jamie asked while Alexa gave her a thumbs-up and was out the door.

The two then ran for the half mile to the compound as the snow fell. They didn't speak until they made it to the receding tree line in front of the wall surrounding the compound.

"Okay, Jamie. Is the front door even an option or are we going to need to improvise?" Alexa asked looking along the wall.

"Front entrance is out unless you want to run three miles back. Borislav has the entire tree line brought back on the road leading to the compound and has cameras everywhere."

"We'd be spotted a mile away," Alexa finished her thought. "Okay then… is there a way for you to hack the cameras?"

"Well, I can emit a single from the binoc-u-coms that will make you invisible on the cameras. I mean, they're simple, cheep cameras cuz he had to get so many to make sure there were no blind spots. But there are still plenty of guards at the gate. They'll check everything on you too."

"Okay. Do the single thing and I," she saw a flake of snow fall in front of her, "I think I have an idea to get inside."

"Done and done. Just be careful," Jamie said with clicking of a keyboard in the background.

"Always." She then ran along the wall until, "Yes! There's a sheet of ice."

"Okay, so…" Chase said waving his hand for her to continue the thought.

"If you give me a lift, I'll show you," she gripped her cane.

He bent down cupping his hands, "Show away."

She grinned and backed up. Then she ran and put her foot in Chase's hands, and he shot her upward. She hovered for a while and then split her cane into two and hooked onto the ice. "Wow. I didn't know you could do that," Chase muttered while she climbed chuckling. She made it to the top and looked down both ways to see there weren't any guards nearby. She then got up and pulled out a rope to throw down to Chase.

"Hurry," she whispered loudly. "I don't know when a guard will come by."

He shimmied up quickly and got to his feet with her, "Now what?"

Alexa was rewinding the rope and getting it into her bag, "Um." She looked around and saw a nearby power line. "This way," she whispered zipping her bag and jumping onto the wire. And Chase was right on her tail.

They continued quietly to the center of the compound and saw that there were just guards out and about but no people. "Hard to believe this is a thriving town."

"It is," Jamie called over the communicator. "I mean the city is supposed to be one of the highest producers of goods."

"Yes, but there are no people on the streets," Chase muttered. "This is what happens when a dictator takes over."

"Then let's put a stop to it," Alexa stated hopping onto one of the roofs.

They soon reached the roof before the headquarters. "That should be where Borislav is." Alexa looked through her binoc-u-com. "Hey Jamie, I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but are there any blind spots in this area?"

"Nope. He's got everything wired. Even though you have the single going, there's no way you could get past the guards."

"Yeah, we'd have to be invisible," Chase muttered.

Alexa gasped, "Chase, you're a genius!"

"Glad you noticed but why now?" he asked skeptically.

"There's this Cooper technique. I can turn myself invisible and then follow someone in."

"And where does this leave me?"

"Sitting here staying out of sight," she muttered about to leave when Chase grabbed her upper arm. "What?"

"Be careful. If Borislav is the guy you've described, he won't be afraid to kill you." His eyes reflected worry so saturated that Alexa had to look away.

"I know." She pulled her arm back. "Thanks for the concern but there's no need." She smiled, "I live for this stuff." And she turned invisible jumping down from the roof. She then saw a guard heading for the compound and crept up behind him, making sure that her steps mimicked his. The guard then uses a card to open the door and headed inside with an unexpected guest following him in. Right when the guard put the card back into his pocket, Alexa pick-pocketed it. This could come in handy.

"Okay, so you're in. Now what?" Ken questioned.

"Give me a sec. I'm thinking on my feet here." She walked down the hall and realized that her invisibly was wearing off. "Damn." She found a closet and slipped in.

"What's wrong?" Chase asked.

"My invisibly was fading." She then had to brace herself against the wall, "Along with my energy."

"You should get out of there," Jamie said worriedly. "There's no way you can keep this up."

"Yes but—" she stopped and put her ear to the door as footsteps approached.

"Mr. Borislav, everything's going as planned," a timid voice stated.

"Yes. I would hope so. Otherwise, there would be another accident," a deep booming voice replied. "Isn't that right, Brazen?"

"Yes," a velvet voice agreed as the footsteps passed the closet. "And there have been so many."

"Alexa, don't you dare follow them. If your invisibility fades, you're dead," Ken said sternly.

"Please don't do it Ally," Jamie pleaded.

But Alexa wasn't listening. She was too seething with anger to hear. This man… how can he do such things to these people. With that she waited long enough for the foot steps to pass and step out invisibly and followed them.

"So, go over the numbers, would you?" Borislav asked with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, well, the mine workers are producing very high numbers of coal and the lumber workers have cut down a number of trees to timber. Unfortunately, we've had some sick, even die from the fumes in the mines and hypothermia in the woods," the timid penguin said, flipping through the papers on the clipboard in his hands.

"Yes, but we're getting that new shipment of workers soon so there's no need to worry about that. What else?" Borislav questioned very nonchalant.

"Uh, also, the weaponry is being stocked as we speak. More workers are being trained to defend the compound since the rumor of the authority's plan of attack. We'll be ready."

"Perfect."

"But sir, what about the sick?"

Brazen grabbed the collar of the penguin's shirt, "That is of none of your concern." The penguin's eyes grew wide and he clenched the clipboard as if his life depended on it.

"Brazen, put him down. It's a reasonable question."

The white arctic fox put him back down, and his ice blue eyes looking away frustrated.

"Now, my friend," the bear said with a toothy grin, "I want you to put that clip board down on that table, that's right. Now, I want you to come here and look out the hallway window with me." They turned their back to Alexa and she took the opportunity to take pictures of the papers and the three in front to the window. "Now, look out at this compound. I've created this and do you think I don't know what's best for it?"

"Of course not sir."

"Good." But that's when Alexa's visibility was coming back and she gasped.

Brazen turned on a dime and didn't see anything there. Alexa had been able to duck under the table in the hall way, thanking God that there was a cloth over it as she became fully visible.

"Brazen? What is it?" Borislav asked following the fox's glance.

"I heard something," he murmured pulling out a gun.

Alexa tried to stay as still as possible, trying to get enough energy back. "Alexa? Alexa, answer me," Chase said in her ear.

I can't you idiot! She screamed in her head, calming her heart rate. Brazen approached the table with his gun out in front. He edged it under the cloth and then quickly pulled it up to find nothing was there. He stared at the place where Alexa was sitting, holding her breath, when finally he dropped the cloth back down. "I apologize. I could've sworn I heard something."

Alexa then phased back but still quieted her breathing even though her lungs burned.

"It's alright, Brazen. Come, let's go and get something to eat. That will probably calm your nerves. And my little friend," he said looking down at the penguin, "please take care of the rest, alright."

The penguin nodded and quickly grabbed the clipboard and waddled away as Borislav and Brazen walked in the opposite direction. As soon as the hall was completely quiet, Alexa let out a loud sigh and started taking deep breaths.

"Alexa, if you don't answer me, I'm going in after you," Chase stated.

"There's no need for that," Alexa finally said, bringing her mind back into the real world. She heard sighs of relief on the other ends. "Sorry, I just had to get those pics. Did you get them Jamie?"

"Yeah, but I was too concerned for my friend who was possibly trying to get herself killed!"

"Forget that. What do the documents say?" Alexa sternly replied.

"Alright, alright." There was silence over the communicator and then, "Oh my God. These are all weapons they've produced and all the people who have died. And…" there was some sobbing.

"And let's just say there are a lot of each," Ken finished for her.

"Well then let's get started on figuring out a plan, otherwise, he'll keep killing," Alexa stated trying to be level headed although her head was swimming from exhaustion. "I should probably bug his office, just so we can get more info."

"Okay," Jamie sniffled. "I think I can get you there."

"Good girl." And with that Alexa was out from underneath the table and followed Jamie's directions to Borislav's office. She climbed into one of the air vents in a corner out of the way of the cameras and then crawled her way above the office. Once she saw and heard no one in the room she dropped down and placed the bugs where Jamie requested.

"Good job. Now I can hack the cameras and see what they see. We should be all set to make the master plan."

"Awesome," Alexa climbed back up the vents. "Can you get me to the vent closest to the way out? I'd rather not run into Borislav."

"Let's see. Yeah take a left, right, and right and keep going until you find the cover and that should get you right next to the door."

"Okay, then can you tell me when someone's coming or going so I can follow them out?" She found the vent and removed the cover and dropped down to see the door and no one around.

"You're in luck. Someone's coming in."

Alexa heard a beep from the card reader outside. The door unlocked and she turned invisible. A guard stepped in and Alexa was then able to slip out and make a run for it over to the building where she left Chase.

He sat in one of the roof's corners, huddled in the snow, shivering and teeth chattering. When Alexa appeared, he jumped but sighed. "Took you long enough."

"Sorry. I ran into some problems. But hey, I got out alive. So, come on. We need to get you moving before you freeze to death."

"I like that plan," he muttered getting up and shaking the snow off himself. They then went across the wires again but Alexa had them stop singling that there was a guard. Chase nodded and he motioned to follow him. The two back tracked and ended up coming down from the roofs and onto the streets, and snuck toward the wall. They walked around until they saw that there was no guard above them. Alexa took the lead up the build and crossed a wire to the wall. She lowered the rope on the other side as Chase joined her. He went down first and then Alexa cut the line.

"What are you doing? You need to get down too." Chase loudly whispered.

Alexa didn't reply, she jumped. She took out her paraglide and floated to the ground. "Geez," she muttered picking up the rope, "you don't think I wouldn't have a plan."

"I guess I should know better," he replied smiling.

Alexa grinned back putting the rope away, "Well, at least that went without a hitch."

"Hey!"

The two teens turned to see four guards running toward them.

"I think you spoke too soon," Chase groaned.

"Run!" Alexa grabbed his hand and they took off running. The guards were not far behind and Alexa began to feel woozy. She tripped over her feet and Chase caught her.

"Now's not the time," Chase muttered getting her back to her feet.

"Yeah, like I picked this time to feel like I'm gonna pass out," she snapped back.

They ran for a few more minutes when Chase looked back, "I think we lost them." But then Alexa held her arm out to stop them. "What?"

"Look down."

Chase looked down and gasped. It was a sheer drop of fifteen feet with an iced over lake at the bottom. "Phew, that was close."

Voices rang out. "We're gonna have to stand our ground," Alexa stated.

"Are you sure you two can do that?" Jamie questioned.

"Of course. It's unfair for them since they're up against two great fighters." But Alexa's vision blurred and she was caught by Chase again.

"Make that one-and-a-half great fighters. Alexa almost faints every couple minutes."

"She must be weak from using that technique for so long," Ken noted.

Alexa popped right up. I am not weak. If my dad could do it, so can I. "I'm fine. I still have plenty of energy to kick some ass."

"Well, here they come."

The number of guards had multiplied to eight and all of them had their guns at ready. Chase and Alexa then began to dodge bullets and approached the guards, hitting the guns out of their hands. The battle shifted to hand to hand and the teens were being pushed back to the edge of drop off. Chase was doing well and Alexa was still up on her feet.

They had gotten down to the last two guards and that's when Alexa's body was starting to shut down. She fell to her knees, doing her best to deflect the attacks. Chase looked over to her. Bad move. His opponent then pushed with all of his body weight and Chase went off the side of the drop off. Alexa heard a crunch of ice and glanced back to see Chase wasn't there. "Chase!" A new wave of adrenalin washed over her body as she shoved the guard off of her and ran over to the side. She split the cane into two and put them in the loops of her jeans as she dove into the water.

The guards were able to get back to their feet and hobble to look over the edge. "There's no need to alert anyone," the leader said. "The one will probably drown. If not, hypothermia with take them both."

…

"Agh!" Sly slammed a stack of papers on his desk.

"Doing that won't make the process go any faster," Bentley muttered.

"I know Bent. But I feel like we're just cops checking up on old enemies instead of thieves trying to follow thieves. Everyone on your list checks out. The Contessa and Rajan are still doing their day jobs; Jean Bison is still frozen; Raleigh, Muggshot, Mz. Ruby, General Tsao, and Octavio are still under lock and key; and the rest are dead or in our gang. We're out of leads on who's behind this."

"We're going to have to dig deeper for who's doing this then," Penelope stated bringing in a stack of documents. "This is everything I could find on the Cooper Gang and on Clockwerk."

"Why Clockwerk?" Murray questioned, snacking on some chips.

"He might have connections to other crooks. Think about it," Pen started to divvy up the documents, "he was around for a long time so he probably had others who'd try and carry out his mission."

"That would be the best course of action," Panda King agreed as he began to read his documents.

"Well then let's boogie and get through these," Dimitri said grabbing his share. He had just joined a while ago after hearing that the situation with Alexa had gotten worse.

"Yeah, but do we have any leads on Alexa?" Marsh asked taking a stack from Pen.

"Looking for them as we speak," Bentley said, typing away on his computer.

"Good," Sly grabbed his own stack. "Then let's hope we find something good. I have this feeling that something is wrong and I hope it's not right."

OMG! I finally updated and I leave you with a cliffy O_O

I'm sorry but this is where the chapter ended in my head. And I promise I'll get the next chapter up way sooner. But I would again like to say thanks to all who reviewed and read. I can't believe how many hits and reviews I've gotten and I appreciate it so much.

So, hoped you liked the chapter and I hope I can get some reviews ;)