Chapter 18: A Reunion
Sam
Sam looked at the passing scenery through the police car window. The bear-cop had tried to start a conversation with Sam, but Sam had refused to say anything. The bear-cop had remained quiet after a couple of attempts of conversation. Instead, Sam and the bear-cop listened to the police scanner. This continued for a good ten minutes. Sam was wrapped up in his thoughts when the bear-cop suddenly turned up the volume on the police scanner. Sam recognized the number sequence as an armed robbery with possible hostage situation.
"Hold on, kid." The bear-cop switched the lights on, turned around, and sped up.
Despite the situation he was in, Sam was rather interested in what was coming. His parents never let him tag along on something like this, so he was curious. The bear-cop stopped the car two blocks away from where the robbery was taking place.
"Stay here." The bear-cop said unnecessarily and leapt out of the vehicle.
"It's not like I can go anywhere." Sam muttered to himself. He watched the bear-cop leave and sighed.
"Of course, I get stuck in a police car and then he can't even give me the pleasure of seeing an armed robbery." Sam said sarcastically. "So, Cami," Sam said to calm his nerves, "an escape would be really great right about now. Think you can pull it off?"
A sudden loud knocking noise came from behind Sam. Sam jumped and hit his head on the roof of the car. He jerked around and looked through the window.
"Cami?" He asked in disbelief.
Cami
Cami had the pleasure of riding shotgun while Murray drove his precious van. She discovered that riding shotgun with Murray at the wheel was terrifying. Cami eventually shut her eyes and tried to convince herself she was on a perfectly safe, well-maintained rollercoaster ride.
"Do you really have a driver's license?" Cami asked with her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"A legal one?" Murray asked. "No, why?"
"No reason." Cami gripped the seat like her life depended on it.
"Next right turn, Murray." Bentley said from the back seat. "Don't throw up in here, Cami, or Murray will never forgive you."
"Then someone hand me a barf bag!" Cami had to pry her hands off the seat to take the paper bag offered by Penelope. Cami tried to calm her breathing and shut her eyes. She held the bag at the ready, just in case.
"There's the car!" Cami heard Penelope say excitedly. The van came to a screeching halt a block behind the police car. Cami leapt out, all queasiness forgotten, when she saw the back of Sam's head.
"Cami! Wait!" Bentley yelled after her. Cami didn't listen; she just ran up to the police car and knocked sharply on the window. Sam jumped and hit his head on the roof of the car. He turned to Cami and his jaw dropped.
"Cami?" He asked. Cami could not hear him, but she read his lips.
Cami nodded and smiled. Cami tugged at the door handle and Sam shook his head. Cami sighed and kneeled down. She took out a thin wire and inserted it into the lock. Cami's hands were shaking with joy and she was having difficulty picking the lock.
"Step aside, Cami." Cami turned and saw Bentley with a small explosive. Cami removed the wire and stepped back.
"This won't hurt Sam, right?" Cami asked, worried.
"Of course not." Bentley said as he set the explosive. Bentley motioned for Sam to move back. Sam followed the instructions and moved to the other side of the car and covered his head.
Bentley moved back, next to Cami. "The gang is waiting for us in the van, get ready to grab your brother and get back to the van. The cop won't stay distracted forever."
The explosive went off and Cami leapt into the car before the dust had even cleared. "Come on, Sammy. We need to move."
"Easy Cami, I hurt my leg. I can't move that fast." Sam said as Cami tugged him out of the police car.
"Okay, let me help you." Cami put Sam's arm over her shoulders. She and Sam started to move to the van.
"Come on. Move!" Bentley said looking over his shoulder.
"Is that-?" Sam started to ask.
"I'll explain everything later." Cami promised.
"Hey! You!" The bear cop had returned. "Stop!" The bear cop started running after Cami, Sam, and Bentley.
"Great." Bentley muttered. "MURRAY!" He yelled to the van.
The van moved unnecessarily fast over to them. The van's back doors opened and Bentley jumped in. Cami pulled Sam in and before the doors were even fully shut, Murray hit the gas.
"Whoa!" Sam gripped Cami's arm tightly on instinct. Bentley yanked the doors shut.
"Hold on!" Murray yelled, turning sharply. Sam and Cami could hear sirens behind them.
"Bentley! Where's the police scanner?" Murray asked. "Someone turn it on!"
"Right, Murray!" Penelope said, flicking a radio on.
"Suspects driving a van down Main Street, in pursuit. Requesting backup." The police scanner said.
"I assume that is us?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, probably." Cami said.
"It is us." Bentley said. He was sitting in front of a laptop with Penelope at his side. Panda King had taken shotgun and Dimitri was laying back on the back seat. Guru was meditating and keeping his balance with an astonishing amount of skill. Sam and Cami were holding onto each other and anything that was attached to the floor.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"Messing with every technological thing they have. Please don't talk to us." Penelope said, not taking her eyes off the screen.
"Are these guys-? Whoa!" Sam redoubled his grip on Cami's arm and the seat.
"Dad's friends, yeah. Bentley, Murray, Penelope, Guru, Dimitri, and Panda King. They helped me find you!" Cami was gripping Sam's arm so tightly both her knuckles and Sam's arm were white.
"Nice." Sam said. "After we get out of this car chase, we are having a long talk. Right now, I feel sick."
"Same here." Cami shut her eyes.
Later…
Sam had taken a shower and was wearing clothes Bentley had given him. He sat down next to Cami at a table. Sam recounted his tale and everything he could remember about those guys who were after him and Cami.
"So you are Dad's friends?" Sam asked for the third time. "You're going to help us get them back, right?"
"Yeah, Sly's family is our family!" Murray proclaimed proudly.
"Of course." Bentley said. "Listen, whatever we're heading into, you're going to need to be master thieves, like Sly wa-is." Bentley corrected himself.
Everyone, but Sam and Cami, exchanged knowing glances. Wordlessly, Bentley wheeled himself over to a painting of a little island. He removed the painting to reveal a safe. Everyone seemed to hold his or her breath as Bentley opened the safe. Bentley pulled out a book and handed it to Sam and Cami.
"This is the Thievius Raccoonus. It was written by your ancestors and holds the secrets of the Cooper Line. Sly would have wanted you two to have it, but now you will need to master its secrets to save him and Carmelita."