Chapter 21: A Reluctant Betrayal
The photos Cami took showed detailed files about everyone. It showed where they lived, their jobs, and it was in effect their lives on paper. It said things that even Bentley and Penelope didn't know.
"This is very creepy." Sam said looking over the pictures of his own file. "This has copies of my report card since I was six!"
"Me too." Cami said.
"Me too." Bentley said.
"Me too." Penelope said.
"Me too." Murray said. "Hey, it's got a list of everything I've ever eaten!" Murray started shuffling through a huge amount of papers.
"It has the location of my Jing King. This worries me." Panda King rumbled quietly.
Cami, did you happen to read mine? Guru asked tonelessly.
"No. Why?" Cami asked suspiciously.
You do not want to know things about my youth. Guru said simply. I was a, well, nevermind. It is better that you do not know certain things about me.
"Okay." Cami said slowly. "So, what's the plan, Bentley?" She asked sitting cross-legged.
Bentley exchanged looks with Penelope. "First things first, we're sending you two to Dimitri."
"What?" Cami and Sam nearly yelled in unison.
"Listen, you two are too young for this." Penelope said lightly.
"Sly and Carmelita would never forgive us if we got you two hurt." Murray shrugged. "Nothing personal."
"I know I would not willing place my Jing King in danger, so I know neither Cooper nor Fox would willing place either of you in danger." Panda King said plainly.
We will get your parents back. Do not worry. Guru said calmly.
"No way!" Cami said.
"We were there when this mess started and we will be there when this mess ends!" Sam added.
"Sam, Cami, we are not going to let you get involved in this." Penelope said. Murray had the front doors covered and Panda King had the back doors covered.
"We already involved!" Cami and Sam said together.
"Why did you bring us along this far if you were just going to send us back?" Sam asked. Both his and Cami's tails were bristling.
"We needed you guys for a little recon and now that that is done, you both need to leave." Penelope interjected.
"Not going to happen!" Cami and Sam asserted.
"Look, either you go willingly or I will be forced to sleep dart both of you and we get you back to Italy that way." Bentley's crossbow lay across his lap.
Sam and Cami exchanged looks. "No way." They growled together.
"Sorry." Bentley sounded honestly remorseful. Though Cami and Sam were both prepared to move, Bentley hit both of them with ease.
Murray caught each of them as they fell. "I know that was the right thing to do, but why do I feel so bad about it?"
"Because if it wasn't for them we wouldn't even know Sly and Carmelita were missing?" Penelope offered as she pressed the button for the escape pod she and Bentley made for this purpose.
Or because we betrayed their trust? Guru inquired. He touched both Cami's and Sam's heads. They will eventually understand, but for now they are angry and feeling betrayed.
"Cooper and Fox will thank us for this." Panda King said simply. "I, however, do not think that sending the young ones to a high-profile individual will keep them safe."
Bentley sighed as Murray gently laid Sam next to Cami in the pod. "It can't be helped, Panda King. Dimitri may be famous and slightly crazy-"
"'Slightly'?" Penelope questioned. Murray strapped Sam and Cami both in.
"You know what I mean, but Dimitri does has enough real estate that he can hide Cami and Sam without arousing suspicion." Bentley hit the button to shut the pod and launched it back to Italy. "I am sorry to do that to them."
As are the rest of us. The Guru patted Bentley on the shoulder.
"You know, it was kind of awesome teaching those two how to be thieves." Murray said smiling. "It was funny that they were like a little Sly and Carmelita."
"Looks-wise or personality?" Penelope asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Both." Murray, Bentley, Panda King, and Guru all said in unison.
"And apparently they are rubbing off on us." Penelope laughed. Everyone joined in.
Their laughter died when the cyborgs attacked the van.