It was the dead of night, absolutly silent to the bone. Marlene lifted her head oh so gently, and quietly stood up from her bed, and grabbed a clam off the counter, than she tiptoed over to the sewer gate. Marlene gripped the bars of the gate tightly, and heaved up. A low echo of clanging metal rang through the habitat, but Marlene was down the sewer and had the gate closed before anyone had the strength to look up and see what was going on. However, one otter did seem to notice her, they noticed Marlene leave every night for 4 days, and knew she wasn't going to see Skipper.

Marlene walked down the dark sewer, trusting her instincts not to lead her off the edge on the walk and into the muck water. Roger pulled up beside her, and she smiled, stepping onto his back. "I'm not sure about this Marlene." Roger whispered so it wouldn't echo through the sewer. Marlene frowned, this was important to her, "Your not doing anything besides giving me a ride to the northern corner." Marlene pointed out in a slightly angered voice. Roger nodded his head and started swimming.

Marlene smiled as she lay down on his back, trying to catch some sleep before she arrived at her destination. Normally the walk would take near an hour, but riding on Roger would shorten it down to no more than 20 minutes. Marlene however couldn't fall asleep, she was too excited, she'd waited for this moment forever. everytime she closed her eyes she could picture his face, or what she asumed it looked like.

A shock of happiness ran through her, and she was totally unaware that a certain curious otter was following her, yet she never would have expected which otter it was. Roger pulled up to the side on Marlene's command, only a minute or two away from where she was supposed to be, "He can't know someone else brought me here, not till after i get what i want, just stay here, and wait for my command to come and get me." Marlene instructed quietly, Roger nodded his head and sunk below the water.

Marlene looked around and stared forward, rounding a corner and stood facing the northern corner of the sewer. A dark figure approched her carefully, but not enough for Marlene to see his face. Marlene stayed calm, this is what she waited for, she'd met with him every night for 4 days, and it always ended the same. The figure took an envelope out from under his arm, he placed in on the ground and slide it over to Marlene.

She picked it up quickly, and took out a piece of paper, she couldn't see well in the darkness of the sewer, but she could still make out the words, she smiled as she looked them over, trying not to fill with too much glee, for it could upset the figure and he would call everything off. "Good work, now i need him to meet me in central park zoo." Marlene commanded as she slide the paper back in the envelope and tucked it away.

"It wasn't easy getting that love, (N/A don't worry he calls everyone that.) wheres my pay?" The figure spoke in a deep voice, Marlene smiled, she knew where this was going, this is how it went every night. This time, he'd done his job properly, and he deserved some of his pay, Marlene took the clam she had kept with her and handed it over to the figure, who snatched it up quickly, Marlene made out the shape of a black flipper, but she knew it was of someone outside the zoo.

"You'll get the rest when this ordeal is over." Marlene explained as she turned away, The figure looked inside the clam, a black pearl lay gently inside, the figure smiled gently, than looked up, Marlene was about to round the corner but he had unfinished results.

"What of the girl love?" the figure asked before she got away. Marlene stopped in her tracks, the girl she hadn't thought of that, should she come, or stay? If the girl wasn't tied already it might of been bad if she came, but forcing her to come would be just as bad. "She can decide that, but i ask you not to force anything." Marlene instructed without turning back.

"I expect to have a fresh water Tennessee pearl in my possession when he comes." he called after her, This time Marlene did turn around, an angry expression on her face, she was supposed to leave by now. "You'll get your pay." she angrily spat at him, and with that she turned back around and rounded the corner, and called for Roger. He was there in an instant, and she boarded his back.

Neither said anything on the ride home, and Marlene found it harder to sleep than before, she'd be back tomorrow same place, same time to make sure everything goes according to plan. Roger pulled up beside the walk that was near the ladder that led to Marlene's habitat. Marlene thanked him and asked her to take him again tomorrow, Roger slowly agreed and and helped her up the ladder.

"It took you longer than i thought, it's daylight by now." Roger concluded as Marlene peeked an eye through the sewer gate, no one was in sight as far as she could tell, she turned back and thanked Roger once more, before carefully sliding the sewer gate to the side and crawling out. She assumed everyone was outside, and started making her way in the same direction, that is until a voice stopped her.

"Did you know that fresh water Tennessee pearls are some of the most rare fresh water pearls out there?" A familiar masculin voice asked, Marlene spun around to face Darrin. He walked over to her, keeping his eyes locked on her, she did the same, wondering how much he knew. Marlene had the envelope tucked under her arm, she pulled her other paw to it, to keep it safe. Darrin looked down at her, his eyes narrowed as he began to reach for the envelope.

Marlene pulled away, taking the envelope with her, Darrin narrowed his eyes again and stared at her. "I saw you Marlene." Darrin whispered so the others wouldn't come in to see them, Marlene stared wide eyed at him, how much DID he know? Marlene kept eyeing him carefully, thinking of what to say so she didn't say the wrong thing. "What are you talking about Darrin?" Marlene asked with a sweet innocent smile.

Darrin turned away for a second, turning to face the door to see if anyone was coming in. Marlene sighed with relief and started to back away, carrying the envelope in her paw. Darrin turned back and snatched it up, jumping out of the way of her greedy paws that were ready to punch him. Darrin pulled out the paper and looked it over, gasping at the information that was on the paper.

"Marlene this can't be real," Darrin said in a half whisper, Marlene nodded her head slowly. Darrin stared in disbelief, than back at the paper. "every night for the past 4 days I've been meeting someone whose been stealing this information for me, and i have to go back and pay him tomorrow, that is if he keeps up his end of the bargain." Marlene explained as she took the envelope back from Darrin's hands.

The older otter was distressed, stealing that kind of information could get Marlene killed, or worse tortured. "You can't tell anyone, especially not Skipper." Marlene pleaded with stress filled eyes, Darrin stared at her, would this be bad for him if he didn't tell anyone, he wouldn't do a very good job of looking after his little sister, e wasn't sure what to do, tell and let her face the consequences, or let it go and let her keep doing this wrong work.

Darrin looked back at his sister again, she was on the verge of tears, he couldn't stand seeing her like this, this was the little sister he taught chess to, the little sister he saved when she was little, the little sister who kept all his secrets. "What do you plan to do after you meet him?" Darrin asked carefully, to know completely if this was wrong or wrong with SOME right he would need to know her intentions.

"He'll give me the last bit of information, and I'll pay him." Marlene insisted, Darrin nodded his head and agreed to keep in D.L.

"Thank you Darrin, really thank you." Marlene cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"No need to thank me, I'm coming tomorrow night." Darrin pointed out, and Marlene really couldn't resist. (A/N ooh whats Marlene planning, who's she meeting with, and what information is someone stealing for her?)