~Annika

I had finally been allowed to come back to Interpol the next day. Carmelita and Kaylita waited for me at the door.

"Welcome back, Annika," Carm said as she handed me my cuffs and badge.

"Thanks. It feels good. You wouldn't believe how brainless I would be if you had acted upon my offer."

She chuckled a little. "I'm glad I didn't. I had no one else to talk to other than the other officers and such. You're usually the one who keeps up a good conversation. Other than Kaylita of course."

I smiled. "It's good to hear that I was actually wanted back."

It didn't really turn out to be that great. I was led to my desk and given three 50 foot stacks of papers. Shift work… Yippee… Well, as long as I was back to work, I couldn't complain. I would catch myself looking out the window at the wet streets just thinking about what happened last night with Sly Cooper. It still kinda bothered me that I opened up to him without giving it a second thought… Something about him just… Pulled me in…

As I was going through the papers, I spotted a few things that interested me. Reports about a gang called the Fiendish Five. These reports had Sly Cooper's name all over them as well as newspaper clippings and photos. Didn't he mention something about this gang last night?

Kaylita noticed that I was engrossed in some of the reports and came over.

"What do you have there, Annika? Old stuff?"

"No, actually, this was within the last few years. Do you think Carm will know anything about it?"

"I'm sure she would. She was involved with that case."

My eyes widened. "Are you serious?" I started to flip through some more and noticed that some of the clippings had a picture of Carmelita with one of the gang members. "I guess you're right… Did she ever mention it to you?"

"She would tell me stories. Before you came along she would go on frequent rants about Cooper and his gang. She would sometimes bring up old stuff that happened months before."

"Oh…"

Carmelita walked in with a stern look on her face. "My ears are burning. Are you two talking about me?"

I got up from the desk and showed her the reports I had found in the stack. She read over them and smirked.

"I wonder why these were in the stack…" She looked at me. "Let me guess, you're curious, right?"

I nodded. She sighed heavily.

"These reports were the first big time heist done by the Cooper Gang. Slipped through my fingers every time. This heist was to find the pages of a book Cooper had obtained from his late father. He had also gone in to fight an old time enemy of his family. Clockwerk." She said the last name with a hint of disdain.

"That isn't all, is it?" I asked.

"Of course not. The heist was dealing with the Fiendish Five. Bad news for any who crossed their path. Save for Sly Cooper and I. Cooper was the one who dealt with them. I only brought them to justice in the end."

"I see…" I was kinda confused. I knew Carmelita wasn't telling the whole story. Maybe she just felt I wasn't ready yet or something… Whatever her reason, I couldn't let it bother me too much.

After Carm and Kaylita had left, I left for home as well. Upon arriving at my apartment, I noticed that my door had been forced open. I tiptoed in to see who had come in. Sitting on my chair, was Santos, ready for revenge.

"Why, Miss Police Girl, it's good to see you again," he sneered. "I'm glad you finally came home. I've been waiting for hours."

"It better be important. Otherwise," I pulled out my pistol, "I will have to ask you nicely to get out."

"Now now, is that any way to treat guests?"

"Guests?"

Rats came flooding in from the other rooms. I should've known… They disarmed me and tied my hands together. They even made me get on my knees in front of Santos.

"What do you want from me?" I questioned icily.

"What any other criminal wants. Revenge." He made it sound like it was a game. "You're going to help me get the Onyx Links before Sly Cooper does. And then, we'll dispose of you quickly and painlessly."

"Sounds great…" I replied sarcastically.

So, without any flair whatsoever, they dragged me to the museum. Unfortunately, as soon as we got there, the Links were already gone.

"What? Where are they?" Santos bellowed.

"Looking for these?" I knew that voice anywhere. We looked up to find Sly Cooper sitting on the railing of the upper level with that grin of his. "They're quite lovely if I do say so myself. I think I may find a lady to give them to."

"Hand them over Cooper! Or I'll be sure to smash you this time around."

"I'd like to see you try."

During their war of threats, I managed to untie myself in a few seconds. I pulled out my pistol and stuck the barrel to the chin of one of the rats holding onto me.

"I suggest you all just get along," I said.

The rats around me disbanded seeing how I had one of their own at gun point. I put the pistol down from the rat's chin.

"My problem isn't with you. It's your boss I'm after. So why don't you small time crooks scram before I decide to go after you too." After they left, I aimed my pistol at Santos. "Now then, time for our party. Hey Cooper, do you want to have him? Or should I take the pleasure of handing him over to Carmelita?"

He jumped down from the upper level to stand beside me. "I don't know. I like the sound of giving him to Interpol. But I also like the sound of getting him myself. Why not both?"

I grinned. I put my pistol back into it's holster. I gestured toward Santos and bowed to Cooper. "After you."

Cooper got to work. In no time, Santos was lying on the ground unconscious and busted up.

"Not as subtle as I'd hope you'd be, but it works," I commented. The police sirens were coming down the street. I sighed. "You'd better get out of here Cooper."

"What about you?"

"I thought about what you said to me last night. And I think you were right… I need to stop dwelling in my past and move on. And I plan to do it. My way."

He smiled. He handed me the links. "Here. I think you should return them. There is always another time to steal it."

I took them without hesitation. Then, he leaped to the upper level. Carmelita and Kaylita came in ready to kick some arse. They put their weapons down when they noticed Santos on the ground.

"What happened?" Carmelita demanded.

I handed her the links. "Santos tried to steal the links. Now he can be behind bars for the rest of his life."

Kaylita patted me on the back. "I'm proud of you Annika. Maybe you'll get some recognition for this."

"Actually Kaylita, I have something I need to tell you." Carmelita and Kaylita turned to me. "I don't think I'm ready for this job at Interpol yet. I wish to return to New York as a normal police officer until I think I can handle a real job at Interpol."

"You mean to take a vacation, right Annika?" Kaylita asked, a little down hearted.

"Not quite, Kaylita. I want to clear my head before I come back."

"You mean if you come back," Carm corrected me. "By doing this, you know it'll hurt you. There's always a chance that you won't be allowed back."

I already began handing her my cuffs and badge. "I'm completely aware of that. It's a chance I'm going to take. I'll book a plane and everything. I'm ready to go back to New York."

"Annika… This is so sudden…" Kaylita was taking the news hard. "Why leave…?"

"Because it's something I need to do. I'll keep in touch. I promise."

Kaylita hugged me tightly. "Okay… If you say you must then you should go."

When Kaylita let go of me, I handed my pistol, badge and cuffs to Carmelita. "I should go home and start packing. I'll give you a call before I officially go."

I left them after that.