It's not often that we go to the U.S either between or during heists. Seemed nice in some places, and not so nice in others. I mean I don't blame anyone, France does have it's share of shady buildings, as did almost every other place we've pulled a heist. It was always a reliable safe-house, as it was of course closest to the goods.

"Actually, I don't really think I fancy casinos" I was thinking out loud as we headed towards Muggshot's casino.

"What's not to like about the copious amount of money all stashed in one place" Sly replied, just a couple steps ahead of me.

"Just too many flashing lights to my liking."

"I see what you mean" he responded with a laugh. He came to an immediate stop, and I just barely pushed him into all the locks. He lost his breath and almost fell over. I pulled him back by his bag.

"Sorry about that," I apologized before helping him open each lock.

"Don't worry. You did no harm, darling."

"Why do you always call me that? I have done nothing to deserve that nickname."

"You've never really fought against it. Plus, you're our darling Mariellena, so why not?"

Bentley piped in through the earpiece. "She is not my darling," then there was gagging in the background by who I assumed to be Murray.

"Fine, you're my darling"

"How sweet, but don't you have something to do? Like... I don't know? Retrieving Muggshot's part of the Thievius Raccoonus?" I asked just as the entranced opened up for us.

"I like the way you think... darling" I rolled my eyes as he ran off first, but I did pause for a moment before following him.

The room we entered was crowded with mirrors, and light shone everywhere. I felt like I was almost blinded in the process.

"What? My boys have been yapping about some big mysterious dude and his lady running around cracking skulls and, and this is it? You're the monkey wrench in my operation? Some scrawny rats with sticks..." Sly and I glanced over at each other. His description wasn't technically wrong. "Wait a second... I've seen one of those sticks before."

"Maybe when my father knocked your block off with it." Sly twirled the cane in his hand, quite proud of his remark.

"Your father? Wow, you're a Cooper? You know that Thingus Raccamagoocus had a lot of nice pictures but WAY too many big words." I grew impatient.

"So you don't mind just hand it over." I forced myself into the conversation.

"What are you kidding, little lady? You two break into my place, steal my stuff, trash the join. I feel transgressed and violated. Let's rock!"

A cage came crashing down, and Sly and I were caught in the middle with Muggshot. There were mirrors along the sides and corners, and crystals came up through the ground. Bentley yells into our earpieces something about burning him with the light, and Sly and I made our ways to different mirrors. After turning the last mirror, Muggshot let out a distraught cry.

"My beautiful gun is destroyed! Good thing I got a spare upstairs" We could afford to lose him, so Sly signaled me over to an elevator and we awaited the next floor. There was no cage, no walls, just more mirrors and crystals. Sly and I separated like we did before.

I can't lie, he was probably a better shot than Carmelita. I had been grazed by a couple bullets, but all went well. He got burned, but he made his way to the elevator yet again. Sly and I did not waste any time trying to catch up to him. However upon getting up there, I realized there was no third floor. It was a chandelier, and Muggshot was standing in the middle of it all. Sly spire jumped onto the light in front of him, looking at me to do the same.

"Sly, I don't know..."

"I taught you in England, remember? When we were trying to get into Buckingham Palace."

"I do remember, I just don't think I'll land."

"Just trust me. I'm right here" He held out a free hand for me. I looked down and my heartbeat wouldn't slow down. Muggshot was growing impatient.

"You're going to wimp out now, Lorian? Wimp out like how your father did?"

Like how my father did? How would I know? I want to know but goddamn I can't. He died with the rest of this family's secrets. I'll never know.

"What do you know?!" In rage, I had pulled my spear apart and threw a dagger at him. It barely got him, cutting his cheek before it fell down to the first floor. I went ahead like Sly had taught me on the gates of Buckingham Palace. I quickly grabbed hold of Sly's hand for balance. "We're not going to just sit here. Let's go!" I jumped to the next bulb on my right.

We turned each mirror, and at last Muggshot fell down and never got back up.

"Dis is impossible! Pipsqueaks like you guys beating a big strong bruiser like me? It ain't right! You want all of that stupid picture book, you gonna have to go down to Haiti to cross paths with Mz. Ruby. And then believe me you don't want to be you." I looked down at him, seeing past the empty threats, I continued to wonder what was so special about my family that Muggshot and Raleigh also knew. Did all of the Fiendish Five have something to do with my dad? I don't even know what my dad did. I sighed, before following Sly back down to the vault.

I found my other dagger, and it seemed that I was a little too rough with it. Some of the wiring came out upon the disassembly, and I figured I'd probably have to lay low and behind Sly for the trip back to the van. I looked over at Sly who was immersed in the pages that Muggshot kept.

"Which ancestor did he get?"

"Tenessee Kid Cooper, my gunslinging ancestor." He looked up at me with a grin, as he had found something new to learn. Then sirens went off in the distance, and it seemed like they were only getting closer.

"Let's explore that chapter when we're home and safe" I tugged him by the arm. He quickly packed the pages away, before pulling me along for our escape.

\('A')/ -Mirai Akemi