Chapter 9 Most Wanted
One quick stop back to Paris, and we got rid of big, orange, and stripey. It seems Carmelita hadn't yet told Interpol about me 'going back to my roots', so we were able to hand over El Jefe with no problems.
I just… pretended not to notice how uncomfortable Bentley and Murray were in their hiding spot while I made small talk with the officers.
Unfortunately, that was the only thing that seemed to be going right. Rioichi's cane was gone, and we had no idea where or when our foe was, only that someone else had time travel technology and they were using it to come after my family.
That… did not sound good for Penelope.
Still, we had a clue where to search next. The sheriff's badge that fell out of the zeppelin. It was perfect to get to the time period of another infamous ancestor, Tennessee Kid Cooper, outlaw of the Wild, Wild West.
Which was fortunate, as Dimitri informed us that his pages were the ones that were getting erased next, and we left the present quickly in hopes of me avoiding another attack because of it.
Still, something didn't make sense. Rioichi was getting the same attacks I was, but Tennessee wasn't born until over two hundred years after him. Whatever happened to him shouldn't affect Rioichi too. Bentley said it was likely there were other ancestors in trouble further back in time, but for now, Tennessee was the one we were in the best position to help.
We left Rioichi with another communicator like the one we gave Dimitri (and thorough instructions on how to use it) so we could keep in touch in case anyone tried to come back and finish what El Jefe started. Then we packed up our gear and headed for the 1800s.
Time to save another ancestor.
Another time period, another ancestor already in jail.
After setting up shop in an abandoned clocktower at the edge of an old west mining town named Cotton Mouth Bluff, Sly, Murray, and Bentley had gone to wander around and listen in on the local gossip.
It didn't take long to find out about Tennessee. His arrest was the talk of the town. Everyone blamed him for robbing the town's bank (which, if some were believed, had been swindling people out of their money) despite him having been put in jail the day before the robbery.
Thankfully, it also didn't take long to find out who was responsible for this twist in history.
Sly looked at a picture of an ugly armadillo in a sheriff costume riding a rearing horse that was advertising the upcoming 'Toothpick Appreciation Festival' and sighed. "Guys, I know who we're dealing with," he said into the com in his ear.
"You do?" asked Bentley in surprise.
"Wow, that was fast," said Murray, sounding impressed.
"Yeah, well, hard to forget this ugly mug, especially when it graces the wall of our most wanted list," Sly said dryly. "It's the local sheriff, Toothpick. He's a European mobster who was always trying to live out his cowboy fantasies in the modern day. Sounds like he decided to take that fantasy to the next level."
"Huh, it's good he lived his dream, I guess," said Murray.
"But not at the expense of the time stream," Bentley disagreed.
"Expense is an understatement," Sly said grimly as he headed back to the hideout. "The guy's an insane loose cannon, and incredibly dangerous with a gun. I've known Interpol Officers who didn't come back after facing him. If he's here, it's entirely possible I'm not the only one in danger of having my family erased from existence. He'll shoot anyone who looks at him funny."
"Right," said Bentley in a suddenly more subdued tone. "All the more reason to get Tennessee out of jail. Meet back at the hideout and we'll compare notes."
Sly winced as his com seemed to shut off with more force than usual. Bentley was clearly still upset about his shock pistol and why he'd had it. To avoid poking that particular bear, Sly should probably avoid mentioning Interpol for a while.
This mission was off to a great start.
The next morning, after staying up all night putting together a plan, Sly had to wonder if Bentley was even more upset than he'd anticipated.
It sure seemed that way, given his brilliant plan to break out Tennessee involved Sly getting arrested.
"Are you serious?" asked Sly incredulously once he heard that.
"Dead serious," said Bentley. "Which is what Tennessee (and by extension, you) is gonna be tomorrow. They're already prepping the gallows for him as we speak. We don't have time for a more complicated plan."
"And, what, breaking out is somehow easier than breaking in?" Sly asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes," Bentley said bluntly, daring him to argue.
Seeing Sly's continued skepticism, Murray wrapped an arm around his shoulder and said encouragingly, "Aw, don't worry, Sly. Bentley knows what he's talking about. He can break you out of that place no sweat. Don't forget, he once busted both of us out of the Contessa's maximum security prison all on his own before."
"Uhhhh," Sly said, reminding them of the fact he did forget about that actually.
Realizing that, Murray said, "Well that totally happened, so if Bentley can get us out of a prison full of high-tech security, armed guards, a giant attack robot, and a scary spider lady, then he can totally get you out of an old fashioned wild west jail."
Sly glanced between them and swallowed down his skepticism. "Well, can't say no to a glowing endorsement like that," he said. "So how do I get myself thrown in the clink."
Bentley shot him a brittle grin at the vote of confidence. "Well, actually, I think you're going to like that part."
Sly and Murray exchanged confused looks.
As it quickly turned out, Bentley was right once again.
Getting himself arrested should not be this fun.
But between defacing posters, stealing lollipops, and now knocking a large banner off a bridge, Sly was having a blast.
"I was a delinquent in high school, wasn't I?" Sly asked in amusement as he pried the clips holding the banner off with his cane.
"Officially, nothing was ever proven," was Bentley's reply carrying a clear smile. Sly's glee at his mischief-making was infectious.
"But the teachers were mean and they hated us," Murray added with a laugh. "They planned a whole party for when we finally graduated."
"A whole party, just to be rid of us?" Sly asked as he worked on another pin.
"Well, there would have been a party," said Bentley. "Except for the fact we stole the cake as one last hurrah. I guess they still could have had the party without it."
"But if there's no cake at the party then what's the point?" asked Murray.
"Absolutely none," Sly agreed as he finished the last pin and watched the banner fall away into the gorge below.
At the edge of the cliff, he could already hear Sheriff Toothpick howling in rage.
"Looks like I made him angry enough," Sly said as he climbed back down from the bridge awaiting his arrest. "Think this will get me locked in with Tennessee?"
"Absolutely," said Bentley. "With his ego, he won't stand for anything less."
"Right," said Sly as he eyed the approaching cowboys and the steaming Toothpick. His hand itched to go for his shock pistol. It wasn't too late to make an escape.
As if sensing his unease, Bentley spoke up, "Sly."
"Yeah," Sly said, now having to whisper so no one approaching would hear.
"We WILL get you out of there," Bentley said, his voice full of dead serious conviction. "I promise you that. We WILL get you out."
Sly took a deep breath and let it out, then put the hand that had been going for his pistol down. "Alright," he said quietly as he became cornered. "I trust you."
And that was the last thing he managed to say before one of the approaching cows raised up the butt of his gun and brought it down hard on the raccoon's temple.
After that, Sly's world went black.
A/N Trouble in Paradise. Sly really needs to stop bringing up Interpol. We get to see Tenessee next chapter.
