Sly Cooper 5: Promises Made By Thieves

Chapter 71: Sly

Bentley and Murray are both back at the room, and even though I could eat something with the others, I don't have it in me at the moment. The food is delicious but I can't get in the spirit to really relish it. It kind of hurts me, even though it shouldn't, that even with the tension in the air from the news of Haiti, everyone seems in a moderately good mood.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I turn to see Carmelita there. Shivers go down my spine.

"Um...hi," I say. "Aren't...Aren't you part of the other shift?"

"I convinced everyone to let me go. And I don't trust Penelope either and I think it's safe to stay safe, but they'll be fine." Carmelita stops. "Can I...sit down?"

"Mm-hm," I mumble.

She pulls up a chair.

"How's the chicken?" she asks awkwardly.

"Pretty juicy. It's enjoyable to eat...How's the Interpol take-back of Haiti going?"

"We've apparently interviewed and gotten the words of various prisoners you helped release. And we're keeping an eye out for those with the symbol."

"Good," I say as I take another bite of my chicken leg. "Glad to hear it's working out."

Our conversation isn't working well, like a loose faucet having trouble coughing up water. "I've decided I'm going in too," she decides to say.

"Oh. Okay. Nice." I'd meant to leave it at that, but I decide to put my half-finished leg down. "What made you decide?"

She opens her mouth but she doesn't say anything. "I...don't know. It sounded interesting. Sounded...like it could be rewarding."

"So I guess...our souls will be connected, huh?"

"I've never done this before and you have. You tell me, I guess."

I lightly laugh. "We're pretty near finishing this up, I suppose. We've nearly gotten to the bottom of this rock potion business. So...once we're done here, what are you gonna do?"

"I guess...I'll go back on call, and I'll work towards getting a lawyer for Branwell. Maybe spend some time reintegrating Haiti. I overheard Thornel and McSweeney over there talking about it."

"Cool."

"And...what are you going to do?"

"I'm...not sure. Maybe Bentley and Murray and I will figure it out. We always do, sooner or later."

"I could maybe..." She seems nervous to say this. "I could let Interpol know you were back and say you've changed. You'd maybe need to be on house arrest for a few months or maybe a year, but then, you could maybe be reintegrated. I could then help you find a job."

I look down at my chicken leg. I then go for another bite, but my stomach recoils. I set it down. "I'll think about it," I half-grunt. Carmelita sighs. I look up at her. "I meant it. I'll think about it. It would be a reset for my entire life. I can't just say 'Yes' or 'No' automatically. If I say 'No', are you gonna start coming after me again? Are you gonna shoot at me again with your shock pistol?"

"I never said-" But Carmelita doesn't finish it.

Murray shows up at our table. "We're all set to start the trance. Are you two ready?"

I take a breath. Don't know what good it did. "Yeah." I get up without looking at anyone. "Let's do this thing."

When Bentley hacked into the resort's booking computer and got us a room, he actually got us two. It would be too suspicious having ten people in one room, not including Penelope. That other room remains untouched as of right now, both rooms with the Do Not Disturb sign hanging. Anyway, the bed without the Guru solely in it has me, Carmelita, Bentley, Penelope and McSweeney all sitting down and up straight, ready to fall unconscious. 

I can't see what Murray begins doing, but after about a minute my mind feels hazy yet peaceful. I can't think about anything too hard because I'm suddenly really sleepy. I can feel all our minds touching, like our dreams are co-linked into one cloud our thoughts are all swimming around in. Murray's really doing it.

Guess it's time for a mission in the subconscious.