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SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

Nemo

Hearing scraping noises outside the building, Nemo flattened himself against the wall just to the left of the window facing the courtyard. Given the prize downstairs, he knew without a shadow of a doubt who it was. His body vibrated in anticipation.

“We’ve got company, Midas.”

His twin brother, older by eight minutes, was on the other side of the communication system that ran through his watch. “Yeah, I saw her start up the north face when you were already in.”

“And you didn’t think it was a good idea to warn me, fuckstick?”

“So sue me. I wanted to see her in action again.”

Nemo grimaced to himself. He was going to strangle Midas. Most of the time, working with his brother was a blessing. Tonight was not one of those times.

The interloper was Le Chatte Noire, or The Black Cat. She was the most notorious cat burglar in Europe and possibly even worldwide. Not much was known about the thief except that she was tiny and very, very good at getting into impossible spaces. She had yet to fail at a job.

But you know some things about her.

He grinned. If he had his way, he was about to know even more.

For the past week, Nemo had been doing reconnaissance in the quaint little town of Riquewihr. Tonight, all of that work led to liberating ninety-five moonstones—small diamonds that were part of the Jupiter Diamond display meant to mimic the ninety-five moons of the planet Jupiter. Allegedly, they were the rightful property of an Italian family who had hired Tribe, Nemo and Midas’ employer, a mercenary group hiding out as a corporation, to reclaim the stones. Currently, said stones were in his pocket.

A little under a year ago, the Saturn Diamond had been stolen from its permanent display in Gabon, and it was believed to be Le Chatte Noire’s talents that had made it disappear. If that was the case, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that she’d be tempted by the Saturn Diamond’s partner, the Jupiter Diamond.

How he had not run into her or even gotten a glimpse of her in the last week was unreal to him.

Realizing she was about to come through the window, he whispered, “Muting,” and tapped his watch, closing the line to prevent her from hearing him. He also figured it would be a good idea to keep the initial conversation with her from his brother’s ears. Energy fizzed through him. As he waited for her entry, he worked to slow his breathing down, not only to prevent giving himself away before she made it through the window but also in an attempt to calm his heart rate.

Told you we’d meet again one day, kitty cat.

Shuffling noises were followed by the slap of hands on the window ledge. There was a soft grunt of exertion as a petite figure pulled itself up through the open window to lie across the ledge. Once he was sure she had her balance, he grabbed her by her armpits and dragged her all the way into the room. She squeaked in surprise as he plastered her back to his front, one arm banding around her middle and his other hand over her mouth to prevent the hissing and spitting that was about to occur.

Mouth next to the balaclava-covered ear of his captive, a soft laugh underscored his whispered, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Le Chatte Noire.”

He felt the tension in her body ratchet up a level as she realized who held her in his arms. An exasperated, muffled scream of frustration came from her covered mouth as she tried to elbow him in the gut, but he held her too tightly to his front for her to gain any space to connect. He let her struggle for a minute or two until she realized she wasn’t getting away, then felt her relax slightly.

“I’m going to move my hand, kitty cat,” he warned her. “It will be to both of our advantages if you don’t scream, but I think you already know that. In two seconds, my communications go back on, so just remember everything you say is going to be heard by my brother.”

Without missing a beat, she hissed, “Let go of me.”

“Say please,” he teased.

She huffed. “Please,” she uttered sarcastically.

Why does a British accent make everything sound so much sexier?

“See? Was that so hard? I’ll do as you ask. But I warn you, kitty cat, try anything, and I’ll have you up against the wall screaming my name before you can hiss at me.”

Nemo released the sprite in his arms, and she whirled around to face him. He held a single finger up to his mouth in the universal “Shh” gesture, then pointed between her mouth and his ear, again reminding her that they weren’t completely alone in the belfry.

He tapped his watch again, unmuting it. “Back online, Midas.”

“What’s going on, lil bro?” The voice was concerned.

“All good. Just took in our little stray.”

“Shit. It’s her?” his brother asked.

The two burglars were dressed very similarly. Black balaclavas, long-sleeved black shirts, black pants, black climbing shoes. Both had climbing belts around their waists that had assorted pouches and clips with tools of the thieving trade.

“What are you doing here?” she spat at him.

Still feisty.

He grinned beneath his headgear. It was good to know some things never changed. “Needed to get a few items on my shopping list,” he joked. He heard her curse under her breath, and then he saw her eyes dart to the stairs leading down two floors to where the Jupiter Diamond sat in its case on display. “It’s still there, kitty cat. Unfortunately, you will be leaving empty-handed.”

“I’d like to see you try and stop me.”

She bolted.

He cut her off, his arms banding around her waist, and he swung her around so that he was between her and the stairs. “Ah, ah, ah,” he chastised. “Even if you got past me, kitty cat, I’d still catch up to you before you managed to snatch it.”

Her fists clenched, and her lips pursed in frustration. “I’m taking that diamond,” she warned him .

“You can try. But even if you manage to free it from its case, I’m bigger, faster, and stronger. You wouldn’t make it twenty feet before I wrestled it from you.”

She stamped her foot in anger. “If you didn’t come here to steal it, why do you care if I take it? I need it,” she insisted.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “And I don’t want you to have it. What’s stronger? My wants or your needs?”

“Quit flirting, lil bro. We’re on borrowed time here. One of the guards must have heard something because he’s pointing up and talking to his partner,” Midas warned.

Nemo smiled to himself. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve got a timeline, and you’re interfering with it.”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “And how are you going to stop me from interfering further?”

“Kitty cats get leashed.”

Before she could move, Nemo had her in his arms, hands grasped behind her back in one of his. He gave her credit. She fought hard. At the last second, he felt her knee start to come up, and he barely moved to the side, taking the knee to the inside of his thigh. He grunted. That was going to leave a mark. He felt his grin get bigger. He’d wear that bruise with pride.

“Arrêt! Police!”

Nemo and the little cat burglar froze.

“Reunion time is over, Nemo. There are gendarmes everywhere. Time to get swimming,” Midas warned.

“Dammit,” Nemo ground out. “Okay, kitty cat, this was fun, but we’ve got to go.” He gave her a gentle shove away, then ducked his head out the window.

Down below, two police officers stood at the exit of the archway. Three quick steps to the window on the opposite side of the building he had come through, and the way was clear. But as soon as he ducked out that way, even if he fast-roped all the way down, he’d likely be caught at the bottom .

“This is all your fault,” she accused, looking out the front window.

He turned back to her. “How the hell is it my fault? They didn’t show up until you did.”

“Well, I know I was quiet as a church mouse, so they didn’t hear me. You’re such a big oaf; they probably heard you stomping around the building or clambering up the side.”

Midas hooted laughter in his ear. “Oh, I like this girl.”

“Shut up, Midas.” He shifted his attention back to his cat burglar. “No one heard me. I’m no novice at this.” He looked out the window again, gauging the distance across and down to the nearby roof.

It’s a long way. Only about four feet across but at least thirty feet down. And probably a noisier exit than fast-roping and running. Shit!

Suddenly, she was pushing her way into the side window with him, gauging the possibility of exiting that way as well. “Bollocks,” she whispered.

“Would you rather,” he began, “fast-rope to the bottom and sprint for the gate on the far end of town or roof-hop across town and risk falling several stories?”

“Nemo,” Midas interrupted, “quit thinking and get running. Time’s up!”

“I agree,” he muttered. He looked at her. She looked at him. “Trust me?” he asked.

“No.”

His eyes twinkled. “Well, too bad, kitty cat. We’re stuck together for now. I’m heading down and hopping to the roof of the building next door. I’ll wait for you at the bottom. Leave the rope. No time to collect it.”

“You’ve got about sixty seconds, bro,” Midas warned.

Heavy footsteps stormed up the stairs. Both heads whipped around at the sound. “Fuck! Change of plans.” He turned, grabbed her slight frame, and slid her through the side window he’d come through earlier. “Go! I’ll be right behind you.”

Her eyes locked with his, then she was gone, sliding down the rope. When she was even with the roof of the building next door, she pushed hard with her legs, sending her sailing over to that roof and dropping down onto it. As soon as the rope was in his grasp, he pitched himself out the window and down the rope. As he swung over, he noticed that she was already running into the distance. He smiled. The chase was going to be so much fun.

You’re not getting away from me this time.

“Head east,” Midas advised. “The gendarmerie are converging on the belfry. They haven’t noticed you up top yet.”

Nemo took off after Haskell’s running figure, his eyes watching her as she raced sure-footed up and down the pitched roofs, jumping from building to building. Her reputation was well-earned. She definitely had better skills than he did, although his weren’t bad. He wasn’t a big guy, but he clearly outweighed her, which slowed him down some.

She went down a pitched roof and was out of sight briefly. When he crested that same roof about thirty seconds later, she was nowhere to be seen. However, his frustration at her ditching him was soon replaced by fear grabbing his heart. Hanging from a roof edge by one hand, her feet kicking wildly forty feet above the street, was his little kitty cat. He ripped his balaclava down around his neck. “Hang on!”

“Nemo, what the hell is going on?” Midas yelled over the airwaves.

The man in question slid down the pitched roof on his ass, his right leg outstretched to brace himself when he hit the lip of the roof. “Thank you for calling. Saving the girl. Leave a message!” He anchored himself with his left foot, then reached down to grasp the dangling cat burglar. “Gotcha!” he cheered as he clasped her wrist. “Give me your other hand, kitty cat.”

He watched her glance down at the ground, then up at him, fear in her eyes and a whimper in her throat.

“You know better than to look down. Scratch and claw, tiny. I’ve got you!”

She tried to swing her arm up to reach for his grasp, but she kept missing his outstretched hand. “I can’t!”

“You can, kitty cat! Le Chatte Noire isn’t losing one of her nine lives this way.”

With a gasp and a grunt of sudden energy, she swung wildly and managed to get the dangling arm up above the eave. Nemo grabbed her forearm and leaned back with all of his might, working to steady her swinging body. Under one hundred pounds or not, she was deadweight, and he could feel his shoulders and arms burning with the effort to keep her from slipping.

“That’s it. Hang on!” Slowly, he managed to pull her up over the edge and brought her slight form on top of him on the pitched roof. Just in time, too, for, as her feet came over the edge, the gendarmerie rounded the corner of the narrow alley below.

Voices gathered in the streets, whistles blasting. They lay there, trying to gain control of their breathing and calm their pounding hearts as the police gave chase through the streets below, looking for the shadowy figures they had seen slide down the side of the tower. When the voices and whistles diminished, Nemo remembered to check in with the squawking voice over the airwaves.

“Thank you for holding. Nemo is back in the office. How may I help you?”

“Cut the jokes. Are you two all right?” Midas asked, his voice in a panic .

“Nothing a good beer and some NikNaks won’t cure,” Nemo assured him. To the woman beside him, he said, “Well, that was exciting.” He raised his head just enough to glance into the alley below.

The small woman lying on his chest stared at him wide-eyed. “You didn’t let me fall.”

“Nope. Do I get a prize?” His eyebrows pitched up and down.

Instantly, her eyes became guarded, and her body froze. “What do you want?”

“Just to see the pretty face that goes with the pretty eyes of Le Chatte Noire.” His hand reached up and pulled the balaclava from around her head and neck.

Just as beautiful as the first time.

In the moonlight, Nemo could just make out the gray storm clouds in her wide blue eyes. He swiped a gloved hand through her springy curls that popped out from under the hood, and his hand brushed the hair behind her right ear where an industrial piercing glinted.

New metal. Wonder what else is new? Maybe some more ink?

He suppressed a shudder of heat and need at the thought.

“Still such a pretty kitty,” he crooned.

“Stop calling me that,” she groused, grabbing wildly for her hood. “And give me that back.”

He held it out of reach and grinned. “Is that any way to treat the hero who saved your life? Again.”

She rolled off him and scooched out of his reach. “While I’m thankful for the assistance, I can’t say I would have done the same.”

“Hissy tonight, aren’t we?” He winked and shifted his focus. “Midas, are you still there?”

“Where else would I be? Quit fuckin’ around and get out of there. The gendarmerie is moving in the opposite direction still, but it won’t be long before they realize you’re behind them and decide to double back. You’ve got maybe two minutes.”

“Copy that.” He looked at the pint-sized thief next to him. “We gotta go. Unwanted guests in two minutes.” He tossed her the balaclava he’d torn from her head and pulled his own back up.

“How do you know we’ve got two minutes?”

“My eye in the sky has a drone. He can see all of our little friends running around. C’mon.”

He helped her pull her hood in place, then he stood and grabbed her hand, leading her toward the back side of the rooftop. They both looked down over the side of the roof, gauging the distance to the next building. “Too far to jump this one. Gotta go down.” He whipped his head around and scanned the wall below. Finding a rain pipe, he bent down and gave it a quick tug to test its strength. “Gonna be iffy. You go first. Should hold you no problem.”

“What about you?” she gasped.

“That’s why you’re going first, kitty cat.” He smacked her on the ass.

After planting his feet shoulder-width apart and making sure his center of gravity would keep him from pitching over the edge, he grasped her wrists like a trapeze artist. She reacted with a soft squeak as he lowered her down around the corner of the building, his muscles bulging and burning as he moved her. “Grab it and go, kitty cat!”

With a huff of indignation, the woman let herself down the pipe in a controlled slide. When she reached the bottom, he swung himself down to hang off the edge. The metal of the pipe was thin, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t going to hold. He took a quick look around at his options, decided there weren’t any, and then let himself begin to slide down the pipe .

Sure enough, it began to groan at his weight and collapse underneath him. He was barely twelve feet down when he had to let go and aim for the wrought iron shop sign on the corner of the building to keep him from falling the remaining twenty-plus feet and breaking his legs. Luckily, his hands managed to catch the bar of the sign. While his shoulders definitely felt the yank of his weight’s sudden stop, at least now he was only about ten feet from the ground instead of twenty. Still iffy but not nearly as bad.

He heard metal grind and squeaky wheels. Glancing below, he saw his little cat burglar wheeling a dumpster to below his feet. “Come on, blondie, let’s go!” she whisper-shouted.

“Well, I’ll be an elephant’s uncle.” He dropped down to the dumpster, a huge clanging when his feet hit the lid. Quickly, he hopped down to the ground. Grabbing her by the hand, they took off down the alley.