A/N and Disclaimer: Hello again! My first long story! Yay! It's pretty much going to be about Carmelita going undercover inside the Cooper Gang for Interpol. Good move, or dangerous? We'll find out, after I say that I do not own Sly Cooper, Carmelita, Interpol or Chief Barkley. I did make up the three Inspectors, but it's not much anyway. Anyway, on with the (hopefully) long story…

'INSPECTOR FOX! MY OFFICE! NOW!' Chief Barkley yelled from outside the office of Interpol's greatest and most ruthless Inspector. After a moment, the red door was flung open and a flustered orange fox replied, 'Yes Chief!' before quickly closing the door behind her and following her boss down the corridor.

Other Interpol officers watched the short procession of their angry boss (to which they all attempted to look either inconspicuous or hard at work) and beautiful vixen (to which they all glared, whispered, pointed, leered or made harassing comments to). But the determined fox held her head up high and followed the German Shepard in front of her to his office.

'Wait there.' He barked at her, pointing to just beside the doorframe of his office door.

Then he walked inside and slammed the door in her face.

Shocked, the Inspector stood staring dumbfounded at the wooden insult in front of her. Until she heard her boss call out, 'Come in. And no dilly-dallying Inspector!'

Her sense of shock was replaced by confusion and slight curiosity, and Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Her boss sat, chewing earnestly on his never-ending cigar, arms crossed and a somewhat angry expression on his face. Okay, make that very angry. Carmelita tried to think what she'd done to cause this. Already! she thought, it's like he doesn't have any other mood! However, her gaze was drawn to the three 'suits' in the small room. Each of them had a look of superiority on their smug faces, and they looked at her over their noses, considering whether she was even worth their time.

Stuck up bunch of…Carmelita thought, deciding to ignore them for now. She turned to her boss. 'You called, Chief?' she said in a no-nonsense tone.

The stout dog nodded gruffly, then, in a voice to match his mood, began. 'Yes, I did,' he started. 'Inspector, these fine officers are Detectives Green, Leaf and Tea.'

Carmelita did some serious cover-up coughing to stop herself from bursting into laughter. She clamped her hand over her mouth, and tried to hide her giggling, while Chief Barkley busied himself by brushing his moustache with his hand, hiding his smile.

The Detectives just kept their superior looks.

After both boss and employee had regained their composure, the Chief continued. 'So, these three Detectives here, from I.S.P, Interpol Strategies and Planning, because there are concerns about the Cooper case.'

Any remainder of humour left on the vixen's face vanished completely, and her face became stony and hard. The Chief noticed this, and thwarted her worries early. 'No Inspector,' he assured her. 'I'm not taking you off the case.'

Carmelita relaxed, and the Chief continued. 'We, I mean, the Detectives here,' he said, suddenly becoming nervous around the intimidating Detectives. 'are just trying out some different tactics, so you can finally catch this criminal.'

Carmelita brightened considerably, and Detective Green spoke up, the first of the three to actually say something the whole time of this informal meeting.

'Inspector,' he began. 'We have noticed you are having some difficulty in arresting this Sly Cooper,'

He paused as Carmelita tensed, her pretty face creased in familiar frustration. 'We also notice that although your work and dedication to this case is unparalleled, you have not progressed far at all.' Carmelita's suspicion grew, and she eyed the Detective warily as she spoke.

'That's true, but I've got a-'

'-99 conviction rate.' the second officer, Detective Leaf, finished off. 'Interpol realises this and we express our gratitude. Without all those arrests, more criminals than is healthy would be roaming the streets and underground of Paris.'

He paused, and Carmelita wondered briefly what a 'healthy amount' of criminals would be. Personally, she thought, zero is just fine for me.

'So,' Detective Tea picked up where his partner had left off. 'We at I.S.P. have come up with a new strategy.' Carmelita saw the Chief stiffen, and recross his arms. The Detective paused, as if unsure as to what to say next. He absent-mindedly tapped his chin with his forefinger. The pause lengthened.

'What would this new strategy be, Detective?' she asked, now genuinely curious, as whatever it was had the Chief angry, and the Detective flustered.

'Well,' he began slowly. 'You, among all people would realise that the problem we have with the Cooper case is a lack of knowledge.' Carmelita raised an eyebrow, so the Detective explained. 'We don't know enough about Cooper himself, to see how his 'gang' works to be able to stop them. Do you agree, Inspector?' he asked.

Carmelita thought for a moment, then nodded. 'I agree, Detective Tea (and had to stifle some rebellious giggles as she realised she was rhyming). But to know how Cooper works, we'd have to capture or arrest one of his friends and make him spill the beans, and even you know that Cooper guards them with his life.' she concluded.

'That is what our team had been thinking for the last four years,' Detective Tea said. 'But there is another option…'

At this, Chief Barkley, who had tried to control his temper (and was doing a very good job too), yelled. 'NO! I'm not sending my best Inspector on such a risky mission!'

Carmelita blinked in surprise. Chief Barkley had actually admitted she was the best Inspector he had, the closest thing she had gotten to a compliment from him in her whole career. And what was this about a risky mission? Her already curious mind was working overtime, trying to piece together the fragments of information she had. But she needed more.

'A mission?' she asked, trying not to sound too curious, as the Chief copped a glaring from the three Detectives. 'What could a mission possibly have to do with Cooper?'

'Well,' Detective Tea began cautiously, looking to his comrades for help. They refused to meet his gaze, staring at the floor or their shoes. Carmelita's already thin patience was at breaking point, and she snapped. 'Look Detective, out with it. What mission involves the Cooper gang?'

The rattled Detective coughed, and then said. 'Actually Inspector, we were thinking of sending an undercover Interpol officer to try and join the gang, leaking information to Interpol every few weeks. And since you know their gang the bes-'

'WHAT!' Carmelita yelled, after realising what they were implying. 'YOU WANT ME TO WORK ALONGSIDE THAT…THAT…CRIMINAL?" She was almost visibly fuming, her fists had balled into dangerous weapons, her eyes burned with fire, and she shook with anger and disbelief.

'B-B-Be reasonable, I-Inspector.' stuttered Detective Leaf. 'This is an excellent way to get information out of Cooper without endangering lives or using taxpayers' money to bombard him with weapons and machinery. And you do need to make up for your previous mistakes while working on this case.'

That last comment earned Detective Leaf a look that could, and would, kill. He wisely became silent. The same didn't go for Detective Green. 'We have your disguise and story already waiting for you, Inspector.'

Carmelita smiled and crossed her arms in defiance, her nose raised slightly. 'What makes you think I'll accept this?' she challenged.

'You have to,' he said, as if it was obvious. 'It's an order.'

The fire returned to Carmelita's eyes, and her fists became lethal once more. But before she could blast the sap and tell him exactly what she thought of his 'order', Chief Barkley intervened.

'Inspector Fox,' he said gruffly, and with, was it sympathy? Kindness even? Carmelita couldn't tell, and the Chief ploughed on. 'I realise you don't want to do this (one look at her face and he knew this was a vast understatement), but think of the benefits Interpol will have, or the progress we'll make on the case. With an insider, we have more than a fair chance of catching that thief once and for all.'

Carmelita stood still, thinking long and hard. The three Detectives held their breath, as did Chief Barkley. The seconds ticked past slowly, as if teasing those waiting. Finally, Carmelita spoke.

'Alright,' she relented. 'I'll do it. For the good of Interpol only.' she added icily, turning to the Detectives huddled on the other side of the office.

Her boss smiled, then remembered the task at hand, and it vanished. 'Alright then, Inspector, on Floor Five, there is the disguise previously mentioned. It is waiting for you. Now, go!' he shooed her, and the three humbled Detectives out of his office. Carmelita got to the door when her boss yelled. 'INSPECTOR!'

Carmelita jumped. Turning, she replied. 'Sir?'

'Thanks.' he said gruffly, the kindness briefly returning to his squinting black eyes. Carmelita was about to smile back, then realised what, where and why she'd be spending the next God-knows-how-may-weeks. So she nodded curtly.

'Not at all, sir.' she said, and closed the door behind her.

Her boss sighed, leaning back into his worn leather chair, chewing at his cigar. 'That's what I was afraid of.'

A/N: Not that long I know, but it's hard, after so many short stories. It's also tiring, typing this much, even though I know there are people who type 50 pages per chapter (Heiduska ;P). But hopefully this'll last. Tell me what you think :-) And I haven't checked it, so I might redo it.