~I see you're still not talking to me Fishy Thief.~ The girl commented more then a week after Madam Shan's visit.
Of course I wasn't talking to her. She'd tricked me into believing that Larry was dying. It wasn't a thing that I could forgive easily. I showed no sign that I'd heard her. I'd let the fishy mind take more control, today, after I'd tired of trying to find my crew. I needed to unwind from my frustration, and the girl being here wasn't going to help matters if she stuck around.
~I thought you'd like to know that Larry is recovering.~ She said leaning on her mop. ~He's opened his eyes, and is beginning to move around the cage again.~
It was good news. And while I was grateful for it, but her little information updates weren't going to get her back into my good graces anytime soon, if ever.
She tapped her finger against her lips. ~Well, if you won't willingly talk to me. I guess I can make you talk to me.~
She couldn't make me do anything.
~I mean, you did ask me seven questions the other day, when I first told you Larry was sick.~ 
I twitched. Oh no. My sail fin rose. I'd lost count actually in my worry for Larry. 
~And I only asked three in return.~ she continued. ~Which means you have to answer four more of my questions.~
I mentally groaned. Trust her to keep track, even in a 'crisis.' If I hadn't already regretted this deal I'd made with her, I was regretting it even more now. Especially with Madam Shan's last words still echoing around my head. What secrets would I still be able to keep from her? I could only hope she asked the wrong sort of questions.
~Well that finally got a response from you.~ She said with a smile. ~I was beginning to think that you'd become mute, or deaf.~
If only. I could avoid talking to her then. I spun in slow circle around the castle, giving my human mind time to 'wake' up before stopping in front of her. ~Let's get this over with.~ I said neutrally.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder. ~Like you have anything better to do Fishy Thief.~
I bit back a retort. She would just get answers from me, nothing more.
~No chit chat I see.~ She said after a moment. ~Okie dokie, we'll just get down to business then. Are you really mad at me?~
That took me off guard. Why would she ask that? What was she playing at? Was I mad at her? Truthfully, my answer had to be  ~No.~  I was more mad at myself, for being tricked. Given the circumstances, I might have done something similar had I been in her shoes. 
Her face lit up. ~Well that's a relief to hear. I didn't want to upset you, but my mom insisted, and Larry really wasn't doing well. I just wanted to hear your ideas since you know him best. And you're the most talkative out of your group...well, I'm glad you're not mad at me.~
Her barrage of words took me aback. It was almost like she missed me. What was I supposed to say to that? That I missed her to? Because I hadn't! Well, not much, maybe just a little. I twitched my fins. ~If you want my ideas, don't try to get them by tricking me.~
She raised an eyebrow. ~Like you'd give them to me just out of the blue, Mr. "I want to keep secrets."~
I really wished I could roll my eyes. ~I'm a thief, secrets come with the territory.~ Ugh. For not wanting to talk to her, I was failing horribly.
~It's not like I can ask questions that don't touch upon your thief territory Fishy Thief.~
~Sure you can.~
~Ah huh. We'll let's see. No, no, no. Well that question touches upon it as well. Nope, gotta ask a thief question. My mom calls you the planner of the group. So you obviously had more of a part in this robbery then grabbing things off the shelf.~
~That's not a question.~ I said, going still. I could see where this question was going, and I didn't like it.
~Well, don't interrupt me and I can get to it.~ She rolled her eyes. ~Do you guys always have the same roles with each robbery?~
~Not every time, no.~ I replied cautiously. Most of the time it was the same. I knew my groups strengths. But depending on the robbery, the roles could morph together or a different role could be added in.
~Not every time. So a lot of the time it is.~ She cocked her head. ~What roles did you all have in this robbery?~
What roles? Well that was a complicated question in of itself. I swam in a circle considering. Though I had to ask. ~Do you already know the names of everyone?~
She shook her head. ~No, I only know Billy and Larry's names.~
Billy gave his name? Huh. Interesting. ~Alright, roles.~ I said choosing my words carefully. ~...Larry had the role of getaway driver, Billy scoped out the place. Umm...the other guy broke in, the girl who's a bird did the research on what we should take, and the dog made sure that the last person to leave didn't double back before we all divided and conquered.~
~You forgot yourself.~ She prodded. My mind raced to think of something truthful without revealing that I was the leader.
~I was in charge of making sure we didn't get caught.~ I finally said.
She snorted. ~Well...that was a failure.~
I bristled. ~Really. I hadn't noticed.~
She grinned. ~Just goes to show you can't plan for everything.~
~Apparently not.~
~And that rankles.~
~Of course.~
~Because you're supposed to remember everything, you're the planner, you're not supposed to get caught.~
~I was the planner for this robbery.~ I corrected. I didn't need her thought process going from planner to leader.
~No wonder you robbed a pet store then. The guys must have thought this would be a piece of cake for you.~
~It would have been.~
~Had there not been magic involved? Yes, yes it would have I suppose. Though seriously, the lousy security system should have tipped you off.~
My sail fin lowered.
Her eyes widened in surprise. ~You were tipped off?~
I mentally grimaced. ~Billy thought there was something off about this place. He didn't want to rob it.~
~Really? I'm impressed. I wondered what made him suspicious.~ She mused.
~I don't know.~ Billy would refused to rob a place for various reasons. Not all of them made sense, but most of the time he was right. Most of the time.
Her eyes lasered into mine, in exactly the same way that her mom's had. ~Why did you guys continue the robbery if Billy didn't like it?~
Because I was an egotistical fool? ~It was my fault.~ I whispered. ~I wanted to prove that I could pull off this robbery. So I convinced him to go ahead with it, despite his misgivings.~
She shook her head. ~You must have been persuasive.~ She grinned. ~Well, if you decide to continue this line of work after this...I would say you need to mentor under Billy for a while longer.~
Ha. So she thought Billy was the leader. Good. That's what I was going for. ~No kidding~ I agreed fervently.

#Henry