*Chapter 5: Casino Fight*

Muggshot sat by one of the tables and bet his money. His bodyguards are by him, looking out for their boss. Sly watched from the chandelier. Murray stood across from Muggshot, not sure what to do. But, the raccoon spotted a familiar fox coming through the casino with her shock pistol.

"Murray, Carmelita is here!" Sly said. "Get out of there before she sees you!"

"What?" Murray asked through the earbud. The hippo turned. He panicked a bit and hid under the table. Sly climbed on the chains before the cop could spot him. But, Carmelita aimed her gun at him. Before she could pull the trigger, she was stopped by a Doberman.

"Freeze, fox!" He yelled. He is aiming his tommy gun at her. All of the dogs, including Muggshot stopped what they were doing and see Carmelita. She made a look in her eyes, but raise her hands. "Drop the gun." The Doberman demanded.

"Relax, I'm a cop." Carmelita said in a calm tone. "There is a thief here."

"Right. We would've seen him." One of the dogs said, coming over to the fox. Sly found his chance to make his move, telling his hippo friend to stay hidden. Carmelita looked up to watch Sly escape from her sight. "Now, come with us-" The dog said, reaching for her wrists. But Carmelita spun around and kick the dog away from her. She shot the Dobermans with her Shock Pistol. Muggshot growled and got out his guns.

"Stop that fox!" He growled. Murray peeked under to see the action. Sly told him to get out of there. Murray got out under the table and took off, but the other dogs see him. They all got them guns and weapons out to attack the pink hippo. But Murray didn't back down and avoid the gunshots while running. Sly jumps on another chain and see the stairs.
Carmelita continues to shoot the dogs with her Shock Pistol, she ducked down to hide behind the counter to avoid Muggshot's gunshots. The leader growled in annoyance. The fox looked up to see Sly and Murray run up the stairs, fighting back the other dogs who try to stop them. Carmelita wanted to know why they are here in the first place. She must get Muggshot out of the way.

"Put yours guns away!" Carmelita barked. "I'm a cop! I'm here for the thief!"

"What thief?" Muggshot asked, smoking his cigar. "What does he look like, fox lady?"

"A raccoon." Carmelita replied, not coming out of hiding. "Let me arrest him and we will be on our-" She was cut off when the alarms go off. Muggshot growled. Someone was breaking into his office.

"Boys! Take care of the fox! I've got something to take care of in my office." He stomps his way over to the stairs across the casino. Carmelita gritted her teeth. She had to think of something to get to Sly. This is getting out of hand.

Sly and Murray didn't mean for the alarms to go off. Bentley hears this and tell them to leave at once before the guards could come up, but, Muggshot barged in with his guns loaded. Sly and Murray face him in silent, but on guard. Sly gripped on his cane.

"Wha…? What is this? Some kind of joke?" Muggshot asked. "You two were the ones who broke in here?"

"What's wrong with that?" Murray asked.

"Alright, Muggshot. We're here for a reason. Tell us where the book is." Sly said with a look. The bulldog blinked at the raccoon.

"Book? What book?" He asked. "Wait a minute..." He squinted his eyes as he noticed the cane. "Wait! You're a Cooper! No wonder that fox lady was making trouble in the casino! You here to take my money and such?"

"No. I'm here to take back what is mine." Sly said. "Now, where is my book? The Thievius Raccoonus?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, thief! I know nothing." Muggshot got out his guns.

"Uh, Sly...we should get going." Murray said, backing away. He didn't want to get shot by a big dog. But it was too late. Muggshot began to shoot. Sly and Murray ran behind the desk to take cover.

"Sly! Murray! What is happening over there?!" Bentley's voice asked from the earbud. He sounds worried.

"We kinda lost control over here, Bentley. But, we can take him together. Stay put." Sly replied. Muggshot growled and went over to the desk. Murray did the unthinkable and gave him a big punch. Muggshot grunted, held his mouth.

"Oh yeah! Never mess with 'The Murray'!" The hippo cried out with a smirk. Sly found his chance to climb on Muggshot's back. He use his cane to strike him in the head. But, the dog didn't get knocked out. Muggshot grabbed Sly and threw him across the office. "Sly!" Murray shouted. Sly groaned a bit, a bookshelf fell beside him, paper flying around him.

"What're you gonna do now, pink boy?" Muggshot laughed. Murray glared at him.

"I'm gonna give you so many punches till my fists get tired!" He said. "How about you put away your guns so we settle this like men?" Muggshot scoffed. He threw the guns aside. They both brought their fists up, circling around each other. Sly got the paper off his head, but notice someone in front. It's a page from a Thievius Raccoonus. It's one of the pages of Tennessee Kid Cooper. Sly look down to see three more pages of that outlaw.
Murray ducked down to avoid Muggshot's punch and hit his lower stomach area. Muggshot was about to throw another punch, but a cane got his ankle and he fell. Sly walked up to him with a look, holding the pages from his book.

"You did know about my father's book." Sly shows the bulldog the pages he kept from him. "This is one of my ancestors. Tennessee Kid Cooper." Muggshot backed up against the wall while Sly pinned him with a cane. "Where is the rest of the book?" Sly asked.

"I don't know! I don't even care about it!" Muggshot said. Murray cracked his knuckles, threatening him he will punch him if he doesn't talk. Muggshot rolls his eyes at the raccoon. "Okay, fine. The pages were torn off the book. I don't know who did, but Dimitri gave these pages to me. To learn how to open vaults with guns like that cowboy raccoon there." Muggshot said.

"Dimitri?" Sly wondered.

"Sly! That's one of the guys from those files! He must know where the rest of the pages are from the book!" He hears Bentley.

"Where do we find Dimitri?" Sly asked.

"The last time I spoke to that weirdo is in Paris. He should still be there." Muggshot replied.

"Is there anything else you should tell us?" Sly asked. "Anyone you knew who took the pages or who killed my father?"

"Just Dimitri and the other guys! But, I don't know who killed your dad! I swear, I don't!" Muggshot replied with honesty. Sly moved away from him and Murray knocks the bulldog out with a vase.

"We gotta get out of here before the police show up." Sly said. Loud knocking was heard. The cops are already here. Sly got out his calling card and place it on Muggshot before escaping out the window with Murray.
Carmelita and the cops she called broke in and found the office destroyed. Muggshot was knocked out against the wall with a calling card. Carmelita went over to him and took the card.

"He was here." Carmelita said, putting away the card to keep as evidence. "Take this dog away boys. He is trouble around here." The cops picked up Muggshot and drag him out of the office. Carmelita looked out the window to see Sly and Murray ran down the streets to leave the city. She would go after them now, but it's not the right time. Yet, she will find the thieves again.

In the van, Bentley looked over the pages of Tennessee Kid Cooper. He was amazed by this story of his. And he created a move to slide on rails. Sly could try that since he learns how to run on wires.

"Well, things weren't according to plan, but at least you got the pages and know where Dimitri could be." Bentley said. Murray felt guilty for ruining the plan to begin with. His stomach wanted food than focus on the heist. Sly patted his shoulder.

"It's not your fault, pal. We made it out of there." He told him. "And nice fighting."

"Thanks, Sly. Anything to keep you safe." Murray said with a smile. Bentley got out his laptop to find whereabouts of Dimitri. Sly started to get in contact with Jim. Sly tells him everything about Muggshot and got the pages of Tennessee. The walrus was impressed. Sly smiled when he hears proud in Jim's voice.

"We are heading back to Paris to look for Dimitri. Anything you can warn us about him?" Sly asked.

"He is crazy for art. He ain't really a threat to us then. He could have something from your book. But be careful." Jim spoke. Sly thanked him and told him that he will talk to him later. Murray got in the driver's seat to start the van. Back to Paris. Sly climbed in front to sit next to his friend, looking over at the pages. Tennessee Kid Cooper was a young Cooper when he began the heists. Now Sly is the second youngest of the Coopers. There is a old poster of the outlaw raccoon with a reward. An old photo of him with his gun. But, something caught Sly's eye. A dark silhouette behind Tennessee, flying in the moonlight.

"Ah!" Sly hissed, holding his head that is hurting. That pain again. Murray faced him.

"Sly, what's wrong?"

"Just...my head." Sly said, rubbing it. The pain subsided.

"Boy, that Muggshot threw a number on you." Murray said. Sly gave him a nod. It wasn't from Muggshot's threw at all. He didn't want to tell him or Bentley to worry them. Sly looks at the picture again. There's something about that dark figure.