Page 3 of Never Enough

“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.

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