To Catch a Thief

 

Only to Let Her Go 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1—The Trap is Set

Chapter 2—Pincer Move

Chapter 3—Perhaps in Another Life

Chapter 4—We Strive Another Day

Epilogue  

 

‘They say I’m crazy, but I have a good time.  I’m just looking for clues at the scene of the crime.’—Lyrics from ‘Life’s Been Good’ as sung by John Walsh

‘Go on, take the money and run.’—lyrics from Steve Miller Band’s ‘Take the Money and Run’  

 

Chapter 1—The Trap is Set

                Koichi Zenigata and his cadet, Nobu Satoshi, waited outside of a high-end gallery that reportedly was displaying jewels that once belonged to the late Princess Diana.   There were other treasures, such as the Romanov family’s Faberge eggs and resplendent trinkets that would make any treasure hunter giddy.    From reading and re-reading his files, it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination that Lupin and his gang would be there, but incognito.   If they were smart, they would splinter and regroup and that would be the moment that Zenigata and his men would apprehend them.

                Dominique was whistling A British Tar to indicate to the others that she had entered the gallery without incident.  Their ears caught wind of the melody and went into action exactly like any professional on cue until they were told ‘Cut ! End scene !’.     There was a diamond necklace Dom had her eyes attached to.  This was the only trinket that mattered, and she wasn’t about to leave the exhibit without it strung around her neck.  

 

Chapter 2—Pincer Move

                She was sleek, smooth, and flawless in taking the most priceless object in the exhibit, Princess Di’s diamond necklace.   She wore it under a leather motorcycle jacket and inconspicuously walked out of the front door as the onlookers gawked and ogled other magnificent items.  

The others took as many trinkets as their bags would allow, but they were able to escape Zenigata and his armada.   He threw his handcuffs, and they snapped around Dominique’s wrists.   She had heard the whoosh of the cuffs but hadn’t reacted quickly enough to slice them to ribbons using her katakana, Shining Glory.   She didn’t have the ability to slice anything, but her feet were still able to run.   Being a contortionist, it was simple for her to escape situations that seemed inescapable for others.   Unfortunately, Nobu caught her unawares and delivered her directly to a satisfied but subdued Zenigata.   Luckily, her burner was craftily tucked away in her back pocket, and it would alert to Lupin and the others where Koichi was taking her. 

 

Chapter 3—Perhaps in Another Life

                Dominique missed having Shining Glory by her side.  It was her sword after all, the one smithed out of the purest silver by the swordsmith Sharp in her caravan.   Sharp wasn’t his true name, but Dominique considered him a second father regardless.   Sharp died years ago, but he and Dioval, Dom’s father, were closer than brothers.     Now that Shining Glory was in the hands of Satoshi, Zenigata’s partner, she burned to be reunited with that lost piece of her soul. 

                ‘I had the oddest thought, Koichi.’, she said, looking at the inspector pensively.

                ‘If you think I’m falling for the ‘oh my back itches’ trick, this ain’t my first rodeo.’, Zenigata harumphed as he overlooked the Roma woman.  It was easy to see why everyone loved Dominque.    She was intelligent, beautiful, funny, and sexy as hell.   She wasn’t like Fujiko in her trickery though.   Sleight of hand was her bread and butter, but since her hands were bound, she wasn’t about to escape from either of her foes.

                ‘No, I was thinking about if we had met under different circumstances.’, she said, waiting to be together with Shining Glory and Jigen once more. 

                ‘Go on.’, Koichi said, obviously intrigued with where Dominique was going with this storyline. 

                ‘It’s obvious that you aren’t hideous, not by a long shot.   I just find it tragic you never had someone you could bust perps with.  If I hadn’t become a thief, I could see myself doing so with you.  You’re striking, honestly.’, Dominique said, honestly.   Dominique wasn’t one to mince words.  If she thought someone was beautiful, male, or female, she’d definitely voice her opinion, but she added once Jigen and the gang came not to mention that she had been flirting with Koichi.   Koichi wasn’t knocking the attention, but it had been a long time since anyone had found him attractive.   Besides, letting himself fall prey to her wiles was a bad example to Nobu, so he had to remain professional at all costs. 

 

Chapter 4—We Strive Another Day

                It didn’t take long for Lupin and the others to find and spring Dominique from her cell.  Although Zenigata and Satoshi were on their tails once more, this time to troop escaped without being arraigned for a second time.

                Through the clever use of disguises, all of them took upon aliases and double identities.   Dominique was used to this, being a bit of a drama queen since she was young. She adored acting and could cause anyone to believe she was anything.   She was consummate in performance and extremely convincing. 

                The gang decided to lay low in Italy once again, which was Arsene’s favorite place.  Here, no one knew who they were, and they looked like virtually every other Italian in Capri. The weather was splendid and the beaches pristine.    The food was tremendous and there weren’t any shifty-eyed hitmen that had been contracted to take them out.   Certainly, it was pleasant to have a bit of a respite, but again, another score would come, and the gang would be on the prowl for more jewels, gold, and treasures to line their coffers. 

 

Epilogue

                Despite on being careful in being intimate, Daisuke and Dominique had a daughter, but they brought her to the commune in order to have Dioval tend to her.    She was only a baby, but she would always know who her parents were.   She wouldn’t be kept in the dark about their whereabouts and the two of them would always return to her.   They would be present and loving, because from the beginning it was obvious Daisuke wanted to be a good father to Lillibet, but neither he nor Dom wanted her to become involved in thievery.   It was no business for a pure and darling child such as herself.   It was still up to fate how her choices and environment would affect her, but she would always be proud of her upbringing and heritage, and her loving parents would forever love her, no matter how far apart they were. 

 

The End