Lupin the Third: The Del Monte Ruby

Chapter 11

Lupin shared with his partners what he and Ruby discovered, and it was a lot. But not enough. Not nearly enough. But certainly, enough to whet their appetites. There were still unanswered questions for which answers must be sought, but at least it was enough for Jigen and Goemon to know that they weren't just sitting on their butts and doing nothing. Something was going to come of all this. All the same, it was enough to bring an ominous feeling over the group.

The minutes ticked by as each man silently mulled over the information that had been brought to light in their own way. When exactly an hour had passed, Ruby's door creaked open just as Jigen said, "So, at what point did you stop talking about the job and decide to jump her bones?"

"Eeeh heheheh..." Lupin didn't get much of a chance to say more than that as Ruby emerged from her room.

Wordlessly, she walked into the living room. Her face was that of a woman on a mission, and something in her expression made Jigen tilt his hat down further as though to hide. Had she heard his crass comment, perhaps?

"So... what's up, Ru?"

Ruby said nothing at first, but grabbed Lupin by the tie and tugged him off the couch. "Okay, I need you now. C'mon," she said, leading him down the hallway as though on a leash.

"Oooh. I love it when you're domineering."

"Mm-hmm," she said distractedly, still leading him down the hallway until they were in her room and the door closed behind them.

When they disappeared, Jigen and Goemon exchanged glances.

"Do you ever wonder why we keep working with a dipshit like him?"

"Always."

The inside of Ruby's room was quite different since last time Lupin had seen it. All the furniture was pushed up against the four walls. She'd somehow even managed to push the mattress onto its side against the window. Only the desk, with Jigen's laptop, and two chairs remained in the center of the room.

"Uh... Not that I don't love how you've redecorated the place or anything, but I have concerns."

"I soundproofed the room," Ruby explained. "That way no outside noise gets in. Well," she said with a sigh and a shrug. "Theoretically. This room still doesn't have the best acoustics, but we'll have to make do."

A small mischievous smile spread across his Lupin's at this thought. But it was becoming increasingly clear that this wasn't going where his imagination fantasized.

A small stack of papers, three pages by the look of it, sat nearby, filled with Ruby's handwriting. Her penmanship was spectacular for a girl born into the digital age.

"We have to sit close," she said, pulling the chairs side by side across from the laptop. "That way we can be heard clearly."

"Oh. Okay." Then, after a couple of beats. "Soooo... What are we doing?"

Ruby took a seat in one of the chairs and pushed the small stack of papers across the table towards him. "I think it's time RuRu Robinson did her first-ever podcast on her blog site. And I think Lupin the Third will make a great first guest."

Lupin's grin widened. "Now there is a great idea! If there's one thing that'll sway public opinion, it's getting news straight from the source. In fact..." Lupin held up a finger and quickly left the room. When he returned, his arms were laden with some serious sound equipment.

"Woah..." Ruby breathed. "That's some hardcore shit, Lupin."

With an impish chuckle, he began setting it up. "Usually, we use this stuff when we plant bugs in places, or have to speak directly and privately. But I think it'll work for podcast audio as well." Lupin's fingers flew across the keyboard quickly. "Let's not forget some security measures. This way, if anyone tunes into the live stream, it can't be tracked. An I.P. blocker here, a satellite rerouter there... Hehehehe!" He gave Ruby a microphone headset before donning one himself as he took a seat. "Ready when you are, RuRu!"