Lupin The Third: The Gunslinger's Lament

Chapter 18

Andreo Ricci's thugs were escorting Diana off. With the apparent revelation that the 'rabbit didn't come for the carrot', Herr Aderlass deemed Diana's presence no longer necessary. Thus, they led the drug-dazed woman away from Circus Maximus. Their destination; a fancy black sedan with dark tinted windows that sat in a secluded area away from the event.

A tall, broad man stepped into their path.

"Excuse me, gentlemen... I'm gonna have to ask you to stop right where you are." Suddenly, a badge was flipped out. "Inspector Zenigata. ICPO. I have reason to believe that this woman in your company is here against her will! I demand that you release her into my protective custody!"

Ricci's men exchanged glances, each of them smirking as though they found this sudden interruption amusing at best. "Mi dispiace, agente," said the man to the right of Diana. "But I believe you're mistaken. This woman is in no danger. We are merely escorting her to her husband. Isn't that right, Mrs. Del Monte?"

He slung an arm around the young woman's waist as his other hand cupped her chin, forcing her to move her jaw as he put on a squeaky, falsetto. "I am just tired and want to go home. Please step aside."

Zenigata glowered at the men, who were clearly not taking him seriously in the slightest. In fact, they were downright mocking him! Of all the gall! But the most disgusting behavior was the way they manipulated the sedated Diana Del Monte like some kind of human puppet. At that point, Zenigata felt himself getting genuinely angry.

The thug released Diana's face and grinned. "See? No problems here. Now..." His eyes narrowed at Zenigata. "Are we gonna have a problem?"

"Yeah, punk..." Zenigata growled through his teeth. "I believe we are."

But already, the inspector saw the man to Diana's left reaching behind him, as though to draw a weapon from his back. Zenigata knew he had to act fast! But just as the inspector's hand curled around the grip of his service pistol, he felt the cold metal barrel of a gun pressing against his back.

"I'd hold that thought if I were you, Inspector."

To Zenigata's surprise, that cold, cruel voice belonged to a woman. With wide eyes, he glanced carefully over his shoulder. Not only was it a woman, but a beautiful woman! One, perhaps, close to his own age. Zenigata hadn't a clue as to who this woman was, but just seeing the way she presented herself... This woman was no mob thug. But she might very well have been a mob wife.

"Put your hands up, if you please, Inspector," she said, and the thuggish men holding Diana snickered.

Zenigata grimaced. So that's the way it was, then? He was in quite the predicament. The 'simple task' of rescuing Diana wasn't going to be so simple after all. Slowly, Zenigata raised his hands. He could practically hear the wicked smirk on the woman's face as she taunted him.

"You should have brought backup, Inspector," she mocked.

At that moment, the woman – who was none other than Isabella Ricci, the late Sergio's wife and Sergio II's mother – heard the click of a gun hammer and felt a barrel of cold steel at her own back.

"Hate to break it to you, Isabella... but he's got back up."

Zenigata knew that voice. "Jigen!?"

"Hope you don't mind me butting in, Tottsan."

Zenigata, for once, was happy to see Lupin's right-hand gunman. "N-Not at all. You're right on time." The inspector chuckled nervously, trying not to show just how much he was sweating. He had clearly underestimated the entire situation.

Isabella's expression curled into one of contempt. Moments ago a beautiful woman, she became instantly ugly. She couldn't make a move against Zenigata when Jigen had her at gunpoint. And with the mob boss' daughter-in-law in such a position, the two thugs flanking Diana couldn't act either.