A Greatest Thieves Turnabout

Chapter Four: When Life Gives you Gumshoe

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN LUPIN GOT ARRESTED?!"
The red clad inspector practically screamed at the chief of police as he slammed a fist on the desk.

The chief of police adjusted their glasses.
"Well you see, we had tons of decisive evidence as well as a witness testimony-"

Zenigata stared at them, putting so much pressure into making a serious expression that he was about to burst a blood vessel.
"NO! I mean- how did you catch him?! I've been after Lupin for..."
He counted something on his fingers.
"A long time! I've never been able to contain him for more than a month yet here you are claiming you caught him! How?! And how do you know it's the real Lupin?!"

The chief raised an eyebrow.
"Well from the reports I was given, he didn't put up much of a fight. In fact, one of the men arresting him an hour ago reported him singing about how he couldn't wait to go to jail as he was being driven to the detention center."

"WHAT?!"
Zenigata couldn't believe what he heard. This was absurd! Lupin wanting to get arrested?!
"That can't be Lupin! Absolutely not! No way! You've got the wrong guy!"

"Well Lupin did ask one of the men to send you over a message."

What could an imposter want from Zenigata? He wasn't exactly sure.
"What is it?!"

The chief took out a post-it note and put on their reading glasses, like they were about to read a novel.
"He wanted us to tell you, quote....

'Hey pops! If you're hearing this then don't worry! If I'm found guilty I'll be out of prison within a week! Also, just so you know, the handcuffs they used to arrest me are nowhere as comfortable as yours! P. S. Try not to get too lonely without me!'

"...end quote."
The chief put away the note and took off their glasses, probably to prevent themselves from seeing Zenigata, who looked like he was about to have an aneurysm on the opposite side of the desk.
The chief waited for him to say something but seeing as how the inspector had been awfully quiet ever since that note was read, the chief supposed they weren't going to get yelled over.
"Is something wro-"

Of course, Zenigata interrupted the chief as soon as they tried to speak.
"YOU ACTUALLY ARRESTED THE REAL LUPIN?!?!?! HOW AND WHY DID HE LET YOU ARREST HIM?!"

Despite the inspectors yelling, the chief had little to no reaction and was instead staring at Zenigata with a blank expression.
"As I told you before, he handed himself over with no issue."

Zenigata went back to silence.
"Oh."
But sadly the silence didn't last long, as the chief, yet again, nearly went deaf.
"BUT WHY?! WHY WOULD HE HAND HIMSELF OVER?!"
It was like the inspector couldn't even grasp the concept.
"Usually when he steals something, he does anything he can to get away from the police but he's handing himself over WILLINGLY now?!"

The chief put a hand up for silence.
"I'll stop you right there. What do you mean by just theft? We have the man in for aggravated assault and manslaughter to the second degree, WHILE trying to steal the museums most prized possession, which went missing anyway despite Lupin already being in police custody!"

Stunned, the inspector backed away from the chiefs desk.
"But- but- but- Lupin wouldn't do that! He may be a thief and he may steal other people's stuff but he'd never steal anyones life! That just isn't right!"

Zenigata almost cried the last two sentences with literal tears in his eyes. But alas, the chief wasn't exactly 'impressed'.