The full-length mirror in the hotel room, which they had taken as a refuge for that heist, gave the man the image of a waiter with an unusually uncultivated beard and a dark Borsalino hat dropped over his eyes.
He adjusted his bow tie over his white shirt and closed the cuffs of his black jacket with simple silver cufflinks. The shoes at his feet had been carefully polished and the only imperfection of his disguise was a little bump at chest height, where Jigen had placed the pack of cigarettes and the lighter in an inside pocket.
The habit of hiding the .357 Combact Magnum in the trousers under the jacket was so strong and consolidated that no one, not even an experienced fighter, would have been able to locate it.
Daisuke Jigen, who made elegance his trademark, was used to dressing well, but that dovetail tuxedo and bow tie made him feel like a penguin.
He took one last look in the mirror and decided that for the role of waiter of an important and sumptuous social event that clothing was more than enough.
-Lupin are you ready? - called the gunslinger lighting a cigarette and starting it with a long breath.
-I'm almost done- the partner answered from the other room -Give me another moment.
-What is it? - Jigen scoffed, letting himself fall on the armchair -Do you not remember how to tie a bow tie?
-What tie? - Lupin asked, popping out the door of the room and Jigen, a heavy smoker, coughed the smoke.
A woman in a fine dark dress studded with diamonds had entered the room, on whose shoulders they had attached Lupin's monkey face.
-What the hell ...? - exclaimed the gunslinger, gesturing animatedly in the impossibility of finding the words to describe what at his eyes was a strange chimera.
-Don’t kick up a fuss! - snorted the gentleman thief positioning himself in front of the mirror and adjusting the prostheses that simulated the breasts of his character -Like you had never seen me in the clothes of a lady!
Lupine chuckled at his double meaning and turned around to check the back of his disguise: -It seems to me that it works ... - he muttered to himself.
-You want to explain to me? - Jigen urged him, sucking hard on his cigarette until he consumed it almost completely.
-Didn't I tell you? - Lupin replied and Jigen closed a vein at the height of his temple: that was the typical tone that the thief used when he voluntarily omitted some details of the blow to induce him to do things he otherwise would not have done.
-The only way to access Cupid's ruby- Lupin began to explain while choosing a wig from the closet -It’s taking part in the DeGorgette family gala which is held once every five years and which is dedicated to couples promised in marriage .
-You already told me this- Jigen interrupted him impatiently -But why did you dress like a woman?
-Because we received an invitation, silly- the gentleman thief replied with falsetto voice, making him wave a burgundy paper envelope under his nose.
-Invitation?- Jigen exclaimed in surprise, grabbing the envelope and examining the contents while Lupine continued to speak.
-But of course, mon amie! You surely remember that the DeGorgettes indicate these gala in order to give the Cupid's ruby blessing to couples ready for the altar and also to earn a fair amount of money given the cost of getting that piece of paper in your hands.
-I know it very well- Jigen barked, instinctively slipping the invitation into his jacket pocket -And that's the reason I dressed as a penguin: playing one of the waiters serving the DeGorgette.
-Oh no! - Lupin shook his head, swinging the new brown ringlets that fell on his shoulders -The DeGorgette choose their staff with extreme care, they would never have let you in, also because they have a security scanner that goes beyond the masks, so the waiters option is completely to be discarded.
-And so we enter as guests?
-Exactly!- the gentleman thief underlined that expression by snapping his fingers -You’re standind in front of Marie Luprette Troix, your fiancée.
Jigen watched him in disbelief for a few moments, looking in his face and body language for a signal that revealed that his friend was making fun of him or that he was mad.
-I pass- he finally decreed -Go with someone else, because I don't intend to play the role of someone engaged with an ugly monkey face like yours!
-How rude you are! - Lupin scolded him making a grimace -And anyway there is no more time: the gala is only in an hour and I have no one else to accompany me ... Or you want me to ask Fujiko?
At the prospect of Fujiko's involvement, Jigen's mind subsided and his behavior, though still quite irritated, suddenly became more malleable.
So he listened to the variation of the plan that Lupin had to illustrate to him, interrupting it from time to time to get a few more details explained, then when he was finished, the gunman agreed to participate, albeit with barely concealed distrust.
Finally they got into the car and Jigen had the time to cross, spent driving, to negotiate internally with the role he would have to play and mentally review the phases of the plan.
The DeGorgette’s mansion was a huge neoclassical building in the frame of the rustic Provençal countryside and a row of couples in sparkling evening dresses extended from the entrance showing their invitation and getting announced.
On their turn, the page informed the room of the arrival of monsieur Magnum and mademoiselle Troix.
The landlady, a robust middle-aged woman with a blinding sapphire necklace around her neck, came to welcome them, indicating where the dinner would have taken place, where they would have sit and, more interesting detail for their purposes, where and when Cupid's ruby blessing would have bene held.
A few minutes later, when an aperitif was served, they were made to sit in the dining room, where waiters with starched uniforms and red flowers pinned to their chests served exquisite dishes to be bathed with fine wines.
-Do you see that it's not so bad to play the role of my boyfriend?- Lupin whispered taking advantage of the fact that his partner had his mouth busy chewing -I always treat them well my dates!
-Choke with the chicken and shut up- the gunslinger replied dryly, swallowing the bite with a sip of wine -Anyway, do we have to wait all evening to be able to take the ruby? Wouldn't it be more convenient to do it now that they're distracted?
-Don't be in a hurry, my dear, the right time will come! In the meantime, let's enjoy this delicious dinner. Would you pass me the sauce?
At the end of the dinner, the guests were moved to the ballroom, where a wooden staircase with a golden balustrade had been set up under crystal chandeliers on top of which the enormous and notorious Cupid's ruby shone with the reflections of the candles.
Monsieur DeGorgette took the floor: -My dear friends, I hope that the dinner was to your liking and that your palates have been satisfied. As you know, now the long-awaited moment of the evening is coming: the blessing of your love by Cupid's ruby!
This beautiful ruby, unique in its world in purity and size, is said to have formed from the drops of blood that flowed from Cupid's finger when he punched himself with one of his own arrows, which give falling in love.
It contains the very essence of romantic love and couples who ask for their blessing before marriage will have a happy married life full of offspring!
-How many children do you want, my dear? - Lupin whispered in the gunslinger's ear, giggling.
-Cut it! - Jigen warned him with a snarl.
-Now the couples will be called one by one- continued DeGorgette -And they will have to walk the stairs hand in hand, reach the ruby and invoke his benevolence, then they will be able to go back down and will be accompanied to the next room where the party continues.
The guests began to be called and Jigen watched the various excited couples climbing the stairs almost running and pouring their love on a cold and deaf stone, good only to fill their collection of precious.
Every now and then a passionate kiss broke out between the couples and Jigen was certain that he would not have been able to refrain from drawing the gun if Lupin had even tried to get closer to him than necessary.
Mr. Magnum and his lovely lady were called and Jigen walked towards the staircase but something grabbed him by the elbow: -Don't you forget anything, mon chére?- Lupine called him back.
-What? - Jigen asked, but the partner's outstretched and ringed hand was enough to understand
-Don't be such a child!- Lupin scolded him, perceiving his reluctance -You don't want these nice people to be suspicious?
Jigen took a quick look around and it was enough to point out that all the eyes of the guests (and security!) were focused on them.
Eventually he had to give in and, commenting -Things I do for work!-, he took Lupin's hand in his, dragging him almost weightily down the steps.
When they were at the top, the wonderful ruby stood on a pedestal adorned with a white silk cushion and Jigen could see the spark of longing that shone behind Lupin's pupils.
She watched him stretch his hand over the ruby, as if trying to evoke its blessing, while the other pulled a small remote control from the neckline: -Are you ready for action, Jigen?
-I wasn't expecting anything else.
Darkness suddenly descended into the room, illuminated for short moments by the fire of the mouths of the guns, whose roars made the imposing chandeliers swing.
Finally Jigen had started having fun.
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