Chapter Six: A complicate story - Le Joyau le plus preciux
Finally!! It’s been such a long time... A lot of things happened, and I was unable to finish this chapter properly. But at last here we are, hope you’ll enjoy :)
Link to the previous chapters:
Prologue: https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/169363096019/prologue-le-joyau-le-plus-precieux
First chapter: https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/171248331504/chapter-one-thief-in-the-night-le-joyau-le-plus
First part of the second chapter: https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/173125792479/chapter-two-the-black-rabbit-le-joyau-le-plus
Second part of the second chapter (third chapter): https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/175488888629/chapter-two-part-ii-the-black-rabbit-le-joyau
Fourth chapter: https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/182990718414/chapter-four-family-le-joyau-le-plus-precieux
Fifth chapter: https://funnywiccan.tumblr.com/post/184256208749/chapter-five-the-encounter-le-joyau-le-plus
L: “There was a time when I was on the side of the law, too. I was an FBI agent, in the section for the recover of cultural heritage, and my brother was also my partner. We had arrested a lot of criminals together, and soon we became famous for our very correct policy: never killed someone. Our nicknames were “Lucky Luke”, precisely, and “Jolly Jumper”. They became like code names for us.”
L: One day we followed a clue about the illegal trade of a stock of rare paintings. Have you ever heard about the fire of the Flakturm Friedrichshain?
L: It was the greatest artistic disaster of modern history. It happened in May 1945, right after the World War II. There were three towers defending the city of Berlin, made to stand any kind of attack. One of them was builtede in the district of Friedrichshain. The towers were used later as warehouses to protect from the shellfire objects, sculptures and paintings from the museums all around the capital and more others. Unexpectedly, in the Friedrichshain a fire burst out for five days and destroyed most of the artistic pieces. And here we come back to our story.
L: It seems that who attended to stop the flames never stated, if not in secreted documents as diaries and letters, that they kept for themselves about ten paintings. We’re talking of Caravaggio, Rubens, Goya: paintings that those men had sold underground in years. You can imagine how much those paintings worth: they are the few survivors of 417.
J: Let’s see... Usually the prices in the auctions are around some millions...
L: Oh no, here we talk about billions, Joe.
L: Me and Jolly, against the opinion of our chief, accepted to take care of that case: the artworks would have been solded in great secret from an art dealer to a mysterious purchaser.
L: “One of the dealer’s man was very happy to blurt out everything after two or three glasses of whisky. When we discovered the place of the negotiation we organized a team, and in a few minutes of action the participants to it were in handcuffs.”
L: All went as planned and we recovered the paintings, but... Something strange happened: Jolly disappeared into thin air some hours later. I looked for him everywhere, for days; his cellular was dead. Then I’ve received a phonecall.
L: The boss of the art dealer hadn’t liked our intervention, so he had kidnapped my brother. He said that he wanted the paintings back, or else I would never see Jolly again. I told my boss about it, and you know what he answered?
J: Let me guess: “It’s not my problem”? I bet he repaired himself behind thousand of runarounds.
L: Then I took the initiative: I picked up the artworks from the depot and went where agreed with the kidnappers. In my naivety I believed that they would respect our deal, but they don’t. Rather, I got stuck by their boss. Maybe his name will sound familiar to you: Arthus Mason.
J: Wait: that Arthur Mason? The illegal dealer of artworks never arrested?
L: “Precisely. He said that he had noticed my talent and appreciate my method. And he proposed me a new deal: he would have freed my brother in exchange of some commission thefts, not to resell again the objects but for personal collecting. I had no choice; I resigned and I followed him here in Paris. I have to admit that he was a criminal but a gentleman.”
J: “It’s strange to me that you haven’t finished yet. Didn’t Arthur Mason died six months ago?”
L: “His son Dorian took the charge. Unike his father, unfortunately, he have a more cruel personality: while Arthur was well disposed in accepting compromises in affairs and forgive the mistakes of his subjects, Dorian has no mercy for anyone. Since he is the boss... Well, let’s just say that a lot of art dealers employed by the family disappeared. Until some time ago he kept intact the deal I had with his father.”
L: He... ordered me to eliminate someone. A rival in his business.
J: And you refused, right?
L: Of curse; he laughed at me, giving me an ultimatum of three weeks to complete the “job”, or Jolly would pay the consequences. It was before Versailles. there I’ve decided to cut this story for good.
J: And here we comes to the reason why I am bound on this chair, I presume.
L: I’ve observed you for a long time, Joe Dalton...
L: ... Since the day you have been assigned to my case. You can help me not only in saving my brother, but also to square things up with Dorian Mason.
J: Me? What are you talking about?
L: You can do what I can’t, since I have lost my authority: arrest Dorian Mason. And not only him, but consequently also all his collaborators in the circle of illegal art deals.
J: And you want me to believe that you need me only for that?!?
L: Don’t fuss, you’ll fall. And no, in fact it’s not only for that: of all the agents you immediately seemed to me the most tenacious and reliable. Also...
L: ,,, I know you can understand me. You have three brothers that you would protect at any cost. I saw how much close you all are.
L: If one of them was in trouble-
J: I would move heaven and earth to bring him out! Yes, I can understand.
L: Once saved Jolly there will be no more thefts; you’ll have a thief less to think about and one more criminal behind the bars.
J: I have one last question.
J: Would you mind tell me how you were able to keep an eye on me?
J: Ah, thanks, my circulation was being blocked.
L: Sorry, I’m not practical of kidnappings but really more gentle when it comes to deactivate alarms! To answer your question, I’m sorry, but have to find it on your own.
L: Do you accept to embark in this venture with me? But I have to warn you: nor your brothers nor your coworkers have to know about all of this.
L: Less people know about this mess, less is the risk for them to end up in troubles too. It will be only the two of us, detective Dalton. Sure, you’re free to refuse, but in that case your thief will become a murderer and I don’t like that prospect too.
J: You know, usually anybody else would think twice before throwing hisself in what looks like the project of a lunatic...
J: Let’s just say that I want to believe this whole story. If the real criminal is the one who holds prisoner your brother I’ll help you bring him behind the bars of a cell.
J: But I warn you, I don’t take orders from you!
L: No problem. Ah, Joe Dalton...
L: ... I couldn’t expected a better answer! Thank you so much!
J: Wwwwww-Wait to thanks me!! Oh dammit, again?!?
C: Luke? I have an unexpected replacement in ten minutes, Miranda doesn’t feel good; could you please go and pick up Amélie after you have finished with your boyfriend?
C: You’re the best, thank you!
L: What do you say, let’s go eat something together later?
L: My niece will come out from school soon, And since it’s almost lunch time, I thought to invite you. After all in this neighborhood there are countless restaurants.
J: Oh... That’s fine, I think.
J: Wait!!! But where are we?!?
L: Right, I almost forgot. Welcome to the Moulin Rouge.
