" Me?" asked Fujiko Mine, " you are saying it's my fault?"
" You damn right I am" said Jigen, his black fedora covering his eyes but Fujiko knew they were burning with fire, " now thanks to you we got Zenigata breathing down our necks like never before."
" And after all the money I put into this job we didn't get anything in return" said Lupin the Third, " I'm going to have to start sticking up 7-11s to get it back."
" I'm so sorry I wasn't fully versed in the activities of every drunk and wino in Kingston" said Fujiko, " I wasn't the one who dropped the statue."
" You're saying it's my fault?" asked Lupin.
" Sounds like it" said Jigen.
" And what about you?" asked Lupin.
" Me? If it wasn't for me, we'd all be rotting in a Jamaican Prison right now" said Jigen.
" You? You think you saved our butts?" asked Fujiko.
" Was I not the one driving? Was I not the one that shot the bridge controls?" asked Jigen, " jeeze, I thought you of all people would be happy."
" Why me?" asked Fujiko, putting her hands on her hips.
" I can just imagine what would happen to nice girl like you in prison" said Jigen.
" Me too" said Lupin, a long lecherous smile crossing his lips.
The conversation ended with a loud slap as Fujiko knocking Lupin right out of his chair. She stalked over to the window and looked at the lights of Mexico City.
Goemon Ishikawa sat silently throughout the argument, he had no desire to argue, he was going to see another day and that was enough for him.
Lupin had pulled himself to his feet, his face sporting a bright red imprint of Fujiko's hand. He still had the big smart ass grin on his face.
They were laying low in Mexico City after their attempt to 'borrow' the statue of Artemis from a wealthy collector failed. They were hiding out in one of Lupin's many safe houses waiting for Inspector Zenigata to wear out the patience of his superiors and have him pull the heat off them.

Goemon's eyes snapped open and everything in the room stopped. He looked straight at the door. Jigen slowly drew his Smith and Wesson Executive and Lupin took out his P-38. Fujiko turned around as she heard a floor board down the hall creak. " He found us already?" whispered Fujiko slipping her Browning 1910 from her trusty garter holster.
" Pops is getting fast in his old age" said Lupin.
They listened as the footsteps came closer and closer, each becoming louder and louder. They all wondered who was on Zenigata's heels, the Mexican Police? The Mexican Army? An Interpol Strike Force? The entire Tokyo Metro Police?
The footsteps stopped at the door, Lupin looked over at Goemon. His hand gently slid to the handle of his sword Zantetsuken. He pushed it free of his sheath and in the blink of an eye he attacked the door. With three precise strokes he sliced the door to pieces. He leapt back and let the door fall apart. Both Jigen and Lupin leveled their pistols ready to fire.
Standing in the doorway was the son of the caretaker, his eyes wide in terror. " Carta" was all he was able to utter before dropping the letter and fleeing down the hall.
The thin envelope floated to the ground. Everyone put their weapons away and gathered around the letter which lay on top of the pieces of the door.

The letter was covered in a dozen stamps and a dozen different addresses. This letter had seen the world twice over. It began in Monaco, then traveled north to Paris, across the Channel to London, then it traveled down to Athens, then all the way across the world to Hong Kong, then to Maui, finally it had tracked down its target. It was addressed to Ms Fujiko Mine.

Fujiko looked up as Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon were all looking at her. " It's yours" said Jigen.
Fujiko leaned over and picked it up with her bright red nails. The letter was light, at least she knew it would blow up in her face. Fujiko slipped out one of the large pins that held her brown hair up. With a single motion she slit it open.
She flipped it over and let the contents fall out. It was a letter, written on expensive paper, bright white and stiff. Fujiko dropped the envelope and opened the letter.

They all watched as she read the letter, her soft features were reading surprise. A serious surprise had made her jaw drop. " What?" asked Lupin.
Fujiko didn't answer she was too deep into reading the letter. She finished reading it and dropped it on the table before walking for the window to gather her thoughts.
Lupin and Jigen dove on the table, Jigen a moment faster scooping the paper up before Lupin could. He looked at the fancy handwriting and began to read.

Ms Fujiko Mine

I am writing to inform you that you have been included in the will of Mr Jonathan Lewiston III. As per his instructions I am enclosing this letter he wrote.

My Dearest Fujiko

Those two days in Monaco were some of the happiest of my life. Your sun shown brightly in my life which had been obsessed with money and nothing else, it showed me the error of my ways. You took more than my money that night at in the casino, you stole my heart. Now that I am no more I want you to have my house, Mason Deveraux. Fill it with the joy and happiness I never did. I hope you will accept this gift of mine, my dearest Fujiko.

Yours, Jonathan Lewiston III

Please come to 2482 Canal Street in New Orleans Louisiana, USA to take possession of your inheritance.

Sidney Jackson Lee, Esq

" Huh?" asked Jigen, looking up from the letter.
" Who is the Lewiston guy?" asked Lupin, his chin resting on Jigen's shoulder as he read, " I mean he is a third, he can't be all that bad."
Fujiko shrugged, " I think I met him while enjoying Monaco" she said, " it was last year after our successful heist of the emeralds in Prague. I spent a week gambling and I must have played with him."
" You certainly left an impression" said Jigen.
" Are you going to go?" asked Lupin, " this could be a trap?"
" And sitting around in this hole waiting for Zenigata is any better?" she asked.
Fujiko started for the bedroom where her bags were. " You are insane" said Lupin, hoping to follow her in to watch her change, " you are going to try and sneak into the US and then go to some lawyer and say yes I would like to claim my mansion?"
The door slammed on his face, " Yes I plan to do just that" said Fujiko from the other side of the door.
The door opened with Lupin still standing in the doorway, his face scrunched up from the impact of the door. Fujiko was now dressed in her black cat suit she wore on her motorcycle. She had her motorcycle saddle bags slung over her shoulder, " I'll see you around Lupin" she said, pushing him aside.
Fujiko started for the door. " See ya" said Jigen, resting on the couch.
" Good travels" said Goemon, back meditating on the floor.
Both were rather happy to see her go, she had an extraordinary pull on Lupin and that pull usually got both of them in trouble. " Fine go" said Lupin, putting his hands on his hips, " but don't expect us to come running when you get into trouble. If you go, you are on your own."
" Bye-bye" she said, stepping over the broken door.
She turned and blew Lupin a kiss before disappearing down the steps. Lupin turned and looked out the window. He watched as Fujiko entered the courtyard and climbed on her BMW R50 motorcycle and started the engine. He watched her go out the doors and disappear from his sight. " Ah, maybe we should tag alone just in case" said Lupin turning from the window.
He looked at the door where both Jigen and Goemon were blocking his exit. " Not this time Lupin" said Jigen.
" He is right, it is time you learned discipline" said Goemon.
" This is Fujiko's venture, we are already in enough trouble for now" said Jigen.
Lupin knew the looks on his two partners' faces and knew arguing would do no good. " Fine" he said, " I'm going to bed."
Lupin walked into Fujiko's room and fell face first on her bed. He inhaled deeply of her pillow. He was going to miss her.

Fujiko roared down the road zipping between the slow moving trucks and cars filled with passengers. Her thoughts were consumed on the puzzle at hand not on her driving. Who was this man? Fujiko met so many in Monaco that thought money and swagger would get her attention. She had taken their money with ease. Maybe this was a trap, maybe not by Zenigata but possibly by one of the men she had tricked or exploited in her life. But her curiosity wouldn't satisfied until she saw what was in store for her, whether it be a trap or not.

Fujiko rode on through the night and on into the morning. The desolate Mexican countryside sped by until late in the afternoon when Fujiko decided to stop at a pleasant roadside motel. Well as pleasant as a roadside Mexican motel could be. She spent a restless evening on the lumpy bed trying to figure out why she was being given an entire mansion by someone she may or may not have known for 2 days. She knew she was enchanting but this even seemed a little much for her.
The next day was cloudy and menacing, Fujiko rode fast and hard trying desperately to stay one step ahead of the storms. She barely managed to find a motel near the US/Mexico Border just before the storm it.

The storm was a powerful one, it rattled and shook the motel as lightning lit up the desert in every direction. Rain lashed the countryside in stinging waves which filled the motel room with a constant roar of noise. Fujiko set her saddle bags on the bed and removed her clothing. She gently laid her favorite red dress down and turned it inside out. On the inside was a liner where she kept her collection of passports. She had one from about every European Country and Japan. She slowly ran her finger across the textured covers of each debating which one looked the best. She finally settled on her Canadian Passport, she never used it enough. She set it out with the rest of her things and took a long bath as she listened to the storm rage outside. She went to bed early determined to make the last leg of this journey end as early as possible.

Lupin was pacing about his room, ringing his hands trying his hardest to keep himself in line. He finally lost and quickly formulated a plan. He grabbed his green jacket and picked up his shoes. On stocking feet he carefully made his way out of his bedroom and towards the door. The entire house was quiet, Lupin knew both Jigen and Goemon were asleep. He reached the brand new door that was installed this afternoon and ever so gently attempted open it. " Going somewhere Lupin?" asked Jigen standing on the other side of the door.
" What the?" exclaimed Lupin.
" This is your first lesson in self control" said Goemon from behind him.
" Guys" laughed Lupin, " I wasn't sneaking out."
Jigen and Goemon just looked at him, they could easily see through him. He retreated into the bedroom and closed the door. Both Jigen and Goemon exchanged looks, it wasn't much of a start, they both knew that Lupin was inside his room planning his next escape, but they had blocked the first attempt and that was a start.

Morning broke hot and humid, Fujiko rode fast, her body sweltering in her motorcycle jumpsuit. She reached the border shortly after 10 in the morning almost swimming in her jumpsuit. She waited, and waited as the line of vehicles into the US slowly crawled forward.
Finally after almost two hours she was next in line, her jumpsuit was zipped down almost to her stomach by then. She never once had to show her passport, her natural assets left them all stunned.

Fujiko rode through the rest of the afternoon until she finally reached the Big Easy. It wasn't hard to find Sidney Jackson Lee's legal office in the French Quarter. It was a large elegant house with two large willow trees hanging on the opposite sides of the walk. Fujiko slowly strolled down the cobblestone walk, up the steps, and knocked.

The door opened and a man in an excellent pin strip suit appeared with a cup of coffee in his hand. " Hello" he said, not sure what to make of the busty woman in a motorcycle suit.
" My name is Fujiko Mine, I was instructed to meet with Mr Lee?" she asked.
Sidney Jackson Lee looked at the woman before him, he expected this when he rewrote the will, but wasn't expecting her to be this beautiful. " Ah yes, please come in" he said, " I have been expecting you for some time."
" I travel a great deal for work" said Fujiko, " I just now received the news."
Sidney ushered Fujiko into his study. " You are the sole heir of the residual of the estate of Jonathan Lewiston III" he said, " the Deveraux Plantation in Chapel Parish, about an hour west of the city."
" Why did he leave this to me?" asked Fujiko.
" Mr Lewiston died unexpectedly six months ago" said Sidney, " terrible tragedy, truly terrible."
" What happened?" she asked, taking her cigarette case out.
" Mr Lewiston was found dead in his study one morning by his maid" he said, pushing a large crystal ash tray towards her, " true he wasn't one to live that healthy, lord knows he never missed a meal but to see him dead at 35 was truly a shock."
Sidney adjusted his jacket and took a folder out, " We just need you to fill out some paperwork so you can take possession of the estate" said Sidney, " but before you do I should warn you of one or two things."
" Such as?" asked Fujiko expecting a mountain of back taxes.
" Mr Lewiston drew this will up as threat to his relatives" said Sidney, " you happened to be the first person he thought of. You weren't supposed to inherit, but Mr Lewiston died before he could make amends with his family. Mr Lewiston came from a poor working class family, made his fortune on establishing river boat gambling. His family was more taken with the wealth than he was and misused his money. When they learned they weren't going to get a dime from his estate, let's just say they caused a scene in my office. That is why I am seeing you at my home, I wanted to make absolutely sure nothing unsightly happened. When you do take possession of the plantation I would expect you to have troubles with the family."
" Are they violent?" asked Fujiko.
" They are mostly talk but I fear as their situation becomes more desperate they may resort to violence" he said, " all I can say is tread lightly."
He pushed the folder over to Fujiko who took the pen and signed it. If Inspector Zenigata and the Kingston Police Force weren't enough to scare Fujiko a bunch of backwater yokels certainly wouldn't. " Thank you" said Sidney, " oh if you are interested in old legends, it is said there is a fortune hidden somewhere about the estate."
" A fortune?" asked Fujiko, suddenly this trip was starting to sound perfect.
" During the Civil War, Colonel Jeremiah Deveraux, the original owner of the mansion hid his fortune to keep it from the hands of the Yankees, unfortunately at the Battle of Atlanta he was killed taking the secret with him. Mr Lewiston was always complaining to me that he had to chase treasure hunters off the property armed with old scraps of books and shovels hoping to strike it rich."
" Thank you" said Fujiko, " I am always one for a good treasure hunt."
Fujiko crushed her cigarette in the ash tray and stood up, " If you need any help please call me, night or day" said Sidney, shaking Fujiko's soft hand.
" I will" said Fujiko, " good day Mr Lee."
Sidney handed Fujiko a large ring of keys. Fujiko picked them up and felt the thrill of a treasure hunt slip into her veins. As she closed her hand around the keys she had a strange feeling of something deep in the back of her mind. She simply wrote it off as being overly tired. Sidney gave Fujiko a map and a folder of papers that when you navigated your way through the legalese simply said that Ms Fujiko Mine was now the owner of the Deveraux Plantation in Chapel Parish Louisiana.
Fujiko walked out of the house and slipped all the information into the saddle bags and sat down on her motorcycle. She took one more look at the set of keys before starting up the motorcycle and starting the drive to the Deveraux Plantation.

The drive took longer than Fujiko had planned, the map that was provided was absolutely no help, for all she knew it was probably printed when the plantation was first built. By noon she was hopelessly lost, she could be in Texas for all she knew.
Finally in desperation she stopped at a roadside diner and climbed off her motorcycle. Her butt was sore from riding all day, her legs felt like rubber but she manage to walk into the diner.

The lively hum of the diner died away the moment the bell rang on the door when Fujiko opened it. Three dozen eyes all stared at her as she gingerly made her way to the counter. " What can I do for you honey?" the heavy set woman pulling a pencil from behind her ear.
" I need directions" said Fujiko, " to the Deveraux Plantation?"
The entire diner took a deep pensive breath, " Why do you want to go there?" asked the old man to her right.
" I own the place" said Fujiko, " but I am unable to find it."
The diner started to mumble to themselves. " Go down this road back the way you came until you come upon a old church" she said, " now the road to the plantation is hard to find but it is along side the cemetery you'll see a road that goes into a stand of trees. Go through those trees and you'll find the main gates."
" Thank you very much" said Fujiko.
As Fujiko turned to leave, as she passed through the patrons she heard them all whispering. It seemed to be squarely divided between talk about the hidden Deveraux treasure and about the ghosts that live there. Everybody seemed to agree that her going there was going to be trouble and many doubted if they would see her again. This was most lamented by the male patrons who were dazzled by her.
Fujiko left the diner and climbed back on her motorcycle. She followed the woman's directions and found them to be very exact. The next thing she knew she was passing an old cemetery and was on the road to the mansion.

The road was nothing more than a single lane that led into a thick stand of trees. As Fujiko entered the stand she started to wonder if any of the stories of ghosts were true. She brushed them off until the Deveraux Plantation came into view. It stood behind a wicked looking wrought iron fence partially hidden behind several large weeping willow trees that were slowly swaying in the gentle afternoon breeze. The willow trees looked a lot like fingers from some great beast beckoning Fujiko in. Fujiko climbed off her motorcycle and approached the gate.
The gate was securely locked by a large padlock and chain. Fujiko slipped the key into the lock and turned it. The padlock clicked open and the chain slowly slid off. Then the gate slowly creaked open sending a long chill down her sore spine. Looking at the vast faded white building with all the darkened windows Fujiko started having second thoughts. She had to admit that she had seen plenty of strange things in her exploits with Lupin and freely admitted she believed. But she couldn't go back, for one reason she would never hear the end of it from Lupin or Jigen, a second she wanted to at least see what it looked like, and most importantly there was a fortune possible hidden somewhere in this place just waiting for Fujiko's warm loving embrace. Fujiko rode down the crush rock drive until she came to a large statue in the center of the circle drive that was in front of the main entrance.
The statue was of a Confederate officer on horseback, his sabre raised high in the air, the horse ready for battle. That must be Colonel Jeremiah Deveraux riding into battle. The statue seemed to be glaring down at everyone who entered his plantation. Fujiko looked up at him and gave him her biggest prettiest smile she had in the hopes it would welcome her to this new house.
She walked up to the front door and spent a few minutes shuffling through the keys until she found one that fit the lock. The lock clicked with a heavy thud and Fujiko opened the door.
The door swung open wide they the mouth of a great beast. Fujiko strolled inside and closed the door behind her. The entry was very grand, a huge crystal and gold chandelier hung above her head, the large staircase was made of the finest wood and carpeted with in rich burgundy. Fujiko was expecting the place to be an absolute wreck, a crumbling ruin but this place was gorgeous. Fujiko walked into the middle of the entry when she heard footsteps on the wooden floor behind her.
Fujiko turned but saw nothing, that was very strange, she knew she heard them. Fujiko walked towards the closed wooden doors wondering if somebody was hiding behind them. Fujiko reached for the handles when she heard, " Can I help you?" in a heavy southern twang.
Fujiko spun on her heels, standing across the entry was a woman dressed in a maid's uniform. " Who are you?" she asked.
" I'm Molly Parker" she replied, " I was Mr Lewiston's maid. You must be Ms Fujiko Mine."
She totally butchered Fujiko's last name, pronouncing it mine, instead of me-nea. " Yes" said Fujiko.
" Welcome to Mason Deveraux" she replied, " you must be exhausted from your trip, did you bring any luggage?"
" Yes, it is on my motorcycle" said Fujiko, " it is the black leather saddle bags."
" Oh how nice" she said, " let me go fetch them."
The maid made her way out the front doors leaving Fujiko alone. Fujiko's attention was immediately drawn back to the doors she was standing in front of. Fujiko had the strangest feelings there was somebody standing just behind the doors.
She again reached out for the handle and found the detailed brass handle was ice cold to the touch. " Ms Mine" Molly replied, " this is the way to your bedroom."
Fujiko's hand snapped back and she turned to see that Molly was standing on the first of the staircase holding her saddle bags. " Oh" Fujiko replied, " where does this door lead to?"
" Oh that is the unused wing of the house" Molly said, " Mr Lewiston was always going to do something with it but he never seemed to get around to it. It is nothing but rooms with old furniture."
" Hm" said Fujiko, " no one goes in there?"
" They can't, it is locked" said Molly, " and you have the only set of keys."
Fujiko followed Molly up the stairs, " Have you ever been in there?" asked Fujiko.
" No" said Molly rather tersely , " I never have."
Fujiko followed Molly upstairs and down a long hall until she came to a massive, lavish bedroom. " I spent all morning get it ready for you" said Molly, beaming with pride, " I even had Jonas pick the fresh flowers for you."
" Jonas?" Fujiko asked.
" He is the handyman, Mr Lewiston wasn't good with tools so he hired Jonas" said Molly, " he had to go visit his mother two towns over so he won't be back for a couple of days."
" That is okay" said Fujiko, the less people to see her snooping for this hidden treasure the better.
" Speaking of that" said Molly, looking at the rich burgundy carpet, " Mr Lewiston usually gave the weekends off."
" Seems fair" said Fujiko, " I am very capable of taking care of myself for a couple of days. Continue your routine as if Mr Lewiston never left."
" Thank you ma'am" said Molly, a sense of joy in her voice, " if there is nothing else I will let you make yourself at home."
Molly set the saddle bags on the bed and left Fujiko alone in the room. Fujiko closed the door and started to unzip her jumpsuit. All she wanted to do right now was take a long hot shower and have a couple of strong drinks. She had slipped almost slipped the jumpsuit off when she heard the intercom ping. Fujiko groaned and slipped it back up over her shoulders.
She crossed the large bedroom and pressed the big button on the intercom. " Yes" she said.
" Ms Mine" it was Molly, " you have visitors."
Fujiko sighed, " I'll be right down" she said zipping the jumpsuit back up.

When Fujiko reached the stairs she saw an older woman standing in the entry with a young man, most likely her son standing behind her scanning the room with his video camera. " Can I help you?" Fujiko asked.
" That, he gave this house to that?" the woman proclaimed in a heavier southern accent than the maid, " god I always knew he was an idiot this just proves it."
" Who are you?" asked Fujiko.
" Listen girl" she snapped, " I am Caroline Lewiston, rightful owner of this place. This is my son, Jefferson Lewiston, he was named after his ancestor who fought in the War of Northern Aggression. This house belongs to us, I wouldn't get too comfortable, it is only a matter of time before my lawyers prove you have no claim to this house and we kick you out."
" Ma'am" said Fujiko, really not wanting to deal with this right now, " I'm sure that we can reach a compromise that will make both of us happy."
" The only way I will be happy is when I see you tossed out of my house" she retorted.
" I'm sorry but the house was left to me" said Fujiko.
" Huh, I can see why" she said, " just because you seduced my brother with you big breasts doesn't mean you can do the same to me, or my lawyers."
Fujiko sighed, she was too tired to deal with this now. " Mrs Lewiston, what do you want?" she asked.
" I just wanted to see for myself what floozy inherited the house" she said, " I also wanted to know who to send my lawyers after. Good day."
Jefferson who despite standing not two feet from his mother never heard a single word said between the two. His entire focus was on his viewfinder as it captured the gorgeous woman before him. He couldn't believe those were real, they looked so perfect. Jefferson felt his mother bump into him as she heard to storm out. He simply smiled and went after her. He hoped this court battle would last a long, long time.

The door slammed hard making Fujiko flinch. " Molly" she said.
" Yes Ms Mine" she replied.
" Don't let anyone else in, I don't care who they are I am not to be disturbed" she said.
" Yes Ms Mine" Molly said.
Fujiko made her way up to her bedroom and closed the door. She locked it and for a moment considered putting a chair underneath the handle to ensure no one bothered her. She crossed the room to pull the shades and when she reached the window saw someone. He was standing out in the backyard by an old building that may have once been a guest house close to the large river. He was trying to keep himself hidden as he looked about, Fujiko who had spent her life doing that could spot it a mile away and when it was being done poorly like this guy was doing it made it even more obvious. Fujiko made a mental note of his face, he was fairly average, brown hair, soft features, average build, he would never stand out in a crowd. She was sure he was just another treasure hunter trying to beat her to the lost fortune but after the meeting with Caroline she wasn't sure he was so harmless.
Fujiko pulled the blinds and took her jumpsuit off. Her skin felt absolutely grimy, like she'd become part of that suit. She threw it on the bed and made her way into the bathroom to wash the journey off her skin before she started the quest for the lost Deveraux Fortune.