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11:30am  Police Headquarters

"SARGENT!!!!" Inspector Ganimard's voice bellowed through the entire police station. Folefant looked at his watch and let out a huge yawn. Well, no rest for the weary. He quickly gulped down his last drop of coffee as he briskly made his way to the Inspector's desk, almost spilling the contents of his drink on his iron-pressed  shirt.

Don't them criminals ever sleep? he mumbled to himself.

The past week had been a living hell for him. The Inspector was more irritable than usual due to the increase in the unsolved diamond theft cases, and he had taken extreme caution not to bungle up his work, lest he should bear the brunt of his wrath.

"Orders from the top.." Ganimard began wrily as he plopped a file down onto the the table where he sat. Folefant hurriedly dusted his hands clean, flipped through the pages and read the details.

"Hmmm...A special function is being held Friday night at the Chantelle hotel  by the famous anthropologist Frank Blake for his son's birthday, and he will be showcasing his rarest diamond finding.."

"The Blake Diamond to be exact...we were given specific orders from the top to guard the diamond that day."

"Of all the places.." Folefant grumbled again." Didn't he read about the recent missing jewels? "

" Don't remind me..." Ganimard picked up an all too  familiar card from the table and tacked it up on the board behind him. " It's been more than a week, and the chief  is breathing down my neck for us to capture Lupin."

"With such a exquisite piece of jewel on display, it's sure to attract a lot of attention..." Folefant muttered, stating the obvious.

Ganimard looked rather annoyed by his partner's rather pointless deduction as he interrupted,  "That's why the Chief's making this assignment our top priority. However Mr. Blake says he has his own bodyguards to take care of security...."

"but that's risk..."

"That is why Sargent, we're going undercover."

Ganimard opened the drawer closest to him and took out three invitations. "It just so happens that the chief is a good friend of Mr. Blake, and he's given us these invitations." 

"Gee! I've never been invited to a private function before..." 

"Now don't get all excited Sargent, remember that we are on a case, not to schmooze with the guests. The chief wants us to make sure that nothing goes wrong. Everybody who is anybody important is going to be there, and I bet a certain thief will be tempted to add that little trinket on display to his collection."

"Lupin! The fiend! That diamond will be for his picking!"

"Not this time. No this time we'll be ready for him. We'll catch him in the act before he has the chance to strike!" Ganimard grinned conceitedly.  He has obviously given this a lot of thought.  Oh just to see Lupin's face when they arrest him would make all that agony he has suffered so far seem worth it!

"Inspector.. " the Sargent scratched his head "...then who's the third invitation for?"

"Ahh...That's what I've been meaning to talk to you about.  It would  seem too obvious if we two men walked into a party without a date, so you'll have to bring one or the people might get suspicious."

"Me? Bring a date? but I don't have anybody..." Folefant muttered the first thought that came to his mind.

"Then I suggest you better start looking Sarrrrrrgent."  Ganimard glanced at him  and abruptly ended their conversation by reverting back to his paperwork.

"Y..Y..Yes Sir." Folefant nodded his head hurriedly. He didn't dare argue back.

"Oh one more thing Sargent. Only guests with invitations will be admitted into the ball room, so don't lose yours. They've got specific orders to keep everybody else out."

"Everybody? Oh..." Folefant seemed somewhat disappointed.

That means that Kelly won't be there.

He looked at the two invitations as he took them from Ganimard and suddenly grinned to himself.

Unless....

Hmmm... Perhaps things are looking up after all.

@-'--