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Chapter 5: Victim of circumstance

Grognard heard footsteps and quickly ducked behind a pillar, just as three people passed by . Sure that they were gone he turned   to look  again. There was his boss alright. His boss...and two BIG problems. Grognard let out a frustrated sigh.  It has been more than forty-eight hours that he had been keeping an eye on  Lupin, and despite having great stamina, Grognard could  feel the lack of sleep starting to take its toil on his body. This wasn't part of his boss' plan, and most certainly wasn't his either.  When the warehouse exploded,  he had seen Gila and Diesel dragging Lupin into the car together with Karst before driving off.  By then it was clear that something had gone awfully wrong, but the only thing  he could have done was to tail the vehicle...

"Here's your room Blake.."

"Blake?" the man asked, somewhat confusedly.

"I heard Mr. Karst say something like that as we were leaving just now..." Gila stated quite stoically. "and I gotta call you something."

The name did have something familiar about it, thought the man to himself. Perhaps...

"I guess..."

Gila ignored him. He didn't like the man one bit. 

Grognard hated this waiting game. Normally Lupin would not have any problem getting himself out of trouble, but he doesn't even know he's in trouble! Without his memory, Lupin is indeed in a very precarious situation. It wasn't safe to let him out of his sight.

The only thing  that has kept Lupin alive till now was probably his disguise, but without Lupin 'acting his part ', it would be a matter of time before someone suspects something is amiss with this Blake. If he doesn't end up being shot by Karst or his cronies, his cover will most certainly be blown at Friday's function. Either way...

Damnit! I can't just sit around and wait! The Boss needs me! He kicked the Pillar in sheer exasperation.

"What was that?!"

"What was what Gila?"

" I thought I heard something, we'd better go check it out."

"Didn't the boss ask us to keep an eye on the guy in there?"

"Look Diesel, the guy's too stoned   to even remember his name! He won't go anywhere, now come on! If somebody gets in here the boss ain't gonna be too happy. Remember yesterday? "

Diesel gulped. "Duh...let's go Gila."

Grognard watched as the two headed off in separate directions. This was the break he had been waiting for. Sure that they were gone, he slipped into the room.

"Psst! " he beckoned . "Boss!   It's me!"

The man was a bit surprised to see someone else in  the room that he hasn't met yet.  Perhaps it's another one of  his   friends that he had difficulty remembering. Like....  Steel?

"Do I...know you?"

Oh Great.

Grognard was somewhat annoyed by his boss. After being with him for so many years you'd think the man would at least have the decency to...

He stopped short when he heard noises.   Gila and Diesel will be back soon from their little 'romp' around the building. Lupin can be reprimanded later.

"No time to explain Boss, We've got to get you outta here before those two come back!''

Blake was hesitant.  " But why..?"

"Come on. Come on!" Grognard was getting impatient. The longer they stayed here, the more they are likely to be discovered. He grabbed his arm roughly in his haste to drag him out of the room...

Big mistake.

Blake saw that move as threatening and instinctively reacted in self defense. Grognard found himself flung across the room as he landed on the floor with a loud thud, stunned  for a moment. For someone who was just recovering, the man could still pack quite a wallop...

"Just who ARE you?" Blake demanded as he kept his distance. He realized that he was weak, and might not be able to fend off a second attack from the stranger.  One thing was sure though...whoever this man was, he was no friend of the people here. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to avoid them.

Grognard picked himself off the floor,   humbled but still agitated.

"Look Boss. I really mean you no harm."

"Then you wouldn't mind doing a bit of explaining to me."

" Karst is not your friend.. I'm ......."

"I heard someone back there!" Gila's voice could be heard echoing from the corridor. Uh oh. The noise must have cut their search short.. If he was discovered Lupin's cover could very well be blown. There was no time to reason with Lupin,  and the footsteps were getting  closer and closer. Grognard gritted his teeth. Now what?

Grognard contemplated knocking out his boss but quickly decided against it. Who knows what another knock on the head might do to the man. And there was no way Lupin would trust him now to leave with him.  There was nothing he could do...

**********

"THE GUY'S WITH BLAKE!" Gila yelled to Diesel as their faces met across the room. He quickly signaled to his friend as they surrounded the door. It was locked from the inside.

"YOU CAN'T HIDE IN THERE FOREVER PAL!" Diesel yelled through the door as he tried to ram it open. Gila pulled him back.

"NOT LIKE THIS YOU BONEHEAD!  On the count of three, we charge for the door together! One.. two.."

"THREE!"  The door flung open suddenly as they charged head on right into the room. Not being able to stop themselves, they landed face first onto the ground.  Gila first, followed by Diesel.  A man ran out of the room and disappeared down the corridor.

"GET OFF ME DIESEL! HE'S GETTING AWAY!"

"I'M TRYING!"

The two men finally collected themselves.   Diesel grabbed his gun from his jacket, fuming mad. "That guy's gonna PAY.."

"Don't bother you lug.  He's probably long gone by now, thanks to you. " Gila suddenly remembered something else.

"Where's Blake?!"  He quickly glanced around and spotted him, seated on the bed. Phew...

Gila didn't know whether to be relived that Blake was still here or to be suspicious of the man.  But at least for now, he was in the clear from Mr. Karst's wrath. If Blake had gone missing , Karst was sure to post him to scrub the sewage system for a whole month. Ewww.

"Did you get a good look at him?!" He questioned Diesel.

"Errrmm no... but whoever it was....Mr. Karst ain't gonna be too pleased..."

"I know who he is..." Blake spoke suddenly. Gila and Diesel turned and looked at him.  Blake wore a confused look as he fell silent, as if he was slightly apprehensive... or confused with his discovery.

And indeed Blake was confused.   But finally, he looked up at the two men and said quietly.

" He told me his name is Ars�ne Lupin...."

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