Welcome to a secret world that hides beneath the surface of the mundane. It is a world of urban legends and rumors, a world of astonishing deeds and epic battles. Meet its enigmatic inhabitants. Learn their secrets, their desires, their beliefs, their hopes and their dreams. Listen to the tales of pain, injustice, compassion, kindness, courage, teamwork, love, sacrifice and hope. Meet the guardian angels, the warriors, the philosophers, the priests, the phantoms and the wanderers.  But remember – once you enter this world, you can never truly leave it.

ENTER THE MERIDIAN: Hidden Cards

I shifted in my chair. Slightly. Just enough to make sure that there’ll still be some blood flowing in my ass when I finally get up. 

Apparently, that wasn’t slight enough. 

A massive, pig-faced cop glared at me like I was about to dash out the door. I smirked. I wasn’t suicidal. Besides, Arsene Lupin would of never tried to escape this early. He always waited at least until the trial. I always admired that about him. No matter what, he always seemed to have a plan. Even when he was caught off guard he had something up his sleeve. He was a genius. There were lots of so-called “Gentlemen Thieves” back in the day, but none of them came even close to matching Lupin’s impeccable record. He didn’t just pull off impossible robberies. Each and every one of them was done with style, grace and wit. The police was helpless. The public was awestruck. Even the Great Detective had trouble keeping up with the Prince of Thieves. 

I discovered Arsene Lupin when I was just a young boy. My parents always wanted to become more “cultured”, so they bought lots of books. The thing was, they never actually got around to reading any of them. I didn’t mind. After all, that meant that I could have all the books to myself. I used to spend hours in the basement (where most of the books were kept), reading everything that I could get my hands on. I discovered lots of great things. But none of them was quite as great as the discovery of Arsene Lupin’s official biography. I couldn’t put it down. Once I read if from cover to cover, I knew that I had to have more. I searched high and low, looking for every last scrap o f information about the legendary thief. By the time I graduated from high school, I knew more about him than anyone else on the planet.

Around the same time, I started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. The desk job didn’t appeal to me. The arts offered few promises and way too many chances to screw up. Besides, I wasn’t that talented. My thoughts returned to my hero. He left behind an astonishing legacy, but after he died, there was no one left to carry it on. Most of his descendents were content to live off the fortune Arsene Lupin worked so hard to earn. I decided that this simply would not do. With my right hand place firmly on his biography, I swore that I would become a worthy successor of the Prince of Thieves.

I stretched, earning yet another glare from the burly cop.

I had a good run, I thought. Sure, I wound up in jail, but I wasn’t planning on staying there for long. Sure, I had no idea how I was going to escape, but I had plenty of time. I was sure I would figure something out eventually.

I yawned. What the hell was taking so long?

The door opened. A tall blonde and a short, slightly Asian-looking man entered. Looking closer, I noticed that the blonde had the curves in all the right places. Her boobs weren’t really that big and I could see a few small wrinkles around her eyes, but I didn’t mind. I felt my pants tighten. Nope, I didn’t mind at all.

“So, you must be Captain Chase,” I smiled, “I am honored.”

“And you must be Marty Nayce,” she grinned, her expression dripping with sadistic delight, “You know, if you want to become the next Arsene Lupin, you are gonna have to learn not to get caught.”

“My name is Andy Verge,” I reminded her, “Personally, I think I managed to stay a few steps ahead of you long enough. I deserve a break.”

“Don’t worry, Marty,” Captain Chase parried, “I’ll make sure you’ll get a nice, long rest.”

I sighed: “How many times do I have to tell you? My name is not Marty.”

Which was a lie. I mean, if you had a name like mine, would you want to flaunt it? 

“Here is the deal, Mr. Nayce,” Captain Chase leaned closer, “You are a pretentious prick with major delusions of grandeur. If it were up to me, I would just leave you on the street and wait until you get yourself run over by a truck.”

Arsene Lupin wouldn’t have cared about petty insults, I told myself. He would have just shrugged them off. He would have realized that insults were something that only small-minded, insecure police captains…

“Sadly,” Captain Chase continued, “It’s not up to me. You managed to swipe wallets from over a dozen cash-heavy citizens of our lovely little burg. In the process, you pissed off lots of really powerful people. People who have enough imagination and influence to do make your life a living hell. So guess what – you are going away for a very, very long time.”

I smirked: “I don’t see why. So far, you made a bunch of groundless allegations. Unless you can provide some evidence, I am afraid you’re going to have to let me go.”

A look from Captain Chase made it clear that if we were having this conversation in some dark alley, she would have killed me without a second thought.

Somehow, this made her even more appealing.

“You know,” Captain Chase said after she regained her composure, “even though you are an idiot, you picked your targets well. Ulrich Andere, recently appointed President of Meridian City’s own De Vinci University. Maya Sage, current CEO of SkySong Foundation. Ian Knowell, heir apparent of Prospero International. City Council members, CEOs, company representatives, real-estate owners… At first, your victims had no idea when their wallet was snatched, let alone who snatched it. But eventually, you got cocky. People started noticing you. A footprint there, a stray hair there, a few frames worth of security camera footage there and suddenly; we had ourselves a common culprit. We even managed to figure out your real name. All we had to do was find you. But thanks to you, we didn’t even have to do that.”

I scoffed

“I don’t get you,” Captain Chase lamented melodramatically, “You swiped wallets from people. Rich people don’t usually keep a whole lot of solid cash.  Since they could cancel their credit cards, all you get is chum change. That makes you look pretty stupid. On the other hand, you obviously planned your robberies very carefully. In several cases, you managed to get past the bodyguards without a hitch. That makes you look pretty clever. But when you go and swipe a purse from a penniless college girl, I am not sure what to think. ”

 “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Let me refresh your memory. Her name is Miyoko Takenouchi. She says she’s eighteen, but if you ask me, she is older than that. She lives with her boyfriend, Richard Drake. They both have part-time jobs at De Vinci University. Together, they don’t earn all that much. Which makes me wonder – why the heck did you bother stealing a purse from her?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, trying my best to sound sincere, “I was just walking down the street when some girl karate-chopped the life out of me. Next thing I knew, I was hand-cuffed and some cop was reading me my rights.”

“Cut the crap, Marty,” the Asian guy who came in with Captain Chase spoke up, “Ms. Takenouchi’s purse was in your bag. We got three witnesses who swear that you were the person who stole it.”

“They are lying,” I shook my head defiantly, “and they could’ve been put the purse in my bag after they knocked me out.”

“You know,” the short guy sneered, “if you stop interrupting people every once in a while, you might learn something. I was just getting to the best part. We found a few black strands stuck on the shoulder of Ms. Takenouchi’s coat. When I saw them, I remembered that we found similar stands at the scenes of your other crimes. I used to wonder where they could’ve possibly come from. But then, I read the report of the officer who arrested you. You were wearing black gloves. I went to the evidence room and checked the fabric. The strands matched perfectly. I am sure that when the boys at genetics are done with the samples, we’ll be able to prove that they’re all dripping with your DNA.”

Crap. Crap, crap, crap.

I knew I should’ve used leather gloves, I chided myself, but noooo…

It wasn’t enough to convict me. But it was more than enough to keep me locked up. Heck, it’s probably enough for a search warrant.

I hid everything carefully. But I knew that all my precautions didn’t stand a chance against Captain Chase’s persistence. She wanted to put me away. I could see it in her eyes. She was too honest to plant the evidence, but I wouldn’t put it past her to do the next best thing.

“No answer?” Captain Chase inquired smugly, “no smart-ass remark? Wow, I guess there is God.”

I considered my options.

“You know, Marty,” she sighed ruefully, “A true “Gentlemen Thief” wouldn’t of swiped wallets because, well, he doesn’t really care about getting rich. He worships two things: beauty and justice. You don’t value anything except your own pocket. That is why you will never be anything more then a wannabe who is too pathetic to even touch Arsene Lupin’s shadow.”

I could not believe what I was hearing.

Who the hell did she think she was? 

I tried to take deep, cleansing breaths. It didn’t work. I still wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands.

And second thought, that would’ve of been to kind for her.

Captain Chase smiled at me. There wasn’t any malice in her expression. Just amusement. Gentle, pitying amusement.

“You know,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady, “Last time I checked, I have a right to a phone call. If you don’t mind, I would like to use it.”

“Alright,” Captain Chase checked her watch, “Davis, Peterson, get him to a phone.” Then, with a look of non-chalant distain, she added, “Don’t get too excited, Marty. We aren’t done with you yet.”

The cops lead me into a small room. It was kind of like a prison cell, except it didn’t have a bunk bed or anything like that. The only item in the room was a pay phone.

“Davis” typed it a sequence of numbers.

“You get five minutes,” he informed me, “don’t waste them.”

They went out the door and locked it behind them. They stayed outside; close enough to see me but too far away to hear me.

Perfect.

I quickly dialed the number, trying my best to block it from the view. I didn’t need some stupid cops calling my allies. 

After four rings, my benefactor picked up:

“Who is this?” he demanded

“Hell, Mr. Mask,” I said quietly, “This is Mr. Eyes.”

“This better be good, Mr. Eyes,” Mr. Mask, “I am busy.”

No time for chitchat? Fine.

“I am calling in a favor,” I told him.

I heard something that resembled a muted chuckle.

“Alright,” Mr. Mask asked, “What is it?”

“I engaged Miyoko Takenouchi. You were right – she has powerful allies. She traced my escape route like it was a yellow brick road. If you asked me, the purse contained some kind of tracer. And her martial arts skills…damn! I can’t believe people fight like that in real life.”

“What about her boyfriend?”

“He was good,” I allowed, “Took me out before I could even blink. But he wouldn’t understand technology if it hit him on the head. ”

“Do you have any idea who their allies are?”

“I have my suspicions.”

“That doesn’t help me,” Mr. Mask scolded

“Look, I didn’t have a whole lot of time, OK!” I protested, “If I snooped around too long, they would’ve noticed me.”

“Fine,” Mr. Mask replied, “Where are you now?”

“In jail,” I sighed, “that’s why I am calling you. I need someone to bail me out.”

“How did this happen?” Mr. Mask hissed

“I am guessing the ninja girl called the police while I was unconscious.”

“You are getting really clumsy, Mr. Eyes.”

“Don’t worry,” I assured him, “I got enough information to make it all worthwhile.”

“You better,” Mr. Mask said coldly, “I would hate to have to reconsider my investment in you.”

“Does this mean you’re going to get me out?” I asked. I was painfully aware that the clock was ticking.

“Of course,” my benefactor’s tone softened, “I wouldn’t want your talent to go to waste.”

“Neither would I, Mr. Mask.”

A brief moment of silence passed between us.

“The lawyer will be there by morning,” Mr. Mask explained briskly. “You got sent to the central precinct, right?”

I grunted.

“Good,” Mr. Mask’s voice became more animated, “Until then, don’t tell cops anything. Not even if they ask you if the sky is blue. Feel free to insult them, but don’t overdue it. You know your rights. Take advantage of them.”

“Of course,” I nodded

“Good. Anything else?”

“Yes,” I licked my lips, “once I am free, do you think I can pay Captain Chase a little visit?”

“No,” Mr. Mask cut off any possibility of debate, “I want to have this one all to myself.”

“I understand,” I quickly nodded.

 “Of course you do,” said my benefactor, “Good night, Mr. Eyes.”

“Until the next dawn, Mr. Mask.”

And with that, he hung up.

The cops came in. Davis examined me skeptically. Peterson snorted and pushed me out of the cell.

“Should I cuff him?” he asked Davis.

“No. If Marty wants to get out here, he’s not going to do anything stupid. Isn’t it right, Marty?”

“My name is Andy Verge,” I hissed under my breath.

“Whatever,” Davis snorted dismissively. “Follow me. Don’t worry, we got lots of time to kill.”

I walked through the police station, with Peterson trailing me like a restless shadow. I allowed myself a little smile. They may have won the battle, but ultimately, I will win the war. That’s the kind of thing that makes my life so much more entertaining.

(To be Continued…)