"Any occasion for the cake, Usagi?" Makoto paused, looking up from what she was writing as a 9-inch strawberry shortcake was placed in front of them at the rectangular work table.

Usagi beamed at her, "Because Mako-chan's suspicion was right! And the sneak-in you and Duo-kun made was a success!"

Duo's heart skipped a beat by the mention of that, although Makoto never showed any signs of that incident when they returned to the base and even now. She could have pretty much forgotten about it – or has chosen to pretend to have forgotten it…

Usagi was cutting the cake when she suddenly stopped as if she remembered something important. "And Heero too, he said he saw a suspicious man at the event."

Makoto and Duo turned their heads to where Heero was.

"It's just a hunch. I've yet to confirm it later at the casino." he replied without taking his eyes away from the computer screen.

That night Heero waited for a specific man that frequents his roulette table. If he appears, Heero would just need to check his hand and if it is indeed what he thinks it is, he'll set up a good winning for him as a present.

4 hours into his shift, the man came, sat and started to bet small amounts at first, testing his luck for the night. Heero wanted the man to play a little bit longer that night in order for him to be able to verify his hunch, and he being the dealer had control over the game.

During the first few rounds, he would let the ball fall under the same number and color as that of the man's, if he would bet a little less, Heero would purposely let him loose. In that way, he is keeping the man challenged and hooked.

It only took Heero 3 minutes into the game to confirm the mark he saw on the left hand of the man from the auction to this man in front of him. The same, unmistakably light brown, oblong-ish birthmark located on the side of his left hand, just a little below his pinky finger.

He then manipulated another win in favor of the man who at that time placed a huge bet on the table. Heero collected all the losing bets and determined the amount of payout he is to give him and as he gave him his payout, Heero looked into his eyes and smiled like he normally does with the other players whenever they win a huge amount. The man was indeed pleased, intoxicated with his luck that night to say the least.

(The following morning, over breakfast)

"No-freaking-way!" Duo's cobalt blue eyes grew large as he almost shoved his face right up to Heero's.

"You better believe it." Heero said with an almost smug look on his face.

"Care to share the details?" Mamoru said as he pulled a chair and laid his plate of pancakes on the table.

Heero rested his back on his chair and crossed his arms. "We have a man here in disguise. Dorset leads a couple of identities when he goes out. One is his casino face, another is his face during the auction and who knows what other faces he uses when he goes to other places."

"Wow…he makes a huge effort to put on those face prosthetics every single day just to avoid being under the radar. Impressive." Makoto said, crediting their target for the extent he goes to.

"It is a small effort to make given the freedom he has been having for the last 5 months." Mamoru said while he forked 2 pieces of pancakes he'd initially cut into squares.

"But that's kinda creepy you know…" Duo commented, imagining the mask being pulled out like some gooey rubber material from his face.

Heero placed his mug down at the table and said, "We need to stage another auction soon. We'll lure him out with a piece he cannot resist."

"Let me give our contact at the London Art & Galleries Association a call and try if we can arrange something." Usagi offered.

"Good." Heero nodded. "I've let him win double the amount to what the previous auction's price item was sold at. I'm certain he won't let another item pass him by this time around."

"You what!" Duo exclaimed, "And how will you explain that the casino manager?"

Everybody knew how much money Usagi had to pay for the last auction's wining bid, and to double that amount seemed too much of a winner's luck.

Heero answered him quite plainly, "He's a patron and the manager knows that. Let's just say the casino has just given him a little token of appreciation."

Duo puffed his cheeks and thought out loud, "I think I should start being a regular at those places…"

"With all the earnings they get at the end of the day, that payout was nothing." Heero sneered.

"You know how much earnings that casino makes in a day?"

Heero looked at Duo with an expression: I am not telling you and you don't have to know anyway.

Usagi came back from the living room, holding the cordless phone in one hand. "Well, we don't have to stage anything." she beamed at them, "I was informed that 1 day after the last auction; another gallery has announced another similar event. And our has confirmed his attendance via the same email address he used to reply with the last time."

'The pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place." Mamoru said, proud of what they've achieved so far.

"By the way, he'll be Richard Elder at this coming event." Usagi added, her smile turning to a wide grin.

"Want to place bets on how he will look like this time?" Duo joked, which sent everybody laughing.

"Although…" Heero cut in, "I'm afraid I won't be including you on this task." he was looking at Usagi.