Chapter 6

"Come on, kid, just call me "Daddy!""

"No."

The…argument between Lupin and Shinichi had been going on for the past 20 minutes, long enough that Jigen had grown tired of it. He and Goemon watched emotionlessly from the kitchen. For some reason, Lupin had gotten it into his head that his name should be on the father line of the fake birth certificate they were creating. And while Shinichi frequently shutting Lupin down was hilarious, they had more important things to talk about. Like their upcoming heist.

"As…amusing as this is," Goemon said, turning to face Jigen. "We need to discuss what will happen to Shinichi-kun while we're working. I doubt you'd be comfortable him being alone in the hideout."

Jigen scoffed. "Hell no." Just the thought of it made him grimace. He didn't want Shinichi to be left unprotected. If that stalker showed up again… "And he can't just stay in the car. It's practically the same thing, and what if one of Zenigata's men found him?"

"Oh, come on, brat! Just once."

"Not on your life."

Goemon pressed a knuckle against his mouth, deep in thought. "One of us could just stay behind to babysit him. However, after going over the security and layout of this museum, I have found that with just three of us, it would be near impossible to achieve our goal."

"Damn…" Jigen scratched his beard. Why the hell was this father bullshit so hard? Was it this hard for everyone?

"What about a tracking device?" During their conversation, Shinichi had apparently gotten bored with continually denying Lupin and wandered over. Jigen raised an eyebrow. "I can be left alone here; I'm pretty responsible. But if you're that worried about that guy finding me, then you can just place a tracking device on me."

"It would have to be something small, but not out of place," Jigen mused, assessing the idea. "Something you'd expect to find on a young boy, perhaps a hoodie…?" He shook his head; he'd figure out the details later. "Are you sure you'd be ok, here by yourself? I don't want to push you into something you don't want to do."

"I wouldn't have mentioned it if I didn't think I'd be okay, Papa."

Jigen smiled. "Thought that was the case, kiddo, but I had to make sure." Shinichi grinned at the term of endearment. "So, the night of the heist, you'll be staying here. We should be out for only a few hours—"

"What!? No!" Lupin, who had only just begun to listen to their conversation, jumped in and snatched Shinichi up, holding the boy close. Shinichi squirmed. "He has to be by my side at the heist! Especially when Zenigata spots me!"

"Why?" Goemon finally asked. "He's a child, what could he possibly be able to do? What if they shoot to kill and don't see him? You shouldn't put a child in danger this way, Lupin."

"But if Pop's sees Shinichi and with the right insinuations, he'd totally think that Shin-chan was my kid!" Lupin gloated. "Can't you just imagine the look on his face!? It would be priceless!"

"Put me down!"

"I am never trusting Shinichi to be alone with you, Lupin. Ever."