Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, daroga, or other references of Leroux's novel. They belong to the author that created them.

A/N: All right PEEPS… I am glad that you decided to check my baby out. This story is my creation and my baby, so please I implore you… GIVE ME FEEDBACK! Lol… This story is totally original and is totally mine, but there are Phantom inspired qualities. There is a daroga and Phantom. But there is no Raoul, and my girl is not based off of Christine… So… you'll see what it's all about. Anyways, if for some unknown reason you like this story and want to post it on your website, just ASK.. lol.. be nice and just ask.

Introduction

William Addams, the Russian Chief of Investigations, is alive after thought dead, and a tale of love, deceit, adventure, and hate is brought to life as William's past catches up with him. Jack Finnedly, a terrorist who left William's face an abhorrent mess when William was two weeks old, is no longer a threat to Addams. Thus, a new threat arrives to destroy his life. See how William overcomes all odds for his family, as well as, his own demons on a quest of danger and valor to save not only himself, but also the woman that he loves.

-Characters-

William Addams- deformed; Phantom of Russia- husband to Stacy; wears black mask

Stacy Addams- Head-strong and sneaky- wife of William

Nicholas, Serene, Erik, Erika- Their kids

Jacob Jackson- Daroga

Clara Jackson- Wife of the Daroga

Christeen Rovasky- Opera Singer

Michael Stranzo- Mafia Boss

Hugo Stazgonocove- Ambassador of Russia

Richard Grishold- C.S.I. supervisor over Stacy

Nicholas Addams- brother of William; good-looking brother; obsessed with Stacy

Wayne Navorska- Rich, handsome man; good hearted, but searching for answers to his father's death; suitor of Christeen

Carol Stranzo- ex-wife of Michael Stranzo

Vlad Kushoff- The chief of Russian police/investigations/military forces

Vladimir Putana- President of Russia

Franz Rovanachov- Terrorist trying to kill William

Setting

St. Petersburg, Russia

Moscow, Russia

Denver, Colorado (USA)

Kiev, Ukraine

Richmond, Virginia (USA)

PART ONE

Chapter One- New Life

It has been a tough year since William's unexpected death. Though I know he will always reside in my heart, it has been difficult. Financial problems had begun to plague me from tedious court appearances. This situation resulted in me finding a job. Since I had a previous degree in chemistry, I found work in a forensic lab in Denver, Colorado.

I am still young with four children at thirty-five.

'What is the date,' I wondered as I cooked breakfast.

Footsteps echoing in through the hallway let me know my fourteen year old son, Nicholas, was up.

"Good morning, honey. Are you ready for school?"

With a perplexed look, he replied, "Mother, do you not know what today is?"

Turning around to face him, my eyes brimmed with tears. "Of course I know, "whispering softly. "It is January 15… your father's birthday." Silence took over as we meddled in our own thoughts.

My heart ached for my husband, but I knew I needed to be strong, not only for myself, but also for my kids. Just as the grandfather clock chimed at six-thirty, I heard galloping down the stairs. Soon enough three bodies gamboled right on in.

"MOM!" Erika ran and hugged my legs.

"Hello, my sweeties! Are you all hungry?"

Murmurs of approval were heard as I set the food on the table. As soon as breakfast was wolfed down, we all piled in the Honda Odyssey to drop everyone off at school. Even though the school as small, it was a private Christian school.

"Now, I love all of you. You know that. Be good and I will see you when school gets out." A series of 'byes' were heard before I stopped Nicholas.

"Nicholas, it… today is very difficult for me… and you. So please, darling, promise me there will be no fights today. Promise?"

His hazel eyes gazed into my green ones. "For you, mother, I promise." He kissed my cheek and left.

I sat there as a flashback clouded my mind.

Music flowed as I lay on the bed watching William strum the strings of the violin. His hazel eyes never left me. He strolled over to me, never missing a beat. Surprisingly, the music stopped and as I was almost lulled to sleep, his lips caressed my throat. A moan escaped its way out.

"William, darling, not now… It will make it more difficult to let you go…"

He sighed heavily as his lips left my throat.

He smiled and replied, "My love, it is more difficult for me to leave you behind."

Pain scourged its way through my knuckles, which brought me back to reality. I was gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were white. Breathing shallowly, I started the car's engine and drove to work.

Pushing back my tears, I got out of the car slowly and made my way to my office in the Lab. The door swung open and I asked, putting on my gloves, "So, Richard, what's the news today?"

Richard, my supervisor, was a man of fifty and brilliant in his field. "Well, Stacy, you have been assigned on a case with a new employee, Hugh Blakeman. A profound doctor has been murdered. His body dismembered, sold around the world, and his body dumped in a pit."

Shaking my head, "Such a pity… Are there any leads?"

Richard smiled, "That's where you come in, Stacy." At this, a man walked in and sat down in the chair next to mine while Richard explained some evidence in his office.

"Hello. My name is Hugh Blakeman. I assume you must be Stacy Addams?"

I shook his outstretched hand. "Yes, I am. It is a pleasure to meet you. Your accent… is it British?"

Hugh responded, "Why, yes it is. I previously worked at Britain's crime lab in Wellington." I nodded, impressed.

"Well, Mr. Blakeman, let's get to work."

Richard took over, "Dr. Frank Billard, a renowned neurologist was murdered on late night January 10th. No witnesses are present right now. We found a piece of chewing gum at the crime scene with dental impressions. The saliva does not belong to the victim or anyone on APHIS. Dr. Billard's body was then dismembered, dumped in a compost pit outside Denver. His organs were sold online and given away."

"A report I received earlier showed the cause of death was poison. The toxicology report confirmed high levels of sodium hydroxide in the body parts' tissue samples. When the head was examined, a residue of Chardonnay wine was discovered. It matched the bottle at the crime scene. No fingerprints have been discovered. However, you and Hugh must go find the doctor's missing convertible. It is a 2004 T-bird, green model. See, if any convertibles came in or near the past five days to the time of the murder… around eight forty-five PM. Good luck, you two."

Hugh and I stood up and went outside the lab. "Stacy, we can take my car to save money and convenience." I sat down in his Lincoln Navigator warily. His British accent was light but evident. We talked of previous cases, and I soon found him to greatly resemble the daroga. I have missed him immensely. We continued to discuss previous cases. I have not spoken to the Daroga for six months. I would call him later. Hugh's next words shocked me.

"Stacy, I want you to know I find you attractive."

"Thank-you, Hugh, I am flattered, but my heart is with another."

"William? The Russian Phantom? Yes, I remember investigating that case… Didn't he die?" Daggers stung my heart wretchedly.

"Yes, he died in order to save my life." This silenced him and we rode in quiet to the junkyard's gate.

We met the toll master at the gate. "Sir, we are with the Denver Forensic Crime Lab," we said with our badges exposed. "We would like to take a look at your roster for the past two weeks."

The gruff, large man grunted as he hobbled over to his desk in the building to retrieve them.

"There is no need for those records, Stacy. I think we've found our car." I turned my head to see a beat-up convertible. I glanced to Hugh. "Tow it." He nodded.

My cell phone buzzed, startling me. "Hello? Mrs. Addams?"

"Yes?"

"I am calling on behalf of Denver Christian High School. We are sorry to bother you, but your son, Nicholas, has been involved in a fight."

"Oh no…I am so sorry. I will be there in uh… fifteen minutes."

I hung up the phone and called to Hugh. "Hugh, can you take me to the Christian high school?" His brown net of hair turned back to face me with his brown eyes gazing at me.

"Are you sure everything is all right?"

"Yes, I hope so." Hugh and I walked down the hallway to the principal's office when we arrived. The stout, pompous woman stood up.

"Hello, again, Mrs. Addams. I have discussed with you your son's previous behavior; however, I believe that this is the last straw. Nicholas was caught trying to choke another student. I believe this is grounds to expel him."

Nicholas interrupted, "No, Mrs. Trall, I was not choking him. He dishonored my father's memory. Mother, he said that Dad was a son of a –"

"That's enough, son. Come on, we will discuss this on the way home. I apologize, Mrs. Trall. I'll call you later." She smiled faintly and nodded.

The three of us walked out. "Nicholas, you and I will discuss your behavior later, but I want you to meet my new partner, Hugh Blakeman."

Nicholas snuffed his nose at Hugh's outstretched hand. Hugh coughed at the awkward situation as I glared at my son. After Hugh dropped us off at my house, I slammed the door when we went inside.

"Nicholas, I am very upset with you! You know what today is… You promised me!" Nicholas, whose temper he received from William bellowed, "You don't know what happened!"

Before I knew it, pain etched its way throughout my jaw. It was then that I realized that my own son actually struck me! My mouth filled with blood as I gazed into my son's cold eyes.

I staggered up and left the house. Nicholas stood, arms crossed, at the threshold and stared at me. Blood dripped from my mouth. This was not the first time this has happened. Nicholas blamed me for being responsible for his father's death. I suppose the reason I never ever tried to punish him is because I feel responsible myself.

I have two cars, both paid off by William, and climbed in one of them so I could go pick up my other kids. Wiping off the stream of blood trailing down my chin, I slowly put my car into reverse and pulled out of the driveways contemplating what to do.

A/N: All right, there's the first chapter… PLEASE R&R… Hopefully you all are intrigued with the first… IT DOES GET BETTER! Lol.

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