Chapter 1

Javert was a rigid man. He lived by harsh and strict rules, both of the law and of moral standards, and he never once strayed from these rules. The creatures of the night, the gamin and the whores littering the street, they all disgusted him, for they did not abide by any rules. They stole and murdered and spread their filth like a disease-infested rat. Javert would rather be a dead man than be forced to associate with these kinds of people, these people that did not understand, or did not care, about the Law.

He walked the cobblestone street with a confident, almost proud stride. He had nothing to fear. He owned these streets. He could go down the darkest alley and feel completely safe, though he never faltered in staying alert. His pale eyes glimmered with an almost-need to find someone guilty of a crime.

He took a moment to gaze to the left of him, at the dark, swirling waters of the Seine. The glassy river mirrored the night sky and he could see without having to lift his head the multitude of stars. Never changing shape or position, the only thing in the world that followed by his rules other than himself, they sparkled with a fierce brightness, lighting his way. He smiled then, without realizing. He also didn't realize he had just been mugged.

I don't think I could run any harder. What in God's name did I just do? I thought he was just a passer-by – for me to have actually stolen from infamous Inspector Javert from the Paris Police, I am either very brave or, much more likely, very stupid. If I make it out of here alive, I might be hailed by the lads, but if I go to see them right now I will be slaughtered. And the fact that I'll be leading the inspector to the hang-out is probably a pretty dumb idea too.

I shook my head, and continued to run, until I saw my chance. I twisted my ankle and whipped into the alleyway. I heard the footfalls grow in volume, then recede. I sighed in relief, and closed my eyes until my heart calmed.

I took a few long breaths, until felt like I could open my eyes once more.

And gazed straight into the glare of two beautiful eyes squinted beneath thick eyebrows. A very angry expression was what I saw on the face of Inspector Javert. Okay, that's a major understatement. He was livid.

His arms grasped the protruding bricks of the building on either side of me. I was stuck, my back forced against the cold stone as he leaned forward uncomfortably close.

"What, exactly, did you think you would achieve," said the man, "by stealing from me?"

"To be fair," I replied hesitantly, after gathering up courage to speak to the man I had learned to fear, "I had absolutely no idea it was you until I already committed the deed, monsieur."

"You are to call me by Inspector, wench," he spat. He really has a complex, I swear. His bright white teeth glinted in the moonlight as he bared them like a wolf defending his kill. "Give me back what you stole, and I will not have to resort to force to bring you to the prison."

By heart filled with fear at this mention. If I went to prison, I would surely die, just like Papa. I tried to reason with the inspector.

"Listen, sir – inspector, I mean, please… I didn't want to steal, I swear, but the children that live near where I do are starving, and their mother is very ill, and although she will likely make it, because my brother is taking care of her, there is no way to get any money. I thought, if just this once –"

"You insolent girl!" He gripped my arms tightly. I could feel his fingers digging in my flesh and I knew I would be bruised tomorrow. " You committed a crime, and you honestly believed it would go without punishment? In what world do you live in? In the real world, we are under the Law, and must follow it, lest we falter and suffer the consequences."

"But, inspector, I beg you! I will pay you back, I promise. Somehow! Just let me buy bread for the family. Let them eat." My eyes began to sting, and I looked at my feet, somehow ashamed at the fact I was crying in front of this man. I was shocked when I felt his grip lessen. I looked up, and though his face was still hard, it certainly wasn't the glare of death I was being treated to just moments ago. Could it be that the Heartless Inspector has a heart?

Nonsense.

"Your offer intrigues me," he said. He seemed to be pondering deeply my words and it unnerved me. It seemed to him as well that what he was thinking was quite foreign and almost scary. But he continued nonetheless, as though entranced by his own thoughts, and needing to speak them aloud, make them concrete, so he knows he is not dreaming. This decision is something he would never make otherwise, but something in the night seemed to have affected him, though for better or for worse…

…but that was a thought too frightening to dwell upon.

"I will agree to this," he finally said, and scowled slightly at my wide eyes. "You may buy this bread, only for this family, and only this time. But you will pay me back, with your body."

I flushed deeply. "Excuse me?!"

His scowl darkened. "Don't imagine such vile things, woman. I mean you will work for me. You will be my spy, and you will become my subordinate officer as well. It will be nothing to you to put yourself at risk for me and the police. You will report to my office first thing in the morning; I will get you cleaned and dressed into a proper uniform. You will listen to everything I say and do everything I tell you, without questioning me. Who knows; perhaps this might work for my benefit after all."

"And how long," I murmured shakily, "will this go on for?"

And that was when I found out that something I feared perhaps even more so than Javert's scowl was his smile.