AN: I seem to have strayed into the world of Les Miserables and musicals, and with eveything I own nothing; just my brain. Even that is sometimes debatable. Hope you all enjoy and please remember that reviews are appreicated. Thank you.
Chapter 1
I could see Madeline stood at his window, he was not watching me - as I was him - but was clearly keeping an eye open for something.
I did not have long to wait, soon enough there was a trundle of carriages. My eyebrow rose as gypsy designed carriages rolled into the town. Traditionally, these people only arrived once every four years, this group was a year early. Meaning that the feild they had parked in the year previous to my arrival had been ploughed and as such they could not use it.
The eldest man, a good twenty years or more older than Madeline himself, moved easily to the mayor's office. I followed as discreetly as I could. Outside the office there was no where to hide, so I was forced to idly talk with the mayor's office keeper. He did not seem surprised by my unscheduled arrival.
"Inspector." His greeting was as civil as always.
"Why would the mayor allow them entrance? Even in Paris they aren't allowed to enter the city limits."
"Not all gypsies are theives, inspector. The stables get an extra income from their horses; and the carpenter from fixing their carriages." I thought for a moment; it seemed a fair trade.
"How do they make the money to pay for those sevices?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
"The mayor should."
"He probably does; he just doesn't tell you."
"Turning a blind eye to a crime is just as bad as a crime." Neither myself or the office keeper noticed the door opening.
"Always so black and white, inspector." I immediately stood to attention.
"Mayor."
"At ease Inspector; I just wanted to introduce you to the Kopa of this clan. His is the only one I trust inside the limits. You, my dear inspector, will treat his people as you would any other citizen." I glared at the mayor. This was seconds before both my and the Kopa's eyes widened at the sight of each other. "You know each other?" Before he could get an answer from me, the Kopa spoke.
"Hello, Jacques."
"I prefer Javert, Kopa."
"Very well, Javert." The Kopa bowed his head at me which surprised both myself and the mayor. "I see you have done well for yourself. Inspector, indeed."
"Thank you; but how do you know me?"
"My daughter was sent to the Bagne for telling fortunes. She died in that hell."
"My mother birthed me in that hell."
"I know. You are the son of my daughter, Javert." There was silence between the three of us, but I could easily see the mayor's eyes jumping from me to the Kopa and back.
"I can lend you my office if needs be?" I shock my head at the mayor.
"No sir, anything that needs to said will be said in my office." I looked at the Kopa. "If that is alright with you, Kopa?"
"I've never seen an inspector's office; that should be a first."
"I should be hopeful that none of your clan has been in a cell?"
"Oh, we've all been in cells Javert. Just not all of us have been in the Bagne." I glared at the man I know knew to be my grandfather. I silently gestured for him to leave the mayors office and in doing so to follow me.
The old gypsy followed me with surprising ease, taking in sights of the town that were normally hidden from him and his people. The station was a modest building in between the town hall and one of several public houses off the main square. My office was in the eaves of the building, unlike most, there was a large window at one end. I knew that those who had bothered to observe myself with this man, had noticed our near identical skin shades and that some of our features were equally impossible to destinquish from each other. My men probably already had their suspicions, and some may have felt this some conformation.