AN: I did warn there would be multiple chapters in one go. Sorry, but please review. Thanks.
Chapter 7
The mayor had long gone from my office as in the very late evening into the night I heard a knock at the main door of the station house. I glanced out of the large end window, far beneath I saw a crowd of criminals and townspeople alike. The only thing missing really were the torches and pitchforks. Fearing the worst, I ran three steps at a time down the staircase; I was at the door before the on duty Constable was out from behind his desk. I growled when I realised it was Hasslemare. He swallowed and slumped into the chair hoping it would eat him.
I gingerly opened the door and the roar of a town nearly deafened me. Monsieur le maire was nowhere to be seen and that worried me more than I thought it would. At the front of this rabble was Thenardier and oddly a number of the more disgruntled police officers under my command; none of them had their uniforms on but all of them had their sanctioned weapons. I step out into the unseasonably cool night air towards the riot? Revolt? I did not truly have a word for it; I let the door to the station click shut behind me, O'Connor and Hasslemare were safe enough on the other side of it for now.
"Dare I ask for an explanation?"
"We want the gypsies gone, Javert." It seemed Thenardier felt threatened by peoples defined by criminal mastery even if these were nothing like that.
"They have actually done nothing unlawful. I will not remove a group of peaceful people."
"But they might do surely that is enough?" I glared at the old con.
"By that logic, Thenardier I should arrest you and throw away the key for a might do will become a will do if given the opportunity." There was a chorus of agitated voices that oddly seemed to be in defence of the criminal. I could just a voice over the din that was gradually becoming louder than it's owner got nearer. Eventually the major stood next to me, glaring at the people much like a disappointed father. "Monsieur le maire, I am uncertain if I am glad to see you or not."
"I could say the same Inspector, especially since you seem to be alone in front of a mob, a heavily armed one at that."
"I have my own weapons, Monsieur."
"Do you?"
"Of course, you will find that I am highly resourceful."
"I had noticed." I clicked my knuckles ominously before reaching for a pocket on the inside of my great coat. As predicted the average townsfolk removed themselves swiftly from the area not knowing if I was armed or not. Those who were police or criminal shifted uneasily but inevitably called my bluff, however for once they were mistaken and with my hand came a combination dagger and knuckle duster, it was of my own design but clearly — to me at least — inspired by the boxing fights I used to lose as a child against older, stronger foes. That and my pick pocket training were partly why I was so agile on my feet. I could see the mayor shaking his head in something that was not quite disappointment but it was a near enough thing. We both knew that Thenardier would be the greater threat compared to the law; indeed as soon as a weapon was seen in hand then the officers moved off to the edges and laid down their own weapons. By the end it was Thenardier versus myself, although oddly the mayor seemed to want to make a move against the pompous thief and trickster, eventually Thenardier grew tired of the quiet had began rattling half-baked schemes that would work for anyone except him; his blind ideas were enough for me to arrest him since he had proven his intent to steal, damage property, cause harm to a person and any number of smaller misdemeanours. The trickster in cuffs, I unlocked the station house door with a key around my neck and unceremoniously dragged him along and throw him into the cell at the far end of the station. It was the only one he had never been in as such he had never escaped from it. As hopeful as I was that it should remain that way, I doubted that would be the case. He was infamous for escaping and not without reason, I knew of no other criminal called the escape artist.
With Thenardier held in my cells next to O'Connor, I knew I had to trust someone with the latter's key; for I would not trust anyone with the tricksters. Hasslemare, had for the most part, shown some promise. He had stayed at his post for longer than his shift, had disregarded opinion of both the former officer and the convict to simply follow my orders; I could see he could go far if given the opportunity. As such I gave him the key to O'Connors cell, I just hoped he would not disappoint me.
