Disclaimer: I absolutely do NOT own, nor do I gain any monetary subsidies, for this fan fiction story. The characters, setting, names belong to the author that created them (Leroux, Kay), BUT the plot is all mine!

Author's Note: Thank you all for your continued support. WOW! Thanks for the reviews. I pray that you all continue to read and enjoy. Most of you asked who was talking to Stacia. Well, all I can say is that it is a man from Erik's past who has a score to settle. How do you all enjoy the mystery and sub-mysteries? I hope I am doing the characters justice.

RainsP.

P.S. Read, relish, and review PART TWO! (Be excited because the Masquerade party will be coming in the near future –Chapter 12-…It promises to be very interesting)

Chapter Nine- Music, Mystery, and Murder Part TWO

Stacia took a deep breath before entering the store, searching for the masked man. As she expected, she found him reading a newspaper in the dark corner at the back of the coffeehouse.

Stacia smoothed her black pinstripe pantsuit, and she pushed her long highlighted brown hair behind her back. Twisting the silver ring on her thumb, she sat down apprehensively across Agent Desslar, who still did not acknowledge her presence.

Coming quickly, the waiter interrupted Stacia, wanting to take her order before she could speak. After he brought her a frozen mocha, the only coffee drink she would drink, Stacia opened her mouth, but Erik spoke first.

"Did you come alone? If not, then this meeting will be through."

Narrowing her eyes, Stacia did not like the accusatory tone.

"Agent Desslar, I am not a suspect that you are interrogating. If anyone should be asking questions, it should be me since you were the one who called me here. However, the answer is yes. I did come alone."

He took no notice of her outburst, and nonchalantly set the newspaper to the side. Stacia noticed the skeletal pale hands flexing before disappearing into his black coat.

"Good, then we can proceed. I have a use for you, and I believe that you are most qualified for this job. I want you to take on a case with me."

Stacia tensed up, not from fear of Erik but fear of him. She could feel his cold presence around her as she spoke with Erik. Stacia probably should have told Erik they were being watched; however, she knew that he would not interfere because she made him promise not to meddle.

Erik tried not to convey any emotion, but her eyes were gorgeous. He absorbed the way her irises were green yet had red and gold flakes. Do not get Erik wrong, though. He could care less if she were eliminated; he just appreciated true beauty. The only woman he cared about was Christine Daae.

Erik cursed inwardly because he would be late, and she would have to walk home. Nevertheless, this meeting took priority.

"I do not mean to be impolite, Agent Desslar, but how do I know if I can trust you? I am well aware of your MI-6 standings, yet I only do business with the upstanding."

Erik smiled a ghost grin. "I like your attitude, Stacia. That is what I need for this assignment."

Stacia was a homicide investigator for the FBI, and her analytical skills of observing people kicked in at that moment.

"This assignment you have…Does it involve the pretty girl from the park that night?"

He gave no answer as she suspected, but the flash that went through his gold eyes was answer enough.

He pulled out a vanilla folder marked 'Buquet File' and slid it to her on the table. Stacia noted the onyx ring on his pinky finger. She did not pick up the file at first, but stared at the masked man who was becoming very agitated under her intense gaze.

"You will be reimbursed for you services, Agent Manuve."

At his haughty nature, Stacia balked.

"I assure you, Agent Desslar, I am not doing this for money! The only thing I am concerned about is the dead. My job is a homicide investigator; I am the voice of those who have none. I assume that there has been a murder, and you want me to help you solve it."

"Yes, there has been a murder, but I am well aware of who the murderer is. I need you to keep the French law from contaminating my case against the suspect."

"I am not the janitor for your or anyone else's case. However, if it involves that pretty little girl, I will help her anyway I can."

The attractive and obviously intellectual woman now piqued Erik's interest. Why would she be willing to help only for Christine?

"Why would you help then?"

"If you read about me, then you would know. I was raped two years ago, and I will always help women in distress. Isn't that what you do?"

Erik ignored the question and stood up. "I will keep in touch with you, Agent Manuve. Expect to help within the next twenty-four hours."

Stacia nodded solemnly as she watched the gloomy, black-clad figure exit the store. She picked up the file for further study and left.

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Nadir and Darius were thankful that none of the neighbors had called the police. When they entered the house, they found the reason why. Joseph had used a pillow to muffle the gunshot.

"Remind me, Darius, to kill Erik for making us clean this mess up."

Darius, the humble servant, put his hands behind his back. "Sir, you have been saying that for five years."

Nadir chuckled, "Well, this time I mean it."

For a brief time, they observed the gruesome crime scene. To the left of the doorway were bookshelves that held hundreds of novels. Blood had dried to the broken and splintered wood. The novels were dumped in a huge pile, proof of the struggle. The floor of the office was smeared with dried blood.

Moving to the right of the room, the office was a mess of papers and other paraphernalia. In the office chair, Charles's body was slumped over. A huge gaping hole in the back of his head stared at Nadir in its ugliness. Behind the chair, bloody brain matter splattered the wall and had dried.

Nadir and Darius glanced at each other before cleaning the dried blood first. They had grown accustomed to such graphic crime scenes, having seen worse in Iran's genocide cases.

The two had just finished cleaning the brain matter off the wall when they heard a wretched blood-curdling scream.

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Christine and Raoul finally arrived at the house after a pleasant conversation. Christine smiled a brilliant smile at Raoul.

"I bet Dad would love to see you after all this time. Come on in and let's say hi."

Raoul nodded ecstatically and followed her inside.

Christine turned to him. "I bet he's in his office, reading. Follow me upstairs."

As they ascended the stairs, an unnerving feeling filled Christine. It was too quiet in the house. Usually, her father heard her before she could surprise him. She, however, ignored the feeling before opening the door.

Her heart stopped at the sight of a horrid hole in the back of what used to be her father's head. She let out a ghastly cry, not even noticing Nadir Khan and the other strange foreigner. Raoul could not believe what he saw, and he stood with a gaped mouth.

Nadir spun around in surprise as he saw Ms. Christine with her hands cupped over her mouth trying to force down the bile that filled her throat. Nadir cursed inwardly, knowing the sight would traumatize her for life. He also became suspicious of the Navy soldier behind her. Erik would not like this.

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As Erik parked the car in front of the house, his superb hearing was blinded by the sound of a woman's scream. He had a dreadful feeling that it was Christine's shriek. Picking up a file, he rushed to the office of the house to find Nadir, Darius, Christine, and a strange man in a Navy's uniform.

Damn, this was not supposed to be the plan. The masked man glowered at the handsome man behind Christine who held her in his embrace. Neither of the two noticed his presence, too shocked by the sight of the dead body.

Nadir ushered them out of the room to comfort and tell them of the police coming. Actually, the police would not come, but the FBI agent Stacia Manuve would come to give her input of the murder.

Pressing a skeletal hand to his mask in anxiety, Erik tried to force down his rage. The demons were trying to come back in full force. Leaving the crime scene alone, Erik and Darius left the room to wait for Stacia Manuve.

Erik was becoming too hot, and the mask rubbed painfully on his face. He went to the library and lay down on the couch. He heard subtle undertones of voices downstairs, and ignored what was said. Nadir, no doubt, was explaining to Christine that a FBI agent would handle her father's murder so that there would be no contamination by French law. Nadir knew not to give any more detail than necessary.

Left alone with his thoughts, Erik began to wonder about the handsome man in the Navy who had interrupted Christine's life. Much to his displeasure, Erik started to feel hatred to the outsider.

Erik then realized he could no longer deny it. He was in love with Christine Daae, and he would fight to keep her from that man. Brought back to reality, Erik covered his ears as he tried to block out Christine's awful weeping.

Suddenly, Nadir entered the library and sat down in the armchair.

"Who was that man of the Navy, Khan?"

"From what he told me, Erik, he is Viscount Raoul de Chagny. He is the brother to Philippe, the patron of the opera house. He is a long time friend the Daae family. I informed him and Christine that we would take care of her father's murder and we have an agent to help us with the case. Darius and the boy took her to Madame Giry's house to stay, so she would not have to be alone. Is the agent coming?"

"Yes, she should be here soon."

"Are you sure we can trust her? You are not one to trust so easily."

"I know that, but I am also a good judge of character. She is not the one I do not trust."

Nadir glimpsed down as he attempted to hide his face from the masked man. He did not want Erik to see his smirk because he knew that Erik was only jealous of the handsome young man. Raoul could take Christine away from Erik.

On the other hand, Nadir started to worry. Erik was always a possessive person by nature who did not play by the rules. It was Nadir's fear that he would murder the boy with the Punjab lasso. He was known to use it to solve threats before.

Before Nadir could say words of wisdom to Erik, the doorbell rang.

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Stacia Manuve stood outside the small house. She had intensely studied the Buquet file that Desslar had given her. Despite her nagging feeling and his disapproval, she agreed to help.

Agent Desslar opened the door to her. His black mask glared at her, and she felt he was infuriated by something else. He let her in the home and introduced her to the Iranian police chief, Nadir Khan.

After they exchanged formalities of the case, they led her to the office that contained the crime scene. Stacia and the two men did agree that Buquet was the murderer, but why did he kill Charles Daae, a retired violinist?

Stacia spoke to the men, "Okay, my take is this. Agent Desslar, you said Charles only told you that he had cancer. He smoked marijuana as a pain alleviant. Buquet is working for someone or a group who eliminated a little girl who witnessed a bribery exchange. Somehow, Charles Daae is involved. Since you are the agent in charge Erik, give us our assignments."

"Very well, Nadir you still follow through with surveillance of Buquet and his email. I will protect Christine in case she may be an unknowing target. Stacia, I want you to investigate every aspect of Charles."

They ended the meeting and departed with Stacia and Nadir taking Charles's body to the Dr. Phil Rutherford, the coroner that autopsied Luciana Blaine's body. Erik sighed as he drove to the opera house.

The boy did not know he existed, and it was vital for Erik to keep it that way. Besides, Erik had to deliver the notes, demanding lead roles for Christine Daae, as well as his salary. He needed the money to fund the payments to his men doing surveillance. Personally, Erik was a prideful man. He had plenty of money, but there could be no money trail.

Finally, Erik made it to the opera house…

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Two weeks had passed and Christine had not seen Erik once outside their weekly lessons. Raoul and Meg had been with her almost twenty-four hours every day, and while she did not mind, she needed some air. The funeral was tomorrow, and Christine was distraught.

Although her father's death left her devastated, she kept singing. Singing was the only memorial to her father she could imagine to be fitting. He had been the proudest of her when she sang.

Erik had inexplicably become cold to her, taking n the mentality of teacher and pupil instead of her friend. She decided during one lesson to question it.

"Why have you been distant lately, Erik?"

She absorbed the way Erik moved and looked. He wore a long dark blue sleeve shirt and long black pants. He moved with languid movements like the grace of a cat. He wore a white full-face mask, and he turned slowly to face her.

"I presumed that you wanted some space to grieve for your father. I am trying to respect your wishes because I lo…"

Erik bit his tongue to refrain from speaking his feelings aloud. She could never love him; he was too hideous for any woman to look upon him in love.

"You what, Erik? What are you trying to say? I need space from Meg and Raoul, not you! I know they mean well, but you understand my needs more than they do. I need you, Erik."

Erik's heart jumped for joy, but he still refrained from speaking the words that plagued his every thought and every dream. He loved her more than he loved any other in the world. How could she not see it? Stacia saw it the first time they met at the coffeehouse.

He spun around and dropped his arms limply to his sides. He could not face her, at least not now.

"Leave now, Christine."

Her heart tore within her chest. Tears sprang to her eyes, and her throat ached.

"What? How can you say that, Erik?"

Erik's mind was spinning. If she did not leave then, he would lose it. Spinning around to face her, he bellowed, "Leave now, Christine! I want you to go! Get the hell away from me!"

She started to cry then. "I don't understand why you are being so cruel to me, Erik! How can you be so callous! You are not my guard or voice teacher any longer! I will leave, and I never wish to see you again!"

Erik dropped to his knees and forced the tears back down as she ran out of his life. Christine left him at her old home and ran to Meg's in absolute heartache. She never meant the last statement.

Ignoring Meg and Madame Giry, she locked herself in her room and cried herself to sleep.

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Erik knew he could not stop being her protector. When he managed to get control of himself, he went to see her. Hiding in the dark of the night, he saw she slept soundly with tearstains on her face.

Erik felt two paradox feelings. He felt elated that she cared so much for him, and yet, he felt miserable that she felt so much for him as well.

Slipping unnoticed into the room, he stood by her bedside. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but he touched his mask in contempt, knowing he could never go through with it.

Finally, he opened his mouth, and his stunning voice filled the room.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

High up above or down below
when you're too in love to let it go
If you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

(A/N: Lyrics/Song by Coldplay!)

Erik then softly added, "I love you, Christine" before he left as quickly and silently as he came in the room.

What Erik did not know was that Christine was very much awake, and kept her eyes closed the entire time. She heard every word, and she was so happy to hear that he loved her. He did not hate her!

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During the funeral, all were inconsolable. Erik did not join the memorial service, but instead watched from afar. He stood next to some graves at least fifty yards away and watched the funeral procession. Christine kept looking for him, her head turning side to side.

She had cried so much that dry tears had come. She suddenly became listless and taciturn. Erik noticed that she did not acknowledge anyone else, only staring blankly at the closed casket.

He left before the eulogies began. He needed to apologize to her; he needed her in his life…even if she was just his student.

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Christine stopped crying not because of her father, but because Erik had not shown up. How could he still be so heartless? If he truly loved her, then he would have been there to comfort her.

She had cried enough for her father's death. After the funeral was over, Raoul gave her his jacket.

"Christine, would you like me to take you home?"

She looked up into his kind face, and she realized that she was developing feelings for this compassionate man. Did she love Erik? She was so confused with her feelings about anything that she could not answer.

"Yes, Raoul, I would like that."

They smiled faintly at each other before leaving.

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As Erik approached the house slowly to apologize to Christine for his cruel behavior, he thought of what he would say. He never made an apology before in his entire life. This would be awkward.

His heart thudded painfully against his chest as he witnessed the car pull up. He almost stepped forward until he saw the good-looking de Chagny get out opening the door for Christine.

At the sight of him, Erik was filled with homicidal rage, and he thirsted to kill the boy for going near her.

Christine got out and smiled brilliantly at the boy, creating more anger in Erik. How could she smile for the boy when he did not love her as he did?

Erik stepped back in the shadows as he listened to the two 'lovers.'

"Thank you for taking me home, Raoul. I really appreciate you comforting me this time. I know I have been a burden to you."

"On the contrary, Christine, I would not be anywhere else. You are important to me."

She smiled again, and stood on her tiptoes and they kissed softly on the lips. Erik's fingernails drew blood as he clenched his fists so hard. As his blood began to pool near his feet, Erik formed a plan to get revenge on them all.

Storming way with hell's fury, Erik vowed vengeance and with one last look at the woman whom he loved. As he looked at her beautiful face, he drove to the theater to cause trouble as Christine went inside the home, unknowing of whose heart she tore into pieces.

A/N: I worked my tail off to get this chapter to you! I pray you all like this chapter with the interaction between Erik and Christine and Raoul. I hope you REVIEW! The next chapter is called Unmasking the Mystery…wink, wink…

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