CHAPTER ELEVEN
Good News
Hanging up the phone, the Phantom replaced the manila envelope under the piano. Perching once again on the bench, his long fingers released a melancholic tune into the room. Faster, faster and faster his fingers began to fly across the keys. His wiry shoulders rose and fell in concert with the melody. His eyes slowly drifted closed and the tenseness in his lower jaw relaxed. Music. Music was his life, and his soul. His alpha and omega.
His mind started to wander. The beginning and the end. Not for much longer. That place would be taken by a corporeal body. One whom he could stroke, and make a very different kind of music with. He would memorize that instrument and wring every happy sound possible from it. Perspiration began to bead his thin upper lip, as his breathing became heavy: their notes would soar to heaven's very door and float down on satiated gossamer wings. The Phantom's breathing had become erratic. Attentive ears heard the clicking of the outside door, and his mind returned to the present.
Looking up he noticed, Nadir. The Persian had marched over to the bar and proceeded to fill two glasses with ice. Watching his friend the Phantom changed tunes to one less personal.
He stopped playing when the other man offered him a glass. Nadir strode to the fireplace and sat down in one of the wing chairs. Taking a sip from his glass, the middle-eastern man drew his lips into a straight line, savoring the taste of his drink.
Raising a curious brow the Phantom almost smiled. His friend looked like a teen trying to gather the courage to confess a major behavior infraction. Nadir was over ten years older than himself and silver had started rooting out the black strands above the Daroga's ears. Though he would never admit to it, recently his gait was slower and his annoying style of wit, sluggish.
Nadir lifted the glass, swirling the contents in ever-widening circles. Jade eyes stared into the amber contents. In one gulp he threw the rest of the drink back and sighed. Sometimes being the self-professed conscience for the damaged younger man was daunting. Facing the man by the piano, he gathered his courage.
Erik's interest was piqued. Despite his age the Daroga was usually very eloquent in speech. He must fear for someone's neck with the news he carried.
Nadir scanned the full faced white mask. Sometimes he wondered if the mask was more the other man's identity than what was under it. He had known him since he was a police chief and the Phantom, a fifteen year old surviving on the streets of Onir. Nadir was well aware of the murderous temper simmering not far below the calm persona he presented now. How had he signed on as this man's unwanted and under valued keeper?
"Now Erik, I would appreciate it if you stayed calm until the end of my report." Nadir ordered.
Speaking rapidly, the former policeman reported his findings. "There are steps in the janitor's closet that lead out to the roof. Old cleaning rags covered the rungs. I lifted them and found dried blood stains. I guess Doctor Chaney forgot to clean the rungs after finishing with the examining room. The ladder leads to a trap door on the roof. I climbed up there and found partial shoe prints along the shingles.
"Whoever it was climbed down the barber shop's fire escape. I found a partial shoe print behind the dumpster. I couldn't find any more prints, but there is a well used path that winds through the woods. There weren't any clues on the path, but the trail leads right out to the houses on Blakemore Road.
"Christine Daae's house is the closest. I didn't find anything else. She must have left by vehicle on the road. You know Erik, you don't have to go through with this."
Ignoring Nadir's gently placed request, the masked man stood up and quickly began to pace. "Bouquet said there were only two people on the road around dusk that night. How could he have missed her? Wait…"
Nadir shivered at the dark chuckle that emitted from thin lips. "He said a horny old crone and her grandson. Rich. No doubt it was Ms. Daae and whomever helped her escape. We know where one of the two teens are, and where Two Panthers is. That leaves Hawk and Chaney. We also need to find out for sure which teen was in the crematorium.
"Daroga, a brave paid cash for a truck in the next county and gave a fake address. We need to find out what Hawke's old vehicle was and see where it is now. I would like for Shade to go back to that dealer and show Hawke's picture to him.
"I need for you to find Bouquet, André, and Firmin. Bring Bouquet here as soon as you find him, and the others in my office in the morning."
