I know, it's a shorter segment today, but look! It's on time! And maybe if I get an exceptional amount of reviews, you'll get a special weekend portion...

But anyway! Let's go see what Erik's up to with the Daroga, shaaaalll we?

Onward!

xiv

The Daroga was silent on his end of the line, and Erik took it as an opportunity to make this conversation as succinct as possible. He had drifted into his side of the room and shut the door, concerned what Christine might overhear if he remained with her. He would return when he was finished, and perhaps would offer to sing her something to help her fall asleep. Or if she preferred pharmaceutical assistance, he had such available as well.

"I found a tracking device on my car; is that not interesting? It has been removed of course, but I cannot help but wonder if you placed it there."

"Erik?"

Erik rolled his eyes. "Come, Daroga, it has not been that long since we have spoken. Or has it? I do tend to lose track of time."

"Where is she, Erik? What have you done with her? You left Joseph Buquet on quite the display and I keep expecting Miss Daaé to appear in the same manner."

Erik's lips thinned, remembering why he hated talking with the man. "You presume much, Daroga, and it is not appreciated. Perhaps if you would allow me to state the reason for my call, we could avoid such insults to my character."

The man was quiet for a moment longer, and Erik was well aware of how limited time truly was. It was a secure line, the phone a disposable one that could not lead back to him, but it was better to be cautious. "Christine received a threatening note, and there were some... indications that perhaps it was directed at me as well."

The Daroga snorted. "There's a simple solution then. Bring her home, no matter her current condition, and surrender yourself into custody. No one could harm either of you then."

"That is not an option, of which you are well aware. Do not insult yourself by offering such mundane solutions. I am calling for genuine assistance." Except, he was now regretting even doing that.

Nadir sighed. "What do you want from me, Erik?"

"I want to know if you have heard rumors of the Shah." He swallowed. "Of any lingering... interest."

The Daroga inhaled sharply. "We would both be dead already if I had."

"Perhaps the years have made him cruel. Perhaps he likes to taunt his victims first. After all, he did lose his most valued assassin. You saw to that."

"Erik... come back. We can... we'll work something out. But I need you to tell me, have you harmed the girl?"

Erik huffed. The idiotic man had never understood him. He had tried, of that Erik could begrudgingly allow, but the Daroga saw pieces of Erik and assembled them all wrong, missing his true essence. He had seen enough to prompt him into helping free him from the Shah's service, but not enough to consider him a good man. To stop and think that perhaps he would not find killing Christine outright a palatable solution.

But perhaps Erik had never truly given him a reason to presume otherwise.

Yet he was not about to start now.

"The girl is not your concern."

"I don't know if I can help you if you've harmed her, Erik."

Erik raised an incredulous eyebrow, knowing full well the man was not there to see it. "Because your conscience would not allow it? Or because the bounds of your laws could find no recourse but to demand my imprisonment? I would remind you that at one time you had no such scruples. You were under the Shah's employ of your own accord."

"You can mock my conscience all you like, but that was the only reason I helped you escape at all. Even if you were a killer, a murderer, the way they treated you... no one should have to endure that." He took a deep breath, his vehemence dying somewhat as he entreated Erik once more. "Just... is she safe?"

Erik silently pondered the harm in assuring him of Christine's continued wellbeing. Doubtlessly the case was still open, likely her file vacillating between the Daroga's desk at the station and the one at home. He had a softness of the less fortunate, the weaker members of society, and if, as he rightly presumed, Erik had taken her...

His concern was likely justified.

"She is perfectly well. She was greatly disturbed by receiving that letter, but overall she has been in good spirits."

"She must not know who you are, then."

Erik should not be so insulted, yet the Daroga stated that with such confidence, his temper rankled. "Because I am incapable of being kind? Because no woman could stand to be near me? Is that it?"

Nadir sighed. "Because if she did, she would not have gone with you willingly. She was terrified the night I interviewed her, and that does not simply go away. Especially not if you kidnapped her."

Erik leaned against the wall of his room. He did not like to think of it that way. "I will not discuss her any longer. Her safety must be assured, and that means that I must suffer by placing this call." He did not like to ask for favors. He preferred to bribe or threatened when it suited him, but he knew well that the Daroga would not respond well to either. "Will you pay special attention to any possibility that the Shah has returned? He would be... most angry, and would not be as hospitable with Christine as I have been should he ever locate her."

The Daroga released a dark chuckle. "He would find her company most agreeable."

Erik's lips thinned, not wanting to think about what he had witnessed. Some things were too terrible to stomach, even for him.

"It would benefit you, as well. There was no mistaking your involvement in my removal. If he has managed to track me, which even you have proved incapable, you would be a much easier target."

Erik heard a faint tapping, and he could easily picture Nadir fidgeting as he considered. "I can make no promises as to results. I still think if he was involved, he would have acted much sooner. Although... I will see what I can uncover. See if any crimes lately follow his patterns. But Erik," he continued, his tone firm. "If it's not him, she is in danger. I'm sure you've made many enemies over the years, and she isn't safe with you. She would be if she was home."

Erik very nearly rolled his eyes again, even as guilt clutched at his belly. "How safe was she when a certain man walked past your officer and into her apartment, persuading her to leave with him? Forgive me if I do not give much credence to your methods."

"We have been worried about her, you know. My department. They all were so sure you murdered her and any day now we would discover her body. Grady especially."

Erik frowned. Apparently he was not the only one who found it difficult to keep some measure of distance from Christine. However, Grady was in actuality bound by a professional code. Erik was free from such nuisances.

"I'm telling you this because I won't take kindly to her being hurt just because you're stubborn. I don't know why she was different, why you didn't just kill her outright but I am... glad to hear that you did not. Keep it that way. If you won't bring her home, then I'm holding you personally responsible for her safety."

"How charming," Erik replied drolly. "You seek to lecture me on responsibility. I can assure you, no such speech is necessary, nor appreciated. Just see what you can uncover about the Shah. Last I'd heard he was in Europe."

The Daroga sighed. "As had I. This could be one of his more loyal lackeys, I suppose."

Erik made to hang up, feeling no need for pleasantries, but Nadir must have sensed their conversation was coming to a close, for he interjected once more. "Erik! I want you to understand one more thing. If I investigate this, try to find him, I'm doing it for the sake of that girl in your possession. I don't want her hurt because of you."

And Erik did?

"Investigate for her if you wish," he answered dismissively, tamping down his rising temper. "But remember that if he is attempting to repay past grudges, you are in danger as well. After all, you did free his most useful commodity. You must have some sense of self-preservation hidden beneath all of the self-righteousness."

And with that, he disconnected the call.

None could upset him like the Daroga. Erik wanted to believe it was because he was a grating individual in general—quick to point out flaws without a great deal of compassion for the circumstances that drove Erik to such measures to begin with. But in truth, Erik feared it stemmed from the niggling reminder that he was in debt to the man. If not for him, he likely would still be killing at the Shah's whims, designing magnificent structures of torture with no control over who was released into their horrifying confines.

A timid knock distracted him, and he startled somewhat when Christine opened the door. She had never made any attempt to cross into his room, and he realized now he would have to take to locking the door while his mask was removed.

"Are you finished talking?" She eyed the phone still clutched in his hand, and he tossed it onto the bed with a scowl. Christine hesitated, not entering but not moving back toward her own room either. "Problems?"

He sighed, wishing he did not have to dwell on the conversation any longer. "I have... worked with the Daroga before. I find it an unpleasant experience."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Daroga? I thought his last name was Nadir?"

Erik waved his hand dismissively. "That is merely how I refer to him."

"Oh." Christine smiled in sympathy. "I had a few co-workers like that before. We can't always like everyone."

Erik couldn't imagine anyone not liking Christine, and if she was able to like him as she claimed, he rather doubted her own ability to disapprove of someone. But, he chose not to argue, even as he felt disgruntled and frustrated from the call.

"What did he say?" she prompted, nodding toward the discarded phone.

In that at least, Erik could be truthful. "He will investigate. You are not to worry."

Christine shook her head. "I don't think I can do anything but worry. Do they think they'll need the FBI? I didn't think a detective could investigate outside their jurisdiction."

Erik hesitated. If the Shah was involved, the Daroga was correct in assuming that one of his minions was following them, not the man himself. What Erik did not know was if they were ordered to taunt and then kill, or if Erik would be dragged back for a more personal audience.

That would not be allowed. Not under any circumstances. He would rather perish than be kept in such a manner again.

He sighed, suddenly feeling weary of it all. Of trying to keep Christine from uncovering too many painful truths, of the Daroga and his constant disapproval. Of the guilt weighing upon his soul for all that he had done.

"I am tired, Christine," he murmured, not really intending for her to hear.

But she frowned, glancing toward the floor before looking at him once more. "Are you going to invite me in?"

Erik smiled, a thin, wan thing, and offered a single nod. She looked about the room briefly as she crossed over to him, though there was not much to see that her own room did not already boast. His suitcase was neater than hers, as he kept his carefully zipped lest she should spy anything he would rather she not see. But the décor was the same, a large bed dominating the space. He wondered if he should have at least turned down the duvet to feign sleep that he knew would not come.

Yet it was too late now, for she was already in his room. She came closer than he expected, her hand resting upon his arm. He had gone into her room so hurriedly when she had woken that he wore only his trousers and shirt, and in that moment he felt practically naked. He wanted to shy away, to keep her from looking too closely at any skin that the crisp white garment did not cover, but he could not bring himself to do so. Not if Christine wished to touch him.

"You should rest, Erik. We both should. You took the tracking device off the car so he won't know where we are, and I've been good and haven't withdrawn any money that he could trace to one of my bank branches. We'll be okay."

It seemed ridiculous that she felt the need to assure him of such things, when he was quite certain it should be the other way around. She was the one who woke in a terror, believing that a masked figure was about to murder her. It bothered him more than it should that she could dream such of him. Her subconscious had not meant it personally—he had given her no cause to believe that the Phantom was standing before her, and he was just as incapable of hurting her as the Erik she had come to know. To care for.

He had waited too long to respond, her need to comfort him seemingly not appeased by his continued silence, and belatedly he saw her hand rise, her fingertips landing softly against his cheek.

And too late he pulled away from her.

And he could only watch with horror as her brow furrowed with confusion at its texture.

Sooo... major uh oh! Remember, Erik's been wearing his "normal" mask since they met, and Christine has most certainly never touched it before! Methinks this will lead to some questions on her part... Especially since the last man she saw wearing a mask was a certain Buquet murderer...

And here they were finally getting somewhere!