A/N: I promise I'm not dead! I know it has been some time since I last updated, but rest assured, this story is not abandoned. Right now… the Muse is focused on a different fandom and while I may be working on other stories… I have not forgotten this one. I will finish it but it will take time so it's not rushed like some people tend to do. I'm not going to finish it for the sake of finishing and be dissatisfied with a hasty write off. I think you, as readers, will be unhappy with such a story. For those of you who have stuck around… thank you and thank you for being patient as I work on the writer's block that I've been struggling with. Your support means a lot!

Chapter 20

The next morning neither Erik nor Christine spoke about the kiss. Secretly, they both chalked it up to the fact that it was meant as an impulsive form of comfort, nothing more. And there wasn't any point to bring it up to embarrass the other.

However, there was something that Christine wanted to tell Erik. She spent the night thinking about it and she had to face certain facts about herself and hiding wasn't the answer.

"I want you to keep looking into my death," she told him and her admission was so unexpected that Erik nearly choked on his cereal.

"E-Excuse me?" he sputtered.

"I gave it a lot of thought and I think it's about time I stopped being afraid. The unknown after this… is so frightening and I don't know what to expect or what's there for me, but I can't go on like this either. I need to know what happened that night and you're the only one that I trust who will find the answers."

"You kind of don't have a choice," Erik pointed out.

She gave him a mocking glare. "That's not the point and you know it. Of course, don't think I'm letting you off the hook easily too. I haven't decided how I'm going to get back at you for going behind my back, but believe me; I will come up with something."

Saluting her with his mug of coffee, Erik raised his eyebrow. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

She grinned. "That settles it."

"Not quite," Erik said. At her confused look, he continued. "Your fiancé? He wasn't exactly my biggest fan after last night."

"Right. I forgot." Christine grew silent. "Well, you have to be sneaky."

"Sneaky?"

She nodded eagerly. "Yes, sneaky. Like a phantom!"

"Maybe you need to lay off the crime show dramas."

"Erik." She pursed her lips and gave him her best pouting look. "You were so eager to help before without my permission and now that I have… you're backing out?"

"I didn't say I was backing out," he retorted. "It's going to be that much more difficult with your boy lurking now. He doesn't trust me that much I gather and I wouldn't be surprised if he uses his police buddies to keep an eye on me just in case."

"Raoul wouldn't do something like that."

"You saw our conversation didn't you?"

"No… okay, yes I did! But I know Raoul and he won't do something like that. We just have to be a little more creative that's all."

"How?"

"I don't know but I'll think of something." She was determined that was for sure and Erik had to admire that.

"Very well."

"Good. And we're going to be honest with each other about this, got it? I'll tell you as much as I can and you tell me what you find. I don't care how terrible it might sound too. You tell me, no sugarcoating."

"Deal."

Christine smiled brightly and held out her hand. Delicately, Erik took it and they shook on it.

"Tell me what you learned."

Erik spent the rest of the morning as he got ready for work sharing with Christine what he learned from Andre and Firmin and Meg Gallagher. He did have to pause as he left the building to head down and get his car. He didn't want to walk to the theatre and make Christine wait any longer for him to finish his story. Once they were safely secured in the vehicle, Erik continued where he left of and by the time he pulled into a parking spot, he was finished.

Christine absorbed all that he revealed. Most of it wasn't new to her but she did thought Meg would have been much more forthcoming than what Erik said.

Erik knew there was something bothering her, but he didn't have the chance to ask her what it was when Nadir came running towards him.

"There you are! Do you know what time it is?"

Erik glanced at his watch. Technically, he was on time but Erik Trussler's time he was late. The composer merely shrugged and brushed past the Iranian like nothing was new.

Nadir clenched his jaw and followed behind him. "I hope you realize I have a million and one things to talk to you about. We have a problem."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Erik groaned. "What is it now?"

"Virginia is ill."

"Okay so get her understudy on stage."

"Her understudy is sick too. Apparently they got food poisoning at the same restaurant."

"Shit." Erik now rubbed his forehead, shaking his head. "Find a backup. We have a show tonight."

"Do you think that a wise decision Erik?" Nadir asked. "There is no way we are going to find someone to be prepared—"

"Just do it. I know you're quite capable in finding a decent replacement and… you might be surprised to find that someone might already know the part. Make their dreams come true for this one night."

Nadir gave his friend an odd look and finally nodded. "All right. Oh and Erik?"

"Yes?" He wanted nothing more than to get into his office and speak more with Christine and he could see she was getting anxious as well. The look she was giving Nadir wasn't at all friendly.

"This needs to be said in private."

"You have got to be kidding me," Christine complained and Erik nodded his agreement. All three of them (well, two as the third was invisible) went into his office and Erik took his seat as he waited for his longtime friend to speak.

"Look I'm going to come out and say it. I know what you're doing Erik."

"What am I doing Nadir?" he asked nonchalantly.

"This is not a game Erik. I don't appreciate what you're doing when we have a theatre to run, not to mention… you're supposed to be working on that damn opera of yours."

"I agree and I am so do you mind telling me exactly what you're talking about?" Erik was losing his patience, but it was Christine's hand on his shoulder that kept him rooted in his spot and her voice tickling his ear as she whispered, "Be nice."

"I got a call yesterday from the Detroit Ballet Company. Apparently, one of their employees… who is also a former employee of ours… told them that you were harassing her. They aren't going to do anything since she assured them she knew someone who could and wanted to give us a friendly head's up if you will. Care to explain?"

Erik swore under his breath and he stole a quick glance at Christine who was shocked to put it mildly.

"That doesn't sound right," she murmured.

"Erik, I don't know the details but whatever it was it has to stop."

"It was a big misunderstanding, that's all," Erik said, waving his hand dismissively. "And to be honest, I was not harassing anyone and Miss Gallagher was quite accommodating when I spoke to her."

"Be as it may, Erik, we both know that a misunderstanding can be blown out of proportion."

"Yes, well, I didn't mean any harm. I only asked her a couple of questions about her friend that was it."

"You mean Christine Daaé?" Nadir shook his head. "Look, man, I don't know what you were thinking, but don't you think that she suffered enough? I may not remember all the details, but if my memory serves me correctly… I know that she didn't take it easy at all, which is why she quit."

"I was trying to help Nadir. Is that a crime?"

"No but it's not your business either. You're a composer. This is a matter for the police."

"What if I told you that it is?" Erik couldn't stop himself from letting those words slip out and Christine tensed behind him.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed. "Erik, no one is going to believe you about me so let it go so he can leave."

Ignoring her, Erik looked Nadir squarely in the eye. "Remember when I was in the hospital? I told you that there was a girl in my apartment who tried to stop me from jumping. What if I told you that it was Christine Daaé and she needed help to find out who her murderer was?"

Nadir sighed heavily. "Erik—"

"Remember I told you about my problem? You told me I should talk to the ghost to find out what they wanted. Well, I did and Christine needs my help."

Nadir wearily rose from his seat and looked at him sadly. "I'm going to walk out and pretend that this conversation didn't happen and you agreed to drop whatever the subject was. I'll see you later Erik."

As soon as Nadir left, Christine whirled around at him. "What the Hell Erik? How can we find out who my killer is when word gets out that you're talking to a ghost? They're going to think you're insane!"

"I did try to commit suicide, my dear. I think that pretty much establishes I'm insane." Christine growled at him, actually growled, and crossed her arms across her chest.

"That doesn't make you insane. This does."

"Clearly, Nadir doesn't believe me and it got him to leave, right? Although, to be honest, I'm surprised he didn't. Typically this is something that he's into."

"He's gone so that's all that matters, I guess," conceded Christine. "And I must say you were awfully calm about your singers being ill. I think you should cancel like Nadir suggested."

"Trust me… I'm anything but calm but I will cancel only as a last resort."

"Your show." She shrugged. "So what are we going to do?"

Turning on his computer, Erik booted up the Internet and showed her what he had so far.

"Wait a minute…" She scanned the page and frowned. "Aren't these records supposed to be secured? I thought police reports weren't available to the public."

"Most of them… yes. But sometimes certain ones are not," Erik muttered.

"Erik!" she gasped.

"I know a thing or two about computers. Besides, I covered up my tracks and I have my police sources who are willing to help for an extra buck or too."

She looked at him appallingly.

"You are aware of how this city treats the police right? Besides, I know the extra money is helping them and their families. I'm not asking for anything that is seriously illegal."

Christine shook her head. "Okay. So what did your sources find?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. It's the same the information that was reported in the news."

"How about witnesses? There has to be someone who saw or heard something."

"That's the thing. If there is they haven't stepped forward. And there isn't any security footage either. It wasn't until after your death that the building decided to invest in it."

"Great. So how in the world is this going to help me?"

"I have a couple of hunches."

Christine perked up and nodded for him to go on.

Erik opened his mouth but was interrupted when someone started knocking on his door.

It was Nadir.

"What now?" Erik asked rudely.

"As much as I know how precious this theatre is to you, we need to cancel tonight's performance. I've already lined up the ticket booths to pass out vouchers for another showing free of cost. We have little choice."

"There was no one who could sing the lead?" Erik questioned in disbelief.

"Well, not everyone is an overachiever like some other people I know. It happens Erik. At least it won't hurt us too badly. With the vouchers… they will be more than willing to come back again. You'll see."

Of course they would. He was Erik Trussler and his shows were always a sell-out.

Sighing, Erik nodded his consent. Nadir left to break the news to the other employees and he looked over at Christine.

"I guess we should head back to the apartment. We have more time to look over these documents than here."

xxXXxx

They spent the next couple of hours reading and re-reading the reports that were given to Erik. They were hoping that something that was missed would pop up, but even with Christine's fresh eyes… there wasn't anything useful.

Sprawled out on the floor, Erik sifted through the papers and finally asked, "Don't you have some kind of supernatural power? Couldn't you hold it and look into the past or something and see if there's anything there?"

She gave him a look. "Erik, this is real life. Not a cliché Hollywood movie."

He shrugged. "Worth a shot."

Setting the papers down by her legs, Christine rested her arms on her lap. "Why is this so hard? Why can't I remember?"

She was so distraught and Erik wished he had an answer for her… something, anything that would put a smile on her face once more.

"Let's go over what you do remember," Erik said quietly. "It's a start and maybe you might remember something new."

"You think I haven't tried?"

"Of course not. But like anything else practice makes perfect. Try."

Closing her eyes, Christine recited what she last remembered when she had been alive. This time she told Erik the details about their fight and how she basically told Raoul the engagement was off.

"I didn't really mean it. I was so angry and hurt with his accusations about you and me… I wanted to hurt him too. That was the only way I knew how."

Erik nodded silently. Her guilt and grief over her lasts words with Raoul was understandable. Who could have predicted the tragedy?

"Then someone knock on the door and I went to answer it. That's when everything gets foggy after that."

"Wait… you said knock?" Erik asked.

"Yeah."

"Why would a robber knock?" he wondered aloud.

"To see if someone was home?" Christine replied. "Who knows? I answered it and that was the worst mistake I could have ever made."

"Still… it's unusual."

"But it's probable," she answered right back. "I guess a part of me was hoping it was Raoul coming back to apologize. The person was more than likely startled that someone was home and panicked."

"Why?"

"No witnesses. If only I remembered what they looked like."

"It's still fishy that this happened a week after your triumphant performance."

"First you were convinced it was Raoul, now you're saying that someone killed me over jealousy?" she stated incredulously.

"It's not farfetched," Erik remarked. "People have killed other people for lesser reasons. Plus, someone had to believe they would have lost a lot because of you."

"But murder?" she repeated. Shaking her head, Christine glanced down at the document in her hand. "I can't think of a person who is capable of doing this."

"There's Carlotta."

She blinked. "She's not the type to take another's life. And besides… she made sure I didn't sing by showing up for the rest of the shows."

"For that time being, yes, but she had to have known that her time at my theatre was coming to an end. I have no doubt that those two fools would have made you the lead soprano the following season. All the more reason for her to get rid of her competition to make sure it doesn't happen."

"Little good that did her. She was fired and I haven't heard of any other incidents befalling singers at the opera house."

Christine had a good point and it wasn't long that Erik made sure Virginia was hired as lead. He made a mental note to look into Carlotta's past records and see what she was up to nowadays. The one thing Erik knew for certain was that Carlotta wasn't in Detroit anymore. And if it had been her to orchestrate the break-in/murder, then the police wouldn't have the suspicion to look at her if she stayed.

It sounded like the perfect plan.

Yet, Carlotta remained in the city during the investigation. And it wasn't until she was fired that she moved away.

Still…

If the harpy was capable of pulling this off, then she covered up her tracks very well and maintained the proper façade until she was certain that no one would know she had something to do with it.

Part of him insisted it had to be her while a part of him wasn't a hundred percent. He thought it was Raoul and he was wrong.

But he couldn't rule either one out and neither could Christine until they have proof that indicated otherwise.

"You're tired," Christine pointed out all of a sudden.

"Hmm?" Erik responded.

She smiled. "You were just yawning."

"Was I?"

Christine fought back a chuckle. "Well, it is getting late and if we stare at these papers any longer they might burst into flames."

"I know it wouldn't be from me," he teased.

She gave him a mock glare. "You need your rest. Go."

"What about you?" Erik asked.

Christine raised her eyebrow. "I don't sleep."

"Right. You poof."

"I don't… okay, yes, I 'poof' but it's not the same."

"Then what is it?" Erik was honestly curious about this. Before he didn't care only that she was gone, but now… he wanted to know what happened or where she goes when she disappears from sight. Gathering up all the papers, he looked at her and waited for her reply.

"It's hard to explain…" she trailed off. "It's like I'm here but I'm not. I'm still in the apartment but there is no one here. It's empty."

"That doesn't sound like a place to go to," Erik commented. "For anyone."

She made a gesture with her hands. "I don't have much of a choice really. And it's good to vent out your frustrations with no one around."

Like when your former fiancé makes an unexpected appearance or your roommate is being an asshole.

"Then why do you? If it's that bad…"

Christine's brow arched even higher. She tilted her head to the side as she regarded him. "Why this sudden interest on where I go?"

"Can't I care?" he asked defensively.

"Sorry," Christine said sheepishly, looking down. "It's… you haven't before and… never mind."

"Well, if it's all the same to you… you don't have to do that anymore. It doesn't sound like you like going there."

Her head jerked up. The look on her face was in awe, and her eyes were searching for something.

Not exactly sure where did this overwhelming concern came from (and the fact that her look was unnerving), Erik brushed it off as casually as he could. "Just an option. Good night."

"Good night" she echoed softly as he went into his bedroom.

Closing the door, Erik leaned against it and sighed.

What the hell was wrong with him?

TBC…