An Encounter In the Dark
As big as Paris was, it was not unusual for even good friends to go for a week without hearing from each other. Acquaintances and partners of convenience were likely to be in much less contact with each other. So Montparnasse was not the least bit worried when out of nowhere, a missive from Babet appeared right at his doorstep.
Now, on this cold December night, a week before Christmas, he found himself waiting alone in the neighborhood of Les Halles, as per Babet's instructions. Montparnasse rubbed his hands for warmth as he looked around the street for his victim. It was past midnight; in fact, most of the usual patrons of the various establishments in the area had already gone home to rest. Only one light burned in the window of the Cafe Depardieu; someone was closing up for the evening.
"Still, even if there are no familiar faces about, I have to be careful," he reminded himself. His skittish neighbor had moved out of Gorbeau House following the incident in the sewers, so no one would hear Montparnasse sneaking back in with whatever money he'd managed to take. Also, since the hour was late, chances were that the students who met in this area were already elsewhere in their escapades.
"And if I see Eponine's fiance here, it should not be too hard to put him out of the way..." Montparnasse thought grimly. The bitter jealousy in the back of his throat prevented him from saying Enjolras' name even to himself or to Eponine's face.
"Damn it all, I miss her..." he thought, his hand tightening around his knife. He imagined how he would react should he chance to bump into that student again. The thought made him shudder slightly as if he himself was disturbed by the direction it was going.
In his reverie, he almost did not see a flash of golden hair slip by. Quietly, Montparnasse raised his knife to hold it to his victim's throat. He grabbed his victim from behind, twisting one arm for good measure.
"Monsieur, let me go. I have nothing with me now," a woman whispered through clenched teeth.
Montparnasse almost let go of his victim in horror. "Should have been that proprietor, not the maid!" he realized. Still, it was already too late.
"You will give it to me, madame," he began. "It would make things much easier for you."
"Run, Cosette!" the woman screamed. Montparnasse snarled and was about to press the knife into the maid's throat before a pair of hands grabbed him from the side and wrestled him to the ground. Fantine fell to the ground nearby, gasping from fright.
"Maman!" a girl shrieked, running to Fantine. Nearby, Montparnasse grabbed his knife, but found himself looking up at a man wearing a greatcoat.
"It is much too dangerous for a boy like you to be playing with this," Javert said as he relieved Montparnasse of his blade.
Montparnasse paled as he recognized Javert's voice. He had only time to look towards Fantine and Cosette before Javert yanked him to his feet and led him off towards a detachment waiting up the street.