Author's Note: Will their plans work out the way they want? Please read and review.
Inspiration: Take Me Where Trouble Don't Go by Miranda Lambert
Take Me Where Trouble Don't Go
She heard familiar neighing and whining coming nearer. "Sweet, sweet Cesar looks like in his suffering he forgot to feed you. Stay here I'll get you some food. I will need you to help me deal with all of this."
She picked up her purse off the ground and set it on his desk, quickly bringing back some hay for Cesar. "Eat up boy you'll need your strength."
She heard the Persian, he was breathing hard from dragging the dead body into the lair. "This was much easier when I was younger. Here are the items you asked for. What's the matter?"
"He's been drinking a little bit of cyanide everyday that Christine's been gone as some sort of punishment."
"You cannot be serious."
"Oh I'm deadly serious. The vial I had found was a quarter empty but I figured it was because he didn't get much, but it was because he had been drinking it."
"That damnable fool! When had you replaced it?"
"Thankfully I was able to replace it two days after Christine left so he only got two days worth but that's still a lot of cyanide in his system."
"You know I once heard that some healers used fermented tea as a way to cure people of cyanide poisoning."
"Fermented tea? Like kombucha? Hmmm, if I remember correctly kombucha does have a lot of health benefits particularly one vitamin. Oh, which one was it?"
"Com-bu-cha?"
"Yes it's fermented tea that's become popular in health circles. It's good for digestion and good for energy….that's it! It was a super high source of vitamin B12, that's probably what helps with the cyanide since it oxidizes the blood."
The Persian looked at her oddly. "Sorry I'm a bit of a holistic health nut. My dad was into natural healing so I picked up on a lot. This works out perfectly."
"How so?"
After rifling through her purse she found the vial she needed and showed it to the Persian. "This is vitamin B12? So it's in a pure form. The future is fascinating."
Jennifer chuckled."Yes it is, medicines are more advanced so people live longer than they do now. Do you think you can get the body into the coffin or do you need some help?"
"No I should be able to get him in. I still can't believe Erik slept in one although I shouldn't be surprised he could be rather morbid at times especially when he was depressed."
"I can only imagine, speaking of morbid where did you find the body?"
"I had Darius scour the streets in the poorer areas and managed to find one. This man appeared to be homeless and recently dead so it was a lucky find. By the time the ad is placed and Christine makes it down the body will be decomposed enough to be unrecognizable and a suitable replacement for a dead Erik, though I doubt they will look under the mask since it would be distasteful to disturb the dead."
"Exactly my thinking as well Christine is too gentle a soul to disturb him and Raoul is too respectful. Well we should get back to work I don't want anyone to discover what we are doing."
The Persian got the body into one of Erik's suits and into the coffin while Jen stayed in the main lair and gathered things into the satchel she brought filling it with pants, some shirts, a flesh colored mask and the money she'd seen Erik hide a week before plus the items the Persian had brought, some foodstuffs and some spices.
It took both of them some struggling but they managed to get the coffin in the main lair. "I see now why it's always six pallbearers that do this. That was extremely heavy. Leave it to Erik to get the heaviest most ornate coffin."
The Persian laughed. "That's Erik for you. Speaking of Erik let's get him on Cesar."
It took some doing but they managed to get the phantom on the horse. 'Thank god for lifting all those stock pots for so long.' They laid him across Cesar's back on his stomach. The Persian waited while she went into Erik's bedroom and changed. 'I hate this stupid skirt. I really don't see why they were worn for so long but at least it'll serve my purpose.' She had purposefully worn the hoop skirt minus the hoops cause for one the pants she wore under it would draw too much unneeded attention and the skirt would give the coverage he needed to hide the phantom. She had requested Md. Rogers make the dress longer than necessary for her short height. The skirts would not only cover the phantom but would also hide the fact that she was not riding side saddle, another thing she didn't understand. After ensuring her hair was still presentable she headed back into the main lair lifting the skirts so she wouldn't trip.
The Persian stared at her for a moment clutching the parcel to his chest before he found the words. "You look amazing Mlle. a dress suits you very well."
Jen smiled softly. "Thank you kindly."
"You're very welcome. I will walk ahead and ensure the area is clear and there are no police near the exit."
She nodded to him before stuffing her shirt into the satchel and checking on Cesar once more before walking back to the coffin. She looked down at the body in the coffin before straightening the mask and ensuring the left hand was uncovered to make it easier for Christine to place the ring.
"I wish I could give you a proper burial however I know Christine will come and do that." 'Although I suppose it is a better burial that he would have gotten normally being homeless.'
She retrieved her purse and satchel before walking over to Cesar. She hugged his neck tightly feeling some comfort from doing so. As if sensing she needed cheering up he began nibbling her hair. She could hear a noise off in the distance. 'That's the signal from the Persian.' She pulled away and led him back up top. She doubted the police would find the lair but she knew she had to leave just in case.
The Persian held the reigns while she fastened the purse to Cesar's saddle and tied the satchel across her back. Utilizing the Persian she quickly mounted Cesar positioning her skirts over Erik making sure he was covered. The plan was the Persian would walk out first and then she would follow after a couple minutes while he kept the exit clear, then they would part ways.
"I suppose this will be the last time I see you mlle. so I wish you all the best and I pray that Erik will come to appreciate all you are doing for him."
"It's Jennifer please. I hope he comes to appreciate it as well but it may take awhile. I do hope we will see each other again however I doubt we will so know that I appreciate all you have done for me and him and I thank you. All I ask is that you not mention me to anyone, I don't know how the future may be changed if anyone else knew about me."
"You have my word mlle….I mean Jennifer. I won't mention you to anyone but I will remember you always."
"Thank you Nadir. Alright time to go I hope to find shelter before it gets dark."
"Yes that would be best. I shall whistle once if the area is clear twice if it is not."
After a few moments she heard a single low whistle and pressed Cesar forward. She came out on the street a block from the opera house. She saw cops milling about talking to all pedestrians especially the males. Immediately after nodding to the Persian she rode off in the opposite direction at a slow cantor taking care to look normal.
"Mlle. stop I need to ask you a few questions."
'Crap'
She smiled sweetly at the cop. "What can I help you with good gentleman?"
"We are on the lookout for a man who murdered Count Philippe. The description we have is a blond noble who is his brother and a blond young woman the Prima Donna of the opera house as well as another who is said to wear a mask. He is reported to be a murderer and kidnapper. Have you seen anyone like them?"
"Oh my, a murderer you say. I can say thankfully I have not. I just came from getting some medicine for my father."
At that moment the phantom chose to let out a small groan. The cop looked at her suspiciously.
"What was that sound Mlle.?"
Thankfully at that moment Cesar decided to make a loud whinny startling the cop.
"Forgive me kind sir but my horse hurt his hoof he's been making some awful noises since." Cesar raised his hoof off the ground while whinnying as though he understood the situation. However, the cop still seemed suspicious.
"Perhaps I should search..." He reached out a hand towards her.
'Think, think...I got it.' Jennifer raised her voice so it was louder and more proper.
"Surely you do not mean to lift my skirts and check underneath."
If on cue, who she guessed was his commanding officer, an older gentleman walked over.
"Jean what's this I hear about searching under this woman's skirts?"
The cop in question blushed and mouth gaped like a fish for a minute.
"Sorry sir, but I heard a weird noise and wanted to investigate." The superior looked up at Jennifer seeing her hair pulled back gracefully and her dress made of fine material the cost would be expensive, too expensive for any commoner. Her manner was regal that of a woman with good breeding. "As I told your officer here, my horse hurt his hoof and had been making the most pitiful sounds. I am trying to get back to my father we were visiting this lovely city from America for the past month now, but he has fallen ill. I must take him some sorely needed medicine."
"I am very sorry to hear that mlle. what does he have may I ask."
"He has fallen prey to consumption."
She took out a handkerchief out of her dress pocket and coughed into it. She smirked behind the handkerchief when the cops stepped back from her like she had suddenly burst into flames.
"I am sorry gentleman but I must get to my father I fear he had not much time left I am the only one able to tend to him." She coughed once again for good measure.
"Yes by all means go to your father. After all we are looking for a masked man and a couple, not a lone dark haired woman. God speed child."
"Thank you so much."
With that she cantered away continuing at a good pace. Once away from the police she sped up a little but still didn't want to set off any alarm bells if the police did spread farther and question people. She didn't need them talking about a girl speeding away on a horse. Once outside the city limits it was a different story, out here there were no more houses or more villages. So she leaned down close to Cesar's ear.
"Come on Cesar show me what you're made of." With that she snapped hard on the reins, tapping her heels into his flank quickly. "Yaw"
The white horse didn't disappoint and shot off like a bullet gaining her much needed distance from Paris. They followed the river from a short distance, far enough not to be seen but close enough to not get lost. Plus it kept them near a water supply that they would all need. She would follow it north until they could find shelter somehow. She didn't want to push Cesar too hard over such uneven terrain, and hoped it wouldn't be too long.
A/N: Hopefully they will find shelter soon.
