Chapter 9: Mixer

"Marinette, isn't Hawk Moth a man?" asked Tikki.

"It could be a cover," said Marinette. "All we've seen is a face made of butterflies and a magically produced voice. Hawk Moth could just as well be a woman."

"Are you going to tell Adrien about this idea?" asked Tikki.

"There's not enough evidence yet. Once I find out for sure, I might use it to get Adrien out of his father's control. If he knows about his wife's crimes, that is. Then I could get Adrien to come and live with me – I mean, with my family."

Tikki sighed. "So you're back to liking Adrien, even after the prank?"

"No! It's just that... if his father made him do it then he needs my help to get free. Then I'll see."

"If you say so. What's the next step to get more evidence?"

"There was a witness at the party that the police never got to talk to. Anarka Couffaine's deadbeat ex-boyfriend, now a rock star. He was mixing the drinks. If he didn't do it, he may know something about who did."

"How will you find him?"

"I'll look up her name and see if anything shows up about her being with a rock musician."

It wasn't easy, but Marinette was persistent and eventually turned up something on the net.

She found a reference to a two-member rock group called "Croco Duo" that had one successful album, They used the stage names "Rockin' Croc" and "Anarkadile" and they performed in featureless masks with slits for eyes. Their identities were obscure, but fans of Jagged Stone said they recognized his singing voice.

"Jagged Stone is Juleka's father!" thought Marinette. "Does she know?"

Looking up Jagged Stone revealed that he was currently living in a small hotel across the street from Le Grand Paris.

Ladybug paid Jagged Stone a visit and found that he was willing to talk. Even his crocodile, Fang, was friendly, to her relief.

"I remember that night," said Jagged Stone. "Tragic, so not rock 'n roll. That poor woman."

"I heard you mixed the drinks that night," said Ladybug. "Do you remember anything unusual, anyone who could have gotten access to the drinks before they were served?"

"Well, there was one guy who came into the galley. I had my back turned for a minute, and when I looked around he was holding a small bottle. He said it was cough medicine."

"That sounds suspicious!"

"Yeah, but he was the last person you'd ever suspect. I had gotten out of there before the police arrived. He looked me up and said he wouldn't mention me being there mixing the drinks, if I wouldn't mention him being in the galley. Said he would pretend not to know him if we met again, if I would do the same. Still, he did me a big favor."

"What was that?"

"He got me a rock 'n roll break through people he knew. I got my first big movie, 'Crocodile Heart'. The co-star in that movie became my lifelong friend and companion, Fang. I've always loved crocodiles, even had a childhood dream of being one myself,"

"Your first band was called 'Croco Duo', wasn't it?"

"Yeah, with an ex-girlfriend. We went on one more tour after that party, but it wasn't the same. She left me during that tour."

"Didn't you leave her when she told you she was pregnant?"

"Well... I was never cut out to be a father. As my song says, my guitar is my family. I did send her money to help support them when I made it big."

"You really ought to try to connect with your kids."

"It seems like it's too late now."

"I don't think it's ever too late."

I'll think about it, Ladybug."

"Who was in the galley that night? Gabriel Agreste?"

"No, it's the guy who owns the hotel across from here. I've been thinking of moving over there – they might treat Fang with the respect he deserves in a bigger hotel. The guy used to be a movie director, when I knew him. André Bourgeois."