Chapter 7: At The Fourviere Basilica

"Nathaniel," said Max, shaking his friend. "Wake up."

"Huh?" said Nathaniel groggily, rising. "What's up?"

"Markov's finished working on the list of suspects."

That made Nathaniel spring into action. "Right then, what are we waiting for? Let's check it out."

Max took Nathaniel and Markov outside. They leaned against the walls as Markov got his systems ready.

"Ready yet, Markov?" said Max.

"Yes I am, Max," said Markov. "As shocking as they are, I can confirm that my findings are true. There are seven suspects."

"Go on."

"The suspects have been identified as..." Markov paused for a moment. "Adrien Agreste, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Chloe Bourgeois, Zoe Lee, Le Chien Kim, Mylene Haprele and Lila Rossi."

"Moi? One of the suspects? The mayor's daughter? That's ridiculous! Utterly ri-diculous!" exclaimed Chloe.

"I couldn't have done anything. Why am I suddenly a suspect?" said Zoe defensively.

"You're joking aren't you? You can't suspect your best friend," protested Kim.

"I was akumatised, but I certainly didn't kill anyone! Even if I did, Ladybug's powers would have reversed the damage, right?" said Mylene.

And Lila was sobbing. "H-how could it have been me? After I w-witnessed a m-m-murder? Why am I b-being d-d-dragged into t-this?"

Only Adrien and Marinette didn't say anything: they were too shocked to talk.

"That's what Markov said," said Nathaniel, "and they may or may not be correct. I know it's a bombshell. But Mylene's right, though. I'm sure any damages caused would have been fixed if Ladybug was around, and she was. So I don't think it was Mylene."

He moved up to a still-distraught Lila. "And Lila, don't worry. It's just an initial finding. You're all innocent until proven guilty."

The class moved up to comfort Lila, as they had the previous day.

"Well, guys, don't worry," broke in Nathaniel. "We're heading to the Fourviere Basilica now, so we can leave all this behind for now."

The mood was lighter when the class arrived at the Fourviere Basilica. A tour guide and an artist were there to show them around.

"See that icon up there?" said the artist. "That's the three hares - a motif that's also been used in the Middle East and England. And these pillars and arches, among other things, make the place even more astoundingly beautiful."

Alya was about to take a photograph, when the tour guide stopped her.

"You don't need a camera, young lady," he said. "Not when you can appreciate this building and its intricate designs as it is." Alya looked put out, but put her phone away. After a little more introduction, the students were allowed to explore on their own. Adrien decided to step outside for some fresh air, and while he was at it, he decided to talk to Plagg.

"Is this stupid tour done yet?" moaned Plagg. "I want some cheese!"

"Be patient, buddy," said Adrien. "It's not every day that one gets to visit one of Lyon's most prominent landmarks. Besides, I fed you on the bus, and before we left the hotel, and when I woke up this morning."

"Why must you be so cruel? A kwami like me has a voracious appetite," said Plagg, still relentless.

"Plagg, I've been very patient with you, but if you keep bugging me I will refer you to a psychiatrist," threatened Adrien, "and I'm being serious. So keep quiet and wait for the tour to finish."

Just then, he heard a noise - of someone crying.

"Gee, I wonder who that could be," wondered Adrien aloud. He looked around, and found a little girl of about four or five, in a pink-and-purple dress, looking visibly distressed. He knelt down to talk to her.

"Hello," he said. "Are you lost?"

The girl nodded.

"Do you want me to help you find your parents?"

The girl sniffled, then nodded again.

"Come," said Adrien. He took the girl by the hand, and walked with her.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"My n-name's Lottie," mumbled the girl.

"Well it's nice to meet you, Lottie. My name's Adrien." The pair approached a security guard, and Adrien told him about the girl. The guard agreed to look for her guardians, and it wasn't long before Lottie's mother came in, pushing a stroller with a toddler - a little boy - inside. The mother picked up her daughter in a tight hug.

"Don't ever wander off like that again," she scolded, in that motherly tone - then she let go of her and gave a scream.

"THEO!" she wailed. "MY BABY!"

The stroller with the toddler in it was rolling straight towards the road! The toddler cried in fear, when all of a sudden, a lithe body pounced in front of the stroller and stopped it before it could roll any further. A closer look revealed that the lithe body was none other than Marinette.

"Shh, shh," she said to Theo, soothing him. "You're safe now." She pushed him back to his mother.

"Oh, my little boy," sobbed the mother. "I thought I'd lose you. Thanks to two lovely teenagers, my babies were saved."

Marinette turned. "Adrien!" she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"That kid's sister had got lost, so I brought her to the security stand," said Adrien. "That was a cool save, by the way, Marinette."

"Who wouldn't have done that?" said Marinette. "You also did a pretty good thing."

"Thank you," said the mother. "Thank you, both. I don't know what I'd have done if you hadn't been there. I couldn't lose my children just after losing my husband."

"You lost your husband? I'm very sorry to hear that," said Adrien.

"Thank you. He worked as a security guard here, and also at a hotel not far away. I'm afraid he was murdered."

"Oh my," said Marinette. "That is terrible."

"I know. I came here today to inform the other security guards about what happened."

The mother looked at her watch. "I should go now," she said. Thank you, thanks again, for saving my babies. Lottie, say thank you to the nice man for helping him find mummy."

"Thank you, Mister Adrien," said Lottie shyly.

"It's my pleasure," smiled Adrien, "and you can call me just Adrien if you want."

The mother took her children away, and Marinette and Adrien headed back towards the basilica.

"Wow, poor family," said Adrien. "Whoever who murdered the guard must not have understood how much his family had to suffer."

"Wait a minute," piped up Marinette. "It must have been the night watchman's wife and children."

"D'you reckon?"

"I'm sure," said Marinette. "I am sure."

More in Chapter 8. Stay tuned, and once again, reviews are highly appreciated.