Chapter 15 - Women Do Vanish

Christine folded the velvet blanket and laid it on the bed. On the table by the door, the tray was there with the coffee and brioche.

Why is he doing these little things for me...he rejects me, yet he looks after me.

She would not wait for him again. Tonight, she would go back to him.

"And," she said aloud, "if he turns me away again, what will become of us?"


Raoul leaned across the desk, frowning at the policeman who sat opposite him.

"How can you tell me there is no sign of my wife? A woman cannot vanish like that!"

"Pardon me, Monsieur, women do vanish. Your wife is one of many such cases. But the events surrounding your wife's...er...final performance are rather strange. And no one can corroborate this Reyer's story. My men will search the Opera Populaire later today."


Erik stared into the mirror as he carefully knotted his cravat, forcing himself to look at his face.

No woman, no one could be so depraved as to love him, he mused as he pierced the silk with a golden pin. He could not remember when or where he had stolen it.

Only when he had finished dressing did he address his visitor.

"What do you want, Jerome?"

"There are gendarmes in Firmin's office. They mean to search for Madame de Chagny."

He turned on the older man.

"Have you warned her," he demanded furiously.

Reyer shook his head.

"Not yet. After all, I know of no other place to hide here...except with you."

"Have you considered, Jerome," he snarled, "that I might prefer it if they did find her?"

Even as he spoke, he reached for his cape.

"Go about your business, Jerome. The matter is out of your hands."


Christine slowly paced back and forth in her room. She tried to deny the soft waves of dizziness that stalked her.

Monsieur Reyer had not looked in on her this morning. Was something amiss?

Reaching the end of the narrow room, she turned to retrace her steps.

And found Erik standing beside her.