Chapter 23- Fugitive.
Despite Paul's protests Meg Giry had followed them out and insisted on accompanying them to their next stop. Eventually he had relented with the thought that she could offer possible insight into whether or not Christine had been at Robert Baker's home. All of the way to the 'apartments' Thomas and Meg had barely looked at each other, or rather, they had not obviously looked at each other.
Paul was well aware that both he and the young Giry were without partners and chuckled to himself at their coyness. They had met a few times previously and each time had been the same, with Meg stealing glances at Thomas when he was not looking and Thomas doing the same. It had amused Paul and his wife for a whole evening at one event.
It was unlike his partner to be so shy around a woman. If he had looks like Thomas Fellows, he would never have been shy around women either, he thought, and looked over at Thomas, who was staring up at the building. Thomas was taller than Paul, who wasn't short himself, and broader, he had no fat to him and was built like a house. He was truly a specimen among men and it made Paul smile to watch him so uncomfortable around someone.
Meg Giry was in a league of her own though. Paul didn't usually notice anyone's attractiveness, as in comparison to Jennifer, they were poor competition. He was not attracted to Meg in the respect that he would have liked to have married or that his wife had anything to worry about. Meg was still young in so many respects but what she lacked in general maturity she gained in beauty. She had a face which begged people to look at it, her blue eyes were cool and sparkled on the darkest of days and she was certainly a match for Thomas.
What he knew of Meg's character had been almost blown away in the Giry house, as he had always seen her as a bit soft. He had certainly been proven wrong with her stance against them. In particular her anger at young Bentley, who Paul had had to send back to the station due to Meg's insistence that he did not accompany them. Paul had found himself agreeing with her because he honestly believed that the young man would be far better served spending some more time around some less heinous offences.
Robert's face was a picture when he saw them standing in his hallway explaining to him that they had asked around and come to the conclusion that he was telling them the truth. Robert showed them up to the room he had been renting to the 'phantom' and handed Paul the key and insisting that he had work to do he had run away. Paul couldn't blame the man for not wanting to involve himself any further and as the thought crossed his mind he pushed the key into the door and turned it slowly.
The room was empty aside from furniture a night dress draped across the chair in front of them. Thomas lifted it and examined it carefully, there was blood on the cuff and around the neck although it wasn't a great deal. He handed it to Meg who nodded affirmative that the night gown belonged to Christine.
'I can smell her,' said Meg softly and sniffed back a tear to compose herself. Paul silently applauded her bravery and walked around the room to the wardrobe in the corner, as he opened the door his heart flipped a somersault and he coughed back his shock.
There in the wardrobe was a white mask staring out at him and a note next to it which he opened up and with a smile of disbelief handed to his partner. Who read aloud:
'Detective,
Catch me if you can.
O.G'