Chapter Twenty
Christine rapped on the door of La Belle Reve, catching sight of movement through the dark window.
"Please," she prayed in a breathless whisper, "let it be him...let me see him again."
It was Sam, though, who answered her knock.
"Christine! What are you doing here?"
She caught his thin wrist, afraid he might close the door.
"Sam, please...where is Erik? He's still alive...you lied to me, but I know he is still alive."
To her surprise, Sam pulled her inside and led her to the bar.
"I'm sorry, Christine. Don't ask me that."
"Why Sam? Why did you lie to me?"
"My dear girl...I had no choice. I did as he asked."
She let go his wrist then, suddenly confused and afraid.
"As he asked...but why would he want me to think he was dead? Sam, I don't understand."
"Christine, don't question me. Don't question him. Go back..."
He paused, seeing the outline of a heavy wedding ring through the white material of her gloves.
"Go back," he continued, "to your husband. Leave Erik in peace."
"In peace? Sam, I love him and he is alive...I must see him."
"Christine, when I told you he was dead...I wasn't lying. The Erik you knew in Paris is dead. He is not the same...he is a changed man. For both your sakes."
Christine heard the sadness in Sam's voice. She knew how close he had been to Erik. A loyal friend, always. She hated to trouble him like this, to force him to betray Erik. But she had no choice...she could not leave, she could not go back to Raoul knowing that Erik was alive, that he was so near.
"Sam, not a day has gone by that I didn't regret leaving him, that I wished I had stayed with him and died by his side. Please, I must see him. Tell me where he is."
Sam looked at Christine. She looked like a woman in pain, her small hand gripping the brass rail of the bar as she begged him. How could he say no to her?
"He isn't here right now," he said at last, "he went out...he likes to walk at night. I don't know when he will return...sometimes, he doesn't come back until morning."
"Then let me wait for him."
"Christine, I don't think it would be wise..."
Sam stopped, surprised by her strength. He knew she would not go...that she would wait unless he picked her up and pushed her out into the street. He certainly couldn't treat her like that.
"Very well, Christine. I won't stop you from waiting. Only be careful."
He didn't know what else to say. He picked up his portfolio and tugged open the door.
"Good night, Christine. And, please, don't hurt him."
He closed the door and Christine was left alone in the shadow-filled bar...alone to wait for Erik.