Hello All. Again, it is time for an update and a review answering session. This episode of Shiver, we find out who raped Christine, which I wasn't going to include, but after sharing my ideas with a friend, who knows who she is, lol, was coerced. I am actually in a very good mood!
I had an influx of Flames over the last two days. In the sea of confusion over taking care of my twin daughters, doing online high school, going over new story ideas, and living a healthy normal life, etc. I didn't really care what they said, but I would like to dedicate this chapter to the Flamers. Here are your review answers:
Fishtoes: Enjoyed the Flame. My friend Marissa was beaten in an alley, raped, and had to have extensive plastic surgery and operations to fix her physique. She turned down counseling to pursue her own form of happiness, trying to forget the horrible experience with many other males. Yes, it took her a year to heal. That's how I know. She is currently affianced to my brother Joshua. thank you for reading, even if it was only until the chapter where things didn't go your way.
Letthedreamdescend: I love your PN. The hair thing is different. Christine had a reason for it I am sure. It will be sorted out soon. I forgot to clarify it before. Your flame was actually constructive, much to your chagrin, most likely. But that scene did have a purpose. Had you bothered to read all of the chapters you would know that. Not that I mind a great deal. We are all entitled to our opinions.
Jessica: I have no idea who William Castle is, but I will admit that I love plot twists. I do nothing for shock value though. I do it because the real world is full of twists and turns. I appreciated the fact that you didn't slander me like the rest of the Flame Brigade though. You made a honest point about how you felt, with no insult to myself. I appreciate your views, though I do not agree with them. Shiver is like one of my children to me. I will never regret it, even if it stirs such controversy.
Phantasy Megan: I appreciate the review. As I have already pointed out, I am no stranger to torture, rape. And to confide something to all of my reviewers: I Have been profusely beaten by a man before. I have twin daughters by this man. He threatened to kill me, and damn near did. So don't you dare take liberties by accusing me of having no life experience with these things. I may be quite young, but I have seen a lot. Too much for my tastes.
Ayezur: Some people must cope, because they cannot function any other way. I have mentioned that three strong young women I know have been through these kinds of ordeals, and yes, sometimes they don't want to pity society offers them. I am sorry, but I didn't learn rape from a textbook. I learned it from watching people struggle under the pain of such things, and shut off their emotions of despair and pain. I apologized for my horrendous Japanese already, as well. But I admit that much of your flame segment was correct. I applaud you, you managed to find something mildly substantial to complain about.
Feather Plume: Please see the reviews above, as repetition isn't in my nature.
Erik's Dark Lullaby: I love you and I missed you while your comp was getting fixed! thank you for reviewing each one, and for agreeing to collaborate after our fics are done! Caged will sing! I love it so very much!
BelacaniOnTheRez: Thank you, I am glad it suited your tastes! You are a very flattering reviewer. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Yes GO me!
potophan1010: Ahh, my dearest of friends, who discussed flames, phantoms, sneaky Erik's, and cross-dressing Raoul's with me. I look forward to Dirty Little Secret! It will be the best collaboration we have ever done. Even though we have never done a collaboration, lol. You are my mind twin! And you introduced me to the phrase "Ruins the sheen".
Erik's True Angel: Yeah, I feel badly for her, but don't worry, this chapter illuminates some things. Some rather twisty things :disappears in a swish of cape:
Voldivoice: Yes, I feel sorry for her too. Who would want the fop as a brother? I am glad you believe in me, if you didn't I would disappear! Your reviews remind me of myself, with the hyper "please continues"! Well, here is another chatter, I hope you didn't go through Withdraws in my absence!
phantomann: Good point, this story is mighty controversial, the next two, however, will be ground-breaking. I will be doing two collaborations and one fic on my own. I figured I owed it to you to stop confusing you for one second!
Well, that was all for chapter ten, here is eleven! Review and tell me what you think!
Confidential Confessions : A Dark Mind.
When Phillipe Chagny was brought in for questioning, it was on a hunch. The man had acted a little too smug during his brothers' interview, and Anders was sure he saw a flash of anger cross his face when Christine Daae's name was mentioned. Why would the rich man hate her, after everything she went though?
It had been a guess, but it was entirely plausible. Had the workers on her rape case known of the Chagny/Daae conspiracy, Raoul would have definitely have been a prime suspect for her torture. Him or his brother. Phillipe Chagny was just a little too calm for theory tastes.
He didn't even fuss about being interrogated, said he didn't need his lawyer, and sat there, looking for all the world like a Siamese cat who ate the caviar. His blonde hair pulled back from his face, and his business suit in perfect alignment, he looked the exact picture of the cut-throat businessman he was.
The corporate giant he worked for, known as Enron, was thriving, and he couldn't have been worth more. Which was why it was a small miracle the sociopath was dumb and proud enough to be questioned by police. All they needed was one slip-up, and they could lock him in a cell faster then he could say Suzy.
Anders' partner was busy with the rest of the case, leaving him with a fresh intern named Jammes. She was quite the spitfire. She was strictly here for witness purposes though. She informed Mr Chagny of his rights, asking if they could record the conversation. He agreed, giving her a smile that could melt snow in below zero weather.
" Mr.Chagny, could you specify your relation to the victim?"
" She was my adopted sister."
Mr.Chagny, in our last interview with your brother, he explained that Ms.Daae is related to you through blood. Would you tell us just how she is blood tied to you?"
Anders was sure of it. The mans' face held a slight sneer. "She was the bastard child of Raoul's father and her own mother. She is no sister of mine."
Anders and Jammes looked like they had been hit by a train. How in the world could they have missed this? Wouldn't there be paperwork detailing an adoption? Phillipe saw their confusion, and answered the unspoken question.
" My mother was fertile, but it was believed my father was barren when I was small. So they opted for her to be inseminated with sperm form a donor. Lo and behold, years after I was born, my brother came along. So in all reality, Christine Daae is not my sister, though she was treated like one. "
Flipping through the report papers, Anders felt inclined to disagree. " According to your brother's testimony your mother showed abusive tendencies toward Ms. Daae. Are you contradicting that statement?"
" No. But my mother didn't have to take that girls fodder. She was a waste of food and life who shouldn't have been born. She ruined my family, you know. I just think her treatment was justified. There is no crime in that. It isn't like my mother succeeded in killing her, though she tried very hard. Is this all you wanted, officers?"
Jammes rolled her eyes at the man's demure. The way he said officers like it meant "dung". He reminded her of a yellow tree snake. Deceptively pleasing to the eye. He made her uneasy, and she couldn't put a finger on the reason.
" No, Sir. We would like to know what you were doing the night of the Daae rape, if you please?"
" I was at home, talking to an investor. That is, until I heard about my brother's little injury. I drove to the hospital, and got lose for a few minutes. But when I got there the doctors took my time down, I am sure you can retrieve the records from them, if you don't believe me."
Anders didn't smirk, but if he could have in front of the suspect, he would look like one of the disturbing dummies he had seen at talent shows as a child. It was an elementary rule of questioning. If your alibi is ready before your questioned, you are very likely guilty. Who remembers their alibi a year after the fact?
" You see, we have thoroughly looked over your statement, and the log at the hospital. And we met a nurse there, who gave us the log book. The log book they found after the fact of the rape trial. Apparently somebody paid her to stash it and create a fake one, for a substantial sum. Do you know which picture she picked out of our photo line up, Mr Chagny?"
Now he looked a little more flustered. His eyes, much like prey, darted for an escape route quickly, before he regained his composure a second later. But a second was all it took.
" She identified you, Mr.Chagny. She said you arrived at the hospital four hours after Raoul Chagny was admitted. The hospital is six miles from your house, where you claimed to have been working. Too bad nobody ever thought you were a solid suspect for the rape before, as Christine Daae said she didn't recognize your voice."
" So I was late. I just didn't want my brother to know I did business while he was sick. What's wrong with that?"
"Well Mr.Chagny, the fact that we managed to get a warrant for your phone records for that night indicates that between the precise hours Miss. Daae went missing from the school you called a unlisted number, which I haven't been able to trace as of yet. How ironic though. We checked your cell phone records again, for the date a Miss Meg Giry played a rather brutal prank on Christine Daae. You called Miss. Daae's phone."
" So your evidence that I am a rapist is hinged on the fact that I set up a rather cruel prank?"
"Ahh, but we never said you participated in the prank Sir. You did. And I never said you raped Miss Daae either. You assumed that is what I meant. But if you didn't remember, we checked the semen at the scene with your brother's DNA. There was no genetic match, and since you have the same mother, we would know if you did it, too."
His shoulders relaxed, and a smile came over his down turned mouth. Ah, the suave self confidence returns. Hopefully not for long though.
"Unfortunately, you did one thing sloppily. the phone call we couldn't trace? I lied. It was Mrs.Giry's cell number. The number of the woman who you knew would be Christine's caseworker! You have been lying to us all along, Mr.Chagny."
" What are you proposing Sir?"
"I am proposing that you found out who Christine's caseworker was, and when she finally received a guardian you either bribed or paid the woman to do your dirty work for you. She took Christine to her home, one of the few that still have a basement in this state. There, you had one of your employees rape and torture her while you watched.
" And how do you have proof that it was someone in my employ, or that I was in the vicinity of the crime?"
" Because Mr.Chagny, your fingerprints told the story. They were on the bottle of bleach, the only piece of evidence left there, besides the blood spatters on the cement walls. The dried up well in the basement was made of cement, so it served well enough for an easy place to bind the girl.
You were stupid to leave the blood and bleach there, but you had to leave the room the way it was, didn't you? You would go over to their house and look at it when you felt particularly murderous. You would run your hands over the dried blood, remembering the way she screamed."
You stood behind her so she couldn't see you. And you relished in her pain. And when it was finished, you knew she would be happy to die right there. Instead you decided to let her live, thinking that her ordeal would drive her insane."
They saw a very disturbing glint in Phillipe Chagny's eyes, as the man laughed. He threw his head back and chuckled like he was watching Singing in the Rain.
" And where is your proof that I had anything to do with rape? What if I just blinded her, you morons!"
" Oh no, Mr. Chagny. Once we had our suspicions confirmed we went through your employees, testing each ones DNA. to see if it matched our victims rape kit. And when we came across a strapping young man named Darius, he spilled the beans. He told us you told him you would get him deported if he didn't help.
He told us about your plans to torment Christine, though he didn't know why. You told him they would never suspect you, and that you knew a secret to keep Giry silent and compliant. So we asked you. And you delivered the answers right into our hands.
Even though the elder Giry wouldn't admit to it, the younger one snapped under the interrogation. She pegged you. So now we have enough to get you put away. So why did you do it, besides the fact that you hate her?"
He looked very agitated. He started to shake, his eyes cast downward. Knuckles white and red red, he locked eyes with Anders, before springing across the table. Anders was being choked, and Jammes struggled to pry Chagny off of him.
" She stole my fucking life, you bastard! She killed my family, ruined our reputation! She was a goddamned mistake who shouldn't have seen the light of day! I'm glad she's stuck with that murderer!"
The officers who worked behind the two way window ran in, restraining him and dragging him off.
Anders sighed, because he knew the truth of this case. Had Erik Bathory not been a murderer, the Daae case wouldn't have been solved. Nobody cared about the forgotten children of the world. Nobody cared about a rich man's grudge against a girl who couldn't even defend herself against him.
She would have retribution. But not because of God, and not because of him. The only reason she would have justice was because a stupid man had slipped up. Phillipe could have gotten away with his crime. It was wrong to sweep these children under the rug and let them suffer. But what could he do?
He was only one man.