A/N: Thanks to everybody for being so patient with me! Most of my time has been consumed with homework and studying, and any free time left over…well I was too tired to feel like writing. So anyways, here's the next chapter!

Raoul slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight pouring in through the window. It was still very early; all was silent in the house. He stood slowly, careful not to wake the sleeping child he held in his arms. He gently laid his son down in the bassinet, running his hand over the fluffy blonde hair before turning towards the door. With a few steps Raoul had crossed the hallway and opened the large oak doors that led into the bedroom he shared with Christine, only to find it completely empty. His eyes scanned the room, falling upon the bed that was impeccably made and the nightdress laid out a chair, and it appeared as though Christine hadn't been there for hours. With a slight frown he shut the door behind him and set off to find his wife.

He wandered through each of the rooms in the expansive estate, his pace quickening as worry began to set in. Finally he went to the servants' quarters and woke their maid, Henriette.

"Henriette, have you seen Christine? I can't seem to find her anywhere."

"Why, no monsieur. I haven't seen her since last night when she left for her evening walk," she replied.

Raoul ran a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh. He tried to dismiss his fears, telling himself that he was acting irrationally. Since they had fled the Opera Populaire they had nothing to fear. But worry was tugging at Raoul's heart; deep down he knew that something was wrong. Raoul decided that he needed to go speak with the police immediately. But first he needed someone to care for Christophe while he was away; Christine had insisted that she could care for her son and she didn't require a nurse to help her. Once again he turned his attention to the puzzled maid standing before him.

"Henriette, do you have any experience with children?"

"Don't worry monsieur. Christophe will be perfectly cared for," she answered with a reassuring smile.

Raoul gave her a grateful nod as he turned on his heel and ran towards the stables. He was breathing hard when he approached the young boy who worked there. His mother was their cook, and had complained that she was constantly tripping over him in the kitchen. She asked Raoul if there were anything that could occupy the boy's time. After a moment's thought he suggested that the boy could work in the stables; nothing difficult, just feeding and grooming.

"Going out for your morning ride, monsieur?" he asked as Raoul drew near.

"I'm afraid I'm leaving on important business, Emile," Raoul responded. "I'm leaving you in charge while I'm gone," he added.

"You can count on me monsieur," Emile said, raising his pudgy hand in a salute.

Raoul gave a slight chuckle before mounting his horse and riding off. Shortly he was riding into the city, his shoes and the bottoms of his pants covered in mud. He leapt down from his horse and secured it in front of the police station. He walked through the doors and approached the desk at the front of the building.

"I need to speak with Inspector Reinard, si vous plait."

"Monsieur de Chagny!" he heard a voice call from across the room. Raoul offered his hand out to the man who was approaching him. "To what do I owe this great honor?"

"I wish I could be here on happier terms Marcel, but I'm afraid I'm in quite a panic," Raoul confessed, taking a seat beside the inspector's desk. "No one has seen my wife since last night and all evidence suggests that she didn't return home," he said, his eyes downcast.

"You think someone has harmed her?"

"I…I don't know. But it isn't like her to stay out all night. In fact, since she gave birth she has spent practically every moment in the house with our son."

"Mon dieu, a baby? Oh, I feel so old. Congratulations, Raoul!" Reinard responded.

"Thank you, Marcel. But at the moment I am very concerned for my wife."

"Of course, forgive me. So, do you have reason to suspect that someone would want to harm your wife?" Reinard asked, taking out a sheet of paper and a pen.

Raoul's mind immediately returned to a house on a lake, a room of mirrors, a scorpion and a grasshopper. He looked down and replied quietly, "No. No one would ever hurt her."

"Well…is there any indication that something has happened to her? A witness, something?"

Raoul hesitated. "No. But I know that there is something wrong. She would not just leave us. She loves our son more than anything in the world. There is only one reason that she wouldn't return home and that is if something or someone was preventing her from doing so," Raoul's voice was growing increasingly strong. "Now isn't there anything you can do?"

Reinard leaned in and placed a hand on Raoul's shoulder, "You know that I want to help. You were the finest sailor I ever had the pleasure to call a friend. But without any evidence, my hands are tied."

"Is there someone else I could speak to, the captain perhaps?" Raoul asked desperately.

"I'm afraid not. Unfortunately the…de Chagny name doesn't carry as much weight as it once did."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Raoul asked indignantly.

"Oh for God's sake, Raoul! Surely you have heard what people have been saying? You and your family haven't been accepted in polite society since your wedding. You must know. Why else would you have become such a recluse? And just look at yourself!" he added, motioning to Raoul's dirty and disheveled clothes.

"I see," Raoul said in an angry growl as he stood to leave.

"Please don't be angry with me. I want to help you, I do. But as long as you wear that ring…"

Raoul looked down at his hand. He hadn't realized until then how much he had been shaking. He pulled his hand into a fist, wrapping the other hand around it. "Then I will simply have to find my wife without you. It's not as though I haven't done it before," Raoul regretted that statement the moment it left his mouth. He had grown wiser since his days at the Opera Populaire and now understood the foolishness of his actions during those times. He no longer wished to play the triumphant hero at the risk of his wife's safety. If something had indeed happened to Christine, Raoul would need as much help as possible to bring her back.