A Place in This World
CHAPTER 3
The next afternoon
Police Inspector Albert DuBois has been on the force for 16 years and was known for his fairness and integrity. He sat in his spacious office staring intently at the journal and letters that rested in his hands.
His brow was set in a concerned manner and his voice was controlled"Margarite, thank you for bringing this to our attention before we punished an innocent man. I must present this evidence to the court magistrate. He will have no choice but to release your friend."
He gets up and makes his way around his desk to stand directly in front of Margarite; he takes her hand and asks once again, "Have you reconsidered my offer to take you to dinner? I want the chance to get to know you. I find you absolutely fascinating."
Margarite knew that Albert was sincere in his offer and she smiled up at him. His alert, gray eyes held no hidden games or agenda and Margarite found herself lost in their depths.
She chided herself for allowing her thoughts to wander at such a crucial time. She focuses the conversation on the issue at hand, "Why would he not have offered up this evidence himself Albert? I cannot fathom why he would sell himself out."
Margarite walked toward the window in Albert's office and looked out over the horde of people on the busy streets. This mass of humanity had shunned Erik and all that he had to offer; they were not worthy of the gifts that he so eagerly wanted to share with them.
Albert struggled to find the right response, "My feeling is that he assumed no one would believe him. For years he has been accused of being less than human and his very existence has been questioned, you told me this yourself."
Albert walked up to Margarite's strained figure and placed his hands upon her shoulders, "It probably would have done him no good to try and prove his innocence because everyone had preconceived notions about him."
Margarite turned in Albert's hands, lifting her pained eyes to him as he continued, "The fear he put in their hearts, whether it was real or not, will not be easily forgotten. They want someone to pay for the crimes of the opera house and Erik is willing to be the scapegoat. From what I have seen of the man, he has accepted his fait."
Margarite mulled over what Albert had said. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Erik had fought so hard to gain the acceptance of the human race and had now accepted that this would never come to be. He has given up. This is his way out. He could accomplish the one thing with his death that he never could in life, or so he thought; he would bring happiness to those he loved, and when Erik loved, he gave his all. Tears were making their way down Margarite's face. She found herself going down memory lane...
FLASHBACK
(1848 – the present year of 1872)
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Erik appeared to be a tall, gangly pre-teen tasting freedom for the first time in his young life. He really wasn't as old as she had originally thought; he turned out to be around 10. He had never been shown an ounce of human kindness until Margarite came into his life.
Food had never been a constant in his life and he so enjoyed the different textures and tastes that paraded over his tongue. The opera house presented so many wonderful opportunities for a boy with an imagination like Erik's. He found hideouts and hidden passages throughout the structure and became quite adept at playing hide-and-go-seek.
His childish laughter made her heart sing. He soon discovered music and his genius became even more apparent. He mesmerized Margarite with his compositions and as he hit puberty, his voice took on a sensual quality that sent shivers of pleasure up and down her spine.
There was nine years difference in their ages, but Margarite already saw the sculptured beauty of the left side of Erik's face showing through. His arresting green eyes were always dancing behind the masks that he designed for himself. He finally settled on a white half-mask that covered most of the right side of his face, but left his beautiful, full mouth unhindered. He was truly breathtakingly handsome.
It was during this time that Margarite entertained romantic thoughts about Erik, he was reaching 17 years of age and he cut a striking figure. He was toned and muscular, but not in an overbearing way, and he was exceptionally intelligent with a very quick wit. He was already over six feet tall and his hair was dark brown and wavy when it was longer. He tended to keep it cut short though and very seldom allowed any facial hair.
He had impeccable taste in everything from food to clothes. He composed many of the operas that were performed at the opera house, although he used a pseudonym of Clément Doumergue. Margarite was the go-between for Mr. Doumergue when it came to his business dealings at the opera house. She claimed that Mr. Doumergue was a very reclusive man and would only allow her to deliver his music to them and, in turn, she would return his salary back to him.
This arrangement worked so well, that they kept it up for years. Mr. Doumergue's compositions were in demand and highly popular, his salary demands were now at 20,000 fracs per month. Erik was quickly building a fortune as his costs were kept at a minimum. He was very business savvy and invested wisely. He was also very generous and always lavished Margarite with gifts.
Margarite had a few regrets; one being that she ever allowed him to start wearing a mask to begin with; if society had been allowed to grow accustom to the right side of his face and not had to create stories around it; he would have been accepted, respected, and loved like he should have been.
Another regret was never making him get closer to Meg. He became distant during Margarite's brief marriage to Frank and when Meg was born, he started drifting further away from her. Looking back on it, it seemed to Margarite that he assumed he was losing her and receded inside himself for preservation.
He had competition for Margarite's affections and attention; and when competition is in the picture, Erik always comes up on the short end, or so he thinks. After Frank's death, just 13 short months after they married, he provided the shoulder to her to cry on, providing comfort and friendship.
He remained aloof and their relationship took on a more reserved tone. She loved him deeply but it seemed that a wall had gone up around his heart when Margarite meant and married Frank and then when Meg was born. He pushed his affection for her down deep inside himself and never allowed them to show again. She never realized until this very moment how much she missed him.
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END FLASHBACK
Albert's voice invades the moment and Margarite's thoughts turn back to the present as his hand finds her shoulder, "Margarite, I will do all that I can for your friend. From what you have told me about him, he deserves to have a break in life. I would really like to get to know him, if he will allow it."
Margarite turned to look at Albert with tears in her eyes, "He is more than just a friend Albert, I have been in love with him in the past and never let him know; I was such a coward; now he is like my brother and I have wronged him…" She looks down at her hands, "betrayed and failed him. I will not do it again!" She accepts his embrace and is so thankful he is the good man that she knows him to be.
Chapter 11 preview – Hunting for Erik