A word of explanation, when you see (these) around a statement, it means that the person is thinking to themselves. The other sign that I was using was not showing up. Hope that helps.

I know, this chappy is lame. I needed to embellish a little – humor me.

Let my Opera begin…

CHAPTER 11

Christine and Margarite shared a simple, quiet, rather late breakfast the next morning. They were both preoccupied with echoes from last nights revealing conversation. Margarite glanced over the morning paper and came across an article that sparked her interest; she began to read aloud, causing Christine to take notice…

INSPECTOR DUBOIS, ONE OF PARIS' FINEST, TOLD REPORTERS YESTERDAY THAT THE MAN KNOWN AS THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, WAS NO LONGER BEING HELD BY AUTHORITIES. EVIDENCE WAS DISCOVERED THAT CLEARED HIM OF ALL CHARGES. APPARENTLY, THE CULPRIT WAS A FELLOW OPERA EMPLOYEE WHO HAD MADE THREATS ON THE PHANTOM AND HAD CARRIED OUT ALL THE MURDERS AND RAPES THAT THE PHANTOM HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF. THE EVIDENCE WAS WRITTEN IN THE HAND OF THE CULPRIT AND REVEALED DETAILED WRITINGS ABOUT THE CRIMES HE HAD COMMITTED AND THOSE HE INTENDED TO CARRY OUT ON THE PHANTOM.

INSPECTOR DUBOIS REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE PHANTOM. HE DID TELL US, HOWEVER, THAT HIS NAME IS ERIK AND HE WAS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPOSING, DESIGNING, AND ORCHESTRATING MANY OF THE MORE POPULAR OPERAS THAT HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AT THE OPERA POPULAIR OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

INSPECTOR DUBOIS HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE ELUSIVE PHANTOM, "HE IS A BRILLIANT MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER, AS WELL AS A BEING A GENIUS IN MANY OTHER AREAS. HE WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR CRIMES HE DID NOT COMMITT. HUMANITY, AS A WHOLE, HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT HIM BECAUSE HE WEARS A MASK. YES, THE MASK DOES COVER UP A DEFORMITY THAT HAS CLAIMED THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT SURE IF HE WAS BORN WITH THIS DEFORMITY OR IT WAS FORCED UPON HIM BY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES…WE DO HOPE TO FIND SOME ANSWERS…I AM PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND."

THERE YOU HAVE IT. ERIK, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO CALL HIM, HAS COME OUT OF HIDING, WHETHER BY CHOICE OR CIRCUMSTANCES, I AM NOT SURE. THIS REPORTER IS ANXIOUS TO GET A FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN THAT HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT OF AN ICON IN PARIS. NOW THAT THE RECORD HAS BEEN SET STRAIGHT, LET'S GET TO KNOW THE MAN, HIS MUSIC, AND HIS GENIUS.

Margarite put the paper down and regarded Christine with a indomitable stare, "Do you feel like taking a ride into town?...I need to see Inspector DuBois and find out where Erik is." Christine's stomach lurched at the possibility that she may see Erik today, but her look portrayed none of this; all she did was indicate "yes" with a nod of her head and prepared to leave. As they moved for the door, a knock interrupted their determined pace, Margarite irritably pulled the door open to reveal Raoul holding the morning paper up for them to see. "Have you seen this?" he asked. Margarite gently pushed him aside so she and Christine could get out the door. "Yes Raoul, we have seen it. We are on our way to see Inspector DuBois and learn where Erik is staying…care to join us?" The last phrase was said over her shoulder as Margarite proceeded to put herself in the carriage that Raoul had come in. Christine pulled herself into it also and Raoul had no choice but to follow.

Raoul was once again perusing the contents of the paper. "It seems that Erik has made a friend of the authorities." Both ladies glanced at each other, something that Raoul could not see as his face was buried in the paper. "I am curious as to why he did not come directly to you when he was released, Margarite." Raoul had a distant look in his eyes as he tried to piece together the mystery of Erik's behavior. "I would think that you would be the first person he would contact." Margarite meant Raoul's gaze with an equal amount of curiosity. "That is something that I intend to ask him, Raoul…although…I think I know the answer," her voice drifted off as she thought about his actions.

The carriage came to a stop in front of Inspector DuBois' residence. It was Saturday, and Margarite knew that he would not be working. All three people made their way up the walk. Unbeknownst to them, Albert watched them proceed through the curtained window to the left of his front door. He allowed them to knock softly before gently easing the door open. He graced them with a friendly smile and showed them into his humble dwelling. "I knew it would not take long for you to me Margarite…I am surprised that it took this long." He had a teasing lilt in his voice that made Margarite's heart skip a beat. "I felt it was important that I leave you to do your job, Albert. I knew that you would do what was right." Christine and Raoul watch the exchange of pleasantries between the older couple. Christine saw the glow on Margarite's face and glint in her eyes and knew that there was more to this relationship than just mutual respect and friendship.

They had all moved into the quaint parlor and were seated around an antique table that was beautifully ornate. "I have never meant a man who has so much to offer the world of the arts, and yet, is so determined to rid the world of his presence." Albert glanced at the faces around him, "His only thoughts were of others. He was unwavering in his resolve to make sure that those he loved did not have to endure his presence any longer." Albert relayed as much of the previous days events to his guests as he could remember. "How could any one have thought him heartless?" Albert shook his head as the sadness of wasted years enclosed him. "I would not allow him to wallow in self-destruction any longer; I literally pulled him out of the jail cell and carried him to the hotel. I was instructed to buy him a new wardrobe, but he would not allow it. He paid for everything himself. I was instructed to order a catered meal from The Colliér and have it sent to the Magistrate's office for dinner with Erik at 6:30." Albert paused only long enough to take a sip of wine, "The dinner went very well and Erik was offered a position with the police as a spy…which he turned down. This morning, very early, I hear a knock on my door and a man of about 50 stands there wanting information about Erik. I recognize him from your description Margarite, and I know that it is Michél. I told him where Erik was staying…the rest you know."

"We need to know where he is also, Albert," Margarite stated. "We all have things we would like to say to him." Albert thought about what he had heard Erik say, "I am sure that he intends to come to you before he leaves, he said as much." Margarite was not sure if she had heard him correctly, "Leaves…where is he going?" Albert realized that he had not mentioned the help he had offered Erik, "Monsieur Grévy offered the services of his cousin at Scotland Yard. He will help Erik find out about his past…Erik indicated that he would be leaving for London within the next few days." Margarite was not sure how to react to this new information. She was a little put out with Albert for allowing these services to be offered, but she knew that it was important to Erik. She would wait for him to come to her

TBC