Opera Ghost

Chapter Nineteen

Jessalyn was moving so fast through the halls that she periodically had to stop and grab Claudine's hand just so she could keep up. Claudine held her set of keys in her hand that clacked together. "I cannot believe you talked to me into this." she gasped, fingering through the key ring trying to find the one they need. "I hope my boss never finds out that I took these. I'd be fired so quick . . . " Jess slowed them to a stop.

"Listen I know you are taking a risk," she said, wishing Claudine would just help her and stop whining about it. "My advice to you is to help me out this once, go take a nice break over the holidays, and then don't do any more favors for me ever." Claudine bent down to tie up the laces on her white sneakers, setting the large key ring aside.

"Sorry. But it's just . . . why do you need to get into the managers' office anyway?" she asked.

"I just need to. I need to find more clues, and the main office is the only place I haven't checked and where I actually might find some," Jess explained. They finally reached the large double doors at the end of the hall, shielding the private quarters of the general managers.

"What clues?" Claudine inquired. Jessalyn remembered her own warning to Daniel about not telling anyone, even Claudine, the real purpose behind their expedition. Apparently he had held up his end of the bargain. Jess shook her head.

"Never mind. Are you sure there is no one in here?" Jess asked, tapping on the large wood doors. Claudine nodded her head in response.

"Right now I think you, your companions, and I are the only ones even left in this building. Ambler dismissed the company to take four days off for Christmas yesterday. Everyone is home with their families," Claudine remarked.

"Good. Open it." Jess pointed to the ornate key hole in the door. Claudine fumbled for a moment trying to find the right key. But only after a few seconds she was successful and with a hard jerk on the lock, one of the doors creaked open.

The office was much larger than Jessalyn had expected. Of course it did house the many operations of the mangers of the Opera Populaire. The first and the largest of the rooms were very Victorian. The exception was a small room, barely the size of a walk in closet that housed a computer. Large area rugs dotted the rich red carpet with different hues. A huge bay window opened up the room to light and an impressive view of Paris. The walls were covered in picture frames, and certificate holders. And there were no flowers in the room, but a variety of large potted plants, all a rich healthy green. Two large desks, one carved out of light warm oak, while another, in contrast, was constructed of rich red mahogany. And each desk revealed to them the personality of the owner.

Jessalyn went and took a seat in the large padded chair behind the mahogany desk. The chair was not very comfortable and she couldn't image sitting in it for hours while working over a desk. But it matched the decor of the room. The desk top was almost bare, except for several note cards lined up in a display at the edge. Jess lifted the flaps up on a couple, discovering they were mostly "Thank you" cards addressed to M. Ambler. A small pile of papers was on the left and Jess saw that the pile consisted of several samples of an invitation ready to go to print. On different cards of gold and cream, black script letters spelled out a welcome to the Opera's New Year's Gala. Jess put the paper back in its place before leaning down to open the drawers. She found nothing of use in them. Pens and pencils, a directory and several drafts of a guest list, each with many handmade notes written in the margins. Claudine fluttered about the office nervously. She tried to entertain herself by looking at the items on the wall and pretend not to notice Jessalyn rummaging around the managers' desks. Finding nothing of use on the mahogany desk, she made her way toward the other one.

"We shouldn't be here," Claudine whispered, biting on one of her fingernails.

"I thought you said no one would be here. So why are you so worried?" Jess asked her, sitting down at the next desk. A surprisingly comfortable swivel desk chair was pushed up against the front drawer, but Jess pushed it aside. This desk was covered in piles of paper and a quick glance around told Jess that there were mostly receipts for productions, and other expenses. "Claudine, can you tell me something?" Jess asked, contemplating. Claudine finally turned to face her and nodded her head. "Out of the two managers, Delauney and Ambler, who does the most work around this place?"

Claudine raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Well, it's hard to say really. I mean they both work very hard in their respected area." She took a seat in one of the chairs across the desk, looking straight at Jess in deep thought. "They were both working here long before I arrived, but I believe M. Delauney was hired first. He replaced the former managers by himself. But you know there's a lot of work to do here, and the general manager is in charge of everything. So he asked Ambler on as a partner, to take care of planning social events and other things."

"I see," Jessalyn said, setting down the receipts. "So who is in charge of tourism?"

"M. Delauney is. He's a very causal boss really. In fact this office is open most of the day, and I've been sent down frequently to take paper and other things right off his desk." Claudine now didn't seem so worried about Jess looking through the desks.

"So Ambler is more like a socialite?"

"I suppose so, but they both put an equal share of the work around here," she replied.

Jessalyn leaned back in the chair, her arms crossed, rolling her neck back and forth to try to relax it. She had expected this. It seemed that even though there were two mangers in charge that Delauney was really behind everything. Maybe he knew something about Erik that he was concealing. If any sort of strange happenings that went around in the opera should become public, there could be trouble. And what about the death of the stage-hand, did Delauney and Ambler play it off as an accident? Claudine looked like she had no idea of anything that was happening, and somehow Jess had been placed in the middle of it. Her room and how it led to the secret passage behind the wall, it couldn't all be coincidence.

Jessalyn reached down to try some of the drawers. The first two opened with ease, containing mostly office supplies such as paper clips and pens. But the last drawer, large and obviously meant for holding files, was locked. Jess had a hunch that what she needed to find was in that drawer. "Great, and this one is locked," she said.

"If it is locked, it must mean it is not meant to be tampered with," Claudine replied, for the first time sounding very angry at Jess for poking around. Jess tried jingling and pulling at the drawer, but to no avail. She reached for the drawer above it and tried to pull it all the way off its track and apart from the desk, but no luck there. The lock seemed to be attached somehow two the drawers. She gave a grunt.

"You don't understand. I need to see what's in this drawer," she protested. "Help me look for a key." Claudine went over to the other desk, poking through the cards and peeking in the desk drawers. Like two pack rats, they scurried about trying to find a key. There was none. In frustration, Jess accidentally knocked one pile of papers from Delauney's desk to the floor. Claudine but her lip as Jess sighed, "Don't worry I'll clean them up later."

Claudine motioned to the computer room. "What about there?" she asked. Jess nodded and rose to follow, but it seemed Claudine had a second thought. "Wait. I'll look. You stay here and clean up this mess you made," she said sternly.

"Fair enough," Jess agreed, bending down to pick up the papers on the floor and stacking them neatly in her hands. Perhaps this was all a crazy hunch. When she saw something fall out between two sheets, she perked up. She leaned closer to the floor to see what it was, her nose almost touching the carpet. It was a key, and a strange looking one at that. It was shaped like a regular key but the teeth of the piece seemed too numerous to open just any old door. And there was a small red ribbon attached to it. She held it up in the light, then moved over to the lock desk drawer. Crouching on her knees, she slid the key through the small metal hole. It fit. She gave it a turn to the right, and it clicked. The drawer was unlocked.

"Where did you get that?" Claudine asked in a panic. Jess looked up to see Claudine practically crouched over her. Her eyes were wide in what seemed like fear.

"I found it on the floor, in the papers I chucked."

"That's the master key!" she exclaimed. "M. Delauney would never leave one lying around like that. I don't think he ever takes his off his key ring."

"Perhaps he didn't leave it." Jess mused softy. Perhaps the red ribbon around it signifies that this was no accidentally discovery, but a gift. But what did it matter now, she had the drawer open. So now to see what was inside. She reached her hand in and pulled out several small envelopes. There were made out of a thick textured paper of an aged yellow color. Each was sealed with red wax, which had been broken in two. Jess could feel Claudine leaning over her shoulder as she spread the envelopes onto the desk before her.

"What are those?" she asked.

"I'm not sure." Jess said, deciding finally to open one up and see what was inside. Claudine moved to stand on the other side of the desk, giving her some much needed space. In the first envelope was a sheet of paper, an obvious letter. It seemed to be actually printed on vellum to be more precise. She opened it up with fragile hands reading the script inside.

Messieurs,

I cannot express my extreme distaste in mere words on the fact that you have allowed foolish students to invade my opera. It is unforgivable that you allow them to roam in the cellars unchecked, like common thieves under your very noses. Dismiss Daniel Payne and Tony Candom from the premises if you care for their safety and yours.

Your Obedient Servant,

O.G.

Jess was in shock. She wanted to tear up the letter, not wanting to believe a word of it. She reached for the next envelope, hoping this was seriously a joke. She read the next letter.

Messieurs,

In regards to the upcoming masquerade ball: I understand you plan to auction off several ladies of your staff for the first waltz of the evening. Why I find this slave auction almost disgustingly coy on your part, I do however have a suggestion to make. Let the young American Jessalyn Greene be one of the women up for bid. She might prove more profitable than you believe.

O.G.

This was all Erik's doing. She knew it. Countless letters after another, each one the same. Orders to kick out Tony and Dan. Taking blame for both of Daniel's mishaps in the cellars. Taunting the managers. But there were no suggestions in the letters she found that Erik had demanded or suggested that Jess should have been placed in Christine's dressing room. Had Erik arranged that or had someone else? The letters were addressed to both of them, but why did Delauney decide to keep them locked in his desk? Had Ambler not seen them? So many questioned raced about in her head, and Jess tried not to show on her face that she was concerned and shocked. And she wondered if because Delauney was so quick to deny that he believed in the Phantom the first day they had given them a tour, hinted something else about him. Her hands near to trembling out of control, she open and read the last letter.

Messieurs,

I am extremely displeased with the performance of your tourist employee, Mlle. Claudine Breuyere. I insist that you dismiss her from your service immediately. I cannot begin to stress how much keeping her here will bring you great misfortune. For your health and hers, do not ignore my command.

O.G.

Now she was completely confused. What did Claudine have to do with all these? She hardly had anything to do with Daniel's investigation of the Opera Ghost up until now. What would Erik gain from threatening her? His words in the letter had been exceptionally harsh. "What is it?" Claudine questioned again. Jess looked up at her slowly. Her throat was dry, and her head felt as if it weighed an extra 50 pounds. The word 'nothing' rested on her tongue. But as her gaze feel on Claudine, it also got a clear vision of something that was not there before.

A large woman decked out in the gaudiest yellow dress Jess had ever seen. She seemed to tower over her, leaning her sour face which was distorted by a mass of black feathers from her hat. But on the other side, she could see Claudine. She could look straight through this woman; she was just like the apparitions she had seen on the rooftop. Was this woman to a ghost?

"I demand that you fire Christine Daae! She is ruining my reputation!" the transparent woman howled. Jess flinched at the noise, but glancing over, she saw that Claudine didn't even move. In fact she looked bored at Jessalyn's silence, so she got up and wandered around the office.

"Now madame, certainly it's not that terrible. I mean Miss Daae is just a child herself," said a gentle voice behind her. Jess glanced over her shoulder to see the figures of two men, dressed in chocolate and charcoal suits coming around the desk to address the angry woman.

"I'm sure Mlle. Daae did not step in for you during the gala out of revenge or malice. Certainly, she was a triumph that night, but take my word for it, the next morning she was in this office, full of nothing but concern for your health, Signora," explained the other one.

"She is a good girl I assure . . ."

"No! No! I will not have it. She is a cunning little wretch that one. A thief who stole my part and my audience. She had it all planned. I wouldn't put it past here if all these notes . . ." She flung a stack of similar small envelopes toward Jessalyn's face. She flinched and then remembered these were all illusions, and they passed right through her. "Are all her doing. There is no Opera Ghost. It's all just a trick!" she clipped out in an accent that wasn't quite Spanish or Italian.

One of the men, obviously the shade of the former manager, gave a slight shudder as the name 'Opera Ghost' was mention. The other one, in the charcoal suit boasting an express set of sliver muttonchops tried to calm down the woman, but to no avail. "Madame Carlotta, there is no need to overact about all this. Really, it is bad for business."

"Si, I'll tell you what is bad for business. If that girl is ever on stage with me again! It makes me sick knowing that even as I speak, that I am even under the same roof with her." Carlotta spat back. Jess was appalled at this woman's behavior. She stomped around the office, childishly stamping her foot to make as much noise as possible. The feathers on her bodice and bonnet ruffled to and fro making her look more like a chicken than an opera diva.

"She's just a chorus girl." One of them protested.

"She is not even good enough for that. She should be put out on the street. The world of opera has no place for a pauper such as Christine Daae." Jess could tell from the looks on both of the mangers' faces that they were becoming quite frustrated.

"We certainly can't and won't do anything as rashly as you are suggesting, Madame," the man in the brown suit replied in a stern baritone voice. Carlotta tilted her hat and gave a roguish grin. She looked at the both of them for a long moment. Her sharp eyes darted back and forth as she tried to stare them down.

"Well messieurs, if you do not intend to do anything about this, then I will." She turned to leave and Jess noticed another figure in the picture, who had been standing in La Carlotta's shadow the whole time; a small woman in the black garments of a maid. Carlotta called for her to come to her side. The woman turned slowly, her face finally coming into Jessalyn's view. And she wanted to gasp, but had to contain herself with a hard gulp in her throat instead. The woman, the girl really looked exactly like Claudine. The features were a perfect match. Her hair was tied up in a bun, golden ringlet spilling over her forehead. But her blues eyes and pink lips appeared cold, and her skin was pale but almost had a grayish tint to it. "I shall deal with this in my own way." Carlotta announced moving towards the door. "Come girl." She instructed her servant.

"Yes Madame," she whispered, a hallow sound that rattled Jess's spine. Then the ghost seemed to look directly at Jess, gluing her to the chair with a freezing cold stare. And then the girl smiled, a smile that was without a doubt the most sinister gesture Jess had ever seen. Jess felt her skin crawl and her hand grow wet with cold sweat at the girl's unspoken threat that lay between the lines of her thin lips.

Something solid, a finger touched her shoulder. Jess gave a jump, the illusion of the girl, Carlotta and the managers blinked away before her. She turned to see Claudine once again standing over her, trying to read the note Jess clutched in her hand. "What does it say?" she asked in curious innocent voice. Obviously Claudine had seen nothing of what had just been revealed to Jessalyn. Frantic, Jess gathered up the envelopes placing all the notes back inside them, except the one she held in her hand. She threw them back in the desk drawer, and slammed it shut. Trying to keep Claudine unaware, she slipped the strange key into her front pocket and rushed for the door.

"Okay we can leave now. I'm all done in here." Without protest Claudine followed her. They closed the double doors and clicked the lock shut.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Claudine asked sounding excited. Jessalyn paced down the hall, trying her hardest just to get away.

"Maybe," she said turning her head back to talk to Claudine. Then she was slammed into but something hard. Or to be more precise she slammed into it herself. She heard a gasp of air escape in a loud woof sound as Claudine gave a small shriek. Jess clasped her stomach, still disoriented. What had she run into?

"Oh Monsieur Ambler! You scared us!" Claudine exclaimed. Jess looked up to see the tall man with a new set of reddish brown whiskers on his face, starring down at her puzzled.

"Are you all-right Mademoiselle Greene?" he asked.

"I'm fine. I should ask the same to you. After all I wasn't watching where I was going." Jess made a speedy apology, wanting to leave.

"No problem. But exactly what are you two doing here?" he asked. Jess let her mouth hang open and the only intelligent thing she could think to say was.

"Umm..."

"Oh never mind." Ambler exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "Mademoiselle Breuyere, go on home now. Enjoy yourself. After all it's Christmas Eve."

It was a strange Christmas Eve for all of them, being away from their families. And if it weren't for the stresses Erik was causing for her, Jessalyn would have considered it the most relaxing holiday she ever had till then. Claudine lived alone in the city, so Jess, Daniel and Tony all decided to have dinner together at her flat. It wasn't much, some fish, potatoes and salads, and most of it was eaten in the kitchen while all four of them where trying to make dinner at the same time. Claudine graciously spent some money on a nice chocolate cake and a bottle of wine.

They crashed in the living room after supper, watching the TV, which all of them, except Claudine, couldn't understand because it was in French. Daniel raised his wine glass and offered a toast. "Here's to a holiday without having to fight the lines at the store to buy Christmas presents for every worthless cousin I know," he said, already into his second glass. "All I need are good friends to have a merry Christmas. And good wine of course."

"Cheers." Tony and Jess offered.

"That was a very peculiar toast there, Daniel," Claudine interjected. She got up from her small recliner and grabbed her winter coat that was near the door. "I reckon you three have never seen Notre Dame at Christmas time. Come get your coats on. It is a sight not to be missed." Pretty soon they were bundled up against the mild winter air, and making their way down the boulevard, past dark shops and cafes, all closed up for the night…until they came to the road that led them directly to the famous cathedral. The group stopped and looked in wonder. The place was obviously packed, for at least a hundred people were gathered outside the main doors. All the windows glowed with color.

"Wow. It's simply breathtaking." Jess exclaimed.

"Indeed, the entire inside is lit by candles, I reckon. Thousands of candles," Claudine explained. "But I haven't been inside for Christmas Mass since I was a little girl." They all just stood there for a moment memorized by the glory of the ancient church.

"God I love Paris." Daniel sighed, jamming his hands into his pockets. He rocked back on his heels, his head tilted to the side. "You know they wrote a new musical about the Hunchback of Notre Dame a few years back," he informed Jess. Tony gave a grunt behind him.

"Does every landmark in this city have to have a Broadway musical about it?" he asked sarcastically. Jess and Claudine shared a giggle at his comment. The strains of "Silent Night" echoed throughout the cathedral and into the square. Claudine gave a sigh.

"That means the service will end soon, and then this place will be . . . packed." She explained.

"No, we can stay for a little bit longer. Just until the song ends," Daniel protested. So they did, just standing in the still night while the voices rang. The song ended and Jessalyn released a deep breath. Paris rang out with the sound of the great bells, striking midnight. Jess could have sworn she felt the stones beneath her feet vibrate. Then the sound of thousands of feet leaving the church.

"Merry Christmas." Tony said.

"Joyeux Noel." Claudine added.

"Well we should get back to the opera, before we get locked out," Dan suggested. They all turned to walk away the crowd almost at their heels. Jess let her head hang down, looking at the stones in the streets, when she felt another hand grab hers. She turned around to see it was Tony's. He looked off to the side for a second before turning to her. "Look, I don't want to worry you too much," he said, and then held up a yellow envelope that read 'Kodak' in front of her face." But when you get a chance, I want you to look at these," he instructed.

A/N: I'm back. As you can see when I was planning this whole story out I intended to have this chapter finished by Christmas. Glances at calendar Guess I'm a little bit behind on that goal. Thanks for everyone for hanging in there between long update times. You have my word that I work on this phic when every I have the chance. It sits right up on my desktop, perhaps I should attach a post note with bold red letters that read "Work on me!"

So once this "holiday season" is over in Opera Ghost world, things are going to start to heat up. Stay tune as Tony and Jess do some more investigating into the myth of the Phantom