Stranger Than You Dreamt It
Chapter 4- Double Meanings
Holmes nearly dropped his drink at the sight of the curly-haired brunette dressed in a black Chinese dress and high heels. The slit went all the way to her hip and showed off her long legs as she walked to the floor dancing as she went. Holmes followed her closely with his eyes. He'd found her. He'd found Erika Noir.
Moriarty felt his mouth go stone dry at the sight of the woman who had haunted his dreams for the past week. She smiled every so often and blew kisses to various people in the audience. He sat straighter as she looked at him. Her smile got brighter and she winked at him. Moriarty waited for her to walk towards him. He wasn't sure what he would do but he would think of something.
Then it happened. She began walking towards him. Moriarty noted that she moved with the grace of a feline. Her blue eyes sparkled at him. Moriarty fell into them, so that it took a moment to register that she'd walked past him. Before anger kicked in, he felt her slender fingers stroke his neck. He looked at her, to see her flash him a seductive smile before walking away. He tried his damnest not to watch her. Instead he closed his eyes and slowly tried to get his body under control.
When he opened them again, he received a glare from Fenwick. Moriarty growled at him. He was in no mood for a jealous lackey. Moriarty was about to get up and go after the singer when he heard a very familiar voice reach his ears. Turning slightly, he spotted the singer sitting at the bar with a drink in her hand as she listened to a gray-haired man who sounded suspiciously like Sherlock Holmes.
"Is your name Erika Noir? I couldn't hear the host too well," Holmes lied.
Erika smiled at him seductively, "No, M'sieur. My surname is Daae. But I can be this Noir if you want me to."
Holmes wasn't sure how to respond so he ignored the remark, "You look remarkably like her. Are you sure you aren't?"
Erika laughed low and huskily, "I think I would know my own identity."
Holmes decided to try another tactic. "Did you know Erik Noir V?"
Erika's smile faltered slightly but she fixed it, "Oui, Everyone here did. He was a very gentle man and a very talented musician. Our band has not been the same since he left."
Holmes waited a beat before asking his next question, "Were you here the night the de Chagny boy was murdered?"
Erika smiled again at him as she slowly crossed her legs forcing the slit to fall open. Holmes spared her legs a quick glance before looking back at her face. A soft enticing smile sat on her lips as she looked him over. Holmes swallowed and reminded himself about Lestrade waiting for him.
"Well?" Holmes prompted clicking his mind back on business.
"I was here that night, but so was half of Paris," Erika mused as she sipped her drink.
"What were you doing?" Holmes questioned.
Erika smirked as she leaned forward, "I was doing my job, singing. He was quite an eager little boy. Nearly downed his drink after I sang to him."
"About the drink? Did you see anyone touch it? Tamper with it?"
Erika sighed softly, touching Holmes's jaw line, "No, M'sieur. I didn't But then again I was awfully busy singing."
Holmes fell into her blue eyes. He shut his eyes to clear his head. When he opened them, it was to see Erika being led away by a Middle Eastern man. They smiled at each other in the way that friends do. Holmes growled to himself. He hadn't learned a single thing. Angrily, he paid for his drink and stalked out.
Moriarty smiled at how frustrated Holmes looked. It was entertaining to hear how Erika easily sidestepped his questions with simple movements and answers. However he didn't like how Holmes glanced at her legs or how Erika flirted very blatantly with him. As Erika began to approach his direction he decided to grab her wrist this time and force her to talk with him.
Suddenly Fenwick stood up and gently touched Erika's hand. Moriarty looked at him with confusion. Erika turned towards him with a questioning look in her eyes. Her companion also stopped and glared at Fenwick. However, Fenwick showed either great stupidity or great courage. Moriarty wasn't sure which.
"Mademoiselle Daae, will you share a drink with me after the show? Maybe in private?" Fenwick asked nervously.
Erika smiled softly at him and kissed his cheek, "I'm sorry, M'sieur, but no thank you."
Fenwick was in shock as he watched Erika walked way. Soon the man was in Fenwick's face, glaring Fenwick to his seat. After Fenwick sat down, the man pinned him with a glare and threatened very loudly.
"Mademoiselle Noir is not available for a drink, now or ever. She belongs to the Phantom. Remember that," he growled before walking back to Erika.
Erika glared at Nadir and stated very sarcastically, "Thank you so much, Nadir. Yes, I am my own person and can take care of myself."
Nadir merely smiled at her temper, "Orders, Erika. You know how the Phantom can be. Come, you have a show in three minutes."
"Fine." Erika sighed as Nadir led her away.
Moriarty waited until they were a ways away before turning toward Fenwick. Fenwick was slumped in his chair, looking like a child who was just spanked. He decided to thank his lackey later. Obviously the club was the Phantom's place. Moriarty wondered which one was the Phantom. He was so busy he didn't hear Josef introduce Erika until she began speaking. He turned back around to see Erika standing there in a black trenchcoat.
Moriarty watched her entranced as she spoke about her poor unsuspecting mother. She began to walk toward him. Soon she was in his lap. Moriarty stiffened up as she slowly crossed her legs revealing her bare legs. Her hand touched his cheek and brought his eyes to hers. Soon she started singing to him.
Mama
Doesn't even have an inkling
That I'm working in a nightclub
In a pair of lacy pants.
So please, sir.
If you run into my Mama,
Don't reveal my indiscretion,
Give a working girl a chance.
As quickly as she was there, Erika was gone and shedding her trenchcoat to reveal a very sexy version of a schoolgirl's outfit. The plaid skirt skimmed her mid-thighs, and the white shirt revealed her flat stomach and generous cleavage. A glint of gold caught his eyes but he couldn't make out what it was. Moriarty felt his throat close up as she sang.
Hush up,
Don't tell Mama,
Shush up,
Don't tell Mama...
Don't tell Mama,
Whatever you do.
If you had a secret,
You bet I would keep it.
I would never tell on you.
I'm breaking every promise
That I gave her,
So won't you kindly do a girl
A great big favor?
And please, my sweet patater,
Keep this from the Mater
Though my dance
Is not against the law.
You can tell my Papa, that's all right,
'Cause he comes in here every night,
But don't tell Mama what you saw!
Erika stopped moving and placed her hands on hips as the girls joined her wearing similar outfits. She winked at the audience and continued to dance. Moriarty felt his hand itching to grab her as she danced by. He stamped it down. After all he was a gentleman.
Mama
Thinks I'm on a tour of Europe,
With a couple of my school chums
And a lady chaperone.
Mama
Doesn't even have an inkling
That I left them all in Antwerp
And I'm touring on my own.
So please, sir
If you run into my Mama
Don't reveal my indiscretion.
Erika put her fingers to her lips to plead with the audience to be quiet. Moriarty shifted as he watched her move. The grace with which she moved was dazzling and made all the other dancers look awkward in comparison.
Just leave well enough alone.
Hush up,
Don't tell
Mama.
Shush up,
Don't tell Mama;
Don't tell Mama
Whatever you do.
If you had a secret,
You bet I would keep it.
Moriarty wanted to laugh at that line. Somehow every time they met, his cover was blown.. He wanted to make her pay for that. As she spun around, causing her skirt to lift a little, Moriarty decided that it could wait until after he had her. If he could -- after all, she was the Phantom's. Moriarty decided that was another reason to off the Phantom -- to free up this beauty in front of him. Wait a minute, hadn't he sworn never to let his desire for a woman influence his decisions again?
I would never tell on you.
You wouldn't want to get me
In a pickle,
And have her go and cut me off
Without a nickel.
So let's trust one another,
Keep this from my mother,
Though I'm still as pure as mountain snow.
You can tell my Uncle
Here and now
Cause he's my agent anyhow,
But don't tell Mama what you know.
You can tell my brother,
That ain't grim
'Cause if he squeals on me
I'll squeal on him,
But don't tell Mama, bitte
Don't tell Mama, please, Sir.
Don't tell Mama, what you know.
Suddenly Erika spun herself back into his lap. Moriarty gripped her waist to steady her and nearly blushed to find he was touching skin. Erika smiled dazzlingly at him as she pulled herself closer to him. He stared at her face, dumbfounded, as she put two fingers to his lips and brought her face very close to his. As her rich scent swarmed his nostrils, Moriarty decided the Phantom was a dead man.
If you see my Mummy,
Mum's the word!
Moriarty went wide-eyed as she kissed him softly. Before he could react she pulled away to the applause to the audience. Moriarty stared at her, dazed. Erika smirked, amused by his reaction. Gently, she traced his jaw and whispered, "I have wondered about how you tasted. Now I know. It was a pleasure seeing you again, Professor."
Erika gracefully slid out of his arms. With a swing in her hips, she walked backstage with the other girls. Moriarty watched her leave without a single protest. Fenwick looked at him, concerned. Soon frustration clouded Moriarty's eyes and Fenwick groaned. Now the master would be in a bad mood for the next week.
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Holmes was in a foul mood when he returned to his hotel room. Three hours searching and not a single lead to a break in the case. Sure had information but he had yet to the pieces together? He was certain that the young singer was the missing Noir girl. They looked very similar and even shared the same first name. However, she denied even knowing the girl, except she knew the father. It was suspicious to Holmes and didn't seem right. But he needed more evidence before he could show Lestrade.
Looking up, He found his partner asleep at his desk. Her pretty brunette head was laying on top of the Noir case. Papers were all over the desk. The woman had no respect for anything. Stalking over, he roughly shook her shoulder. Lestrade shifted slightly and sighed in her sleep. Holmes' brow furrowed together and he shook harder. Lestrade jumped awake.
Groggily, she looked around and grinned up at Holmes. Taking a deep breath, she began to stretch out her back. A foul odor filled her nose. Lestrade recognized the scent as cigarette smoke. Putting her arms down she glared at Holmes and noticed his clothing. He went undercover without her. Anger boiled hot in her heart and her gaze sharpened. Holmes stiffened, knowing this was going to lead to another fight.
"You went undercover without me!" Lestrade growled, "You could have told me. Even hinted at it."
"Well, If you hadn't been sleeping or blushing over that Count, you could have come," Holmes shot back, as he began to remove the makeup. "It's not as if you would have cared to, considering that I was looking for the Noir girl."
"Always the Noir girl. I agree she had it hard, but she is gone! Let her go. A young man's been murdered without a reason."
"There is always a reason. And your precious count knows what it is!" Holmes pointed out.
"He isn't mine. And for your information he called. The killer sent him a note. He wants to meet us tomorrow for dinner."
"No, Its you he wants to meet. He doesn't want me there," Holmes calmly said, "And you are letting him play you like an instrument."
"No one plays me. And I think you are jealous. Of what I'm not sure," Lestrade smirked.
Holmes gaped at her. "I am not. How can I be jealous of a criminal?"
"He is not a criminal. He was never convicted."
"He shot and killed a man! He tried to kill his lover at the same time. Is that why you are so ready to condemn her, because she was sleeping with the Count?" Holmes asked hotly, "In my time, men were more willing to kill a lover than women were. Besides it seems his family has connections to the underground."
"This isn't your time, Sherlock. Things change. And that's his family, not him."
"Not as much as you think. Take off these blinders, Beth. He doesn't care about you. He didn't even care about her or his brother."
"Why? Because he made no attempt to find her after she disappeared?"
"Exactly." Holmes nodded, "Wait -- 'disappeared'? You actually agree that she disappeared and didn't run away?"
Lestrade blushed brightly, "Well, after looking at her file, she either went into hiding willingly or was forced."
"I think she did it willingly. At the club tonight I saw a woman who could be her twin, but denies even knowing Erika Noir."
"And you think she is lying?" Lestrade pondered.
"I know she is. Why would she admit the truth to me?"
"Maybe we should go back and interview the employees."
"We will have to do it another way. The bouncer there gave me an evil look when I began to question her. And there are some many new leads. Moriarty is in town because of his minions are arguing."
Lestrade sank down on the bed thinking. She knew they needed to get into that club. Glancing up, she noticed Holmes thinking on the problem too. It was nice to be at peace with him again. She didn't like fighting with him. In fact, she felt like shit afterwards. If only they could stop fighting. Hopefully this time the peace would last.
Lestrade looked up, "What do you mean they are fighting?"
Holmes plopped him self into a chair, "It seems The De Chagny is defying his orders. Possibly by bringing us here."
Lestrade chuckled softly, "No that wouldn't make him happy."
"And there is another force gathering power in the Underground. It's called the Phantom. It seems there was a feud between The Phantom and The De Chagnies long before Moriarty entered the scene. Erik Noir V was an agent for the Phantom."
"Erika's father? He was a criminal?"
"Just an informant it seems. He would gather information and sell it to the highest bidder. At least he did until he got shot."
"By The Count. Do you think his brother's murder was a revenge killing?"
Sherlock sighed, "In all likely hood yes, But the question is who did it? Erika, the Phantom, or Moriarty?"
Lestrade grew pensive. As she turned over the matter, she began to wonder if they stumbled on to something bigger than they realized. She walked to the window of the hotel room and looked out over the bright Paris night. Amid the Bright lights was one corner of darkness that seemed to hold out. Lestrade squinted and realized it was the defunct Parisian Opera House. Lestrade stared at for a moment. She remembered the stories about the disfigured performer who lurked there during Holmes's times. Glancing at her partner she wondered if he every investigated the case. She turned to ask him when a flash of white caught her eyes. Turning she thought she saw some one on the balcony.
Grabbing her ionser she stepped out. Holmes noticed her alertness and followed with his cane. Lestrade looked around the balcony. Holmes looked as well. Lestrade sensed a movement out of the corner of her eye. Moving quickly, she aimed at the intruder. Holmes turned as their visitor emerged from the shadows. He was dressed in clothes resembling that of a Victorian's gentleman. His Brown hair was covered by a black hat. The face was covered back a simple white mask. Lestrade stared hard at the intruder's blue eyes.
Holmes spoke up first, "Who are you?"
A tenor voice answered the question, "Just a Phantom in the night."
"Well, you are under arrest." Lestrade stated.
The figure turned to face them fully, moonlight glinting off the steel sword in its hand. Lestrade saw the weapon and Fired before Holmes could stop her. The blast sailed towards the masked figure. Holmes was so sure the man was going to get hit that he didn't expect what was happened next. With a cat like grace the figures raised the sword. The blast deflected off the shiny metal and hurtles back at them. Lestrade froze in shock that the figure was able to deflect the blast. Holmes grabbed Lestrade and dragged her down.
They watched as the masked figure jumped off the railing. The two detectives quickly recovered and hurried to a railing. Looking over the edge, they saw the figure climb down the side of the building with it's cape whirling around it. Soon it blended into the shadows and disappeared from sight. Lestrade looked at Holmes curiously.
"It seems we have met the Legendary Phantom." Holmes stated softly.