Chapter 3

Juste un Petit Fou

(Just a Little Crazy)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters/items/other stuff from Hunchback of Notre Dame. They belong to Disney and Victor Hugo (I strongly recommend reading the original – Hugo is simply brilliant). I only use them for my own pleasure in writing, but I don't make a dime out of it, so please don't sue. All original characters are my own creation.

Author's Note: This chapter was something that, even having already written it a while ago, was even harder still to edit. I still do not think it is exactly right, but I find this version much smoother and flowing than its previous edition. Enjoy…

Judge Claude Frollo was a force to be reckoned with, especially when he was in a particularly foul mood. Today was one of those days when, if you saw the Minister walking down the streets, you would quickly run in the opposite direction. His morning thus far had been one disaster after another. Just thinking about the problems that had already arose within the first few hours of his waking caused a slight pressure to build behind his temples.

As Minister of Justice, it was his job to dispense punishment and justice out to the criminals of Paris. Claude was known for dealing out harsh punishments even for the pettiest of crimes and having a very firm standing on what he believes to be justice. Most of his energy, however, was directed towards taking down the gypsy population that roamed the streets of Paris before returning to their hiding place, the Court of Miracles. For many years, Claude had been searching for this fabled sanctuary, but had yet to locate it. Finally, he became aware that that he did not need to take out the gypsies' home, but rather their leader – Bexhet Trouillefou. Claude did not trust his normal guards and spies to complete the task, so he had sent the Captain of the Guards out to find some outsiders who could. It had been six weeks since he had assigned the task to the captain and was being to grow impatient for results.

Standing at the wall-length stained-glass window in his small mansion outside of the Palace of Justice, Claude looked down on the people he was charged to judge. Parisians were going about their business – women buying clothes and food, children playing amongst themselves in the streets, men returning home for a bite before continuing their work day or going to a local pub for a drink. He thought of it as a pleasant sight that was only ruined by the sprinklings of brown amongst the white of the French.

Gypsies – the bane of his very existence. Every day he would do his daily ritual of watching the people of the city go by after his lunch and every day his eyes would drift to the gypsies who plagued the streets. Occasionally, his day would be brightened if he was able to observe one of his guards taking a gypsy in to be questioned, tortured, and, most likely, killed. The mere thought brought a sadistic smile to his face. However, like much of the beginning of the day, the gypsies were freely roaming the streets and there was not a single guard in sight.

A short and polite knock was heard at his office's mahogany door and he called out for the person to enter. It was one of Frollo's most trusted advisors and leaders of his own ring of spies - Benoît Blanc. Benoît was a thin, frail-looking man belying his strength and shrewdness. His hair was thin, white and straggly, falling to his shoulders and having several chucks missing while his skin was pale, nearly translucent, and sickly. Adding to this, his bones were clearly defined as if he had not eaten, but the old man actually had quite the appetite, and his once tall frame was now hunched over, making him appear shorter than he actually was. Claude had trusted Benoît with giving him sound advice and keeping tabs on his numerous spies for nearly three decades.

Claude walked over to his old friend who shut the door behind himself. The two shook hands and settled into two burgundy, high-backed, leather seats, each assuming their own comfortable position.

"My dearest friend, how has life been treating you?"

"The same as you from the looks of it. Just this morning I was nearly robbed by a gypsy man."

"That is grave news indeed."

Claude entwined his fingers together, resting his elbows on his knees, allowing him to lean forward and rest his head on his outstretched thumbs. His eyes had narrowed and his lips had thinned upon hearing this. The day was getting worse and worse.

"Can you not get your guards to better protect the fair citizens of Paris?"

"I will make sure to report this to the Captain. I assure you, this will not happen again."

Claude nodded his head, offering his apologies to Benoît. He would have to speak with the Captain of the Guard. Not only were the gypsies freely roaming the city, they were now getting cocky enough as to attempt to rob his chief advisor and this would simply not do. His friend interrupted his thoughts before he could further analyze the situation.

"Any luck with your search?"

"I am to assume you mean the assassination of that foul Bexhet Trouillefou." Claude sat up quite suddenly, clenching his hand into a fist before releasing his grip, noting the half-moon groves in his palm. "Unfortunately, this is yet another area that my captain is failing in. It has been six weeks and still no word of a competent bounty hunter to get the job done. If he does not produce one soon and discipline his men into shape, I fear Paris will have a new Captain of the Guard."

"Which might not be a terrible thing if this man is as lacking as you say he is."

"He is capable enough. I believe he truly puts forth his best, but, for some reason, is constantly lagging in everything. Perhaps a new position needs to be assigned for the captain. I hear a war is going on. Perhaps that is where he truly should be."

Benoît chuckled and Claude soon joined in. Though the Captain of the Guard was a competent fighter neither believed him capable of surviving any battle. They were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Claude and Benoît stood up and a man entered the door. It was the Captain of the Guards, Phoebus de Chateaupers, whom the two elderly men had just been talking about. Phoebus bowed to the two men, knowing his station, and waited to be addressed.

"Captain de Chateaupers. I was hoping I could have a word with you."

"Of course, Minister."

"Please, sit down."

Claude indicated to the chair Benoît had previously occupied. His head advisor took the hint and left the Minister to deal with the captain. Phoebus bowed his head as the advisor passed and Benoît nodded to him, a smile on his face. Once Benoît had exited the room, Phoebus made his way to the burgundy leather chair, but did not sit, waiting for the Minister.

Claude Frollo circled his Captain of the Guard, eyeing him up. Six weeks without any good news and now the gypsies were becoming even more unruly; Claude was most displeased. After completing a circle around Phoebus, he sat down behind his desk and waited for the captain to sit down as well. Upon sitting, Phoebus quickly began his report.

"Minister, I have good news for you."

"It better be spectacular news as Advisor Blanc has informed me he was almost robbed this morning by a gypsy."

Phoebus gaped at the Minister, clearly shocked that he heard the news. He had already heard of the incident and had disciplined the offending officer, demoting him to a sergeant and putting him on the night shift. Unfortunately, it did not matter how much discipline he dealt out as the Minister would be angry that the incident happened in the first place.

"I have heard Minister. Sergeant Rousset has been properly disciplined and my men have been warned that they cannot allow such things to happen to any of our city's citizens, whether peasants or nobles."

"Very good, Captain." Claude leaned back in his chair, his fingers again entwining themselves. He paused for a good two minutes, allowing the Captain to sweat in his seat. He finally continued. "Your news?"

Phoebus straightened himself out, sitting upright and clearing his face of emotion. He was surprised when the Minister did not reprimand him for the attempted robbery and tried to hide it; it was most unusual for the Minister not to be angered by such an episode. However, Phoebus thanked his lucky stars and decided to ignore this strange attitude from the Minister.

"I have found two bounty hunters who are willing to take the job, sir."

Claude sat up, startled by the news, before relaxing again, fixing his robes around him. He had expected to hear some mundane report of a countryside dispute being settled or something of the sort, but Claude's day was finally looking up. Claude quickly checked his excitement and cleared his throat.

"The details, Captain."

"They will be arriving, sir, at one o'clock at the Palace of Justice. They are a man and a woman. The man is tall and muscular, pale skin, bright red hair, blue eyes. The woman is shorter, thick black hair, dark eyes, and… dark skin, sir."

Claude's eyebrow quirked at this last bit of information. What was the Captain playing at?

"A gypsy woman, Captain?"

"Yes, sir. A woman. And, she certainly has the physical features of a gypsy." Phoebus paused, not wanting to continue, but did so at the nodding of his superior's head, the Minister clearly noticing the confusion in the Captain's eyes. "What I don't understand, sir, is why would she take a job that involved assassinating two of her kind?"

"A good question, Captain de Chateaupers, and one I hope will be answered at our meeting. Is there anything else you wish to report?" Phoebus shook his head, anxious to get out of the Minister's sight before the meeting took a turn for the worst. "You are dismissed."

Phoebus stood up, bowed, and left the room. He was happy to escape the Minister as he truly despised working for the man. However, his job demanded that he serve under those he least liked and dealt with it; he, himself, was treated well for the most part and his position guaranteed him safety.

Claude leaned back in his chair, a smile on his face, and was actually quite pleased with his captain's work. If this woman was indeed a gypsy, it could be a problem, but, at the same time, a blessing.

Author's Note: This chapter was originally never supposed to be included in the story, but I so greatly enjoyed creating the character of Benoît when I started this fan fiction that I had to include him in some way. This was a bit shorter than the rest of but still just as important.