"Good Sir, I've released your men for the morning. I've been to the center of where we left our search last evening, and discovered an escape route, that I am very certain that must have been used by that monster." Raoul looked most seriously at the officer.
"With all due respect sir, could we call him the Phantom, it makes my work so much easier." The officer inquired. Raoul snorted, "it doesn't matter to me what we call him, he is a murderer, a kidnapper, a destroyer of all things good, call him the child of the devil for all I care. If you feel better giving him a name, so be it, as long as we understand that he must be brought to justice." Raoul said. "Fine, we shall call him the Phantom," the officer decided.
"Now tell me, what are your intentions with my men?" The officer asked. Raoul sat himself down in one of the chairs across the desk from the man. "We should search all of the inns, barns, cellars, carriages, any abandoned buildings. Really anywhere that one could hide. Unless he was able to procure a horse, and able to reach the outskirts of Paris by first light, he would have been observed by someone." The officer sat rubbing his scruffy chin as he listened to Raoul. "Of course public interest must be kept in mind. It is doubtful that he would terrorize this city now that he has what he came for…." The officer noticed the agitated look on Raoul's face, and straightened himself in his chair.
"It will take many men to accomplish this type of a search soon enough to have any benefit. Is it possible that the De Chagny family will be able to help us?" The officer looked curiously at Raoul. Raoul knew what the man was asking. "It's all about money isn't it? As if the taxes that are extracted from my family aren't enough, you'd like more for….for…just doing your civil service?"
The officer, looking a bit embarrassed for being so transparent. "It's just that resources are scarce now, with the fire and the ensuing mayhem. It would take a good twenty men or more to search Paris in a full day, and I've not that many to spare for it now."
Raoul rose from his chair, walking over to the window, grabbing the sash and glaring out it. "I will see that you and your reserve corps are duly compensated. Call them forth, for we will plan to leave by mid-afternoon. In the meantime, please have your men rest and take in a good meal. Once we begin the search we will not want to stop lest we lose our opportunity to snare him…..if he has not already left."
Raoul rose, and walked toward the door. "My father will return later today to make the necessary financial arrangements." The officer smiled, don't you be worrying about a thing, we'll see to it that it is all is arranged."
Raoul mounted his horse. He would look around the building himself while he waited for the men to assemble. The horse walked slowly around the large expanse of the building's perimeter. Raoul had never actually been all the way around the building before, function had never called for it. He was somewhat amazed to find the building was nearly as beautiful on all sides as it was at the front. No detail had been spared, no ornamental embellishment had been missed. The windows were all missing in the front of the building from the sheer heat of the fire that had raged there. Toward the back and on the far sides of the building, the stained glass windows were still intact, and it was obvious, that aside from the smoke that had penetrated that far, that portion of the building was no worse for wear. The building was not a total loss, but would most certainly take months or years to restore.
Raoul looked for any other hidden grates, poking around any grassy areas, or ones covered with leaves. He found no others. "This must have been his only escape route." Raoul thought to himself. Unless others traveled beyond somewhere into the city. It really mattered little now he supposed, as he was very certain that they had already escaped.
Raoul trotted around to the front of the building again, passing the horse stables, and the grand entrance. He found his way over to the front of the café he had visited that morning. Dismounting his horse, he pushed his way in through the heavy door. "Good afternoon to you sir." The shopkeeper said. "I'll need a few provisions, some water, a small loaf of bread, a bit of hard cheese." Raoul said, reaching into his pocket to gather some coins. The man hurriedly filled Raoul's order, packing it into a sack.
"Sir, perhaps you'd like some soup and bread before your search. Several other men have been in taking up their lunches so they could be ready. It pleased Raoul that the officer had taken him seriously, and was indeed assembling the group of men as Raoul sat. "Yes, I think that is a wise idea. I'll have what you mentioned."
Raoul walked back to the table he had occupied earlier, sitting his bag down on the floor. Soon a large bowl of broth with vegetables and large hunks of meat was before him. He really had no appetite, but thought it better to eat something warm than to have hunger pang him later. He dipped his spoon into the soup, moving it about, inhaling the steam. He tore a piece off of the loaf of bread, sopping in the soup, and raising it to his lips. The soup was warm, and the broth was tasty.
He fought his temptation not to eat, thinking Christine probably had gone without a meal, feeling guilty that he should be enjoying something when she could not. He shook his head, and proceeded to dunk bits of bread into the bowl until all of the broth had been consumed. He drank the glass of milk, and was standing by the table now. "Thank you for the meal." Raoul said, reaching into his pocket. "No, no, sir, this is my treat…you compensated me well enough this morning." Raoul put on his jacket and made his way to the door. Opening it with a large tug, he walked through and was pulling it closed.
"Sir?" The man called after Raoul. Raoul opened the door again. "About the bag of bread sir?" Raoul stepped back into the café. "Yes?" Raoul said anxiously. "I thought I ought to tell you that the bag I left there last night was still there this morning. In fact it's still there. I'll put out a fresh one tonight." Raoul nodded and exited the café.
Raoul made his way back towards the police office. He could see the men assembling, some on horseback, others on foot. All carrying a sack of some sort or another. "Good, they are coming prepared." One of the men pointed as Raoul approached. "Monsier De Chagny!" One called out. "We are nearly all here, do tell us what you would like to do…how you would like us to proceed." Raoul came to a hault and dismounted his horse. The man approached him, extending his hand to shake Raoul's. "Good sir, we are twenty-five strong today, and we are at your constant disposal." "Thank you sir. I'll be in the office until everyone is here." Raoul pointed toward the door, and went to, entering the buzzing hive.
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"Thank you Sara." Madame Giry rose, picking up her dishes, carrying them to the counter. "The dinner was wonderful." Meg followed her mother's lead. "I'm glad to have some company. I've not had such a pleasant visit in a great long while." Sara replied.
"So what are your plans today?" Sara asked, looking over her shoulder as she carried the remaining items to the kitchen. Meg and Madame Giry looked at one another, not certain how to respond. "I'm not quite sure yet…I suppose I should go the Opera House and see what if anything is left…and then tend to my charges. I assume that all found lodging for the night, but there are several whose parents shall have to be contacted to be sent back home, until further arrangements can be made." Madame Giry said looking at Meg whose face had paled at the thought of it all. "I suppose so." Sara said. "Let me be knowing if you need some help. I know most of the innkeepers on these streets, and I'd be happy to help."
Sara had busied herself boiling some water to do the dishes. Meg and Madame Giry ventured up the stairs, tidying up their room. Sara called from downstairs. "If you are needing some cloaks, I have several extra here that you may borrow." Madame Giry called down her thanks to Sara. "She is such a pleasant woman, a kind friend." Meg said to her mother who nodded her head in agreement.
"Mother, do you think anyone would have stayed in that awful place?" Meg inquired. "My child, I doubt it. The heat and smoke would have shooed out anyone who dared try." Madame Giry reached out and put a hand on Meg's shoulder. "We will see what remains of our Opera House my dear…then we shall look for your friends." Meg smiled, following her mother back down the staircase. "Thank you for the cloaks Sara." Meg called back to her as she and her mother departed.
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Christine lay for a long while, gently rubbing Erik's back. His long supple torso now relaxed. She marveled at how soft his skin was. Looking closely she could see small streaks of scars on his back, no doubt where he had been whipped and beaten. By whom she did not know. Erik's past was long and dark…the pain in one's eyes does not come without much suffering.
How gentle he was with her, having known so little compassion. His masked face lying down on the blanket, she marveled at his handsomeness. His father no doubt had been a handsome man, perhaps his mother an elegant woman. Such fine features belonged not to peasants Christine thought to herself. She smiled down at him, pulling the covers up over his shoulders. He was relaxed, he was happy, and she oddly felt whole. What she had hoped to give him, in this strange place, she had found herself.
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The afternoon was long, the search was thorough. Not one inn was unexplored, not one barn unexamined. Every coachman, every stable, every building. The search was exhausting. It was past the dinner hour now, and the light was beginning to fail. The men began to speak of a nights' rest and a warm fire.
The individual groups were set to meet at half-past six at the police office. Raoul's small contingent was the last to arrive at the office. Raoul searched the group of men with his eyes, looking for any hopeful indication that something had been found, a rumor, a whisper, anything.
As each group reported to the commanding officer, it became painfully obvious that the day's search had produced nothing. Raoul sat down on an overturned crate, leaning back against the wall. Another fruitless day. He could only hope that the night would reveal more, or at the least provide some relief to the discomfort he had deep within his heart.
"Sir, I do not know what to tell you. Nothing out of the ordinary…nothing suspicious at least, in light of the fire, and the mass of people scurrying away from it." The officer looked at Raoul. "What are your intentions Sir?" Raoul looked wearily at all the men. "I think another search, tomorrow, at first light. We will split up, different groups going to different parts of the city. Perhaps a days time will produce more evidence."
The officer walked back to the group, giving orders, issuing thanks. The men began to break up and depart. Some walking past Raoul as he sat now, giving pitiful glances, conveying their apologies with their eyes.
As the last of them left, Raoul shook the officer's hand, thanking him for his work. Raoul walked over to his horse as the stableman had brought him back after brushing and primping him. "Quite a steed sir." The officer said as he patted the animal's front quarter. "Yes, a gift from my father, for my impending nuptials." With that Raoul clicked his tongue and gave the horse a quick jab in his rib cage. He road off toward the western horizon, the setting sun gleaming bright orange before him. "Pitiful" the officer said, shaking his head as he walked back towards his office.