Hours after they arrived from Rouen, Jodi immediately went back to the book. It was at 6 that she had to make her stopping point at chapter 14: The singular attitude of a safety pin. What felt like a minute was 5 minutes and she was out the door to the opera house. This time, they brought the two rubbings from the box and the binder, curious to see if any of it matches the lid on the coffin. Again, they came up with a blank. Brian shook his head, "There has to be something that is flying over our heads!" he said angrily, pounding his fists against the wall. "Damn it, why can't ONE clue pop out in front of us." Jodi was behind him, trying to calm him down.
"I am sure what you are saying is true, and we will figure this out." She said comfortingly. Brian sighed, rubbing his head and messing up his brunette hair. "I'm sorry… this just frustrates me. We have been here over 7 times in the past 7 days and still we cannot find anything to help with notes." As Brian sat down on the rim of the coffin, he looked down the hallway, seeing the cloaked figure watch them in the doorway.
"Hey!" the figure started to run, and at that Brian darted after him at incredible speed. "Hey!!" Jodi followed him as fast she could, just catching him capturing the cloaked figure.
The cloaked figure tried to fight back with a dagger that seemed to come out of nowhere. Jodi raced over to the two of them. She took the dagger out of his hands and had Brian take his hands off the stranger, getting onto this own to feet. "Who the hell are you? Why were watching us?" he asked angrily. The stranger removed his hood from his face, revealing a face with black hair and matching mustache his skin slightly tanned, looking in his late 20s or 30s. "If you really wish to know: I am Rahaja Khan." Brian's breathing slowed and calmed down.
Jodi approached him with him darting back in defense. "Why were you watching us?" she asked calmly. Rahaja looked at her finally, his eyes intense. "I had to. He is my responsibility." Jodi looked at him confused, "Dagnter hired you as a bodyguard?" The man shook his head, "No, it runs in my family. I was appointed to make sure he was safely protected." "I don't understand." Jodi confessed. Rahaja sighed in aggrivation.
"Years ago, one of my ancestors watched this man like a hawk. He was with him wherever he went, in shadow and in his box. Ever since, my ancestor's family would appoint someone to protect this man and make sure he would have his eternal rest that he needed." He explained, fixing the astrakhan cap on his head. Brian's eyes lit up, "Nadir!" he pointed at Rahaja. The man looked at Brian in puzzlement, "I beg your pardon, monsieur?" Brian's eyes still glittered in excitement, "Khan, Nadir Khan. Is he your ancestor?"
Rahaja thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes. In fact he is my great-great grand uncle." Brian looked up at Jodi in amazement, "The book, Dagnter was right the whole time. He existed in flesh and blood and there is living proof!" he pointed to Rahaja. Jodi looked down at Rahaja, and it suddenly hit her. "Of course he existed in the living flesh, didn't you read the novel?" Rahaja asked them. "Everyone in Paris has read it." Jodi sat down and then remember the flowers, "What about the flowers you left on the coffin?"
Rahaja pulled out the same entwined flowers from his cloak. "You mean these? Lilies are or pureness and the rose is love, my great-great grand uncle had a brotherly love for him since he saved his life from the Mazaderan royalties. I always thought that it could mean to pray for love for him since he found none in his life." Jodi noticed the way the man was holding the flowers, "You feel sorry for him, don't you?" "Of course I do, like any other human being!" Rahaja exclaimed.
Brian sighed in exhaustion, "We should return home, there is a lot we have hit upon today anyway." Just when Jodi and Brian were walking away, Rahaja touched Brian's back. "Monsieur, please put this on his grave when you leave. He needs all the pity in the world." Brian took the flowers from the man. "Alright, Goodnight, M. Khan." At that, the stranger left in the darkness. Once Jodi and Brian placed the lid back on the coffin, he placed the flowers on top of the lid. "You know, he is right." Jodi said, looking down at the lid. Brian nodded, "Yeah. Come on, we should go before Dagnter starts to wonder what we are doing."
Jodi lead the way out while Brian followed close behind her.