A/N: This will most probably be my last addition to this fanfiction before a week-long hiatus. Do not worry – I am definetly not leaving this one or anything. I will just be unable to update for all of next week (I will probably get back to updating next Monday or so).
A/N: Once again, thank you to all of my readers and reviewers!
Disclaimer: I do not own Les Miserables nor any of the characters in any way, shape, or form. Only the plot is mine.
"And how would you figure that?" Marius inquired. He leaned slightly against the wall, examining his hat with far more detail than was truly necessary.
"Well, one could say that a little bird told me," Javert murmured. "It is not of your concern. In any case, we need to decide how to proceed with this." He reached down as if to put his hands in his coat pockets, but then he remembered that his coat was still in the main room of the station. "Be right back in a moment," he stated, walking out the door of the little office and slamming the heavy door behind him.
When he had left, a very awkward silence set upon the office. Marius set his hat on the desk, and then turned to Gavroche. "I swear that I have seen you before, but where?" he questioned.
"Wouldn't know, I wouldn't know…" Gavroche mumbled. He wondered if Javert would acquiesce to his talking with Marius, but he supposed it did not really matter. After all, he was probably going to be arrested anyway, once all of this was over. Unless he could get away and escape. But that was not very likely under the keen, watchful eyes of Inspector Javert. He was known fairly well throughout the world of the streets of Paris. Escape, at the moment at least, was not a viable option.
"Why are you here, anyway?" Marius asked, staring at Gavroche. "I think I've seen you out on the streets sometime or another…"
"I'm 'ere 'cause I am!" Gavroche retorted. "An' I don't want to talk 'bout it."
"Alright, then," Marius said, noticeably backing off. Of course, right at that moment, Inspector Javert reentered the little office, his greatcoat slung across one arm and his black hat in his hand.
"Now, to business," Javert began. He set his coat over his chair's back. He made to lay his hat on the table, but he was met with the sight of Marius's hat. He stared pointedly at it, until Marius figured everything out and removed his hat from the table. Javert nodded, almost in thought, and then put his hat on the table with a sigh.
"I need to know something, first and foremost," Javert said, turning to look at Marius. "Will you be frightened of these men?"
"I mean…No, no, I don't think so," Marius replied, a tinge of insolence to his tone. Javert rolled his eyes. These student-dandies, thinking they owned the world, and if someone were to deny their perfect manliness or courage…
"That will be good enough, then," Javert said. "Do you have a key, one that you use to let yourself in at night after the landlady has gone to bed?"
"Uh, yes, yes I do," Marius replied. "Why do you ask me?" His voice was still gruff, as if he was still offended by Javert's remark about his courage and tenacity.
"Do you have it with you?" Javert asked, as way of response. It was really an awful roundabout way to go about things…
"Yes, I do."
"Give it to me, if you will," Javert said. He stretched out his hand for it, nodding when Marius dug the little silver key out of his pocket and dropped it in his hand. "Thank you. This will help a lot, and will certainly save a few doors from needing repairs." In addition, keys were a lot less suspicious and noisy than picking locks and breaking down doors.
"How many men will you bring with you?" Marius asked.
"Well, let us see. There will be seven of them, correct?" Inspector Javert inquired.
"Yes, yes, there will be seven. Unless they bring more," Marius replied. He moved to sit in Javert's vacant chair, but was stopped by a wave of the Inspector's hand. He moved back, then, to lean against the wall, a dejected look upon his face.
"Then we shall assume seven. I shall bring fourteen, and plus me that makes fifteen. That should be a suitable, strong number," Javert said. "Is there anything else you should like to add?"
"Oh, but Inspector! What of the white-haired man, their intended victim, and his daughter!" Marius exclaimed. A sob almost began to creep into his voice, but he urgently pushed it back down. "What of them?"
"I shall do my utmost. Do not fret, Pontmercy. It will all be settled, if you do your part," Javert said with a sigh. Love, that force that always got in the way…was striking again, this time upon Marius Pontmercy. Hopefully it would not affect the outcome of the Gorbeau tenement arrest.
"What is my part to be, then?" Marius asked.
Javert turned and reached out to dig into his greatcoat pockets. From their depths he revealed two small pistols made of steel. These he handed to Marius. "Take these, if you will. Both pistols are loaded, each with two bullets. You need to go home and act as if you have gone out. Lock your door, do what you must. They have to believe that you have left. This is very important. Do you understand so far?"
"Yes, I do, Inspector. Then what must I do?" Marius asked. He took the pistols from Javert's hands, and then slid them into a side pocket of his coat.
"No, no! Put them in your pants pockets. They attract far too much attention otherwise!" Javert exclaimed. After Marius did as he asked, he continued.
"Then, Pontmercy, you must look through the little hole in the wall that you described to me earlier. People will come into the Jondrette flat; let them go on a little. They must believe that they are safe, that we know nothing of their plot. When the situation has gone on for some time, and you figure that it is time enough to stop it, fire one of these pistols. Just one shot to the air, to the ceiling, wherever you see fit. But do not fire it too soon; we must not give them time to escape before my men and I arrive. The rest you shall leave to me. Remember, not too soon!" Javert said.
"Alright, I think I have it. Let the matter go on, then fire a pistol," Marius repeated. "And not too soon."
"Correct. Now, what is the time?" He glanced at a little clock that hung on one of the walls. "Half-past two, it seems. You said six, right?"
"Yes, six o'clock in the evening. Tonight," Marius confirmed.
"Good, then, for I have just enough time," Inspector Javert said with a nod. "Do not forget anything at all. One pistol shot."
"Alright, I have it all," Marius said. He turned, putting his hat back on his head, and made to leave.
"By the way, Pontmercy, if you need me: just ask for Inspector Javert!" Javert said in way of good-bye. Marius nodded, then left the room.
Gavroche looked up at Javert. "So, are ya gonna…."
"Yes. Tonight, we are storming the Gorbeau tenement. And you are coming with me."