Authors Note: I'm amazed by the number of readers this piece has! You guys are wonderful with all of the reviews and PMs. Honestly you guys spoil me. As promised here is the next chapter.
I also want to thank dear king, my new Beta! Honestly she's very helpful and I probably wouldn't have posted something this clean.
I will warn you, the next chapter will take longer, I injured my finger at work so I need to take a few days off from typing. Sorry guys. Yes I still have my fingers; it's more of a glorified paper cut. It just hurts. Give me a few days and I will be as good as new.
Chapter 18: Gentlemen, Germans and Tortes
Pain, it throbbed through Sebastian's body as the Pậtissier shifted to wake up. Everything ached, yet that wasn't the biggest problem; he had been sleeping naked on the kitchen floor, Ciel hadn't even bothered to take him to bed. His hips hurt and he honestly swore that the young man's length was still wedged inside. His skin felt tight from the olive oil, it smelt and he just wanted to take a shower. Sebastian slowly sat up, his hips were aching and his head hurt. The Pậtissier groaned as he slowly picked himself up off the floor, he should have fought harder, he should have run, yet his body had frozen up. After several tries, the raven haired man finally got off of the tile. "Ow," he whimpered as he gripped the counter for support, images of the night before flashed in his mind and he felt his stomach churn. Ciel had violated him and didn't even have the decency to put him to bed after the deed. Ciel may have been drunk but even drunks tend to sober up when their partner passes out.
Sebastian's hips trembled, as he attempted to stay on his feet and not fall to the floor. "How am I going to work like this?" he whispered. It took everything he had to simply stand, let alone walk. He was about to attempt it when he felt something gush out of him. It was hot and sticky as it ran out of his entrance and down his legs, a reminder of what Ciel had done. He looked over his shoulder at his reflection in the refrigerator. It was cream white and thick, he knew immediately it was Ciel's. Dried ribbons of blood were on the insides of his thighs which explained why he was in so much pain. Ciel had torn him. The young man had done him thoroughly and didn't even clean him up, "Shower," the Pậtissier muttered as he willed himself to move. Each step was agony as he retreated to the safety of the servant's quarters.
Once inside he staggered to the bathroom, which he hadn't taken a look inside of yet, he could only hope that there was a shower so he wouldn't have to try and get out of a tub. He stumbled into the bathroom and clutched the sink before closing the door, he was honestly thankful Ciel had a shower put in. After a moment of pushing the pain to the back of his mind he turned on the hot water and listened to it fall, it tapped against the tile reminding him that no matter how he scrubbed he would never be able to get the traces of the men who slept with him out of his mind. Their hands spreading over his skin, making it crawl. Sebastian slipped into the hot water and felt it roll over his shoulders. Slowly washing the stickiness down the drain.
His head bowed as the memories of the night before came flooding back, he had to get away, even if Ciel purchased his debt, he would find another way to repay him. He just couldn't handle another round of rough sex, he couldn't stand it. His arms wrapped around himself, he was praying for a different pair of arms to embrace him rather than his own. A pair that would save him from the hell he was living, to stop all the torment and set him free. How he desired to live a life that was his, tears fell from his eyes, "It hurts," he whispered in agony. His entrance throbbed and he realized there was probably more of Ciel's seed inside of him. That foul and sticky substance was still inside of him, poisoning him with darkness. Sebastian slowly leaned against the cool white tiles and slipped his hand down his sore backside.
He had more than enough experience doing this, Francis always came inside of him and left it there. Sebastian was left to clean himself up, a hiss left his lips as he slowly slipped a finger inside of himself and pushed it as far as he could. His eyes watered and he honestly wanted to stop, but he couldn't handle the feeling of another man's seed inside of him. His finger swirled around inside of him and he whimpered, his teeth sank into his lower lip harshly, drawing blood as he continued. After a moment he finally managed to get the rest of it out and leaned his head on the tile. He closed his eyes and felt his legs give way again, he slipped to the floor of the shower and whimpered, "Someone save me." He looked up at the ceiling as the water hit his face, it was harsh and soaked his hair all the way through. He could feel his black hair stick to the sides of his face as his eyes burned with tears. He felt so alone again, "Please, save me," he whispered.
~~xXx~~
Silk sheets rustled as a rather drowsy dark haired man rose from his slumber. His broad back flexed as he threw his arms over his head and stretched them. The sun washed over his skin, warming it, yet it did nothing to chase away the uneasiness he felt. Sebastian hadn't called him and now he was really worried about what was going on. He knew that the young man was currently with the owner, from what Alois told him Ciel was smashed. Claude had seen Ciel in that state, his personality flipped and somehow his libido ruled his every action. Lizzy never got a break on those nights in which the young man was wrapped in lust. He swung his legs over the bed and ran his hands through his hair.
Claude had been to Sebastian's flat only to learn that he had moved out. No one knew where he had gone to, it frightened him. His golden eyes narrowed as they glanced at the silent mobile on the night stand. Sebastian hadn't contacted him and it was taking everything he had to not pick up the device and call him. Claude heaved a sigh as he ran his hand over his face, "What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered before reaching for his black framed glasses. He had two pairs, one for work and one for home. His hair was a mess as always and he groaned as he slipped out of bed and ran a hand through it. He wanted Sebastian in his arms, to hold him and take away his pain. They had passed one another so many times before now, he just wanted to capture the chef. Yet, even now, forces worked to pull them apart. He didn't want to lose his chance at happiness with him, but to hurt him was something he also wanted to avoid.
Claude got out of bed and snatched his mobile from the table before wandering into the kitchen for a very necessary cup of coffee. He had to chase the sleep from his brain and hoped that it would somehow ease the worry. Before Claude could even finish measuring the coffee his mobile rang violently. In seconds it was in his hand, "Faustus," he said swiftly, silently praying it was the call he had been waiting for. "Claude!" chirped the obnoxious voice of one Alois Trancy. Instantaneously Claude had hung up and tossed the phone on the island. He hummed as he returned to making coffee only to be interrupted again. Alois was probably somewhere he didn't know, after all he was plastered. He groaned as he picked it up, "What is it?" he asked as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Guess where I am?" Alois said as he giggled like a schoolgirl, Claude honestly hated this game. "Where?" he asked with a hint of irritation. "Oi! You can't make two calls!" shouted a gruff voice in the background. Claude's eyes snapped open and he growled, "Alois, where are you?" The blond pulled away and he could hear the clatter in the background. "It's not my fault! He hung up on me! Just check the bloody records!" he shouted angrily. Claude leaned on the island and shook his head, he was beginning to wonder what he had done in a past life to deserve this. "Oh I'm currently at Scotland Yard with this adorable guard! Apparently bringing pink flamingos and placing them strategically on another rich person's lawn is illegal. As is, running through a park flashing people, dancing in a fountain wearing a bartender's apron, and... oh yeah... I stole a really girly bike to do jumps with," explained Alois.
The Head Chef paled and stared blankly, "Something tells me that isn't all of it," he commented. He could hear a hum on the other end as Alois went through all of it in his head, "That's not even scratching the surface," he replied with a note of pride. Claude felt his stomach churn and he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why didn't you call your uncle?" he asked after a moment. Bailing Alois out of jail this early in the morning wasn't his idea of a good start. There was silence, clearly he hadn't thought of that or he didn't remember the number. "Why would I call Uncle Aleister?" he asked innocently. It was taking everything Claude had to not jump through the phone and strangle him. "Oh I don't know... he's a VICE COUNT!" Claude shouted angrily. Part of him wondered if Alois' low IQ was because of his genes or some rare disease that he could contract at any moment. "Really? I thought he just had a nice house," replied Alois. Claude's head hit the wooden counter of the island and he moaned, "Hey I only have three minutes, so you coming or not?" asked Alois eagerly.
"Yeah, I'll pick up the king of the party animals," he commented as he pushed himself off the island and walked back to his bedroom, "How much is your bail anyway?" he asked hesitantly. He heard Alois talking to a guard, he wasn't sure if the blond was attempting to pick him up or was actually asking. "Apparently 500 pounds," replied Alois. Claude's jaw dropped and he dropped the phone. "Claude?" called a familiar voice. He was shaking with rage, "I'm going to kill you!" he shouted angrily. "Claude, I've gotta go, laters!" he cried with joy.
~~xXx~~
Ciel slowly roused, his head was throbbing, he honestly couldn't remember what happened the night before. "I really hate parties," he muttered as he slowly sat up, he looked down and realized he was sleeping nude, which was odd considering there wasn't anyone to do that with. Lizzy was in Paris and Sebastian was a man. The slate haired young man slowly got out of bed and absently began to wonder where Sebastian was, he should have been able to hear someone cooking, yet the flat was still. "Perhaps he's asleep," he commented as he glanced over at his alarm clock, it was one in the afternoon. Part of him couldn't believe he had managed to sleep so late, yet with the current throbbing in his head it was more impressive he hadn't given himself alcohol poisoning. He couldn't' remember the number of drinks he had consumed that night.
"Pants," he grumbled as he walked over to his closet and snatched a set of track he shimmed into them he attempted to remember just what happened that night. He could remember the monotonous waltz as the women and men spun in circles around the room. Alois had joined him and they were talking about Ciel's sex drive. The young man sighed as he walked through the flat, everything else after that was a blur. He finally made it into the kitchen and looked around curiously. Sebastian hadn't even stepped in it and there was the strong scent of olive oil. It smelt as though someone had spilt a bottle of it on the floor. "I'll have him clean it," he muttered as he walked around the island and through the servants quarters.
"I can't believe I have to wake him up," he commented as he walked through the hallway. He paused outside of the bleak and simple door that lead to the Pậtissier's room. "Oi, Sebastian, wake up! It's time to cook I'm starving," Ciel called through the door. It was silent on the other side. Ciel huffed as he opened the door and barged into the room, "Sebastian?" he asked curiously as he looked around. The bed didn't even look like he had slept in it the night before. There wasn't even dirty clothing from the day before anywhere, "Odd," he commented as he left the room.
It seemed as though Sebastian had vanished, "Perhaps he's out shopping," he commented as he walked back into the kitchen, he walked toward the black counter and his foot slipped on something slick. "What?" he asked in confusion as he gripped the granite counter for support so he didn't fall. His sapphire eyes fell on the floor and he noticed a bottle of olive oil on it's side and a great deal of the slick substance on the tile. "Just because he isn't at work doesn't mean that he doesn't have to clean up after himself," he spat as he slowly bent over to pick it up. For the most part the glass bottle was dry, thankfully it hadn't shattered, but he remembered it being fairly far back on the counter. How it ended up on the floor confused him, especially since the black cap wasn't anywhere in sight.
He was about to stand up again when a crimson flower caught his attention. Smeared in the dried oil on the kitchen floor were several drops of bright red liquid. He hummed as he swept his finger over it and noticed the texture was very different. It reminded him of the crimson he had found on his handkerchief, those beautiful flowers that tainted the linen. He froze and bolted up right, his eyes were locked on a larger puddle, "What?" he asked in confusion. The images of the Pậtissier crying out for mercy flickered in his head. That soft skin had been under his fingertips, those lips that were quirked up in a smirk had parted for his cock and he felt a wave of sickness hit him. Sebastian's cries echoed in his ears as he remembered entering the chef, Ciel's hand covered his mouth and he looked away from the floor, "What have I-?" he asked in a panic.
That night Alois had been joking about having sex with the Pậtissier and somehow in his drunken haze he had made it reality. Now he was in trouble, Sebastian hadn't consented, he had technically raped the man. His world was being tipped on its head as he looked at the blood, there was one person he knew he could call to ask about this, the one person who had more experience, Alois. As much as he didn't want to ask the blond he was playing against, he had to. There was blood on the floor, he had actually hurt the chef. He placed the glass bottle on the table and looked at it, "If I call him he's bound to tell others, but what if I actually hurt him," he muttered. His head was a mess and the massive hangover he was fighting wasn't helping.
Everything was a mess, he wanted to hurt Sebastian but never like that. To chain him down and keep him in his grasp, break his wings even but never like that. He desired a dignified and clever way to do it, by raping Sebastian he was no better than a back alley thug. "What the fuck do I do?" he asked as he looked at the bottle as though it were somehow going to reply to his question. He drew a deep breath before picking up the bottle and placing it in the trash, he wasn't going to call Alois, instead he was going to find Sebastian and figure out what to do when he got there. He didn't need the bartender to find out just what Ciel had done, it disgusted him already if Alois found out he would surely berate Ciel.
Alois himself was a victim of abuse and rape, he had more run ins with the two demons than anyone. Rape was the one thing the blond wouldn't stand for and to learn that his friend had done such a thing to an employee no less would disgust him. The slate haired young man snatched his phone off the charger and dialed an all too familiar number, the one of the private detective Vincent used, Diederich. He held the sleek device to his ear and waited for the man to answer. "Vincent for the thousandth time, I won't come and play billiards tonight! You pay me to work, not as a play-date!" the German replied gruffly. Ciel paused for a moment, he had forgotten that the man was a friend of his father's since school. Which meant it was normal for him to use his father's given name freely. "It's Ciel," the young man replied and he sword he could hear Diedrich drop his coffee cup.
"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your call, Ciel?" he asked as graciously as possible, Ciel could still hear the irritation in his voice. Diedrich was like a loyal German attack dog, his father would take off the leash and Diedrich would attack, no questions asked, all that mattered was that the law was being broken. "I need you to find someone, he owes me a great deal of money and I would like it back," he explained briefly. He could hear a pen scratching on the other end, "Fine, what does he look like?" he asked after a moment. Ciel grinned wickedly; if Diedrich knew just what Ciel was doing to the man he would never comply, but he was loyal to Vincent and he wasn't about to lose his relationship to the man. "Rather tall, black messy hair, pale white skin and red eyes. His name is Sebastian Michaelis," he replied, "I'll text you his previous address."
There was a pause, "Ciel, isn't that the name of your Pậtissier?" he asked. Ciel hummed, of course that detail didn't escape the German. "Yes," he replied smoothly as he sat on his bed and leaned back on his hand. Diedrich was quite, clearly he was thinking about this. "What do you mean he owes you money?" he asked after a moment. Now he was snooping so that he could report this event to Vincent. Loyal to ones master as always, "It's nothing important, find him. Don't tell my father, think of it as me owing you a favor," he commented. He had to save face, he didn't need his father to find out about this. "Fine, I will look for him, but this better not escalate," Diedrich replied before hanging up. Ciel tapped his mobile to his chin and sighed, "I don't plan on allowing that, but if I have to, I will take care of this," he commented.
~~xXx~~
Sebastian continued down the street, his back was still in pain as he looked around the streets. He couldn't find a reason to continue living with Ciel, he just wanted to run from it all. The haunting tune of the music box, Ciel's rough treatment, he wanted it all to disappear. He turned on the ball of his foot and continued down another street, he was walking back to his old flat. He honestly didn't understand why he was going back there, it made no sense. Angela had beaten him and it was already in the hands of another tenant. He could feel a pair of eyes following him, he was being watched and he hated the feeling.
For as long as he could remember someone was watching him, Francis would watch him through the window and smile with glee on nights of the full moon. Other chefs would watch him enviously as he prepared desserts, young women would watch him to see if they could pick him up. Even Ciel watched him like a hawk, waiting for him to fall, he was tired of being watched and prayed upon. When he moved to London he was supposed to get away from it all, break free of all the hateful glares, jealous glances and looks of general disgust when they learned who his father was.
His footsteps echoed as he walked down a familiar street and stopped before his old apartment complex. "Why did my life become like this? I didn't do anything to deserve this," he commented as he felt the pain in his hips intensify. Every movement hurt, and yet he was standing outside the building. It wasn't a home, it was just a place with concrete walls, floors and glass windows. While he had lived there he hadn't known a single person. Pastries were his life, and yet the person who hired him to make them had hurt him. He looked at his hands, "I, have no purpose but to serve another person," he muttered as he looked up, "do I?" he asked.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see a rather tall German with black hair and piercing eyes looked through him. He was in a long green trench and was holding a small camera in his hands. If it weren't for the fact that he was standing in a pair of well polished shoes and carrying a notebook, Sebastian would have thought he was a land developer. "Even now I can't escape can I?" he asked as he looked at the man, his eyes were piercing and seemed to see right though Sebastian. The Pậtissier turned on his heel and walked toward the rather broad shouldered German. The man looked utterly confused as the Pậtissier stopped before him. "Ciel sent you," Sebastian said slowly. The words themselves were laced with sadness.
"Ja," replied the man slowly, his voice was harsh and he could hear what remained of his German accent in his voice. "I suppose I have to return to hell," he whispered as he bowed his head. The other man seemed to sense something wasn't right, "Would you like me to drive you back?" he asked after a moment. There was a pause as Sebastian debated if he should accept the stranger's offer or run from it. Kindness was something he was honestly unfamiliar with, sure he had been taught by the rough baker but that had a price, as soon as the baker had learned who his father was, Sebastian was told to deliver some pastries to a man in Paris. Little did he know he had just been sent away yet again. "What will it cost me?" asked Sebastian hesitantly. Everything had a price.
The man was quiet as he capped his pen and slipped it into his coat, as well as the notebook. He hummed and looked at the chef, "Well, I don't need cash but dessert would be nice," he commented. Clearly this man knew who he was, "Dessert?" asked Sebastian curiously as he looked at the pair of brown eyes that were gazing down at him. "Dessert and coffee," he stated smoothly, "You honestly can't have one without the other." Sebastian noticed how serious the man was about this matter and chuckled a little, a small smile curved his lips, causing the PI to smile. "So, will you treat me?" asked the man with a hint of curiosity. Sebastian looked at him and nodded, "Good, I'm Diedrich, Vincent calls me Dee," he replied with an outstretched hand. Sebastian took the man's hand and shook it, the name Vincent was familiar however he wasn't sure from where.
"It's nice to meet you Diedrich," Sebastian replied, "What kind of desert shall I make?" Diedrich paused and thought for a moment. Mulling the idea over in his head, "Something that isn't very sweet, a little tart but I happen to like chocolate. Is that enough for you to work with?" he asked. Sebastian stared. The German was serious, he honestly wanted just dessert and coffee, out of all the things people wanted from him, something that simple was unheard of. Part of him began to wonder just what this man's relation to the Phantomhives was. "How about un Framboise et chocolat Torte?" asked Sebastian with a smile. The German stared at him and hummed, "I've had a bad experience with torte, how can yours not be sweet?" he asked. Sebastian grinned and chuckled, clearly Diedrich didn't know anything about his craft which made it even more amusing. "I can do anything with ingredients, an oven and a touch of magic," he replied.
Diedrich nodded and showed Sebastian to his car, "Do you like working at Ciel?" he asked after a moment. The young man stiffened and looked at him, "The kitchen is like a dream, and the staff is very professional," he replied, he wasn't going to allow Diedrich in. Even if he seemed nice, he was working for Ciel after all. He gazed out the window as they drove to Ciel. "I see, and the owner?" asked Diedrich curiously, of course he wanted to know what Sebastian thought of his employer. He hummed, in all honestly he saw Ciel as a spoiled brat trapped inside a twenty year old body, a rapist who showed no mercy, and one of the sources of his misery. "He's alright, I don't see much of him," replied Sebastian, lying wasn't something commendable but he had no idea what else to do. Ringing filled the interior of the Mercedes and Diedrich sighed, "Call from Vincent," said a robotic voice.
"Answer. Yes Vincent?" he asked impatiently. Sebastian looked at the small black box attached to the visor, the blue light on the side was lit. "Dee, did you stop by the docks and check that shipment for me?" asked a silky smooth voice. His speech was refined and there was a familiar ring of authority to it. Diedrich hummed as he flicked his directorial on and turned down a side street, "I did, and it's just as we were told, poor quality really. I have Barron Reynolds taking care of it," he replied, "I'm not alone in the car by the way." Sebastian could tell Diedrich was very close to this man and wondered just who he was, "Oh? Who's with you? Did you find a cute lass around the docks?" asked the voice lightly.
Diedrich rolled his eyes, "Vincent, not funny," he commented. There was a deep chuckle on the other end of the line, "Sorry Dee, it's far too fun to tease you. Who's with you anyway?" he asked curiously. His voice was lush and soothing to Sebastian's ears, very different from Diedrich. "Sebastian," he replied with ease. There was a hum of intrigue on the other end, "Oh? Ciel's Pậtissier?" he asked curiously. Sebastian stared at the device. He didn't think his name had been printed anywhere, in fact he was sure it hadn't. No one on the floor knew who he was, they only knew of the Head Chef, Claude. "One in the same," replied Diedrich with a hint of irritation, "I'm taking him to the restaurant."
Sebastian stared at Diedrich, he seemed oddly happy as he spoke to the man, almost like a loyal guard dog. His brown eyes seemed to sparkle as he spoke, even if his tone made him sound unamused or irritated. "Let me guess; in return he has to bake for you," Vincent replied with a chime of happiness and amusement. "No, I'm not bringing you anything!" snapped Diedrich. Sebastian smiled unconsciously, they honestly sounded like old friends, rather than business partners. They had a relationship he yearned for, someone to accept him for all his quirks and joke with. A patient and polite person, who would value his ideas rather than trample them. "Why not?" asked Vincent with a huff, "I'm sure Rachel would love some. I should tell her that you're going to her favorite place, and not bringing us something."
Diedrich sighed with defeat, "Fine then," he replied. There was a pause and Sebastian could hear muffled voices on the other end of the line. They were rushed and sounded as though something very bad had just occurred. "Never mind the food, Dee I need you back at the office," he stated with ease, if Sebastian hadn't heard the clamor on the other end of the line he would have never known that something had gone wrong. "Understood," Diedrich replied as he pulled behind the restaurant. He sighed as he looked at Sebastian, "Rain Check on the Torte and coffee?" he asked. Sebastian looked at him, the German was grinning and he suddenly realized what he said, "It rains daily, I'm sure that there will be time for you to swing by." Diedrich chuckled as Sebastian got out of the car and headed into Ciel. He was in for a long day.
~~xXx~~
Alois hummed as he waved to the guard who had monitored his call. "Bye!" he chirped as he bounded out of the hallway to see Claude staring at the sheet he was about to sign, "Is it really safe to let him out?" asked a guard. Claude sighed as he picked up a pen and clicked it, "I have no idea, I do know it's far more dangerous to leave him in there. He's gay," he replied as he scratched his name on the line. The blonde was wearing clothes that looked like they were several sizes too large for him. They were black and had an all too familiar checkered pattern on them, "Don't I look hot?" asked Alois as he twirled on his toe.
The Head Chef's hand met his forehead before commenting, "There is something very wrong with this picture." Alois swung his arms before clasping his hands behind his back and following the now irate towering black haired chef. "Oh come on Claudy-bears, it was fun! I should bring you with me next time!" he said joyously. Claude was far too serious and honestly seemed like he needed to soften up a touch, or at least let loose. "I'm glad you think getting arrested is fun," he hissed as he lead Alois out of the building.
"Mind telling me just what the hell you did last night?" he asked. Alois paused several steps behind and rubbed his head, "To be honest I don't remember, it just feels like someone is beating my head like a steel drum," he replied. There was a pause as golden eyes narrowed dangerously, Claude looked as though he wanted to kill Alois, "Maybe I was safer in there," he commented as he looked at the office nervously. "Alois," he growled and the bartender knew it to tell the truth or Claude would kill him. "I don't, honest! I have photos though!" he said with a grin. After a moment Alois had his mobile in his hands and was sifting through the files. "You lost your clothes, wallet and even Rolex, but kept your mobile?" asked Claude skeptically.
Alois huffed and placed his hands on his hips, "My mobile is my life! Besides I took great photos," he stated as he shoved the iPhone in Claude's face. He watched as Claude's eyes widened, "What on earth?" he asked as he took the phone and began to look through the photos. "You made a dick in someone's lawn with flamingos?" he asked astounded. Alois chuckled and looked at him, "Of course we all know Kevin can't get it up, we thought we would provide an example!" Alois stated. The Head Chef's jaw dropped as he looked through the photos clearly he had seen the photos of Kevin chasing them and then setting the hounds on them. "Are you suicidal? You went up against Hannibal!" he shouted as he pointed at the furious hound in the photo. The only reason Alois remembered him was the fact that the dog had tried several times to bite him. "No, it was fun!" he stated.
Claude continued to scroll and immediately understood why he was arrested, he was wearing nothing but an apron as he danced in the fountain. "Okay, I think I've seen enough," he commented as he handed the phone back. Alois pouted, "Wait, there's these great pictures of me in a maid's outfit!" he shouted as Claude turned to walk away, his hands were over his ears and he called, "I can't hear you!" Alois jumped up and down angrily, "And I'm the immature one!" he shouted before dashing after him. Claude merely shook his head and looked at his mobile again, he was still waiting to hear from Sebastian.
"Hey isn't that Diedrich?" asked Alois curiously as he pointed to the man in the long green coat. Claude's eyes narrowed, "Odd, why is he hanging around the Yard?" asked Alois.