Chapter 20
I don't own anything or anyone!
Pierre Reneau was an easy-going man minding his own business every time, never causing troubles. He and his sister were raised in Paris by two beloved parents, Philip and Eliza. His father was a police officer and Pierre wanted to follow his steps, wanting to make justice, exactly as his idol. His mother dedicated herself to her children. When Pierre got older became a police officer and her sister, Vivienne, became a nurse because she wanted to help the people who needed her help and to ease their pain. She loved the arts too. That's why she was going to the Opera House very often, with the companionship of her brother. Until that night when Pierre lost his entire world. It all happened at the Opera House. It was that night when all of Paris went to watch Don Juan. It was that night when Christine Daae bared the face of her partner. It was that night when a huge chandelier crashed on the unsuspecting audience. It was that night when all Parisians took part in a hunt for the killer who cut chandelier's rope and caused the death of so many people. The killer whose name was Phantom of the opera. Pierre had sworn revenge for his sister's death. He knew the face of the murderer and he would follow him anywhere in order to find him and make him pay.
He opened his eyes. He was sitting in his living room looking old pictures of his family. He felt the need to do it after his visit to the Opera House. Everything in there reminded him that horrible night. Even Monsieur Destler reminded him that night. Monsieur Destler…. Monsieur Destler…. Why this man was so familiar to him? Pierre tried to remember but his memory was not so helpful. Suddenly, his eyes stuck to the opposite wall. Yes, yes. The most he was thinking the composer's face, the most he was sure that he knew him from somewhere. He stood from the sofa and opened a cabinet. He pulled out a box in which he was keeping all the newspapers with articles about this case for so many years. In a few minutes, he found what he was looking for. A newspaper with an article with the face of the Phantom. His right side was deformed and his eyes were full of hate. The more he was looking at the face at the old picture, the more he was feeling sure. The man in the picture had blonde, thin hair. On the other hand, the composer had a perfect face and his hair was black and long to his nape. But Pierre remembered that Phantom was wearing a mask and had the same hair before the ballerina revealed his true identity.
'Could that happen?', the officer wondered for a second. No, no way. There was no possibility that Erik Destler was involved in this situation. He was a professional composer and he was not wearing a mask. Or was he? Pierre was thinking of everything and nothing. How difficult was for someone to find a mask? "Or maybe... to make one?", he whispered to himself. He had heard that the Phantom was very good at handicrafts. One of Pierre's colleagues had told him that the mob found a maquette of the theatre into Phantom's lair. But what about the hair? He remembered that the Phantom was wearing a wig that night.
Pierre's head was ready to explode. Was it possible to have found the murderer, whom he had to search for, for so many years, into his city? With no time to lose, he grabbed his coat and got out of the house.
The next day, brought a big surprise for Erik. He was at his office when someone knocked on the door. It was Madame Giry.
"You have a visitor", she told him as she opened the door wide to reveal the tall figure of Nadir Khan.
"Nadir, my friend", Erik said as he stood up and went to the door to greet him.
"Hello Erik", Nadir responded and the two men exchanged a warm handshaking.
"I will return to my job now", Antoinette said and closed the door behind her.
Erik turned to Nadir. "So, what do you think about Antoinette"?
"We met outside. She seems a really good woman".
"Yes, she is. You and she are my closest friends", Erik said. "Have a seat, please".
Nadir sat in front of his friend's desk.
"Your office is beautiful, Erik".
"You think? The managers gave me the best office they could to thank me".
"This is a good sign then. They haven't recognized you and they make you feel comfortable, am I right?", Nadir asked Erik.
"I think so", Erik answered. "So, tell me, how was your journey?"
"It was long but bearable", Nadir said. "Fortunately, Martha gave me food supplies for the journey".
"Martha?" Erik asked curiously.
"Yes. When she found out that I would come here to find you, she started to prepare some food to take with me. She wanted to cook more so I could give it to you but I didn't let her. But, for your information, everyone thinks of you and they want to return home as soon as possible".
Erik smiled as he remembered the people who were waiting for him back home.
"What about Christine?", Nadir continued. "I got really worried when I received your letter".
"I didn't want to make you worry about me but I didn't know what else to do. I had to write to you. Honestly, I didn't expect her to be here. You can understand how shocked I was when I saw her in front of me. The same happened to her".
"Have you talked since your first meeting?"
"Yes. I escorted to her home, a few days ago".
"Really?", Nadir asked with a playful smile on his lips.
"Don't be like that Nadir", Erik said to his friend. "It was almost dark outside and I didn't want her to walk alone. Besides, I wanted to know some things".
"And? What did you find out?"
"Not much. She didn't talk actually. She seemed stressful and I didn't want to push her. So, I told her about my life".
"I see", Nadir said.
"Another thing I want to tell you is that I had an accident", Erik continued.
"What? An accident?", Nadir asked worriedly. "What happened?"
Erik narrated all about that day to his friend. He could say that Nadir's eyes were ready to pop out from their sockets as he was looking at him. When he finished, Nadir was speechless.
"The Vicomte saw you? And talked to you? And, even worse, you two fought with each other? And …. why are you still here? The first thing I would do if I was him, it would be to turn you to the authorities".
"Tell me about it. That was exactly my thought so the first thing I did was to go to the stables, take the first horse I saw in front of me and return to Italy".
"Only a mad would do that with a snowstorm", Nadir told him as he was trying to digest all the facts.
"What was I supposed to do? He was so angry when he saw me and he attacked me. I was so sure that he would call the police".
"But he didn't do anything".
"As you see, I am still here".
There was a pause for a few minutes. Nadir needed time to digest everything he had heard and to understand the Vicomte's behavior.
"You told me that you spoke with the girl, too."
"Yes, I did. But it was only for a few seconds. She came out of her room when she heard us fighting and she yelled at us. She took us apart and then the boy left. I left too but she ran behind me and continued to yell at me. I answered her and as the anger was boiling inside of me, I was already at the stables. I remember that she tried to convince me not to go outside with that weather though but I didn't listen. So, here we are. You know all the story now".
"Unbelievable", Nadir said. "So, that was the first time you talked to each other, typically".
"Yes. After some days in their home – Antoinette insisted to stay with them so she could take care of me -, I thanked Christine for saving me".
"You mean when she found you into the snow?"
Erik nodded.
"And the last time you talked was that afternoon when you escorted her back home".
"Exactly".
"How are you now? Is your leg still hurts?"
"Sometimes. But I know that it will be better soon".
Nadir was grateful to Madame Giry and to that girl who saved and who took care of his friend. But a thought was inside his mind.
"Have you considered the possibility that it is a trap? That maybe the boy would come back with the police?"
"I can understand your worry Nadir but I want to inform you that there is no such possibility. Antoinette assured me that Raoul will not do something like this. I believe her".
"Alright, if you say so I trust you. And what about that police officer?"
"Firmin brought him to my office because he wanted me to meet him. The truth is that when I saw him, I got scared for a moment but then I realized that he came just to meet me. I can say that he is a sympathetic man but honestly, I don't want to see him soon again".
"I hope so", Nadir answered.
"So, tell me your news", Erik said changing the subject.
Nadir told him everything about life back home. The two men stayed into Erik's office for over an hour. Later that day, Nadir watched the rehearsals and he got speechless from the way Erik was coping with the cast. Everyone was respecting him and was listening to him carefully. The last piece in the opera was marvelous. The orchestra was in sync and the actors' voices were more than good. They were stunning. Nadir couldn't resist the temptation to look to the direction of the ballet. Women and men were amazing and the visitor saw Christine Daae who was literally flying on the stage. His eyes caught Erik look at her sometimes. Maybe Erik hadn't forgotten her entirely. Maybe.
The knock on the door made her stop writing.
"Who is it please?", Antoinette asked as she hid the letter under a pile of papers.
"Mama, it's me. Can I come in?"
"Of course, sweetheart", said her mother. The door opened and Meg appeared at the threshold.
"Are you not ready yet? It's time to go home".
"I am sorry Meg but I have work to do. You should take Christine and go home alone. I will not be late".
"As you wish mother", said Meg and turned to the door. As she touched the handle the young woman turned again to her mother.
"Are you not feeling well today? You were not very concentrated at the rehearsals".
"I am fine. A bit tired maybe. We have the big opening night in a few weeks and I am nervous".
"Alright mama, but don't worry so much. The rehearsals go very well and I am sure that the premiere would be fantastic", Meg said smiling. "I will be waiting for you at home".
Antoinette nodded as her daughter disappeared behind her office's door. She had to finish that letter tonight and send it to its destination first thing the next morning. No matter what.
He was sitting in his office with so many articles scattered around him. It was almost dark outside and he had no intention to return to his empty home. With a glass of brandy in his hand, he was reading more articles about the case. He was drinking and reading, reading and drinking. Pierre's eyes were focused on the newspaper. He couldn't think of anything else. He had finally found his sister's murderer and he was determined to take his revenge. His plan had to be effective.
"I found you at last. It's time for you to pay for all your crimes", Pierre said and drank the last sip of his brandy, clasping tightly the glass with his fingers.