Chapter 23
Well, this is the next chapter. Thank you for your wonderful reviews. I don't own anything or anyone. Enjoy!
The great hall of the Opera House was almost decorated. The assistants of the Opera put up a ladder to decorate the Christmas tree. They had positioned it at the base of the staircase. Its banister had decorated with green garland along with beautiful flowers. Beautiful mistletoes adorned the door frames in the entire building. The big premiere was in two weeks' time and the scholastic cleaning of the Opera House, had begun. Christmas was not far away as well, so the entire Paris had started the preparations. But, this festive mood, couldn't affect Erik's mood, not in the least. The last week, he was going to his job and after that was returning to the hotel totally mute. After the last incident with the letter, he was staying into his room for the biggest part of the day, except the hours of the rehearsals, and he didn't want to talk to anyone. He didn't even talk to Nadir. His mood was really bad, especially now that he knew that, after the premiere, he couldn't return to his home. The most frustrating thing of all was that he had to face the officer again. Every day, he was to the Opera House and made questions to everyone about the case. He was using an old office that Firmin and Andre had given to him. The first ones, who had been questioned about the case, was a group of musicians. No one told him something new. The managers had been questioned as well and told everything they knew about the Phantom from the past. Erik was so sure that Pierre would leave him for the end. Nadir had said that maybe the officer was behind of all this but without proofs they couldn't do anything more. Erik was so disappointed. He was avoiding Madame Giry, too. She tried so many times to talk to him but in vain. He had always an excuse to tell her. So, she went to his office. Antoinette knew that Erik was hiding there to the breaks.
"Erik", she said knocking upon the door. No one answered, so she entered. The woman found Erik in front of the window, look down the street.
"Erik, are you alright? I knocked really loud and you didn't hear me".
"What's the matter, Antoinette?"
"What are you doing? Enough with this behavior. You must pull yourself together. You don't solve the problem by not talk to anyone and hide yourself. We must be united".
"I know, Antoinette but I don't know how to behave. I feel very tired from all this".
"Everything will be alright soon but you should help yourself, Erik. If you do not help yourself, no one will", his friend told him compassionately.
He had a similar conversation with Nadir, the same night.
"Erik, you can't keep doing this".
"Nadir", Erik answered very frustrated, "Antoinette told me the same thing. I don't know how to come up against this situation. The more I think that maybe I can be arrested, the more I feel that I go crazy. I didn't change my life to go behind bars".
"You right Erik but nothing will happen. Trust me. All of us will help you and in a few days, everything would be back to normal again".
"I wish I had your optimism", Erik answered to his friend.
"Even if the officer is behind of all this, he can't prove anything", Nadir continued.
Erik knew that Nadir was right but he couldn't calm himself. On the other hand, Meg and Christine were alarmed with the news. They couldn't explain the reason why the officer had said something like that. How could he know that Erik was the Phantom? It didn't make any sense. Antoinette had begged the two girls to not talk to anyone about this. Christine was feeling a little weird about her former teacher after the news. The feeling that he would not hurt her was more visible now inside her, the last days. She was almost feeling…. compassion for him. The young woman knew that she couldn't trust him entirely but she knew that this would be very difficult for him. He would like to return back to his home after the performance and he couldn't because of what had occurred. Among all, she was thinking Raoul too. He made often visits to the Giry's house to see his daughter. That day, he knocked the door again.
"Bonjour, Raoul", Christine said, allowing him enter.
"Bonjour, Christine. I was in the Opera House you know and I learned about the last news. It was a matter of time for him to be discovered, if you want my opinion".
"And what are you intending to do now?", Christine asked looking her ex-husband with a serious expression on her face and her hands crossed on her chest.
"I don't understand what you mean", Raoul answered.
"I say that you can do two things: to run to the officer Reneau and tell him that Monsieur Destler is the man they are looking for or to stay away from this situation and not get involved at all".
"Christine, he is back. How do you know that he will not harm you or Rosalie"?
"I cannot disagree with you to this issue but I began to change my mind. Besides, he has already met Rosalie".
Raoul's eyes got wide.
"WHAT? Did you allow to this monster to get close to our daughter"?
"He is not a monster"!, Christine said madly. "Rosalie liked him, if you want to know. Also, I am with her all the time".
"And when you are not around"?, Raoul asked her.
Christine didn't answer. Raoul was right. The little girl was never out of her sight.
"Alright, I have admitted that you are right. I don't think so that he would hurt her".
"You don't know it, Christine", Raoul said determinedly. "That man didn't hesitate to hurt innocent people, only to achieve his own purpose, so many years ago. He tried to kill me and made you choose between him and me, he tried to force you stay with him".
"I know Raoul but he is doing his job here. He never tried to blackmail me or hurt me. He is nothing but nice to me. When I learned that he is here, I got afraid, I admit it. I thought that he returned for revenge. But I can say that his behavior towards people, has changed".
"I don't believe anything if I will not see that change", Raoul said with a serious tone in his voice. "Can I see my daughter, now"?
"Yes, she is in her room".
He walked towards Rosalie's room and Christine was left alone. She didn't know what would happen next. The only thing she hoped was everything to be over soon.
It was almost afternoon and Pierre was alone in the office in the Opera House. He had sent his colleagues to have lunch but he wasn't hungry. He was so close to the Phantom that he felt a shiver ran down his body. Everything would be over soon and every time he was making this thought he was feeling a sweet nervousness. Pierre knew that Monsieur Destler felt trapped and that was what the officer wanted. The interrogations didn't have the results he was expecting. Most of the employers of the Opera House, didn't know anything about the Phantom's myth because they were very young and the old ones was repeating the same things again and again. But the interrogations were not over yet. Pierre's intention was to make the people who knew that man, speak to him as well, like that young soprano or that woman, what was her name? Oh, yes. Madame Giry. Firmin and Andre had told him that she was the interface between the Phantom and themselves. She was bringing the letters to the managers. Pierre was sure that Madame Giry and the Phantom were still talking to each other and not just as colleagues. Everything was going according to his plan and nothing could destroy his triumph.
Erik preferred to walk to the city that afternoon before he returns to the hotel. It was almost dark but there were many people enjoying the evening. Couples were walking slowly and children were running around their parents, shouting happily. The restaurants were almost full while the shop's display windows were attracting all eyes on them because of the decorations. One of them attracted Erik's gaze, as well. It was a boutique with high-quality dresses. Erik got closer and saw three beautiful dresses but only one caught his eye. It was a lavender dress with long sleeves and big bows to each shoulder. The bodice was delicate with small flowers and a ribbon was tied under the chest. Little flowers adorned the hem of the dress, as well. Erik thought that, that dress would be perfect for Christine but he banished it quickly. How many things had changed from the last time he saw her? Many things. He had lived in Italy for the past years and had built his career there. She was married to the man she loved and they had a lovely daughter. He was expecting that her life would be like this. The thing Erik wasn't expecting was to find her in Opera House again, working. She was a married woman now to a very rich man so there wasn't any need for her to work. She had everything she wanted. What had happened? What had changed? Erik couldn't find an answer. Maybe it was better for him to not think about it. He had more important things to think and unfortunately, they weren't pleasant at all. For example, the officer. Did he know everything about his past or was he bluffing? Erik would pick the second answer a few days ago but now he wasn't sure what to believe. Maybe he should find more information about Pierre Renaeau. His steps led him to his hotel soon. Nadir would be still awake. Maybe tonight it was a chance to tell him his idea.
The next day, Erik arrived at the Opera House calmer than the previous days. He had talked to Nadir and his friend told him that he would do everything in his power to find information about the officer. That day the rehearsal was really good and Erik was optimistic that everything would be perfect. His mood was already better than before until he met Pierre in the hall.
"Bonjour Monsieur Destler", the officer said cheerfully, taking off his hat.
"Bonjour Monsieur Reneau. I can say that you are late today", Erik answered with a tone of irony in his voice.
Pierre didn't blink.
"You are wrong, Monsieur Destler. I am here from the very morning but I should go to the police station now immediately. I will come back".
"Oh, I do not doubt it", the Phantom answered carelessly. He tried to walk away but Pierre stopped him.
"Ah, Monsieur, I almost forgot. I would like to see you in the afternoon, to ask you some questions about the case".
"I will come when I'll finish my rehearsal".
"I am sure that your musicians would appreciate a bigger break today. Goodbye Monsieur", Pierre said taking off his hat once more.
Erik watched the officer walk away. He was boiling with anger but he knew that this would happen sooner or later. As Erik was returning back to the auditorium, he met Madame Giry who told him that the officer asked of her the same thing.
"Really? He wants you as well to ask you questions? What does he expect?"
"I don't know Erik but we can do anything about it. We should be very careful.
The afternoon came quickly and Erik was knocking at Pierre's door. He opened it and invited the composer inside.
"Have a seat, Monsieur", Pierre said and Erik sat on a chair.
"Thank you for coming, Monsieur Destler. I would like to ask you a few questions as I told you".
"I am sorry, but we will not wait Madame Giry? She told me that she will come, as well".
"Of course, I invited her. And not only her", Pierre answered looking at Erik. "We can start with a few questions. Meanwhile, she will appear".
Erik couldn't understand anything. Who else would be in the interrogation?
"So, Monsieur", Pierre started as he sat behind the desk, "did you notice something weird that day?"
That moment someone knocked on the door and Madame Giry entered the office.
"Good evening, officer", she said to Pierre.
"Good evening, Madame. Please, have a seat. We expected you", he said showing her the chair in front of the desk. "We had just started. So, Monsieur Destler, did you notice something?", Pierre asked looking at Erik again.
"No, officer, nothing weird. I did my job as always".
"I see", Pierre answered. "What about you, Madame?"
"No, officer, I didn't notice anything weird".
"You know, Madame Giry, I would like to know more things about you".
"Like what?", she asked unshaken.
"I know that you were the person who had contacts with the Phantom. Is that true?"
Antoinette and Erik got surprised.
"How do you know that?", she asked Pierre.
"Monsieurs Firmin and Andre had the kindness to inform me about the past. They told me that you were something like…. Phantom's messenger".
'Of course, they did', Erik thought. He didn't find it absurd. Firmin was so upset when he found about the new letter that he went straight to the police.
"That's true. But I was just a messenger, nothing more. I never saw him".
"So, you never came face to face with him? How is it possible?"
"He let the letters to a specific spot and I gave them to their receivers".
"I see. You never felt that someone would watch you from somewhere? Someone who wanted to harm you?"
"There were always people around the Opera who were spying to each other but this doesn't mean that the Phantom would do the same thing, officer".
Erik wanted to see what would happen next. Where would lead that conversation?
"Had you ever received a threatening letter from him?"
Antoinette looked the officer into the eyes. She was very calm to answer his questions and with no many details.
"No, officer. Never. His letters were always dedicated to the managers and sometimes to the conductor. I was delivered the letters to them".
Pierre smiled. He couldn't find out anything more from that woman. But nothing was over yet.
"Thank you for your time, Madame. However, I would like to stay with us for a little longer".
Antoinette didn't make any move to stand up.
"What is your opinion about all this, Monsieur?", Pierre asked Erik.
"I don't have anything to say", he answered lifting his shoulders. "The man who you are looking for, was sending his letters to the management. What could I possibly say about it?"
"Definitely nothing, Monsieur. I just wanted your opinion".
Someone knocked on the door again and when it opened Erik was speechless. Two young women entered the office and these women were Meg and Christine. The both of them were speechless too when they saw Erik and Madame Giry there.
"Oh, excuse us but we thought that….", Christine started looking at first Antoinette and then Erik.
"…we would be just us", Meg completed her friend's sentence looking around her as well.
"What are you doing here, Meg?", Antoinette asked her daughter as she got up from her chair.
"I was ready to ask you the same thing, mama", Meg answered. "The officer wanted Christine and me to….".
"Excuse me, Madame", Pierre said happily, interrupting the two women, "but it is my fault. I asked from the ladies to have a talk with them about the case. Please my ladies, have a seat".
Erik got up from his chair an put another one beside it to sit the girls.
"So, Mademoiselles, I hope you don't have a problem with my other guests. Mademoiselle Meg, would you like to tell me something about the case?"
Meg looked her mother questioningly. She nodded in agreement.
"I don't know anything Monsieur. I am just as surprised as the others. I thought that he was dead".
"Did you know that your mother was the Phantom's messenger?"
"Of course, I did. It was the only person he was trusted, as it seems".
So, Meg confirmed what her mother had said and after some more questions, that Meg answered with as few details as possible, it was Christine's turn.
"I have heard so much about you , Madame DeChagny", Pierre said looking at her. "Your voice is absolutely beautiful".
"Merci, Monsieur, but I don't sing anymore".
"I know, Madame. It's pity, though, that you abandoned a career like this. You've been through a lot in the past. Would you like to talk to me about that period? If you want, of course".
"What…. what do you want to know?", Christine asked hesitantly.
"I have heard that you were a dancer before you take your first role as the Opera star and that the Phantom was the person who helped you, is it right?"
"Yes, kind of".
"He had kidnapped you, right?"
Christine looked Pierre.
"Not exactly. Yes, he made me to follow him by hypnotize me but I could leave whenever I wanted. The Phantom presumed that I had good voice and that I could build a career as a soprano".
"And he was right, as we all know", Pierre agreed as he walked to the window. "As I said, your voice is magnificent. The managers told me that you were receiving the loudest applause ever. All Paris at your feet".
"They exaggerate. True, I had admirers but that's it".
Erik smiled unconsciously. Christine was so modest.
"How did you feel when you learned about the letters in which he was blackmailing the managers to give you the lead role?"
"I got scared, as everyone. The Opera had already a star and I had no intention to take her place like this. I was a dancer as I am now".
"I understand, Madame DeChagny. Had you seen him?"
"I don't understand why you make so many questions to my foster daughter. Will you find your answers faster?", Antoinette said worried about the conversation's development".
"No Madame Giry but maybe I find a clue. So, had you seen him?", Pierre asked Christine again.
"Yes, the first time".
"Was he deformed?"
"Yes".
Erik didn't know how to interfere with that ridiculous interrogation. He couldn't see that man harass Christine about his mistakes.
"But he never hurt me".
"Maybe not you", Pierre said almost whispering, "but someone else, yes. Especially when you bare him to entire Paris".
No one said anything to this comment.
"And he almost, harmed one more person".
"Who?", Antoinette asked him.
"All in good time, Madame", Pierre said finding his bright attitude. "And you stopped singing, after this incident, is that right Madame DeChagny?"
"Yes. Furthermore, I got married and I didn't come back to the Opera House".
"I would do exactly the same", Pierre answered. "Please, tell me, your husband…. Oh, forgive me", the officer said as he bent his head and slapped his forehead with his hand. "What a carelessness on behalf of me".
"What happened?", Christine asked confused.
"I called you Madame DeChagny but I know that you and your husband got a divorce".
Here we go again. Erik heard that word for a second time since he arrived to the Opera.
"Don't worry Monsieur, it's alright".
"No, no. I apologize again Madame".
He looked his watch.
"Can we leave officer or we have to wait for somebody else?", Erik asked ironically.
"Be patient, Monsieur", Pierre said and with not another word he opened the door and looked at the hall. "Oh, there you are, my dear Monsieur", he said to someone else. The people inside the office looked at each other.
"What is going on here?", Erik asked.
"I don't know but this has to stop", Antoinette answered.
That moment Pierre entered again the office with the newcomer. Christine opened her eyes wide and stood up from her chair slowly. The newcomer was…. Raoul DeChagny. Erik clenched his fists and his teeth. Christine could sense his tension and she could justify him. No one in the room could believe that Raoul was there with them. The big question was, why? What Raoul had to do with the interrogation?
"Raoul? What are you doing here?", Christine spoke first. "Where is Rosalie? Tell me where my daughter is?".
She was really upset.
"Calm down, Christine, please", Raoul said as she came closer to her. "Rosalie is fine, she is with my mother. As for what I am doing here, I don't know. I mean, Monsieur Reneau told me to come here to ask me some questions".
"Questions?", Christine asked without hide her suspicion and looked the officer very angry.
"Nothing different from the questions I asked you, Madame", Pierre answered.
Now was Erik's turn to feel Christine's tense. He could see that the young woman was very upset with the whole situation and especially with her ex-husband. She didn't make any effort to hide her aggravation. Pierre noticed it too but he didn't say anything.
"Please, have a seat, my dear Vicomte".
Raoul took the chair Pierre offered him and sat beside Christine.
"So, Monsier Reneau, what do you want me to answer?"
"My first question is….. what do you know about the Phantom of the Opera?"
Raoul looked Christine. She was still angry.
"He was a man who terrorized the entire Opera. I am sure that managers told you everything. He kidnapped my wife and the second time he tried to kill me. He blackmailed Christine that if she would choose marry him, I could live".
"And what happened next?"
"Christine chose him but he let both of us go".
"I see. Can you tell me….?", Pierre began to say but a knock on the door interrupted the conversation once more. Pierre opened it and he saw a man with olive skin on the threshold".
"Who are you and….?"
"I am Nadir Khan and I am Monsieur Destler's partner. I insist on being to the interrogation".
"This interrogation is private and….".
"I said, I insist", Nadir answered with an angry gaze.
Pierre couldn't deny him his request. He moved aside and looked the stranger as he approached Erik.
"What are you doing here? How did you know where I am?", Erik whispered to Nadir.
"I asked one of your musicians. There was no possibility to let you alone here. Besides, I wanted to see what kind of questions he would make to you".
"He has already asked me. Now, it's Vicomte's turn".
"What is he doing here?", Nadir asked confused.
"No idea".
"As I said", Pierre said interrupting the two men's chat, "I would like you to tell me if you ever heard something about the Phantom, my dear Vicomte".
"I told you Monsieur, never, until now".
"Hmmm…. If you see him, will you recognize him?"
"Of course,".
"Very well, Monsieur", Pierre said and rooted into his jacket's pocket which was on the chair behind his desk. He soon found what he was searching for. It was a paper folded in two, probably a newspaper cutting. Pierre unfolded it and brought it before Raoul's eyes. An aghast Erik saw himself into the photo, looking angrily to someone. He felt his legs trembling and his vision became foggy. He almost fell down but fortunately, Nadir supported him.
"No Erik, please. Don't faint now. Courage, my friend, courage", Nadir whispered to Erik's ear.
Erik's gaze was upon Raoul. The Vicomte looked the picture.
"So, do you recognize him?", Pierre asked the young man.
Everyone's gaze was glued to the photo. There were many questions in everyone's mind. Where did officer find that cutting? Would he arrest Erik immediately? And most of all, what would be Raoul's answer? Everyone held their breath. After a few seconds of silence, Raoul spoke.
"It's the Phantom, yes, but… where did you find this photo?"
"Professional mystery, Monsieur. Do you recognize him? Do you recognize who he really is?", Pierre asked again impatiently.
Raoul looked Christine. She was shocked as everyone else in the room and she begged him with her eyes to not tell anything.
"I told you Monsieur, it's the Phantom".
"And?"
"And…. nothing. Why do you ask me again and again? What do you want me to tell you?", Raoul asked, pretending to be puzzled.
"Have you not seen him around here?", Pierre asked again a bit confused.
"No. If I had, he would be in jail right now", Raoul answered with a convincing serious expression on his face.
Pierre stayed silenced for a while.
"So…. you say that …. you don't have seen him around here these days. No one of you".
Everyone nodded. Pierre was so sure that with the Vicomte's testimony he could arrest the Phantom in no time. But now, he couldn't do anything. He hadn't predicted that adversity. Why the Vicomte didn't say the truth? Why didn't he blame Destler for everything? He was the Phantom after all. Everything would be easier but now he couldn't do anything. Pierre thought very quickly. He would allow them to leave so he could thing his next move. He put on his best smile and turned to Raoul once more.
"Very well, Monsieur DeChagny, thank you for your presence here. Thank you all of you as well", he said looking Christine, Meg, Erik, Nadir, and Antoinette. "You are free to go".
Erik exhaled with relief. With Nadir's support, he walked out, to the hall. He turned to talk to Antoinette but he saw Christine take aside Raoul and talk with him.
"Thank you, for not telling anything to the officer", Christine said to her ex-husband, crossing her hands across her chest. "It was…kind of you".
"It's no need to thank me, I would do anything for you", he said but when he saw Christine's expression, he stopped. "Anyway, I didn't do it because I saw your eyes. You begged me with your eyes, Christine. I didn't want to hurt you. Again. But this doesn't mean that I am agreed. Why do you still cover up for him? He is a killer".
"Maybe you are right", Christine added with a serious look on her face, "but, maybe, he has changed. Madame Giry trusts him and she says that he indeed has changed and I can say that I agree with her. I have talked to him sometimes since he came here and his behavior is different. We have already talked about this, Raoul".
"I hope you are right. But please, be careful. The officer is determined to catch him and I am sure that he knows who the Phantom is. If he has a newspaper cutting like this, with a photo, maybe he can find more clues. Maybe he has similar cuttings to his office or his house. Please, be careful".
Christine nodded and saw Raoul walk away. Meg went beside her friend.
"Are you alright, Christine?"
"Yes but…. What happened in there, Meg? He knows who Erik is. That's for sure".
"Fortunately, Raoul didn't say a word. I was expecting quite the opposite".
"Me too but he told me that he did for me".
"Maybe, he still loves you, Christine. As the first day he saw you here", Meg said and put her hand around her friend's shoulder. "Let's go home. It was a long day and we need our rest".
Christine nodded and followed her.
"Erik, have a seat", Antoinette said as the three of them went into her office. She had brought with her a jar with water earlier, so she gave one glass of water to the tired man in front of her. Erik took it and drank it greedily. Soon, he felt better. Antoinette and Nadir sat next to him.
"How do you feel, my friend?"
"Confused. What happened in that room? I did not understand a thing. Where did he find my picture?"
"Probably, he had it all this time to his possession. He knows much more that he tells".
"I will agree to this", Madame Giry said. "Is there any possibility to have more articles and cuttings from the newspaper like this one?"
"Maybe", Nadir responded. "We can't know for sure but we can't stay with folded arms. We need to do something".
"We will not do anything", Erik exclaimed. "We will stay calm, at least until we find a solution".
"I don't see what we else we can do".
After a small pause, Nadir talked again.
"Did you notice Vicomte's behavior? He didn't tell the officer that you are the Phantom".
"He did it for Christine's favor", Madame Giry responded.
"Yes, of course", Erik answered ironically. "They got a divorce but he didn't say anything. Why?", he asked looking Antoinette this time. "I know that if I ask, I will not receive any answer, am I right, Antoinette?"
"I am sorry Erik but it's not my business to tell you anything about Christine's life. I am sure that she will talk to you if she'll feel the need. Please, don't ask me", Antoinette said as she turned her head to the other side.
Erik sighed.
"Alright Antoinette. Forgive me. I will not ask you again".
He stood up, and with Nadir behind him, he walked towards the hotel.
"Christine, are you sure?", Meg asked her friend. "Are you sure that this is for the best?"
"I don't know Meg but I want to do it. I need to do it. Please, Meg, don't judge me. I don't know if this is right or wrong. I don't know anything. The only thing I know is that I want to talk to him".
"Alright, Christine, I will cover for you but please, be careful".
"Thank you, Meg,".
A knock on the door was the reason which woke up Antoinette.
"Who might be this hour?", she told to herself and went to the door.
Her surprise was big when she opened it. Surprise and…. terror.
"What are you doing here?", Antoinette asked the woman on the threshold.
"I am sorry Antoinette, but I couldn't wait. I want to see him. I want to see my son!"
Christine climbed the stairs to the second floor. She was lucky that the woman in reception didn't make any questions and told her the number of his room. She had still doubts but an inner voice pushed her towards him. An inner need to talk to him. She was almost out the room and Christine didn't know how to start. Scattered thoughts into her mind. Her legs brought her in front of the door. No backward steps. She knocked. His footstep echoed inside the room and got closer to the door. When he finally opened it, he was speechless.
"You? What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you, Erik. Please, you must listen to me".
Erik glued his eyes upon her. After a few silent seconds, he got aside and let her in. The door closed. The footsteps faded. Silence.