Come into the Light

Fugitive

Chapter Two

Fugitive

A loud knock on the door startled me and my Mother.

Who could it be at this hour?

We had just sat down to eat some breakfast. I glanced over to my Mother who looked as confused as I was.

"Who do you—." Another loud knock on the door interrupted me.

"Helene Giry!? It is the police, please open up!"

My Mother looked over at me with her eyes wide. It seems that Raoul did say something to the police about our involvement with Erik.

"Coming!" My mother exclaimed. She quickly got up and looked for her white robe to put over her nightie and I quickly did the same. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Good Morning, Officer, how may I help you?"

"Madame Giry?"

"Yes, that is me."

"Excuse us for disturbing your breakfast, Madame Giry. We have a very important issue to discuss with you. Just answer a few of our questions and we will leave you in peace, Signora."

"Your badge?" My Mother cleverly asked and the Officer easily got out his badge and showed it to her. She inspected it closely then got out of the way and let them in. It wasn't just one officer, but three which entered our living room, heavily armed. Of the three, only two of them nodded their heads and acknowledged me while their Captain, with his stern look, kept glaring at my Mother.

"Madame Giry, we have been told by the Vicomte de Chagny that you knew the mysterious persona called "The Phantom of the Opera" is that true?"

"I knew little of him... not much."

"The Vicomte informed us that you practically raised him?"

My Mother glanced over at me and I simply lowered my head to the floor. That bastard Raoul was about to get my Mother incarcerated.

"He was misinformed. I found him once and helped him but after that I—"

"He also said that you brought him to the Opera House."

"I did! But after that I knew nothing more of him!" My Mother raised her voice. I knew that voice... it was the one she used when she was stern with me.

"Did you not have contact with him while he was in the Opera House?"

"No, I merely found some letters that he would leave me in my dressing room but that is it." She was lying, of course. I and my Mother would visit Erik almost every night. I would sometimes even stay with him and listen to him compose new songs, except when he was in a mood. Then we would just leave and go.

"Do you know where he is now?"

"No."

"Madame Giry, if I find any evidence that you are lying to me, I have every right to arrest you." My mother glared at him her famous "Giry stare". At least, that's what I and the dancers would call it.

"I have told you all that you needed to know, Officer." A few seconds of the Officer staring at my Mother trying to intimidate her, to no avail, and then he stood up and signaled the officers behind him to follow.

"Thank you for your time, Madame Giry."

"My pleasure, Officer—

"Laurent, Madame. Claude Laurent."

"Officer Laurent, but I must ask... is the investigation still pending?"

"Yes, the Vicomte has made it his duty to find him, Madame. He is a murderer that must be brought to justice." I glanced at my Mother and she simply glared at Officer Laurent with a cold stare. We knew what "justice" meant; they would hang Erik, for sure.