"Sleep on, dear Danisha. Your troubles will soon come to an end.
For you see, I must end your life...Those were my orders, you know, to
kill you. Poor soul, to grow up with a demanding parent, only to see that
hard-won success and power had brought you nothing but heartache...Jehan
told me all about one of your many suitors...What was his name? Oh yes,
Brandon Bell...This man mistreated you, and His Grace taught this man a
lesson..."
Marcel Rougelot sat by the small rollaway bed where Danisha lay. He
watched her sleep as he continued to babble on and on. Somehow, through
Jehan Frollo, Marcel had learned much of Danisha's life. He also gained
some insights into Danisha's impact on Claude Frollo's life. He learned
about the daring rescue, the conspiracy, the 'shootout' at the Court of
Miracles. Marcel also learned that many a Parisian held this lady in such
high esteem; the older people shared such fond memories of the bonny brown
New World woman.
Yet there were those who didn't share the same sentiments. It was late
summer, months before Marcel ended Bernard LaCroix' life that someone approached
him with a favor. This person had witnessed Marcel bludgeon a hapless beggar
to death; thus, in order to gain Marcel's confidence, this person promised
to keep what was seen a secret. "I won't tell Frollo or any of his spies.
All I want you to do is to get rid of Colette Bouchard, then that woman
named 'Danisha'. She has a daughter...Kill her as well. I shall reward
you handsomely..."
Soon, Marcel found himself holding a bag brimming with gold coins.
"There will be more once those three people are out of the way," his mysterious
employers told him.
What wasn't known was that Marcel Rougelot, a borderline schizophrenic
(at least that's what Dr. Parsons uncovered), killed for the sheer pleasure.
Murder for hire wasn't his thing, but he did like the money plus the fact
that Frollo would never catch up with him. His newfound benefactors saw
to that. But Frollo was onto them regardless. Julian McNaney, haunting
remote taverns, bridges, and slums in and around Paris, had gathered damning
evidence of Marcel's shady dealings. The mysterious person who wanted three
people dead had no idea that the Minister of Justice already had learned
of the plot, and that the trap was now set. All Frollo had to do was to
capture Marcel Rougelot, then force a confession out of the man.
But Marcel really didn't harbor any animosity towards Frollo. On the
contrary, he actually admired the Parisian magistrate for his cunning,
wit, iron will, and tenacity. It was no wonder that Marcel had managed
to stay one step ahead of Claude Frollo.
"His Grace is a brilliant man; he has not given up and has vowed he
would take me..."
Sitting at the table, Marcel glanced over at a still sleeping Danisha. He had hoped the chloroform had worn off; he didn't know how much he had used. I hope I didn't harm her...I actually don't want to see her die...She reminds me so much of Isabelle...And that blasted little...wanted me to kill this angel ...I can't! those blasted voices again...They tell me not to harm this child, but those people made me promise...If I don't play the game by their rules...Yes! That's it! I'll change the rules...
He took pen in hand and began to write. It was just a couple of composition
books and a ballpoint pen, the likes of which Marcel had never seen. The
ink flows through and never once do I have to dip it...The paper has lines
on it so I can keep my writing neat.
So he began to write a few words -- words that would ultimately blur
that thin line between fantasy and reality. While Danisha slept, Marcel
continued to write. All the while, the 15th Century fugitive and his hostage
were being watched.
++++++++
Tony Terrell refilled the ice bag then placed it on the back of Claude Frollo's head. The blow didn't severely incapacitate His Grace, yet he was in considerable discomfort. All efforts by Iggy and Tony to seek medical attention were met simply with, "I do not have the time -- Rougelot has Danisha; he must be stopped!"
All Tony could do all afternoon was blame himself. "If I had gone to
fetch that coat myself...Or if I had waited...Damn, man, I'm sorry things
turned out like this. A man should know not to leave little kids alone
for one second...We both have children and..."
Claude Frollo sat up; his head throbbed slightly. He was rather sympathetic.
"Antoine, do not blame yourself. We will capture Marcel Rougelot; I am
certain of it." His Honor then went on to tell Tony about Professor Parsons'
research regarding 'le Chameleon'. "The good professor uncovered much about
Marcel: his childhood, his first murders. And this illness...this 'schizophrenia'."
Claude continued to explain how Marcel's mental illness, further ingrained
by years of abuse, gave Marcel a unique perspective on life. "It goes hand
in hand with his ability to adapt...He sees everything as a game, a mere
fantasy come true. He suffers from delusions and flights of fancy."
Claude Frollo smiled as he got up to change into his familiar black
clothes. He continued, "I, as a product of my time, would chalk Marcel's
behavior to bad blood, witchcraft, enchantment, or just pure evil."
Tony nodded replying, "Aren't you glad you enlisted Wendell Parsons? Without his help, you wouldn't have known all about Marcel and this conspiracy..."
Just then Iggy McMullen came roaring in, out of breath and raving on and on about...
"What?!", exclaimed Claude Frollo. "You saw him, in his room, with -- HER?!"
Iggy blew out his cheeks then went on to explain how he followed Marcel
from work. "I mean, his job is just a few blocks of the school. The house
is just a couple of doors down from here."
The middle aged hippie then continued, saying that he tailed Marcel
from the restaurant to the school, "Only to lose him; then I saw you lying
out in that alley. I got Tony then hightailed it to the house before Marcel
got home."
Sure enough, Iggy, concealing himself in the thick underbrush, espied
Marcel in his basement room. He saw Marcel carry an oversized duffel bag
from which he produced an unconscious seven year old Danisha Wood.
"I think he doped her...She's sleeping too soundly though for my comfort.
But Marcel has a pile of paper, crayons, paints, candy...I guess he plans
to keep this kid alive, but for how long?"
Claude Frollo, wincing slightly, adjusted the black leather jacket, tucked the dagger securely in its sheath, then faced his reflection in the mirror. Ah, much better than that awful white! Yes, black is definitely my color...
He paused for a beat, then said, "Daniel, Antoine, I want you send a message to Julian right away; I may need that extra help after all. We will take Rougelot by surprise -- tonight."
He turned to face his companions. "This time, gentlemen, there shall be NO mistakes!"
++++++++
Seven year old Danisha Wood struggled to sit up; her drugged stupor
was still apparent as she tried to raise herself from the bed. "Oooh...I
want my Mommy..." Marcel Rougelot looked up from his writings, went over
to the bed, then said gently to his young captive, "My dear Nisha, I brought
you to my place...Your mother and father know you are here."
"But Mr. Terrell was going to take me to my auntie's house..."
Marcel grimaced; his fingernails dug into his flesh as he replied,
"No, dear...you are to stay with me...M. Terrell said you got sick...Which
is...uhh...why you have to stay here..."
In his agitated state Marcel found it increasingly difficult to lie. Why, it was so easy before, when he fooled Henry Clay, or Eddie Rathbord. It was so simple to waltz into the President's Palace, pretend he was a gentleman of means and manners. Why, Marcel had fooled the president and his daughter. He fooled Sunny, and her fiance. And now...He has fooled this little girl. This child, Danisha, does not know of Frollo, or of Jehan, the bell ringer, of Captain Phoebus...Maybe I can tell her a few tales, so she will never meet Frollo, perhaps never set foot in the Paris of my time...
Marcel smiled as Nisha drifted back to sleep. It will be another hour or two before she wakes up...Then she may become quite agitated...can't let that happen....I have more of that chloroform...How kind of the druggist to recommend...
But Marcel really didn't want to kill this child, yet somehow he felt
he must do this in order to maintain the game. In his mind, the more people
he kills, the more money he'll earn. In his warped reasoning, that person
in medieval Paris had better hand over several large bags filled with coins.
"That's one each for Bernard, Colette, Nathan Smiley..."
He went back to his writing. What was all this scribbling, anyway?
He had already filled one notebook and started on his second. Marcel Rougelot
continued to write effortlessly as little Nisha slept off the remains of
chloroform. 'Le Chameleon' thought he was safe; he thought he had actually
killed Claude Frollo, but he was wrong. In fact, Marcel knew he didn't
strike Frollo that hard. The blow was just enough to incapacitate him
for a few moments...long enough for me to enter the building and take little
Danisha...
But Marcel knew it was only a matter of time before Frollo and his
accomplices would find him. Frollo and that other man named Antoine were
hot on his trail. Marcel continued to scribble away, not noticing that
Danisha had begun to stir again. He panicked, for he knew she would scream,
possibly try to escape. He glanced at the clock, then closed his notebook
and hid it in under the bed.
"Why are you hiding that, Mr. Rougelot? And when can I go home...? I
don't feel too good." Danisha was now sitting up, rubbing her eyes
and looking rather frightened. Marcel tried to be gentle.
"My child, I have to go out for a little while. Here", he said as he
handed her a cup, "drink this...it's...umm...'soda pop'. I understand you
like this...umm..."SevenUp'." She looked at him with apprehensive eyes
but she felt rather queasy so she accepted the drink. "Mommy won't let
us drink pop all the time, but she gives me SevenUp when I have a tummy
ache."
Marcel smiled as she drank the soda. "Nisha, I know you want to go home,
but you must stay here while I'm gone. I...I'm going to fetch your parents.
Yes, that's it. Wait here and let no one in. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir"
"Such a polite child. Jehan said you are one of the most naturally
courteous women he had ever met."
She looked at him quizzically. "Who is Jehan?" Marcel Rougelot's eyes
registered sheer panic as he realized he made the worst blunder. Quickly
correcting himself, he replied to Nisha, "Oh my dear, Jehan is a friend
of mine. I told him all about you and how I know your parents. He says
that from my descriptions that you seem so polite and courteous."
"Oh", was her only response. Then, "I feel kind of sleepy..."
He gently caressed her hair and stroked her cheek. He really didn't
want to harm this child but he had no choice. For those other voices in
his head told him that this child must die, "So the game can continue.
You simply can't let Frollo win."
So he sat by her as she drifted off to sleep. That soda was laced with
a mild sedative Marcel had purchased. He wanted to keep Danisha; he wished
he could take her, Nisha the child, back to his own time. Perhaps we
can go to Nantes, where we will spend the rest of lives in happiness. Just
me, Nisha, and Isabelle...
It wasn't long before Danisha drifted into a deep slumber, and Marcel Rougelot was out the door. Bundled against the cold bluster, he walked across 21st Street to Central Avenue, then south to 16th Street. He wanted to see this great M. Kennedy himself; so many of his coworkers at the restaurant talked of little else.
Perhaps, thought Marcel, I can add another phase to my game...Just as I did with Nathan Smiley.
Marcel Rougelot -- aka 'le Chameleon' -- had no idea that he was being followed.
++++++++
Hey...
I'm here in Marcel's room. He's gone and I think I know where.
You guys had better make your move...I'll take Nisha where she'll be safe.
BTW, I've taken it on myself to contact Julian...Our reinforcements are
on the way.
He scooped Nisha in his arms and said, "Don't worry, honey. You'll be safe while my friends nab that bad man...He ain't no friend; he wants to hurt you."
Now only if Claude and company beat Rougelot to his destination...This
little girl's life depends on you guys...And I hope that extra help comes
through...
COMING UP:
More on Marcel's past...Claude Frollo gets some unexpected and much
needed assistance...Marcel makes a choice...
Copyright©1999, by FrolloFreak®