Chapter Text
Prologue
How the stern Inspector had fallen into this trap he had no idea. At times, he believed that God was punishing him. At other times, he was convinced that it had something to do with the Mayor tricking him into all this with his charming and cajoling ways. But mostly, he had to admit, the situation he found himself in stemmed from the fact that he had not been firm enough to refuse obedience to said Mayor - something he knew he should have done!
~~~
"Look at that, Monsieur le Maire."
"What?" Jean Valjean, a.k.a. Monsieur Madeleine, factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer, turned to the baker who had stopped the mayor's pensive stride towards his office.
The baker's grin widened as he pointed over the mayor's shoulder and towards the end of the street.
Madeleine turned... and laughed.
Far off Inspector Javert strode purposefully towards the docks as was his habit when on patrol. A few paces behind someone was following him; a girl, perhaps seven years of age, mimicked the Inspector's gait while at the same time taking care not to be spotted by him.
Valjean watched as Javert stopped and answered the greeting of the farrier. Immediately, the girl froze... and hid behind a lamp post.
Both the baker and the Mayor laughed at that.
Fortunately for the little girl, they were both too far off to be noticed by the inspector. As soon as he took up his stride again, the girl emerged from behind the lamp post and strode on just like Javert himself: with a ramrod straight back, her arms held behind her back, and - albeit invisible to the onlookers behind her - a serious look and a slight growl on her childish face.
"She's just like a little duckling following her mother duck around, don't you think, Monsieur le Maire?"
Valjean laughed even harder at the baker's words. To be sure, the description of 'duckling' fit the girl to perfection; but to imagine Javert as a, well, as a drake or even a gander... that was just... it was... it was kind of fitting, actually.
A scene from his own childhood rose in Valjean's mind, a scene he had almost forgotten. As a boy he had once helped a neighbour drive a flock of geese to market for a few centimes. One of the ganders had been so aggressive, he had not let anyone come close. Twice the owner had to help the boy Jean to evade the gander's sharp beak. It had been a valuable lesson; to learn that animals even smaller than a boy could defend themselves quite capably.
Valjean saw Javert round the corner. Yes, gander fit the Inspector quite well. He, too, could be dangerous!
~~~
Half an hour later Javert had entered the area of the docks - a place where crime and prostitution abounded. The pickpockets and ladies of the night residing there all knew Javert and usually kept clear of him. But they, too, had spotted his little shadow, and it was just too much for them to resist.
"Hello, there," one of the ladies addressed Cosette as she walked by... strode by imitating the town's Police Inspector. Just like Javert might have done, Cosette ignored the woman completely.
"Hey... so small and already so cocky! What do you want here, you featherless little chick? Looking for work?" another one called over.
That made everybody within earshot laugh. Unfortunately, though, the Inspector had very good ears. He turned... and paled.
Cosette saw his forehead crease and his eyes turn hard. He had seen her! There was no way to hide. All of a sudden she was quivering with fear. Her beloved idol strode towards her... with a scowl on his face!
"Cosette, what are you doing here?"
Her eyes became big saucers. She opened her mouth to answer, but couldn't utter a single word. The look in his eyes took away all her courage.
"I have repeatedly told you not to follow me!"
It was true. This wasn't the first time she had run away to follow him.
She swallowed.
"Well...?"
"Ah... don't be hard on her, Inspector," one of the prostitutes came to her defence. "The little mite probably wants to know what you are doing."
"Aye," another mocked. "Maybe she is curious why you come visit us all the time." The rancous laughter that followed this remark made Javert swivel round to face the speaker. As she looked into his eyes, the woman shrank back in fear. Slowly, he turned round to face Cosette again.
"Home," was all he said and strode ahead.
There was no chance for Cosette to mimic his gait again. He was walking so fast, she had to run to keep up.