The cage was out in the middle of the floor, as customary. Walking in lock-step with the orderly as he gave instructions almost had a rhythm to it. Do not touch the cage. Step Do not approach the cage. Step. You'll pass him nothing but soft paper...
Clang.
The door closing behind her made her jolt momentarily. "I'm surprised, Dr. Bloom. You seem jumpy for how well you know him," said Chilton. He had never forgiven her for doubting his innocence. In all fairness, she never felt the need to apologize. Her being alive and so publicly wrong was penance enough.
"I'm fine from here, Dr. Chilton." Alana motioned to the orderly to continue. He was a large man, though less rigid in his disposition than many of the others.
"I'll keep an eye on you," he said flatly. Something told Alana that he knew, though she figured that he could read. Thanks to Freddie Lounds, her infamy spread well beyond the academic fishbowl.
Hannibal's cell neighbor,Matthew Brown, spoke in monosyllables to his lawyer as she walked by. Even in visitation they were neighbors. The former orderly was either heavily medicated or simply cracked following his attempt on Hannibal's life. Must have been Chilton's idea to put them together.
Hannibal never broke eye contact with her as she walked to the chair.
He looked her up and down. "The Tatler's pictures do you no justice, remarkable recovery."
"Still have access to Freddie Lounds? Even in here?"
"I paid my lawyers good money to fight for Internet access," he said flatly. "Besides, Frederick took my books."
"You took his freedom."
"Only briefly," Hannibal smiled. "You look well, Alana."
There was very little left to remind her of the man he was. Professor. Friend. Lover. Physically he hadn't changed much. He seemed very strong, still very intense. His voice drew her in as always. Yet there was something colder in his appearance. It was slight, but noticeable. It was as if something was coming to the surface of his skin. An almost physical warning of who he was that wasn't there before.
"Why did you ask me here?"
"The Tooth Fairy. As I understand it, the FBI has deigned to have you return as a consulting psychologist. Knowing how quickly you and Mr. Graham work, I sense this one is getting away from you. And I happen to have nothing to read between my time on the internet."
"Is that the only reason you asked me here, Dr. Lecter?"
"So formal, Alana. Might as well call me Professor, for old time's sake."
"My familiarity with you ended when I knew what you are. Not to mention the window."
"And what am I, Dr. Bloom? Frederick calls me a sociopath and on occasion a psychopath. Other PhD candidates come by and give a garden variety of personality disorders. I'm so keen to hear your opinion, pupil mine."
"I'm not going to pretend to know what you are psychologically. You forget that I'm not that reckless. And I know you too well to try and box you in."
He looked at her thoughtfully and smiled. "My faith is restored, in the profession. Thank you, Dr. Bloom. Though I know I should never underestimate you. I'm happy to see that part of you hasn't changed."
Alana rose from the chair and walked until she was a foot away from the cage.
"What I do know is that you are not the man I thought you were. And I'm unsure any part of you is actually human."
"And that is where you arereckless, Alana. You want to be unsure about my humanity. What scares you is that I am human. More human than most."
"And yet your contempt for humanity is palpable."
"Life is precious. My contempt extends to those who waste it. You received a second chance and haven't wasted a moment. The world remains a more interesting place with you in it."
A small part of her tugged at this. The look she received from him noted that it made an impact.
Alana reached for her bag and brought out an abbreviated case file on the Tooth Fairy. She flipped though it to make sure there was only soft paper. "I cleared this with Dr. Chilton already. Contact your attorney if he takes it away. You have 24 hours."
"I'll only need 6."
"Of course you do," she said as she leaned forward and handed it to him.
He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. "You haven't changed your perfume."
"Goodbye, Dr. Lecter." Alana turned and started walking away
"See you soon, Alana."
Alana's phone buzzed with a text message from Will, asking for details on the meeting. She stopped to reply: "He offered his assistance on the Tooth Fairy. I gave him the abbreviated file. And he smelled me. Otherwise, noth..." Alana felt warm liquid stream down her leg.
Chilton stood at the cell door and smiled. "I told you along time ago, stay behind the line," he said. Matthew Brown smiled as he continue to urinate in her direction. Chilton motioned the orderly, "Clean that up and get both of them back to their cells."
"Good visit? Do tell," Chilton with a smirk.
"Nothing enlightening. He could be a psychopath. Or a sociopath. Some people may conflate the two outdated terms."
She didn't wait to hear or see Chilton's reaction.
