"Who are you?
"I am Doctor Hannibal Lecter's temporary replacement."
"Temporary?"
"Hannibal Lecter is currently laying in the ICU at the Baltimore General Hospital. He was attacked by the Chesapeake Ripper. Your theory of Doctor Lecter being the copycat murderer and the Ripper is incorrect Mr. Graham."
The man that had been pacing behind bars wearing a grey prison jump suit stopped and studied the person before him. William Graham so sure of everything was now not so sure of what was happening due to the fact that the one person that he was so sure had done this to him was 'Ripped' and yet still somehow still alive.
"Who are you?"
"I am Kamryn Destler, military officer. The victim that was also ripped apart and harvested was one of my unit members. I was his guardian and his driver. Both men were in the psychiatrist's office when the incident happened. Hannibal Lecter is lucky to be alive and while coherent was concerned for your wellbeing Mr. Graham."
Will looked up from his pacing again and stared at the woman before him, she was dressed in black with gold military pipping and bars on her epilates, and short hair in a pixie cut that suited her very well for her build and 5'6" frame. "In going to pick up my guy when I knocked on the door I must has snuck up on the man because there was a door slam before I broke the door down, Doctor Lecter is extremely lucky in this regard."
"Is… is… Hannibal okay? Is he missing any organs?"
"No, I stepped into the room and saw that the man's guts were spilled out on his stomach. I managed to do what I could for the man and got him help. He pulled through the operation and is resting at the moment." Kamryn stepped up the cage that the man was pacing before looking down the hall then back to the man. "A Jack Crawford is securing your release, he is fighting the FBI on this, but evidence has come to light that proves that you had nothing to do with this, and the attack on Hannibal Lecter clears him. Seems like Hannibal knew something about the killer and didn't want him to get away, even going so far as to try and frame him."
Will's head spun as he tried to go over everything that he had been told. Had he been so wrong about Hannibal Lecter and that his mind was putting the man in because he was the man that was closest to him? No, this was all Hannibal, this was a ploy, a play, but how… how could the Ripper be Lecter if Lecter is now bed ridden? Did Hannibal have a partner? No, if he was the Ripper he would have never done something like this just to prove his innocence.
The woman before him turned away from the cage and went to her coat pulling out a folded manila envelope. Turning around, she unfolded the envelope and tapped it against the pal of her hand.
"They say you can see things that no one else can, I'm going to show you something and I want you to think about this. Tell me what you see the next time we actually have another discussion, I already have been given permission for you to keep these. There are two cases, half the photos are of the crime scene with Dr. Lecter in it. The other half are for the reason I am here. FBI has lost ten agents in the last three weeks, they have kept it quiet but no longer. The other four are military murders within the area, I will be in Baltimore for an extended stay until this guy and the Ripper is found."
"Don't count on the Ripper to be found, he kills in waves and then hibernates, he leaves nothing, no trace, no evidence. Usually kills in three's then disappears." Kamryn sighed and reached for her coat picking it up and putting it on along with her long coat that was still a tad damp from the rain. "Well then, I better do my job and try to catch the two hmm?" Kamryn pulled the chair away from where it was situated and put it against a wall. "You should be out within the next hour, I have to report to my superiors have to go and check on Dr. Lecter, I'll see you around Special Agent William Graham."
Will's eyes snapped up from the picture to follow the Military Officer down the hall, she made no sound as she left. Looking down to the photos in hand, Hannibal's exposed body was shown before the other image of the 'Ripped' soldier. A shadow made itself known as it stood beside the Wendigo that was now standing over top of Hannibal's body in Will's mind, the shadow of a wraith moved so that it started to encompass the dark corners of the office that was Hannibal's office. Will stood and kneeled down and looked at Hannibal as the man looked up to him.
"The mirrors in your mind can reflect the best of yourself, not the worst of someone else…" Will stumbled back from Hannibal's body and looked around seeing something flint in the darkness of his mind. The wraith and the Wendigo turned and disappeared into smoke.
Baltimore General Hospital –ICU
It was nighttime and the shadows in Hannibal Lecter's private room remained unmoved as the man in question laid on his bed with his eyes closed. The beeping was incessant but necessary as was the dull ache in his chest as he laid there listening to the machine at his side.
"William Graham is in the process of being releases and your freedom has been permanently secured. There will be no further ties to your as the copycat or the Chesapeake Ripper." The voice was low and almost other worldly as it came from the shadows.
"Thank-you"
"Don't thank me yet, I still have to deal with any lingering evidence if there any of it. I also have to move your food stores to another location for the time being. There will need to be a few more bodies to completely convince them and Graham you are not the Ripper."
Hannibal opened his eyes and turned his head to the side staring into the darkness, he couldn't make out the figure but he knew there was someone there. Stiff wool and boot polish gave the figure away. "Any other body parts you want gathered? And make this good, you need to retire the Ripper before you get caught, and you know you will Hannibal."
"Another three bodies will be have to make do." Came the hoarse reply, the shadows moved closer to Hannibal, it helped the man to take a sip of water that was sitting at his bedside. When he was able to get his breathing under control he looked at the shadow before closing his eyes. "Use the Rolodex at my house and pick any three of them." There was a soft snort before the shadow back away and shifted lightly.
"Sorry about the injuries, they were needed to make this look real. Hopefully you recover quickly Lecter."
There was nothing but soft breathing signalling the man was asleep. Making its way out, the shadow made its way down the halls of the hospital to the outside of the building. Standing away from the street lamp, the figure stood by as a black SUV pulled up its window rolling down revealing a face.
"Special Agent Crawford"
"Lieutenant Destler, care for a lift?"