The soft chime of a doorbell sounded at a small house on the outskirts of Baltimore.
When Mrs Lake went to answer it she found a sharply dressed man in a navy blue suit smiling softly at her.
"Mrs Lake? My name is Hannibal Lecter; I believe I have a meeting with your daughter Eden?"
The woman before Dr. Lecter offered a polite hand and guided him towards the living room.
As she walked, Mrs Agatha Lake spoke in a hushed voice, "I'm so glad you're here Doctor Lecter. Eden hasn't spoken a word since she was released from the hospital. We've tried everything but she just won' talk. I'm afraid you're our last hope."
Lecter listened intently to the mother's plight and gave her a winning smile.
"I assure you Mrs Lake, I will do everything in my power to help your daughter."
A grateful smile befell Agatha as he continued, "Now, you mentioned on the phone that Eden had experienced a recent trauma, of what kind exactly?"
The frail woman held Hannibal's gaze for a moment or two before looking away.
"Have you heard of the Baltimore Butcher, Doctor Lecter?"
He nodded, "Jackson Emerson. Killed ten women over a three week period and then disappeared for over a year. The police found him in an abandoned house in Rosedale. He was a detective on his own case, am I right?"
Agatha's face held a grim expression as she led him through the hallway and stood stiffly by the living room door, "Do you know the reason why he disappeared for so long?"
Hannibal shook his head as Mrs Lake gestured to the young girl sitting in the far corner of the room with her arms folded across her knees, staring blankly at the muted television screen.
"The reason," she answered, "is because Jackson Emerson found my daughter the very night he killed the last girl who lived just across the street."
Her eyes glazed over as she looked out of the living room window to the house directly across from her own. The yellow police tape had long since been removed but wooden boards still occupied the windows and a lock was still hanging on the door with chains entangling the door frame.
Lecter nodded, he had enough information to go on for now, "Thank you Mrs Lake. You've been most helpful."
Agatha smiled and then hurried off to the kitchen as Hannibal entered the living room and sat down on the edge of the long wooden coffee table facing the girl.
"Hello Eden. My name is Doctor Hannibal Lecter and I was hoping I could talk to you today."
The young girl glanced briefly at the man before her, her blue eyes examining him carefully. She saw nothing of immediate interest and so returned quietly to watching the television screen.
He chuckled slightly before resuming his professional demeanour, "Your mother tells me you haven't been talking...now, is that because you don't feel like talking? Or is it perhaps because you are afraid to?"
A blatant question that earned him an annoyed glance but no words came from those lips.
Eden tucked a small strand of brown hair behind her ear and continued gazing at the screen.
Dr. Lecter sighed, "Eden, how am I supposed to help you in any way if you do not talk to me?"
He tilted his head so she was forced to look directly at him.
It was Eden's turn to sigh as she looked into his eyes and saw...well, she wasn't sure exactly what she saw, all she knew was that it felt familiar.
"You can't help me."
A surprising melodic voice pierced the muted silence as Hannibal raised his eyebrows.
"What makes you think that?"
Eden was about to speak again but was cut off by the front door slamming and a voice shouting angrily. "Why is there a car parked outside my house, woman?"
Without warning, Eden hurriedly switched off the television and returned to stony silence, not even daring to look at Doctor Lecter.
A man in his late forties came marching into the living room.
His eyes narrowed when he saw the stranger, "Who the hell are you?"
Hannibal stood up, "Ah, Mr Lake, I am your daughter's new therapist."
Joseph Lake laughed, "Therapist? What's the little brat been telling you, huh?"
Eden shifted uncomfortably in her seat as her father's gaze turned to her.
Hannibal shook his head, "You know I can't discuss our sessions, Mr Lake. Now," he glanced at his watch, "I have another appointment I need to be attending to, if you'll excuse me."
Eden stood up suddenly, "I'll walk you out Doctor Lecter."
Joseph eyed her suspiciously before becoming bored and heading towards the kitchen for a beer.
Together Hannibal and Eden exited the house and walked towards Doctor Lecter's car.
"I apologise for having to leave before our session is up but I have an important meeting with William."
Eden raised an eyebrow, "Will Graham?"
Hannibal nodded, "You know him?"
She didn't reply but instead rummaged in her trouser pocket and pulled out a folded up rectangular envelope.
"Could you give this to him?" she asked and handed him the envelope.
He smiled at her, "Of course."
Eden returned a shy smile as he got into the car and Mr Lake stumbled out onto the front porch, "Get your ass back in the house right now!"
Eden looked nervously at Hannibal before waving a small goodbye and running back towards the house.
Hannibal smiled as he reversed out onto the road, "This one's going to be interesting."