Disclaimer: They're not really mine, and I'm not making money.
Buenos Aires, in South America, experiences the seasons at different times of the year than in the north.
So it was on the first day of a month in early autumn that Dr. Lecter woke to an empty bed.
This was no longer a regular occurrence for the doctor. Clarice had fallen out of her early-to-rise habit, and was usually still fast asleep when he rose to make breakfast.
He became even more worried when he saw that all the drawers of Clarice's dresser were open, and empty. A suitcase was sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, full of her clothing.
"Clarice?" he called. She walked into the room, dressed in casual clothing much like what she used to wear. Her eyes were on the floor, and refused to rise to meet his.
"Hannibal. You're up." She spoke quietly, guiltily.
"Packing for a trip, my dear? Were you planning to tell me?" He did not like this, not at all.
"I'm leaving, Hannibal." She still refused to meet his eyes. "I have to go." He couldn't reply for a long moment.
"Why?" he asked.
"It's the lambs. The people that I should be helping…the ones who need me…I can't just stay down here and ignore them forever! I'm sorry," she whispered.
"But, Clarice, you were miserable there. The lambs can take care of themselves. You're happy here." Why hadn't he seen this coming? There hadn't been a single clue!
"I can't stay here and be happy while they scream. I…I…I…" suddenly, to Lecter's astonishment, she raised her eyes to meet his and giggled. "April fools!"
He looked at her, levelly and without blinking, until she stopped giggling.
"Well, I thought it was funny," she muttered.
"Funny? It was puerile, in bad taste, and rather rude," was his frosty reply. "Really, Clarice, no one over the age of seven could find that amusing at all."
"Well, sorry," she snapped, a bit peeved. "After all the work I did trying to set up a good joke, you have to get all mad. Not used to being fooled, are you, Doctor? I guess those tricks you taught me for lying to the authorities were a little too good."
Suddenly, he lunged at her, with the Harpy he kept on his bedside table at her throat.
"I'm afraid that 'sorry' won't cut it this time, my dear," he whispered. She gasped.
"Hannibal, it was just a joke! I'm so sorry, I won't do it again, I just thought it would be funny!" She closed her eyes. Crawford had been right, and she had forgotten what he was…
Suddenly, the knife was gone from her throat, and she slid to the ground.
"April fools," said Hannibal, reaching down to help her up.
Short and predictable? Of course. Funny? I can only hope. "Engañar" means "to trick" or "to fool" in Spanish. Happy April Fool's Day!