Chapter 2

Alexander Wright got home late, after 32 years of medical practice his routine seemed so casual now. He woke up promptly at 6am every day without the need of an alarm, got dressed, and went to work at various hospitals in the surrounding area. The nurses all knew him very well and his staff adored him. He was always punctual and a little stern, but worked well with others. He was on the clock every day til 9pm and he would return home to his dog Max and enjoy his meal. His house was quite elaborate. A little to large for one man. Both his children had graduated and moved out. His son Demetri was a lawyer in New York and his daughter Diana worked as a plastic surgeon in California. His wife passed away about 12 years ago from stage 4 lung cancer. It was unfortunate that it was not caught sooner, but she had not shown any issues until she was changing a light bulb one day and fell. She broke her right hip and it was then that the cancer was discovered. A bone scan done a few weeks later showed the cancer had already spread throughout her body. He missed her dearly within the walls of his large house. His children visited occasionally, when they weren't too busy with their own lives. But Alexander never complained. His job as a surgeon kept his very busy. On his days off he attended the opera and various plays that cane through town.

This night however seemed to feel much different from the previous. He entered his large house and his dutiful German Shepard Max did not greet him at the door.

"Max?" He called. "Come here boy!"

Then the scent hit Dr. Wright's nose. The unmistakable smell of blood. In all his years of practice, he could identify with numerous scents. He walked into the living area and turned on the lights. What greeted his eyes did not surprise him entirely, but he remained silent.

Dr. Hannibal Lecter sat in the chair with a metal surgical tray, a hand lay in ice, and his dog Max was at his feet happily laying by Dr. Lecter's feet. The Doctor's eyes were the deepest of blues and he had an unnatural stillness about him.

"Good evening Alex. Sorry to disturb you and your dinner plans, but might an old friend ask a favor?"

"Hannibal…what have you gotten yourself into now old friend? I am assuming the help you need involves that?" He pointed to the hand in the ice tray.

"It is a very long story, and I am afraid I have already lost a lot of blood."

"Let us get to work then. Quickly to the back."

After an intense surgery reattaching Dr. Lecter's hand, Alexander Wright took a seat in the chair opposite the bed that Hannibal now occupied. No doubt he would sleep through the day just due to the volume of blood loss. Hannibal slept soundly as if nothing had ever happened. Wright always marveled at his pain tolerance ability. His dog Max came in the room to lay at Alex's feet. "Oh I see, you only want me when the company is asleep. I see who your favorite is." He patted he dog on its head and turned off the lights. He would have to tell Hannibal when he woke that the surgery was a success albeit he would probably have limited range of motion and permanent nerve damage, but the deal was done. He laid down on his couch, the clock now read 7am.

"I guess it's a good thing it's my day off. Now then let's catch up on the news Max."

He turned on the TV to the local news station where a picture of Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling flashed across the screen. The reporter was speaking very fast stating that the whereabouts of the two were still unknown and that both are considered armed and dangerous.

"Wait I have heard of that Starling woman before. Why is she missing?"

In the next room Doctor Lecter lay very still listening to the news being reported in the next room. His eyes bore a hole in the ceiling. Clarice is missing? Now that's interesting. Where will you fly to next little Starling? Our are games over, or have they just begun. I hope maybe this time we can have a little more fun.

Clarice Starling approached her duplex carefully. The police had been inside and completely turned the place upside down. Her roommate Ardelia wad home and reporting that she hasn't seen her. Clarice watched the interaction from afar. Once they were satisfied with the search, they left, giving a card to Ardelia, before driving hastily down the road.

In the 12 hours Clarice had gone missing she stayed local, she took the cash from the police officer she killed and used it to buy clothes, a pair of scissors, and a cheap box of hair dye. Starling's hair was now jet black and cane to about her shoulder. She had on a cheap pair of sneakers along with a black top and jeans. She walked down the street behind the tree line along a jogging path, then cut back across to approach the duplex from behind. She entered the back door by picking the lock. She already knew what she was after. Her spare gun and some cash she kept in a box under her bed. She worked for the FBI. She knew exactly where they were going to be before they did. She also knew enough to get access to fake passport and ID. Funny thing about the law enforcement, when you are in it long enough you know exactly who to go to and where to go to. She opened the door and made it to her room. Ardelia was in the shower, crying from the sound of things. Clarice was hasty grabbing the box. She was almost out the door, when she thought of the box she brought home the other night containing all the information she had acquired about Hannibal. She took a cook book the Doctor had used frequently and crammed it into her bag. She heard a gun cocking behind her and she turned. There Ardelia stood, gun in hand.

"Come to tell me by Clare?"

"Delia, please…"

"They said you killed a cop last night Clare…what the fuck is going on?"

Clarice stared at her friend silent. Her eyes started tearing up as well. "It all happened fast Dee, I can't explain it, I don't think you would understand."

"Well then you better fucking try! Let's go to Pearsall together, we can talk. I can back you up and…."

"No!" Clarice was fuming. She stood up abruptly with her fists clenched. "They were whisking me away to jail just like that. That is why I was in the back of that fucking squad car. They weren't taking me to a hospital, they weren't hearing my side. They want to blame me for damn near everything. Ever since the shootout at the fish market Where John died. No, even before that Dee!" She huffed for air. "I am not going back. You can shoot me now if you want to , but I am not going back there."

Ardelia lowered her gun, "I didn't know you were in the house right away. Why didn't you shoot me then? You could have done it easily."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"There has been enough dead people for one day Dee." Starling said coldly.

Ardelia blinked twice, "Is he with you?"

Clarice chuckled, "No, I don't know where he is."

"Are you going after him?"

"…Yes."

"What will you do when you find him?"

A beat. "I don't know. I just know that I have questions and he is the only one that has the answers."

Ardelia sighed and dropped the gun on the floor, "I don't ever want to see your face again. 2 hour head start is all I am giving you. Don't make me regret it Clare."

Clarice walked toward Ardelia and hugged her. "I love you Dee, and I am gonna miss you. I'm sorry."

Ardelia broke down, "I am sorry too girl. Be careful, please; please don't make me regret this. I love you."

Clarice disappeared out the back door and left Ardelia standing there. She cried and cried.

Clarice Starling was now on the run from her old life, from the FBI, from her friend, and her only goal was to find him, Hannibal Lecter.

Unfortunately for Starling and Lecter, more than just the FBI is looking for them