Chapter 2-
Dr Lecter turned the speakers off, still wearing a smirk as he moved to sit down. He had decided he would feign injury and not give Clarice anymore clues by showing his height and build. He pulled the small footstall towards him and propped up his left leg, he shook his head in bemusement as he raised a book to eyelevel just as there was a sharp rap at the door.
"Come in, it's open." Dr Lecter voiced in his faux Brazilian accent.
As the door opened Dr Lecter could not stop the breath that caught in his throat, it was the first time in seven years that he had seen Clarice Starling in the flesh, so to speak. He inhaled through his nose to catch her scent as he studied her carefully. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, her face was beautifully defined, and he noted she was also shapely; her body having blossomed under the hard fitness regime she no doubt kept. Clarice Starling had grown from that timid, yet courageous young girl who had stood outside his cell, into a beautiful woman with a fiery temperament. It then also occurred to him that this was the first time they had been in the same place without physical restriction, the urge to get up and touch her, perhaps her face or shoulder was almost overwhelming and then the whelp spoke.
"Dr Fell, I am Agent Benneti, this is Agent Starling. We are here to collect the belongings of the former curator." Dr Lecter turned to look at the young man, his head tilted slightly as he assessed the cheap suit and even cheaper cologne wafting over the room.
"Ah, yes they are in the adjacent room, I hope you will forgive an old man but I am still not quite used to my surroundings in the dark and bashed my leg. Will you manage?" He watched her studying him, knowing that he must feel achingly familiar to her although she probably couldn't place it, Dr Lecter was momentarily grateful that she was far too tired and agitated to care.
"It's quite alright, we will manage thank you, Mr. Fell was it?" She asked whilst moving forward holding out her hand.
For him, the opportunity was too good to let pass him by, and so he stood whilst making sure to balance most of his weight upon his 'uninjured leg' as he took her hand. He bent slowly and relished the feeling of her soft skin on his, not being able to help himself as he pressed a lingering kiss to the back of her hand.
"Yes, Agent Starling. It is a pleasure to meet you." She smiled at him gratefully, she felt strangely comfortable around this stranger, even though it felt like a small electric shock went through her as he pressed a kiss to her hand. She put it down to the fact that he was the first man she had met in Italy who had behaved in a manner befitting a gentleman, without trying to check her out.
Benneti shifted uncomfortably next to her, his eyes narrowed suspiciously as the old man got over-friendly with his date for the evening. He didn't like the way she acted toward the old librarian either and so he cleared his throat loudly to interrupt the moment.
"Shall we get the bags, Clarice?" Dr Lecter saw her look up at him in distaste; the sound of her name pronounced in his accent was more like "Cla-eecee" which to her sounded nothing like her actual name. Benneti noticed the look on her face and tried to recover from his mistake.
"Agent Starling, I mean. Please, after you." He motioned for her to precede him, and she did, sending the Doctor a tight smile as she walked into the next room. When they reappeared Clarice was dragging the two heaviest cases alone, Benneti had the one smaller suitcase and the briefcase containing papers. Dr Lecter snarled inwardly, his teeth bared for a moment before he got up once again from his position in the armchair and 'limped' toward Clarice.
"Please, let me." He took the cases without awaiting an answer, refusing to look at the man should the urge to hurt him become too much to ignore. When he returned upstairs Clarice looked extremely agitated and appeared to be losing her patience.
"For the last time I will be fine, goodbye." Benneti traipsed out of the room with his head bowed pathetically as he made his way down the stairs. Dr Lecter stood by the door Benneti had just walked out with his head tilted, observing her until he heard the faint noise of a car door slam. She seemed to release a breath of relief at the noise and smiled at him.
"I would like to ask you a few questions sir, if you'll permit me?"
"Yes of course Agent Starling, anything to help."
He gestured toward the couch and they both sat, whilst Dr Lecter was secretly delighted at their close proximity he showed no emotion on his features besides a calm, polite interest in what she was saying.
"Ok… had you ever met your predecessor?"
"No I never met him; I read several of his monographs in the Nuova Antologia though."
"The officers who first checked the Palazzo for any sort of note, found nothing. Have you come across anything since?"
"I am afraid not Agent Starling." She was rifling through the papers in her lap, her hair falling over her shoulder, even though it was tied up.
"Okay, that's about it, thanks for your time sir." She got up to leave, smiling politely and Dr Lecter stood after her.
"May I ask you a personal question, Agent Starling?"
'Oh great.' She thought to herself. 'Just when I was beginning to like him.'
"If it is relevant." He smiled and lowered his gaze for a moment, knowing what she was thinking.
"Since our first meeting you have referred to me as sir, now I do recall going through medical school, why have you not once referred to me as Doctor?"
She looked up, genuinely surprised as she shook her head, her lower lip caught between her teeth. "I didn't mean to offend you, calling you sir was out of respect."
"I know, but you still haven't answered my question." He tilted his head at her again, waiting as she sighed heavily.
"It's habit sir- I mean Doctor. Calling someone else 'Doctor' after a previous encounter I had would feel wrong somehow… I can't help but think of him when I say it."
"Was this encounter unpleasant?" Clarice seemed to be considering the question, her blue eyes distant.
"In all honesty? I'm not too sure, I don't think of it as bad or objectionable. I was forced to face many things about myself that I didn't want to admit."
"What sort of Doctor was this man you speak of?" He of course had no need to ask her, he was already certain of the answer but was curious as to her continued reaction to discussing it.
"A psychiatrist, although I do believe he was also a medical doctor."
"Ah, well I apologize if I have made unpleasant memories re-surface."
"That's quite alright, Goodbye Dr Fell." She turned to leave once again and Dr Lecter knew he couldn't quite let her go without a guarantee that he would see her again, soon.
"Oh, Agent Starling?" She turned to face him again, a strained smile on her face. He could tell she wanted to leave as soon as possible after their uncomfortable conclusion to the conversation.
"As an apology on my part please accept an invitation to the annual ball that is held here every year, it would put my mind at rest to know you bear no ill will after my little blunder a moment ago. You could also put your detective skills to use by questioning the members of the Studiolo on my predecessors disappearance, I understand they knew him well." Clarice eyed the invitation in his hand, which he appeared to have just plucked from thin air. What did she have to lose?
"Thank you Doctor." She took the invitation with a small amount of enthusiasm and their fingers brushed, they were both immediately taken back to Memphis.
"Goodbye Clarice… You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming wont you?"
"Dr Lecter…" Clarice muttered out loud, the Doctor thought he had been recognized for a moment and that the game was up. That was until he realised her eyes were unfocused and distant, he smiled wickedly.
"No dear, it's Dr Fell." She snapped out of her daze and met his sharp gaze with her own, slightly confused eyes.
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry, thank you for the invite I will consider it. Goodbye." She turned and left the room shutting the door gently behind her, he watched her on the cameras as she left; her fingers were absentmindedly stroking the envelope which held her invitation.
"Ta-Ta, Clarice."