Chapter two: The thinking and mind games begin

Hannibal was quite pleased with himself. No Clarisse or Will to get in his way. He was free and set on starting over here. He might even consider saving that Irish boy Artemis Fowl II if he keeps his little pale too observant nose out of it. And then maybe, just maybe he might get away with it this time.

Clarisse was on a plane to Ireland. She suspected that Hannibal Lecter was there since there was two Irishmen missing in the last two weeks. The two Irishmen were found with their internal organs and such missing. Not missing, Clarisse knew, eaten by none other than Hannibal Lecter. Clarisse also noticed an article featuring a boy of only eighteen winning a Nobel Prize in Science. In the boy's eyes she could see that same criminal glimmer that she always saw when she looked into Hannibal Lecter's. She read in the caption that his name was Artemis Fowl II and that he was Ireland's smartest genius. Which he apparently corrected and said he is a genii. So much like Lecter it was scary, she was going to keep a close eye on this Fowl.

Artemis checked in on his brothers since their mother and father were away on business. They were curled up on a sleeping Juliet's lap. How cute he thought. But he couldn't stop thinking about this man he met yesterday, and the articles in the paper, and then there was the news cast. Without waking neither three of them Artemis put the Twins to bed and covered Juliet in a blanket. He would think about this more tomorrow, or later tonight as it would invade his dreams.

Hannibal decided to look into finding a nice house and job so he didn't look to suspicious. He already knew the Fowl boy suspected him of something. Could he know Hannibal's secret? No he didn't slip once, and neither had Fowl. Hannibal realized that this Fowl boy was like him in more ways than one. Much like Will and Clarisse he too knew the darkness of this world closely, but would Fowl be on his side or Clarisse's side? There was no time to worry about such things as that. Hannibal had work to do and his next meal had just arrived.

He had struck again! Clarisse had just arrived when she heard the news. She had no jurisdiction here, but Hannibal was her problem. Clarisse had decided that she was going to locate this Artemis Fowl II and figure out if he knew of Lecter's whereabouts. If he didn't know, then she would see if she could get Artemis on her side. Of course staying one step ahead of her was Lecter so Clarisse could be going in to a trap, or Lecter was just waiting for her to make the first move, like in chess.

"Check mate!" Artemis said triumphantly. It was his fifth time winning against Juliet. She sighed. "I win again Juliet, what next?" Juliet laughed and went over to the couch.

"My WWE is on so maybe another five rounds later." Juliet said and sprawled onto the couch. "Why don't you play with Myles?"

"Because he needs to play with Beckett and plus he doesn't play chess well." The Irish youth protested. "Please Juliet?" She just snorted and yelled at the TV. "Fine I'm going to watch something educational then!" Artemis snapped.

"This is educational, it teaches you how to punch kick and block." Juliet said matter of fact like. It didn't matter to Artemis though he wasn't interested in oversized men fake punching each other hopped up on steroids.

Artemis entered the foyer and turned on the news. As he watched the most important story was about another missing person found dead with his intestines missing. How barbaric Artemis thought. "Butler, could you get me the Irish police station's number please?"

Irish men had an unusual taste, thought Lecter. Of course that could not be helped, they ate and drank different foods and drinks than the Americans did. Still they tasted just fine, yet Lecter missed the taste of a true good meal. Lecter's mind wandered and he started to wonder how the Fowl kid would taste. Much better than the lot he's been eating, Lecter thought. Maybe just maybe he would find out.

Clarisse approached the estate with caution. If Lecter was waiting in there for her she would be ready. Clarisse had to admit the grounds were well kept, and beautiful fragrant flowers grew in rows of fives up the sides of the stairs. She knocked on the door and waited hoping that Lecter wasn't in there waiting for her.

"Artemis the door was knocked on!" Beckett yelled for upstairs where he and Myles were experimenting. "Myles wants to know if he can use her as a science subject."

"No Myles you know that we don't use humans as experiments we use the supplies given to us from the colleges." Artemis scolded his younger sibling. Artemis went to the door and saw that it was a female FBI agent. The one from the Hannibal Lecter case, Clarisse Starling.

"Hello, you must be Artemis Fowl II." Clarisse noticed that up close the Irish boy's blue eyes had a more soften tone then the evil gleam that was in the picture.

"Yes, what brings you here Agent Starling?" Her name on the boy's lips made Clarisse shudder. She looked over Artemis' shoulder and noticed that there was a big guy standing not too far away watching.

"I'm here investigating the found missing people." Artemis didn't seem surprised, it was like this happened to him on a regular basis. "Do you possibly know a Hannibal Lecter?" Artemis knew it would be a matter of time until someone came asking. He still didn't have proof that the fellow he met the other day was this Hannibal Lecter. Maybe this agent could help him find proof, but can he trust her.

"I've heard of him and you from the news, and for you found missing people I have no connections with any of them." Clarisse nodded. "Why do you ask agent?"

"Well I have reason to believe that Hannibal is behind the murders, and those missing parts are part of his next meal." Clarisse noticed that the boy didn't even flinch. "I want your help to find Hannibal Lecter and stop him. Can I trust you?" Artemis pondered this and realized that maybe this could help him get some more money for the estate.

"Yes you can agent Starling, and I will help you. I have a few theories we can discus over lunch." Clarisse nodded and followed Artemis into his dining room.