note :
I would first of all like to thank everyone for the compliments. I am glad that Hannibal seemed in character to everyone. He is a very deep character and therefore it is hard to predict how he would behave.
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The next morning when Clarice awoke she looked back on the night before. It seemed like a dream to her. Hannibal had been so understanding and caring.
She rolled onto the stomach and pressed her face into the pillow. She opened her mouth and screamed into the pillow. She never imagined her life would ever be so complicated.
After collecting herself she climbed out of the bed and started to get dressed for work.
Her stomach wasn't so bad. The morning sickness was starting to even out and calm down. She hoped that it was be decent during the whole of her pregnancy.
She walked out of her house, climbed into the car, and drove off to work.
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Amy was more annoying than ever. She could tell Clarice was hiding something. Most woman can tell when they are hiding something.
Clarice went into the back room to do an inventory check. She didn't need to do one but she couldn't take anymore of Amy. She wasn't ready to tell Amy about the baby. She didn't know if she could trust her.
She sat down at the table at the room at the book and starting looking through them. She had a feeling she was going to be spending a lot of time with her feet up reading. She had a good collection of books but she had read most of them.
She had only gone through a few books when she just collapsed in tears. She let out a long sob and brought her hands up to cover her face.
"Damn hormones," Clarice whispered brushing them away with the sleeve of her shirt.
A good cry might have been the right thing considering everything she was having to deal with but work was not the place for it. She gasp trying to force the tears in. That was the thing about crying. Once you start it is hard to stop.
"Clarice?" Alice's voice came. "Are you O.K?"
"I'm fine," she whispered turning her head away.
Amy didn't say anything at first. She pulled up an extra chair and sat down next to Clarice. She didn't speak again until Clarice's tears started to slow.
"I know you haven't known me for very long," she explained. "But you can trust me. I promise I won't repeat anything you say."
Clarice shook her head still not looking at all.
"I can't," she whispered. "If you knew you'd know why I can't tell anyone."
"Does it have to do with Hannibal Lecter?" Amy asked.
This caused Clarice to look up at her with surprise. Amy didn't strike her as someone who kept up with the news and believed everything she read.
"Don't look surprised," she said with a little laugh. "Everyone knows about the rumors. I was just guessing. Looks like I was right. I understand why you can't talk about it."
Amy rose from her seat and patted Clarice on the shoulder. She left the room without another word. Clarice smiled slightly to herself.
"She really is a nice girl," she whispered to herself.
Since she was feeling a lot better she got up from the desk and went back to work.
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Work had dragged by. All she wanted to do was go home and put her feet up. Maybe take a long bubble bath. Hopes of a stress free night were crushed when she pulled up to her house.
There was a police car parking in front of her house and a cop was standing at her door.
"Can I help you?" she asked walking up to him.
"Hello Miss," he said flashing his badge. "A neighbor called the police but they some strange man creeping around the property. We just came by to make sure everything is alright."
"Well I've been at work all day," Clarice explained fishing out her keys to avoid looking at him.
She silently cursed Hannibal for showing up in the middle of the day.
"Have you noticed any one sneaking around?" he asked.
"No," she said. "And I would haven noticed because I live alone."
"Alright," the cop said nodding. "I'll leave you my card just encase something should happen."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white business card. Clarice took it without even looking at it. It went right into her purse.
"Sorry about the trouble Miss," he said.
Clarice turned to watch him walk down to his car. Her eyes didn't look away as he got into his car and drove off. Something about him had made her uneasy. It was almost as if he knew more than he was letting on.
She let herself into her house. The living room light was on. She walked down the hallway and into the room. She saw right away that Hannibal had been there. He had left a small piece of folded paper with a key rest on it on the coffee table.
She walked over and picked the key up. It was a hotel key. The numbers 939 were engraved in the key. Clarice sat the key down and picked up the piece of paper. She unfolded and was greeted with familiar hand writing.
Dear Clarice,
I know I am taking a large risk coming to your house during the day and I hope it doesn't bring either one of us trouble. I didn't expect to crave to see you so soon but I do. I've booked a room at the holiday inn. I'll only been at that room tonight. First thing tomorrow I have to move on. I do hope you will come and see me.
with love
Dr. Hannibal Lecter M.D
Clarice smiled at the fact he had signed it with love. She really was getting to see the softer side of Hannibal. She couldn't help but wonder just how many people he had allowed to see that side of him.
She had already made up her mind that she was going to go see him. She would have dinner and go right over.
