Chapter Seven

Quantico, Virginia

"How would you like to go about this, Miss Bloom?" It has been a week since we discovered and dismantled the Holly Cult with the help of Ann Rousseau. A week that has been rife with political strategy and religious bias in the Mid-West. As soon as Christine Rousseau was deemed safe enough to travel by helicopter to our own hospital near Quantico, we moved. We all fear that there are still supporters of the cult that have not been identified and caught yet. A process that may take some weeks more, as Soul's Harbor did not keep very detailed or organized paperwork.

There is a bitter chill to the air today as I watch the gray sky outside my window. The wind picks up, and I have a feeling the weather man will have the rain he predicted earlier this morning. I turn around in my chair as I wait for the response. I rest my elbows on my crowded desk as I face the thoughtful gaze of the woman in front of me. "Miss Bloom?"

"Tactfully, but you usually do what you want anyway, Jack." Alana Bloom gives me a cool look as she sits in the chair in front of me, and I return her coolness with my best 'give-a-damn' face. She wears a silk purple blouse under a tailored dark gray suit jacket that catches the light from the florescent bulbs and the windows in my office. Her thick dark hair is loose and curled like usual, and her makeup is simple and professional. She would likely date more instead of just turning heads if she could learn to relax and stop analyzing everything.

"I want to be careful, which is why I am asking your opinion. I respect you Miss Bloom. You are among the top people whose opinion I value the most. Especially, when it comes to speaking with women and children. I know you think I push too hard, especially with your patient, Miss Hobbs. If you were in my shoes, you would want clearly defined answers for rising questions as well."

Jeremiah Holly, a.k.a. Josiah Hollingshead is no longer a problem, but his members could be. Josiah Hollingshead was tried and found guilty of starting a cult within a high school club that ended being connected in the death of a football player who was known to bully many students. Being the son of a preacher, after the conviction, the Hollingshead family changed their names and left town in shame. Josiah served 30 years in prison and was a model inmate. His charisma, and do-good attitude made him a lot of allies on the inside. A good number of them followed him on the outside.

"So you want to crash a funeral for those clearly defined answers?" The question has been dogging me for the past day and a half, and I could see the threat of incredulity on Alana's face.

"My invitation came in the mail yesterday, so I will not be crashing a funeral. The funeral will be taking place at 5 p.m. followed by a small reception at the Rousseau home. I'm allowed one guests, and as my wife has already declined..." My heart feels heavy and sinks lower in my chest. My Bella. My dear Bella. Of course she would refuse to go to a funeral while dying of cancer. I rise from my tall back swivel chair and adjust the photo of Bella and I on the desk before I walk to the front of my desk. "Well, who better to help them through their grief and get me closer to the completion of the case. This isn't just for me, Miss Bloom. I'm not completely without sympathy. I want to make sure that the tragedy of Mary Rousseau doesn't find Ann and Christine as well."

A weighted silence hovers over the room as I remember back to all those victims. Christine Rousseau hasn't spoke to us since the rescue. Ann has been avoiding everyone and screening phone calls since I had her identify Mary's body and help me in identifying some of the others at the compound. Christine would have been better since she was on the inside, but she was still physically recovering at the time. Jeremiah Holly was among them with his brutalized neck. She knew Christine had killed him, but seeing the result was much harder for her to bare. Since then, Ann and Christine have been inseparable. I need help to wedge a gap between the two sisters long enough to get some answers, or at least a promise to spill everything and anything about the case as soon as possible.

"Fine!" Alana Bloom straights herself and shakes her head. "I'll meet you there, but I want to be the first to speak with them at the reception. In no way are you to engage in more than your condolences at the funeral. Give them at least that much. Agreed?" I had to smile at her. Alana and I don't always see eye-to-eye. I know she means well, and she often reminds me to be more level-headed. I wish I had the luxury of setting an even pace with her.

"Of course. I know how to behave myself in funerals, Miss Bloom. I'm not a psychopath who doesn't understand feelings. If it helps, we can wait until the end of the reception to divide and conquer." I give an assuring smile, and I hope it sets her at ease.

"You're incorrigible!" She shakes her head at me, but I can tell she is ready to concede to the proposal.

"I've been called worse." By my wife in fact, and a handful of less imaginative people.

"Who would you like me to talk to first at the reception? Ann or Christine?" I could see the wheels turning as she leans in and takes the files on the Rousseau's off the edge of my desk.

"Ann will be easier for us since she's already familiar speaking with me. She'll be distracted enough with family and friends to have her guard down. You don't need to worry about Christine. I've got that handled." I take Christine's file from her and place it back on the edge of my desk.

"You? What makes you think that Christine will talk to you?"

"She won't be talking to me. Will Graham received an invitation as well. As I already intended to invite you as my guests, I asked Will to invite Doctor Lecter. They will handle Christine Rousseau. Will tells me, he was the last person Christine spoke to that we're aware of. He saved her life as much as she saved his. There is a better chance for the pair of them to get through to her." I rise and walk calmly to the door.

"Why don't I work with Will on Christine and you and Hannibal work with Ann. Christine may be wary of being questioned by two men after being a victim of one. Besides, I'm seeing in Ann's file that they are supporters of the arts and humanities and have traveled much outside the country. That is something to break the ice with for Ann and Hannibal." She rises and stops just beside the door.

"Not a bad idea. I'll have a copy of Christine Rousseau's file made for you before you leave so you can have both. I'll deliver the other copies to Doctor Lecter, and we'll meet before the funeral to divide teams and make a plan. How does that sound?" I smile and open the door for her.

"I guess that is as good as I will get. I will see you tomorrow about 3:45p.m." She exits and I briskly walk over to the intercom on my desk to ask my secretary to make the necessary copies. I hope my plan works.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to get the next chapter up. Good news is that there is a second season planned for Hannibal. Yay!

So, who will team up with who? Will the plan work? After what happened on the compound, can Will get Christine to talk to him? Can Ann keep her part of the bargain and hand over who is investigating Will? Find out in the next chapter.

I'd like to hear from my readers whom they would like to have the perspective of at the funeral and reception.