If she had any doubt about her employer's guilt, it vanished as she read his most current mail.
Dear Ms. Starling,
Despite herculean efforts on the parts of several of my contacts, I must inform you that I was unable to secure Carlo Bruno's full, disclosed record. Much of his record remains sealed. I understand this is a disappointing setback, but I trust you shall continue the investigated undaunted and pursue other leads.
Please keep me updated on your progress.
Regards,
J
Herculean efforts, huh? Well, his story was a giant load of shit much like that flowing from the Augean stables.
He was holding out on her because, upon reading Bruno's full file, he'd made the pedophilia connection. His own crimes were in danger of being exposed. Clarice spent a moment wondering if he felt any guilt, knowing his actions had made Il Medico target a child, a child close to him, likely related to him. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind then she dismissed it as irrelevant. Older and wiser Clarice Starling could perceive shades of gray between the black and white of right and wrong. But a few absolutes still existed, and caring if a child predator felt remorse was a waste of time and resources. Those individuals were among the unforgivable. Attention should be focused elsewhere. [D]
She sat back after reading the letter and faced Hannibal. He thought the setting sun behind her made her look like Mucha's Prinzessin Hyazinthe.
"So, who is Mr. X?" she stated. "Is he mister at all? Of all the things he told us, what is true and what is not"
"It was not until inquiry was made after Carlo Bruno that he started to fidget. He's not stupid but he's not very bright, either. It seems he simply wants to divert attention from the pedophile view on things. I believe a mail with a faux assurance you'll stop investigating the 'useless' pedophile angle should work wonders for now. The Questura believes it's a dead end. If you confirm you believe that too, his suspicion will be lulled to sleep. You assured me you didn't push it at the meeting."
"I didn't push it, no."
"Male, obviously, and adult. Not Maria's father, but someone who was close to her: a relative or close family acquaintance. You know, I watched the family for some time before you were hired. Unfortunately, I've only been able to get in touch with a distant aunt. She's a board member at La Scala, the only one of the family to be in such a public position. They really tend to 'lay low.' I extracted a great deal of information on family members and their acquaintances from her. The latter are only a handful, and I checked them all. We can rule them out. It must be one of the seven uncles or two grandfathers."
Clarice interrupted him.
"The letter he wrote that Monday we went to Acqui Terme!"
She rose suddenly and paced around a few steps before continuing.
"He mentioned an unexpected event and that he'd be unavailable until… Sunday."
"The funeral of Maria's father was on Saturday," Hannibal prodded.
"Okay, so Mr. X is one of those seven men."
"Yes, Clarice. But why bother trying to figure out who Mr. X is from our current perspective?"
Clarice froze on the spot.
"What? First, you're telling me all about the family, trying to pinpoint my employer, now you're telling me we shouldn't?"
"No, I'm not saying we shouldn't. I'm suggesting another approach to the problem. Since we've discovered this case is about an internet forum for pedophiles, where they share their… information," - Hannibal saw Clarice grimace at the thought of what kind of information - "and that our killer has access to this forum, unknown to the other visitors."
Clarice looked at him with half closed eyes. It was getting late after all.
"So?"
"Carlo Bruno voluntarily shared his knowledge about the forum. We can…"
"WHAT?" Clarice exclaimed and jumped from her chair. "You have found access to the forum?"
Hannibal watched her face display a subtle array of emotions and expressions.
"Yes and no. I know where to find access to the forum. It's in a file on the computer he shared with Anjelica's mother."
"And why didn't you tell me this earlier today? I thought we were in this together?"
No matter how lovely those last words made him feel, she was right. He could have known she would want to be told sooner.
"I could make up a lot of excuses why, Clarice, and make you believe I had a perfectly good reason. But I won't. I should have told you sooner - I am sorry for that."
He realized the breach of trust he had caused, and was thinking about how to restore the confidence. Even though their relationship was out of the ordinary, plain trust remained of major importance. Of capital importance. trust, of course, cannot be forced, it has to be earned over time. And it can be lost in the blink of an eye.
"I'm sorry, Hannibal."
He almost thought his ears were playing a prank on him.
"It's been a rough day and I'm still a bit cranky in spite of all your efforts to make me more comfortable."
She turned towards him and faced him.
"I understand your primary concern was my welfare, you took care of that first. And you did tell me. In due time, when I was up to it, when we were talking about how to proceed."
"I am glad you feel that way, Clarice."
"But I think I could use another massage right now, Hannibal," she said and smiled. [MB]
Hannibal accommodated her wishes, as he knew he always would, circumstances permitting. There was very little he would deny her. Not one for regrets, the concept foreign to his nature, he had, however spent more than a few moments in their decade apart pondering just what he would have done if she had answered his question with something other than, "Not in a thousand years." Of course, if she had answered it any other way she wouldn't be Clarice Starling and he wouldn't love her.
He started with her feet. She had lovely high arches.
She was soon moaning her appreciation, and he worked his way up to her strained calves, tired from her extended run earlier, and then gently nudged her over so he could work on her lower back.
After a time she mumbled something into the pillow.
"What was that my dear?"
Turning her head to the side, though her eyes remained closed, she tried again. "You're always doing for me. Giving me massages, making me these amazing meals, and when we…" her voice trailed off for a moment, but he knew exactly where her mind traveled. Heat flashed across his gaze, unnoticed by her. "Well, when we're intimate…you're, well, generous doesn't begin to cover it."
"Clarice, you just prepared a delicious meal for us. Regarding the other, I promise you I have not felt slighted. Quite the contrary." Simple, succinct words. His tone rang their truth.
After a beat of silence she continued, "Still. I don't think I've ever given you a massage." A playful smile graced her lips though it didn't quite mask the lurking vulnerability in her eyes.
Shockingly, wonderfully, Hannibal pulled away from her and flopped back on the coach, limbs splayed.
"I'm completely at your disposal Clarice, do with me what you will."
Giggling, she crawled up his body and then lifted, straddling him. For a moment she ran her hands down and then up his ribcage.
Was Hannibal Lecter ticklish?
"I think this will work better if you flip over."
"I think that may prove challenging with you on top of me."
"You complainin'?"
"About that, never."
He finally did manage to turn over, and she proceeded to work her strong hands into his muscles. She could feel his warm skin through the fine linen of his shirt. She had to fight against her desire to take it off of him. Right now, massage. In her current mindset she knew bare skin would lead to other things.
Silence cocooned them except for her deepening breaths accompanied by his steady ones. Now she was starting to feel a challenge rise to do something about that iron control of his. She'd just edged her hand beneath his chest, grasping for that top button, when her doorbell rang.
Startled, not expecting anyone, she rose quickly and checked the security monitors.
It was Chiara. [D]
Clarice's voice rang through the house. "It's Chiara! Hannibal, she mustn't see you. Go!"
She heard the couch springs and knew he'd hide. Turning back to the display, she looked at her unexpected visitor. Chiara hopped to and fro and was clearly very agitated. Clarice pushed the button next to the display and started to speak.
"Chiara, what an unexpected surprise! I'm on my way, hold on."
She unlocked the front door and walked over to the fence to unlock it. Chiara kept moving about. She threw her cigarette away and followed Clarice inside.
While Chiara hung her coat, Clarice took a peek in the living room. She noticed Hannibal had removed his wineglass and everything else that indicated Clarice had a visitor. She led Chiara into the living room and asked her to sit down. The girl did as she was prompted, but she kept moving nervously and wrung her hands a few times. Her eyes didn't wander around the place, but she seemed to be deep in thoughts all the time. Instead of asking her directly why she'd come and wake her from her reverie, Clarice decided to wait and see.
It took Chiara a minute or two to realize she was expected to explain herself. She held her hands to her head, and started to speak.
"It's about Alessandro. I think there's something wrong with him. He was acting really strange just now."
Clarice repositioned herself slightly in her chair. But before she could respond, Chiara continued.
"I… was with him this evening. We went to his place after work. That's when it started…" [MB]