A/N: Hey everyone!! I hope you missed me and haven't forgotten about our adventure yet! First, my deepest apologies for not posting in a while. I have actually had this saved in my drafts since September 3rd and I have not been able to post it. Bottom line is we have gone through a hurricane, final exams, my full time job, training…..life has been a little bit crazy! But I am still here enjoying the ride. Second, I want to say thank you to all of my followers and fans. I want each of you to know that no matter how busy I get, I still read all of your personal emails that are sent to me and they are what helps encourage me to write during these rough times. I want to personally thank sleeepingiants for your kind words and message and I would absolutely love to be instagram buddies. Thank you again everybody and without further delay, let's get to the story!!
Chapter 33
Hannibal and Clarice loved to frequent the theaters, plays, musical performances, and art events in and out of their neighborhood. It was about one year ago when Clarice decided to start her own little P.I. work. Her work was never official nor did she do it with public knowledge. No, this was all done in their house. She had a private room she designated as her "office space." It was in this space that she conducted most of her research. She found all sorts of criminals and serial killers on her own, but upon occasion, she did require the help of her illustrious husband Hannibal. When it came time to capture these murderers, Hannibal and Clarice always worked together to execute the plan. He did enjoy helping her, but the thing he enjoyed the most were the games they played. He respected her wishes to play cops and robbers, but he did express to her his concern that she not pursue anything she couldn't handle on her own without him. She would get frustrated at this remark saying she could handle herself, but he always insisted. Nevertheless, when these two are together, they become an unstoppable force. Of course this is all just one part of the big life they share. Their true identities and their work were kept under wraps from the public eye. In the daytime, they lived on their own in their immaculate house. It was shrouded in woods with a rather large yard that allowed for a lot of privacy for not only them, but their son.
Their son was their pride and joy. He had just turned two years old now and always enjoyed running in the yard, playing outside, and working small puzzles at home. He had a large vocabulary for his young age, but much of that was thanks to his father. He showed all the signs of a brilliant boy even from such a young age. His current favorite activity is to paint and draw beside his father. Hannibal had always been musically and artistically talented and the boy shared that love of art through painting. Hannibal has tried several times to teach him the piano, and while he loved sitting beside his father and listening to him play, he was not as interested in learning how to play himself.
Clarice was torn when he was born. She wanted desperately to name him after his father, but was worried that with both of them making the ten most wanted list that it might, in some circles, turn some heads. So instead that decided on a name they both loved, Henry. Henry had the bluest eyes and short wavy black hair. He looked like the perfect mixture of both his mother and father.
Hannibal and Clarice have made a life for themselves these 2 years, and they thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. When it came time for them to hunt at night they had a babysitter come to watch Henry. It was not easy securing one for the son of Hannibal and Clarice Lecter. There was a rather rigorous interviewing process that went through before finally selecting the person they thought best suited for the job. Her name was Amelia and she was about 43 years of age. She wrote poems and worked most of her life as an author. She picked up small jobs like this one in order to help with the bills while she was in between writing. Writer's block is a hell of a curse unfortunately. Clarice and Hannibal both liked her a lot. They supported her writing and she always gave them free copies of her book on release day. Hannibal and Clarice both read all of her books and enjoyed her writing style.
On this particular evening, they arrived home late with a few bags from the store. Hannibal and Clarice were driving with what was left of Mr. Dower in a neatly folded package labeled beef. It was in a large bag with other meats from the local butcher's shop. Clarice and Hannibal did partake upon occasion, but they were extremely careful not to indulge too often to keep prying eyes off of them. Hannibal frequented the butcher's shop and always bought the same thing when he planned on taking a piece of his victims. This way it was easy to hide amongst the regular beef purchased from the shop. No one, including the babysitter would suspect a thing. They pulled into the garage then Hannibal grabbed the bag from the butcher's shop and shut the car door behind him. He walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door for Clarice and she kissed him. Hannibal then opened the side door that would lead directly into the kitchen. Of course he didn't get the chance to make it this far. As soon as his son heard the rattling of keys, the boy jumped up and ran towards the door. Hannibal swung the door open with a smile announcing they were home. Henry tackled his father around the legs giving him a big hug.
"Daddy's home! Daddy's home!"
Clarice stood behind Hannibal and jumped out to surprise Henry. He smiled bright and ran up to hug her, "Mommy's home too! Yay!"
Hannibal smiled, "Yes my son we are home, but shouldn't you be in bed?"
Amelia came darting around the corner, "My apologies Dr. Knight, he had the funny idea of drawing a picture for the two of you to surprise you and I couldn't get him to go to bed."
"That's quite alright Amelia," Clarice interrupted, "Do you mind helping me with the rest of the groceries before you leave please?"
"Of course!"
"Henry come help your mother with the groceries too."
Amelia, Clarice, and Henry went out to the car to fetch the rest of the bags. Hannibal had the butcher's meat and Mr. Dower in the bag he carried to the freezer. This gave him time to store everything away so Amelia didn't see anything.
When they came back into the house Hannibal escorted Amelia out to her car. Her shift was over for the night. Hannibal had always been generous with tipping on last minute notice babysitting. Amelia needed every penny she could get. While she did enjoy writing more than anything, it was an expensive hobby among other expensive hobbies she had. She thanked the Doctor and told him good night and drove off.
She drove the forty-five minute drive back to her house. It was very dark outside and she was physically and mentally exhausted. She stepped into her house and shut the door. She tossed her keys into the little glass dish that sat on a small table beside the door. As she walked into the kitchen, she heard someone behind her, she turned fast and was met with swift hands, one at her throat and the other over her mouth.
"Amelia, Amelia, relax its me."
He removed the hand that was over her mouth but kept the other one on her throat, "Jason!! You scared me! What the hell are you doing here?"
"Boss says you got to pay up….that time of the month you know?"
"So soon? But I-"
"Hush sshhh….you know the boss hates when you are late, or do I need to remind your brother again?"
He pulled out a knife and Amelia panicked, "Ok, ok! Hold on, I have it here, I have it."
She pulled out the neatly folded bills Hannibal handed her that same night. "Here! This should cover it all and then some."
She tossed the bills at him and they scattered in the air.
"Amelia…where did you get this much money?"
"I worked for it, pig. Something you would know nothing about!"
He pushed her against the wall and grabbed the money from the floor, "Worked for it? Please, your may be a good writer, but this isn't the kind of money a small time author makes. This is more like New York Times best seller eh? And you know what's funny? I don't remember seeing your books anywhere so that can't be right. So where did you get this kind of money?"
"It doesn't matter how I got it does it? So long as you have your money, just leave me and my brother alone."
Jason stood upright and tall. He approached Amelia, this time with a knife in hand, "Amelia I don't want to hurt you to get this information. So, I think it best you tell me before I gut you."
"No!"
"Why? Who are you protecting? Whoever gave you this money, you are protecting."
"Fuck off!"
Jason grabbed Amelia and was about to drive the knife through when there was a shout from behind them both, "She babysits a kid from this rich couple."
Jason turned around and saw Amelia's brother, Adam standing there.
"Adam! Silence, don't tell them anything!"
Jason let go of Amelia and turned to face Adam, "You must have some big balls to stand there in front of me Adam."
"I know where the couple lives. If you leave Amelia alone, I will show you."
"Adam!! No! Don't involve them in this, I can handle it I -"
Adam interrupted, "Shut up Amelia! You know nothing. No amount of money is good enough for them. They will always demand more. Stop protecting that family Amelia. He could have killed you. Let her go and I will show you where they live."
"Adam! No!"
Jason smacked her, "You should listen to your brother Amelia. Its pretty bad when the drug addict of the family is making more sense than the responsible one."
Jason walked over to Adam and they went into the back room.
"Jason, promise me that after this, no more. My sister does not have anything to do with this. Nothing! This has to be it.'
"Adam, Adam, Adam…we decide those kinds of things. Now show me the house."
Adam pulled out an Atlas and brought out a sharpie. He outlined the road that took them all the way to the residence of the Lecter house. Although no one in the area knew it as the Lecter residence. It was the Knight's Residence.
"Adam, have you been here before?"
"No, never. Amelia came home one day talking about their beautiful home. It used to be an old home we would pass by when we were younger. It is classic style, but was run down. This family moved in and fixed the whole thing."
"How many?"
"I have only ever heard Amelia talk about a man, woman, and a small child."
"Perfect. I will handle it personally then. Now, about Amelia…"
"What about Amelia?"
"I don't want her warning the family. Now there is one of two ways we can go about this. Either you can handle this or…." He waved the knife in the air, "I can. Now decide."
"You will not touch her Jason. I will handle it."
