I don't own anything.
This fan fiction is of course about Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. There is a new serial killer and Clarice is trying to catch him but her life is in danger and she is forced to take a time-out. This time-out leads her directly to Florence and the inevitable happens. Hers and Dr. Lecter`s paths crosses again after six years.
I hope you enjoy this fan fiction while reading as much as I enjoyed it while writing and if you would like to review my story, I would really appreciate it.
Chapter One
The Maryland Cutter
The Maryland Cutter -that is the name the newspaper gave him- was the new serial Killer and now Special Agent Clarice Starling had to find him and put an end to his murderous career.
Two years ago on 5th April 2012 the first victim of the Maryland Cutter was found in Maryland. Two months later his second victim and five months after that the third victim was found. A year later they found his fourth victim and that was the time when Clarice Starling got the case. The press noticed that too and since almost a year now the press was obsessed with her again. It was as bad as it was when she interviewed Dr. Lecter down in the dungeon. Till the Maryland Cutter showed up Clarice managed to keep a low profile. She did her job, even though she was never promoted and managed to hunt down seven serial killers in the last six years and none of them was still alive. She didn't kill any of them on purpose. It just happened because they always refused to do what she wanted them to do and usually they were trying to kill her. It was always a question of eat or be eaten and Clarice was never shy to pull the trigger. She learned a lot at the time when she caught Jame Gumb and she learned a lot after Jame Gumb. She was better safe than sorry.
But now the press started to ask question. After the whole Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill case the pres finally cooled down and her face was merely in the news till she got the Maryland Cutter case, since that her face was all over again. Clarice was bothered a lot by it. She hated to be in the news. She wasn't a public person nor did she enjoyed any of the attention she got. After all some of the media reporting were hard to read. Especially after the latest victim of the Maryland Cutter. There was a TV documentation on a local channel about Clarice Starling and Dr. Lecter. Everybody wondered, if Lecter would be treated differently. Would he stay alive or would she kill him like the others was one of the main questions. The press was sure that, if she would find the Cutter, he would be dead.
Somehow the new case recalled the memory of her and Dr. Lecter in everybody's mind. It was maddening for Clarice but there was nothing she could do. She could only endure it, close her eyes and hope it would be all over soon.
The media picked up her story again and a lot of questions were asked in the newspapers.
When will Special Agent Clarice Starling catch the Maryland Cutter?
How long can the Maryland Cutter continue till he will be caught?
Will Special Agent Clarice Starling need Dr. Hannibal Lecter`s help to catch the Maryland Cutter?
Who is the Maryland Cutter and why is nobody able to stop him?
Is Special Agent Clarice Starling really the Agent to catch him?
Will Special Agent Clarice Starling kill Dr. Lecter like the others or will he get a special treatment?
Special Agent Starling shot before she asked further questions! Watch out Maryland Cutter! Death angel Clarice Starling is on to you!
Even the colleagues in the bureau started to talk about her again except Jack Crawford and Ardelia Mapp.
Clarice was strong and she could bear it. The only thing that tormented her was, when she couldn't prevent that an innocent person was killed. Deep inside she often blame herself for it because in her world it was her fault because she wasn't smart or strong enough to find a killer sooner and stop him from killing. Those thoughts often came to her without a warning like a tempest on a hot day. In those moments her mind wandered to Dr. Hannibal Lecter and she realised that she still owed him answer. After all, the lambs didn't stop screaming. From time to time they were a little quite but they never stopped to scream. Clarice stopped counting the times she tried to banish Dr. Lecter from her mind and her thoughts. Her attempts were always unsuccessful and finally she gave it up. After all there was no use because he was always with her. Sometimes, when she studied case files late at night she could almost hear his voice, mocking her and reminding her that she will never get where she wanted to be, no matter how hard she worked, no matter how many killer she caught.
Sometimes she believes that he is right and then she does the only thing she can do. She buries those unfortunate cogitations deep inside her mind, in a dark place, unknown even to herself and hopes that they won't surface. Clarice buries them in the depths of her own dark world like she buried Dr. Lecter. He is placed in a dark corner and every time he or those thoughts trying to fight their way back into her mind, she keeps pushing them far away but lately those thoughts and his voice became louder and louder and it gets harder for her to push them back.
After all Dr. Lecter made sure that Clarice would never forget him and he made sure to remind her of him every year exactly on her birthday. He always sends her a bouquet of flowers with a greeting card. On that card he keeps reminding her that she still owns him an answer and that he intended to get that one day. He never left a trace. Not even once they were able to find him but Clarice believed that someday she would see him again. She knew that he would seek her out to get his answer one day. She just didn't know when.
To this very day Clarice couldn't decide, if she regretted ever meeting him or not. Fact was, that she never met someone who was more complex, interesting and infuriating as he was. He was toxic and yet intoxicating. He was remarkable. She couldn't deny that because to this day she could still recall the last time she was him like it was yesterday. In extremely lonely nights she still feel his index finger gently stroking over her finger. In such moments Clarice shook her head, trying to shake him off but upon her lips, unknown to her, a slight smile is always shown.
It was almost dawn when Clarice finally arrived at home. Jack and she were in the a park were they have found the Maryland latest victim. The Maryland Cutter always painted a horrible and disgusting picture. The victims were always hanged in a tree. Their heart missing and replace with a stone. He kept their hearts as a trophy. When the dead bodies were examined in the forensics there was no blood in them left. Every victim of him bled to death.
Clarice went to bed and tried to sleep but she had no luck tonight. Her mind was spinning around the Killer.
The next morning
Clarice was sitting in her kitchen, drank coffee and watched TV. Much to her dislike she and the Maryland Cutter were the number one topic. Somehow they were able to get pictures of his latest victim and now it was all over in the news. Clarice felt sorry for the family of the woman but now there was nothing she could do. They were done showing the pictures of the crime scene and now one reporter asked "Is Special Agent Clarice Starling not as good as she claims, or why can't she stop the Maryland Cutter from cutting?"
"What do you know?" she said loud to the TV reporter.
Same time in Florence
A certain Dr. Hannibal Lecter watched the news as well and saw how the press corrupted Clarice and narrowed down her abilities.
This one is giving you a headache, right my dear? Maybe on old friend can help. thought Dr. Lecter, while he drank his espresso.
A moment later he turned off the TV and read the international newspaper. There was an article about Clarice Starling and the Maryland Cutter. He read the article and decided that he would write Clarice a letter. But right now he indulged in a picture of Clarice. The picture from the newspaper wasn't really good but it was current and one of Dr. Lecter`s fingers started to stroke over the picture. Maybe someday he would be able to touch her face but now this was all he had and that was better than nothing. Dr. Lecter stood up from his chair and walked over to his piano. He placed himself right in front of the black piano, closed his eyes and started to play. All he could think about was Clarice and her unique scent. The melody was like Clarice. Colourful, bright, dark, strong, full of ups, full of downs and soft whispering moments.
Clarice tried to avoid the press and so she hid in her office all day. It was almost ten o'clock when she finally arrived at home. It was a long day. Clarice placed herself on the couch with the file and drifted into another deep thinking. She collected all the information she had about the Maryland Cutter again.
The Maryland Cutter
male, white, in his 30s, smart, strong, house with a basement ( need a basement, probably soundproof, to kill them), a van ( to carry the dead bodies), handsome and charming( that was a thought Clarice had because somehow she was sure that the women went with him, she didn't believed that he forced them even though everybody else though so,) basic medical knowledge ( but not enough to be a practising surgeon, the stitches were too sloppy)
Out of all sudden a certain word rushed in her mind.
Covert.
Clarice repeated the word loud "Covert..." She took a sip from her glass and continued to think hard.
He covets woman as an object. He humiliates them. He takes their heart. Why? Why does he do that? Why does he hates women? He hates women. He wants to hurt them. He takes their heart as trophies. He replaces their hearts with stones. What happened to him? Why does he do that?
Two hours later she was finally done. She couldn't look at the pictures anymore. It was too much. A shiver did run down her spine and she was unbelievable tired. Clarice stood up, turned off the light and went into her bedroom.
Two days later
It was early morning when Clarice entered her office. She went behind her desk and spotted the mail. There was an envelope with no address. Clarice opened the letter and when she remembered the handwriting she hold a breath. A moment later she took a few deep breath and finally she was able to read the letter.
Dear Clarice,
it has been too long, my dear. Your appearance in the news is quite often nowadays. You had a splendid career till that Maryland Cutter showed up. After the Buffalo Bill case everybody had put so much faith in you and now? Now they lost faith in you. But don't worry. I haven't lost faith in you Clarice and I am sure you find him. You are a hunter after all. Don't you ever forget that.
I am sure the new one is given you a headache but don't give up. This one is a pure psychopath and all you have to do is looking at the big picture Clarice. Think outside the box and remember our conversations down in the dungeons. Ask yourself Why does he do what he does? What does he do to get these women? But be careful even though I have every faith in you, don't forget that he loathes women. Those behaviour starts to develop in ones childhood. Most of them have a complicated relationship to their mother. That shall be enough for now about the new one.
I must confess my dear, I miss our little chats. That is really the only thing that is bothering me since my escape. But don't get any wrong ideas I have no plans to give up my view and therefore ,if you try to discover where this letter comes from I must disappoint you. It is futile. Believe me. But you know how to contact me, I am still reading the same news paper.
Tell me, how is our friend old Jackie boy? I am sure this new one is giving him a hard time, too but you are trying everything to catch him, aren't you? Even if it is not appreciated. What do you think Clarice? How far will Jack go this time? He is putting you through a misery after another misery. How long will you silently endure the plight and pain? You should watch out Clarice because Jack isn't looking after you.
By the way You still owe me an answer Clarice.
Take care of yourself
Your old pal
Hannibal Lecter
Clarice still held the letter in her hands and a voice deep inside her head whispered to her. He is right.
Clarice sighed deeply, rubbed her eyes and left her office to inform Jack about the letter.
An hour later Clarice was in Jack`s office and waited for him. A moment later Jack came back and said "We can only track the letter till Chicago and then... nothing." Jack sat down on his chair, looked at Clarice and continued "He is still drawn to you... Maybe he is here."
Clarice shook her head and asked "Really? Do you actually believe he is that careless. He will never come back. He hopes that I will answer him. But even then Jack you have to get adjust to the idea that he will never be behind bars again...no matter how much you want it to be different. Let us focus on the Cutter okay? I can't be occupied with Dr. Lecter and the Cutter at the same time."
Jack sighed deeply and said "Yeah, you are right. Let us focus on the Cutter."
Some hours later Clarice went home and when Ardelia heard Clarice coming in she said loudly "Hey you are late. You wanted to help with the pasta."
Clarice took off her coat, went into kitchen and said "Sorry I was busy."
"Busy doing what hmm?... What occupied you so long?"
Clarice sighed deeply and replied "A letter... from Dr. Lecter." Ardelia looked questioning at Clarice and Clarice continued "He wrote a lot. Mostly that he believes I am catching the Cutter and that Jack is putting me through a plight after another."
"You can say what you want about him but he is right about that. Jack doesn't give you a break. And you are still there where you started. Nothing has changed for you. You are still cleaning everybody else's mess up."
"That is hardly his fault Dee..."
"Whatever... You need a break. Tomorrow you are not working and we... have a double date with Mike and Andrew. You deserve to have some fun."
"Yeah.. tomorrow I know... Now let's eat I am hungry."
The next morning, Clarice was up early and got ready to run. Today she ran longer than usual. She had to clear her mind and she had to forget about work. At least for a little while.
Sweaty and exhausted she went home and after she had an extensive shower, she sat down on the couch in an old academy shirt and sweatpants.
She took the case file of the Maryland Cutter and went through it again. Clarice didn't noticed Ardelia who was right behind her and said "As charming as your outfit is.. I am sure Mike would like to see you in something else then a T- shirts and sweatpants. And before you say you have nothing to wear. Wear this." With that said, Ardelia throw a black dress into Clarice`s lap. Clarice surveyed the dress for a moment with an raised eyebrow but before she could complain Ardelia said " No back talk!"
Later that day
Clarice, Ardelia, Andrew and Mike went into a club. They sat on a bench, drank beer and laughed a lot. Clarice had to admit that she definitely had a good time and Mike was really handsome. His hair was short and black. His complexion was a little tanned and it was impossible not to be drowned in his ocean blue eyes. Mike's hands were on Clarice`s tights and she really enjoyed it. After a while Ardelia and Andrew stood up and she whispered to Clarice "I will see you tomorrow. Andrew wants to show me his aquarium."
Clarice smiled at her and watched her and Andrew leaving. Mike moved a little closer to Clarice and asked "Do you want to dance?"
Clarice nodded and for the next twenty minutes they swayed to the music while his hands softly explored her back. Half an hour later Clarice and Mike entered her house. They almost fall over a small table in the floor because they didn't stop kissing when they entered the house. For the first time in a long time Clarice indulge herself and took Ardelia`s advice because tonight she definitely would have fun. When they finally made it to her bedroom, Clarice mobile phone rung. Clarice searched for it in her pocket and while Mike started to suck on her neck she breathlessly answered her phone with "Starling."
Mike was still sucking and kissing her neck when he heard her saying "Mr. Crawford ... Yes ... in 30 minutes ... I'll be there ..."
Mike stopped, took a step back and looked at her. Clarice cleared her throat and explained "I'm sorry but I have to work."
"You have to work now?"
"Yes I... there is some kind of emergency."
"Clarice... Do you remember last month? Same situation like that. Only difference it was my apartment. How is this suppose to be working if you are not around?"
"Mike I can't…. I am sorry... I have to go. I make it up to you. I promise." Then Clarice stepped forward and tried to kiss him but Mike stepped back and said angry "Just call me when you can squeeze me in your appointment book."
"Mike wait..." but her words where in vain because he was already gone.
Clarice grunted and wished she hadn't answered her phone but it was too late. She grabbed her gun and left the house.
