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Clarice pulled up in front of the school, happy to see students still standing in groups outside. They weren't late. Leaning over, she kissed Bella's cheek. "Have fun. Learn something, because I'm sick of hearing you say you learned nothing." She chuckled when Bella rolled her eyes. "I'll text and let you know if I'm done at work. Can one of your friends give you a lift to my office?"

"Shouldn't be a problem." Bella breathed before slinging her bag back around her body. She turned back to her mother. "Do you really think something is going on back home? I mean, should I be worried?"

"No, honey, I'm just being cautious." Clarice shook her head. Although the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach told her something was off, she wasn't going to worry her daughter with it until she knew what was going on herself. She glanced up and sighed when she saw Chet Krendler, Paul's son. After his run in with Hannibal, Paul was miraculously saved by doctors even with the missing pieces of brain.

Not that he had much to begin with.

Despite his wandering dick, it was his wife who had landed him in fatherhood shortly before Clarice gave birth to Bella. Rumors flew around the office, but they were quickly squashed when Paul made numerous suggestions that his son and her daughter might be able to do what he wanted to do to her for many years. Over the years, the suggestions had only gotten worse as Chet grew up into the jock that his father was.

"Has he been giving you any problems?" She asked, jutting her chin out towards the teenager.

Bella rolled her eyes again. "Every day of my life. He just never shuts up. He's been coming to our dance rehearsals too with a few of the football players." She got out of the car and leaned down through the open window. "Can you meet me at the front door at your office so I don't have to deal with Paul?"

Clarice smirked. "Happily. Love you."

"Love you too." Bella smiled before turning and walking towards the school. She chuckled when her always bubbly best friend bounded to her looking like she had just emerged from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. "Hello, Winnie. I see your goal is to outshine the sun today, like every other day."

Winnie bumped her hip with Bella's. "Says you who can rock a sweater like the President's mistress."

Bella smirked. "The only kind I would be." She huffed out a breath when a masculine arm draped over her shoulder, the cuff of the letterman jacket a dead giveaway. "Can I help you, Krendler?"

"In lots of ways, but none of them could be done with all these eyes around." Chet breathed into her ear. He tugged her a bit closer. "How about you, me, and dinner Friday night? I'll even let you keep your whole feminism stance and let you pay for dinner."

"How considerate of you." Bella oozed sarcasm before shoving her elbow into his ribcage. He coughed as he bent over to catch his breath. "I'll pass though."

Winnie laughed as she linked arms with Bella, both of them jogging up the stairs and entering the school. "Have I told you I love you today." She sighed as she glanced back at the closed doors. "I can't believe I slept with him for three months."

"I've decided to believe you were drunk or high for those entire three months." Bella stated before reaching her locker. "I can't wait to get to college and find guys that are actually mature. They care more about their futures than when their next fuck will be."

"Already looking for college seniors then, huh?" Winnie teased her, poking her side. "Have you told your mom yet that you applied to Columbia College. . .in New York?" She felt her own nerves kick in when Bella bit her lip. "Bella, it'll kill her."

Bella groaned and dove her head into her locker. "I know." Her voice echoed off the metal sides. "I haven't even told her about applying for the psychology department. I've only mentioned dance. When I first talked to her about even the possibility of psychology, she got a little antsy."

Winnie frowned. "Isn't that her major?"

"Yeah, I'm guessing it has something to do with my father. She only acts weird when I bring him up." Bella sighed before grabbing her books. She quickly shook her head and plastered a smile onto her face. "I'll tell her. . .if I get accepted. I just need to get to the mail before her."

"Everyday?" Winnie's eyebrows nearly shot up to her hairline.

Bella slumped her shoulders. "Pray for me?"


Clarice had barely walked into her office when Ardelia came rushing in after her. "Thank God, you're okay." She breathed out, covering her heaving chest with her hand as if she had just completed a marathon.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Clarice asked as she sat down behind her desk.

"You haven't heard." Ardelia began, sitting down in the chair across from her friend. "A body was found in the park over by your place. They think it might be another victim of the Beer Can Killer."

Clarice felt the goosebumps break out on her skin. "They found a can at the scene?"

Ardelia nodded. "It was still sticking out of the victim's stomach. It was a slow death."

"That's the seventh vic. I knew something was off this morning. I even told Bella." Clarice kicked herself. "It didn't feel like there was another victim though. It felt like we were being watched. Like someone was there. Like. . ."

Ardelia cocked her head to the side. "Hannibal?" She sighed when Clarice quickly shut her office door to give the two privacy. "Clarice, he only came the last time because you were under extreme duress. What would he come back for right now? It's not like you've done him any favors in the past."

Clarice bit her lip. If only she knew the half of it. There was so much she didn't know. So much that nobody knew outside of herself. "You don't get it. There's a bond there. I haven't seen him, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been there. The letters, the gifts. I don't know what to call it."

"Creepy." Ardelia answered before standing up. "I swear. When it comes to him, you've got a blind spot." She pointed over to the phone on Clarice's desk, blinking with messages that had gathered overnight. "They'll call when the body comes in. Someone suggested putting you on the case when the call came in."

Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, Clarice sighed. "Bella is going to kill me."


Hannibal wandered the halls, making note of the lack of security. He'd been in the school for ten minutes and not a single person had come to question him. Leaving your little bird out on a wire, Clarice? Only half past four and the building felt like it had been abandoned long ago. That was until he heard the telltale notes of a number from Sleeping Beauty. A classic ballet for a high school to perform. With the notes circling the halls, he let his ears guide him into the dark auditorium and sat in the back, watching as the numerous teenagers moved about the stage like clumsy flamingos.

All but one.

The little bird moved with grace. Back straight, toes pointed, arms braced. She moved quicker than all of them put together, but it was as if he were viewing her in slow motion. A beautiful and talented young thing. A carnation of what Ms. Starling would've been if her childhood hadn't been captured by the screaming lambs. The music seemed to move her in a way that no coach could teach. She was completely immersed, so lost in the melody that the loud bang from the side door slamming shut faltered her dance.

The man, who could be assumed to be the director, stood from behind the piano before shouting. "Krendler, get out of my practice! You have no business being here."

Krendler?

"No business." The young man feigned injury. "My girl is your leading lady."

"Only in your dreams, Chet." The little bird smarted. Hannibal smirked. She was a fighter.

The young Krendler made the motion of shooting an arrow. Cupid's presumably. "You're killing me, Starling."

"Krendler! Out!" The director all but screamed. The boy smirked and blew a kiss before turning and leaving through the door he had just entered from. "Alright," the coach's voice rang out, "on that lovely note, let's call it a night. Starling, a word."

Hannibal watched as the adolescents dispersed to the front row seats or backstage. Taking his cue, he slipped out through the back to avoid being spotted.


Bella jogged over to the piano where her coach leaned against the piano. "What's up?"

"What's going on with Krendler? He can't keep bombarding our practices like this." Coach Pellagrim stated with a shake of his head. "Is there something between you two or is it just harassment."

"He's just a perv." Bella sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "He seems to think I'm playing hard to get."

Pellagrim glanced back towards the door. "If you want, I can help you report him to the principal. I'm going to talk to him anyway about his behavior, but the harassment might stop if you make a complaint about it."

Bella rolled her eyes. "He's been making comments since we were kids. My mother has made complaints with every principal and teacher I've had. He doesn't care. It only seems to motivate him."

Pellagrim shook his head with disgust before resting his hand on her shoulder. "Just know that if you need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks." Bella breathed before shrugging his hand off of her shoulder. "I'll see you at practice tomorrow."

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