ch.1
Clarice woke in the morning shivering cold. She quickly got up and wrapped herself in a blanket and went to make some coffee. Mapp was already at work apparently for her side of the house was vacant. As the coffee percolated, she sat at the table reading the day's news headlines. Nothing too interesting. Another white house scandal. Whoo hoo. Big deal. Like that hasn't happened before. She was used to the various scandals in and out of the bureau. Many things went behind those closed doors that people didn't know and she sure didn't want to know. Things she wished she didn't know. But, life goes on. Everything has its secrets. *I know I have my own*
She got up to get dressed and changed into a comfortable sweater and
a pair of old jeans. She had the day off and planned on relaxing all day.
She put her hair up in a ponytail and went back to her coffee. After she
had drank half her glass the doorbell rang.
*Wonder who that could be?*
She opened the door to see a postman.
"Hello Ms. Starling. I have a package for you."
"ok. Thank you. Where do I sign?"
He motioned with the pen and she signed her name in beautiful script
and took the medium sized package from him.
"Have a good day Ms. Starling!"
"Thanks, you too!"
She shut the door with her foot and went into the kitchen. She untied
the twine that held the box together and opened the top. Inside was a letter
along with another ornately wrapped box. She took out the letter, turning
it over and seeing a wax seal on the envelope. She took in a sharp breath
and realized where it came from, or rather who it came from. She felt the
envelope and it was made of silk. She smelled it and it smelt of him. A
deep musky smell that she remembered from that night in Paul Krendler's
house. Carefully she opened it and pulled out the papers held within it.
Unfolding them she sat and began to read its contents:
Dear Clarice,
How are you?
Im doing exceptionally well considering I have only one hand. But, a person
learns to manage. I admit its harder to open a bottle of wine, but thats
trivial. Out of curiosity Clarice, what did you do with my hand? I was
just sitting here wondering about it. Also, what did you do after I left
you Clarice? Did you run after me? Did you try to find me? Did you look
for me in that little yacht hmm? I suppose you did. What did you feel when
you found I wasn't there? Were you glad? Relieved even? Please tell me
Clarice. Also, I still believe you owe me some information from our first
encounter. How are those lambs? I have to admit my curiosity always seems
to get to me. I believe thats how I got caught by you last time Agent Starling.
I let my curiosity of you get the best of me and all because I wanted to
see you run. Do you enjoy letting the FBI watch you run Clarice?
Run through their pretty little puzzles and labyrinths like a mouse looks
for the cheese at the end of its maze only to find that its made a wrong
turn and gets shocked. Were you shocked to see that your own maze turned
against you and lead you astray when you didnt even know it? Poor Clarice.
The FBI still rules you doesnt it? Be honest with me Clarice. Even if you
cant be honest with yourself. Ive always been truthful with you. Do you
know what always reminds me of you Clarice? Something I once
cited to a wife of a conoscente':
" "He woke her then, and trembling and obedient she ate that burning heart
out of his hand. Weeping I then saw him depart from me." Could he,
daily feel a stab of hunger for her and find nourishment in the very sight
of her? I think so. Would she see through the bars of his plight and ache
for him?"
The first part is a quote from
Dante's poem, La Vita Nuova. The second part was my view upon it. She was
very pleased with my knowledge of the poem. What does it remind you of
Clacrice? Well, time is growing short dear Clarice and I would like to
get some rest.
I hope the lambs stop screaming
Clarice. I shall write you again very soon.
Sincerely,
Hannibal Lecter M.D.
p.s. I hope you like the
present I bought for you. It took me a while to decide what to get you,
but I finally made up my mind. PLease enjoy it. I look forward to the next
time I talk to you. Also, Im sure your sense of duty would require you
to give this letter your "friends" at the FBI but I would request
these little notes to stay between us. But que sera sera Clarice. What
will be will be.
Clarice set the letter down and sighed. She really should turn this
in, but a part of her hung to that line. ".....and ache for him..."
This was crazy! She didnt "ache" for him! Hardly! Then why wasn't she
running out the door to give this to Crawford?
*Because he's telling you the truth Clarice. About the FBI, about
it all.*
She took a sip of her coffee and pulled out the other package. She
gently untied the deep blue silk ribbon and removed the wrapping. It was
a wooden chest of some kind and had a lock. She searched the box and found
the key taped to the bottom. She unlocked it and lifted the lead and gasped
at what she saw. There before her was a beautiful silver necklace with
a diamond and sapphire butterfly hanging from it. There was a note attached:
Clarice, this butterfly can be you someday. I hope you like platinum.
Platinum? Whoa, that stuff is expensive. She smiled at the butterfly. He once referred to her as a Chrysalis.
Pulling out the top layer of the box she found the bottom compartment
contained another brown package. She opened it and
pulled out a deep blue silk night-gown that smelled like roses. It
had a little note attached as well:
Maybe this will help you sleep better. Its more pleasing to the skin that those flannels Im sure you have.
Hey. Flannels are fine.....but this was finer. She ran it over her hands
and smiled at the thought of him picking this out for her.
Argh. What was she thinking! *He's a killer Clarice. Hello, earth
to Clarice! Yes he's a killer, but he cut off his own hand instead of hurting
me.*
*Sigh*
She took the things and put them in her room, hiding the letter under
her pillow from Mapp. She couldnt turn it in. Something inside her wouldnt
let her do it.
*He asked where his hand was.*
His hand was frozen safely in the back of her freezer. She wouldnt
let them have it for some reason. Didnt even tell them it existed. They
would just pick it apart for clues and then throw it out. She felt like
she had to return it. It could even be put back on with the graces in modern
technology. Since it has been kept on ice and safe from freezer burn..hehe....she
was sure they could re-attach it. He had done her the favor of not cutting
off her hand and she felt she owed it to him. Or maybe something else.
She wasnt sure yet. She yawned and looked at her watch. It was 1:30
p.m. She was still so tired, Sleep had been restless. Why not a nap? She
smiled to herself as she slipped into her new gown and felt the silk along
her body like a caress. She cold almost pretend she was wrapped in someone's
arms, held safely there as she drifted into a solemn sleep.
