Clarice looked at her reflection and made a face. The woman in the mirror, naturally, returned the compliment. Though it was her she saw on the smooth surface, it came pretty close to the point where she wouldn't have recognized herself; that far was she from herself both physically and emotionally. As if it hadn't been enough that she looked very strange due to the role she was supposed to play but she also felt completely alienated to her mental state. It wasn't only the fact that she would actually have a date - something she wasn't very used to. That being because she found it quite absurd to call her and Dr Lecter's dinners and nights at the opera as a date. In her previous life, so to speak, she hadn't been very active on the social field; her nights out had been limiting mostly to those compulsory anniversaries, galas and such she had had to participate on the behalf of her job. And now she was about to go on a date with a man who might have the answers to one of her life's most important questions so far. She didn't blame herself for being slightly nervous.

It eased her being, though, that she would be able to hide under the mask of the cute and, um, stupid Kelly Williams, who's resemblance was closer to that of Playmate of the month than Clarice Starling. Had someone asked her why she had chosen a character like that she wouldn't have been able to give a proper answer; maybe it had something to do with the fact that she did feel a bit guilty of going out with another man so she wanted to be as far from her usual self as possible. True, Dr Lecter had left her, so as far as she was concerned she would have been permitted to be the one-woman's charity business for the in-need of the neighborhood and Dr Lecter would have had nothing to say to it, but she couldn't help the way she felt. Now as she was pretending to be something completely different than she really was it helped her a bit when overcoming her second thoughts and feeling that she was doing something wrong.

She looked at herself from the mirror again. A black, short dress she had purchased earlier on the day was on the milestone of sexy and sluttish, the scale perhaps closer to the latter. She didn't feel very comfortable in the dress, it felt like it went too low on the cleavage and was too short from the hemline. It looked good on her, though - something, from which she owed thanks to her daily jogging and general fondness of exercising.

She had combed her hair up and applied a bit more make-up than usual, still staying inside the borders of classy. In her feet she had black Gucci shoes Hannibal had bought her about a year ago. She wouldn't have wanted to wear anything he had given her but due to the lack of time and patience hadn't been able to find proper shoes herself. She comforted herself with the fact that Hannibal didn't particularly like the shoes and had expressed his regret of buying them.

My love, those shoes… Why did I ever buy them? They're not just beautiful enough for you.

His metallic voice, soft at the moment, echoed in her head. She shook her head and he was out. Memorizing wasn't the best way of getting ready to the date she wasn't even looking forward to.

With a sigh she turned around and went downstairs. She left a scent of white musk behind her in the now dark room.

Now in the luxuriously large living room, she wondered if she should have a drink. Just to calm her down a bit. She came to the conclusion that she would but shouldn't as she didn't want to take the risk of loosing any of her perception. If the case were really what she suspected, that Hannibal had hired Luca, it would be difficult to get the information out of him. That was if any of the information in his case file had been accurate; it had clearly proved that he was one of the best, if not the best, on his field.

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Luca.

As she walked to the door, she underwent a change. She left herself, at least some of herself, to the living room and stepped into the shoes of Kelly Williams. She stepped into her body and just like that, Clarice became Kelly. By the time she had gotten to the door the statement on her face had changed to depressed and worried to happy and open.

The door opened without a sound. Luca was standing there, dressed in a black suit. In his hand he had an Orchid. With a smile he handed it to her.

Clarice took it with a big, fake smile on her face. "Oh Luca, you shouldn't have."

"I couldn't resist. I saw it and I had to buy it; it's almost as beautiful as you."

It was times like this Clarice wished she had been able to blush when she wanted. "Oh, thank you." She smiled some more until she felt her cheeks would burst. "Let me just give this darling some water and then we'll be on our way."

While she was gone Luca tried to calm down. Good heavens how beautiful she was! This evening would be a success. He knew it. It was pity, though, that he wouldn't be able to take her to the finest restaurant in the town it being too close to the hotel he had met Dr Golding. He didn't want to take the risk of running into him. It was too scary a thought.

"Luca? Is everything ok?" Kelly's soft voice brought him back from his thoughts.

He startled a bit. "Yes, I was just thinking about something."

"You just looked a bit pale. A penny for your thoughts?"

"Just some stuff at work."

He didn't notice the flicker in Clarice's eyes.

She put her hand around his arm. Her touch made him shiver a bit. "Shall we?" Her voice was sweet like honey.

Luca cleared his throat. "We shall."

Now sitting inside his car, Clarice started to have bad feelings about the idea. After all, she hardly knew the man; what the hell was she doing on a date with him? But, on the other hand, she allowed herself feel slightly hopeful. There was obviously something going on, she had seen it from his eyes. She'd be damned if she wouldn't find it out.

Putting Kelly back on she turned to him. Her voice was like a purring of a cat and honestly; she couldn't help wondering if this man was a bit stupid not to see through her façade. "So… Where are we going?"

As Luca said the name of the restaurant Clarice was puzzled. The man wasn't obviously short of cash when looking at his car and clothing but yet he was about to take her into a not-so-classy restaurant. Hmm… Could there be something to it?

She pursed her lips as if she was thinking very hard. Luca noticed it. "You don't like that restaurant?"

Clarice gave a short laugh and put her hand on his arm resting on the gear stick. "But of course I do! It's just that there's a restaurant not far from here which I haven't tried out yet… And I would have so wanted to visit there…."

Luca had a dilemma in front of him. Please the lady and take the risk of running into Dr Golding or go with the safer option and probably worse his chances towards her? Umm-mm.

"Ok, we'll go there." Uh-oh. She had better be worth it. Judging from the view her cleavage offered she would be.

^^^^^^^^^^*^^^^^^^^^^

Now in the restaurant, Clarice found it easier to keep up the act. The background noise, people chatting and other such distractions ate some of his attention and gave her a chance to breathe more freely from time to time. It was consuming to pretend to something she wasn't, and she was glad she didn't have to do it every day, all the time. I would be hell. One more aspect that made her value the relationship with Hannibal even more. And that only added to her need of getting the answers she was after.

In order to keep her thoughts away from Hannibal in fear of ruining her act she focused all her interest to a mindless chitchat.

"So, Luca, why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? What do you do for living and so on?"

"My job? Well, I… I mean, I have my own company."

"Oh? What do you do?"

"Nothing that could ever interest you. It's very boring."

By now it was very clear to Clarice what he wanted; get under her skirt. Her act seemed to be working just fine considering that Luca regarded her as a pretty face and a nice body and nothing else. Though it was pretty close to what she had wanted she had to admit it irritated her a bit. She didn't like him, he reminded her too much of the late Mr. Krendler albeit he was light years from his level of sexists and general idiotism. Any man satisfied with a woman with the intelligent of a cabbage would have annoyed her, and as the man concerned had a great role to play when it came to her happiness it irritated her even more.

But, she reminded herself, she couldn't let these thoughts and feelings show. It would be essential to keep Luca in the belief that she was harmless and empty-headed; maybe that way he would slip out something important.

Very determinedly she focused all of her to him. She would never forgive herself if she blew this because of her own opinions.

The dinner continued without interruptions and Luca started to relax. What were the odds anyway for Dr Golding being at the restaurant at the same time as they? This would work out just smoothly. His date was beautiful and laughed at his jokes; what more could he ask for? And, considering the way the night had proceeded he was quite hopeful when it came to the deepening their relationship later on. Kelly didn't seem like a cold fish. Not at all.

At the moment they were enjoying their dessert. Luca had forgotten Dr Golding a long time ago, and were he to pop in there and bother them Luca could take him on. He was positive about that, after all, the doc was much older than he. Dr Golding wouldn't have a chance.

Had his confidence something to do with the glasses of wine he had consumed during the night he didn't bother to analyse. It would have been useful, though, especially when his date's glass had remained intact most of the evening. That, needless to say, he hadn't noticed.

They had almost finished their dessert and were about to get ready to leave. Clarice stood up first.

"Luca, if you don't mind… I'd like to go and powder my nose."

Luca smiled a wide smile. Women. Always fussing about the way they look. "Not at all. I'll wait outside."

As she walked away he feasted on the sight of her behind. He wouldn't mind to have a piece of that. With any luck, he just might get some soon.

He sat still for a while and amused himself by imagining the possibilities the night ahead offered. Just as he was about to leave the table the waiter approached him. At first he thought something had happened to Kelly and felt a sting of worry. Those thoughts vanished as the waiter, his face totally expressionless, handed him a note.

Three words, written in a fine copperplate, froze his blood.

I warned you.

^^^^^^^^^^*^^^^^^^^^^

Luca was driving way too fast. Clarice was slightly worried – she didn't wish to end her days in a way or time like this. The circumstances aside or because of them, impossible to say, as she looked at him from the corner of her eye she couldn't help feeling a bit victorious. She was onto something, his behavior proved it. He had literally dragged her out of the restaurant in a terrible rush and hurried her into the car. She wondered what had happened during the time she had been in the little ladies' room.

Better hit the charm-gear on. "Luca…?" Her voice, soft and tempting, demanded for an answer from his mouth pressed as a thin line.

"Yes?"

"What is wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He glanced at her; there was an odd fire burning in his eyes. He looked like a chased animal.

"Why are we in such hurry, Luca?"

"I forgot something. I have to… I mean… Work."

Umm, yes, whatever. Must be some work to get you so freaked out. She tried to sound disappointed. "Does this mean our evening has come to its end?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I'm sorry."

The car stopped. They had arrived at Clarice's. Luca didn't look at her but turned his eyes to the house. "You have a beautiful home."

"Thanks. Would you like to see it inside?"

Luca closed his eyes. What he would have given about that phrase twenty minutes ago! But now all he wanted was to get as far from here - and Kelly - as possible. She wasn't the safest option to hang around with, it was all too clear to him now.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I'd love to, but I can't."

Her reply came with a voice completely unfamiliar to him. It wasn't the voice of a woman with whom he had spent the last hours. This was a voice of a strong, intelligent and most of all determined woman.

"I insist."

Slowly, he turned to her. What he faced wasn't Kelly – or was, but between him and her was her hands and in them a .45. Aimed directly at his forehead.