PART 6
Barney Jackson was no longer living in the Baltimore area. Conversations with both the human resources department at Misericordia and his landlord revealed only that he had suddenly announced a newfound urge to travel. The landlord was a gossip and all too happy to weigh in with his opinion on the matter.
"Now Barney Jackson was a good tenant - always reliable with the rent; never caused me a day of trouble. He told me he had plans to sublet his place not long after that sicko shrink made the local headlines again. If you ask me, he was just plain too afraid to stick around here any longer. Not that I blame him. Can you imagine knowing that freak was on the loose and thinking he might come looking for you?" He paused only for the briefest instant, slapping a hand against his forehead. "Now that's a stupid question... of course you do, dontcha?"
Graham tensed. His lips compressed into a thin line, but the other man didn't seem to notice.
"Yeah, can't say I blame him for wanting to get lost real quick with that nut case on the loose and so close by. Didn't even leave a forwarding address, but can't say I'm sorry for it. The less I'm involved in that whole mess, the happier I'll be. I can tell you that for sure."
He leaned in conspiratorially, and Will knew that the questions were about to start.
Better cut this off quick or you'll be here all fucking day.
"Well, thank you for your time. You've been very helpful." He was already moving for the door as he added, "I'll call if there are any further questions, but I'll try not to bother you again."
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When Graham finally managed to track him down, it was in New York City. Barney was staying in a residential hotel near the Metropolitan Museum.
"I don't know what I can tell you, Mr. Graham. I haven't seen Dr. Lecter since just before Dr. Chilton took him to Memphis."
"Actually, Mr. Jackson, I'm not looking for any recent information about Lecter - at least that's not why I wanted to speak with you."
Barney cocked his head to the side and looked at Graham with wary interest.
"I'm curious," Graham went on, "about Dr. Lecter's conversations with Clarice Starling."
"Oh," Barney sighed. "I should have known. That's what Mr. Verger wanted, too – him and every tabloid reporter on the face of the planet."
Verger and the tabloids... Graham was in fine company, he thought grimly.
"Mason Verger requested information about Dr. Lecter and Agent Starling?"
"Yes."
"Did you know why he wanted this information?"
"He didn't explain himself to me, Mr. Graham, but I assumed he was helping the FBI. When I talked with him about Dr. Lecter, there was a Mr. Krendler there. I know he was part of the investigation."
"Paul Krendler? Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Was anyone else present during this meeting?"
"Mr. Verger's sister, Margot, and Dr. Doemling."
"Doemling?"
"I believe Mr. Verger consulted him as a psychiatric expert. He'd tried to interview Dr. Lecter while he was in custody."
"Tried?"
Barney shrugged.
"I shouldn't have to tell you, of all people, what Dr. Lecter could be like."
"No. I guess not," Graham conceded. "Was it bad?"
There was just a hint of suppressed amusement in Barney Jackson's tone as he replied.
"The worst one I saw. I don't know what Dr. Lecter said to him, but he left in tears."
Will felt a sudden sympathy for Dr. Doemling. He understood better than most what Lecter could do with a few well-placed words. He found he needed to change the subject.
"Why did Verger come to you?" he asked abruptly.
"Because I had the opportunity to see them together."
"And you provided him with the information he asked for?"
"Yes."
"Would you mind telling me what this information involved?"
Barney sighed again.
"He wanted to know if Dr. Lecter and Agent Starling became 'friendly' during the time she came to see him in Baltimore."
"And did they?"
"Within a specifically defined framework, yes." He must have seen something in Graham's expression, because he added, "I had what you might call 'friendly' conversations with Dr. Lecter, too, Mr. Graham. It was simply a matter of respect."
"Did you... like Dr. Lecter, Mr. Jackson?"
Barney considered for a long moment before answering.
"I didn't dislike Dr. Lecter, but I don't think I would go so far as to say I liked him either. I respected him... and I understood what he was capable of."
Graham nodded and looked down to his lap. After a moment, he raised his head and met Barney's eyes.
"Did Agent Starling like Dr. Lecter?"
"Now, just how would I know that, Mr. Graham?"
"I'm asking for your opinion, Mr. Jackson. Based on what you saw of their interactions, did you have the impression that Agent Starling liked Dr. Lecter?"
Barney lowered his gaze, studying his hands.
"Yes." He looked up, met Graham's eyes. "And he liked her."
"Did he ever talk to you about her?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He said she was like a cub... that she was only equipped to play with the other cubs at the time, but she would eventually get too big to play with."
Graham thought about this.
"Are you telling me that Dr. Lecter saw... potential in her?"
" I suppose I am."
Potential for what?
"Did you share this information with Mason Verger?"
"Yes."
"Anything else you told Verger?"
"Just that he respected her moxie. He responded to her when she showed her strength. Dr. Doemling dismissed that as some sort of romantic notion on my part, but he was wrong."
Romantic.
There was that word again.
Graham felt something cold settle in the pit of his stomach.
"Would he kill her, Mr. Jackson?"
Barney looked at him as if he had sprouted a second head.
"Dr. Lecter would kill anyone. You should know that as well as I do." A pause. "Mr. Graham I looked after Dr. Lecter for 6 years. I lasted because I never lost sight of what he was. He could almost make you forget sometimes, but that was the way to trouble. He told me once that he preferred to eat the rude whenever it was 'feasible' 'free-range rude,' he said. I believe that. But I also know that nobody who gets in his way is safe, rude or not. Nobody."
"So you believe Agent Starling is dead?"
"I'm sorry to say it, but I didn't get the impression she'd leave him much choice."
"And if she did?"
"I suppose he might've let her go if he could," Barney replied thoughtfully. "I can't say for sure that he would choose to kill her if he didn't have to."
He considered for a minute.
"But if he didn't kill her, where is she?"
"Would he hold her, do you think? Did she interest him enough for that?"
Graham watched as a shudder passed through the other man.
"I hope not, Mr. Graham. I hope to hell not."