PART 14



Unfinished business.

Graham's blood turned to ice in his veins at the thought.

The Doctor moved towards him, knife once again prominent in his hand. Graham shrank back into his chair, hands clutching the arms. His attention was so focused on the glint of Lecter's blade that he barely registered the sound of glass shattering as the tumbler fell to the deck.

Ever the gentleman, Dr. Lecter stopped a respectful distance from the other man.

"Perhaps you and I might step inside, Will."

Graham blinked, working hard to process the request.

"Inside?"

"Inside," Lecter repeated.

He moved forward only a fraction, but his message was clear.

Graham stared up at him, making no effort to rise from his chair.

"Why bother?"

"Will, my patience has already been stretched to its breaking point. I would advise you not to try it further."

Graham barked a desperate laugh.

"Or what? You'll kill me?"

"On the contrary... I'll see to it that you live."

Lecter held Graham's gaze until the other man averted his eyes, staring down at the shattered tumbler littering the weathered boards. Dr. Lecter stood perfectly still. Graham sat shaking, unsure whether fear or rage had provoked it. After what seemed an eternity, his shoulders slumped and he rose to his feet.

Will looked to Starling. She met his eyes but made no move to join them. He followed her gaze as it traveled out over the waves.

He thought of Molly then. How he had loved to watch her when she looked out over the ocean. She had radiated a peace that he would never know.

Peace.

He brought his attention back to Lecter, and moved slowly toward the door.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Dr. Lecter followed Will into his shabby living room, fixing him with a cold stare when he turned around.

"One of your strengths was reading crime scenes, no? Would you like to know what the investigators assigned to your case will find, Will?"

Graham stared at him, head nodding almost imperceptibly.

"Yes?" A predatory gleam flashed through Lecter's maroon eyes. "How did you know?"

The response came, forced from Will's lips without benefit of any real sound.

"The bowhunter... Wound Man."

The Doctor graced him with a benevolent smile.

"It seems trite to repeat myself, I know; but in your case I'm willing to make an exception... for old time's sake." A pause. "Pity Jackie-Boy is gone. He might have managed to generate some appreciation for the irony."

Somehow, Will found his voice. Perhaps it was the force of his anger at the obvious delight Lecter took in this game.

"She will, I'm sure."

Lecter arched an eyebrow.

"Clarice does enjoy my sense of humor."

"Then why leave her out there?"

"This has nothing to do with Clarice, Will. It started without her, and that is how I intend to finish it."

Graham made no move to retreat as the Doctor advanced on him. He stood where he was, eyes fixed on the familiar blade. He didn't notice the syringe until he felt the needle prick his skin.

"You can understand, Will... I need to insure that you remain cooperative. I loathe being rushed, and there is the possibility that you might get... impatient."

Dr. Lecter lowered him to the floor, watching his eyes with avid fascination. His lips curled into an unpleasant smile as horrified recognition came into those eyes.

"I see you know what I've given you."

He knew. Trust Lecter to think of it. It would have been succinylcholine or some other paralytic. He would be unable to move, but still very much aware of what was happening to him... at least for awhile.

Will Graham met the pitiless stare, heard the voice that had haunted him these last 15 years as the knife pierced his abdomen.

"Let's pick up where we left off, shall we?"