"And how far from the truth would they be, little Starling?"

Clarice could think of nothing to say.   So much for trying to be clever, Clarice.  You just succeeded in bringing up the conversation you most wanted to avoid.  But for the second time that night, luck was on her side.  Will Graham entered the stairwell once again, up to the fifth floor, now.

"Clarice…" she heard Lecter's beckoning voice again, mocking Graham before he even began.

"Clarice?"  Will called yet again.  "Clarice?  Where the hell could she be?"  At that moment, Will's cell phone began to go off, the ringing echoing off the walls up through the well.  Above they heard Will pick up his phone.   "Graham," he proclaimed shortly. 

"Yeah, Jack… no… I can't find her… they've gotta be here…yeah, I'll call as soon as I find her…"

"It seems once again that I am in possession of something you want, Jackie," Lecter's voice glowed with satisfaction next to Clarice.

"Alright… yeah… bye…" Will snapped his phone off and once again pushed through a door.

Clarice quietly ventured, "We're running out of floors for him to check."

"Time to make our getaway, then," Lecter whispered and loosened his hold on her.  He slid out form behind her and over to the door leading to the roof, pulling her with only slight force by the arm.  He held the door for her, and let go of her arm to motion her through.  Clarice hurried up the next eight steps, to a second door, she placed her hand on the lever and waited.  Lecter pulled the door shut behind them with uttermost care, Clarice didn't even hear it make a sound, then he moved with no haste up the stairs to join her.  Clarice pushed the door open carefully, checking to make sure no one was on the roof waiting for them.

The view that met her was astounding.  In the pale moonlight, the towers of the Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo glimmered for her stunned gaze, in all the magnificence that had been recalled in the drawings on the walls of Dr. Lecter's cell in Baltimore.  Clarice exhaled in amazement. 

"You will not find a more beautiful view in all the world." Lecter whispered from directly behind her. 

"I see what you mean, Doctor," Clarice breathed in admiration.

"How could you?  Unless of course, you can see yourself."

Clarice turned her head slowly to meet his eyes for the first time that night.  They shined maroon in the moonlight, revealing nothing but a look of complete adoration.

He broke the moment first.  "I must say, Clarice, although it's obvious you didn't invite him yourself, Will is ruining the evening I had planned."

"Will?" she said feeling lightheaded.  "Oh… Will."

"Yes, Mr. Graham.  It won't be long until he discovers your shoes."

"Shoes?" Clarice said, confused.  "Oh…" she groaned after a moment.  "My shoes…"

"Yes, we have to get you back to your hotel and out of that dress."

Clarice was glad for the darkness, because she began blushing before she realized that showing up at the hotel and trying to act innocent while wearing a ball gown that matched the lost shoes would not be good.

"Come on, Cinderella," Lecter said resignedly.  "We'd better go before the pumpkin comes back with your shoes."