Title: "The Blood of a Cannibal"
Chapter 4 "The Lecter Trail"
Title: Jerome Mullins
Rating: R, good stuff should be starting up soon. At least, I think it should.
Summery and Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Author's Notes: The press gets hold of files on the Good Doctor's wife, next thing you know the whole world knows about Jerome. I think it's about time I put a little intrigue into this story, how else am I going to keep you coming back?
* * *
Christmas had been lonely for Clarice Starling who was without family. The only highlight of the season had been the Christmas card she had received from her best friend, Ardelia Mapp.
To dodge the pain, Starling went head first into her work the day after the holiday. The press was informed of the newly discovered files before the New Year. Starling didn't have to ask twice about keeping Jerome Lecter's identity a secret from the press. Both Director Noonan and Special Agent Pearsall agreed that it would be in the best interest of the Harrington family, as well as Jerome, if they continue to live in peace as they had been for the last nineteen years.
But questions within the media and the FBI started to circulate as to why Dr. Lecter would request the sealing of these files. Starling herself was the subject of many questions from members of the press as well as her own peers as to Dr. Lecter's motive for doing so. She could give them an honest answer, but it wasn't what they wanted to hear: "I don't know."
Starling had her theories of course, one idea was that this had been Dr. Lecter's last act as a husband and father. He simply wanted to protect his family. This answer seemed to make the most sense to Starling. But more than that, it was a way of looking past the monster she had been exposed to that summer at the fatal dinner party. Dr. Lecter was protecting his son. To Starling, it was proof of his compassionate, human side that had died along with his wife in his former life.
It had been two weeks since Christmas, leads that had been there before the New Year were now gone. Work in the "Hannibal House" had chilled to a stand-still. Then, without warning, a storm from the media broke.
Starling was reviewing surveillance footage from art galleries and opera houses in Florence, Tokyo and London when Pearsall burst through the office door and turned on her other television set.
"Starling, we've got a problem."
"Sir?"
"The press found out about Lecter's kid." He looked over to her briefly and flipped through the channels to find the news coverage.
"_What?_"
Starling was outraged, she considered it her personal mission to protect and respect the privacy of the Harrington family and the twenty-one- year-old son of Dr. Lecter.
"How did they find out?" she demanded.
"Two weeks ago we released the files to the press that Lecter had stored away, we didn't release any information about his wife but they found out. Once they uncovered that she had died two years before his incarceration they even stormed the Maryland records office. They thought that they had another victim until they found out about Beckett."
"And then found her maternity files." Starling shook her head. "God damn," she spat. "Those bastards have no respect for someone's privacy."
"He's not someone to them, Starling. He's a monster."
"How long ago did they find out?" Starling looked over to him.
"Not long, they haven't mentioned anything about Jerome, but you can bet they know about him all ready."
"I've got to let them know they're coming." Starling reached for her phone and dialed the Harrington residence. "The last thing they need is for one of their neighbors to rat them out."
* * *
Luke Harrington answered his phone on the second ring.
"Afternoon, Agent Starling."
"Thank God you're smart enough to have caller ID, sir. They found out about you, they'll be coming on up there anytime now."
"Have you seen CNN yet?"
"No, why?" she snapped her fingers at Pearsall to hand over the remote control.
"They're already here, Agent Starling." He walked over to his front window, the press was already swarming together on his front lawn.
"Aw, damn." She rubbed her forehead. "Is Jerome still there?"
"Yes, he's here." Luke handed his nephew the phone.
Jerome Lecter had been sitting in the reclining chair in front of the television watching the CNN coverage of the reporters gathering in the front yard.
"Hello, Clarice, so nice of you to call and warn us." His voice was calm, for a moment Starling was sure which Lecter she was speaking to.
"I'm sorry this happened, Jerome." She cursed under her breath.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Clarice. This isn't your fault. No one is blaming you for once."
"We're not sure how the word got out about your mother," she looked to Pearsall who was on his cell phone. "But they found out about you through her medical files."
"I think you have your answer, Clarice."
"What answer?"
"As to why my father would conceal my existence, perhaps he was trying to be a good Dad." She could hear the smile in his voice. "Don't tell me you haven't thought of that."
"The thought crossed my mind," she moved closer to the television. She saw someone standing in the living room window. "There's someone waving to the press."
"No, Clarice, I'm waving at you. I wanted to show you I'm smiling, that I'm not at all angry."
Starling felt somewhat better, but seeing the growing number of press quickly brought her crashing back into regret.
"It may not be safe for you up there, once the victim's families find out they're liable to come after you with wrongful death suits."
"If Muskrat Farms is any indication, they're liable to come at me with worse things than that."
"I was just thinking of the best case scenario."
"I take it you're going to give me some friendly advice as an FBI agent, aren't you Special Agent Starling?"
"I think it's for the best," she smiled as she stared at him on the television. "You going somewhere fancy?" she noticed he was in a suit and tie.
"We're planning to step out for dinner," he didn't miss a beat. He was very sharp and alert. "Do you have plans this evening, Clarice?"
"No, why? You asking me out?"
Laughter came from the other end of the line.
"You know my plans, I don't know yours." He chuckled.
"I'm going to advise you and your family to get away from the house for a while, don't let anyone know where you're going. This might not cool off right away, you'll be followed at school too."
"Don't tell me, you're going to pull some strings with the campus security and have them protect me."
"It might be for the best."
"I'll take my chances with my cattle prod. Thanks much for the concern."
"Where can you and your family go for a while? Until the semester starts at least?" She was sounding almost maternal now.
"We have a place," Jerome confirmed. "It's not too far from here. You passed it while driving me home."
"Once you get there, call my office and leave me a contact number."
"I'll be sure to do so." He paused. "Thank you for calling, Clarice. We appreciate all that you tried to do for us."
"I'm just sorry they found out about you so soon."
"It would have happened eventually. Take care now, Clarice, I'm not the only one who will be hounded because of this."
Starling hung up just as Pearsall was putting away his cell phone.
"They have a place to go until this blows over?"
"They'll be calling me back later with a contact number, just in case," she nodded.
"Make sure you get it directly from him, Starling. Don't have that stuff on your voice mail."
"Is there a problem sir?" she stepped closer to him.
"Video surveillance caught someone in the building a few minutes ago, a member of the press who walked in with a forged pass. There may be another one posing as a janitor," he looked around. "Did you notice anything shifted around this morning when you came in?"
"No, other than the files you took this morning."
"Nothing else was gone though?"
"No, sir." She looked around. "Nothing shifted. I keep these files under lock and key when I'm not here."
"Keep doing that," he nodded. "I'll check with a few other people up stairs." He sighed.
"Sir, what about Dr. Lecter's lawyer? Is it possible he might have said something to the press?"
"It's entirely possible, Starling." He nodded. "I'll talk with Noonan. In the meantime, you stay here and make sure you know where they're going. The last thing I want is some vigilante group going after that young man just because he's Lecter's kid."
Starling nodded.
"In fact, Starling, I'm going to see what I can do about getting you up there to make sure he's alright. You up for it?"
"Sure thing," she nodded. "Who knows, Dr. Lecter might even be watching and want to get in touch with his son." She shrugged.
"Keep at it, Starling." He snapped his fingers and rushed up stairs.
Starling turned back to the television set, Jerome was still standing in the window watching the press. The figure was neatly dressed in dark suit and tie with a white shirt. He gave another wave, the press seemed to think they were being flattered. Realizing it was directed towards her, Starling couldn't help but smile.
* * *
I was going to write more in this chapter, but I thought I should keep you on your toes. To make up for the short chapter, I shall be posting chapter five very shortly. Next chapter I think I'll be bringing back our favorite nurse, Lord knows what he and the Good Doctor talked about during those years at the asylum.
Feedback welcomed and encouraged. Thanks to all those who have written to me, I appreciate that time you took to contact me. Keep it coming folks. Aside from Barney, is anyone interested in any other characters making an appearance? Ardelia. Will Graham perhaps? How knows, they just might contribute to a more interesting story. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 4 "The Lecter Trail"
Title: Jerome Mullins
Rating: R, good stuff should be starting up soon. At least, I think it should.
Summery and Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Author's Notes: The press gets hold of files on the Good Doctor's wife, next thing you know the whole world knows about Jerome. I think it's about time I put a little intrigue into this story, how else am I going to keep you coming back?
* * *
Christmas had been lonely for Clarice Starling who was without family. The only highlight of the season had been the Christmas card she had received from her best friend, Ardelia Mapp.
To dodge the pain, Starling went head first into her work the day after the holiday. The press was informed of the newly discovered files before the New Year. Starling didn't have to ask twice about keeping Jerome Lecter's identity a secret from the press. Both Director Noonan and Special Agent Pearsall agreed that it would be in the best interest of the Harrington family, as well as Jerome, if they continue to live in peace as they had been for the last nineteen years.
But questions within the media and the FBI started to circulate as to why Dr. Lecter would request the sealing of these files. Starling herself was the subject of many questions from members of the press as well as her own peers as to Dr. Lecter's motive for doing so. She could give them an honest answer, but it wasn't what they wanted to hear: "I don't know."
Starling had her theories of course, one idea was that this had been Dr. Lecter's last act as a husband and father. He simply wanted to protect his family. This answer seemed to make the most sense to Starling. But more than that, it was a way of looking past the monster she had been exposed to that summer at the fatal dinner party. Dr. Lecter was protecting his son. To Starling, it was proof of his compassionate, human side that had died along with his wife in his former life.
It had been two weeks since Christmas, leads that had been there before the New Year were now gone. Work in the "Hannibal House" had chilled to a stand-still. Then, without warning, a storm from the media broke.
Starling was reviewing surveillance footage from art galleries and opera houses in Florence, Tokyo and London when Pearsall burst through the office door and turned on her other television set.
"Starling, we've got a problem."
"Sir?"
"The press found out about Lecter's kid." He looked over to her briefly and flipped through the channels to find the news coverage.
"_What?_"
Starling was outraged, she considered it her personal mission to protect and respect the privacy of the Harrington family and the twenty-one- year-old son of Dr. Lecter.
"How did they find out?" she demanded.
"Two weeks ago we released the files to the press that Lecter had stored away, we didn't release any information about his wife but they found out. Once they uncovered that she had died two years before his incarceration they even stormed the Maryland records office. They thought that they had another victim until they found out about Beckett."
"And then found her maternity files." Starling shook her head. "God damn," she spat. "Those bastards have no respect for someone's privacy."
"He's not someone to them, Starling. He's a monster."
"How long ago did they find out?" Starling looked over to him.
"Not long, they haven't mentioned anything about Jerome, but you can bet they know about him all ready."
"I've got to let them know they're coming." Starling reached for her phone and dialed the Harrington residence. "The last thing they need is for one of their neighbors to rat them out."
* * *
Luke Harrington answered his phone on the second ring.
"Afternoon, Agent Starling."
"Thank God you're smart enough to have caller ID, sir. They found out about you, they'll be coming on up there anytime now."
"Have you seen CNN yet?"
"No, why?" she snapped her fingers at Pearsall to hand over the remote control.
"They're already here, Agent Starling." He walked over to his front window, the press was already swarming together on his front lawn.
"Aw, damn." She rubbed her forehead. "Is Jerome still there?"
"Yes, he's here." Luke handed his nephew the phone.
Jerome Lecter had been sitting in the reclining chair in front of the television watching the CNN coverage of the reporters gathering in the front yard.
"Hello, Clarice, so nice of you to call and warn us." His voice was calm, for a moment Starling was sure which Lecter she was speaking to.
"I'm sorry this happened, Jerome." She cursed under her breath.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Clarice. This isn't your fault. No one is blaming you for once."
"We're not sure how the word got out about your mother," she looked to Pearsall who was on his cell phone. "But they found out about you through her medical files."
"I think you have your answer, Clarice."
"What answer?"
"As to why my father would conceal my existence, perhaps he was trying to be a good Dad." She could hear the smile in his voice. "Don't tell me you haven't thought of that."
"The thought crossed my mind," she moved closer to the television. She saw someone standing in the living room window. "There's someone waving to the press."
"No, Clarice, I'm waving at you. I wanted to show you I'm smiling, that I'm not at all angry."
Starling felt somewhat better, but seeing the growing number of press quickly brought her crashing back into regret.
"It may not be safe for you up there, once the victim's families find out they're liable to come after you with wrongful death suits."
"If Muskrat Farms is any indication, they're liable to come at me with worse things than that."
"I was just thinking of the best case scenario."
"I take it you're going to give me some friendly advice as an FBI agent, aren't you Special Agent Starling?"
"I think it's for the best," she smiled as she stared at him on the television. "You going somewhere fancy?" she noticed he was in a suit and tie.
"We're planning to step out for dinner," he didn't miss a beat. He was very sharp and alert. "Do you have plans this evening, Clarice?"
"No, why? You asking me out?"
Laughter came from the other end of the line.
"You know my plans, I don't know yours." He chuckled.
"I'm going to advise you and your family to get away from the house for a while, don't let anyone know where you're going. This might not cool off right away, you'll be followed at school too."
"Don't tell me, you're going to pull some strings with the campus security and have them protect me."
"It might be for the best."
"I'll take my chances with my cattle prod. Thanks much for the concern."
"Where can you and your family go for a while? Until the semester starts at least?" She was sounding almost maternal now.
"We have a place," Jerome confirmed. "It's not too far from here. You passed it while driving me home."
"Once you get there, call my office and leave me a contact number."
"I'll be sure to do so." He paused. "Thank you for calling, Clarice. We appreciate all that you tried to do for us."
"I'm just sorry they found out about you so soon."
"It would have happened eventually. Take care now, Clarice, I'm not the only one who will be hounded because of this."
Starling hung up just as Pearsall was putting away his cell phone.
"They have a place to go until this blows over?"
"They'll be calling me back later with a contact number, just in case," she nodded.
"Make sure you get it directly from him, Starling. Don't have that stuff on your voice mail."
"Is there a problem sir?" she stepped closer to him.
"Video surveillance caught someone in the building a few minutes ago, a member of the press who walked in with a forged pass. There may be another one posing as a janitor," he looked around. "Did you notice anything shifted around this morning when you came in?"
"No, other than the files you took this morning."
"Nothing else was gone though?"
"No, sir." She looked around. "Nothing shifted. I keep these files under lock and key when I'm not here."
"Keep doing that," he nodded. "I'll check with a few other people up stairs." He sighed.
"Sir, what about Dr. Lecter's lawyer? Is it possible he might have said something to the press?"
"It's entirely possible, Starling." He nodded. "I'll talk with Noonan. In the meantime, you stay here and make sure you know where they're going. The last thing I want is some vigilante group going after that young man just because he's Lecter's kid."
Starling nodded.
"In fact, Starling, I'm going to see what I can do about getting you up there to make sure he's alright. You up for it?"
"Sure thing," she nodded. "Who knows, Dr. Lecter might even be watching and want to get in touch with his son." She shrugged.
"Keep at it, Starling." He snapped his fingers and rushed up stairs.
Starling turned back to the television set, Jerome was still standing in the window watching the press. The figure was neatly dressed in dark suit and tie with a white shirt. He gave another wave, the press seemed to think they were being flattered. Realizing it was directed towards her, Starling couldn't help but smile.
* * *
I was going to write more in this chapter, but I thought I should keep you on your toes. To make up for the short chapter, I shall be posting chapter five very shortly. Next chapter I think I'll be bringing back our favorite nurse, Lord knows what he and the Good Doctor talked about during those years at the asylum.
Feedback welcomed and encouraged. Thanks to all those who have written to me, I appreciate that time you took to contact me. Keep it coming folks. Aside from Barney, is anyone interested in any other characters making an appearance? Ardelia. Will Graham perhaps? How knows, they just might contribute to a more interesting story. Let me know what you think.