Disclaimer: The characters of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling, Jack Crawford, Clint Pearsall and Paul Krendler do not belong to me, but to Thomas Harris. No copyright infringement intended. I won't make any money of it. Just borrowing them for a while. Lecter' s blue eyes belong to Anthony Hopkins, though (I'm not sure there's a copyright on this).


Chapter 9: One good cook

" And this concludes the first part of our journey together towards Knowledge. I remind those who have not done it yet that they have to leave their essay on my desk before going. Let me wish you and your families a pleasant Easter holiday." The students started to stand up and progressively leave the amphitheater. Some of them stopped by his desk to let him their work. A few eventually wished him good holidays, to which he would reply with his usual courtesy.

Lanterbach could not help noticing Williamson slowly packing his things in the back of the classroom. He was visibly waiting for his fellows to leave them alone. After the general confusion had finally come to an end, he approached the platform.

" - Good afternoon sir" He put his essay on the top of the pile. " This one is finished now.
- Mr. Williamson ! So, satisfied with the ending ?
- I think so. Then you will tell me.
- I will, John. I will. So, have you finished your semester ?
- Not yet sir. I still have a couple of lessons tomorrow. Then it will be over.
- Fine. We still have to talk about this little job I mentioned to you yesterday. That is, if you're still interested of course.
- Certainly sir.
- Why don't you join me for dinner then ? Or maybe two evenings in a row in my company would be too much."

John chuckled.

" - I think I can handle it sir.
- I'm sure you can. I just meant you may have plan to enjoy the company of people your age.
- I ... I don't get along very well with people my age. And ... " he hesitated a bit " ... in fact, I waited for the others to go because I wanted to thank you for yesterday. But especially tell you I really appreciated the evening."

Lanterbach looked at him with an ounce of astonishment in his eyes.

" - Thank you John. Really, I'm touched.
- It's only the truth, professor.
- Here is what I suggest." He took a piece of paper from the desk and a pen from the inside pocket of his jacket. Then wrote a few words and handed the paper to John. " This is my personal address, in Morgantown. It's not difficult to find, you'll see, but I also wrote my phone number, just in case you get lost. Shall we say 8:00 pm ?
- It's perfect sir. I will be there.
- Good. Then see you tonight."


John Williamson rang the door bell at 8:00 pm sharp. The door opened almost immediately. Lanterbach had changed to a comfortable pair of tweed trousers and a woolen shirt. John was welcome by a large smile.

" - You're very punctual, John. I appreciate that.
- I try to be, sir.
- Please, come in."

John entered the little hall. " Let me take your coat" Lanterbach said. He hung it on the peg. "Come in the living room and make yourself comfortable." He noticed the young man was still a little tense. " This is no formal dinner, John." he said while they were moving inside. "Do you think you could relax a bit ?". John gave him a poor smile.

" - I'll try, sir. But I can't guarantee anything.
- Why don't you stop calling me 'sir' for a start. As odd as it may sound, even university professors have a first name. Mine is Neil.
- That one ain't gonna be easy.
- All right. One thing at a time then. What would you like to drink ?"

The quite simple question seemed to embarrass Williamson. He sighed.

" - I'm sorry, sir. I know I look like a dummy. The thing is that I'm really not used to this kind of things and ... I want to make a good impression on you, but the more I try the more I make a fool of myself. I should know what kind of drink to ask in society, but I don't. I usually drink sodas and ...
- It doesn't matter, John. I understand. I was not always the well mannered socially evolved animal you can see now, you know.
- Rather difficult to believe, sir."

Lanterbach chuckled.

" - Perhaps I can be of assistance. I believe I have soda in the refrigerator, or I could make you taste something different. Would you trust me for selecting your drink ?
- Hundred percent.
- Then, I suggest we start with a glass of this excellent Dom Perignon 1951 - one of the finest years in my opinion.
- All right."

John sat on the couch and accepted the glass of champagne Lanterbach handed him.

" - You're doing fine, John. And I'm sorry that you don't feel at ease. I am not trying to impress you, I swear. So, you don't have to impress me either. Try not to consider this as a 'social event', as they say. Think of it as a new experience ... Who knows, you could even enjoy it at the end !
- I do enjoy it, sir.
- Good ! I'll drink to that. Cheers.
- Cheers" They both took a sip. "It's good.
- Yes, it is. Now, would you excuse me for a minute: I have to finish fixing the dinner.
- Of course.
- I won't be long."

Once he was alone, John started having a closer look at his surroundings. From the outside, nothing distinguished the house from the others. But the interior was superbly arranged. The couch he was sitting on was of brown undressed leather. Two large matching armchairs were disposed on the other side of an oak coffee table. Behind was the fireplace, where a nice fire was cracking. On the other side of the room was a long Chippendale dinner table. Though John didn't know much about art, he guessed the paintings on the wall were of high value. He particularly liked the watercolor above the mantelpiece. In the library, which was covering a whole wall, among what looked to him as precious books, was a beautiful chess game, carved in Ivory. He looked at it, fascinated by the delicacy of the pieces.

" - Beautiful, isn't it ?" John had not hear Lanterbach come back. He jumped at the sound of his voice. "Sorry John, I did not want to startle you.
- No. It's OK.
- I got the game at an auction in Paris. It's chinese.
- It is magnificent.
- I think so. Dinner will be ready in about five minutes. I hope you're hungry ?
- Very much so. In fact, I skipped lunch to finish my essay.
- By the way, I read it. You really have talent.
- Did you like the end ?" John's eyes were shining with mischief.
" - Yeah. Pretty unexpected. Scared the hell out of me !"

They both laugh. " Okey-dokey " Lanterbach said. " Shall we ?" They moved to the table.

Dinner went smoothly. They had a consommé of asparagus for starter. Then a stew of boar with fresh pasta, fine cheese and a charlotte of blackberries for desert. Fine French wine was served with the meals. They moved to the armchairs to drink their coffee.

" - Where did you learn to cook like that, sir. It was really delicious.
- Thank you, John. I've always loved cooking. My mother taught me the basics, then I furthered my education during my journeys. Would you like a cognac ?
- No thanks. I'm not used to drink alcohol, and I think I had enough tonight.
- Reasonable. I would not like you to have problems driving home tonight."

Lanterbach helped himself a glass of liqueur John could not identify.

" - You appear to me as a very honest young man, John.
- Thank you.
- Tell me, how would you react if you came to know that some of your fellow students are ... let's say less honest than you ?
- I don't quite follow, sir.
- Imagine you discovered that some students are kind of cheating on their exams. What do you think you would do ?
- Well, I never quite thought of it. I guess it depends on who they are ... I suppose that if I knew them, I would try to talk to them and convince them to stop.
- And if you did not know them ?"

John thought for a while.

" - Then I would try to make them know I know. Just to scare them.
- But you would not turn them in, would you ?" As the young man did not answer, Lanterbach added: "Relax, John. This is not a trap. I do not like sneaks either.
- I don't think I would, sir. Unless the offense was really serious.
- And what if it dealt with a real network. I mean people stealing the results and then selling them, let's say on a larger scale ?
- Then it would be different. They would be violating the law. I think it would be my duty to ...
- Yes."

Lanterbach paused, as if considering to continue or not.

" - I have a problem, John. I discovered three students of second year have organized a kind of traffic, along with a fourth person external to the university. You will understand that, as a professor, this is not something I cannot tolerate and I should turn them in. But I have no material evidences of it so far. And you can't accuse people without evidences.
- What exactly are you waiting from me, sir ?
- Well, I need someone to help me to confound them. I would be immediately spotted would I follow them in certain places, while a student would pass unnoticed.
- You want me to spy on them ?
- Yes. Believe me, I would very well have done without this situation. But you see, the Forensic Identification Program purpose is mainly to turn out law enforcement officers. Two of the students are in my class. Then should I let them graduate knowing that they are violating the law ? I've had a few sleepless nights weighting the possibilities. I just cannot let them go on.
- I understand, sir. And it seems fair to me.
- But you'd rather not participate to the operation, would you ?
- I didn't say that.
- No. But I see I made you feel uncomfortable.
- Well, I was not expecting such a thing. But I agree on the principal: you cannot let them go.
- Does that mean you accept the job ?
- Yes. But there is one condition though.
- What would that be ?
- Whatever the outcome, I don't want my role in it to be mentioned.
- You can count on that, John. Thank you. You can't imagine how difficult it has been to ask you that. Would you like to taste that Armagnac now ?
- Why not."


One hour later, Lanterbach was again alone in his house. It had been easy, he thought. He was expecting more reluctance from Williamson, but he modestly admitted he had been particularly good in his role of professor Lanterbach tonight. He smiled to himself.

Tomorrow would be another story. Tomorrow he would have to face Clarice, a much more experienced adversary, so to speak. And he would not have the possibility to hide behind Neil Lanterbach either. Tomorrow, he would be himself. Tomorrow, it would be just special agent Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter, a.k.a. Hannibal the Cannibal ... Two old friends ...

The slight feeling of uneasiness it gave him was nothing as compared to the excitement to talk to her again, to look at her in the eyes, to hear the sound of her voice ...

Tomorrow would be the day, and he had to prepare for it ...


To be continued ... Thanks for reading. Reviews welcome.
Absolut