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 13: Staking out

The morning after, Starling called the office to say she was sick and probably would not come for two or three days. She packed a few things in her sport bag and left to West Virginia.

It was around eleven when she arrived to Morgantown. She stopped at a phone box and called Lecter' s cell phone. He was staking out the house of Van Basten. He gave her the address as well as instructions to get there and a description of his car.

She arrived there five minutes later. She spotted his car easily and parked three cars behind his. She went out, locked the door and walked in his direction. When she was at his level, she quickly slipped into the black BMW. He didn't look at her, nor did he look surprise. He had probably seen her arrive in his rear mirror.

" - Good morning, Clarice.
- Good morning, Dr Lecter.
- Any difficulties finding me ?
- No. Your indications were precise. Anything new since last night ?
- No. Malcolm just went out to buy some croissant. He is up there with his girl friend, Tammy." he said, pointing out at a little house about thirty feet from where they were parked. " There is a thermos of coffee on the back seat. I'm not sure it's still hot, but you can try if you want.
- I will take the risk. Thanks. Want some too ?
- No. Thank you."

She grabbed the thermos and helped herself. He had not stopped staring at the house since she entered the car. He wore sun glasses and had a week's beard. She wondered when was the last time he had slept. The wound on his temple had turned to a three inches black and blue stain.

" - And where is ... John ?" Clarice asked. For the first time he looked in her direction and even gave her a gentle smile.
" - He had to leave town for a couple of days, but he should be back in the afternoon. You'll meet him.
- I'm impatient".

That explain the beard. He turned back to his surveillance, but she could see his smile get wider. After about ten minutes of silence Clarice understood that the staking out would not involve a lot of conversation. She set herself more comfortable in her seat and started to let her thought wander.

She was taken from her musing by Lecter about half an hour later. " He's moving !" She sat up straight. A young couple had come out of the house and was heading to a van parked nearby.

" - Is that his car ?" Clarice asked.
" - Hers. But he is using it often. Why ?
- We found some tire prints corresponding to the same heavy vehicle on two of the crime scenes.
- It could be Tammy' s van. Kowalski has a pickup too. Did you bring the prints ?
- I have some photos in my bag. We can check them if we get an occasion.
- Umh."

Lecter started the car and began to follow the van. Clarice silently admired the way he was doing that. He kept a comfortable distance but never lost sight of them. The tailing ended after twenty minutes in front of a little Italian restaurant.

" - Clarice, aren't you hungry ?
- A little. Should we follow them ?
- I suggest you go alone. He knows me.
- OK."

The restaurant was not exactly luxurious. She ordered some pasta and a glass of wine. She shot a few discreet looks at Malcolm and Tammy during the lunch. They looked the perfect young couple. He was tender with her and she laughed to his jokes.

At the end of the meal, they ordered a coffee. She decided to leave before them to be ready when the tailing would start again. Lecter was still where she had left him.

" - I brought you a sandwich.
- Thank you, Clarice. Always thoughtful."

He took away his sun glasses and rubbed his eyes. They were red with tiredness.

" - How long is it since you last slept ?" Clarice asked. He did not answer but took the sandwich and thanked her with a smile. " It's tomato and mozzarella. That's all they had.
- It will do. To be honest, I would eat anything ... or anyone." He grinned
" - That's not funny, Dr Lecter.
- Sorry, Clarice."

He started eating. He had not finished when the two young people came out. Lecter swore and put his sandwich on the dashboard. Clarice looked at him with her eyes wide opened. It was the first time she ever heard him swear. Loosing you legendary imperturbability, doctor ?

He started the engine and left the parking. The tailing went on for the whole afternoon. Van Basten took them successively to a bank, a supermarket and a drugstore. Then they stayed for about one hour at Paul Ramsey' s place. After that, they went to the house of Tammy' s parents. It was 5:45 pm.

" - You think they could leave the envelope to one of 'club' members ?" Clarice asked. It had been one hour none of them had said a word and she almost startled him.
" - I don't think so. According to me, it has to be a neutral place.
- A bank ?
- I already checked that. None of them rented a safe in Morgantown or the area.
- How did you ... Forget it."

" - Any leads concerning the fourth one, the woman ?" she asked five minutes later. He looked at her, confused
- I did not tell you ? Forgive me, Clarice, I am a little tired.
- No kidding !
- Her name is Judith Valentine. She is a stripper at the Cat' s Cradle, the most select nightclub in town. I heard she had an affair with Kowalski last year."

Her cell phone rang. " Starling ... Peter ? Ho, hello agent Malone ... Yes, I asked him to tell you ... No, just a cold I think" Clarice was feeling weird talking with Malone from Hannibal Lecter' s car. " No. Two or three days I guess ... Of course, You'll be the first one to know when I'm back in office ... Yes, I think so too ... All right. Thanks for having called". She hung up.

Malone' s call left Clarice with an uneasy feeling of guilt ... as if in some ways she was betraying Lecter. Damn it, she thought, she did not go and get him, he came to her. What had he expected from her ? That she gave up her sense of duty for his blue eyes ? Clarice realized she was getting excited alone. She took a deep breath and calmed down. Lecter had not said a word, apparently unaware of her inner conflicts.

Van Basten went out of the house. Lecter prepared to start again, but the young man just took something from the van and re-entered.

Half an hour later, It was Lecter' s phone who disturbed the longing silence. " John ! Where are you ? ... How was your trip ? ... Good ... Yes, she is with me ... We are at Tammy's place, they have been here for about two hours ... Are you sure ? ... All right, we're waiting for you then. If anything out of the ordinary happens, don't try to intervene but call me at once ... Right. See you tomorrow, John."

" - John will take over.
- Good.
- He should be here in five minutes."

Before long, an old Chevy parked just before the BMW. Lecter started the engine and their car joined the increasing traffic.

" - I did not have time to arrange for an hotel for you, Clarice. I thought you could stay at my place. But if it is a problem for you, we can try to find another accommodation.
- No problem for me, but I would not want to impose myself.
- You're not, Clarice. Not at all."


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