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 19: Back with the FBI

Hannibal woke up when they arrived in Morgantown.

" - We should get back your car, Clarice". She glanced at him.
" - Can you drive ?
- I'll manage." As he saw doubts in her eyes, he added: "Not that I feel fully operational, but I don't believe we have much choice. You're gonna need your car tonight. I'll be all right."

She parked the BMW in front of Van Basten' s house, where she had left the Mustang on the first day. Before she stepped out of the car, he handed her a key.

" - This is the key of my garage. I believe it is safer if you leave your car there. It is about thirty feet after the house, on the right. A big brown door.
- I'll find it.
- See you soon."

She gave him a little kiss on the lips and left. The natural simplicity of her gesture touched him. There were still so many things he had to discover about her.


He had left the front door opened for her. She found him in the kitchen, busy preparing sandwiches. He had taken off his pullover and she could see the powerful muscles of his back through his shirt.

She came behind him, put her arms around his waist end rested her head on his back. He jumped. She immediately released the pressure.

" - Sorry, did I hurt you ?
- No. You excited me." She held him closer and inhaled his scent. "Any single contact with you sets me on fire, Clarice. Let me concentrate on the sandwiches, will you ?" She chuckled.

They ate in the kitchen. Then they spent a tender moment in each other' s arms. Words were useless. Finally, Hannibal pulled back.

" - You should get some rest. You have not slept and you will need all your strength tonight. Take the bedroom. You will be more comfortable." She kissed him.
" - Will you join me ?" she asked mischievously.
" - Who knows ? Anything can happen, Clarice."

She smiled and let him alone.


He retired in his study to prepare the 'anonymous' messages Clarice would need to justify her investigation in Morgantown. Hannibal had come to the limit of what he could do to neutralize the 'daffodil club'. Next step had to involve the authorities and for obvious reasons he could not be part of it.

The only contribution he could give at this point was to provide Clarice with an alibi for being here when she would contact the local police and the FBI. They had decided he would simulate the continuation of the 'messaging campaign' he had initiated in the first place, giving more and more details that could have led her to suspect Van Basten and his friends.

Of course, there would still be a lot of explanation to give. She would have to justify the fact that she had not informed the FBI of the lead she was following. But after all, she had shown the first two messages to her boss and he had demonstrated no interest in them, advising her to give up. She could always pretend she had decided to follow her intuition. For sure, they would blame her for that. But the arrest of four serial killers would certainly smooth things.

It could work. The real uncertainty was if she would be able to convince the police to intervene before eight tonight, when the last meeting of the club was to initiate.

Then, there was also the issue of Van Basten and Lazenby to solve. There was no way Clarice could confess she had kept Lazenby locked up for twenty four hours, and then let him alone in his house with Van Basten - even securely tied to the table. She would have to declare she had lost his trace when he left Morgantown. Then, an anonymous phone call would inform the police of the events of Clearfountain. Clarice would suggest it was an intervention of her mysterious informer - which was not so far from reality. That would be a little harder to sell, but could work either.

The phone call would be given by John. They could not run the risk someone could recognize his voice or hers. John had no criminal records and therefore was on no files. They would never find him.


Hannibal sighed. The drawback of this plan was that Clarice would have to handle it alone. He would not be there to help or protect her in case of problem. This thought had poisoned his mind since they had started defining the plan.

But they did not have much choice. As the only thing he could do for her was to write this series of messages, he forced himself to concentrate on the task so that they would be irreproachable.

It took him almost two hours to build the three notes. He read them one last time and started folding the sheets of paper to give them the aspect of over manipulation. When he was finally satisfied with the result, he put them on Clarice' s purse, just to be sure she would not forget them.

Hannibal was feeling weak and the drug pain he had taken when he had arrived home was starting to loose its effects. He went to the bathroom and swallowed two pills. Then he went to the bedroom.

Clarice was sleeping in his large bed. She had kept her jeans and shirt and had curled on her side, as children often do. He approached the bed silently and laid down next to her, cautious not to wake her up. He leant on his elbow and just watch her sleep.

He stayed there in silence, never full with her sight. Clarice moved slightly and opened her eyes. She put her hand on his chest. He took it and methodically kissed every finger. "I love you" she said. It was merely a whisper. These three little words, these three simple words she had just said to him for the first time were for Hannibal like a lightning striking directly to his soul.

He pulled her to him. They made love tenderly. Far from the fury of the first time, they discovered each other slowly, completely, until they became just one.


Clarice was lying in his arms. She could feel his breathing in her hair. She felt she could stay there forever.

" - Clarice, you should prepare to go now." he whispered. She kissed his chest.
" - Five minutes more." she pleaded.
" - I won't be able to let you go in five minutes." She sat. "I left the messages with your purse, on the table.
- So, you're not gonna kiss me good bye on the doorstep, are you ?
- No."

She got up and started getting dressed. He stayed in bed and watch her. "Clarice, you have to promise me you will take care of yourself."

His voice was deep. Clarice understood his concern was genuine. God, how it felt to be loved this way ! "I'll be as cautious as a mouse." she answered. When she was ready, she sat on the bed next to him. She gave him a long kiss. She stood up and headed for the door.

" - See you later." she said.
" - I love you, Clarice."

She turned back to him. she did not have to word an answer, her eyes were speaking for her. She left.

The words floated in the air long after she was gone. Hannibal had never thought he could have said them to anyone. He stayed there lying in his bed, inhaling the scent she had left in the sheets. He had to do something, or he would go crazy.

He got up and dressed. He went to the living room. He took his cell phone and dialed John' s number. He gave him the instructions for the call he had to pass to the police in the evening. The young man did not ask him questions. He had understood he would not get answer. The kid was bright, he thought once again.

" - Will I see you again, Neil ?
- I don't think so, John.
- Neil ... I wanted to thank you.
- What for ?
- For having taught me.
- That's my job, isn't it ?
- I don't know. Good bye, Neil.
- Good bye, John."


Hannibal sat on the couch. He was feeling empty. Clarice had left less than one hour ago, and he was feeling empty.

Tonight, Clarice would find her back in her world. She would be again special agent Clarice Starling, from the FBI. Tonight she would do what she liked more, what she had always wanted to do. And he would not be there.

Then, when everything would be finished, when the fury and excitation would be gone, she would have to decide. In the loneliness of the night, she would have to choose between getting her life back ... or turning back to him. And there was nothing he could do, except wait for her.

Seeing him quiet on the couch, no one could have guessed the storm that was raging inside him or the turmoil of his feelings.

He suddenly stood up. He had to see her, even from far, even if for the last time. He took his car keys and went out.


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