Entrapment
By Absolut.
Disclaimer: The characters of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling, Jack Crawford and Paul Krendler do not belong to me, but to Thomas Harris. No copyright infringement intended. I don't see how I could make any money of it anyway. I'm just borrowing them for a ride. I'll turn them back. I promise ... Or maybe not ...
Reviews always welcome. That's what make us improve, isn't it ?
Chapter 1
Starling was crouching behind a cardboard about thirty feet from the entrance of the building. She had been in this position for more than an hour now and her kneels were hurting like hell. She would have given a month of salary to be able to stand up for five minutes. But she knew there was no way she could do that.
They had been after these gunrunners to catch them in the act for three weeks without success. And now finally things were moving. Her kneels would have to wait. From where she was, she could see special agent David Scomb hiding behind the corner of the warehouse. He was closer than her and would probably be the first one to reach the door. Unless she could run real faster ...
The SWAT team was there as a backup, but they were suppose to intervene only in case of problem. This was an FBI case and it would stay that way. To be sure they would not fumble, thirteen agents had been sent to the place. But, as they did most of the investigation part, Scomb and Starling had been given the priority for the arrest. David was a little bit ahead of her in their little private contest, and she had to try to beat him this time. She had the best visibility on the door and that was her only advantage. Clarice Starling was staring at the building as if her life was depending on it.
While she was concentrating on the door, something caught her attention on her left. But the time she turned her head, it was gone. Everything looked as quiet as before. She could not be sure she really had seen something. It was so fugitive it might as well have been just an effect of her tiredness. She had a look at David. He had not moved and was still looking into the direction of the warehouse door. She tried to focus again on the door, but the incident had left her with an unpleasant feeling.
Something was not right. She could feel it, but was not able to put a name on it. Again, she stared at the left corner of the building. Nothing. She took a deep breath and tried to convince herself she had just been dreaming. But it did not quite work. Another ten minutes passed. Starling was looking alternately to the door and to the left but nothing moved. She was about to surrender and admit it was just her imagination when suddenly she saw it again. A very pale red light, almost invisible. She would have missed it if she had not been concentrating on the corner at that very second. Then it disappeared again. A cigarette ! It was the light of a cigarette. Someone was standing there behind the corner. A brief mental review of the plan confirmed to her it could not be one of their agents.
Clarice was about to alert the team on the radio when suddenly the door slammed open. She saw David rush out of hiding, unaware of the danger. At the very same moment, a shadow went out of the other side of the building and she saw it pointing a gun at her partner. Clarice jumped over the cardboard she was hiding behind and, without hesitating shot the man twice. The two bullets reached him in the heart. He was dead before his body hit the floor.
David froze as he understood what had just happened. But he recovered rapidly and ran to the group of traffickers who were trying to escape. He was soon joined by Clarice and the other agents. There was a bit of struggle but the FBI rapidly got the control of the situation. In less than five minutes, everybody was handcuffed and the team entered the warehouse to search it.
It had been a gorgeous day for the FBI. In the warehouse, they had found three cases of automatic rifles, three machine guns, two rocket launchers and the ammunition that went with it. The best catch they had done in months. Even if the three guys they had arrested were not the very top of the pyramid of the organization, they were high enough in the hierarchy for their absence to be a problem, and their arrest would probably make the big bosses sweat a bit.
It had been two hours that the arrest had been done. Starling's tension was beginning to decrease. She was sitting on the floor outside the building waiting for the forensic team to complete their examination. It should not be long now.
David went out of the warehouse and joined her. He lit a cigarette and offered one to her. She refused.
" - Seems we have finished here." he said. " Krantz said the report can wait till tomorrow.
- Good. I really don't feel like doing paper work tonight."
David drew on his cigarette. He bent his head.
" - Clarice ..." he paused, embarrassed. After a few seconds he went on: " Well, thank you.
- For what ? For letting you win today ? Believe me, I did not do it on purpose !" She was smiling at him. "Don't have any illusion, dear sir. Next time I'll get you.
- For saving my life today.
- Oh, that ! Don't mention it. Part of the job. You would have done the same for me.
- Sure, but ... thanks anyway."
He paused again. Clarice closed her eyes, letting go the adrenaline.
" - Want to come home for dinner ?" David asked. She looked at him. It was not such an unusual question. In the six months they had been working together the two agents had developed a kind of friendly relationship and Clarice had already been invited several times at the Scomb' s house. Mary-Ann, David's wife, and Clarice were getting along all right and their two kids had adopted her as aunt Clarice. But Starling was not really feeling like family at this moment.
" - Thanks, Dave. But not tonight. I'm tired. I think I'll just go to bed and have a twelve hour sleep for a change.
- OK. As you want. But if you change your mind, just ring me.
- All right."
Half an hour later they were free to go. David dropped her in front of her apartment and they wished each other good night.
Clarice let her bag on the kitchen table and went directly to the bathroom. After her shower, she prepared herself a cheese omelet and a salad. She got a Coke from the fridge, put everything on a tray and went to the sitting room. She sat on the couch and turned on the TV. She was just in time for the evening news. She started to eat.
The first headline was about public demonstrations that were taking place around the last G7 summit. Then there was a one minute report about the arrest they had performed in the afternoon. The media had not been let inside the warehouse, but they abundantly described what they imagined took place. Clarice sighed. The camera was now back on the presenter.
" Let's now come to the most intriguing disappearing of Jonathan Dubrowski. The family of the young billionaire, at the head of one of the most famous publishing house in the country - South Bank Publishing - have lost contact with him for more than three days now. Last time Mr. Dubrowski was seen was last friday, as he was leaving his Washington DC apartment to join a party given at the Marriot hotel to honor one of his publishing house most famous and controversial author: Christopher Mc Dougall. But apparently, Mr. Dubrowski never showed up at the party."
Clarice' s attention was attracted by the name of Mc Dougall, but she could not remember why it sounded familiar.
" The police, though alerted immediately, did not make too many efforts at first. J. Dubrowski being well known for his eccentricities, it had first been assumed that his disappearance was merely another of the publicity coup he has been so fond of in the last few years. But as time passed and no news was received, the concern has grown and the police is now investigating the possibility of a kidnapping. Chief inspector Michael Simpson, from Washington Police Department declared that the family has not received any request for a ransom yet.
The last distinguished action of Jonathan Dubrowski was the publishing of Mc Dougall last book 'Hannibal Lecter - Anatomy of a Monster', in which he gives his version of the psychological profile of the unfortunately serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. Both the publisher and the author were the guests of many talk shows in the last weeks. Even though the book has been harshly criticized by the most renowned psychiatrists of the country, it is becoming one of the biggest best seller of the last decade."
Clarice jumped on her couch. "That's it !" she said loudly. "That's why I knew the name !" On TV, the journalist was going on with his report but Clarice was hardly listening. Her mind was racing to the consequences of what she had just heard. She turned off the sound of the TV set and picked up her phone. She dialed Jack Crawford' s home number and waited for her ex-boss to answer.
" - Jack Crawford.
- Mr. Crawford, this is Clarice Starling. Sorry to disturb you at home but ...
- Starling ! No problem. I'm happy to hear you. I've heard about your operation today. Congratulations !
- Thank you Mr. Crawford. Team work actually.
- Yes. What can I do for you ?
- Well ... I'm not sure but ... I just caught the news ... about the disappearance of Jonathan Dubrowski, the publisher."
Crawford remained silent for a moment. When he came back on the line, his voice was lower and had lost any trace of enthusiasm.
" - I thought you would." he started simply. "And I imagined you would call me too.
- Has the bureau been contacted by the police ?
- Not exactly." Crawford paused, as if thinking about what he could tell her and what he could not. Clarice did not like it. "We contacted them. But this is confidential information, Starling. I shouldn't even be talking with you about it.
- I see." Clarice decided she did not care for Crawford' s instructions. He had the right not to answer, but she had the right to ask. "But I'm still an FBI agent, right ?
- Yes. But you no more belong to the Behavioral Science Unit. And Lecter is our case.
- How did the cops react ?
- Starling, I just told you that ...
- I've heard you. Lecter is yours. But it's normal I feel concerned, isn't it ? "
Crawford seemed to think for a moment.
" - Well, I suppose if I were you and there was a possibility for Lecter to be back in the United States, I would probably feel concerned about my own security ... " Clarice did not answer. They both knew Hannibal Lecter would not call on her unless he was forced to. But if Crawford needed an excuse to talk to her, this one would do. " I called Mike Simpson myself this morning. He's the inspector in charge.
- And what did he tell you ?
- Not much. It looks as if Dubrowski had vanished completely.
- Did you talk to him about Hannibal Lecter ?
- Of course. But I have not been very convincing. Simpson firmly believes Dubrowski has organized his own disappearing. Well, knowing what the guy has done in the past, it's a possibility we cannot neglect. The idea could even be to make people believe he has been kidnapped by Lecter. That would for sure help the sales. Besides, if Lecter really was behind all this, why go after the publisher ? Why not go directly after the author ?
- What about him ? Is he under the police protection ?
- No. Simpson told me they offered to have patrols near his house, but he refused."
Starling was trying to stay calm, but she couldn't help feeling increasingly tensed.
" - What are we going to do ?" she finally asked Crawford.
" - WE ? We are going to do nothing about it, Starling. This does not concern you anymore. What I told you was just a chit-chat between old friends and you are just going to go on with your job as if you had never heard about Mr. Dubrowski. Do I make myself clear ?
- Yes, sir.
- Clarice, I am very serious about it."
Crawford was very rarely using her first name. She understood she would be loosing her time trying to convince him to involve her.
" - Understood." she said. "May I know what you are trying to do about it, then ? Just between 'old friends' ..." She heard him laugh at the other side of the line.
" - Clarice Starling, you are the most stubborn person I've ever worked with.
- They taught me perseverance at Quantico, sir.
- Yeah ... I've un-officially assigned two agents to the case. Just to see if they can find something. And I have another one discreetly following Mc Dougall. But you're not part of the plan, Starling.
- That's OK, Mr. Crawford. I just wanted to be sure something was being done. I guess I'd better let you go to bed now. Sorry again to have disturbed you at home.
- No bother, Starling. I'll let you know if I've got news. Good night.
- Good night, sir."
Clarice did not know how to feel about all this. It had been a year since her last encounter with Lecter. And it had been rather messy. It had taken her months to recover and stop waking up in the middle of the night seeing Paul Krendler' s uncovered brain. She could have sworn she never wanted to have anything to do with this man anymore. And she would be sincere. But a little voice in her mind was whispering Hannibal Lecter was part of her life, whether she liked it or not.
She got up from the couch. She knew a bookshop opened all night not so far from her place. She was sure she could find a copy of 'Hannibal Lecter - Anatomy of a Monster' there.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. If you want to leave a review, feel free. If you don't, feel free the same.
Absolut.
By Absolut.
Disclaimer: The characters of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling, Jack Crawford and Paul Krendler do not belong to me, but to Thomas Harris. No copyright infringement intended. I don't see how I could make any money of it anyway. I'm just borrowing them for a ride. I'll turn them back. I promise ... Or maybe not ...
Reviews always welcome. That's what make us improve, isn't it ?
Chapter 1
Starling was crouching behind a cardboard about thirty feet from the entrance of the building. She had been in this position for more than an hour now and her kneels were hurting like hell. She would have given a month of salary to be able to stand up for five minutes. But she knew there was no way she could do that.
They had been after these gunrunners to catch them in the act for three weeks without success. And now finally things were moving. Her kneels would have to wait. From where she was, she could see special agent David Scomb hiding behind the corner of the warehouse. He was closer than her and would probably be the first one to reach the door. Unless she could run real faster ...
The SWAT team was there as a backup, but they were suppose to intervene only in case of problem. This was an FBI case and it would stay that way. To be sure they would not fumble, thirteen agents had been sent to the place. But, as they did most of the investigation part, Scomb and Starling had been given the priority for the arrest. David was a little bit ahead of her in their little private contest, and she had to try to beat him this time. She had the best visibility on the door and that was her only advantage. Clarice Starling was staring at the building as if her life was depending on it.
While she was concentrating on the door, something caught her attention on her left. But the time she turned her head, it was gone. Everything looked as quiet as before. She could not be sure she really had seen something. It was so fugitive it might as well have been just an effect of her tiredness. She had a look at David. He had not moved and was still looking into the direction of the warehouse door. She tried to focus again on the door, but the incident had left her with an unpleasant feeling.
Something was not right. She could feel it, but was not able to put a name on it. Again, she stared at the left corner of the building. Nothing. She took a deep breath and tried to convince herself she had just been dreaming. But it did not quite work. Another ten minutes passed. Starling was looking alternately to the door and to the left but nothing moved. She was about to surrender and admit it was just her imagination when suddenly she saw it again. A very pale red light, almost invisible. She would have missed it if she had not been concentrating on the corner at that very second. Then it disappeared again. A cigarette ! It was the light of a cigarette. Someone was standing there behind the corner. A brief mental review of the plan confirmed to her it could not be one of their agents.
Clarice was about to alert the team on the radio when suddenly the door slammed open. She saw David rush out of hiding, unaware of the danger. At the very same moment, a shadow went out of the other side of the building and she saw it pointing a gun at her partner. Clarice jumped over the cardboard she was hiding behind and, without hesitating shot the man twice. The two bullets reached him in the heart. He was dead before his body hit the floor.
David froze as he understood what had just happened. But he recovered rapidly and ran to the group of traffickers who were trying to escape. He was soon joined by Clarice and the other agents. There was a bit of struggle but the FBI rapidly got the control of the situation. In less than five minutes, everybody was handcuffed and the team entered the warehouse to search it.
It had been a gorgeous day for the FBI. In the warehouse, they had found three cases of automatic rifles, three machine guns, two rocket launchers and the ammunition that went with it. The best catch they had done in months. Even if the three guys they had arrested were not the very top of the pyramid of the organization, they were high enough in the hierarchy for their absence to be a problem, and their arrest would probably make the big bosses sweat a bit.
It had been two hours that the arrest had been done. Starling's tension was beginning to decrease. She was sitting on the floor outside the building waiting for the forensic team to complete their examination. It should not be long now.
David went out of the warehouse and joined her. He lit a cigarette and offered one to her. She refused.
" - Seems we have finished here." he said. " Krantz said the report can wait till tomorrow.
- Good. I really don't feel like doing paper work tonight."
David drew on his cigarette. He bent his head.
" - Clarice ..." he paused, embarrassed. After a few seconds he went on: " Well, thank you.
- For what ? For letting you win today ? Believe me, I did not do it on purpose !" She was smiling at him. "Don't have any illusion, dear sir. Next time I'll get you.
- For saving my life today.
- Oh, that ! Don't mention it. Part of the job. You would have done the same for me.
- Sure, but ... thanks anyway."
He paused again. Clarice closed her eyes, letting go the adrenaline.
" - Want to come home for dinner ?" David asked. She looked at him. It was not such an unusual question. In the six months they had been working together the two agents had developed a kind of friendly relationship and Clarice had already been invited several times at the Scomb' s house. Mary-Ann, David's wife, and Clarice were getting along all right and their two kids had adopted her as aunt Clarice. But Starling was not really feeling like family at this moment.
" - Thanks, Dave. But not tonight. I'm tired. I think I'll just go to bed and have a twelve hour sleep for a change.
- OK. As you want. But if you change your mind, just ring me.
- All right."
Half an hour later they were free to go. David dropped her in front of her apartment and they wished each other good night.
Clarice let her bag on the kitchen table and went directly to the bathroom. After her shower, she prepared herself a cheese omelet and a salad. She got a Coke from the fridge, put everything on a tray and went to the sitting room. She sat on the couch and turned on the TV. She was just in time for the evening news. She started to eat.
The first headline was about public demonstrations that were taking place around the last G7 summit. Then there was a one minute report about the arrest they had performed in the afternoon. The media had not been let inside the warehouse, but they abundantly described what they imagined took place. Clarice sighed. The camera was now back on the presenter.
" Let's now come to the most intriguing disappearing of Jonathan Dubrowski. The family of the young billionaire, at the head of one of the most famous publishing house in the country - South Bank Publishing - have lost contact with him for more than three days now. Last time Mr. Dubrowski was seen was last friday, as he was leaving his Washington DC apartment to join a party given at the Marriot hotel to honor one of his publishing house most famous and controversial author: Christopher Mc Dougall. But apparently, Mr. Dubrowski never showed up at the party."
Clarice' s attention was attracted by the name of Mc Dougall, but she could not remember why it sounded familiar.
" The police, though alerted immediately, did not make too many efforts at first. J. Dubrowski being well known for his eccentricities, it had first been assumed that his disappearance was merely another of the publicity coup he has been so fond of in the last few years. But as time passed and no news was received, the concern has grown and the police is now investigating the possibility of a kidnapping. Chief inspector Michael Simpson, from Washington Police Department declared that the family has not received any request for a ransom yet.
The last distinguished action of Jonathan Dubrowski was the publishing of Mc Dougall last book 'Hannibal Lecter - Anatomy of a Monster', in which he gives his version of the psychological profile of the unfortunately serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. Both the publisher and the author were the guests of many talk shows in the last weeks. Even though the book has been harshly criticized by the most renowned psychiatrists of the country, it is becoming one of the biggest best seller of the last decade."
Clarice jumped on her couch. "That's it !" she said loudly. "That's why I knew the name !" On TV, the journalist was going on with his report but Clarice was hardly listening. Her mind was racing to the consequences of what she had just heard. She turned off the sound of the TV set and picked up her phone. She dialed Jack Crawford' s home number and waited for her ex-boss to answer.
" - Jack Crawford.
- Mr. Crawford, this is Clarice Starling. Sorry to disturb you at home but ...
- Starling ! No problem. I'm happy to hear you. I've heard about your operation today. Congratulations !
- Thank you Mr. Crawford. Team work actually.
- Yes. What can I do for you ?
- Well ... I'm not sure but ... I just caught the news ... about the disappearance of Jonathan Dubrowski, the publisher."
Crawford remained silent for a moment. When he came back on the line, his voice was lower and had lost any trace of enthusiasm.
" - I thought you would." he started simply. "And I imagined you would call me too.
- Has the bureau been contacted by the police ?
- Not exactly." Crawford paused, as if thinking about what he could tell her and what he could not. Clarice did not like it. "We contacted them. But this is confidential information, Starling. I shouldn't even be talking with you about it.
- I see." Clarice decided she did not care for Crawford' s instructions. He had the right not to answer, but she had the right to ask. "But I'm still an FBI agent, right ?
- Yes. But you no more belong to the Behavioral Science Unit. And Lecter is our case.
- How did the cops react ?
- Starling, I just told you that ...
- I've heard you. Lecter is yours. But it's normal I feel concerned, isn't it ? "
Crawford seemed to think for a moment.
" - Well, I suppose if I were you and there was a possibility for Lecter to be back in the United States, I would probably feel concerned about my own security ... " Clarice did not answer. They both knew Hannibal Lecter would not call on her unless he was forced to. But if Crawford needed an excuse to talk to her, this one would do. " I called Mike Simpson myself this morning. He's the inspector in charge.
- And what did he tell you ?
- Not much. It looks as if Dubrowski had vanished completely.
- Did you talk to him about Hannibal Lecter ?
- Of course. But I have not been very convincing. Simpson firmly believes Dubrowski has organized his own disappearing. Well, knowing what the guy has done in the past, it's a possibility we cannot neglect. The idea could even be to make people believe he has been kidnapped by Lecter. That would for sure help the sales. Besides, if Lecter really was behind all this, why go after the publisher ? Why not go directly after the author ?
- What about him ? Is he under the police protection ?
- No. Simpson told me they offered to have patrols near his house, but he refused."
Starling was trying to stay calm, but she couldn't help feeling increasingly tensed.
" - What are we going to do ?" she finally asked Crawford.
" - WE ? We are going to do nothing about it, Starling. This does not concern you anymore. What I told you was just a chit-chat between old friends and you are just going to go on with your job as if you had never heard about Mr. Dubrowski. Do I make myself clear ?
- Yes, sir.
- Clarice, I am very serious about it."
Crawford was very rarely using her first name. She understood she would be loosing her time trying to convince him to involve her.
" - Understood." she said. "May I know what you are trying to do about it, then ? Just between 'old friends' ..." She heard him laugh at the other side of the line.
" - Clarice Starling, you are the most stubborn person I've ever worked with.
- They taught me perseverance at Quantico, sir.
- Yeah ... I've un-officially assigned two agents to the case. Just to see if they can find something. And I have another one discreetly following Mc Dougall. But you're not part of the plan, Starling.
- That's OK, Mr. Crawford. I just wanted to be sure something was being done. I guess I'd better let you go to bed now. Sorry again to have disturbed you at home.
- No bother, Starling. I'll let you know if I've got news. Good night.
- Good night, sir."
Clarice did not know how to feel about all this. It had been a year since her last encounter with Lecter. And it had been rather messy. It had taken her months to recover and stop waking up in the middle of the night seeing Paul Krendler' s uncovered brain. She could have sworn she never wanted to have anything to do with this man anymore. And she would be sincere. But a little voice in her mind was whispering Hannibal Lecter was part of her life, whether she liked it or not.
She got up from the couch. She knew a bookshop opened all night not so far from her place. She was sure she could find a copy of 'Hannibal Lecter - Anatomy of a Monster' there.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. If you want to leave a review, feel free. If you don't, feel free the same.
Absolut.