Disclaimer: The
characters of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling and Barney (plus
anyone you may recognize) belong to Thomas Harris, not to me. But they
are so great I couldn't resist borrowing them for a while. I will turn
them back when I've finished. No copyright
infringement intended. No profit. I'm harmless and broke ... So don't
sue me.
Chapter 2
The morning after, Peter Farrow called her in his office. He said he had received a very positive feedback from Stuart Paterson about her conference, and he wanted to thank her. Then he told her he had a new assignment for her.
"Yesterday, I received a request from Washington." he started. "They need a little help on a multiple murder case. It seems their main suspect happened to live in New York for a few years. They asked me for a background investigation. You know ... the classical stuff ... the places he lived in, interviews of the neighbors, try to locate the persons that knew him here ... I thought it might interest you. Change you from paper work ... Clarice smiled. "Yes. Thank you, sir."
He gave her the file and all the information Washington had sent him and she left the office.
Clarice had spent the whole day in the streets of New York, gathering information about Luke Stadtler, the suspect the Washington office had for a so far unresolved triple murder. She had only come back to office to write her report. She read it again and mailed it to Farrow.
It was already half past eight. She was no more used to intense activity and was starting to feel a bit tired. There was nothing more she could do now anyway. She took her bag and headed towards the exit.
The cold wind outside made her chill. She put her hands in her coat pockets, bent her head and started her ten minutes walk to her apartment. She had not even reached the corner of the building when she bumped into someone. She raised her face. "I'm sorry, I ..." she started, but she froze when she realized who she was talking to. The young student that had called her special agent Starling the day before was standing in front of her.
" - Good morning, agent Starling." he said softly. "I'm sorry to have startled you." As Clarice remained speechless, he continued. "Do you recognize me ?
- I sure do. But what are you doing here ? Who the hell are you ?
- My name is Jason Mc Namara. In fact ... I have been waiting for you. I would like to talk to you about something and was wondering if you would accept giving me a little bit of your time."
Clarice calmed down a bit. After all, he was only a student ...
" - What is it about ?
- Well ... It is not just a thirty seconds thing. I thought we might talk in a place a little bit more comfortable. There is a nice little italian restaurant two blocks away. Would you let me invite you for dinner ?"
Clarice looked at him, undecided.
" - I know this sounds unusual, agent Starling. But I can assure you there is no trap and I have no bad intentions. We would just have dinner. And then if you don't want to see me again, I will just disappear.
- Italian restaurant, um ?
- Yes. They cook the best Spaghetti Alle Vongole I've ever eaten.
- I have no idea what this is, but I'll give it a try."
The young man smiled and once again Clarice had this feeling of 'déja-vu'. "Thank you very much, agent Starling." He showed her the way and they started walking towards the restaurant. They both remained silent.
Though it was only two minutes from her office, Clarice had never heard of this restaurant before. From the outside, the place did not really look like much. She was not sure she would have noticed it was a restaurant if she had just passed in front of it. The inside instead was a very nice surprise. It was not big but very cozy and decorated with taste.
Her companion talked briefly with the waiter and they were led to a table in the corner, a little bit isolated from the rest of the room. Apparently, the young man had come here before and what he had to tell her required privacy. He held the chair for Clarice and then went to sit in front of her. "Would you like to have a drink before we start ?" he asked. As Clarice answered positively, he ordered a whiskey for her and a soda for him.
" - How do you know what I'm drinking ?" she asked.
" - I've been well informed." he answered mischievously.
" - I see. And may I ask who your informers were ?
- I will come to that ... later if you don't mind."
The waiter brought their glasses and the menu. "Would you trust me for the meal ?" Mc Namara asked. She nodded. He turned to the waiter and started to talk to him in what sounded to Clarice as fluent Italian. She had no idea what she was about to eat. While he was ordering, she had a better look at him. He was not very tall, but rather athletic. To say the less, he was very attractive and was probably breaking a lot of young hearts. But what was the most striking were his eyes ... Or rather his look, the intensity with which he was looking at people. He was wearing a dark blue suit which seemed to have been tailored for him, a white shirt and a blue tie with thin maroon stripes. Pretty elegant for a man his age !
Clarice waited for the waiter to leave the table and asked him: "Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Mc Namara ?". The young man did not seem to understand what she meant and tilted his head on the left. Clarice' s heart skipped a few beats. She was now almost certain she had met him before. The expression on his face ... his manners ... But where ? She would for sure find out soon.
" - The Italian, I mean.
- Oh ! I'm sorry. I did not want to look pedant. Just an habit. But please call me Jason.
- So, will you tell me now what this is all about, Jason ? I don't think you have come to me to discuss your possible career in the FBI, have you ?"
Jason chuckled.
" - Not really. Honestly, I don't seriously think of joining the FBI.
- Besides, you look a little bit too young to be at university. How old are you ? Eighteen ?
- Sixteen. I will be seventeen next month. But I actually am slightly in advance. It's my first year at university. I'm studying literature. But the reason I was there yesterday was just to see you.
- See me ? Why would that be ?"
Clarice was getting very intrigued now. Jason took some time before he answered, as if he was choosing his words.
" - Just to make myself an opinion. You see, I have heard a lot about you. But what I have to tell you is rather personal and very important for me and I wanted to make sure I could trust you.
- Just by attending a conference ?
- People say I have a gift for people.
- So, what is this important thing you want to tell me ? Or would 'ask me' be more appropriate ?
- It would."
The waiter came back to their table to bring the first course. They instinctively interrupted their conversation until he had left again.
" - Bon appetit." Jason said.
" - Bon appetit. What is it ?
- Spaghetti Alle Vongole ... Pasta with clams and seafood.
- And this is the first course ?
- Yes. Italian tradition. First course is pasta or risotto, that is rice. And second course is meat or fish."
They started to eat. It was delicious. And the wine he had chosen certainly measured up with the food. Jason saw appreciation on Clarice' s face and smiled to her. After a few minutes, he unexpectedly broke the silence: "My father has been kidnapped." he simply said. Clarice raised her face and stared at him in disbelief. Till now, they had just went on with very light conversation, and now this short and dramatic sentence ... There had not been an ounce of stress in the young man' s voice.
"What ?" she said. She had spoken loudly and some of the other customers were glancing at them. Jason looked at her, embarrassed.
" - What do you mean by 'kidnapped' ?" she asked lowering her tone.
" - I mean exactly what people usually mean with this word: somebody took him away and asked for a ransom."
She stared at him, trying to understand if he was just kidding. But he looked very serious.
" - Jason, I'm really sorry about what happened to your father ... really, I did not expect that, but ... What has it got to do with me ?
- ... I am here to ask you to help me find him, and free him of course.
- Jason, I don't know what people told you about me ... and I do understand you want to do something for your father, but ... I don't see how I could help you."
Jason' s eyes became darker. For the first time in the evening, Clarice saw a true emotion on the young man' s face. And this was very much looking like pain.
" - Jason, I'm sorry. Really I am ... What did the police tell you ?
- I did not go to the police.
- Jason, you have to. I suppose the kidnappers have threatened the life of your father in case you contact the police, but you have to go to them anyway. Only they can help you ...
- It is not that. I just ... cannot go to the police. It is simply impossible.
- But why ?
- Because of who my father is."
Jason bent his head and looked down at the table. He was mechanically playing with his fork. Clarice was really puzzled now.
" - Jason, what is it with your father ? Who is he ? Is he somebody I should have heard about ?
- Maybe you would understand better if I tell you the whole story.
- Sure. Please ..."
He put his fork back on the table and again looked at her straight in the eyes.
" - My parents are ... Well, they never got married. I came here to spend some holidays with my father. He was supposed to wait for me at the airport but he was not there.
- When was this ?
- Two days ago. I arrived on Tuesday, at 2:15 pm. I did not really worry then. My father is a little bit ... particular. And ... well, it is not unusual that he changes his plans at the last minute. So, I took a cab. But when I arrived at his place, the house was empty. The daily newspaper was on the kitchen table though. So I assumed he had been there in the morning. I waited for a while, unpacked my things ... But after a couple of hours I started to worry.
- But if your father is used to changing his plans ...
- He would have called me. He knew I would be home. He would have called me there. So I started to have a deeper look in the house, to try to understand. I went to his study. And on the top of his desk I found an envelope. It had been put in evidence and my name was written on it."
They were interrupted by the waiter coming with the second course. Clarice was no more interested in what was in her plate. All she wanted was to know the rest of the story.
" - What was in the envelope, Jason ?
- Two sheets of papers. The first one was an anonymous letter. You know ... the one they make cutting letters in magazines.
- What did it say ?
- 'Dear Mr. Mc Namara Jr., We have your father. But we are ready to give him back to you if you hand us 4 million dollars. We give you one week to gather the money. We will contact you again.' That's what it said. Pretty explicit.
- Not really original, I would say. But it means they knew you were arriving on that very day. This is already a clue ... Is your father that rich ?" she asked. "I mean, does he really have 4 million dollars ?
- He is, yes. He's got much more than that."
Clarice thought for a moment. "You said there were two sheets of papers in the envelope. What was the second one ?" she finally said. Jason looked as if he was hesitating to answer her question. As he did not talk, she went on:
" - Is it linked to the reason why you could not go to the police ?
- Yes. In a way.
- Jason, you have come here to speak with me. To ask for my help. Why do you hesitate now ?
- It's just ... It's difficult. I was raised with the principle I should never talk to anybody about these things ... but now ... Nobody else must ever know about this ...
- Why did you come to me ?
- My father once told me you were someone who could be trusted. He does not say that about many people, you know.
- Do I know him ?"
Jason seemed to hesitate again for a few seconds. But then he put his hand to the internal pocket of his jacket and took a white sheet of paper from it. He handed it to Clarice. She took it. Before she unfolded it she said: "You can trust me, Jason. I won't tell anybody. Not without your agreement, I mean." He nodded.
She carefully unfolded the paper and finally looked at it.
Her face suddenly became as pale as chalk. Her heart started running inside her chest. Her breathing accelerated. She would have recognized this handwriting out of a million one. On the little piece of paper that was now trembling in her hands where the delicate writing of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
She looked at Jason in disbelief. He was staring at her, biting his lip, visibly anxious for her reaction. She opened her mouth but no sound came out of it. "Yes" Jason answered her previous question. "You know my father." It took Clarice a few more seconds to regain enough composure to be able to speak.
" - You are the son of ...
- A former renowned psychiatrist you met about ten years ago." he interrupted her quickly. She had a look around.
She finally looked back to the paper and read its content:
" Jason,
Unfortunately what you have read is true.
These gentlemen look very serious. So, do as they tell you, and we will see each other again soon.
Your loving father. "
Jason was the first one to speak.
" - I'm sure you now understand why I could not go to the police, agent Starling." She raised an eyebrow. "Yes. You do.
- How can you be ...
- I will answer all your questions. I promise. But maybe here is not the right place.
- You're right." Clarice said, thinking of the way her life would go like if she was found dining with the son of Hannibal Lecter. "I live ten minutes from here. We would be more ... comfortable at my apartment.
- Thank you. I think we should eat now. Or the fish will get cold."
Clarice could not help admiring his calm. She nodded and started to eat. They finished their meal in silence. They did not order a desert and Jason asked for the bill. She observed him as he was paying and complimenting the waiter for the dinner. Everything was getting clear now. This feeling he looked so familiar to her ... his style, his manners ... his eyes. He was not an exact copy of his father, but was resembling him enough to have provoked this disturbing sensation in her.
They left the restaurant. The wind had weakened and it was less cold now.
" - This way." she indicated.
" - I know.
- ... Of course you do."
They walked in silence to Clarice' s apartment.
Clarice opened the door and let him in first. She dropped her bag on the floor and hanged both their coats.
" - I need a drink." she said. "Would you like something ?
- I would not like to ask for too much but ... I could use a coffee. I did not sleep much in the last two days.
- I can understand that."
He followed her to the kitchen. She took care of his coffee and helped herself a glass of whiskey. Then they sat at the table.
" - Shoot." he said.
" - I still can't believe it. The son of Hannibal Lecter. I could never have imagined he had children.
- It's only me really. I don't have sisters or brothers. So, you should not have any other bad surprise.
- Umh. But how could you be his son ? I mean, you told me you were sixteen years old. But sixteen years ago, Hannibal Lecter was ...
- Locked in Baltimore. Yes.
- Then ?
- One of the orderly, at the asylum, owed him a favor.
- Barney ?" she asked, even though she was sure it could only be him.
" - Yes. Barney. It was in the first years of his incarceration. He was not yet in ... I think you call it 'The Dungeon' ?" She nodded. "To pay his debt, Barney arranged a few nights in pleasant company for my father.
- Pleasant company ?
- Prostitutes. He made them enter when everybody else was sleeping and let them out before the day staff arrived. He did it three or four times only from what I know. One of these lady was my mother.
- I see.
- Yes. I am the son of a bitch and a Cannibal. Pretty interesting heredity, don't you think, agent Starling ?
- Phrased like that ... I think you can call me Clarice now. What happened then ?
- When she discovered she was pregnant, my mother went back to Barney, who told my father.
- But how could she be sure ...
- Who my father was ? For sure these kind of things are not easy with the kind of job my mother had. But she was very cautious. She usually protected herself. Barney was supposed to take care of the condoms. But he forgot them. My mother hesitated but he was paying four times the normal price and she needed the money. So she accepted in the end."
Clarice could not help but smile.
" - This is incredible." she said.
" - I know. I should never have been born. Not from these two at least. But sometimes destiny ... My father demanded blood tests anyway. When he was sure I was his son, he arranged for my mother not to have to bother about money ever again. Later, I knew he was having news regularly, through Barney.
- But did you know who it was ?
- Not at the beginning. My mother had told me my father was traveling. But then he escaped and he got in touch with her. It took him about six months to arrange something, but I finally met him.
- How old were you ?
- Six years old.
- And he told you who he was ?"
Jason laughed loudly. Clarice' s cheeks reddened a bit.
" - Not then. I was much too young. I mean ... he told me he was my father, but not that he was the infamous Hannibal Lecter. I was twelve years old when he finally told me the whole story.
- You mean you were living with him ?
- No. I have always been living with my mother. It was much safer. But I saw him regularly. In the last ten years, we've never been separated more then two months. Either he came to see us, or I took the plane to Florence.
- How did you react when he told you who he was ?"
Jason did not answer immediately. Clarice suddenly realized that all this might not be exactly as easy as it seems for him. After all, even if he was definitely more mature than most kids his age, he was only sixteen, had lived a very particular life, and his father had been kidnapped. And she was pushing on him with her stupid questions.
" - I'm sorry, Jason. You don't have to answer that. I think ...
- There's no problem, Clarice. I was just looking for the best way to make you understand. It's not easy to explain ... He is my father, you see. I know what he has done. I don't approve of it, of course. But he is my father ... and a good father as well. He's always been there for me. Even when he was not physically present, he gave me more than most of my friends got from their old man. He could have left, you know. He could have paid my mother and disappear. It would have been easy. You, better than anyone else, know that when he does not want to be found ...
- Yes, I know.
- Yet he did not walk away from me. Maybe it's not that complicated to say: I love him, that's all. Despite what he is. As I love my mother, even if she was a prostitute. I know ... I don't expect people to understand.
- I think I do.
- Yes. Maybe you can. I have a very unusual family. But it's my family."
Jason' s face had suddenly darkened again. Clarice put her hand on his arm.
" - I can understand that, Jason.
- I don't want to loose him.
- He is certainly the most resourceful person I know.
...
- Will you help me ?"
For the first time since she had met him, Jason looked vulnerable and about to loose the control on his emotions. Clarice was beginning to like him. But what he was asking her was not so simple. Hannibal Lecter was still a wanted criminal and she was still an FBI agent. Even if that did not mean the same thing to her it had meant one year before. Helping him going to the rescue of his father meant in a way betraying the Bureau, and thus renouncing to what she believed in.
So what ? Let Jason cope alone with the kidnappers ? Even if he seemed to have inherited the intelligence of his father, he had no experience in dealing with criminals. His chances of success were rather poor. And failure would probably mean the death of Lecter. For the first time in months, the image of Hannibal Lecter in Krendler' s lake house came back to her. Going to his rescue would not be a first for her. And he had saved her life too at Muskrat farm. No matter how much she had wanted to catch him and put him back behind bars, she had never wanted his death.
Jason's look was locked on her. So, she thought, it would be saving the lambs again ...
" - Can you gather the money for the ransom ?" she asked the young man.
" - Not in one week. The maximum I could get would be around 200 000 $. My father's got the money. But I cannot access it. His accounting system is a bit complicated, as you can imagine.
- But if he came to disappear, what would become of his money ?
- He has made some arrangements for me. He has a weekly phone call with a man he trusts. If he misses three consecutive appointments, this person will contact me and give me all the keys ... That is, will transfer the money to me and give me all necessary information. Basically, I could gather four million dollars, but in a month or so.
- I see.
...
- Of course my father knows that. So, when he asked me to do whatever the men tell me in his letter, he knew I could not ...
- Have you tried to think of what he meant, of what he wants you to do.
- Yes."
Jason bent his head.
" - And ?" Clarice asked as he was not going on.
" - He wants me to escape and give up on him. The note is a farewell letter.
- How would you know ?
- The signature ... 'Your loving father' ... It is difficult to explain, but I know he would never have written this if he thought we would see each other again.
- I can hardly imagine a Lecter 'give up' ! Your father should have known that."
Jason smiled. "All I know" he added "is that the last thing he wanted me to do was to contact you. I know him, and he'd rather loose his life than his freedom." Clarice remained silent for a moment, then answered:
" - OK. The kidnappers should contact you on Tuesday. We are on Thursday now. Tomorrow, I have to be in office. I can't avoid it. That means we have three days to find him.
- Does that mean you're gonna help me ?
- ... Yes. What I will do after, I have no idea. But the priority is to get your father out of there.
- Thank you, Clarice.
- I need to see the place, Jason. See if there is anything I can use to reach them.
- I can drive you there.
- Good. Then pick me up at my apartment tomorrow at 7:00 pm, OK ?
- I'll be there." He handed her a little card. "Meantime, this is my cell phone number. Just in case you need to contact me tomorrow."
She took the card. There was no name on it, just a number.
Jason looked exhausted. Clarice offered him to spend the night on her sofa, but he refused the invitation. "I think I've already used too much of your kindness tonight. I'll let you rest now."
She accompanied him to the door. "Try to get some sleep." she said. "You're gonna need all the energy you can." He nodded and took her hand in his. "Thank you, Clarice, Thank you. I know now that my father was right about you."
He left without giving her the time to answer.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. Reviews are as usual MOST welcome ...
Absolut.
Chapter 2
The morning after, Peter Farrow called her in his office. He said he had received a very positive feedback from Stuart Paterson about her conference, and he wanted to thank her. Then he told her he had a new assignment for her.
"Yesterday, I received a request from Washington." he started. "They need a little help on a multiple murder case. It seems their main suspect happened to live in New York for a few years. They asked me for a background investigation. You know ... the classical stuff ... the places he lived in, interviews of the neighbors, try to locate the persons that knew him here ... I thought it might interest you. Change you from paper work ... Clarice smiled. "Yes. Thank you, sir."
He gave her the file and all the information Washington had sent him and she left the office.
Clarice had spent the whole day in the streets of New York, gathering information about Luke Stadtler, the suspect the Washington office had for a so far unresolved triple murder. She had only come back to office to write her report. She read it again and mailed it to Farrow.
It was already half past eight. She was no more used to intense activity and was starting to feel a bit tired. There was nothing more she could do now anyway. She took her bag and headed towards the exit.
The cold wind outside made her chill. She put her hands in her coat pockets, bent her head and started her ten minutes walk to her apartment. She had not even reached the corner of the building when she bumped into someone. She raised her face. "I'm sorry, I ..." she started, but she froze when she realized who she was talking to. The young student that had called her special agent Starling the day before was standing in front of her.
" - Good morning, agent Starling." he said softly. "I'm sorry to have startled you." As Clarice remained speechless, he continued. "Do you recognize me ?
- I sure do. But what are you doing here ? Who the hell are you ?
- My name is Jason Mc Namara. In fact ... I have been waiting for you. I would like to talk to you about something and was wondering if you would accept giving me a little bit of your time."
Clarice calmed down a bit. After all, he was only a student ...
" - What is it about ?
- Well ... It is not just a thirty seconds thing. I thought we might talk in a place a little bit more comfortable. There is a nice little italian restaurant two blocks away. Would you let me invite you for dinner ?"
Clarice looked at him, undecided.
" - I know this sounds unusual, agent Starling. But I can assure you there is no trap and I have no bad intentions. We would just have dinner. And then if you don't want to see me again, I will just disappear.
- Italian restaurant, um ?
- Yes. They cook the best Spaghetti Alle Vongole I've ever eaten.
- I have no idea what this is, but I'll give it a try."
The young man smiled and once again Clarice had this feeling of 'déja-vu'. "Thank you very much, agent Starling." He showed her the way and they started walking towards the restaurant. They both remained silent.
Though it was only two minutes from her office, Clarice had never heard of this restaurant before. From the outside, the place did not really look like much. She was not sure she would have noticed it was a restaurant if she had just passed in front of it. The inside instead was a very nice surprise. It was not big but very cozy and decorated with taste.
Her companion talked briefly with the waiter and they were led to a table in the corner, a little bit isolated from the rest of the room. Apparently, the young man had come here before and what he had to tell her required privacy. He held the chair for Clarice and then went to sit in front of her. "Would you like to have a drink before we start ?" he asked. As Clarice answered positively, he ordered a whiskey for her and a soda for him.
" - How do you know what I'm drinking ?" she asked.
" - I've been well informed." he answered mischievously.
" - I see. And may I ask who your informers were ?
- I will come to that ... later if you don't mind."
The waiter brought their glasses and the menu. "Would you trust me for the meal ?" Mc Namara asked. She nodded. He turned to the waiter and started to talk to him in what sounded to Clarice as fluent Italian. She had no idea what she was about to eat. While he was ordering, she had a better look at him. He was not very tall, but rather athletic. To say the less, he was very attractive and was probably breaking a lot of young hearts. But what was the most striking were his eyes ... Or rather his look, the intensity with which he was looking at people. He was wearing a dark blue suit which seemed to have been tailored for him, a white shirt and a blue tie with thin maroon stripes. Pretty elegant for a man his age !
Clarice waited for the waiter to leave the table and asked him: "Are you trying to impress me, Mr. Mc Namara ?". The young man did not seem to understand what she meant and tilted his head on the left. Clarice' s heart skipped a few beats. She was now almost certain she had met him before. The expression on his face ... his manners ... But where ? She would for sure find out soon.
" - The Italian, I mean.
- Oh ! I'm sorry. I did not want to look pedant. Just an habit. But please call me Jason.
- So, will you tell me now what this is all about, Jason ? I don't think you have come to me to discuss your possible career in the FBI, have you ?"
Jason chuckled.
" - Not really. Honestly, I don't seriously think of joining the FBI.
- Besides, you look a little bit too young to be at university. How old are you ? Eighteen ?
- Sixteen. I will be seventeen next month. But I actually am slightly in advance. It's my first year at university. I'm studying literature. But the reason I was there yesterday was just to see you.
- See me ? Why would that be ?"
Clarice was getting very intrigued now. Jason took some time before he answered, as if he was choosing his words.
" - Just to make myself an opinion. You see, I have heard a lot about you. But what I have to tell you is rather personal and very important for me and I wanted to make sure I could trust you.
- Just by attending a conference ?
- People say I have a gift for people.
- So, what is this important thing you want to tell me ? Or would 'ask me' be more appropriate ?
- It would."
The waiter came back to their table to bring the first course. They instinctively interrupted their conversation until he had left again.
" - Bon appetit." Jason said.
" - Bon appetit. What is it ?
- Spaghetti Alle Vongole ... Pasta with clams and seafood.
- And this is the first course ?
- Yes. Italian tradition. First course is pasta or risotto, that is rice. And second course is meat or fish."
They started to eat. It was delicious. And the wine he had chosen certainly measured up with the food. Jason saw appreciation on Clarice' s face and smiled to her. After a few minutes, he unexpectedly broke the silence: "My father has been kidnapped." he simply said. Clarice raised her face and stared at him in disbelief. Till now, they had just went on with very light conversation, and now this short and dramatic sentence ... There had not been an ounce of stress in the young man' s voice.
"What ?" she said. She had spoken loudly and some of the other customers were glancing at them. Jason looked at her, embarrassed.
" - What do you mean by 'kidnapped' ?" she asked lowering her tone.
" - I mean exactly what people usually mean with this word: somebody took him away and asked for a ransom."
She stared at him, trying to understand if he was just kidding. But he looked very serious.
" - Jason, I'm really sorry about what happened to your father ... really, I did not expect that, but ... What has it got to do with me ?
- ... I am here to ask you to help me find him, and free him of course.
- Jason, I don't know what people told you about me ... and I do understand you want to do something for your father, but ... I don't see how I could help you."
Jason' s eyes became darker. For the first time in the evening, Clarice saw a true emotion on the young man' s face. And this was very much looking like pain.
" - Jason, I'm sorry. Really I am ... What did the police tell you ?
- I did not go to the police.
- Jason, you have to. I suppose the kidnappers have threatened the life of your father in case you contact the police, but you have to go to them anyway. Only they can help you ...
- It is not that. I just ... cannot go to the police. It is simply impossible.
- But why ?
- Because of who my father is."
Jason bent his head and looked down at the table. He was mechanically playing with his fork. Clarice was really puzzled now.
" - Jason, what is it with your father ? Who is he ? Is he somebody I should have heard about ?
- Maybe you would understand better if I tell you the whole story.
- Sure. Please ..."
He put his fork back on the table and again looked at her straight in the eyes.
" - My parents are ... Well, they never got married. I came here to spend some holidays with my father. He was supposed to wait for me at the airport but he was not there.
- When was this ?
- Two days ago. I arrived on Tuesday, at 2:15 pm. I did not really worry then. My father is a little bit ... particular. And ... well, it is not unusual that he changes his plans at the last minute. So, I took a cab. But when I arrived at his place, the house was empty. The daily newspaper was on the kitchen table though. So I assumed he had been there in the morning. I waited for a while, unpacked my things ... But after a couple of hours I started to worry.
- But if your father is used to changing his plans ...
- He would have called me. He knew I would be home. He would have called me there. So I started to have a deeper look in the house, to try to understand. I went to his study. And on the top of his desk I found an envelope. It had been put in evidence and my name was written on it."
They were interrupted by the waiter coming with the second course. Clarice was no more interested in what was in her plate. All she wanted was to know the rest of the story.
" - What was in the envelope, Jason ?
- Two sheets of papers. The first one was an anonymous letter. You know ... the one they make cutting letters in magazines.
- What did it say ?
- 'Dear Mr. Mc Namara Jr., We have your father. But we are ready to give him back to you if you hand us 4 million dollars. We give you one week to gather the money. We will contact you again.' That's what it said. Pretty explicit.
- Not really original, I would say. But it means they knew you were arriving on that very day. This is already a clue ... Is your father that rich ?" she asked. "I mean, does he really have 4 million dollars ?
- He is, yes. He's got much more than that."
Clarice thought for a moment. "You said there were two sheets of papers in the envelope. What was the second one ?" she finally said. Jason looked as if he was hesitating to answer her question. As he did not talk, she went on:
" - Is it linked to the reason why you could not go to the police ?
- Yes. In a way.
- Jason, you have come here to speak with me. To ask for my help. Why do you hesitate now ?
- It's just ... It's difficult. I was raised with the principle I should never talk to anybody about these things ... but now ... Nobody else must ever know about this ...
- Why did you come to me ?
- My father once told me you were someone who could be trusted. He does not say that about many people, you know.
- Do I know him ?"
Jason seemed to hesitate again for a few seconds. But then he put his hand to the internal pocket of his jacket and took a white sheet of paper from it. He handed it to Clarice. She took it. Before she unfolded it she said: "You can trust me, Jason. I won't tell anybody. Not without your agreement, I mean." He nodded.
She carefully unfolded the paper and finally looked at it.
Her face suddenly became as pale as chalk. Her heart started running inside her chest. Her breathing accelerated. She would have recognized this handwriting out of a million one. On the little piece of paper that was now trembling in her hands where the delicate writing of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
She looked at Jason in disbelief. He was staring at her, biting his lip, visibly anxious for her reaction. She opened her mouth but no sound came out of it. "Yes" Jason answered her previous question. "You know my father." It took Clarice a few more seconds to regain enough composure to be able to speak.
" - You are the son of ...
- A former renowned psychiatrist you met about ten years ago." he interrupted her quickly. She had a look around.
She finally looked back to the paper and read its content:
" Jason,
Unfortunately what you have read is true.
These gentlemen look very serious. So, do as they tell you, and we will see each other again soon.
Your loving father. "
Jason was the first one to speak.
" - I'm sure you now understand why I could not go to the police, agent Starling." She raised an eyebrow. "Yes. You do.
- How can you be ...
- I will answer all your questions. I promise. But maybe here is not the right place.
- You're right." Clarice said, thinking of the way her life would go like if she was found dining with the son of Hannibal Lecter. "I live ten minutes from here. We would be more ... comfortable at my apartment.
- Thank you. I think we should eat now. Or the fish will get cold."
Clarice could not help admiring his calm. She nodded and started to eat. They finished their meal in silence. They did not order a desert and Jason asked for the bill. She observed him as he was paying and complimenting the waiter for the dinner. Everything was getting clear now. This feeling he looked so familiar to her ... his style, his manners ... his eyes. He was not an exact copy of his father, but was resembling him enough to have provoked this disturbing sensation in her.
They left the restaurant. The wind had weakened and it was less cold now.
" - This way." she indicated.
" - I know.
- ... Of course you do."
They walked in silence to Clarice' s apartment.
Clarice opened the door and let him in first. She dropped her bag on the floor and hanged both their coats.
" - I need a drink." she said. "Would you like something ?
- I would not like to ask for too much but ... I could use a coffee. I did not sleep much in the last two days.
- I can understand that."
He followed her to the kitchen. She took care of his coffee and helped herself a glass of whiskey. Then they sat at the table.
" - Shoot." he said.
" - I still can't believe it. The son of Hannibal Lecter. I could never have imagined he had children.
- It's only me really. I don't have sisters or brothers. So, you should not have any other bad surprise.
- Umh. But how could you be his son ? I mean, you told me you were sixteen years old. But sixteen years ago, Hannibal Lecter was ...
- Locked in Baltimore. Yes.
- Then ?
- One of the orderly, at the asylum, owed him a favor.
- Barney ?" she asked, even though she was sure it could only be him.
" - Yes. Barney. It was in the first years of his incarceration. He was not yet in ... I think you call it 'The Dungeon' ?" She nodded. "To pay his debt, Barney arranged a few nights in pleasant company for my father.
- Pleasant company ?
- Prostitutes. He made them enter when everybody else was sleeping and let them out before the day staff arrived. He did it three or four times only from what I know. One of these lady was my mother.
- I see.
- Yes. I am the son of a bitch and a Cannibal. Pretty interesting heredity, don't you think, agent Starling ?
- Phrased like that ... I think you can call me Clarice now. What happened then ?
- When she discovered she was pregnant, my mother went back to Barney, who told my father.
- But how could she be sure ...
- Who my father was ? For sure these kind of things are not easy with the kind of job my mother had. But she was very cautious. She usually protected herself. Barney was supposed to take care of the condoms. But he forgot them. My mother hesitated but he was paying four times the normal price and she needed the money. So she accepted in the end."
Clarice could not help but smile.
" - This is incredible." she said.
" - I know. I should never have been born. Not from these two at least. But sometimes destiny ... My father demanded blood tests anyway. When he was sure I was his son, he arranged for my mother not to have to bother about money ever again. Later, I knew he was having news regularly, through Barney.
- But did you know who it was ?
- Not at the beginning. My mother had told me my father was traveling. But then he escaped and he got in touch with her. It took him about six months to arrange something, but I finally met him.
- How old were you ?
- Six years old.
- And he told you who he was ?"
Jason laughed loudly. Clarice' s cheeks reddened a bit.
" - Not then. I was much too young. I mean ... he told me he was my father, but not that he was the infamous Hannibal Lecter. I was twelve years old when he finally told me the whole story.
- You mean you were living with him ?
- No. I have always been living with my mother. It was much safer. But I saw him regularly. In the last ten years, we've never been separated more then two months. Either he came to see us, or I took the plane to Florence.
- How did you react when he told you who he was ?"
Jason did not answer immediately. Clarice suddenly realized that all this might not be exactly as easy as it seems for him. After all, even if he was definitely more mature than most kids his age, he was only sixteen, had lived a very particular life, and his father had been kidnapped. And she was pushing on him with her stupid questions.
" - I'm sorry, Jason. You don't have to answer that. I think ...
- There's no problem, Clarice. I was just looking for the best way to make you understand. It's not easy to explain ... He is my father, you see. I know what he has done. I don't approve of it, of course. But he is my father ... and a good father as well. He's always been there for me. Even when he was not physically present, he gave me more than most of my friends got from their old man. He could have left, you know. He could have paid my mother and disappear. It would have been easy. You, better than anyone else, know that when he does not want to be found ...
- Yes, I know.
- Yet he did not walk away from me. Maybe it's not that complicated to say: I love him, that's all. Despite what he is. As I love my mother, even if she was a prostitute. I know ... I don't expect people to understand.
- I think I do.
- Yes. Maybe you can. I have a very unusual family. But it's my family."
Jason' s face had suddenly darkened again. Clarice put her hand on his arm.
" - I can understand that, Jason.
- I don't want to loose him.
- He is certainly the most resourceful person I know.
...
- Will you help me ?"
For the first time since she had met him, Jason looked vulnerable and about to loose the control on his emotions. Clarice was beginning to like him. But what he was asking her was not so simple. Hannibal Lecter was still a wanted criminal and she was still an FBI agent. Even if that did not mean the same thing to her it had meant one year before. Helping him going to the rescue of his father meant in a way betraying the Bureau, and thus renouncing to what she believed in.
So what ? Let Jason cope alone with the kidnappers ? Even if he seemed to have inherited the intelligence of his father, he had no experience in dealing with criminals. His chances of success were rather poor. And failure would probably mean the death of Lecter. For the first time in months, the image of Hannibal Lecter in Krendler' s lake house came back to her. Going to his rescue would not be a first for her. And he had saved her life too at Muskrat farm. No matter how much she had wanted to catch him and put him back behind bars, she had never wanted his death.
Jason's look was locked on her. So, she thought, it would be saving the lambs again ...
" - Can you gather the money for the ransom ?" she asked the young man.
" - Not in one week. The maximum I could get would be around 200 000 $. My father's got the money. But I cannot access it. His accounting system is a bit complicated, as you can imagine.
- But if he came to disappear, what would become of his money ?
- He has made some arrangements for me. He has a weekly phone call with a man he trusts. If he misses three consecutive appointments, this person will contact me and give me all the keys ... That is, will transfer the money to me and give me all necessary information. Basically, I could gather four million dollars, but in a month or so.
- I see.
...
- Of course my father knows that. So, when he asked me to do whatever the men tell me in his letter, he knew I could not ...
- Have you tried to think of what he meant, of what he wants you to do.
- Yes."
Jason bent his head.
" - And ?" Clarice asked as he was not going on.
" - He wants me to escape and give up on him. The note is a farewell letter.
- How would you know ?
- The signature ... 'Your loving father' ... It is difficult to explain, but I know he would never have written this if he thought we would see each other again.
- I can hardly imagine a Lecter 'give up' ! Your father should have known that."
Jason smiled. "All I know" he added "is that the last thing he wanted me to do was to contact you. I know him, and he'd rather loose his life than his freedom." Clarice remained silent for a moment, then answered:
" - OK. The kidnappers should contact you on Tuesday. We are on Thursday now. Tomorrow, I have to be in office. I can't avoid it. That means we have three days to find him.
- Does that mean you're gonna help me ?
- ... Yes. What I will do after, I have no idea. But the priority is to get your father out of there.
- Thank you, Clarice.
- I need to see the place, Jason. See if there is anything I can use to reach them.
- I can drive you there.
- Good. Then pick me up at my apartment tomorrow at 7:00 pm, OK ?
- I'll be there." He handed her a little card. "Meantime, this is my cell phone number. Just in case you need to contact me tomorrow."
She took the card. There was no name on it, just a number.
Jason looked exhausted. Clarice offered him to spend the night on her sofa, but he refused the invitation. "I think I've already used too much of your kindness tonight. I'll let you rest now."
She accompanied him to the door. "Try to get some sleep." she said. "You're gonna need all the energy you can." He nodded and took her hand in his. "Thank you, Clarice, Thank you. I know now that my father was right about you."
He left without giving her the time to answer.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. Reviews are as usual MOST welcome ...
Absolut.