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 4
As she was approaching her apartment, Clarice saw Jason come out of an old gray van. He waited for her to reach the building.
" - Good evening, Clarice.
- Good evening. Sorry for being so late, but my boss called me in his office. Have you been waiting long ?
- It's not a problem. Can I take your bag ?
- Yes. This is just material I could need. I've packed a few personal things this morning. I just have to pick up my bag upstairs. I won't be a minute.
- Take your time. I'll wait for you here."
He took the big sports bag Clarice had been carrying and put it in the back of the van. Then he went to sit back in the driver' s seat. About a minute later Clarice joined him. He started the car without a word and entered the traffic. They remained silent for a while, then Clarice asked:
" - Anything new since yesterday ?
- No. I have searched again the house but did not find anything interesting.
- Is it far from New York ?
- About twenty miles. But with the Friday night traffic it may take us one hour or so."
Jason did not feel very talkative tonight. Unlike Clarice ... "You're worried, aren't you ?" she asked. He glanced at her and saw real concern in her eyes. In a strange way, seeing someone else was as preoccupied as he was reassured him. He gave her a smile.
" - Yes, I am. What kills me is not being able to do anything. I spent the whole day turning around in the house like a lion in its cage. I hoped I might found the coordinates of the man who holds my father' s money, but even in that I failed.
- I know what you mean. I was feeling the same when I was trying to locate your father !" Clarice' s last remark made him laugh. "Good." she said. "I prefer you this way. You're pretty handsome when you laugh.
- Thanks.
- You're welcome. Jason, the situation is not really positive right now. I cannot promise you we can get your father out of all this. That would not be fair. But I can swear you we're gonna try everything that's possible, OK ?
- All right.
- And I'm gonna need your help on this. So I want you to concentrate on the objective and forget about how the whole story could end. One thing at a time. I realize that what I'm asking you is not easy, but we will be more efficient if we leave emotions aside. Do you understand me ?
- Perfectly. And you can count on me.
- Good."
Clarice stretched her legs in the car and made her comfortable for the journey. Jason seemed to relax a bit. They were not talking much but the silence was not heavy. Yet, after a while, Clarice couldn't help saying:
" - I can't believe Hannibal Lecter is living only twenty miles from me ! This is crazy. We've been looking for him all over the world and he was just next door.
- He once told me that sometimes the most obvious hiding places are also the safest.
- Yeah. I suppose it makes sense.
- Can I ask you something ?
- Sure !
- Are you still looking for him ? I mean ... are you still in a way or another related to the case ?"
Clarice thought for a moment. She had always considered Hannibal Lecter as her case. Even after she had been reassigned. The FBI would probably disagree on this. Though she was not hundred percent sure the Bureau would not call on her if Lecter were to reappear. After all, she was the only living agent who knew him. And she had understood now that they would not hesitate using her if it meant obtaining a result.
" - Not officially." she finally answered. "But it is the duty of any FBI agent to do whatever he can to stop a criminal, even if he is not assigned to the case.
- It's actually a little bit the duty of any citizen, isn't it ?
- Right."
Jason had been optimistic and it was past ten when they finally arrived at Lecter' s house. Mansion would have been more appropriate, Clarice thought. If not castle.
Jason stopped the van in front of a large gate made of wrought iron and opened it with a little remote control. The gate automatically closed behind them, and they drove for another mile before he parked in front of the house itself. It was a two-story elizabethan construction which looked big enough to accommodate five or six complete families. They both stepped out of the car and Jason took her bags.
"Wow !" she said. "I guess my salary wouldn't be enough to pay for the heating of this thing." He smiled and preceded her to the front door. He unlocked it and let her enter first. If the outside was impressive, it was nothing as compared to the inside. She was not an expert in decoration, but she could tell when someone had taste ... and money. And yet, it did not look like a museum. The house had a soul. And one she could recognize. It looked so much like what she had imagined Hannibal Lecter in that it made her chill. Jason' s voice brought her back to reality.
" - Do you want something to drink ?" he asked, beginning to know her habits.
" - Not now, thanks. We don't have so much time. I think I'd rather start to work now.
- All right. What do you want to start with ?
- Where did you find the letters ?"
He led her to his father' s study. "Here, on the desk." he said. Clarice opened her bag and started to unpack her tools.
" - This is a copy of your father' s file at the FBI. His fingerprints are inside. I have to take yours too, to eliminate doubts.
- OK.
- Do you know if other people may have come to this room ?
- I don't think so. He's rather protective with his privacy. This study is a little bit his private garden. He does not even let the housemaid clean it.
- The housemaid ?
- Yes. Mrs. Archamber. She comes twice a week. The rest of the house is probably full of her prints, but not this room.
- Are there other servants ?
- Mrs. Archamber' s husband, John. He takes care of the garden.
- But they don't live here ?
- No. They live in Ashburg, the nearest village. It's about four miles from here.
- Do you know when was the last time they came ?
- They usually come on Mondays and Thursdays. But I called them yesterday and told them not to come. So last time was last Monday.
- Good. Let's start now."
Clarice took the young man' s fingerprints and then started to pulverize a white powder on the furniture. Jason was standing in a corner of the room and watching her. "Can I help you with anything ?" he asked. As clarice answered negatively he added: "Then I'm gonna cook our dinner. You must start being hungry." And he left.
One hour later, Clarice had joined Jason and they were having a late dinner. She had not found anything conclusive in Dr. Lecter' s study. Not that she had expected to find something, really. But she could not help feeling a little bit disappointed. And so did definitely look Jason too.
" - Um ... That's good." Clarice said as soon as she had tried the food. "What is it ?
- Truite aux amandes, trout with almonds ... French recipe.
- I guess your father taught you cooking, am I right ?"
Jason smiled but did not answer. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes. When Clarice rose her face, she saw he was staring at her. His blue eyes had darkened and looked almost black.
" - What are we going to do now ?" he asked.
" - It's too late and too dark to go on with direct investigations now. But there are a few things I want to check before going to sleep. I did not know if you had a computer, so I brought mine. I think I'm gonna connect after dinner.
- What kind of things ?
- Well ... Local and state police first. To see if anything unusual was registered in the area during the last days. Then rental cars and rental houses ... I'd like to have a list of newcomers.
- Do you really think they rented a car ?
- I doubt it, but who knows ... Instead, they have to have a place where to keep their hostage. Most likely something a little bit remote.
- In the area ?
- Most probably ... My feeling is that they prepared the whole thing. Your father is not the kind of person to be easily surprised. I think they have observed him for some time, watch his habits, before they finally broke in. Much easier to do if you're not far.
- And you can find this kind of information on the web ?
- Not all. But if they rented a house regularly, it should have been registered. You'd be surprised by the number of information you can gather on the net, having the proper authorizations.
- Can I help you ?"
Clarice thought for a moment.
" - I saw he has a laptop on his desk. Do you know his password ?
- Yes, I do.
- Then you can try to see if there's anything in it. Start with his mailbox. See if he wrote some notes about anything out of the ordinary.
- That is ...
- Jason ! I know this can seem ... indelicate. But I'm sure your father will not mind, given the circumstances.
- You're right.
- Did he bought your plane ticket or did you do it yourself ?
- He did.
- Do you know how ?
- No idea.
- Then check also in the history of his web browser. Go to the last sites he visited. See if there was any travel booking site. Someway the kidnappers knew you were coming. I doubt your father told them. This could be one lead.
- OK. And then ?
- Then ... Tomorrow we will inspect the outside of the house. I'd like to talk with the Archamber too. How long have they been working for him ?
- Four or five years.
- Anything particular about them ?
- Nothing that I know of.
- OK. We'll see."
After they had finished their dinner, they both switched on their respective computers and started to work. They did not talk much, each of them concentrated on his task. Jason did not find anything interesting, except that he tracked down the purchase of his plane ticket. It had been bought via mail from a local travel agency. They would go and visit the place in the next day.
Clarice had established a few lists on which they could start working. She was confident they would finally found the kidnappers. The only issue was time. Would they be able to do this fast enough to save Hannibal Lecter ?
The had not seen time going by and it was past 3:00 am when they finally decided to go to bed. Jason led her upstairs to the guest room he had prepared for her. More than preoccupied, the young man looked sad.
" - Jason, what is it ?" she asked softly. He looked at her.
" - Nothing.
- I know it's not nothing. Tell me.
- ... It's just ... It's just that ... looking into my father's file ... I just found out what he plans to offer me for my birthday. I'd always wanted to visit Greece and ... It will be the first real journey we do together. That is ... If he makes it till then ..."
Clarice put her hands on his cheek and wiped out the tear that was forming at the corner of his eye. "We'll find him, Jason. I promise I'll do anything I can for that." she said.. He gently kissed the palm of her hand and wished her goodnight.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. Reviews are as usual MOST welcome ...
Absolut.
Chapter 4
As she was approaching her apartment, Clarice saw Jason come out of an old gray van. He waited for her to reach the building.
" - Good evening, Clarice.
- Good evening. Sorry for being so late, but my boss called me in his office. Have you been waiting long ?
- It's not a problem. Can I take your bag ?
- Yes. This is just material I could need. I've packed a few personal things this morning. I just have to pick up my bag upstairs. I won't be a minute.
- Take your time. I'll wait for you here."
He took the big sports bag Clarice had been carrying and put it in the back of the van. Then he went to sit back in the driver' s seat. About a minute later Clarice joined him. He started the car without a word and entered the traffic. They remained silent for a while, then Clarice asked:
" - Anything new since yesterday ?
- No. I have searched again the house but did not find anything interesting.
- Is it far from New York ?
- About twenty miles. But with the Friday night traffic it may take us one hour or so."
Jason did not feel very talkative tonight. Unlike Clarice ... "You're worried, aren't you ?" she asked. He glanced at her and saw real concern in her eyes. In a strange way, seeing someone else was as preoccupied as he was reassured him. He gave her a smile.
" - Yes, I am. What kills me is not being able to do anything. I spent the whole day turning around in the house like a lion in its cage. I hoped I might found the coordinates of the man who holds my father' s money, but even in that I failed.
- I know what you mean. I was feeling the same when I was trying to locate your father !" Clarice' s last remark made him laugh. "Good." she said. "I prefer you this way. You're pretty handsome when you laugh.
- Thanks.
- You're welcome. Jason, the situation is not really positive right now. I cannot promise you we can get your father out of all this. That would not be fair. But I can swear you we're gonna try everything that's possible, OK ?
- All right.
- And I'm gonna need your help on this. So I want you to concentrate on the objective and forget about how the whole story could end. One thing at a time. I realize that what I'm asking you is not easy, but we will be more efficient if we leave emotions aside. Do you understand me ?
- Perfectly. And you can count on me.
- Good."
Clarice stretched her legs in the car and made her comfortable for the journey. Jason seemed to relax a bit. They were not talking much but the silence was not heavy. Yet, after a while, Clarice couldn't help saying:
" - I can't believe Hannibal Lecter is living only twenty miles from me ! This is crazy. We've been looking for him all over the world and he was just next door.
- He once told me that sometimes the most obvious hiding places are also the safest.
- Yeah. I suppose it makes sense.
- Can I ask you something ?
- Sure !
- Are you still looking for him ? I mean ... are you still in a way or another related to the case ?"
Clarice thought for a moment. She had always considered Hannibal Lecter as her case. Even after she had been reassigned. The FBI would probably disagree on this. Though she was not hundred percent sure the Bureau would not call on her if Lecter were to reappear. After all, she was the only living agent who knew him. And she had understood now that they would not hesitate using her if it meant obtaining a result.
" - Not officially." she finally answered. "But it is the duty of any FBI agent to do whatever he can to stop a criminal, even if he is not assigned to the case.
- It's actually a little bit the duty of any citizen, isn't it ?
- Right."
Jason had been optimistic and it was past ten when they finally arrived at Lecter' s house. Mansion would have been more appropriate, Clarice thought. If not castle.
Jason stopped the van in front of a large gate made of wrought iron and opened it with a little remote control. The gate automatically closed behind them, and they drove for another mile before he parked in front of the house itself. It was a two-story elizabethan construction which looked big enough to accommodate five or six complete families. They both stepped out of the car and Jason took her bags.
"Wow !" she said. "I guess my salary wouldn't be enough to pay for the heating of this thing." He smiled and preceded her to the front door. He unlocked it and let her enter first. If the outside was impressive, it was nothing as compared to the inside. She was not an expert in decoration, but she could tell when someone had taste ... and money. And yet, it did not look like a museum. The house had a soul. And one she could recognize. It looked so much like what she had imagined Hannibal Lecter in that it made her chill. Jason' s voice brought her back to reality.
" - Do you want something to drink ?" he asked, beginning to know her habits.
" - Not now, thanks. We don't have so much time. I think I'd rather start to work now.
- All right. What do you want to start with ?
- Where did you find the letters ?"
He led her to his father' s study. "Here, on the desk." he said. Clarice opened her bag and started to unpack her tools.
" - This is a copy of your father' s file at the FBI. His fingerprints are inside. I have to take yours too, to eliminate doubts.
- OK.
- Do you know if other people may have come to this room ?
- I don't think so. He's rather protective with his privacy. This study is a little bit his private garden. He does not even let the housemaid clean it.
- The housemaid ?
- Yes. Mrs. Archamber. She comes twice a week. The rest of the house is probably full of her prints, but not this room.
- Are there other servants ?
- Mrs. Archamber' s husband, John. He takes care of the garden.
- But they don't live here ?
- No. They live in Ashburg, the nearest village. It's about four miles from here.
- Do you know when was the last time they came ?
- They usually come on Mondays and Thursdays. But I called them yesterday and told them not to come. So last time was last Monday.
- Good. Let's start now."
Clarice took the young man' s fingerprints and then started to pulverize a white powder on the furniture. Jason was standing in a corner of the room and watching her. "Can I help you with anything ?" he asked. As clarice answered negatively he added: "Then I'm gonna cook our dinner. You must start being hungry." And he left.
One hour later, Clarice had joined Jason and they were having a late dinner. She had not found anything conclusive in Dr. Lecter' s study. Not that she had expected to find something, really. But she could not help feeling a little bit disappointed. And so did definitely look Jason too.
" - Um ... That's good." Clarice said as soon as she had tried the food. "What is it ?
- Truite aux amandes, trout with almonds ... French recipe.
- I guess your father taught you cooking, am I right ?"
Jason smiled but did not answer. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes. When Clarice rose her face, she saw he was staring at her. His blue eyes had darkened and looked almost black.
" - What are we going to do now ?" he asked.
" - It's too late and too dark to go on with direct investigations now. But there are a few things I want to check before going to sleep. I did not know if you had a computer, so I brought mine. I think I'm gonna connect after dinner.
- What kind of things ?
- Well ... Local and state police first. To see if anything unusual was registered in the area during the last days. Then rental cars and rental houses ... I'd like to have a list of newcomers.
- Do you really think they rented a car ?
- I doubt it, but who knows ... Instead, they have to have a place where to keep their hostage. Most likely something a little bit remote.
- In the area ?
- Most probably ... My feeling is that they prepared the whole thing. Your father is not the kind of person to be easily surprised. I think they have observed him for some time, watch his habits, before they finally broke in. Much easier to do if you're not far.
- And you can find this kind of information on the web ?
- Not all. But if they rented a house regularly, it should have been registered. You'd be surprised by the number of information you can gather on the net, having the proper authorizations.
- Can I help you ?"
Clarice thought for a moment.
" - I saw he has a laptop on his desk. Do you know his password ?
- Yes, I do.
- Then you can try to see if there's anything in it. Start with his mailbox. See if he wrote some notes about anything out of the ordinary.
- That is ...
- Jason ! I know this can seem ... indelicate. But I'm sure your father will not mind, given the circumstances.
- You're right.
- Did he bought your plane ticket or did you do it yourself ?
- He did.
- Do you know how ?
- No idea.
- Then check also in the history of his web browser. Go to the last sites he visited. See if there was any travel booking site. Someway the kidnappers knew you were coming. I doubt your father told them. This could be one lead.
- OK. And then ?
- Then ... Tomorrow we will inspect the outside of the house. I'd like to talk with the Archamber too. How long have they been working for him ?
- Four or five years.
- Anything particular about them ?
- Nothing that I know of.
- OK. We'll see."
After they had finished their dinner, they both switched on their respective computers and started to work. They did not talk much, each of them concentrated on his task. Jason did not find anything interesting, except that he tracked down the purchase of his plane ticket. It had been bought via mail from a local travel agency. They would go and visit the place in the next day.
Clarice had established a few lists on which they could start working. She was confident they would finally found the kidnappers. The only issue was time. Would they be able to do this fast enough to save Hannibal Lecter ?
The had not seen time going by and it was past 3:00 am when they finally decided to go to bed. Jason led her upstairs to the guest room he had prepared for her. More than preoccupied, the young man looked sad.
" - Jason, what is it ?" she asked softly. He looked at her.
" - Nothing.
- I know it's not nothing. Tell me.
- ... It's just ... It's just that ... looking into my father's file ... I just found out what he plans to offer me for my birthday. I'd always wanted to visit Greece and ... It will be the first real journey we do together. That is ... If he makes it till then ..."
Clarice put her hands on his cheek and wiped out the tear that was forming at the corner of his eye. "We'll find him, Jason. I promise I'll do anything I can for that." she said.. He gently kissed the palm of her hand and wished her goodnight.
To be continued ... Thanks for reading. Reviews are as usual MOST welcome ...
Absolut.