The Characters belong to T. Harris. All other disclaimer apply.
To the kind reviewers of Chapter 3
Ducki, Saavik, Cstarling, Guber, Shifter, Marcus Aurelius, Christina, Shattered and Riva Knight.
Thanks Again for your support
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Exchanges IV
A Call from and Old Friend
The phone woke up Barney at 6AM.
"Good morning Barney" said the unforgettable voice.
"Dr. Lecter?" he was suddenly wide-awake.
"Barney, is a pleasure to hear your voice again" the Dr. went on undisturbed "it brings back many fond memories and reminds me how much I miss our conversations, even when I can't say I miss those particular surroundings".
His chuckle, after the last comment, would have easily curdled the blood of most. Barney, just smiled at the memory
"I miss them too, Dr. Lecter" he said, his voice thick with remembrance.
"Have you contacted our friend yet, Barney?" There was a barely disguised urgency in the Dr's voice.
"I apologize for my persistence, but I am looking forwards to the outcome of these arrangements"
"Last night" said Barney, "I called her last night. It was late, I'm going to bring the package to her house at eight o'clock this morning".
"How did she sound, Barney?" His voice remained controlled, but the depth of his interest was unmistakable "What did she say, when you told her the reason for your call?"
Barney was surprised at his uncharacteristic display of uncertainty.
"When she answered the phone she sounded like her usual, controlled self, but when I explained the reason for my call, she became, well …" Barney paused, trying to find the right word "chirpy, she suddenly sounded girlish".
"She actually said, she couldn't wait to get the package"
It was true, and Barney repressed an affectionate smile contemplating how the two seemed to behave equally out of character.
"Thank you, Barney" said the Dr. sounding pleased.
"I do hope we have a chance to meet again in the future, Barney. I know I would enjoy resuming our chats in a more comfortable setting this time."
"I would like that, Dr." responded Barney, accepting an invitation most men would have recoiled from in terror. "I would like that very much indeed, I often wished we could have such a meeting"
"And so we shall, Barney. I will see to it that we do," said the Dr. firmly.
Then he added
"I wont keep you now, thanks again for your help"
He was gone. Leaving Barney to remember and to ponder about the nature of cannibalism, the vague definitions of sanity, the multiple ways to categorize absurdity and the power of love.
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Clarice had been waiting with anticipation the arrival of her visitor. When the doorbell rang, she jumped from her chair, walked eagerly to the door and peeked out. Barney Jackson was standing outside the door, carrying a medium size package wrapped in plain brown paper.
He displayed his proverbial wide friendly smile and calm, relaxed stance
Clarice opened the door grinning ebulliently.
"Hello Barney" she greeted, almost chirping "please come in".
She closed the door after Barney and turned to face him
He couldn't help to notice she was animated and full of energy, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She looked younger and seemed as if she had shed the outer shell of reserve that had enclosed her Special Agent persona revealing a relaxed, eager young woman.
The change was becoming.
"Please make yourself comfortable" she said, gesturing invitingly towards one of the overstuffed chair.
"Can I offer you tea, coffee, maybe some breakfast?"
She was trying to offer a warm welcome while tuning down her eagerness to open the package.
The effort was touching. Barney appreciated it and his smile widened further.
"No, thank you, Agent Starling, I won't stay long"
"Like I mentioned on the phone" he continued, extending the package towards Starling, "Our common friend sent this package for you".
Clarice took the package and with both hands, and hugged it against her body, crossing both arms over it.
She smiled at him
"Thank you Barney", she said warmly, "this is extremely kind of you".
He sat in one of the chairs facing her.
"I still miss him Starling," he said evoking the days in the dungeon "Intellectually, he was an inspiration".
"Have you spoken to him Barney?" She sounded hopeful
"Yes", he responded slowly, "He called me this morning. Wanted to make sure I had reached you" he paused, and then added, "he sounded eager"
She smiled then, her eyes moist.
"He saved my life, you know?" She went on as if talking to herself "he could have left me to the pigs".
"Fat chance", muttered Barney. She gave him a curious look.
"Fat chance?" She repeated, as if urging him to explain
"Dr Lecter was smitten with you from the start, Starling. He was intrigued by your frankness and fascinated by your mind and your courage. Yes indeed! From the first time".
"He enjoyed talking about you, he seemed to perceive you as a fair match to his intellect and respected you for that. Never, in all the years I was there did he talk to another the way he talked to you."
"I should know", he concluded, "I was there".
Inside her head, she heard his voice in Memphis...."people will say we are in love".
Barney went on.
"When you asked me for his drawings saying you will take them to him in Memphis, well...I thought you might have some kind of feelings for him" his tone was relaxed and yet hesitant.
"I'm not sure just what kind of feelings I was hoping for"
He rubbed his face with his left hand, as if to remove his expression of bewilderment.
"I just don't know what I expected, I suppose I'm a hopeless romantic."
He smiled apologetically, feeling perhaps that he had said more than he should.
She came to the rescue with a confession of her own
"It took me more than 8 years to get to the bottom of it, Barney, but it seems as if I'm getting there"
"I submitted my resignation to the FBI a week or so ago", she declared .
Barney nodded, he wanted to leave her to herself so she could open the package.
"I'm going to leave now," he said, getting up
"I promised Dr. Lecter that I would assist you in anything you need. Please, Starling, don't hesitate to ask".
She walked him to the door, held both of his hands and thanked him for his help. Then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Without a word, she turned around and got back in the house.
She couldn't wait to open this package that contained the beginning of her future. Her fist step towards a new life; it felt both frightening and exhilarating.
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Please comment. I need your comments to motivate me. Truly.
Let me know if I should continue.
Thanks for reading.
Clariz
