I suppose the disclaimer is getting tedious by now. However gratitude to the faithful readers is not. Special thanks to Cristina, Marcus Aurelius, Ducki, Rivan Knight, Shelly YW, Shifter, Holly Greenfeld, dmc, Elize, ar-men 66, Shanna, and all the others who took the time to read this fiction.

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Exchanges XVI

Two Old Acquaintances

Clarice was amazed at how much planning lay ahead of them. Heck, she'd never been involved with wedding plans before. Hannibal , naturally, thrived with the planning and the anticipation of every detail. Lecter, the wedding director she chuckled.

During breakfast, Hannibal explained that he had diverted some funds to a small numbered account just for her, which she could utilize for major purchases as she needed. "Only a few hundred –thousand, in there, but for now will be fine."

He explained the numbers on a numbered account could be a selected code phrase as well, using the telephone keypad letter combinations. For her convenience he had selected one easy for her to memorize. He gave her the phone number of the banker as well. "The number of the account is: 1000 years," he said, and winked. "one, zero, zero, zero, nine, three, two, seven. That should be rather unforgettable" he commented.

"That's right," she laughed, "you'll never let me forget it. Not in a thousand years!."

It was turning into a family joke.

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Clarice surprised herself when she picked up the phone in the bedroom, called the Hotel Meurice and asked to be connected to Jack Crawford's room

"Pardon Madame" said the operator

"Jack Crawford" she repeated, carefully pronouncing every syllable.

"Mercy Madame," said the operator. A few seconds later the phone was ringing in Crawford's room.

She hung up at the first ring as if the phone burned her hand.

"He's still in Paris?", asked Hannibal pocking his head in the room

"Ah?, how did you know?…" she trailed off, "Dear God!, you know everything?"

"Dear Hannibal will do just fine," he said, giving her an overly innocent look.

She rolled her eyes, laughed and threw a pillow at him.

"He is still in Paris" she confirmed, verifying that her little box was still in her purse.

"I hope he is having some fun. Living every day as if it was his last," he smiled. "One never knows, does he?"

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Rachel DuBerry Rosencranz was a few years older than Dr Lecter. At time of their relationship, the socialite was considered a fashion icon, and her photos often appeared in Town and Country, Vogue and other fashion publications.

Sixteen years and two husbands had gone by, now, past middle age, she was still beautiful, elegant, and sophisticated. Married for years to the super wealthy Franz Rosencranz; she never truly accepted the existence of what she called the other side of Hannibal Lecter. He was ever present in her memory and in her heart, as the most splendid man she'd met .

In the inner sanctum of her most private thoughts, she had been happy when she heard of his escape, and from time to time wondered how he was, and hoped he was fine. Secretly, Rachel Rosencranz wished someday she'd get the chance to see him again socially, however briefly, in some unexpected meeting.

She was walking towards the diamond bracelets display in Cartier's when she heard the familiar voice. She stopped cold, momentarily frozen for just a split second; then turned around slowly. The man had his back to her, he was sleek and thin, and had the regal posture she remembered. He was accompanied by a gorgeous young woman, and they were clearly selecting wedding band.

"What a wonderful surprise!", exclaimed the former Rachel DuBarry in the low husky voice of the women of her era.

The man turned , she didn't recognize the face, but the maroon eyes bore into hers "Hello Rachel, it is indeed wonderful to have the opportunity to see you again" he smiled his most charming smile, which didn't seem to scare her.

She reached over to kiss his check , he returned the kiss, while she went on "You have no IDEA how happy am I to see you!, I often wondered where you might be, and hoped for a chance to see you again. How are you?"

"I'm well and a happy man Rachel," he turned to Clarice "This is my fiancé, whom you might recognize from her photos on the media" aside from Rachel's no names were mentioned, as if an unspoken agreement had been reached.

"Dear," he announce to Clarice, "meet Rachel Rosencranz, a most valued friend,"

"What a pleasure to meet you in person, you look much lovelier than in the photos" said Rosencranz, "no wonder my friend here is declaring himself a happy man". She offered her hand to Clarice. " Please call me Rachel"

Clarice remembered their phone conversation, month ago, when she was still a Special Agent searching for Hannibal. She smiled and shook the other woman's hand.

"Is wonderful to meet you," she said warmly, adding "you are, indeed, one of his true friends." not using names was getting tedious.

"An old acquaintance," Rachel reminded her chuckling " that is what you said on the phone" then, looking at the two of them exclaimed, "Oh, this is wonderful!. A real love story!." She smiled at the thought. "The newspapers had a field day speculating about the two of you!. At the time, I wished it was true, that you had a marvelous star crossed romance!"

She looked back at Clarice

"Lets see the ring." She urged

Clarice extended her hand and showed her ring.

"Magnificent!" she said, then, turning to Hannibal " where did you ever get hold it?"

"Christie's" he said, "it was auctioned in Hong Kong."

Rachel turned to Clarice. "Show me again, please. Such a marvelous ring!. I'm jealous. I had three husbands and neither had the taste or imagination to search for a unique piece such as this one."

"Are you having a formal wedding ?" asked Rosencranz, who seemed beyond surprise when it came to Hannibal, turning to Clarice "Did you pick your wedding gown yet?

Clarice chuckled, " He just proposed last night, but it seems we are having a formal wedding, small and intimate, naturally, but formal."

"I'd be happy to suggest a few bridal designers if you wish." suggested the older woman. "What kind of weeding gown do you have in mind"

"I want a simple but elegant dress that makes me feel sleek and pretty" said Clarice "I don't want to look like Little Bo Peep, or a Princess, or Sleeping Beauty. I don't want yards and yards of fabric trailing behind me either."

"I know just the designer" declared Rachel, who was still a fashion expert.

Turning to Hannibal, "Morning or evening?"

Hannibal had returned to the display case to finish the transaction with the salesman.

"Morning," he said, turning briefly

Rosencraz mentioned two designers, both in the Rue du Faubourg St-Honore, practically around corner.

Hannibal finished the wedding band transaction and handed the box over to Clarice who placed it in her handbag.

He turned around then "May escort you two ladies to lunch?"

"I would like to", responded Rosencranz, " but my day is totally structured, and I can't deviate much. Let me give you my private phone number, it bypasses my secretary. Maybe we can arrange to meet some time soon."

She handed him a card where she scribbled a phone number.

"We'll be in touch, Rachel," said Hannibal, and added, "I didn't even have time to tell you how wonderful you look!." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek

"A real treat meeting you in person, Rachel." Said Clarice, " I hope we meet again soon."

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The Rue de la Paix , and the adjacent streets were extremely crowded at lunch time as they made their way slowly toward from Cartier across Place Vendome towards the Rue St-Honore, the thick crowd made it difficult for them to stay together.

They were about thirty feet from the intersection when Dr. Lecter saw Jack Crawford coming straight at them. Crawford didn't see them until they were about twenty feet away and getting closer. Then he saw Clarice, who had turned towards Hannibal to make sure they were not completely separated by the crowd, in a second Crawford's eyes shifted following the direction of her look, his eyes met Hannibal's and he made the connection. Recognition clearly visible in his eyes.

In a flash, Hannibal remembered the way he dispatched the Gipsy pickpocketer in Florence. Clarice was now a few steps ahead of him, but Crawford was almost upon him, his eyes, fixed on Dr. Lecter were full of contempt. Hannibal bumped into him and moved on.

Clarice, still trying to avoid bumping into people, didn't notice anything unusual as they moved forward among the crowd, they both turned the corner and caught up with one another. Surrounded by the swarm of passerby's, the couple got farther and farther from the spot, around the corner, where Jack Crawford had fallen, his femoral artery perforated by the Harpy, a cut so fast and precise that the blade came out clean. Hannibal had also managed to lift his wallet with his free hand.

They walked more than two and a half blocks in the crowded Rue St-Honore, before the sirens of an ambulance were heard at a distance.

In Paris, where the traffic is one the most convoluted and dangerous in the world, ambulance sirens are just another street noise.

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OK folks, I hope you liked this one.

Let me know your thought and comments. Thanks for looking

Clariz