We all know what characters belong to T. Harris. I just borrowed them for fun, there is no financial profit involved.
I am aware that it took me longer than usual to upload this chapter, and for that, I apologize.
Thanks again, to all of you who took the time to review this fiction. I just hope you all enjoy it.
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Exchanges, Chapter XXII
Patching up the Wounds
Sal Maugeri pulled Hannibal aside, and
after exchanging a few words; the two approached his son in law and asked a
series of questions. Once seemingly satisfied with the answers, they moved away
from Delponte and walked towards the door whispering, conferred for a moment,
nodded in agreement and Sal left the room.
Hannibal Lecter turned, calmly walked
towards Clarice and winked genially; then lifted Rachel Rosencranz and placed
her on one of the several sofas in the huge livingroom. She was still
semiconscious while the doctor examined her briefly. Once satisfied with the
examination, he pulled Clarice aside and chuckling, commented lightly "Our
Rachel just fainted from the excitement, nothing serious. It's a good
thing she didn't attempt to attack Delponte, she might have scared
herself to death if she did."
"Where on earth do you suppose she got
that Harpy?" Clarice asked with a meaningful smile.
"The Harpy…" marveled Hannibal. "I gave
her that Harpy on a whim seventeen years ago. Even taught her how to use
it. It's rather astonishing that she kept it all these years."
"Not really," murmured Clarice, more to
herself than in answer to his comment.
"When she is fully conscious, please tell
her Sal has gone to see about her husband." Then as in second thought he
suggested, "It would be a good idea to find out what was the connection,
between Rachel and Delponte."
Without another word, he proceeded to his
next patient.
Luke Maugeri was sitting next to his
mother on the sofa where she and Clarice originally sat. Lucy was
applying pressure to the wound, in a successful effort to stop the bleeding.
"Luke, it's good to see you, even under
these unfortunate circumstances." said Dr. Lecter after kissing Lucy on the
cheek. "Seems just like old times, hmm?" he smiled affectionately at the
younger man. "How do you feel?"
"Good to see you too, Dr. Lecter..."
Answered the younger man with a grin. "I feel pretty good, actually."
"Very well, then; back at your parents
Villa, I have all the necessary supplies to take proper care of your wound in a
very satisfactory manner. I have morphine and scalpels, sutures, needles,
dressing packs, antibiotics, the whole works. What I suggest, if you permit me,
is that for now, we control the bleeding and cover up the wound. When we
get back to the Villa, I'll remove the bullet under anesthesia and patch you
up. What do you say?"
"Whatever you think is best is good for
me."
"Lucy, why don't I wash my hands and
start working?" the doctor said, looking around the room.
Lucy pointed him in the direction of the
nearest bathroom.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As she began to recover from her fainting
spell, Rachel Rosencranz felt ashamed and dismayed. She worried about her
husband health, as well as his reaction to the events that would come to light
. Rachel was deeply troubled, and in need of someone to help her sort
what appeared as a mêlée of insurmountable proportion.
She looked at Clarice, and reached for
her hand. Tried to talk but had difficulty speaking, which added to her sense
of helplessness. She had always been whimsical, but only once in her entire
life had been in a position that required a back bone. "Heck, I didn't even
put up a fight," she said to herself, pushing aside a number of regrets
that didn't belong in this conflict.
Clarice, anticipating her need to
communicate, whispered, "You'll be fine, Rachel, take a deep breath and tell me
how I can help."
"Paolo Delponti was blackmailing me for
years," Rosencranz panted, almost inaudibly. The few words seemed to
exhaust her and she leaned back on the sofa. Her eyes fell on Clarice's,
as if asking for emotional support. "Paolo stole some letters I wrote to
Hannibal while he was… detained." Two tears rolled
down her cheek; and Clarice felt sympathy for her predicament. "The
letters were of personal nature and rather emotional in content, they would
have caused Franz serious embarrassment if they were made public."
Rachel appeared more at ease as she went
on. "It was the content of the letters rather than the fact that they
were addressed to Hannibal what made them compromising, but one couldn't
underestimate the publicity value of Hannibal being the recipient."
Clarice patted her hand reassuringly,
"I'm sure that Hannibal will take care of this for you; he'll have no
difficulty getting the letters back from Paolo. Then, you will have a
chance to decide what to tell your husband."
Rachel was crying softly, her head still
leaned against the couch seemingly exhausted.
"Hannibal," Clarice said trying to
attract his attention.
He silently turned his head in her
direction and she gestured.
"I'll be there as soon as I finish." he
said, answering her unspoken request.
When Dr. Lecter finally approached them
he reached for Clarice's hand and looked at her inquisitively.
"Rachel has something to tell you
Hannibal," Clarice said; then, turning to Rachel. "Go ahead, tell him what's
been going on"
As Rosencranz repeated her story,
Hannibal Lecter's face seemed to transform in front of their eyes.
His characteristic intense calm was not
disturbed, but his physiognomy shifted as his eyes turned a deep shinny
burgundy with red sparkles, his mouth set in a curious manner as he appeared to
clench is back teeth, whereas his front ones were slightly exposed and his
nostrils flared almost imperceptibly.
Both women seemed fascinated by the
change of his entire expression.
Hannibal Lecter didn't say one word, he
turned silently, and graceful as a cat, walked towards the sofa where Delponte
laid with his head propped up on two pillows, eyes closed, bearing an
expression of quiet suffering which appeared rather comical under the
circumstances; specially because he kept his arms propped up, unsuccessfully
trying to prevent the blood to seep out of the wounds.
The doctor stood silently beside him
staring down with a look so chilling it sent a shiver down Clarice's spine.
He then slowly took one of the Harpys out of his jacket pocket and opened
it with his thumb in one fast move. The blade clicked audibly in place,
and Hannibal Lecter glanced at it, and then at Paulo, while keeping the Harpy
upright; the blade waiting like a vicious claw. He then leaned over
Delponte and talked to him in a whisper. His expression reminded Clarice
of that in the video of his attack on the nurse all those years ago in
Baltimore.
Rachel held her breath, occasionally
letting the air out, just to take yet another deep breath and hold it, waiting
for the next development, immobile and fascinated.
Hannibal, calm and collected, continued
to interrogate Paulo Delponte, alternating between moving the Harpy slowly back
and forth across the other man's neck and casually pointing it to his face.
When he seemed satisfied he stood up,
calmly folded the Harpy and placed it back in his pocket.
His expression was serene when he looked
at the two women and smiled mischievously, then playfully winked at Clarice,
said "Ta" and left the room.
Rachel and Clarice exchanged silent
glances, both curiously amused. Rachel chuckled and murmured, "that was
interesting…"
After a pause, they both looked at each
other and began to laugh. From the other side of the room Lucy and Luke
joined them, while Paolo Delponte moaned.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hannibal Lecter returned to the room as
silently as he had left. He carried a small bundle in his left hand, and
swiftly approached Rachel Rosencranz. "I read these letters endless times
Rachel, and I am certain they are all here." He handled her the bundle with a
grin.
"Thank you Hannibal," she said softly.
"But I'd much rather you keep them and destroy them for me. If it's
not too much to ask."
"Not at all" Hannibal replied, handling
the letters to Clarice who got up to fetch her bag from across the room and
carefully placed them in it.
"OK" sighed the doctor gracefully turning
around to address Luke Maugeri, "how is my patient doing?"
"Fine," responded Luke with another broad
grin. "I have to add I enjoyed your repartee with the fallen fool,
it was a sight to behold, and we all got a well needed laugh out of it."
"Always glad to amuse!" responded a
gracious Hannibal Lecter with a chuckle. He then walked to a liquor cart on
the side of the room and asked, charmingly. "Anyone care for a drink,
while we wait for Sal's return?" then
added "you better not have alcohol, Luke, due to your injury."
Everyone accepted, oblivious to the man
bleeding on the sofa. Nobody suggested that the doctor to treat him
either.
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