The main characters belong to TH, the ones you hardly know belong to me…I owe very little, and I'm not writing this for profit either.

Exchanges XXVII

A Wedding and a Death

Dr Lecter didn't need an alarm clock. He set his mind to wake at 5AM and so he did. His toiletries and the clothes for the wedding ceremony were already in the adjacent bedroom, along with the rest of their possessions, already packed in anticipation for their departure after the ceremony.

Before he left their bedroom, he reached in the drawer of his night table, removed three exquisitely wrapped small boxes, and placed them on Clarice's night table, along with a small flat package, also delicately wrapped, and a card.

He glanced at Clarice and smiled, the next time he'd see her she would be walking down the aisle.

Silently, he left the room.

The first thing he saw when he entered the adjacent bedroom was a small box delicately wrapped, standing on the dressing table with a card propped behind it.

He opened the card first. The message was short and intriguing.

"This is just a small offering. I have a surprise for you, however I will not reveal it until the time is right.

I love you

C"

The box contained an antique Rolex Imperial gold pocket watch, with a photo insert; the piece appeared to be circa 1800's. The watch was a true work of art. The photo insert showed a minute photo of a drawing he made in Memphis before his escape, depicting Clarice holding her Lamb.

The Doctor smiled to himself, he didn't want to guess what the surprise might be, concerned that his wishful thinking would run wild.

He shook his head in wonderment; "she never ceases to surprise me," he thought

At 8 o'clock in the morning, right before he set off to meet his best man for breakfast in the terrace; Dr. Lecter heard the sounds of a small helicopter, which the thought was bringing back Lucy and Sal; he was a little surprised, however, when he heard the helicopter take off again.

Both the Doctor and Barney were wearing casual clothes, trousers and polo shirts, as they sat happily to enjoy their first cup of coffee of the day.

Angelina came in with fresh rolls, fresh butter and several home made marmalades and preserves and inquired if they would care for some eggs and bacon as well.

Both men declined.

After a few amenities, the Doctor removed from his pocket the matching wedding bands that they had picked in Paris, plus the eternity band from Christies, and asked Barney to bring them to the chapel to give to the priest when the time came for the blessing of the rings.

"Doctor, I'm not a wedding expert here," Barney said with a chuckle, "at what point is the blessing of the rings?"

"After the exchanging of the vows, the priest will ask for the rings and you place them on a little cushion he has for that purpose; then he'll blesses them; we exchange rings and the ceremony is over."

"Got it," Barney took the rings and placed them gently in his pocket.

The doctor sat back on his chair, and closed his eyes briefly. "I guess I will never cease to be awed by the fact that I have won her."

Barney grinned,

"Quite impressive if you think that your wooed her, for the most part, from inside a cage in a mental institution. After Starling's second visit it was…" he trailed off, as Lucy walked in the terrace

"Good morning gentleman."

One look at her and the Doctor knew that something was very wrong. He got up to greet her and made the introductions.

"Barney, this is our host Lucy Maugeri."

While the two shook hands, the Doctor poured a cup of coffee for Lucy.

"Did Sal come back with you, Lu?" he asked, "I seem to remember hearing the helicopter take off again."

"Sal is not with me, Hannibal, in fact, Luke dropped me off earlier but couldn't stay." She paused just a split second and went on, "Regrettably Sal will not be able to join us for the ceremony, but Luke will return at about 12 noon to fly you to Greece, and drop me back in Catania on the way."

"What I was wondering," she continued, "is if you wouldn't mind having the ceremony an hour earlier than planned. If we have it at 10AM we could have a small bite to eat and a toast to the newlyweds and you will still have enough time to change before the flight."

"Fine with me," the Doctor said, "the sooner the better, you will have to talk to Clarice, however."

"I'm on my way to see her." Lucy said taking a gulp of her coffee and standing up. "I'm sure she'd be agreeable, she waited for this long enough."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


On the morning of her wedding, Clarice Starling awoke to the sound of the helicopter that brought Lucy back to the Villa. She turned to check the time, but three gift-wrapped boxes, alongside a flat package and a card, blocked her view of the clock.

She propped herself on one elbow, oh boy" she said to herself with anticipation, then rubbed her eyes and decided to open the card first.

Written in the familiar copperplate, the message read:

"Only diamonds seem suitable for the occasion; yet, they barely begin to reflect the everlastingly nature of my feelings for you, Clarice.

H"

She decided to leave the boxes for last. So anxious was she to look inside them, and yet felt a need to exercise a little self -discipline; and opened the small package instead.

Inside was a small, delicate blue hankie, the kind women carry in their purse to dab an occasional tear, accompanied by a tiny card with just three words:

"Something blue,

H"

Finally, she began to unwrap the boxes, starting with the smallest. It contained a pair of single-stone circular-cut diamond ear studs of about 1.5 carats each. She smiled and set them aside, anxious to see what was in the next two boxes.

The second box contained a bracelet, a bangle in fact; a pavé-set diamond hoop, mounted in platinum. She slid it on her arm and moved it this and that way as she admired the way the light played with the diamonds.

Without removing the bangle from her wrist, she opened the final box and gasped; inside was an Edwardian diamond three stone pendant designed as three graduating diamond collets with knife-edged bars between, the diamonds seemed to be approximately 1.00, 2.00, and 3.00 carats, on a trace link chain with diamond three-stone connections.

It was a breathtaking piece, and yet one that could be worn for just about any occasion, Clarice was fascinated by it, immobile, such as it were, when she was startled by the intercom and reached for the phone. She hoped it was Hannibal, so she could tell him how crazy it was to spoil her like this. Instead, it was Lucy

"Good morning Clarice." Lucy's voice sounded tight. "Can I come by, or you are still in bed?

"Come on over, I was about to jump in the shower. Give me 10 minutes.

"Should I ask Angelina to bring you some coffee and something to eat before you start dressing up?"

"Coffee and some scrambled eggs and toast to settle my stomach will be great!"

"You got it!"

When Lucy knocked at her door, Clarice was in her robe, her hair still damp, trying on her diamonds.

"Lucy," she chirped, "look at what I got from Hannibal!."

Lucy made a feeble attempt to an enthusiastic response, but her heart was clearly not in it.

"What's the matter, Lucy, are you all right?

Lucy didn't answer, instead, she asked Clarice about moving the ceremony to 10Am instead. Clarice gazed at the clock on the night table. It read 8:35 AM.

"Oh sure, in fact, I can't wait!" then suddenly remembering, added "I need borrow something."

"Sure, what do you need?"

"I suppose I need something borrowed."

Lucy thought for a moment, then excused herself, "I'll be right back,"

                        *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

At 10 o'clock in the morning sharp, Lucy began to play the first notes of Mendelssohn's wedding march on the small electric organ.

There were only seven rows of pews in the small family chapel, barely occupied by Angelina and another two members of the staff.

Hannibal Lecter and Barney waited by the altar. When they heard the first notes both men turned towards the entrance to the chapel. Hannibal Lecter, stunning in tails and black tie, turned his head slightly to one side and held his breath, mesmerized as Clarice walked down the aisle unescorted.

She was wearing an understated, strapless A line, natural waist, Silk organza tiered gown with lace detail and very short sweep train, perfectly suited for a morning wedding.

Instead of a bouquet, she carried a few long stem calla lilies tied with a white silk ribbon and clutched her small blue hanky in one hand. She wore no veil, her hair was lose and covered her shoulders as it framed her face luxuriously, further contributing to the morning look. Her stunning new jewelry, complimented the look without overpowering her. She looked radiant.

Once she took her first few steps, her eyes met Hannibal's and they held each other whole as if the entire world around them had disappeared and it was just the two of them in the chapel

When she reached the altar, the priest asked the customary, "who is giving this woman in marriage?"

"I am" Clarice responded in a firm whisper, the Doctor reached for her left hand, and lead her so they stood together in front of the altar.

Hannibal Lecter's voice sounded strangled when he uttered the vows of his own design, which ended in a promise to love her beyond eternity.

The Doctor became aware of a distant sound of helicopters. "Too early for Luke" he thought.

Clarice used the handkerchief to dab a few tears several times during the ceremony; yet, her voice was firm, if barely audible when she made her vows.

The sound of helicopters now was quite distinctive and Hannibal Lecter knew there was more than one and that it spelled trouble.

Barney placed the tree rings on the small cushion offered by the priest for that purpose, while Clarice turned to the left and gave her lilies to Lucy now standing behind her. Lucy appeared visibly tense.

The priest blessed all three rings and Hannibal placed both bands on Clarice's finger as she looked dumbfound at the diamond eternity band, and was a little startled when the priest urged her to place the ring on her grooms finger.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife"

Hannibal Lecter sighed with relief.

The priest told him the proverbial "you may kiss the bride."

They faced each other then, and for and instant they saw snippets of their longwinded, peripatetic history flash in each other's eyes. She bit her lower lip trying to suppress a giggle, while he turned his head to the side, and winked.

What followed seemed to happen in slow motion.

First there was the distinctive sound of machine gun fire.

Then doors of the chapel opened noisily to give entry to Luke and an older man. Luke appeared tired and drawn, unshaven, his hair tussled every each way, and his white shirt, one sleeve cut off to make room for the bandaged arm, flowed around him like that of a pirate.

The older man had great presence and carried himself with commanding demeanor, his age could have ranged anywhere between 65 and 80. He stood very straight, had a full head of dark hair sprinkled with gray, and his looks reminded that of Anthony Quinn at his best.

Lucy looked first at her son and then at his companion.

"Marco," she gasped as her eyes locked into those of the older man. Their eyes continued to hold when Luke broke the silence.

"We are getting you out of here without delay." He said in English. "Everything that belongs to the Dr. and Clarice as well to their guest is on board the helicopter. I've dismissed the members of the staff who didn't want to come along, and urged them to go to their families in town. My family is already at the Calvacante compound."

"Where is Sal?" Lucy asked to no one in particular, still unable to break eye contact with the man that she called Marco.

The man broke eye contact just long enough to gaze at Luke, who nodded, only then did he approach Lucy and tentatively pleased one hand on her arm. She shivered "We have to hurry Lucia," his voice was deep and he spoke very softly. "You are all coming with me to Ravello right now, only there can I guarantee your safety."

"Is Sal dead, Marco?" her voice was soft; uncharacteristically it sounded almost pleading, like that of a little girl.

He didn't answer, his eyes met Luke's again, then put his arms around her and held her against his chest with one hand while smoothing her hair with another.

In a flash, with his uncanny, almost supernatural perception Hannibal Lecter figured out their whole story.

Luke looked at Barney and briefly introduced himself, "I'm Luke Maugeri." Then looking at both Barney and the doctor, he pointed to the older man "this gentleman is Signore Calvacante, Marco Calvacante."

The name meant nothing to either Barney or Clarice, but Dr. Lecter certainly knew it well as did most everyone in Italy, and acknowledged it with his politely cordial if inscrutable expression.

Luke then addressed Dr. Lecter directly.

"Dr. Lecter, this villa is no longer safe, we engaged in some gunfire outside the chapel, with some goons who came by water, admittedly to kidnap both Clarice and my mother. We have to leave now, this minute. We'll explain more when we get to Ravello.

There is a second helicopter with some of Signore Calvacanti's men; they will pick up the rest of the staff, and their possessions."

Marco Calvacanti was escorting Lucy to the back door of the chapel to avert stumbling upon the results of the gunfire conflict. With Luke leading the way, Barney, Clarice and Hannibal followed.

                            *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Somehow I figured that maybe we needed some action and intricacy all the way to the end , so here we are on the run again.

Please let me know if this approach is satisfactory.

C