The alarm clock at the bedside began beeping. Ravyn threw out a hand and smacked it in just the right place so the incessant sound stopped. She raised her head from under the pillow and looked around sleepy eyed. She sat up and stretched before walking to the shower. She stripped and stepped in; turning on the hot water and cursing when cold came out. She heard something drop in the kitchen. "Turn off the water!" she yelled. The water from the shower was hot again and she stood under it for a few minutes before washing and getting out. She dried and changed into a pair of camo pants and a dark grey fitted tank. She walked downstairs, brushing her hair and pulling it back. "It's a shame this look is wasted on us," said Franco. "Coffee," she grumbled. Sedin handed her a cup. She took a drink from it and relaxed. "You're addicted," they said, almost in unison. "I know, but it's such a wonderful addiction," she said. Sedin set a plate in front of her holding eggs and "fake bacon" as the pair called it. "I don't know why you insist on not eating any meat. You make wonderful dishes with it." Ravyn glanced up at Franco with a mouth full of egg. She chewed and swallowed. "It tastes disgusting to me. I'm sorry for inconveniencing you two," she said. "You're starting early today." She picked up a piece of the bacon and ate it. "So what's on the agenda today?"
"Work until everything is done or just about done."
"Sounds like fun. What are your plans for tonight?"
"The same as they always are."
"You're out of alcoholic beverages by the way."
"I know. Someone keeps stealing them."
"We'll keep a look out for the perpetrator."
"I'm sure you will. When are you guys going to come in?"
"We're thinking about taking a personal day." "
Ten?"
"Tonight?"
"No, this morning."
"We'll try."
"Yeah. Try harder than you did the last time please."
"Maybe."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Ravyn stood from the seat and put on some socks and her boots. She grabbed the bag from beside the door. "Lock the door before you leave this time please?" she yelled before walking out. She threw on her helmet and started the bike, driving off to the small shop.
Dr. Lecter watched as Ravyn sped away from the house. He had found the address for the shop last night and had plans to stop there sometime today. He had no other plans for the day, but first he wanted to explore her home a bit more. He waited until two men walked out of the house. One locked the door from the inside and put the key on the door frame above. He waited until they had gone into the third home down before stepping out from his car and walking over to the house. He reached up, taking the key and unlocking the door. He returned it and stepped in, relocking the door. His nostrils flared. He noted that the breakfast smells include soy based products and coffee. He walked through the small hallway and into the kitchen.
The counters were stone and the cabinets oak. He opened them and went through the glasses and dishes before moving to the drawers. The silverware was well made, he guessed it had belonged to Mason, and the knives would have made any chef proud. They were sharp and shone when he took them from the sheath. He replaced everything and walked back to the hall, going into a spare room. There were boxes in there filled with things he guessed belonged to her parents. He left the room and walked to the bathroom. It was spotless and smelled like rice flower. He looked through the cabinet, not finding anything. 'There's an upstairs bathroom,' he thought. He went upstairs to her bedroom.
Hannibal stopped in the doorway, surveying the room. There were a few things on the floor, mainly clothing that he guessed she had worn to sleep in and hadn't picked up, and a couple magazines. He picked one up, flipping through the pages. He replaced it and went to the bed. There were more in racks. He glanced through them and looked under her bed and in the drawers, finding weapons of varying sorts and a pair of fuzzy handcuffs. He walked on to the open door. He went in and looked around. The cabinet had aspirin and Midol in it as well as Q-tips, an extra tooth brush, toothpaste, deodorant, tweezers and other assorted medical supplies. He left the room and went back downstairs. He went to the basement and went through a box marked as cook books.
Lecter opened it and took out a small leather bound book and opened it. The recipes were written in Russian. He translated them easily and put the book in his pocket. He left the house and returned to his car. He had spent a half hour in her home and it was now ten after nine. The pair he had seen previously left their home and jumped into a jeep. They drove off and he followed behind them, parking a little ways from the shop and waiting.
"You could have used something other than that."
"Quit complaining, Sedin. It could be worse."
"You have a point."
"Shut up." She went to the back and brought out sliced disks. "Do we really have to make the runes for that jack ass? He hasn't paid us for the last set we made him."
"I'm not making them for him and he paid me yesterday." Sedin went to the back and took down a chisel, and began taking the outer bark off of a piece of wood. Franco picked up another chisel and began working on a carving. "Why can't we use power tools?"
"There's a reason it's called Archaic Design."
"Yeah, but a lot of places like ours use power tools."
"I don't like power tools and I own the place."
"I'll quit."
"Quit your bitching."
"Yes ma'am." There was a knocking at the front door an hour later. "Someone can't read," said Franco, standing and wiping the wood chips from his clothes. He straightened out his shirt and walked out front to the door. "Be nice please," said Ravyn as she continued sanding down the pole. "Yeah, yeah," muttered Franco. He glanced at the man out front and pointed to the sign. "We're not open," said Franco. "I was told to ask for Ravyn," he heard the man outside say as he stepped back. "Hey Ravyn, there's someone here to see you." The music had changed, Starfuckers Inc was now playing. "Let them in," she yelled back. Franco rolled his eyes and mouthed something as he unlocked the door and let the man in. He stepped across the threshold and removed his hat. He gave a small nod to Franco who was busy closing the door and locking it again. Hannibal listened to the music for a moment, wondering how anyone could stand such noise. Franco went back into the back and left the stranger to look around at the objects in the front. Lecter wandered around the room, looking at some of the canes and carvings that had been done. He opened a book on the counter and flipped through the pictures. Ravyn walked out with sawdust on her and her shirt partially wet. He looked up at her.
"Hello. I didn't think you would stop by..." said Ravyn. She walked a little closer. "I was in the area and thought I would come and see what you do," he said. "It isn't much but it's work," she said. "Do you own this place?" He flipped the page looking at the work and admiring it. "Yes. Sedin and Franco work when they feel like it. Most of the carvings were done by Franco. Sedin usually does stalves for the New Age culture and other things for them and I do anything." "Metal working as well I see."
"A little. There're some glass pieces in there as well."
"You do a number of things here. This, do you still have it?" he asked, pointing to a dark wood cane with a blood stone tear drop in the top. "Yes actually. The person who ordered it never picked it up or sent a way for me to get it to them." He looked up from the book. "Wasn't it Dr. Fell, or rather Dr. Lecter, that ordered it? I remember hearing something about it."
"Yes. No one has wanted it since the National Tattler decided to print something up about it except some crack pots who thought they could trace him with psychic energy coming from it. People who had never read the story say it's too strange for them. It's a beautiful piece." "Could I look at it?"
"Sure." Closer started playing as she went into the back. She turned the music down a bit and brought out the piece. "Here you are." He took the piece and looked it over. It was a fine piece. She had done as he expected. "How much is it?"
"Take it. It's been paid for already."
"How much?"
"One fifty."
"It's more than that."
"I know."
"Then why sell it for that much now?"
"Because I'm not a robber. It was paid for already, but I have a feeling you won't take no for an answer."
"Very well." He produced the cash and she put it under the counter in a small cash box. "So what did you really come for?" she asked. "To ask if you would mind going to coffee tonight." "Not at all. What time?"
"Around five."
"That's fine by me."
"Good."
"Where?"
"The Golden Leaf."
"Alright. I'll see you then."
"Good day." He turned and left. Sedin came out and looked at Ravyn. "What?!"
"Nothing, nothing at all..."
"No!"
"What?! It isn't my fault that you-"
"Don't finish that sentence."
"Yes ma'am. He was familiar in an eerie sort of way. Kind of like those old people at the nursing homes."
"Oh shut up."
"So what's your schedule?"
"I'm only going in Monday thru Thursday."
"You suck."
"You have to work all week don't you?"
"Not only that but we're getting sent abroad again."
"Ouch. When do you leave?"
"As soon as the paperwork's done."
"That will be..."
"Probably Tuesday."
"I'm sorry."
"No you're not."
"You're right, I'm not." She smiled at them and went to the back to finish piece she was making. "Who wants what for lunch?" asked Franco, leaning against the door frame, an hour later. "Salad."
"Burger."
"Where from?"
"Don't care."
"It's up to you."
"I'll be back."
"I'm going with you."
"Make my usual half hour an hour."
"Shut up."
"Don't take it out on him because you can't make a decision."
"Neh!" The pair left. Ravyn shook her head and listened as the car drove off. She popped her neck and stretched before putting down the paper she had been making the design on. She walked out behind the shop and around the area there. She slid down and sat on the ground, her back against an apartment building. She let out a breath and put her head on her knees with her eyes closed. She shook her head, smiling a little. 'There is no way in hell,' she thought, concentrating and trying to grab the slippery surface of her memories. She had locked them away so long ago and never touched them that now they were difficult to take hold of. She hummed a lullaby her grandmother had sung to her as a child and wandered away from her previous task to others. She still didn't have a lead on the case she was working. She reminded herself firmly that she was NOT hunting Lecter and Starling. 'No, you're not after them. You just might happen to stumble across them...again, and if you do...you're supposed to catch them this time,' said a small voice in the back of Ravyn's mind. She promptly told it where it could go and continued. She knew there was at least one if not two ways to find them easily enough, but that would be rather aggravating and tedious. 'Not to mention time consuming and you know if they found out...' She stomped the voice. Ravyn looked at her watch and returned to her former position. 'Starling's dead remember,' she mocked, knowing full well the ex agent wasn't dead. It was amazing how well they had managed to make it appear, even down to her scent she guessed.
Ravyn brought her head up abruptly and looked around. The sound coming from her had stopped. She stood, easing the gun at her side out of its holster. She walked down the alley quietly and looked around all of the corners. Her back stayed to the wall. She saw nothing but heard a faint whisper of cloth. She looked around another corner, following the sound and finding nothing. The sound died away into the distance and she sighed. 'Paranoia is a bad thing,' she thought, taking her hand off the gun and walking back to the shop. 'Probably some little punk ass thinking he can catch me off guard,' she thought, opening the back door and walking in. She could smell the food and waited for the bitch out to commence.
"Where the hell have you been?" asked Sedin. "I went for a walk," she said, sitting at the small table and taking out the plastic container holding the salad. She opened it and put the Italian dressing over the green before eating. "You could have left something to say you left." "And what fun would that be? I wouldn't get to see your little worried faces." They blushed and the meal was finished in silence. Ravyn glanced at the clock and yawned. "Go home," she said, picking up the trash and throwing it away. "You sure you'll be alright all by your lonesome in this place?" asked Franco. She turned, smirking at him. "Of course I will. The big bad wolf hasn't come yet."
"In that case, good bye for now."
"When are you going to be home?"
"I don't know."
"Doesn't matter, we have other plans for tonight."
"Try not to make too much noise eh?"
"We'll try."
"I'm sure."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Franco and Sedin left and Ravyn shut the doors. She waited until they were gone and finished cleaning up before leaving. She started the bike and headed towards Quantico where she would spend the rest of her day listening in on conversations.
Dr. Lecter watched the figure speeding away towards Quantico. He held the knife that she had made years ago in his hand. It was still as sharp as the day he had gotten it from her. He considered using it to kill her. She had come so close to catching him and Clarice on quite a few occasions, but she always left them be in the end. She was good at what she did and he needed her help, as much as he disliked to admit it. She was the only one who knew enough about La Mano del Dio to be of use to him. He knew her two friends would be gone come Monday or Tuesday and that they would most likely be gone for a bit. The plans swarmed around his mind. Friday. He put the knife back in the sheath and drove off to the Smithsonian.A/N: Thanks to BlytheBee for reviewing, and the chapters will continue coming, but some may be later in coming than others...