They will forever belong to Thomas Harris, and borrowed here with a sense of respect and admiration.
My deepest thanks, to those of you who took the time to post your comments, special thanks to those fellow authors who were kind enough to read my fiction AND comment.
I love you all.
Chapter 15
Everybody "loves" Adam
On the following days the scandal continued and grew, aggravated further by the discovery of two bodies inside a car, not far from the little cottage that the FBI admitted to have rented for Starling and where she was supposed to be residing right after the baby was born, but now seemed abandoned.
The report confirmed that the cottage was furnished with a complete nursery; and though there was evidence of occupancy, it was clear that the occupants were gone and nothing had been taken; even the infant's car seat had been left behind. Later, to add to the outrage it was disclosed that a tracking devise had been found inside the padding of the said car seat.
Somehow, the media got hold of a copy of Adams actual birth certificate, which, like Lecter predicted, differed from the one given to Clarice at the Lab, in that it showed Hannibal Lecter as the father of record. The media not only announced their discovery but it appeared in print on the cover of the Tattler, and it was shown repeatedly on TV, for the whole world to see that Hannibal Lecter was recorded as the child's father.
Later yet it was announced that the DNA obtained from dirty disposable diapers found in the cottage was identical to the DNA of Hannibal Lecter.
There was also speculation that both Starling and the baby might have been kidnapped and disposed of or eventually held for ransom, depending on who might have kidnapped them….if they were kidnapped at all.
The outrage was reaching international proportions and the public everywhere seemed to side with Clarice, making the FBI as a whole, appear as the ultimate villain.
Aside from that of being the object of the cloning, there was no mention of Lecter, and it seemed as if the Doctor's notoriety and his past, faded in comparison to the present scandal.
A few days latter, the reports announced that the murders of both Pearcell and Noonan and the scientist and the pediatrician could all be tied to the cloning project as well, thus increasing the exaltation on the part of the ever increasing number of Clarice's Fans".
"Soon you'll have a whole cult" the doctor tittered "similar to that of The Madona and Child…quite appropriate." He seemed rather proud of his own wit as he went on,
"Is a good thing that I didn't use the name Adam in all of the Passports that we have for him. By now I can see you envisioning the borders scrutinizing every infant called Adam, in the fashion of the Herode's troops before the Slaughtering of the Innocents."
"Right," she answered dryly, clearly not amused by the thought, "the Slaughtering of the Adams. Well, I'll have you know that I thought about it, and was grateful for your foresight."
"Unfortunately, in the mist of this hysteria, it doesn't seem too far fetched."
"Are we going to stay here until Adam is old enough to take a trip by airplane, or we'll be moving along?" the tone of her voice was a clear indication that either answer would suit her fine.
"I've mixed feelings about that, Clarice. I am not nomadic by nature, and however dull and culturally barren this location might be, I find is always safe to stay in one place, yet I would to examine Adams blood, do some tests and such, and for that I need a lab and privacy. The only way we can do that safely is if we pay a visit to my friend Marian Kratzen, she can provide us with both the lab and the privacy.
As far as cultural diversion is concerned, if there was any to be found in Lexington, I'm afraid neither of us would enjoy it if it meant we had to leave Adam in the care of strangers."
"Dear God, no! we can't leave him with anyone, not for a second."
"I think you'd like Marian, and might enjoy riding her horses, maybe the two of you can ride while I watch Adam, I imagine you'd like that."
"Hannibal, that would be lovely, yet I don't know if I'd be comfortable if we stayed long. Sounds good, but just for three or four days at the most. Are you going to need longer that that?"
He looked at her intently, then reached for her hand and smiled reassuringly.
"No, three days will be plenty."
"Then we'll move along?"
"Yes, I've made plans for that. When do you wish to leave?
"In a day or two, I suppose, if she would have us. Do you suppose the real estate man here will find it strange that we leave so soon before the lease is up?"
"I can work around that Clarice, I have some practice on the matter. I'll call Marian tomorrow and then we'll start preparing."
A few days later with all their paraphernalia packed in the Expedition, they left for the 3 ½ hour drive to Lexington.
"Did you mention to Dr. Kratzen that we need only one bedroom, right?"
"Oh, how thoughtless of me." His voice was all mock-apology; while the smile on his face could aptly be described as that of the cat who ate the canary. " I guess I'll have to sneak up in your bedroom in the middle of the night, after everyone is asleep."
Clarice picked up on the gag and moved right along
"If I'm to sleep alone, then I'll have to lock the door, one never knows what kind of pervert might come along." Her eyes were twinkling with delight
"Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow the door in half" he retorted, enjoying the repartee
"It might make things easier just to tell your friend to put us in the same room, and we can put to better use all that huffing and puffing." She was doubling up with laughter
"Are you laughing at me former Special Agent Starling?"
'Oh no, that would be….impudent…" she couldn't go on, panting with laughter.
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The farm was lovely with bright green pastures extended as far as the eyes could see; the house set deep in the center of the 60 acre property. As soon as they drove across the entrance to the property, the doctor called his friend on the cell phone, and she was waiting for them on the porch when the arrived to the house.
The doctor was a small woman, on her mid sixties perhaps, lean and fit, with abundant hair and a smooth complexion almost free of wrinkles. She approached the Explorer enthusiastically and greeted them warmly.
The doctor made the introductions and removed Adam from the car.
"Is good to see you Marian, we are grateful that you dare to giver us sanctuary under the present circumstances."
She made a dismissive gesture and leaned over the car infant seat to look Adam
"You can always on my hospitality, that goes without saying." Adam was still asleep in the car infant seat and she escorted them inside the house, showed them to their rooms, and announced that she would serve lunch shortly. Explaining that for the sake of privacy, she had dismissed the house staff for the rest of the weekend, taking advantage that it was the Thursday preceeding Memorial Day weekend.
The doctor declared that they will feed Adam before lunch so they could then enjoy their meal while he napped. Their host agreed.
They gathered in the kitchen where Marion was putting together a salad to go with the luscious Lobster rolls. The chat was easy and their host made several trips from behind the kitchen Island, to watch Adam as he fed.
"You'll have plenty of time to play with him, after his nap," Clarice assured.
They were having lunch in the back patio, when Marion Kratzen asked the first question that made Clarice uneasy.
"Clarice, are you ever afraid?,"
"Of what?" Clarice asked, taken aback by the question
"Hannibal" responded the other woman undauted, "Did you ever fear that he might kill you?
Clarice squinted, not unlike she did, long ago during target competition, then stole a brief look at Hannibal and noticed his eyes had darkened.
"Nope. It never crossed my mind, I can't imagine why would he have wanted to " She notice that Hannibal was almost smiling with amusement, but his eyes had darkened further.
"Because you wanted to craft his doom?"
Clarice laughed, even in the mist of her outrage, she found the statement entirely amusing.
"I didn't want to craft HIS doom, I just tried to perform my sworn duties, Hannibal knew that. He respected me for it, just as I respected his integrity. There was never conflict there."
"You are a remarkable woman, that is clear; I had been thinking how the present situation might be affecting you, not just the exposure, your certainly had enough of that before, but the attempts on your life. Are you ever afraid for your life, or Adam's or even Hannibal?
"Certainly," Clarice responded, while wondering where all this was going. "I'm often afraid, when I perceive danger. Hannibal, however, never activated my danger sensor mechanism."
Dr Lecter emitted a dry, empty sound that Clarice thought might be a snort, and for one second she wondered if he was trying to divert the attention of their host, who then turned to him.
"I have been thinking about the present situation, and how difficult it must be to be on the run with an infant on tow.
Especially when the infant seems to be the most sought after individual in the entire world, making him, right now the ideal target for every scientist and scientist wannabe imaginable. Let alone governments and their endless research departments.
I concluded that it might be much easier for the two of you to get out of the country without Adam, and then be reunited later on when the danger somewhat subsides."
"How on earth would we manage something like that?" asked Hannibal in a cold, mild and totally expressionless maner.
His lack of expression, the cold detachement in his eyes, and the deep red sparkles that they reflected all made Clarice shudder, yet the other woman, seemed oblivious to the subtle change in his body language.
"Well," she answered smug of her own cunning, "you might want to leave him here with me for the next two month or so, establish yourselves abroad and then, once he can safely travel by plane, I could bring him to you." She smiled "Nobody is looking for a couple without a baby, just as later on they won't be looking for an elderly woman with an infant."
Clarice felt as if the muscles of her face belonged to someone else, someone much more capable than she at keeping an expressionless front. She felt her face smiling, almost on its own accord and wondered briefly how could this woman underestimate them in such obvious manner.
"From the safety standpoint, is a sound plan, Marian," Lecter's voice sounded pleasantly congenial, while his eyes hid a feral mockery that only Clarice seemed able to interpret. "I'd say you have given this a great deal of thought. I would like, however, to discuss it with Clarice, privately, for a few minutes, if you don't mind.
After we finish lunch, if you want to practice taking care of Adam for a short time, then Clarice and I can take a short walk around the grounds and talk it over. How is that?
"Dear Hannibal! I didn't mean to put you on the spot or push you for an answer, just thought you might want to consider it."
"No, no, why wait, an offer such as this one deserves immediate consideration."
He lifted his glass of wine and offered a toast to great suggestions and loyal friendships.
Both Clarice and Marian Kratzen joined cheerfully.
"If you don't mind," Clarice added after the toast. "I'd rather take Adam along during our talk, lets face it, if we are to leave him here, I'd like to enjoy every possible minute we have left with him".
"Makes sense," Marion said.
to be continued
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I hope you are enjoying this new twist. I tried to end the chapter right on the nick of time.
Let me know.
Clariz