h a n n i b a l
LESSONS
a fanfic by JetNoir
Note: As I'm writing this I've realised that I have made a huge mistake. Somehow, I made the mistake that FBI HQ is in Washington – obviously it being in Quantico. Therefore I beg the reader's indulgence that this 'dungeon' is in the Washington department of the FBI. Also, the team have been recruited for a few weeks, not days – that's a simple typo on my part! Thankyou and enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR
Another day, another letter.
--
Well Clarice,
Any luck on 'Revenant'. Probably not, nothing on the ever-intrusive news.
Did you follow up on my little clue? Knowing you, as I do, probably not. Afraid of a trap? Not the Clarice I remember.
It makes little difference, seems that this game of chess is far from over. Are you the Knight Clarice? If so, then who is Death???
However, there are certain things I believe you must do. Letter Two. Archives. Don't forget.
It seems that once again, you have been redeemed. Your fame on Gumb's case, your fall from grace – all too recent – and now, back in the spotlight.
Can you handle the pressure Clarice? Can you really?
Please believe, I do not doubt you, but if you are not at full strength, then it just won't be fun!
However, I am going to accelerate events. I want you to get into contact with me. Oh yes, shock-horror. Is your nerve steady? Or perhaps I over exaggerate slightly.
Details follow Clarice. I'll be seeing you…
Hannibal Lecter.
--
DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE, FBI WASHINGTON
You would think that such a day would tremble to begin…
The words echoed around Clarice Starling's head as she slowly slipped scolding black coffee. It must be something she had read somewhere…but…
Maddening. She couldn't get it out of her head.
Nine a.m., and trapped in the dungeon, her every bone exhausted, Starling was waiting for the results on a blood/DNA test. A few hours ago, local police had found a body near the Appalachian Mountains in a cave after following an anonymous tip-off.
The corpse's little finger was missing.
Lilia was at the crime scene, handling forensics, slowly feeding back information – that felt more like dripping, chillingly teasing – to Matt. All three had been at work for more about twenty-one hours, and it was beginning to show. Elias would be back in nine hours. Starling had phoned him, and Elias had assured Clarice that he had not made a new 'friend' on his trip – he really had been delayed. And of course he had.
As she waited, Clarice's mind slowly wandered, talking to Gumb, and then just seeing the moth. So improbable, almost impossible. The darkness, the horror, and poor, poor Catherine.
She was jerked out of the reminiscence, as the office phone rang, so Clarice slid her chair towards it and picked it up.
"Starling."
"Only me, silly," laughed Lilia, "you're so formal. Has Matt got the data yet?" Clarice twisted and called:
"Matt. How's it going?" He didn't turn but called back:
"One hundred percent. Starting analysis."
"Got it all," Clarice said to Lilia, settling back.
"Okay," replied Lilia, "I'm all done here. Do you want me to stay, just in case, or do you want me back in D.C.?"
"How long will it take you to get here?"
"A few hours."
"O.K., requisition a chopper."
"O.K.," said Lilia, "see you soon."
Clarice put the phone back down, and closed her eyes.
In thirty-second's she was fast asleep.
--
Revenant, again, was in darkness – admittedly artificial – but soothing nonetheless.
It decided that its next victim would be a man.
Larger finger's you see.
--
Twelve p.m., the Dungeon.
Matt was typing furiously, his computer linked with Langley, L.A., New Your, and NSA HQ. They had matched the blood type, but for some strange reason, no DNA was found.
"Afternoon Matt," whispered Lilia in his ear, making him jump.
"Jesus, Lilia!" Matt cried, and then lowered his voice as Clarice snorted, then continued to sleep.
"How the hell do you sneak up on people like that?" Lilia smiled mischievously:
"Talent, good looks, usual sort of thing! How's the search going?" While she was whispering, her accent became more pronounced.
"Not good Lilia. So far we've found close to seven hundred on the database alone. We'll be able to get rid of most of those, when we sharpen the search, but there's still a tremendous amount to get through before we even get that far."
"How is Clarice doing?"
"Not good. She's tired, we all are…but she's feeling it more, all this with Lecter."
"What about these clues?" Lilia asked, "Is she going to follow them up?"
"Don't know…but is it wise? Can Clarice survive another chase? We already have one madman on the loose, and then Lecter on top?" Lilia shook her head:
"How long has she been asleep?"
"Three hours."
"That will have to do." Lilia walked over to Clarice, knelt down beside her, and gently stroked a finger down her cheek.
"Wake up sleepyhead," murmured Lilia. Starling's eyes slowly widened, opened, and she smiled.
"Good morning Dr Derevko," said Clarice, then looked at her watch.
"Good afternoon Dr Derevko," said Clarice, correcting herself.
"Sorry to wake you Clarice, but I need to talk to you." One of Clarice's eyebrows raised.
"Any leads?" Lilia shook her head.
"I need to talk about Dr Lecter."
--
NEW YORK
"Sir, we've located Revenant…almost."
"Almost. How the hell do you 'almost' find someone? Especially Revenant!"
"We've tracked Revenant to North America."
"Really. The little fact that the murders have taken place in North America had nothing to do with this astounding revelation?"
"Sir…we need to meet. Come to HQ in Washington D.C. please. I'll explain it to you. Revenant is there."
"O.K. Twenty-four hours. I'll be there."
--
It was some time later, when Clarice, Matt and Lilia were sitting in a small café, savouring the sunshine, and sipping coffee.
"What about Graham?" asked Lilia, "I think that it might be worth checking his file…there might be something."
"No Lil," said Clarice, "that's not what Lecter wants. There can't be anything in the file that's relevant. Lecter might know who the killer is, or he may not. All part of the game. However, he's given me a message. Lilia, you and I are going to Florida. We're going to see Will Graham. I got tickets arranged as soon as you woke me up. Matt, I want you and Elias, when he gets back, to work on locating Revenant the old fashioned way." Matt nodded:
"Blood, sweat, and tears. Just like the old days." Lilia just nodded, then, almost as an afterthought said:
"When do we leave?"
"Five p.m."
"You've been giving this a bit of though, haven't you?" asked Lilia. Clarice nodded:
"We're just running out of time."
--
Six p.m. So much in the day, so little resolved.
At two, a young man called Alexander Strife was horrified to find his long-term partner had left him from another man – thirty years older –; his firm was going bankrupt; and the serial-murderer called Revenant had brutally kidnapped him.
At five, Clarice and Lilia boarded a plane for Florida, ready to interview the only person to ever catch Hannibal Lecter – Will Graham.
It is, however, six o' clock. Six hours from the sunny coffee café.
--
Ironically enough, at the same airport Clarice and Lilia had departed from an hour ago, Elias Irons, stands, awaiting a taxi.
"Mr Irons?" a man inquires, "your taxi sir."
"Thankyou," said Elias as the driver picked up the bags, and placed them in the boot. Elias' distinguished features smiled. Home. When they had set off, Elias relaxed.
The locks in the doors snapped shut.
Elias started, suddenly worried, impenetrable glass between him and the driver. His gun! He'd left it in his luggage! What a stupid mistake.
"Who are you?" Elias demanded, as they turned towards the outskirts of the city, "Where are you taking me?"
A few miles outside of Washington, the car slowed to a halt, the driver twisting in his seat.
"Now Special Agent Irons," the man said, his voice cultured and soft, "my name is Hannibal Lecter. I wish to talk with you."
--
Note: Again, apologies for the Washington mistake, my only excuse being that I am a Brit who has never visited America! No, I didn't think that was a very good excuse either! Anyhoos, moving swiftly on, I hope you enjoyed that. I don't know why, but out of all my fanfics, I think that this has to be my favourite. It's wonderful to write. Oh, well, please review!
Disclaimer: Hannibal is copyright to Thomas Harris; and the story to me. This story has been written on the understanding that you may read it and print it out; but you may not pass it off as your own, hire it out, or sell it for money. You also may not put it on your own or any other web page without my express written permission. Thankyou!
JetNoir