Dr. Hannibal Lecter took a step forward and viewed the young man in front of him. His position was not promising. He had his Harpy, of course. The young man had a gun, and it was aimed at him. There were those who thought the doctor foolhardy, and he would admit to having a taste for braggodocio. He'd moved from Florence back to the United States and set up shop in Maryland, virtually under the FBI's nose. Yet when guns were involved, he knew the value of caution.
He examined the young man calmly. Colin Barksdale. Chatiqua's second-in-command, no doubt. Perhaps there was a way he could convince the young man to put down the gun. After all, persuasion was a specialty of his.
"Don't even think about it," the young man said.
Dr. Lecter nodded. "Mr. Barksdale. I trust you realize I am not with law enforcement."
The young man's lips tightened. "I don't care who you are," he said sharply.
Dr. Lecter took a step forward, so that Colin could see him. "I trust, also, that you realize who I am."
The muzzle trembled ever so slightly. "You're Alice's father. The cannibal."
"Indeed. I mean you no harm, Mr. Barksdale; as far as I'm concerned, we're birds of a feather. The movies are a bit on the puerile side, but that's not your fault. Perhaps we could cooperate. I want my daughter, Mr. Barksdale. There's no need for violence between us. May I ask, where is she?"
Colin's lips tightened again. "In the house," he said tonelessly. "Upstairs. With...with...,"
Dr. Lecter did not need an engraved invitation to tell him who his daughter was with, or what that might mean. From the young man's reaction, he saw that Colin was not happy about it, either. Dr. Lecter made a moue of distaste and nodded.
"Agent Graham," he said flatly.
Colin nodded.
"And Agent Starling? Is she here?"
Colin nodded again. "She's locked in her dressing room."
"Is she harmed?" Dr. Lecter asked with interest.
Colin shook his head.
"And my daughter...is she, shall we say, excitable?"
Colin sighed. "She's...bouncing off the walls. She likes...well...,"
"She enjoys the company of Joshua Graham. But she's manic. Very well." Dr. Lecter took a step closer. "Mr. Barksdale, surely you must realize the hopelessness of the situation Ms. Miller has put you in."
Colin eyed him carefully and looked puzzled. "Hopelessness?"
"Indeed." Dr. Lecter could be very convincing when he wanted to be, and this young man did have some promise, after all. It would be a shame to see his career cut short. He made his voice reasonable and friendly, an uncle giving his murderous nephew kindly advice. "I've read the FBI's files on you. You're far from unintelligent. Consider. You have kidnapped two FBI agents, and, if my guess is right, required them to play a humiliating role in your movie."
Slowly, unwillingly, Colin nodded and lowered the muzzle of the pistol just a fraction.
"And in so doing, Mr. Barksdale, you've put yourself into a position from which there is no return. I assure you, humiliate the FBI and they will make you pay. Up until now, there have been only two agents assigned to this case. If you kill them, your case will become the FBI's top priority. Hundreds, if not thousands, and agents will be assigned to bring you down. If you release them, the same thing will happen. Mr. Barksdale, Chatiqua Miller's career has taken a fatal turn. Her flamboyance is ill-advised. In order to show such effrontery to a law-enforcement situation, you must have already thought through their moves and developed an effective counter. Both you and I know that she has not. She has not thought out what her next move will be; she doesn't understand that kidnapping the FBI agents changed everything."
He sidled a step closer and saw exactly what he wanted in Colin's eyes: slow, dawning realization. Perhaps the man had already thought of that. That would workin his favor.
"So what do you suggest?" Colin asked. "You're on the lam yourself, doctor. And it's the Big Bitch for you if they ever catch you. Didn't you kill police officers?"
Dr. Lecter shrugged. "Correctional officers, actually," he said breezily. It was a small truth that would cost him nothing to give. It was true that if he were apprehended, the death penalty would be on the table. "Mr. Barksdale, I have a proven track record, as it were. I have evaded the long arm of the law for years. Decades, even. I could offer you help."
"Nothing is free," Colin observed. "What would you want?"
Dr. Lecter smiled and nodded. Yes, he did like this young man. He was somewhat uncouth, but it was always possible to polish up manners. And in a case such as this, there was something to be said for getting straight to the point.
"I'll make you a proposal," Dr. Lecter said mildly. "I wish to take my daughter into my custody. Possibly Clarice Starling as well. I could use a young pair of arms and a strong back to help me." His eyes gleamed. "In return, Mr. Barksdale, I shall offer you good value for your assistance. I'll take you with me. I can help you establish alternate identities, and I can help you find a home in South America. I'll include a reasonable sum of cash to get you started. The alternative is to be captured and incarcerated along with Ms. Miller. It's up to you."
Colin considered the proposal, his eyes narrowed and thoughtful. He was close, Dr. Lecter thought. He would add the final coup de grace now, to tip the balance.
"As well, Mr. Barksdale," he said mildly, "my daughter will be with me, in South America. She'll be far from Agent Graham, and eventually she'll...move on. You could be there for that, you know. I can't promise you anything except the chance...but it's more than you'll have in a federal prison."
Colin opened his mouth and closed it. He opened it again and exhaled. Finally he swallowed. Dr. Lecter could see his Adam's apple bob up and down. The effect was not lovely.
"How do I know you'll hold up your end of the bargain?" he asked.
Dr. Lecter thought that a good sign, all things considered. He understood the young man's point. He was asking for the young man's assistance now; all his obligations would be filled later.
"I don't know what you've heard of me, Colin, but I never lie," he said calmly. "A sign of good faith? Sure, why not. May I put my hand in my coat pocket? I assure you I have no pistol."
Colin nodded slowly.
Dr. Lecter put his hand in his pocket and extracted a sheaf of bills held together with a money clip. He riffled it with his thumb, crouched down, and tossed it underhand towards the young man. Nice and slow, to look unthreatening. As he had said, it was a sign of good faith, nothing more. The money landed in front of Colin's feet, the money clip twinkling in the faint light.
"Five thousand dollars, Mr. Barksdale. And that money clip is worth something as well. You ask for a sign of good faith? There it is. You could shoot me and run out the door with that money. In fact, you could make it to Chile on that money alone, in fairly high style, with little to no risk of apprehension. Do you know how to accomplish that goal? I do."
Colin took a step forward and eyed the money clip as if suspecting a trap.
"Take it," Dr. Lecter invited, and smiled openly. "A sign of good faith. An advance on your salary. Call it what you will. Mr. Barksdale, I have nothing against you. I am not a law enforcement officer and have no need to arrest you. We are fellows, are we not? You've served Ms. Miller, and you've taken it as far as you can. Join me, help me accomplish this, and everything you want can be yours. Security, safety, wealth,....and a chance to win my daughter's heart." He spread his hands. "It's up to you."
Colin bit his lip and let out a shuddering breath. He lowered his pistol to the ground.
"Even Clarice Starling will tell you I never lie," Dr. Lecter added. "And I assure you, she doesn't think highly of me."
Colin Barksdale stood and thought hard for a long moment, his brow furrowed. He examined the doctor wordlessly, studying him for signs of treachery. Dr. Lecter waited a moment more, wondering if he would have to fight the young man after all. Finally, the young man sighed and reholstered his pistol.
"All right," he said finally.
Everything was just great now.
Alice lay in bed, next to Josh, peaceful and contented. She'd forgotten how much fun he could be. Really, it made her think twice about this whole Teek thing. Teek was her friend, yes, but she was getting awfully bossy and when she didn't get her way she got nasty and Josh was just so cute and she just wanted to pounce on him in bed except she'd already done that, hadn't she?
The voice of one of her shrinks in the asylum occurred to her: Alice, when you are in a manic phase you show evidence of disordered thinking. That's part of what causes your violence. That's why you need to take your medication. And she supposed it was: she felt great! She wanted to dance! Sing! Stab someone! Well, actually, it would be more fun to go back to fun with Josh. Everything was just great now. She had Joshie and Clarice was neatly stashed downstairs, and Alice supposed Reesey didn't like her costume, but then nobody always got everything she wanted, and it wasn't like a lab coat and pantyhose would kill Reesey, and after all this time she was in the bed next to Josh and he was warm and fun to lie next to and everything was all great now.
She watched him tremble for a moment. What was he afraid of? She would never hurt him.
"You look cold," Alice decided. "Is something wrong?"
Josh narrowed his eyes at her. "No," he said coolly. "Nothing at all."
Why was he being distant? That hurt, more than she would admit. She knew what would make him happy. Standing up from the bed, she grabbed her shorts and slipped them back on.
"I know what would make you feel better, Josh," she said coquettishly. "Coffee! There's a nice pot downstairs."
Without ado, she grabbed up her fishnets and slipped her feet into the maryjanes that were part of her costume. They clacked on the floor, and for a moment or two she was distracted by that. Clickclackclickclackclickclack. What fun!
"Be back in a jiff," she said perkily, and rounded the corner only to stop dead.
Colin stood in the hallway, hulking moodily. The look on his face was tense. That was tough; Colin was nice and all, but Josh was the one she had always wanted. But behind him...
Behind Colin stood a shorter man in a dark topcoat and a dark fedora. Below its brim, dark eyes reflected the light in red points, much as her own did. The face hidden in shadow was also much like her own: delicately sculpured features, gleaming white teeth, and lips that seemed shockingly red against pale skin.
The man observed her calmly for a beat, saying nothing.
"You," Alice breathed.
"Yes." Dr. Hannibal Lecter glided forward, his topcoat smoothly sliding around his legs. "Come here, Alice." He tilted his head and observed his progeny. "What is that ridiculous outfit you're wearing?"
"It's my costume," Alice responded automatically. Surprise, shock, and warmth spread through her in equal measure. A goofy smile slipped over her features.
"Foolish. Never mind, I have more conservative clothing in the car. Come, Alice. We must leave this place."
"You came for me," she said.
"Yes." Dr. Lecter stepped forward again, graceful as a dancer. His arm came up, fluid and quicksilver quick against the blocky heaviness of his new henchman. In it, the slender barrel of a syringe gleamed. He slipped the needle into Alice's arm. The needle itself was fine enough that Alice neither felt it nor bled when it was withdrawn.
"What was that?" she asked, realizing an instant too late what had just happened.
Dr. Lecter smiled coolly. "I can't have your swinging-on-the-chandelier antics getting in the way," he said. "Fear not. Nothing that would harm you. Just something to calm you a bit."
For a few moments, father and daughter stared at each other. Alice felt her head grow woozy. She put a hand to her forehead and stumbled with sudden lightheadedness. A hand grasped her arm; she wasn't sure whose it was. She heard his voice, speaking calmly to her, guiding her downstairs.
Dimly it occurred to her that she should have gotten Josh coffee. Also, Teek was out there somewhere. What was she going to think of this? And what about Reesey? Surely she wouldn't be too happy about it either. Or would she be?
As the sedative took hold, Alice discovered it didn't matter.