Author's Note: I'm am so terribly sorry for the wait! My best guy friend is graduating this weekend and I had other banquets to attend so I've been neglecting my duties as a writer and for that I am truly sorry...Well I assume you do not want to hear apologies and excuses so I'll get on with the story. Thank you again to everyone who is reading this! I really appreciate it!
Chapter Eight: Appearances
To the untrained and unobservant eye, Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling looked like a couple enjoying a quiet stroll on a lovely clear night. In reality, it was a different story. Clarice's heart beat much faster than normal and her free hand was resting on the .45 clipped to her belt, hidden by her jacket. She couldn't think about anything except what she was going to do about Talivaldis. Her eyes took on a glazed quality and her legs felt like lead. Dr. Lecter walked with his hands in his coat pockets, his left hand every now and then fingering his beloved harpy. There was a nonchalant air about him. His eyes swept the street ahead of them. His heart rate was a steady 45 beats per minute. There was no need to be nervous. Clarice would only get a glimpse of her killer. She wouldn't catch him tonight. Dr. Lecter had other plans tonight. The Crusader would not be able to kill anyone for a couple of days, of this Dr. Lecter was sure. There was no one in their train cart. There was probably only ten people total in the train itself. If was the last train that night. The lights on it flickered every so often. Dr. Lecter admired the was they cast shadows on Clarice's face. 'She'll never realize how beautiful she really is,' he thought. Clarice didn't notice his staring. 'I might catch him. I will catch him tonight,' she chanted to herself. She streached her back, arms, legs, and fingers. Her fingers were very stiff from being curled around her gun, not to mention from the cold also. They got off at Leicester Square. With the time being past midnight, they only met a couple of people every few blocks. The might was unusually clear but cold.
"How much long-."
Clarice was pulled out of the street and into a very dark alcove.
"Don't speak for the next ten minutes."
They stood there watching the street. Clarice wrapped her jacket closer to her body. She felt much warmer a second later as Dr. Lecter wrapped his coat around her also. She turned slightly in surprise.
"Dr. Lecter, Hannibal, you'll freeze. I'll be fine."
"You need it more than I do. Just humor me."
She nodded and wrapped it around her closer. His cologne hung on the jacket. It was a mixture of sandalwood with something sweet like vanilla but not quite.
"Our man approaches..."
Clarice focused her eyes on the street. She heard the Crusader before she saw him. He was whistling Joyful, Joyful. His emerald green eyes looked almost yellow and appeared to glow in the lamp light. He was wearing all black with a long trench coat and scarf. She could see the mist of his breath. He looked up suddenly, looking around at his surroundings. Clarice then had a thought pop into her heard; she felt her stomach drop horribly. 'He's seen me before! He might recognize me! And, shit, I told him my name so he probably knows I'm after him!'
Talivaldis walked closer to where Dr. Lecter and Clarice were hidden. Clarice began to panic. If she was recognized, she would have to take him down herself. Then she would call in the authorities and try to convince them that she was all by herself. She could see that working out well. Talivaldis crept closer. His eyes scanned the area.
'Oh, shit, shit,...Think, Starling, THINK!'
"Who's there?" asked Michael. Dr. Lecter watched with amusement the predicament that Clarice was in. He could see all the thoughts running through her mind in her face. He felt her tension, anxiety, and panic, her indecision and desperation. She looked like a deer about to bolt. He decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Oh, Ardelia," he whispered loudly enough so Michael could hear.
He spun Clarice around and placed her in the corner of the alcove, his hands at her waist. He then pressed his lips to hers, making sure he moaned loud enough so Talivaldis to hear. Clarice was shocked and very disoriented. All thoughts vanished when he kissed her. His lips were warm and soft against hers. She finally gained back her rational thought and caught on to what he was doing.
Michael Talivaldis heard the couple before he saw them, trying to hide in that little niche. 'How disgusting,' he thought, 'that this man and woman could be doing that in public.' He thought if the Lord would approve of these two. He saw the woman pull the man in closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. He couldn't see her face. He then realized he had stopped to watch this shameless act of iniquity.
"May God have pity on you both," he said and walked on.
Both Clarice and Dr. Lecter had heard what the Crusader said but did not end the kiss until a couple of minutes later. Dr. Lecter looked out onto the street to see Talivaldis now several blocks away. He was staying in a very cheap and gaudy hotel on Black Pond Road. Clarice still hadn't let go of him. He turned back to her and saw her with a perplexed look on her face. He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"What are you thinking about, Clarice," he whispered.
"I'm thinking about how that was such a close call," she let out a shaky breath, "and what that kiss did to me." She raised her hand and caressed his cheek. He leaned into her touch, placing a kiss in her palm.
"What about the F.B.I. and your daddy? What would they think?"
"We don't have the time to talk about it right now," she said seriously. "We'll discuss this later if there even is a 'we.'"
"Agreed. Do you think dear ole' Jackie boy would have approved?"
She was going to retort angrily but she saw the amusement in his eyes. 'He's teasing me! Well, two can play at this game.'
"Why did you choose my best friend's name, huh? Is there something I should know, Doctor?"
Dr. Lecter laughed at that.
"I assure you I have no designs that deal with Special Agent Mapp. She's not as interesting nor as beautiful as you."
Clarice blushed deeply, not used to such courteous complements. They flagged down a taxi and drove to the Novotel.
"The F.B.I. booked you a room here?
Clarice nodded. She could see the distaste in the doctor's face. Ever the gentleman, he walked her inside and up to her room. She knew he did this out of gallantry but also to know where she was staying. He took her hand at her door and kissed it.
"Goodnight, Clarice," he said and walked away.
