Chapter Eight: A Reality Call
The phone rang and since Will busied him self with washing the dishes, Clarice put it on herself to answer the phone.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hello, is Will there?" a woman's voice rang through the phone.
Molly. "Yes he is, just hold on for a minute." She handed the phone to Will.
"Hey Molly. What's up?" he greeted lightly.
"Well, I was calling to set a date for you to see Josh, but please disregard that. Who is that woman who answered your phone?"
Will glanced over at Clarce who looked very uncomfortable.
"Her name is Clarice Starling and she -"
"The girl who caught that serial killer some years back?" Molly blurted.
Obviously his wife was more up to date with the news than he was.
"Didn't she get fired?" Molly finished.
Fired? Well that was a new peice. Interesting.
"That's the one," he replied, again, irritatingly cheery.
"Why is she staying with you, how did she find you?"
Will knew he was on dangerous ground. He should prepare for either great concern or great anger. He braced himself.
"Jack told her." Will decided to leave out the part about how Jack had known all of their whereabouts, since Florida.
"Jack?" It seemed as if pity had won out. "Why didn't you tell me?" Perhaps not. "What does he want? Other then you dead?"
"It's not like that. She just wants information, she's not recruiting."
"And that's not suspicous? You know what? I'll call you later, when it's less crowded!" Molly slammed down the phone.
Will winced. He hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes exasperatedly. He was in a damned if he did/ damned if he didn't situation. True, as much as he distrusted Clarice he knew that to move on, he desperately needed to get some things out.
Clarice had been cleaning the kitchen but she still heared his end of the conversation.
"Sorry about that." he said.
"No need to apologize. She's your wife, she should check up on you." she replied briskly.
"She doesn't mean any harm, she just doesn't trust the Bureau. And for good reason." he added.
"I'm starting to feel the same way" she admitted. Will wondered if she was referring to her 'quitting'.
Will felt like they're conversation was becoming a little too serious. He suggested that he and Clarice drive to the nearby city.
"I need some more groceries if you're to be staying for a bit longer. " He said when Clarice questioned his motives.
When they arrived Clarice was immedietely taken in by a bookstore. As she wandered inside with a bit of a glazed look, Will left, claiming he had 'errands to run.'
The first stop Will made was to the post office. There was one in Treehawk, of course but Will felt that Treehawk was too small to be listed as his mailing address. This way he put some distance, trivial as it may be inbetween his mail and him.
He was relieved to find nothing but bills and catalogues. Nothing from the FBI and thank God, nothing from Lecter. Not like Lecter bothered to write systematically, but once in a blue moon, Graham would recieve something.
He continued on to the fruit stand where he picked up lots of fruits and vegetables. At one, he went back into the store and picked up Clarice so that they could have lunch together. They stopped at a little cafe and sat down. After they placed their orders Clarice started to fidget with straw wrappers.Will watched her with interest.
God I love her. He thought to himself. What! Where the hell had that come from? Love! I've never even kissed her! I'm losing my mind! I hope...
But before Will could totally analyze his freudian slip to death, he heard the sound of a phone ringing. It was Clarice's.
"Do you mind?" she asked. "I really have to take this."
Will gave her leave and Clarice stepped outside.
"Hey Ardelia, long time no see" Clarice greeted her best friend cheerily.
"I know! Where are you anyways? I called Crawford but he told me to just call you. "
Clarice bit her lip, wondering how her friend was going to react to her news. "I'm in Maine. With Will."
"Will who?" Delia asked.
"Will Graham."
"Really?" Clarice could imagine Delia's widening eyes. "Why? How long will you be there? How did you find him? Where are you staying? Is he actually talking to you?"
"Slow down!" Clarice laughed. "I'm here because I need to talk to him about Hannibal, and I don't know how long I'll be here. Jack told me where Will was and Graham invited me to stay with him. And lastly, yes Will is talking to me."
Delia let out a impressed hoot. "So what's going on? Even over the phone you're glowing. Are you and Will doing more than just talking about what goes bump in the night?" She teased.
"Delia! You know he's married!" Clarice admonished.
"Yeah, but I also know that you just said that he was married, not that you weren't interested. Mark my words, you'll be screwing before long."
Clarice shook her head at Ardelia's confidence.
"I think it's good for you. Who was the last guy you dated anyway? Was it that really ugly guy from-"
Clarice cut her off. "You know what? As much as I love this going down memory lane I really have to get back, our food just came, kay? Call me later and love ya!"
"Just don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Clarice snorted as she hung up the phone. She went back inside and sat down at their table. Will was sitting with his chin in his hands staring of into space.
"Were you planning on eating anytime soon?" She asked jokingly.
Will look startled by Clarice's appearence.
"What were you thinking about?" Clarice asked.
"Nothing, just staring off into space again." was his supreme explaination.
Clarice started to dig into her food.
Will just stared at his food.
"Penny for your thoughts." She winced. What was up with her and dorky sayings?
"I'm just dwelling on the past." He muttered.
They finished lunch in silence.
It was seven o'clock before they reached Will's house again. Clarice headed imedietely to her room and was about to flop down on her bed when she noticed a white envelope resting on her pillow with her name written boldly on the front. She opened it and read the letter half way through before dropping it. Her eyes rested on the area next to where she'd found the letter. There was a lamb figurine.
Here we go she thought, falling to the floor.
Will had discovered his letter moments before Clarice noticed hers. Not even bothering to read it all the way through he had ran into Clarice's room. He found her just as she was crumpling to the ground.