Disclaimer: Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling, and FBI Director Tunberry, are copyright to Thomas Harris; and the story plus original characters belong to me.
Author's Note: At the rate I'm writing, this story could take quite a while; but I'll try and keep it as consistent as possible.
Year of Hell
by Josiah Tulkinhorn
Chapter Two: 2nd January
Washington, D.C. A few minutes past midnight.
Clarice Starling wakes suddenly, the phone beside her bed blaring. Blearily, she picked it up, and mumbled: "Starling."
"Clarice? Did I wake you?"
"Director Tunberry. What can I do for you sir?"
"I can call back of this is a bad time."
"No. I'm awake now. 'Bout ten minutes sleep. What can I do for you?"
"There's been a murder. In London. I thought you might want to know. It's Lecter."
"What? When did this happen."
"The body was found yesterday; murder took place the thirty-first. Interpol matched fingerprints a few hours ago, I was told soon after. We had to get some protocol in place, but I thought you'd want to know."
"Thankyou sir. What's the operating procedure?"
"This is a Metropolitan Police operation, with assistance from the FBI. Clarice…I know you went through a hell of a lot, what with Krendler's murder, but I want you running point. That is, if you want it."
"Of course, sir. Do you want me to come in now?"
"No. Get some sleep. When you come in, report to Behavioural Science. We'll have the basement cleared for you."
"Yes, sir."
"Clarice. This is going to be a global search. Nightmarishly difficult."
"I'll see you tomorrow sir."
"Goodnight, Clarice."
The phone went dead, and Clarice dropped it onto the receiver.
London. Why had Dr Lecter gone there?
To come out of retirement? Clarice knew one thing however. The nightmare was starting again.
--
EXCERPT FROM BBC NEWS - MORNING BROADCAST
"Police, today, have discovered a body in an East-London apartment. It is believed that it was Raymond Eddings, thirty-four, a plumber, working out of the east-end. Police have kept most details secret, but apparent links have been made with notorious serial-killer: Hannibal Lecter. It is unclear what Dr Lecter, last seen in America after the murders of wealthy invalid Mason Verger, Paul Krendler of the Justice Department, and numerous other individuals; role is in all of this. It is believed that Lecter has fled the country, and police agencies from around the world, are currently being drafted into the operation.'
--
Moscow, Ten a.m. local time.
Hannibal looked into the bathroom, checking one last time Kate Warner's body, which was laying, fully clothed, in the hotel's bath.
He had made her murder painless - it was the least he could do. He hadn't wanted to do it, but couldn't afford to be discovered this early. After wiping the hotel room down, he had slept peacefully in a chair, waiting for the sun to rise.
As an added precaution, he wiped the room again at nine, which took around an hour. He had just finished, and decided that discretion would be the better part of valour - if such an act could even be considered valour - and he had better leave the country.
He was already jet-lagged, but it wasn't as if he had much choice.
Gathering himself together, he placed his ear to the door, making sure there were no footsteps.
After hearing nothing but silence, he emerged from the room, and carefully made his way out into the sunshine and snow.
--
Office of the Director of the FBI; Washington D.C. Three p.m.
"Come in Clarice," said Tunberry, "I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk to you earlier, it's been a rough few hours. I haven't been off the phone in hours."
"Dr Lecter appears, and the world goes crazy."
"Yes, he does have that effect on people."
"Like I said this morning, I want you running point. There's a chance that Lecter might make contact with you, so I want you to have a guard with you. It's no guarantee, but you never know."
"Fine," said Clarice, "do we know where he went?"
"Metropolitan Police are still checking all airports, and records. No luck yet."
"Luck. We're going to need an awful lot of that."
--
Moscow. Seven p.m. local time.
A maid discovered Kate Warner's body at two (Moscow local time), and the Police were immediately called. After discovering her identity, the American Embassy was contacted, and her relatives in New York were informed within five hours.
It wouldn't be until tomorrow, until some connections were made.
By then, Hannibal Lecter was long gone.
To Be Continued