IV. Empty.

"Hello?" He answered on the other side of the line. "Finally you answer!" Shouted Alan Gardner who tried to hide from people. "I've been trying to find you these last days."

"You know the FBI is looking for you, right?"

"Yeah I know," he bellowed, "I know perfectly. And for that I need you fucking help."

"You're alone in this, Gardner," he confessed. "What?!"

"What you heard."

"You can't do this to me, I've been your right hand for four years!"

"I know, but I have to leave you."

"Don't do this to me ... You are my only salvation." An awkward silence formed. "Good luck, Alan."

"No, Mason!"

And he hung up. The young Mason Verger adjusted his coat and looked up at the steps, and hidden between the railings, was his young sister Margot. He smiled cynically and Margot, upon discovering the intentions of that smile, got up and ran upstairs.

"Oh Margot!" He exclaimed as he sings, while ascending in the steps.

Hannibal Lecter's Residence - Baltimore, Maryland.

"So she already have her hearing aids?" Abigail asked curiously, while watching Elisa coloring. "Now it will be a bit simple for you to communicate with Elisa."

"And will she listen to me well?"

"It will make it easier for her to perceive the sound."

Abigail could not ignore the excitement of the moment, she placed herself behind the girl and extended her arms, Hannibal looked worried the moment and was put on alert. Abigail spread her arms, picked up speed and made a loud rumble with her hands, Elisa released her crayon and lifted her head confused and scared; she looked everywhere until she noticed Abigail behind her. Hannibal could not hide his courage at the act of the young Hobbs, who kept smiling at what happened. Elisa also smiled, not understanding the reason for what had happened, and resumed her drawings. Abigail looked up and met Hannibal's hostile gaze.

"What?" She released strangely. "Don't do that again."

"I was curious."

"Just don't do it," he insisted angrily. At that tone she felt fear over her body, ducked her head and an affirmative movement came. "Well, I will retire to prepare the snack. Take care good of Elisa."

"Yes..."

Hannibal stepped aside and left the place. Abigail raised her head and turned to see the girl who had not stopped drawing. The young girl took the book, where she learned sign language, and sat next to the little girl. She paid attention to what she was doing, were drawings of dead pigs and lambs. Curious the young Hobbs took one of the drawings and examined it. With a light tapping of her fingers on the little girl's shoulder, she turned to see her.

"Why you do this?" She asked as she moved her hands. The girl understood the question but did not answer, and Abigail was surprised. "Elisa?" The girl shook her head and resumed her drawings.

The snack time arrived. Both girls picked up the crayons and drawings and at the table came a plate with a white jelly; garnished with raspberries, blackberries and blackberry sauce. Elisa looked at her plate in amazement and Abigail flattered the presentation:

"How cute it looks, what is it?"

"Panna Cota," Hannibal replied with a subtle smile, "is a typical Italian dessert; with cream of milk, sugar, and caramel syrup. Fruits are to give it sweetness and color. I'm afraid that this is not the original recipe, since I made it more to the taste of a child," he said as looking at the amazed girl.

"Sounds delicious," Abigail said with a smile. Hannibal took a seat in the main chair and watched both young ladies. "Please, enjoy."

Abigail grabbed the fork and slipped it delicately, took a piece and tasted it on her palate. Meticulously, the girl watched and copied Abigail's actions, marveling at the dessert she ate. Elisa admired the dish, the fruits were what most caught her attention, she had never seen them and curious she took a raspberry. The girl looked at Hannibal, raised her fork and a question came on her face.

"Don't you like raspberry?" Asked Hannibal, curious. Elisa blinked and lowered her fork. "Strawberry?"

"No, raspberry," he continued as he smiling. "It's similar to strawberry, but it's not the same flavor."

Being novel for her, she picked up the fork again and brought the fruit to her mouth. The little girl could not avoid a grimace, because of the bittersweet taste of the fruit, she opened her eyes and without stopping chewing she found the sweet taste. Hannibal did not take his eyes off the little girl, his smile remained but inside him, a beautiful and at the same time bitter memory clouded his mind. Elisa curved her lips and her sweet and innocent smile was a response of pleasure and gratitude to the snack. Abigail kept eating in silence while watching that moment, the young adolescent had already perceived that Doctor Lecter felt empathy for the girl and that bothered her. While the smiles dazzled the place, Abigail analyzed her discomfort and finally realized she was jealous. That older sister's jealousy when the younger sister got all the attention, and she didn't like feeling that way.

"Everything is all right, Abigail?" Asked Hannibal. She came back and looked at them. "Yes, yes," she replied nervously. "Why the question?"

"You were absent."

"I'm sorry, I ... I started to remember things, and stop going my mind." Hannibal did not stop looking at her, it seemed that he was analyzing her and she felt a little fear. "You shouldn't press yourself, it's not good for your mental health."

"I know Doctor, I'm sorry," she said with a mock smile.

Elisa laid her hand on Abigail's, who looked at her strangely at such an action. The little girl was smiling, she looked so calm, and suddenly, she opened her lips and in a leisurely voice called: "A ... bi."

And the young Hobbs has nothing left but to smile.

BAU — Quantico, Virginia.

"How are they doing with the analysis?" Asked Jack Crawford as he entered the area of analysis. His agents turned to see him. "Which one?" Asked Jimmy.

"Gardner."

The three got up from their chairs, Beverly went for the evidence bags, Brian took out the photographs and Jimmy set the table.

"Where do you want to start?"

"From the beginning, it's logical Jimmy."

"True..."

"We did an ultraviolet light analysis," Brian continued as he took the photographs and handed them to Jack, "in the girl's room there is evidence that Alan Gardner was there, but we also have a problem."

"What is the inconvenience?"

"Marlène Gardner defended herself with a gun?" Beverly continued. "Why your question?"

"Because we found this revolver under the bed," he said as he lifted the bag.

Jack took it and examined it.

"Marlène was seriously injured with a knife, there were no traces of a weapon."

"We think she attacked her husband with the gun."

"Yes," Jimmy continued, "we found blood, not only from her, also from Alan Gardner."

"So he ran away seriously injured?"

"Not quite."

"According to Will, he was shot in the shoulder," Beverly continued, "and before that, attacked Marlène with a pocket knife."

"After he shot and hurt his wife, he fled."

"And this guy is free, with a bullet in his shoulder?"

"It's the safest." Jack raised one of his eyebrows. "But it doesn't affect him to be accused of sexual abuse, it's just that, it's been four days and if he has a bullet embedded in his shoulder ..."

"It can generate a strong infection, which he is be eaten away."

"Well, I want him alive to lock him in prison," he said annoyed.

"Yes Boss."

"Keep the evidence for when he go to trial," the three nodded. "I will see you later."

And Jack left the place.

Upon arriving at his office, sitting in one of the chairs, was an absent Will Graham. Jack went inside and the sound of the door brought him back.

"Hi."

"Will, I'm glad to see you. I thought you were giving your readings."

"They will not miss me very much."

"What's going on?"

"I know Marlène woke up," he said nervously. "Yes..."

"I suppose you will interrogate her."

"You suppose well."

"I want to go with you."

"I'm sorry, Will, I'm afraid you won't be able to accompany me." The young Graham looked shocked, deep down he did not expect a negative response. "Why?"

"I decided to follow some advice and, for now, I want you to keep your distance with Marlène Gardner."

"And those advice were from Alana and Doctor Lecter?"

"Does it matter?" He asked sharply. "Will, don't take it badly, but you're taking this very personal case, as you've done with Garret Jacob-Hobbs. For a while, I want you to be away from both cases."

"You can't take me off so easily," he snapped furiously as he got up from his chair and stood in front of him. "Yes, I can," he replied calmly. He stepped aside and walked to his desk.

"Those are my cases!"

"Pardon? They are mine and you assist me in them." Will snorted hard. "You can't get me away from this, you know that."

"Yes, I know. That's why I want you to calm down so that you think clearly and help me go after Alan Gardner."

At that time it was heard as the door opened, they both looked and saw Hannibal Lecter enter. He stopped when he felt those eyes on him.

"Good afternoon, Jack, Will," he said, a little surprised.

Graham did not answer, passed by and left the office. Hannibal repudiated Will's manners, but another day they would talk about it. He looked back at Jack, who greeted with a slight nod.

"Thank you for coming, Doctor Lecter."

"Thanks to you Crawford, for considering me for this," he said with a smile. "Soon it is time to visits and Marlène is a bit stable. We can both interrogate her."

John Hopkins Hospital - Baltimore, Maryland.

Marlène's physical pain did not compare to what she felt in her heart. With a lost look, and her food untouched, she kept crying for everything that had happened. Slight knocks on the door made her come to back and she watched two men under the lintel.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Gardner," greeted a dark-skinned man, being covered by a huge black coat. "Good afternoon," she replied, somewhat stunned.

"Let me introduce myself, I am Agent Jack Crawford and he is Dr. Hannibal Lecter." The latter, a man who emitted elegance, greeted courteously. She responded in the same way. "We would like to talk to you, if you are in a good condition."

"Where is my daughter?" She demanded. "Mrs. Gardner," Hannibal spoke, "your daughter meets me, under temporary tutoring and ..."

"Tutoring?" She interrupted. "Yes," he continued, seeking to ignore that question. "Why do you have my daughter?"

"Mrs. Gardner," Crawford interrupted them and she turned to see him, "we are here so you can tell us what happened between you and your husband." Marlène ignored Jack and looked back at Hannibal. "My daughter needs special care and ..."

"We know, Mrs. Gardner. You don't worry, I can manage sign language, and believe me Elisa is under excellent cares."

"Mrs. Gardner," Jack continued, "the situation in which you and your daughter have been involved is too serious. We need to ask you some questions since your husband is missing."

The woman looked at both men in terror; she felt that they judged her, she began to tremble and tears flowed from her eyes. Jack and Hannibal looked at each other, one more worried than the other, but someone had to act and Lecter stepped forward. He approached Marlène and delicately took one of her hands. She shuddered at such an act.

"Marlène, please, calm down," he said, adorning each word with a false tone of security. "W-what kind of doctor are you?"

"I am a psychiatrist."

"Oh my…!" She whispered to himself. "My girl is in therapy?"

"I'm afraid so." Tears kept falling and she squeezed that hand more tightly. "It's my fault. I ... I should have seen it, I should have noticed it and I didn't."

"What did you don't noticed, Marlène?"

"The damage he did to my daughter ..."

"How did you find out, Mrs. Gardner?" Interrupted Jack. Hannibal looked at him severely. "I-I, I was going to wash clothes," she said nervously. "That bastard did not hide it."

"What he did not hide it?"

"Elisa's underwear. I saw it, it had blood ... a seven-year-old girl did not menstruates." She stopped and tried to breathe. "He, he always used to wash clothes, as he wanted to help me but hid it…" in it a nervous laugh was combined with crying. "He was hiding what he did to our daughter ... His daughter!" She scream. "What kind of father does that to his son?!"

Marlène's tears fell intensely, she couldn't control herself and Hannibal released her hand.

"Jack," he said, "look for a nurse."

The agent worried about the woman's reaction obeyed and left them alone. At that statement Hannibal could feel something inside him ignite. The wrath, the anger, the fury; disgust towards the person who had done such acts. It was not the first time he had experienced them but it had been a long time when he felt those emotions come together.

"It's my fault," she snapped anguished. "It's true, it your fault, Marlène," he said and she looked at him in shock. "You failed as a mother, you didn't take care of Elisa and let that man abuse her."

"I tried to kill him," she revealed, feeling an anger at the words he mentioned. "I tried to make my daughter happy again ..."

"And you didn't do it. He escaped and you almost been murdered," the woman turned her gaze aside, at how strong he was. "Marlene," he called, "do you know where Alan could have fled?" She still trembling, shook her head. "I need you to think, to remember somewhere he could run away."

"What will you do, kill him?" She asked incredulously. Hannibal showed impeccable serenity; he held Marlène's hand again and looking into her eyes he replied: "Yes."

A/N:

Thanks so much for reading. I will be deeply grateful with any comments, constructive criticism, opinions and / or suggestions :3