Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, (tear).
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"Shit, what I have got myself into!" This thought kept running through Ardelia's head over and over again. Her thoughts were interrupted when the door behind her opened. In stepped an ordinary agent with a clip board. He was followed by none other than Paul Krendler. The both made their way to the two chairs opposite of the table that Ardelia was sitting at.
She politely shook hands with both men before quickly taking her seat again.
"Hello, Mr. Krendler. I didn't expect you to be interviewing me."
Ardelia said, and truly she was surprised to see him. She only knew him from those speeches he often gave during yearly department meetings, and the run-ins he had with Clarice over the years.
"Yes, I have special reason to see Dr. Lecter and his accomplice Ms. Starling apprehended." He replied succinctly.
Understanding suddenly dawned on Ardelia. Clarice had been upset lately. Ever since someone had planted that fake letter from Dr. Lecter. She now had a pretty good idea of who had planted it, with a little help from Verger's bank account most likely
"hmm", Ardelia replied, not sure where this little chat would be going.
"Could you please state your full name?" asked the other man in his generic suit
"Ardelia Anne Mapp"
The man asked her to spell it and quickly wrote it down on his clipboard paper.
The man made her nervous.
"Am I being interrogated for a crime, or something? If so I need to contact my lawyer."
"Oh no, no, Ms. Mapp. We just need to further understand the events. It says here that during your previous questioning, you said you had not seen Clarice at all during for last couple of days?"
Paul Krendler asked, that utterly annoying smile on his face.
Ardelia sighed. Yes, she had said that when she was still afraid Dr. Lecter would kill Clarice at any moment. Damn if she was going to admit that she had lied before, and had actually unwittingly helped Dr. Lecter out by saving Clarice's highly delirious ass.
"Yes, that is what I said" Well that was the truth, that is what she said. She rationalized to her conscience.
"Would you please narrate the event after you spoke with the authorities?"
Ardelia took a deep breath, she had to make sure not to change her story. It actually wasn't going to be that hard. She just had to leave out the little part of her knowingly lying to the police for Clarice.
"Well I came back inside and saw Clarice, I ran over to her. Then I realized Dr. Lecter was with her. Before either of them could do anything, the doorbell rang. They told me to open the door and get rid of whoever it was. They hid behind the door while I talked to Jack Crawford. I had tried to give him a warning but... Clarice came up from behind me and Crawford walked through the door and...I heard a slam. I don't really know what happened after that."
"Do you know why she was there?"
"I don't know...it was her house."
"Yes, but the report says that you were found on your side of the house, so did you crawl all the way from her side of the house with Mr. Crawford hancuffed to you?"
"No."
"Then do you know why she was at your side of the house?"
"No"
Both men sighed and looked annoyed
"Well, do you know where they may be headed to now?"
"No."
"Did they say anything that may lead you to believe where they might be headed?"
"No."
Krendler looked disappointed.
"Alright Ms. Mapp, thank you for your time. Please be sure to let us know if you find out anything."
"Um about that Mr. Krendler. I was wondering if I may be part of this case. To help with the investigation. I know Clarice, and think I would be a valuable asset."
Krendler pretended to look like he considered her request for a moment as he stood.
"Well that is very kind of you Ardelia, however, no need to worry. Over at criminal profiling and apprehension they have a well qualified staff-"
"I know, Clarice was part of it. She'd have wanted me to be a part of it now. To help find her!"
"Mistake me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Ms. Starling that strangled you." Krendler said, looking at the bruises forming around Ardelia's neck.
"That wasn't really her, don't you see I should be allowed to help her?!" Ardelia's voice was rising along with her anger.
"No, actually I think it wise for you to take a leave of absence, what with the taxing situation and all. I'll contact your district director for you."
With that Krendler and his lackey left the room.
Ardelia slumped back down on her chair. Damn, if she didn't do something and Clarice was captured by those type of thugs she'd surly be harmed, especially if her new found infatuation with Dr. Lecter caused her to do something stupid. I'll guess I'll just have to go kick some sense into her, Ardelia thought to herself...but how to find her?
Then she turned swiftly as she heard the door open again.
"Excuse, me. Are you a Mrs. Mapp."
It was another nurse, this one didn't seem as uppity as the last one and for that Ardelia was grateful.
"Yes, yes I am, what has happened?"
Ardelia asked with concern.
"Oh nothing serious. Um...Crawford, Jack Crawford is awake and was asking for you." The nurse replied, looking at her clipboard.
"Oh ok, great."
Ardelia followed the nurse out and found the room that Crawford occupied. He was sitting up and other than his hospital robes and head wrappings, he looked basically the same.
"Hello, Mr. Crawford. You asked to see me?" Ardelia asked as she tentatively stepped into the hospital room.
"Yes, I did. Here, please sit." He said, indicating the chair beside the bed.
Ardelia sat and looked at him expectantly.
"I just wanted to thank you, Ardelia."
"For what? I should have just kept my mouth shut and you wouldn't be here right now."
"Yes, you could have. And I would have left that house a very sad man. With no leads and retirement fast upon him. Even though I only glimpsed Dr. Lecter for a second, it was enough."
Now Ardelia was perplexed.
"Enough for what?"
"Facing the macabre tastes of society's rejects is not an easy thing to do, day in and day out. It was only the fact that I was able to put some of them away that gave me any sleep at night. Do you know what if feels like to have one of your greatest achievements in life undone? Well, that's what it felt like when I discovered that Dr. Lecter had escaped. Although the real capture rightfully goes to Mr. Graham, I spent just as many nights as he did searching through evidence, trying to find even a shred of anything significant. I was the one that compiled all of the evidence against Lecter after he had been captured. I doubt that he would of even been associated with half of the murders he committed if not for me. My point is, Ardelia. He has escaped again, now with Clarice. I don't think I'd be able to live if I knew he was still out there with her. You know Clarice, Ardelia.
Help me find them."
Ardelia was utterly ecstatic, she was just offered what not more that two minutes ago she was denied.
"Of course, nothing would make me happier than getting Clarice back."
Jack wearily smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Before you get too excited I need you to know we would not, technically be working for the government, I'm almost retired anyways. Any work that we do would be on our own. If you have any qualms with that I suggest you leave now and forget everything I asked of you."
Ardelia chuckled.
"Truth be told I was planning on doing the exact same thing after Krendler just denied my request to be put on her case."
"Well it looks like we think alike, which is always a good start."
Ardelia and Jack smiled.
"So when are you going to get out here?" Ardelia asked, breaking what almost turned into an uncomfortable silence.
"Oh, quite soon actually. They just want to monitor my sleep and if everything looks o.k. they'll let me go tomorrow morning."
"That's great, you need a ride home tomorrow?"
"Well I left my car at your place so you can just drive me back there and I can drive myself home. What do you say we start our investigation the day after that-oh wait you'll have work on that day."
"Oh no I won't. After my little chat with Krendler he said I should take a leave of absence until this all dies down."
"Oh well that's convenient."
"Yes, very... so I'll pick you up when tomorrow?"
"About nine I suppose would be fine."
"Ok then see you tomorrow." Ardelia finished as she stood up
"Good bye until then, Jack."
"Until then, Ardelia."
Ardelia shut the door to his hospital room and took a deep breath. As she walked down the lime-green hospital hallways to the lobby to call for taxi, she chanted
"He's Mr. Crawford, Mr. Crawford."
But trying to remind herself of this fact didn't seem to be working, she still couldn't get the knotted feeling out of her stomach every time she thought that they would be working together soon. She'd just have to forget about that stupid feeling though, she resolved to focus on only finding Clarice from now on.
The next morning Ardelia got up and dressed as usual. Only this time she had a car ride with Jack Crawford to look forward to. Ardelia shook her head, reprimanding herself for such foolish thoughts so early in the morning. As she walked out to her car, she looked around, searching for Mr. Crawford's car. She didn't find it.
Stupid stupid stupid, for not noticing before now. Of course, technically it Jack who should have realized his car keys were missing, but then again he had a concussion at the time. Not really the state conducive to noticing such things.
Ardelia rushed inside the house to call the hospital. After being transferred to his room line she asked him where he had parked his car. After Jack told her he had parked it across the street, she informed him it was missing and that she would alert the FBI. By twelve o'clock that afternoon there was a state wide alert out on car's license plate number and description.
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Hmm so how will Dr. Lecter and Clarice get rid of Crawford's car? Will Mr. Crawford and Ardelia get together, does he even like her? What surprise character will Jack Crawford turn to, in order to help him find the notorious Dr. Lecter? And has Dr. Lecter ever asked the grinning bob cat why he grins?! hehe, ok answers to all these questions and more, except for the last one, will be coming soon. Please review, they make me very happy!