Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
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"Ardelia, wake up."
Jack Crawford had finally pulled up in front of the apartment build where Will Graham lived and was now trying to rouse Ardelia from a deep sleep.
She slowly opened her eyes, trying to focus on Jack's face.
"Didn't sleep well last night, did you?" Jack asked.
"Oh, well I had a lot on my mind..."
"Yea, I bet. Well we're here."
Ardelia looked around and realized that they were in fact, in front of an apartment building. As she got out of the car, she couldn't help but be a bit surprised. Tall buildings wedged together. A perfect example of a downtown concrete jungle.
"Will Graham, lives here?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, why are you so surprised?"
"Clarice told me a little bit about him, what she heard from you. He used to work on boats, near the sea, right?"
"You are right, he did. He even went back there for a couple of years. But things had changed after Molly left him. So he came here, it keeps him busy."
Jack and Ardelia paused in the entrance hall, scanning the lists for Will's name.
"There, third floor number 357."
Jack nodded, pressed the corresponding button and spoke into the speaker.
"Will? This is Jack, I need to speak with you, it's important."
They didn't hear anything for a couple of moments.
"Maybe he's not there?" Ardelia said.
"Oh no, it's quite a while since he got off of work, he's home."
Just as Jack finished, the entry door buzzed open.
Jack and Ardelia quickly walked into the entry way and headed up to Will's room.
Barely looking through the dingy hallways, they made it up in a couple of minutes. Jack raised his hand to knock on the door only to have the door open immediately.
Ardelia was surprised with the man before her. She had never seen him in person before, but the photos of him in the newspapers showed a well-kept man with inquisitive eyes. But this man...he had many scars littering his once handsome face. They were very light but still gave him a roguish appearance. His rumpled gray suit did nothing to soften his appearance either.
Luckily the man was too busy staring at Jack to notice Ardelia watching him.
"Well hello Jack. Lets skip the pleasantries, shall we? What do you want?" Will asked as he opened the door for Jack and Ardelia.
Will barely even acknowledged his guest's companion.
Jack waited until they were all seated in the meager living room before answering Will's question.
"Well, Will as usual, I need your help on a case."
"Hmm." Will answered, not really paying attention while he got up to fetch himself a drink.
"Anyone like a drink?"
Both Jack and Ardelia declined as they watched Will pop open a bottle of beer before coming back and sitting opposite of them.
"So what is it this time? I haven't seen anything in the papers lately. You're not carrying any photos or case files to look at. So either there's a new serial killer the papers don't know about yet or...you know you'll have to convince me of something before even showing me any evidence."
"I'm glad to see you'll still sharp as ever, Will." Jack said with a small smile
"Flattery will get you no where. You know I won't go looking for him again."
"Will, I haven't even told you who the case is about yet-"
"You don't have to, Jack. If it were anyone else you would just mail me the evidence you want looked at, and you sure wouldn't have brought someone else along."
He nodded towards Ardelia, looking at her for the first time.
"Who is she, family to one of Lecter's victims or something of that sort?"
"No, I'm nothing of that sort!" Ardelia had had it with this guy. So far she only saw a drunk guy that was a tad bit observant.
Will only looked at the now very angry Ardelia and back to Jack.
"Will, let me explain. Dr. Lecter isn't just murdering random people throughout Europe. He's done something to agent Starling. He's kidnapped her. Agent Mapp here is Starling's friend. This could be our last chance to catch him. If both of you were to work together, I'm sure that-"
"That what? That everything would be fine?" Jack finished off his beer before continuing.
"You know what I think? You love my insight so much, I'm sure you wouldn't mind me sharing. I think that if you continue to go after him, he will kill you, Jack. And what's worse you would have dragged Starling, Mapp, and now myself right along for the ride! But you don't care, do you. Just as long as Lecter is arrested right? All for the greater good? Oh no, it's not that easy. You do this because you can't live with yourself for letting one get away. Everyone he kills is on your head just as much as his!"
Ardelia just sat back shocked. She hadn't even met this man before and he was ranting already?
Jack, although not surprised, was still deeply unnerved. He hated it when Will turned that innate perception of people on himself. He always seemed to nail exactly what Jack was thinking, and this time was no different.
"I'm sorry, Will. You're right, I do feel guilty. First for what happened to you, and now Starling. But with Starling...I sent her to him, Will. Her situation is mostly my fault, if I hadn't-"
"Stop blaming yourself, Jack. I will help you...if only to make sure that what happened to me, doesn't happen to her."
"Really?" Jack asked. He really didn't expect him to agree so readily.
"Yes, I will." Will answered. After a beat he looked back up Jack with a haunting smirk.
"At least this way, whether we get her back or not, I won't have to worry about you anymore."
He laughed and walked back into his small kitchen and grabbed another beer.
"Meet me at Marty's, the diner down the street in an hour. Bring all that paper work I'm sure you brought and I'll look it over while we...catch up." Will shouted back to them.
Ardelia and Jack quickly showed themselves out.
Once they were out of hearing range she looked over at Jack. He looked a bit pale.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. At least he agreed to help us." Jack answered.
"Why did he? He seemed quite angry with you, and then he just agrees to help us?"
"It's hard to explain, Ardelia. Ever since I called him back to help me with the Tooth Fairy killings, he has, in essence, hated me. The only reason he helps is because he hates the murderers themselves more. Also, I think he feels guilty for what happened to Clarice."
"Why? I didn't even think they knew each other."
"They didn't. But during the Buffalo Bill murders, I knew I would need someone to get through to Lecter. If only to get a couple scraps of information. I asked Will for his help on the case. He declined and I was left to find someone else who would get Lecter to talk. I chose Clarice. I think in a way, we both feel guilty for her situation now."
"Oh." Ardelia answered as they continued their walk to the car. Ardelia never imagined that either Jack or this Will Graham felt this way. Clarice would flip! If she was only here Ardelia reminded herself.
By the time that Jack and Ardelia got to the diner and set up the most important evidence and information, it was already half and hour later. The remaining thirty minutes was spent sipping coffee and discussing the weather.
By the time that Will finally arrived, Ardelia was definitely ready for a change of pace. After ordering their food, Will barely looked up as he shuffled through the many papers. Ardelia, who was expecting Will to take most of the dinner reading, surprised her by removing 3/4 of the information contained there.
"What are you doing? That's everything about Lecter, it's important." Ardelia chastised.
Will just glanced up at her before separating the papers again.
"If you remember correctly, Mapp, this was my case long before you came along."
"That was more than ten years ago-"
That got Will looking up finally.
"You want my help? Then let me go about it my own way."
Jack looked at her sympathetically.
"It's o.k. Ardelia, he knows what he's doing."
"I sure hope so." Ardelia muttered as she sat back in her seat angrily.
After about ten minutes, Will set back all the papers again. And stared at Ardelia intently.
"What? You couldn't have read all that information so soon."
"I didn't have to. I knew most of the events leading up to the death of that Italian...Pazzi, was it? No, what I read was your report."
"Yes, what about it?" Ardelia asked defensively.
"What did you leave out?"
"I didn't leave-"
"O.k. I guess we'll have to go about this the hard way then. Your report says that after you were questioned by the police you went back inside and Lecter and Clarice just happened to be there"
"Yes, that's right."
"What were you wearing?"
"What-?"
"Just answer the question."
"Fine, I was wearing jeans, a shirt, and a jacket."
"Why were you dressed so early?"
"I always wake up early and get dressed." Ardelia said quickly, knowing that was a down right lie.
"Why were you wearing a jacket?"
"I was cold."
"Why were you cold?"
"I just was-"
Will sighed.
"Agent Mapp, Why are you lying? The report also says that the cops that questioned you saw you getting out of your car. Not coming out of your home. What are you hiding?"
Ardelia sighed. It seemed as if she would have to tell them. She glared at Will before turning to Jack.
"Jack, I'm sorry. But I didn't tell you, well because it doesn't really make any difference I suppose anyways."
"It's o.k. Ardelia, just tell us now, you never know what may help out."
For the next ten minutes, Ardelia went over everything she left out. It was hard to admit that she had left Lecter at her home for fear of Clarice's safety, but she was able to do. And now, it seemed that Clarice still was lost, despite how hard Ardelia tried.
Ardelia looked up at both of them after she had finished.
"See it changes nothing, Lecter still kidnapped Clarice."
But neither Jack nor Will responded.
They just remained deep in thought. Finally Will broke the silence.
"I think there's more to this than we know right now. I need to see your apartment, Mapp."
"O.k."
Jack spoke up.
"Will, you can just stay at my place until we figure something out and decide where to look."
Will just nodded absently. Still thinking about what Ardelia had said.
Ardelia smirked. She could tell that it was going to be one long ride home with Will in the car.
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O.k. yes I know nothing too revealing but Will had to be introduced. I think he's the hardest character to write so tell me what you think. Reviews are always appreciated, thanks!
Next Chapter Preview: Hannibal and Clarice finally reach their destination, only to find themselves being pursued again. Both the Authorities and Crawford's team are closing in, will Hannibal and Clarice be able to defy fate once more??