Mischa Lecter

Chapter 10: She Can't Be

There was a knock on the door.

She'd been expecting that. They all had, no one moved for a moment until again the knocking echoed to their ears. Hannibal got up and went to answer the door, while Mischa's eyes returned to the book in her lap. Clarice also returned to her book, knowing what would come next. Mischa scratched at the brace on her arm, it was incredibly uncomfortable.

"Mischa, there is someone here to see you." Hannibal spoke when he reappeared at the door.

Mischa looked up, standing slowly. The first man she saw was tall, in a normal suit. An FBI agent, she was sure of it. Even more when he pulled out his badge. The one behind him was shorter, in uniform a regular police officer there for backup.

"Mischa Sergei?"

"Yes, sir." She answered politely, cradling her arm as she was approached by the men.

"I'm Special Agent George Marques, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course, sir... But what's this about?" she asked, her eyes filling with concern and fear.

"Carlos Enrico Sanchez was found dead in his home earlier this morning, His sister Josephina Maria Sanchez is still missing."

"I'm sorry, who?" she asked slowly.

"You probably know them better as Enrico and Aidan Fredrick."

"Oh my god." She whispered as her hand went to her mouth, tears began rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but Aidan might still be out there. We need to hurry if we're going to find her alive."

Mischa nodded, "Okay." She said her tears clear in her voice.

"When was the last time you saw either of them?"

"I saw them both last night at the Opera. We met each other there, but my arm was bothering me so afterwards I asked Aidan... Josephina, to walk me home. When we got back I asked her if she wanted to stay for a while or if I could call a cab or something for her but she said she'd be okay. That's the last time I saw them." she said wiping a few tears away.

"Did anything seem out of the ordinary?"

She paused for a while, thinking, "We were shopping the day before yesterday, and I noticed a man following us. She said it was someone her brother paid to protect her or something. I can't really remember what she said, because we were in a hurry to get home."

After a few more questions they left a sobbing Mischa on the couch, apologizing for their lose and promising to keep them updated. Hannibal waited at the window until they had pulled away, then returned to the study.

"They're gone, Mischa."

Mischa pulled away from her mother, wiping her eyes. She regained her composure quickly, and looked up at her father, "How'd I do?" she asked smiling a little.

"Better than I could have imagined." he said gently kissing her forehead.

She smiled brightly and picked up her book again, continuing to read.

"Are you awake?" a male voice asked at the door.

He opened his eyes slowly, they adjusted to the light and he nodded. He couldn't feel his legs, and his back hurt badly. He recognized the man in the room as a doctor. He had bright blue eyes and something in his head told him he was familiar, but he could grasp how.

"Do you remember your name?"

"Hamal... Starling." He said slowly.

"I see it finally came to you."

Hamal nodded, "Where's my sister?"

"How are you feeling.?"

"My back hurts and I can't feel my legs, Now where is my sister?" He asked now getting scared.

"We never found her. She's been missing for almost 2 years." he said, sorrowfully.

Hamal laid back against the bed, his eyes closed. A silent tear rolled down his cheek followed by a few more, whatever the doctor had to say was lost in his sorrow, until he heard something about being paralyzed.

"What?"

"You're paralyzed from the waist down, but there is a chance you'll be able to walk if you work at it. I'm sorry about your sister."

He nodded slowly and returned to look out the window... She couldn't be dead... He looked at the circular scar in his left hand... "She can't be."