Chapter Two

Clarice eyed the brown landscape below her from the tiny window she was given on the Boeing 777 as it descended towards her destination. The plane swung into final approach and her stomach lurched again as a gust of wind bounced the plane once again. Turbulence coming into Denver was not uncommon, making for a roller coaster style ride on the worst of days. Today was not one of those days, but she had still had a bouncy ride as she had come in from Chicago. Now her view looked out on the nearing airport, its white spires thrusting up into the air. Denver International Airport reminded Clarice strongly of a circus tent, and it was a sentiment echoed by many, both in Colorado and out. There was thump as the landing gear came down, disrupting the airstream and adding drag. She was behind the wing and could watch as the flaps came out, slowing the aircraft further as it continued to descend. It swept over E-470 and the cars below looked less like ants. Clarice pressed her head back into the headrest and closed her eyes, waiting out the descent. She didn't open them until she felt the tires touch down on the runway, and felt the plane shudder as it dramatically slowed. She looked out her window now at the acres of runway that surrounded her, and the brown grass whipping in the March wind. On the intercom, the captain was welcoming them to Denver International Airport, local time of 1:47 PM and a temperature of 59 degrees with winds out of the south at about seven miles per hour. All in all a nice day.

The passengers about the coach cabin began to unbuckle their seat belts, stretching and reaching for bags stowed under the seats in front of them. Under the stern watch of the flight attendants no one rose as the United flight made its way to the gate. Clarice unbuckled her belt and stretched her legs out in front of her, then leaned forward to retrieve the laptop she had stowed there during the flight. She hadn't touched it the entire time, after she and the rest of the passengers had received a lecture about having their portable electronics confiscated and the possibility of crashing the plane. Clarice had doubts about her turning on the cell phone in her pocket or the laptop actually crashing the plane, but the speech had been enough to convince her to behave. It wouldn't do her any good if she were to arrive in Colorado by greeting the soil up close and personal.

As she held the computer in her lap she watched the aircraft near a building with Jetways protruding from it at various interval. Now the lead flight attendant was on the intercom, telling them that they'd be arriving at gate 22C and giving the gate locations of various connecting United flights. Concourse C was the third concourse at DIA and Clarice was trying to recall the layout in her mind. The lumbering jet finally pulled up to its appointed gate and came to a stop. Most of the cabin was out of their seats and opening the overhead bins before the Captain could give his little Thank you speech. Clarice waited in her seat until the passenger next to her was up and into the aisle. She smiled absently at a young mother in the row across from her who was looking nervously about the cabin, clutching the hand of her little girl. Clarice shuffled her way into the aisle and tugged her single bag from the compartment, careful not to hit herself or anyone else in the head with it. Pulling out the handle she trundled it along behind her as she made her way to the front of the plane. A flight attendant wished her a good day, barely even looking at Clarice.

Up the Jetway and into the concourse, a marvel of chrome and polished steel everywhere. She pushed her way past families hugging loved ones and made it to one of the moving sidewalks that ran the length of the concourse. A quick glance at the signs informed her that she was headed in the proper direction for the trains. DIA is connected by trains that run underground, connecting each of the separate concourses and the terminal. She wound her way down the escalators to the train platform and waited with a small crowd for the next train. Its arrival was announced by a not quite pleasant female voice that told the crowd to stand back from the doors. It was easy enough to get on and press herself against one wall, holding onto a slick metal pole with one hand and her bag with the other. She swayed slightly as the train took off and gained speed., but then balanced herself as the speed became a constant. Two stops later, for concourses B and A, and she was deposited into the terminal. Bypassing the baggage claim, she had only brought along the carry-on, laptop, and purse, and she was headed up another set of escalators to the main level. Metal models of paper airplanes hovered above her head and she idly wondered what kind of damage on of those could inflict if it were to ever fall.

Out of the escalators and into the sprawling inside of the circus tents. Another glance at the sings gave her directions to the car rental agency desks. She pushed through her purse with one hand, feeling for the confirmation she had printed and her Hertz card. Ten minutes later, her life signed away to the rental gods, and a map of metro Denver in hand, she was shuttled out to the parking lot, where her car stood waiting. There were perks to having the damn gold card, and she appreciated it this time. Waiting under an awning, with her name spelled out in amber LEDs above, was a bright blue Mustang, the trunk open and awaiting her deposit. She hefted the suitcase into it and laid the laptop next to it gently. She slammed the trunk shut and admired the rear end view for a moment. If it handled well she might have to get one when she returned to DC. The Roush, as much as she liked it, was getting up in miles and she couldn't give it the attention it deserved, not like she used to. Besides, she could get a fair sum for it from an enthusiast. The Mustang, it was a GT she noted belatedly, started with a nice quiet roar and she looked over the instruments. Thirty-five minutes after first touching down in Colorado, Clarice was headed towards Boulder, and the undesirable task that lay ahead.
.-.-.-.

Lindsey exhaled as she sat up and blew a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. She could feel a trickle of sweat making its way down the back of her neck and she sighed. There was the clang of weights in the background behind her, over the pulsing bass of Motley Crue's 'Kickstart my Heart'. She had been ordered to complete another rep of crunches on the exercise ball while her trainer went to answer a phone call. She took a deep breath as she began to lower herself back again, feeling the ball move slightly under her. Lin was wary of the exercise ball, and had continued to assure Mark, her trainer, that one day it would shoot out from under her, leaving her laying on the floor. Mark had laughed at her and ordered her to get on it anyhow. She closed her eyes and was about to begin the next crunch when a shadow crossed her face. She was scowling even before she looked up to see who it was.

"Hey, Lin. You jus' keep lookin' better and better every time I see you." the owner of her voice was staring pointedly at Lindsey's blue sports bra and she knew it was pointless to ask him to stop looking.

"Hello, Jeff." she deadpanned. Here eyes narrowed and she cleared her throat. His gaze moved to meet hers and he smiled in a manner which he probably thought to be charming. Lindsey thought it just made him look more like the ape he was. "Could you move? I'm trying to workout here." He edged back a couple of inches, just enough to give her clearance as she took a deep breath, ready to begin where she had left off. Jeff wouldn't give her the chance.

"You don't need to work out, you're fine just the way you are." he leered at her, that smile still on her face as he bent at the knees so he was at eye level with her. Lindsey held her breath, waiting for him to leave. He lowered his voice so he was barely audible over the bassline pounding through the speakers. "And besides, that old geezer you're with doesn't care as long as you give him a good fuck, which I'm sure you do." He was oblivious to the anger that was sparking in her narrowed eyes, much as he was unaware that she was rising from the ball.

"Shut the hell up, Jeff." she snapped, the ball rolling away from the suddenness of her actions. A few pairs of eyes turned in their direction, and Lindsey could hear the gossip that would circulate. Damn the gossips, she was sick of this asshole insulting Gregory.

"Did I say something that bothered you, Lin?" he asked, feigned innocence in his voice and face. "C'mon, you know what I say is true. Think of what I could offer you." he reached out with his right hand, intending to brush hair back from her face. He didn't get that far.

Lindsey moved quickly trapping his arm and forgoing the other two moves of what her karate instructor had called 'Monkey stealing peaches'. She had no qualms as she reached between his legs, seized what was quite evident through his Spandex shorts, and wrenched it. The smile and everything else was gone from Jeff's face as she did so, his eyes bulging and a squeak coming from his lips. As quickly as she had reacted she released him, watching the six foot two real estate broker crumple to the floor. Mark was practically running in her direction, along with a few other gym employees. Lin looked up at them and watched in silence as they helped Jeff to his feet.

"You fucking bitch!" he gasped, glaring at her through the pained expression on his face.

"You've been warned to leave her alone, Jeff. Guess you shoulda listened." Mark replied, crossing his large arms across his equally large chest.

Another glare was leveled on Mark as Jeff limped away with the assistance of the other gym employees. Lin met her trainer's eyes, trying hard not to smile. His face was stern but his eyes glittered with amusement. "I think you've had enough of a workout for the day." She nodded and grabbed her water bottle, which had been knocked over by the exercise ball as it had escaped. Mark hadn't left, but was still standing there, looking slightly bemused.

"What?" she asked, a drop of water escaping from the corner of her mouth.

"Remind me not to make you mad, Lin."

She laughed. It felt good to release the tension. "You're a big boy, Mark. I think you could take me down. 'Sides, Susie wouldn't like it if I damaged the goods." she winked at him as he stood there laughing. She threw a glance at the clock on the wall and began moving towards the women's locker rooms. "See ya Thursday, Mark."
.-.-.-.

The cell phone was in its charger in the car, the LCD screen illuminated and the indicator light flashing as Lindsey approached. She thumbed the key fob and threw her bag into the trunk, only to be greeted by the chirp of her ringing phone. Biting back a curse she slammed the trunk shut and dashed forward to pull open the driver's door, grabbing the phone and punching the talk button.

"Hello?" she asked to the silence that greeted her. She'd missed the call. She tossed the phone across into the passenger seat and slid into the drivers seat. The leather was buttery soft and warm from the fall sun. No sooner had she started the vehicle, the cell phone lit up again and chirped twice, announcing the presence of a new voice mail message. As she grabbed it again and dialed into her voicemail she permitted herself a smile. Perhaps it was Gregory suggesting a late lunch.

No such luck.

There was a buzz of static laced through the message, and the underlying thrum of an engine. And an all too familiar voice she hadn't heard in about a year.

"Lindsey, its Clarice Starling. I know its rather late notice, but I'm out here for a few days, thought I could stop by. Just ring me back on my cell. Hope we can get in touch, I need to discuss some things with you. Bye."

Lindsey tapped the indicated button to save the message and then ended the call, tossing it lightly back onto the passenger seat. An innocent call, nothing more from the sound of the message, but the shear fact that Clarice was back here in Colorado with no notice drudged up a suspicion Lindsey had long buried. As she steered back to the home she shared with Gregory up in the foothills of Boulder, she suddenly wished she didn't have to go home to him tonight.
.-.-.-.