A/N- It has been a long time coming, hasn't it? I fell off the writing truck for a couple good years, and I am now finding my way back. Please pardon me as I get the old mind back in gear and re-acquaint myself with some old friends and dinner companions.

Chapter Nine

Taisa Keller crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the cream colored wall. The conference room was packed, the higher-ups sitting around the large table as the lowly folk, like herself, stood behind them, all with their serious faces and thinking caps on. The afternoon's news had been exciting and troublesome. The Special Agent Clarice Starling was looking like the cat who got the cream and was waiting on the canary as she sat at the head of the table, on the right hand of the SAIC of the Denver office. Taisa had been a little surprised to find out that it was her friend Lindsey who had found herself in this mess, but kept that to herself. In fact, Taisa snuck a glance at her watch, Lindsey should be arriving any minute to face this crowd. She straightened and slipped from the conference room, the SAIC never noticing as he continued to go on about how dangerous a man Dr. Hannibal Lecter was.

Taisa emerged from the building as a tired looking Lindsey Singleton walked up towards the doors. A wan smile crossed her face as she caught sight of her friend. Since she had packed and left her day had consisted of going from one store or office to another. Sammie had been relieved of the tedium by being left at a doggy daycare center back in Boulder. While she might have to be subjected to the drive and spending hours in Denver, the poor mutt shouldn't be. Lindsey greeted Taisa with a hug, and when released looked her friend in the eyes.

'So, I guess you know.' Taisa nodded and Lindsey sighed. 'Jesus.'

'Truly.' Agreed Taisa. 'Y'know, Lin, you wouldn't keep getting into these messes if you would just stop putting ads in the paper saying 'SWF seeks SWM serial killer for life partner.' I mean, seriously, just go and meet an investment banker or a CEO for once.' Taisa's lips remained set in a straight line, but her eyes glinted with dark humor. Lindsey couldn't help but laugh.

'Yeah, but I'm afraid the CEOs and bankers would be worse. I mean, at least I know what a serial killer is out doing when he comes home late from the office.' Her own words took a moment to hit her and Lindsey winced. Is that the way I really think about these things? It was Taisa's turn to laugh.

'God, you're twisted. I taught you well.' She glanced around the sidewalks and street in front of the building as Lindsey's face went blank again. 'C'mon, let's get inside before you get ambushed by a lurking reporter.'

Lindsey looked sideways at Taisa as they walked towards the doors. 'Oh?'

Taisa held the door open for Lindsey, letting her step through as she responded. 'Yeah, a couple agents got jumped. The esteemed Clarice Starling got ambushed a couple hours after she showed up here, and some desk weenie made the mistake of bragging about the impending case to another agent while on a smoke break. Loose lips sink agents, or so they say. Betcha he'll be working in the mail room by tomorrow.' Taisa waved Lindsey off so she could suffer the indignities of a metal detector and being wanded, as the agent spending his evening there got to find out she was wearing an underwire bra. A few minutes later, and another stop to get Lin a visitor's badge, and the women were in the elevator, rising to Lindsey's impending interrogation.

'There's something else you won't like.' Taisa told her.

'What?' asked Lin, wondering what could make this worse than it already was. The elevator dinged its arrival on their floor and Lindsey followed a silent Taisa down the halls to her cubbyhole of an office, aware of all the people staring at her as she passed. Taisa was mute as she handed Lindsey a folded newspaper, not meeting her friend's eyes. Lindsey unfolded it and saw her picture gracing the front of the Tattler, under the bold imprint that read 'DOES THE BEAST HAVE A NEW BEAUTY?'

Lindsey crumpled the tabloid and threw it at the wastebasket beside Taisa's desk. 'Fuck.'

'Tell me about it.' Taisa nodded. They stood there for a few moments in silence, until Lin finally sighed and ran her hands back through her hair. 'Ready for me to deliver you to the lions?' asked Taisa, looking at Lindsey. Lindsey managed something of a smile and waved a hand at the door.

'Lead on.'
.-.-.-.-.

About the same time Lindsey was beginning her walk towards the conference room someone else was walking from their office across town, looking forward to an evening at home. Hopefully relaxing with a nice glass of whatever liquor was left in the house. Having thrown a dinner party for her few friends the previous weekend had pretty much wiped out the small bar stock she had, and she wasn't in the mood to visit the liquor store on the way home. She was petite and pale, with shoulder length black hair, caught back in a gold barrette. She flipped a wave at the receptionist, and had barely made it two steps out the doors of the company's lobby before the phone began to ring.

Petra Morricone sighed and dug in her purse for the mobile, which continued to ring, playing the theme from James Bond. She flipped it open without looking at the number as she rang for the elevator, pressing the device to her ear. 'Hello?'

'Hello, Petra.' Came a smooth voice, one which made Petra's eyes widen as she struggled for composure. The elevator arrived at the moment when she remembered to breathe, and she stepped inside, stabbing at the door close button before speaking.

'Dr. Lecter.' It came out in a near whisper, as startled as she was.

She could hear the smile in his voice, laced with something else. Sadness? 'Yes, Petra. I need your help with something, if you would oblige.' Petra didn't hesitate. It was through his benefit that she was where she was today, he had seen her through her years of graduate school and had helped with her job placement, under his assumed guise of Dr. Gregory Orbinson.

'Whatever I can do to help.' She found herself telling him as the elevator reached the main floor and she stepped out, quickly across the buildings lobby and out into the parking lot. It was fairly deserted, and she dug for her keys and watched as her car winked its lights back at her as she thumbed the key fob. 'What's up?'

That earned her a chuckle. 'I take it you haven't spoken to your mother or have been home to see the evening news, Petra?' She was shaking her head, shivering as a cold gust came up.

'No, not yet. I just got out of the office. Why?' she was a little worried now. Her mother was involved somehow, that much she knew now, and when Jane was involved, it was usually not a good thing.

'Special Agent Starling has paid me a little visit, and has subsequently reported my presence and identity to the proper authorities. Petra, I need you to secure my documents for me, and for Lindsey.' Petra's willingness to help cooled when she heard Lindsey's name. She despised that woman, especially for the embarrassment she had caused her back in Colorado Springs.

'For Lindsey?' she asked, none too happy in her tone of voice.

'Yes, Petra, Lindsey will need the proper documents and identification materials. She will be coming with me.' He waited patiently through Petra's silence and eventual sigh of resignation.

'Fine. I'll get them.'

'Quickly, please.'

Petra rolled her eyes, glad that the doctor could not see that. 'Yes, of course. I'll call you. At this number?' she thought to ask, realizing that if he were once more hiding from the authorities calling him on his old number or at the house would not be a wise idea.

'Yes, Petra. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Goodbye.'

'Bye.' she muttered into the phone, standing by her car door. She opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. She didn't mind doing these things for him, but for her? Petra decided that she might be happier doing it for Starling. At least Starling hadn't tackled and handcuffed her. Petra pushed the thoughts aside with a force of will, trying to focus on what she needed to do. Call her guy, first off. Ex-CIA, worked in their documents department, he could produce the best documents money could buy. To the bank in the morning, then, and a visit to the safe deposit box. Work would have to deal with her impromptu vacation for a few days and survive without her.
.-.-.-.

Taisa and Lindsey walked down the hallway to the conference room just as the agents not key to the case were released. They all filed past, silent, looking at her but not meeting Lindsey's eyes. Lindsey looked hard at each who passed. People whom she had worked with just a few years ago were now giving her the look of a fallen agent. A look she had received before while back east, after returning from the hospital and her encounter with Jacob. When the majority were out of the way Lindsey moved ahead again, Taisa falling in step beside her. SAIC Loren was standing by the door, half-heartedly offering Lindsey a smile and a limp handshake.

'Ms. Singleton. I'm sorry we had to meet again in under these circumstances.'

'So am I.'

'Agent Keller, you won't be needed. Why don't you head home, we've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.' Taisa nodded and gave Lindsey's shoulder a squeeze before walking away. Lindsey felt as if she'd just lost the only person who might have even remotely been on her side. 'Come on in and have a seat and we'll get this thing started.' Trevor Loren told her, stepping aside so Lindsey could enter the room. She saw the lone empty chair set at the opposite end of the table with the senior agents all staring at her as she took her seat. Loren went to the opposite end and cleared his throat, seating himself next to Starling.

'This is completely informal, Ms. Singleton. Just relax and tell us what happened.'

So Lindsey did, recounting in a flat voice the same story she had told Clarice that morning. Turning over her old cell phone, the single item she had taken with her that could be connected to him, and trying hard to keep her composure. She almost lost it, but not for the reason she expected, when one of the senior agents spoke up after she finished.

'Ms. Singleton, I have to ask, how did you let this happen?' he sounded incredulous, as if he couldn't believe that a formerly sworn agent could let herself be duped as she was. Clarice actually shook her head at the questioner, who caught on a moment too late. Lindsey glared. She knew this guy, had been going through a divorce when she was still an agent. What was the reason for the divorce...

'Sir, are you married?' He shook his balding head, and Lindsey went on. 'You divorced then?'

'Yes.'

'May I ask why?'

Balding took a deep breath, knowing that even though all the agents in this room, save Satrling, already knew the reason he didn't want to admit it aloud. 'She was having an affair.'

Lindsey nodded. 'How long did it go on before the divorce?'

'About a year.'

'Did you ask for the divorce?'

'No, she did.'

'Why? Weren't you angry with her? With yourself?'

Balding had the sense to look angry. 'Yes, but I don't see what this has to do with...'He was looking away, looking at SAIC Loren to stop Singleton fomr questioning him. Clarice looked down at Lindsey, with an awful knowing that she knew what this had to do with Lecter. She'd be damned if she'd admit it to anyone, though.

'Everything. You ignored her infidelities because you loved her, and you thought that if you loved her enough, then everything would turn out just fine.' He stared at her in disbelief, but Lindsey knew she had hit her mark. 'You did love her.' she said quietly.

Balding nodded. 'Yes.' He looked down at the table.

Lindsey looked pointedly at Clarice, daring her s\to argue, because she knew she could turn the blade on her just as easily. 'Exactly. I loved Gregory Orbinson, that's how I let myself be duped, Agent Harrison.'

Clarice looked angry as she turned from Lindsey to SAIC Loren. 'I think we've heard enough for now, sir. We can bring Ms. Singleton back in if we need to later, but its getting late.' Loren nodded his agreement.

'Okay, Ms. Singleton, you're free to go home to Boulder tonight, but you will leave your numbers and where you are staying with us so that we can reach you. This is a pending and ongoing investigation that you are a part of, so I ask that you do not leave the state until it's been closed. Understood?' Lindsey nodded mutely, angry because she had let herself get needled by Harrison, and because now Loren was giving her the spiel to stay put. Where the hell would she be going anyway? She didn't even know where Gregory (Lecter, she reminded herself) had gone to, or if he was even in the area. 'And you'll let us know if you are contacted by Lecter. Immediately, Lindsey.' She nodded again. Right, he was probably in Argentina by now, under a new identity and laughing it up at the feds. As if he'd be worried about little old her. He'd left Clarice behind with just as much ease.

The agents were rising and filing out of the room. Lindsey noted as she pulled her purse strap over her shoulder that Starling and Loren were have a quick whispered discussion. Loren looked over at her and nodded to Clarice. Clarice was nodding, and then stepping away. 'Lindsey, I'll walk you out to your car.' Having no choice Lindsey shrugged, and headed out the door, forcing Starling to catch up to her. The rode the elevator down to the lobby in silence, and continued that way until they were in the parking garage a couple blocks away where Lindsey had left the Cobra. Lindsey thumbed the key fob and the car's lights flashed back at her. She had just laid her hand on the door handle, turning slightly to face Clarice. 'Goodnight, thanks for walking me to my car. I'll...'

Clarice cut her off. 'It wasn't like that.'

Lindsey looked puzzled, enough that she let go of the door handle. 'What?'

'Lecter. I didn't love him. He brainwashed me, Lindsey, I was a plaything to him. I may have done things during that time, I may have gone to rescue him from Verger, but it was not because I loved him.' It surprised Clarice how hard her voice was, and that there was a little pain inside as she said what she did.

Lindsey stared at her. 'I... I never said you did, Clarice.' Clarice nodded.

'Okay then.'

Lindsey began to open the door and Clarice turned away, about to walk away when Lindsey's voice stopped her.

'But he loved you.' Clarice turned slowly as Lindsey lowered herself into the driver's seat. 'Goodnight, Clarice.' and she shut the door. Clarice stood there, stunned, trying to refuse what had been said. Lindsey backed out and drive away, leaving Clarice alone with her thoughts.

Why did that hurt even more than her denial of him?
.-.-.-.