GIFTS

Barney arrived at the duplex at the appointed time. He was carrying boxes of pizza and balanced two cardboard carriers with bottles of beer on top. His back pocket contained several letters from Hannibal.

He used the handle of the door to balance the pizza boxes and ring the bell, careful not to shift the boxes and upend the beer. He waited patiently for Clarice or Ardelia to answer.

Much to the older man's dismay, Logan opened the door. "Hey Barnstormer's here and he's got the pizza! Now it's a party!"

Barney cringed.

Barnstormer? What is it with this guy and the nicknames?

"Hello Logan. Can you give me a hand and grab the beer? I don't want to crush the pizza."

"Hell, yes! Hey Bowmeister! We got beer!" Logan lifted the beer from the boxes and swung the carriers away as if they were his dancing partner.

Bowman shook his head. Great…just great. He put on his happy face and smiled.

Ardelia, watched as Logan handed a beer to Lloyd shook her head disapprovingly at him. "Really Lloyd? Why don't you just sack up and tell him."

"Tell me what?" Logan asked as he placed the remaining beer on the coffee table, beside the pizza.

"Logan, Lloyd is not a big beer kinda guy." Ardelia answered much to Lloyd's embarrassment.

"What are you Bowmeister a fucking merlot kind of guy?"

"Kind of." Lloyd muttered under his breath, his heart sinking as Logan swept the beer out of his hand.

"No problem Bowmeister! That's just more beer for me and the Barnstormer!" Logan called into the kitchen. "Hey Clarice, grab the wine for you and Dee but bring an extra glass for Bowmeister. He's drinking with the chicks tonight!"

"Thanks a lot, Ardelia." Bowman mumbled. "Just kill me why don't you."

"Don't overact Lloyd. It isn't a big deal…really."

Logan returned with paper plates for the pizza. He slapped Lloyd on the back. "Don't worry Bowmeister. Hannibal drinks wine and I think he's a total pimp! You're still a manly man in my eyes!"

Bowman finally smiled, feeling a little better being compared to Hannibal.

Clarice came into the room carrying the wine and two glasses. She handed Ardelia the bottle and a glass. She handed the second glass to Lloyd.

"No wine for you, Clarice?" Bowman asked

"No, I don't want to take any chances with the baby."

She smiled when she saw Barney. For years, he had been her connection to Hannibal.

"Hey Barney, did you get all of that done today?"

"Hey Clarice, yeah all done. The story and the pictures are running tomorrow."

"Did you get for them what you thought you might?"

"Yes, I did. I got a million for them."

"That's a ton of money. What's Hannibal gonna do with it, buy a fucking castle or something?" Logan joked.

Barney stood up and handed each of them, Logan, Bowman and Ardelia an envelope with their names scrolled in Hannibal's copperplate.

"This envelope contains instructions and an account number that accesses an offshore bank account. Each of you has access when you change the password Hannibal chose for you to a password of your own. All of the directions are included as well as the beginning balance."

"What's this for?" Ardelia asked.

"Clarice is more qualified to answer that than I am." Barney answered.

"It's a gift from Hannibal, a thank you for your friendship and your help. We don't want or need the money from the photos and H thought it would be nice to give something to you all for your loyalty."

"Hannibal doesn't want any of the money…why the hell not?" Logan asked, incredulous.

"We don't need it. Hannibal came from a very wealthy aristocratic family. Some years after the war, he was able to access his father's family accounts in Lithuania and his mother's family accounts in Milan. That money, in addition to what he saved over the years…believe me I've seen the balances and he has more than we can possibly spend. We both thought it would be nice to do this. Please, I know sometimes Hannibal can be…excessive, but this is something that means a great deal to us both."

Logan was amazed. He continually turned the envelope over, running his hand over Hannibal's script. "This guy gets cooler all the time…aristocratic…what was he a duke or something?"

Clarice smiled as she picked up a slice of pizza and bit into it. "He's a Count, actually."

Logan gagged on his beer. "Dude, no way. He really is a Count?"

Clarice covered her mouth careful not to spit the pizza out, laughing over Logan's response. "Yeah…he really is, Count Hannibal Lecter VIII."

"Well, you might just be carrying number nine around inside you now!" Logan laughed.

Ardelia wasn't at all comfortable accepting the magnanimous gesture. "How much is in each account, Clarice?"

"Quarter mil." Starling answered matter of factly.

"A quarter mil? Do you mean two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?" Ardelia was more than overwhelmed by the gesture.

"Yeah Dee…don't make a big deal about it."

"Jesus, Clarice…it's too much."

Bowman sat without saying a word. He simply stared at the envelope with his name in Hannibal's handwriting.

This is freaking surreal!

Barney was the only person in the room other than Clarice who was totally unaffected by the gesture, though he had received the same gift. He opened the pizza box and pulled out a slice.

"I don't know about any of you but when Hannibal Lecter gives me a gift, just like he gave us all today, I thank him and I move on. Anything more or less than that would be rude and we all know how the good doctor feels about rude!"

Bowman finally spoke. "But… all I did was snap a few photos with my cell phone."

Clarice spoke very softly. "Lloyd you are the reason we are here. You found out about the sentence commutation and if that works out…we'll never have to run again. That's priceless my friend. Now I hate to be a total drag but the pregnant lady is exhausted so I'm going to go to bed. Tomorrow is going to get crazy so I'll need the sleep. Y'all enjoy your party."

Clarice excused herself and went up to her bedroom. She reached into her pocket, withdrew the letter from Hannibal and tugged the neatly folded paper out of the envelope. She still had the same anticipation reading his letters as she did the very first time they corresponded.

If Hannibal took the time to write something down…it was important. She sat in the chair by the window, remembering the day she came home to discover him sitting there.

You scared the hell out of me, H but it was a good kind of scared.

She opened the letter and began to read.

Dear Clarice,

I miss you dearly and hope this letter finds you well, though if I know you as I believe I do, you most likely ignored my wishes and found your way to see me. Whatever the case, your welfare and that of our child are my only concern.

The photos will be published in the Tattler tomorrow morning. There is an extremely high likelihood that the duplex you are sharing with Ardelia will immediately be inundated with journalists.

The activity that will surround you is of great concern to me. Do not leave the property without an escort. Do not travel alone at any time. Trust no one aside from our small circle of friends.

There is one final piece to this puzzle that I have put into motion. I purchased a full page in the Tattler that will run tomorrow as well. The page outlines each of the paired names I decoded from the Ripper's evidence and well as our own coded name and an additional name, Ray U. Matthias, representing the pairing of Stuart and Mariyah.

The FBI must not be warned of this as they would try to stop the information from being published. The same must be said for the photos. It is important that the public know I am here and working again with the FBI to stop this killer. It is also my intention the public be made aware that we married and very much in love. This fact puts me in a much different light than the press has thus far portrayed me. It may or may not alter the public perception of me, but it cannot hurt.

Using the Tattler in this way, Stuart will be made aware that I am not only very much alive but that I know precisely who he is. Within the listing there are instructions for Stuart to respond. Please be careful Clarice. This individual will be aware that I am in custody, thus you and I are not together. This fact puts you in a great deal of danger. He will not strike unless he has an opportunity. Please do not provide him with one.

Pearsall has promised to place two agents outside for your protection so that no one may approach the home without clearance. I must place my trust that he is true to his word. I am beside myself with worry that I am not there to watch over you. Please, my Love, do not underestimate young Mr. Miggs. He is not the most intelligent of criminals, but his is quite driven.

You must understand that you are his ideal Clarice. He now knows you and I are both very much alive. Love is a powerful motivator. That makes this person very dangerous to us.

Mind that you are careful,

With all my love I am ever yours,

H

Clarice read and reread the letter. It hadn't dawned on her that anyone would show up at the duplex but now that Hannibal mentioned it, she knew it would be a media circus. She wondered how long it would take once the Tattler hit the stands for the news trucks to line the streets.

Clarice showered, slipped into an oversized tee shirt and slid into bed. She rested on her side and pulled a pillow protectively against her stomach.

Another night without you, H…

Clarice closed her eyes and imagined the first night she and Hannibal spent together, making love in that very bed. She drifted to sleep with thoughts of him. Her dreams were filled with loving him.

MORNING

With the arrival of the Tattler on the newsstands, Clarice awoke to the sounds of trucks and activity just outside the duplex. She went to the window to see scores of journalists, on camera, reporting from her sidewalk.

Hannibal was right…he's always right. She showered, dressed and went to the kitchen to get something to eat. She was staring blankly into the refrigerator when there was a knock at the back door.

A tall gentleman with shoulder length hair stood patiently. He was wearing a black suit and tie and had a hat on that made him appear as if he were a driver.

Clarice went to the door but did not remove the chain. "Can I help you, Sir?"

"Yes, hello, my name is James Keats. I was sent to escort you to a meeting at the White House. They will be discussing your husband's case and with all of the press outside the President believed it would be best to send a car."

The young man gestured to a large black town car in the driveway with tiny American flags on the antennae.

"Will my husband be at the meeting?" Clarice asked, slightly wary of the situation.

"I dropped Doctor Lecter off myself only an hour ago. He is meeting with his lawyer."

Clarice continued the questioning. "Why didn't the FBI transport him?"

"The president did not want your husband wheeled in on a hand truck like a criminal. He was dressed in his suit. The FBI followed in their cars. Here is my identification, Mrs. Lecter."

Clarice looked at the license and photo identifying the man as an employee of a Washington limo service.

She reached for her bag and followed the young man out the door.

Stuart Miggs smiled politely as he held the door open for Clarice.

I've got your woman…It's your move now, Hannibal.

Thank you to all my faithful friends who are reading and reviewing! You make every day a joy. You are truly appreciated! To my new friends, thank you for reading. Drop me a note and say hello!

Until the next chapter!

LH