MEETING SHELBY
Hannibal dressed for the day in black slacks, a fitted silver-grey shirt with French cuffs and Italian wing tipped loafers paced back and forth in the sitting room of the suite. His head was lowered as he spoke on the cell phone, one hand cupped over the mouthpiece in a very obvious attempt not to be overheard.
When Clarice left the bedroom and headed toward the room he detected her impending presence and quickly exited to finish the conversation in the hallway.
She caught sight of him as he left the room and the speed with which he moved gave her pause. She knitted her eyebrows together, strode across the room and opened the door to find Hannibal in the hallway with his back to their suite. He was huddled in the corner speaking very quietly. She could only make out a word or two. She heard him call her by name. Shelby.
Who the fuck is Shelby and why is H calling her?
She leaned around the door frame and called to her husband, not caring whether the woman on the other end heard her or not.
"Hannibal…you and I are both aware that you can hear an mouse fart at a hundred paces so I know you know I'm here…turn around."
Hannibal? Am I to assume that you are upset with me again, Clarice?
He remained fully pressed into the corner but held out his arm and extended a finger his non-verbal cue directing her to wait. He spoke no more than a sentence before pocketing his phone. Without explanation he turned toward his obviously irritated wife and walked briskly down the hall to the room.
His wife's eyes did not leave him and Hannibal could see that she was obviously upset, though her upset did not concern him. He was actually quite amused by it.
"Do you have something you wanted to tell me?" Clarice questioned with her arms crossed firmly, extremely displeased.
Hannibal slipped nimbly around her and rushed to help with the luggage.
"No." He stated simply.
Clarice persisted. "No? You don't have anything to say to me…Nothing at all?"
"If there were something I wished to say, I would have said it, Clarice."
She decided to take a more direct approach. "Who were you talking to, H?"
Whistling happily, Hannibal did not respond. His mind fixated on the altered arrangements he had been scrambling to make. Of course he heard the question. It just didn't register as important enough on his radar to warrant a response, therefore he categorically dismissed it.
Actually, knowing Clarice would sense his deception and knowing he could not be honest with her, responding would only make matters worse. There were far more important things for him to consider than her minor irritation. He went about his business and continued to sort through the machinations of his mind to be certain his plan had been well thought out.
Not satisfied and not willing to be ignored. Clarice stopped in the middle of the room and leaned over until Hannibal had no choice but to shift his gaze in her direction. As soon as his eyes met hers, he smiled, knowing she would pursue him and actually enjoying the power her frustration gave him.
"I admire you tremendously in that dress, Clarice. Very breezy and flowing…the color flatters you as well. Very attractive…if we had even a few minutes more, I would lift the hem and endeavor to show you how absolutely enticing."
She ignored his flirtatious avoidance and repeated the question, this time in a much more clipped and authoritative tone.
"Who were you talking to, H?" The words she chose to stress in the sentence stressed her anxiety.
You've only got three numbers in that phone… two belong to men, and the other is mine. This better be good.
Hannibal took hold of the luggage and in a very matter of fact way simply stated.
"I'm not at liberty to say." He refused to elaborate further.
"You're not what?"
"Clarice, please… trust."
Clarice rolled her eyes. "Is that the best you can come up with? Trust…Trust what, H?""
Hannibal ignored her looks of disdain and continued to smile, knowing it irritated her to no end and finding great pleasure in that fact.
"Clarice, I assure you, I am not coming up with anything. There are things that I will share with you willingly and openly and there are things that I will not. This falls into the latter category. I do not feel as if I need explain myself further. If that is not agreeable to you, there really isn't anything you can do about it aside from torturing me and it isn't as if that hasn't been tried before. If it did not work in Baltimore under Chilton's pathetic directives, what makes you think you are up to the task?"
He bent over at the waist and spoke directly to her blossoming belly.
"Hello, my little one." He planted a kiss on her stomach. "Mother is upset with me again. Yes it is a very big surprise… I know. "
Clarice slapped him squarely between his shoulders. Not enough to hurt him, but enough to make her point. "Leave the baby out of this…Who the fuck is Shelby?"
He laughed. "You will meet her soon enough and you will feel very badly that you abused me attempting to extract information."
Hannibal went about his business bringing the luggage from the bedroom to the door. He made no note of her frustration at his lack of cooperation and continued to whistle as he moved about the suite.
Clarice began to follow him, matching his movements step for step.
"Really…that's it? You're just going to ignore me now?"
Hannibal turned to his wife, pulled her deftly into his arms, kissed her passionately and released her as quickly as he had gathered her to him. He was exceedingly cheerful and would not let her worry dampen his lighthearted demeanor.
"You see, now I have not ignored you. You have nothing of which to complain."
Clarice was not one to give up easily so she took another tack appealing to his sensual side. She sauntered up to Hannibal and slipped her hands behind his neck, clasped her fingers and pulled his head to her once more. She kissed him so slowly and deeply that it caused him to trip slightly as his left knee buckled in surprise. She purred against his lips causing him to reach for her hips and pull her tightly against him, obviously aroused.
Now I've got you where I want you, husband.
Hannibal scooped her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom driving his face into her neck and nuzzling against her skin.
He continued to kiss her neck as Hannibal approached the bed.
"H…Are you going to tell me who you were on the phone with?"
He was biting her ear and teasing at the lobe with his teeth.
"Mmmm…No!"
Hannibal's response was quick and decisive as he very carefully, though exceedingly unceremoniously dropped his wife onto the pillow top mattress below. Without another word Hannibal turned, almost doubled in laughter, and quickly sprinted from the room, knowing Clarice would soon be in hot pursuit.
Clarice flipped over, scrambled off the bed and chased after Hannibal. She caught up to him just before he was able to escape the room.
"That is very lady-like Clarice…" He noted as he pointed to her dress, hiked up along her thigh. "…though I am enjoying the view perhaps you would like to adjust yourself before the bellman arrives."
Clarice smoothed her dress as she squared off across from her husband. Her hand remained on the doorknob, stopping him from exiting. With her free hand, she poked a finger into his chest.
Hannibal was laughing hysterically. "Stop…you're killing me, Clarice."
"How dare you drop your pregnant wife?"
Still laughing, he was now doubled over holding his side.
"I deposited in a very safe manner. It may not have been the most graceful of entries you have ever made into our bed however you were never in harm's way, I assure you. After all it would have been difficult to have attained terminal velocity a mere three inches from the mattress, Clarice."
There was a knock on the door. Clarice, her hand still on the doorknob, tore it open causing the surprised bellman to jump back. He was most likely already terrified to be picking up Hannibal Lecter's luggage.
"Clarice you have probably taken two years off this poor young man's life." Hannibal directed his next comment to the bellman, obviously still affected. "Please accept our apologies. My wife and I were having a bit of fun. I'm sorry you were unwittingly affected."
"It's not a problem, Sir."
He staggered into the room and holding a hand over his heart to quell his pounding heartbeat, began to load the luggage on a dolly. He disappeared into the hallway as quickly as he could manage. "Doctor and Mrs. Lecter, I will hold the elevator, please take your time."
With a grand sweep of his arm, Hannibal held the door open for his wife. "After you, my Love."
She paused in front of him and wagged a finger in warning. "This isn't over, H…not by a long shot."
Still laughing and thoroughly pleased with himself, Hannibal grabbed the hand she had poked him with and kissed it as she passed. "I had not expected it would be."
Clarice chose not to pursue the topic of the phone call while in the limo as this driver had been privy to enough of their private life. He didn't need to serve witness to anymore of their personal interactions.
At the airport Hannibal moved to a kiosk and began to tap away at the screen. As soon as he completed this transaction he turned and handed Clarice her passport and flight documentation, certain to draw his index finger along her hand as he released the material, the sense memory of which caused the first smile from Clarice of the day.
As the pair moved through security, under the many nervous and curious stares of passengers and employees alike, Hannibal prepared for what he was certain would be a fairly intrusive security check. Not something he had to face when traveling anonymously, but as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, maroon irises and all…he would be pulled aside for 'random additional screening'.
Clarice moved through the security line quickly and became immediately concerned for her husband as he was quickly separated from her. Hannibal was moved to the side and asked to raise his arms and spread his legs apart. The security personnel handled him respectively but the inspection was probably going to be extremely thorough. Hannibal continued to smile and followed their directions amiably.
Clarice noticed several individuals in the area holding up cell phones recording the process. Great …more Youtube views.
Hannibal was absolutely immune to this level of inspection. After so many years of wholly unnecessary body cavity searches at Chilton's direction, a pat down and quick feel up in an airport seemed to him to be a minor inconvenience at best.
As they nervously circled him with the security wand, he assessed their abilities and found them lacking.
Fear is too much upon you, gentlemen. The monster will not bite…not in public anyway. It's time to come out and play.
"Hello Gentlemen…are you enjoying your day thus far?" He probed the pair more with his flashing maroon eyes searching for weakness like lasers passing over them, than they were able to probe him, metal detector included.
The taller guard of the pair looked up at his colleague and back to Hannibal without speaking. The shorter and more muscular man appeared slightly less terrified, but obviously neither man was comfortable.
"Our day is going well, Doctor Lecter."
Hannibal smiled a very devious little smile. His small white teeth flashed as if he had just snared the man in a trap, as well he had.
"So you are aware of who I am. I thought as much."
The taller man glared at the smaller, not at all pleased to have been exposed so easily. "My apologies…we are only following orders."
He could smell the fear leaking from their pores and inhaled deeply, the scent of it immensely satisfying.
"You may feel free to search me as thoroughly as you wish. I am not at all offended by the closer inspection. Though I assure you it is unnecessary, I am certain the additional scrutiny will make the other travelers feel more secure."
"Thank you for your understanding, Sir." The taller man stated nervously.
Hannibal allowed the intrusion, certain to turn his face in the direction of each man as they moved around him. He leaned toward them just enough to make the process extremely unnerving to the guards in such forced proximity.
Clarice was standing just on the other side of the checkpoint, growing frustrated at the level of scrutiny her husband was being forced to endure. Three other men had been pulled aside for additional screening and cleared while Hannibal remained under their watchful assessment. Clarice had enough when they began to inspect his groin.
"Hey, why don't you just bust out a tape measure if you're that curious?" She called out to the shorter man now thoroughly inspecting Hannibal's inseam.
The guard, embarrassed at the insinuation, backed off slightly. "I mean no disrespect."
Hannibal laughed. Clarice was so overprotective. If she had any idea half of the demoralizing and demeaning things he had been forced to endure, she wouldn't bat an eye at this.
"I love you as well, Clarice." Hannibal called out to his wife knowing her defense of him was a reflection of her love and concern.
He then turned his attention to the guards.
"You must understand, this level of inspection occurs each time we travel. My wife loves me very much and takes extreme offense for me. I expect scrutiny because of course, my reputation for violence precedes me. I do appreciate your professionalism and beg your tolerance of my wife's comments. She is pregnant and quite emotional at times."
The men finished their investigation and stepped back from Hannibal. The larger man waved him forward. "You are free to proceed to the gate, Doctor. Thank you for your patience."
"Have a wonderful day, gentlemen."
Hannibal joined Clarice. She was so concerned with the side show atmosphere Hannibal's security check had created and did not notice the change in ticketing until the attendant at the desk stamped her passport.
What the hell, H.
Clarice didn't act surprised or react in any way until they were far enough away from the checkpoint and on their way to the designated airline and the appropriate gate.
"H, are we flying to the states right now?" She asked with no small measure of glee.
"Yes, my Love. We are. You can purchase the necessary clothing when we arrive in Baltimore. We must also purchase a cradle and turn the spare bedroom into a temporary nursery until you are ready to bring our child back to Patagonia."
Clarice jumped into Hannibal's arms.
"H, that is the sweetest thing you've ever done for me!"
"I think I've got this beat, Clarice. You haven't seen my apology."
"Apology, H?"
"The situation with Emilia was…difficult. I wanted to apologize but I didn't think dinner and chocolates were enough."
"What did you do, H?"
"Trust, Clarice…trust."
Hours later, Hannibal and Clarice pulled onto the tree-lined street in Baltimore. Hannibal hadn't been back to the home since the night he stabbed Will Graham. He loved the house and was thrilled Clarice agreed to stay there. The moment she saw the apology, she understood the phone call.
There in the driveway with a deep crimson bow fixed to the roof sat a fully restored bright blue 1966 Shelby GT-500 Mustang with bold white racing stripes. The Maryland license plate read 4-MYLOVE.
"Clarice…I'd like to present Shelby."
"Oh my god, H! She is gorgeous!"
"Do you accept my apology?"
Clarice didn't say a word. Her kiss spoke for her.
After admiring the car, baby car seat already installed, Clarice and Hannibal walked arm and arm to their home fully engrossed with one another.
Neither Clarice not Hannibal noticed the intense eyes that watched from the darkness. Neither realized the happiness of their return to the States would be short-lived. Emilia had many friends in low places. This one was not only dedicated…he would prove to be merciless.
Until the next chapter my friends!
LH