INTRIGUE

Hannibal sat at the desk in his study and remembered the night he was taken. The arrows were still in his side, bullets lodged as well. Will Graham fired several rounds at him, into him. Thankfully, he had not been mortally wounded. That life seemed so long ago…so very far away.

Hannibal remembered the letter written to Clarice from Florence telling her that his disgrace and public shaming had meant little to him. He sought to put her troubles in perspective and was concerned this level of scrutiny would harm her. His own perceived disgrace had not bothered him. He cared little what society thought of him as he did not view himself through the lenses of others. That had been true when he was taken from this home. It had even been true as he sat across from Clarice and admired her through the thick panes of security glass from within his cell.

As beautiful as he believed she was, as enchanting her innocence, she was young… far too young. In Baltimore she interested him but she would need to gain experience to be intriguing to him. His wife…this Clarice…was experienced. She was seasoned…mature…she wore her age well. She was more than intriguing to him now.

Years ago as he sat in Florence and penned the letter he had wished that more of their stars were the same. Now they shared more than just the stars. Together they shared a life. Together they created a life. Hannibal was more than just in love with this Clarice…he was in awe of her.

Clarice had gone directly upstairs to the bedroom as Hannibal requested. He had enough to worry about and she didn't want to add to his troubles so playing the dutiful wife, Clarice rested on their bed tossing and turning. She did not enjoy playing the dutiful wife. Without his body to rest on sleep eluded her.

Her husband would be sitting up all night to keep her safe. She was not a woman needing protection. She could take care of herself but she could not comfort herself. She would find no comfort without him. Exhausted, Clarice lifted herself from their bed, slipped on her robe and descended the stairs. She wanted to…no… she needed to hold him.

Okay, H…you're getting some company and you're just gonna have to deal with it.

Hearing her moving about, Hannibal stood from the desk and quickly moved to the foot of the stairs in wait.

"Clarice why aren't you asleep? It is well past three and not healthy for you to remain awake. You have had far too much excitement tonight. You must rest."

"I can't sleep H…I need you beside me."

Hannibal reached for her hand and held it, guiding her off the steps and onto the main level of the home. "Clarice…I cannot. Though I don't believe our guest will be foolish enough to return tonight, it would not be prudent for me to relax my vigilance. As I told you…I would have you safe at all cost."

Clarice slipped her arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his throat where she could see the bump of his pulse just beneath his skin. Her lips slowly eased into a smile as a soft deep sound escaped him. Encouraged by his response she continued to search the flesh with her teeth, nibbling along the surface of his skin. His stronger pulse tapped against her lips as Clarice felt the slight rise in his heart rate. Her husband slightly shifted, turning his body into her allowing her better access.

Hannibal reached for her hips and grasped her tightly to him. He moved against her and tipped his head back, allowing her to search his throat, teasing at the flesh near his jawline. A low rumble rolled in the back of his throat.

Clarice moved from his throat up to his chin all the while shifting her hips against him, his want obvious.

Hannibal captured her mouth kissed her passionately and sliding his strong hands along her back leaving one hand in place to support her shoulders. With the other hand he moved down her spine to the small of her back and over her bottom he reached under her thighs gracefully sweeping her from her feet. He continued to kiss her as he walked with her held securely in his arms.

"Where are you taking me, H?"

"Clarice…I need you to return to sleep. You'll join me on the couch and I will rest with you hoping that my presence will provide enough comfort to allow you to fall asleep."

Clarice kissed him gently. He was making every effort to accommodate her needs and provide her with comfort and reassurance. "I would love that, H…I couldn't stand that you were down here alone."

Clarice had not entered this room earlier and gasped at its opulence. The sofa was platinum and gold in color with a rich embossed pattern on the fabric. Tightly turned golden fringe ringed the deep cushions. It was a two-seat Vimercati Meda Excelsior model with carved, deeply scrolled and gilded wood work. There were two matching chairs, a chaise and several richly carved and gilded side tables. Hannibal did not turn on the lights. The furniture radiated elegance and expense. Clarice hedged.

"No… H…I can't sleep on that sofa. It looks like it cost thousands!"

"I fail to see why that would matter. It is exceedingly comfortable. The cushions and pillows are well supported and stuffed with goose down. You will be more than pleased I assure you."

Hannibal sat on the sofa while still holding Clarice. She stretched across his body with her head on his chest and held him tightly. Hannibal lowered his head to her and kissed her very gently keeping his lips closed to her. There would be time again for passion. It was time now for his wife to sleep.

"Sleep now, my Love. I will rest as well." Hannibal held her head to his chest knowing his beating heart comforted her. He rested a cheek on the top of her head. No pillow had ever provided such comfort.

Clarice reached once more for Hannibal's head and returned his gentle kiss.

"Thanks, H…I don't know where I would be without you."

"I share the sentiment, my Love. Sleep well. We have much to do tomorrow."

"Try to sleep, H…if anyone comes in you'll find him before he finds us."

"You will always be safe in my arms, Clarice. I will die before I let harm come to you or to our child."

He placed a protective hand over her swollen belly, gently massaging it as if rubbing his baby's back.

Clarice closed her eyes and within moments she was sound asleep. Hannibal held her protectively as he stood silent sentry over her resting form. He did not close his eyes for the remainder of the night. He relaxed his body, but did not relax his mind. He sensed a presence outside the home and was certain the individual had returned.

As long as you remain outside you may live. If you enter and my family is threatened…you will die.

STALKER

The stalker walked back and forth in front of the Lecter home. He paced about, trying to decide what to do eventually deciding that it would be best to call Emilia.

Emilia was just exiting the shower when her cell phone began to hum on the bedside table. She rushed to answer it, remembering the earlier call.

"Yes, hello Nico. Have you attended to my work? Have you indeed located the good Doctor?"

The tall man's voice had a flat affect. There was no emotion whatever to his tone.

"Yes. He and his wife made love tonight but I was unable to move on them at that time."

"Why? You had the key and you had my instructions. If your timing was that fortuitous why did you not follow through with the plan?"

"I was moving up the stairs and had determined what room they were in but I heard him say that someone was in the house."

"Where were you at the time?"

"Not even to the top step. He could not have seen me or heard me I was completely silent. I have no idea how he knew I was there. He would have been on me before I reached the room. He knows the home too well I won't be able to surprise him. I'll have to get him somewhere else. What do you want me to do about his wife? It may be easier to accomplish when they are separate."

"You may feel free to accomplish this any way you can though you should know they are rarely separate. As for the woman, you may consider her my gift to you. I have no use for her as she will play no part in my plans. You may do whatever you wish with her or to her. It is of no consequence to me either way. My want is Hannibal and Hannibal alone."

"It will take me some time to formulate a new plan. He is quite perceptive and there is no doubt that he will change the locks and the key will be of no use. I will watch him and I will decide what is best. I must bide my time this man is quite unusual."

"What do you mean…unusual?"

"I truly believe that he may have detected my presence by scent. He is much like an animal, this man… if he is a man at all."

"He is the Beast. He is my Beast."

"Soon…Emilia…soon."

SCARING THE GUESTS

The next few days Hannibal and Clarice paid very careful attention to the security of their home. Motion sensors were placed on each level and a closed circuit camera system installed. The cameras were mounted and had a remote swivel feature allowing Hannibal and Clarice to rotate the cameras from within the home. The cameras were contained within unbreakable boxes and sensors placed on each camera assembly so that someone on the exterior of the home could not tamper with the box to change the camera's position.

All wires and cables associated with the alarm had been placed within protective pipes and buried. Additional cables had been fully contained within the construction of the home so that they could not accessed and severed. Separate wires were braided within the electrical wires so that an alarm would sound if an attempt was made to breach the system. A fully independent generator was hard wired to the system in the event someone disconnected the electricity in order to deactivate the alarm.

Hannibal spoke with the security professionals at great detail. Every contingency they accounted for, he had four or five additional that he wanted accounted for.

The men were very professional but obviously discomforted by Hannibal. Of the five men working at the Lecter home three could not make eye contact with him at all. The other technician could look at Hannibal but had obviously chosen a point on Hannibal's forehead on which to fixate and would glance at Hannibal's eyes for only a moment or two at a time. The men were polite, but obviously quietly terrified. Hannibal was enjoying the reaction his presence caused and followed them about the house, appearing quietly and at odd times to check on their progress.

Clarice noticed. Seeing how terrified the workers were and also seeing how pleasurable to her husband their fear was, she sought to shift the balance of power slightly for her own amusement.

"Hannibal Lecter, come here. Your wife needs you."

Hannibal's head swiveled away from the workers and to his wife.

Using my full name? Very unusual for you Clarice and normally not a very good sign for me.

He would reserve judgment until he had more information as he sensed no hostility.

"Yes, my Love? Do you have need of me?" he questioned with no small level of curiosity. He eyed her body language and was frustrated that he could not determine the cause of her irritation.

"Could you make yourself a little less…present? You're terrifying our guests."

"Explain please." he asked quietly. Although he had been enjoying their reaction, he had not sought it. Her response led him to believe she had detected his pleasure in it.

You are so perceptive… a constant surprise to me.

"But Clarice…I've done nothing even remotely terrifying."

"Well, not recently but I do believe in this case your reputation has preceded you."

Hannibal looked over to the workers.

They all very quickly shifted their attention to their shoes, shuffling about nervously.

"I cannot change my past, Clarice. Must I hide in my study whenever there are workers present?"

"Come here, kiss your wife and go play piano, H. Leave the men to their work. You've had enough fun for today."

Enough fun for today…she knew exactly what I was doing.

Clarice held her arms out to him. Hannibal moved from the men and to his wife. She rewarded his compliance with a very passionate kiss. His face flushed from the contact and smiling widely Hannibal excused himself.

"Gentleman, ever the dutiful husband I will abide my wife's wishes. Should you need me simply follow the sound of the music. I will leave you to your work."

He turned to his wife. "You know me far too well for my own good, Clarice."

She slapped him playfully on his backside as he passed her. "Yeah, sorry to break up your party… I'll make it up to you later."

"I will hold you to that."

The men were smiling and shifting their eyes to Hannibal. Suddenly they saw him in a different light. He was a husband and like any other happily married man, he deferred lovingly to his wife.

When Hannibal left the room Clarice addressed the workers. "Okay gentlemen, I chased the boogeyman away for you. Get to work."

The lead worker, the only one who had been able to look even momentarily at Hannibal spoke up. He was embarrassed.

"We're sorry, Mrs. Lecter. We've just never met him and we've heard so much…"

"I know what you've heard. How about you worry about what you've seen instead. He's a good man and I love him very much. I take offense when he is mistreated."

The worker who, to Clarice seemed the most terrified in Hannibal's presence muttered something under his breath. He thought only his friends heard him. Unfortunately for him, Clarice would hear as well. "Hey even Hitler had Eva Braun."

The men around him winced, knowing his tone was too loud and that he would be overheard.

Clarice went absolutely insane. "What did you just say? Get the fuck out of my house you son of a bitch before I go into the music room and get my hus…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Hannibal was in the room. No longer genial his maroon eyes blazed anger. He stepped protectively in front of her.

"Clarice?"

"One of the workers was just leaving H."

The man stood quaking in fear. "But we all came in the truck together."

Hannibal glared at the man. "You are the miscreant who upset my wife? You are bold enough to talk out of turn to her yet you don't even have the testicular weight to look at me directly?"

The man turned his terrified eyes up to Hannibal.

"That is much better. Now I suggest you apologize to my lovely wife for whatever action caused her offense."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Lecter. I meant no disrespect."

Hannibal turned to Clarice. "We need this system finished. One less worker this late in the day will make that unlikely. May I allow him to continue or do you find his presence offensive in the extreme? If so, I will be more than happy to drive him home, though as frightened as he appears, I am uncertain whether or not he wants the ride."

Perhaps you'd like to leave me your home number.

Walking up to the worker Clarice poked a finger in his chest. "You can finish your work day and when you go home you tell your wife that Hannibal Lecter saved your ass today. You might think he's scary but you've never seen me when I go bat shit insane so stay the fuck out of my way."

Clarice stormed out of the room.

"She can be quite formidable!" Hannibal exclaimed proudly. "The most magnificent woman that ever walked the earth and she chose to love me… I am a very lucky man."

The men all nodded in agreement. Right now, Hannibal Lecter seemed far less frightening than Clarice.

Invigorated stretched his arms out widely and Hannibal slapped his hands together boldly.

"Okey-Dokey…Get back to work my friends. There is much to do and very little time in which to do it. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I would like to feel secure in my home for the holidays."

"We'll get it done Doctor Lecter." the lead worker promised.

Hannibal slapped him on the back. "Please…call me Hannibal."

Until the next chapter my friends,

LH