GIVING THANKS: PART TWO

Hannibal welcomed the guests and directed them to the dining room where Clarice played the role of hostess.

The table was set with everything needed for the meal. Hannibal served the antipasto and wine was being poured.

Barney spoke quietly, "Excuse me, I don't know what the protocol is…would it be appropriate for someone at the table to offer a blessing? It is Thanksgiving after all."

Clarice shifted her eyes to Hannibal, "It's your call, H."

Hannibal stood. "If you would indulge me…I am feeling a bit sentimental and would like to offer the blessing first in my mother's native language. I will then translate." he bowed his head and spoke very softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "Benedici, Signore, noi e questi tuoi doni, che stiamo per ricevere dalla tua generosita per Christo nostro Signore." He glanced up for a moment, "This would loosely translate to, Bless us Lord for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Hannibal quietly crossed himself more the thought of his mother on his mind than a specific religious act.

The group spoke collectively, "Amen."

Clarice never took her eyes off her husband. He saw her astonishment as well as that of the other guests.

"I did tell you I was Catholic, Clarice."

"Yeah, but I didn't know it took!" she replied with no small measure of incredulity.

Hannibal's tone was quietly reverent, "My mother was quite devout."

"The blessing was really well done, Hannibal." Ardelia commented respectfully.

Logan raised his glass to offer a cheerful toast, "To our friends and what smells like a really awesome dinner…happy thanksgiving everyone."

Again, collectively the group responded in kind bringing their glasses together in the center of the table, "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Clarice was smiling widely, obviously thrilled.

Hannibal noticed.

The dutiful chef spent the next hour moving back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room enthusiastically serving. They took a small break between the manicotti and the turkey to follow, the wine flowed freely.

Hannibal nodded to Lloyd, Barney and Logan, "Gentleman if you would assist me in the kitchen, I could use a few extra hands to bring out the next course. There are several covered dishes that must be circulated. I would like the women to relax for a few moments."

The men looked confused but stood to follow Hannibal into the kitchen. When Logan caught sight of Hannibal's intention, he ran across the room embraced and lifted Hannibal briefly off his feet.

Suddenly aware that this was probably a tremendous breach in etiquette, Logan set him down and brushed off Hannibal's suit. "Sorry Dude. I'm just so damned excited! You are my freaking hero!"

Logan rushed over to the large television Hannibal moved into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast counter. Barney was equally thrilled and patted Hannibal on the back. "You're a hell of a host, Doctor. You don't miss a trick!"

Lloyd stood beside Hannibal. Logan searched the kitchen for his sidekick, "Hey, Bowmeister! C'mon sit up here with me…unless you want to go back and hang out with the women?"

Lloyd rolled his eyes, "No, I don't want to sit with the women. I like football!"

"Good man, Lloyd." Barney responded kindly, knowing Lloyd was more than a little out of his element.

Hannibal began to clear the dishes and stack them in the dishwasher preparing for the next course.

Clarice used the brief respite from the men to talk to Ardelia. She did not want Hannibal involved in the conversation.

"Delia, I wanted to talk to you about what's been going on here over the last two days. We've got a bit of a situation on our hands and I wanted you to look into it for me."

Ardelia didn't like the sound of that and she leaned forward, her tone and expression questioning, "What exactly do you mean a situation…between you and Hannibal?"

Clarice was confused then incredulous, "What? God no! H and I are fine…more than fine. There's been some freak associated with one of Hannibal's less than scrupulous lovers hanging around. Hannibal thinks he was in the house two days ago."

Ardelia's concern was evident in her tone, "If Hannibal believed someone had gotten into the house why didn't you call the cops?"

Clarice shook her head, "Couldn't…no evidence. We would have sounded freaking crazy."

Ardelia didn't understand, "Then how did Hannibal know someone was in the house."

Clarice paused, she wasn't certain Ardelia would believe her. She kept her tone low so as not to be overheard, "Hannibal caught his scent in the house."

"He can smell people?" Ardelia was more than shocked, "What is he part fucking blood hound? No wonder you didn't call D.C.P.D. No one who doesn't know him would believe that was even possible for a human."

"You believe me though, right?" Clarice was concerned that Ardelia would her, "He can not only smell people…he can detect their mood from the changes in the scent. Like fear or danger. He doesn't sense fear from this man…he senses danger."

"Of course, I'd believe anything you told me about Hannibal. He's like a frigging wolf or something. It's creepy and cool at the same time. I bet that was scary though, especially if you didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. Did you see any sign of forced entry?"

"No, nothing… I almost didn't believe him but when he had a run in with the guy I saw him. He's tall I'd day about six foot two or three, big guy…muscular with really long glossy black hair and dark eyes."

"Race? Age?"

"Looks to be in his mid-thirties but his race is hard to describe…he has a very ethnic look…not white and not exactly Hispanic…more native than that…my closest guess would be Indian."

"What kind of Indian… dot or feather?"

"Feather…Native American…no…more almost…Aztec, kind of attractive in a really distinctive way. You know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I can picture that. Do you have a description of a vehicle… plates?"

"I was too far away to see it but I'm sure H got a quick glance at it."

"I know he has that freakish memory so I probably don't have to ask this but did he write the plate numbers down somewhere?"

"Dee, he just remembered a freaking prayer in another language that hasn't crossed his lips in almost sixty years. I don't think remembering six or seven digits that he saw on a car just yesterday will be any problem for him. I'll just ask him and email it to you."

Hannibal and the men returned to the dining room with guilty smiles on their faces having watched just enough of the game to take them to half time. The men quickly carried covered dishes filled with food to the table. Hannibal carried the turkey to the antique sideboard and began masterfully carving the bird. Lloyd, Barney and Logan began circulating the dishes, serving the women and themselves.

Lloyd admired Hannibal's expertise carving the turkey. "You carve quite well, Sir. It really is a lost art!"

A devious smile crossed Hannibal's face, his voice playful, "Had you not heard? I am quite adept with a knife, Lloyd."

Lloyd smiled, just a little embarrassed at the reference. When everyone at the table laughed, relieved he joined in and enjoyed the joke as well, "Yes, Sir…so I've heard."

THE OUTSIDER

Nico sat in his car and watched. He needed to learn if the couple had any specific habits or daily routines. It would serve him well to find out if they followed a schedule at all. Knowing a complex security system had been installed he had lost the opportunity and would not be able to get to Hannibal at home. Nico now needed to learn as much as he could about the pair. Any information no matter how insignificant could prove important.

More information, Doctor…you have friends. I will learn of them as well.

Nico exited his car and strolled up and down in front of the Lecter home with impunity. He copied in a small notebook the makes and models of the cars along with the license plate numbers. In the notebook he personally described each of the individuals and which car they exited.

You never know when such information will come in handy.

Hannibal's next door neighbor Mr. Warden walked his dog back and forth in front of his home. The tiny dog was a black and white male French bulldog with ears set high and wide giving the animal the appearance of a bat. Mr. Warden watched the outsider very closely, obviously wary of the man. He pulled at his jacket protectively, gathering the fabric of the coat tightly under his chin.

Feeling vulnerable he silently wished his dog was larger.

The outsider saw the man considering him carefully and locked eyes with him, assessing if the elderly gentleman shaking in the cold posed any danger to him.

You are but an old man…you cannot harm me. You are probably more afraid of the wolf that lives next door to you than you are of me. You are no danger. Run back to your home old man!

When the tiny bulldog emptied his bladder Mr. Warden hurried the small animal up the steps of his home to watch the threat from the safety of his front parlor window.

DESSERT

Again, the men hurried into the kitchen carrying whatever dishes Hannibal directed.

Logan was the most eager volunteer balancing all manner of plates and bowls in his arms and across the expanse of his chest. He was far too enthusiastic, "C'mon these dishes aren't going to wash themselves…Bowmeister, Barnstormer, to the kitchen!"

Laughing, Barney rolled his eyes and with Lloyd carried the rest of the items to the kitchen.

Clarice watched her husband carefully, "Hannibal?"

He stopped and lowered his head upon hearing his full name. He did not turn to face her, "Yes, Clarice?"

"What's the score?" she asked, letting him know that she was on to him.

Again, he did not face her, "The Washington Redskins had been twenty points ahead but the Cowboys are currently surging. I believe they will be victorious. They have a player, Emmitt Smith and he is having great success. Logan and Barney are cheering for Dallas. Lloyd seems to favor Washington. Lloyd will most assuredly be disappointed."

Ardelia laughed, "He's used to it. Disappointment might as well be Lloyd's middle name!"

Hannibal turned slowly to face the women. "Are either of you angry with me? I tried to strike a balance in order to accommodate everyone's needs."

Clarice confessed, "Please, H…we've known about it since the first trip into the kitchen."

Ardelia agreed laughing out loud, "Yeah, Logan doesn't do dishes. He just goes out and buys more." Ardelia laughed.

"Go play with your buddies, H…we'll take a break before dessert."

"Thank you, ladies. I will let the men know they need no longer silence their cheers. No doubt they will be much more vocal. With that in mind, I have no idea as to whether or not I should be thanking you."

Hannibal returned to the kitchen and told the men they were welcome to watch the game until service of the dessert course. Cheers resounded.

Hannibal stood at the sink and cleared more dishes. He had a thought, remembering his elderly neighbors next door. He had seen Mr. and Mrs. Warden shuffling up and down the block walking their tiny dog. Mrs. Warden was extremely debilitated. There is no way she could have prepared a Thanksgiving meal. Hannibal packed enough of each course to feed the pair for several meals.

He walked into the dining room with the food packaged.

"Clarice, would you excuse me for a moment. I would like to bring some food to the neighbors next door. They are elderly and I fear they haven't the capacity to prepare a sufficient holiday meal."

Clarice smiled, she hadn't even thought of it and it was a little embarrassing to her, "Sure, H. That's really thoughtful…be careful…for my sake."

Hannibal smiled at his wife, "Always, Clarice…always."

Hannibal opened the front door and locked it behind him. He walked quickly to the neighbor's home. He searched the air for the scent…it was faint.

You have been here…today.

He passed a finger over the Harpy to be certain it was still safely tucked within the fold of his French cuff and knocked on the door of the Warden's home.

The old man peeked through the window of the front door. His wife was sitting in a small rocking chair. Her voice was weak with disease, "Who is at the door, Walter?"

"It is the Doctor," the terrified old man replied.

"Why did you call the Doctor?" she asked, not understanding what was happening. She was confused by the terror in her husband's eyes. "Why do you look so afraid?"

Walter turned to his wife of sixty years, the fear beaming from him, "Not our Doctor…the Doctor...Hannibal Lecter is at the door!"

Unlike her husband, the old woman had read the newspaper coverage of Hannibal's sentence commutation. She had seen the news conferences. She had seen the Doctor's pregnant wife the day they returned to their home, "Open the door, Walter. He was always very good to us before he got sent to jail and he is our neighbor. He may need our help, he has a pregnant wife."

Trembling as he tried to unlatch the small chain barricading the door, Walter opened the door to Hannibal. His voice shook with fear, "Hello Doctor Lecter what can I do for you?"

Hannibal smiled and with all the gentleness he could bring to his voice, sought to calm the terror he sensed from the man, "Good Evening, Mr. Warden. My dear spouse asked that I deliver dinner to you and your lovely wife. She would have come herself but alas she is with child and grows tired this time of day."

Mrs. Warden stood very slowly and waved Hannibal over, "Please, Doctor…set the food down and come to me. My eyes are not what they once were and I would like to thank you properly."

Hannibal set the packages down carefully and moved across the room. He was surprised not to sense fear from the woman. She opened her arms to him, offering a hug in thanks.

Hannibal bent to Mrs. Warden and accepted her embrace. Her voice was filled with affection, "Thank you, Hannibal. You are still the gentleman I remember. Bringing food to your old neighbors…your mother would be proud of you."

Hannibal's heart sped slightly at the mention of his mother's pride, "Thank you, that is kind of you to say. If you will excuse me as much as I would love to stay and visit, our guests remain."

Hannibal embraced the woman, this time with much more affection, "If you are ever in need..."

"May I walk you out, Doctor?" the older gentleman escorted Hannibal outside to the front porch of his home, "Hannibal, there was a strange man watching your house today. Please be very careful. He looked dangerous."

Hannibal nodded, "Yes, I believe I know the man you speak of. I will be on the alert, thank you."

"Thank you, Doctor," the elderly man expressed, his eyes moist with thanks, "What you did for my wife and I…it was very thoughtful. That is the way I remember you. From before…you had always been kind to us."

Hannibal nodded, "Thank you, …you have no idea how much that means to me. I was not certain I would be entirely welcome."

The old man gripped Hannibal's arm at the elbow, "You will always be welcome here."

Your mother would be proud of you… the old woman's words rattled Hannibal.

Again, suddenly the scent of the outsider on the air.

Where are you? I know you are near…

Hannibal's eyes shifted to the street. A car drove by with the windows rolled down. As it passed, Hannibal could smell the scent of the man as he passed. He watched until the car turned the corner.

Hannibal Lecter returned to his wife unaware that within the week, Nico would return. Hannibal and Clarice would too soon be parted.

Until the next chapter, my friends!

LH