Chapter 20

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Before Saskia came into their lives, the dogs stayed at WolfTrap, Will noticed. Since she came into their lives and started to live with Hannibal for her protection, Countess had wormed her way into Hannibal's world and became a permanent fixture. The other dogs soon followed as Will began to spend a bit more time at Hannibal's and wasn't comfortable leaving his dogs alone for so long. With Saskia spending most of her days at home, she looked after the dogs and was able to focus on her writing a lot more when the dogs were around her.

Blanket over her legs, Saskia sat on the ground with her back against the couch again. She found that this position was one of the best for her writing style. The fireplace, when lit, would give her a small discretion when she needed to think for a moment before continuing to type away.

The dogs always decided to lay on or near her.

Sometimes she had her headphones in, other times she just listened to the heartbeats of the dogs and the crackling of the fire, and very few times she would listen to Hannibal play the piano. She liked those days when a melody wafted through the house, calming her and creating a clearer pretense in her mind. She wrote best on those days.

With a light thunderstorm, the rain added to the music and reminded her of the forest.

"If you kick me one more time, Countess," Saskia warned as she typed away at the laptop on her lap. Countess was lying next to her, making Saskia move her arm until it laid over most of her head as she slept there. The dog just huffed and sneezed. "Thanks."

Will laughed from behind her, tinkering with a piece of fishing gear that he wanted to finish fixing. "She sneezed into your face again, didn't she?"

"Yep."

A sudden clap of thunder had Pip the pug jumping into her lap with a squeal. Saskia quickly cuddled him up to her chin, feeling him whine and tremble. He just sat there, pouting with each clap of thunder and soon enough jumped from her to the couch before running headfirst into Will's lap.

Pip hiccuped, looking confused for a second before he hiccuped again. He was shocked, lowly growling each time it escaped before barking at Will when he laughed. He hiccuped again, shaking with his growl before he nestled back into Will's lap.

Sometimes Will wasn't having a good mental day, other times it was Saskia, but very rarely was it Hannibal.

For thoses days that Will was ready to just give up on human interactions, some calm time with the dogs piled on top of him or near him while he worked on a piece of his work in progress boat, or fishing gear, would greatly help. For Saskia, it was a hot bath or shower with some time on the couch with a cup of hot English tea in her hands while she listened to Hannibal's music.

When it was Hannibal's rare days, he seemed to stay at the office longer than needed and not answer his phone. Saskia had found a genuine Thai take out place that even Hannibal approved of, and so on those bad days of his where he was ready to snap a neck of someone rude, she would order it to the office and then Will and she would drive there.

Hannibal liked to play music a little too much, so when they brought food to the office for dinner, he would play on the piano he had in the office. He knew both of them would settle on the couches, sitting next to each other until one of them got cold and sat closer.

By the time he finished, he knew he would need to wake both of them up.

Saskia and Will had a bad habit of falling asleep whenever he played the piano, and he liked the fact that they were comfortable to fall asleep in his presence.

It always calmed him knowing that they were comfortable with him. Both of them knew where he kept his scalpels, and that he always had his blade in his pocket. They knew that he wouldn't hurt them without a very good reason, and that reason would only be if there was absolutely no other option to save them.

Hannibal sighed as he realised.

Saskia had wormed her way into their lives like a parasite, taking over very slowly until she was part of it, and if she wasn't, she would leave a gaping hole. Will had done the same to them, but Hannibal was the one to start the game with Will.

While Will could get into the heads of people and know why they did what they did, Saskia would copy and paste interactions to get her way.

There were no words to say how nice it felt to not have to wear a mask around the two most important people in his life.

It didn't take long for him to incorporate this image, this beautiful memory into his mind palace, placing it very securely near his mother's room, and between the lake where he and Mischa used to play, the office where he met Will, and the first instance he met Saskia in her house.

The perfect place for them, hidden but close to heart.

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The tailor shop was small and mostly unknown by the public.

Rene greeted both women with kisses on the cheeks as they came into his shop. Margot was one of Rene's oldest clients and had suggested him for Saskia's alterations and tailored clothing. Finding clothes that Saskia liked and fit well was difficult when you were picky and had a figure that wasn't rectangle.

"Good morning, beauties," He beamed, kissing them both on each cheek as they greeted him back. "How's the little one? May I?"

Margot nodded, letting him gently touch the growing bump. At almost seventeen weeks pregnant, she was starting to show a lot more. She wore loose coats or sarves a lot, and with the cold weather, it wasn't suspicious.

"He has started to move around now," Margot said, a small smile on her lips as she watched both tailor and writer pause. "I found out the gender an hour ago."

"Congratulations!" Rene said. "He's going to be just as beautiful as his mother. Are you here to get a suit tailored? I know Saskia has a few pieces to try on."

"Yes, I need to get a suit or two done because someone has decided he didn't want me fitting into them anymore," Margot nodded, looking down accusingly at her growing belly.

"Good. Right." Rene muttered, gesturing for his assistant. "Leni, can you take Margot to mirror and start measuring her? I'll check your work after I get Saskia sorted with her clothes."

Leni nodded and easily brought Margot to the mirror, asking her to take her coat and jacket off before beginning to measure. Rene dragged Saskia over to the dressing room, hanging up the pieces Saskia had brought in to be tailored and brought in. He gently shoved her in, giving her instructions to change into each outfit and show him after each one.

Saskia took her shoes, jeans, and shirt off, knowing she was going to try on the new suit first.

She stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself for a moment.

She was healthy as ever, kickboxing and martial arts with Harumi did that. Hannibal kept all his dishes healthy with a large variety of dishes and a mix of treats. The black thong and bra set was beautiful against her skin, and very much comfortable.

She disliked the scar on her lower abdomen. It was very low, almost completely hidden by her underwear. Still a pinky tone, it wouldn't turn pale for a while. The middle of the scar was slightly thicker than the rest but all of the scar was less than half an inch thick.

The scar on her shoulder was healed nicely. No ugliness there, only the pride of surviving something like that. She always showed that scar off if there was an occasion because it was a conversation starter.

The cuts on the inside of her wrist were gone, now very faint on her skin.

She had other scars; one on her cheek from when she was beat up and realised the desire to hunt, the tiny self harm ones from her youth that littered her hips and a small portion of her thighs, and the one on the back of her head near the base of her hairline.

Saskia smiled to herself, touching each of the scars with a shuddering sigh.

She survived each and every one of these.

She survived herself.

She survived.

Shrugging on the black shirt, Saskia tucked it into maroon trousers and placed the jacket over an arm.

"So," Saskia said, coming out of the dressing room and into the mirrored portion of the shop. "How do I look? Amazing, right?"

"So much vanity in a pretty package," Rene shook his head. "But I have to say, I outdid myself."

"That you did," Saskia allowed Rene to help her put on the jacket.

"If you feel here," Rene said, tucking his hand into the jacket so it was against the left rib cage area. "There is a pocket that will conceal the gun and still keep your silhouette flawless."

"You're amazing, Rene."

"I know." He patted her on the arm before shoving her shoulder. "Now go get that pretty little butt of yours into that dressing room and try everything else on too."

"It's pretty but it ain't little, Rene,"

"I know, Saskia," He laughed. "I'm the one that has to find trousers that fit that ass of yours. Now, get in and change. I need to know if I need to fix any mistakes. Leni, how's it going?"

"Good!"

Saskia went back into the dressing room and finished the outfits.

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Their next stop was the nail salon. Since it was a weekday, there weren't many people in the shop and having appointments always made them a priority.

"What're you having?"

"Apres Gel Nail Extensions, please" Saskia said politely.

"What shape? We have stiletto, coffin, long coffin, square, long square, almond, and long almond,"

"Long coffin,"

"I'll have gel," Margot told her nail technician. "Unlike someone, I can't deal with long nails without making myself go crazy."

Saskia smirked. "I've had Apres Gel done since I was fifteen. You get used to them after so long. So, what colour are you getting?"

"Milk bottle, I think," Margot said. "It's simple but visible. What about you?"

Saskia stuck her thumb, pointer finger, and her pinky finger out. "Black." She swapped her fingers, putting her middle and ring finger out while the other went down. "Dark red. I almost always do solid colours."

About twenty minutes into their appointment, a certain female psychiatrist appeared. To Saskia's satisfaction, Margot and Alana hit off quite easily. She smiled, knowing this would be good. Margot would owe her a favor for what would happen to Mason, and she could keep Alana off of her for now.

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The restaurant was lowly lit with small candles at each table and some hanging lights. Saskia sat alone at one of the booths near the back. Saskia felt that Countess didn't need to come, she didn't need any sort of comfort anymore really.

With a slight fancy tone of the decorations and food, Saskia had decided on a coffee coloured skirt with a black turtleneck and matching coffee coloured coat. She even had her hair put up into a simple twist updo. Her Vivienne Westwood clutch concealed her gun, and had enough room for her tablet, phone, and any small trinkets she carried with her.

The two men she was waiting for appeared at the front of the restaurant, and neither were Hannibal and Will. Carlo and Matteo Deogracias appeared at the front, quickly getting hugged and kissed by the hostess manning the front.

They were led over to Saskia's table, both taking their hats off as they greeted her with a 'Miss Alasite'. They sat down across from her as the hostess smiled.

"What can I get you for drinks?" She asked. "These two will have their usual coffee. I will never understand how you boys drink it so late at night."

"It's only half past five, Patty," Carlo said.

"I'll have a flat white but with double espresso," Saskia smiled lightly.

"You're the same as them," Patty shook her head with a grin, jotting it down. "You two are having the usual, aren't you? And you?"

"Crespelle with Ricotta and Spinach, please,"

"Of course," Patty jotted it down, looking between Saskia and the both Deogracias men. "Is this business or pleasure?"

"Business," Saskia said. "And we'd best get to it."

"Of course, I'll bring the coffees in a few minutes but the meals will take another twenty," She said and nodded once.

"Why did you ask us here, Miss Alasite?" Carlo asked, his eyes narrowing as Saskia allowed a tiny self satisfied smile onto her lips.

"Margot Verger wants to expand the Verger meat industry from just pigs to include cows," Saskia simply said. "And she can't with Mason being in charge of the business."

"What's this got to do with us?" Matteo inquired. "Mr Verger's our boss."

"Techanally, he isn't. You work for the Verger family industry. Even with Margot's disownment from the inheritance, she still has a right to the family business if the current head is dead,"

Matteo leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You want us to kill Mason Verger?"

"I don't want you to kill him, but if you, perhaps, left the feeding area of the pigs open when he comes in to check on them and he could trip into it,"

"Why would we do this?"

"Because I know that you've got a couple nieces and nephews attending the Christian summer camp that the Verger family founded," She thanked Patty when she brought the coffees out to them and only a minute later, the meals.

"What about the camp?"

"Mason Verger was convicted of… abusing the children there," Saskia took a breath in, sipping her coffee to calm her anger at the mere thought of him. "He was able to get the charges expunged, he only had to do community service for a time. He abused the children mentally and physically, but almost no one believed the children because they were from the foster system. Margot is going to have a son, she doesn't want Mason to be there to abuse him anymore than he abused her."

"He… what?"

Neither of them looked well after what she said. At least she didn't have to lie about what he did. Having friends in high places was a good thing when it came to this kind of stuff, and knowing how to get it legally was even better.

"I've got the charges right here," Saskia said as she brought out her tablet and logged onto a document. "There are about four pages of charges, and he was only convicted of half of them because the system refused to allow certain children to testify. Do you really want to work for a man that abuses and assaults women and children and gets away with it without a mark on his record?"

Their faces said it all.

They nodded grimly and agreed to what she asked.

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The Nook and Corner Bookshop was a little unusual in the fact that it was much bigger on the inside compared to the outside. The main section of the shop was crowded with people lining up to get the newly released book. Saskia, Abigail, and the owner of the shop were talking in the back upper office that outlooked the main section.

Abigail was pacing as far away from the side as she could, wringing her hands together as Saskia unbuckled Countess. The dog grabbed Abigail by the sleeve, careful to keep from tearing it as she guided Abigail to the buttoned leather sofa.

"Take a sip before you pass out because of your nerves," Niamh gave Abigail the cup and saucer of Camomile tea, letting the girl drink it to calm herself down. "And I thought I was nervous today."

"It'll be fine," Saskia stated. "We'll see how it goes."

Today would be the day Abigail's book would be signed by the authors for fans that wanted it, and with Saskia's reputation of being Syn, many people were here to get the newest of her creations, even if it was nonfiction. It was publicly released a week ago but the sales skyrocketed in the few hours of it being out. So now everyone wanted to get an interview with Abigail and the author.

Saskia didn't want another interview ever again in her life. She had enough when she outed herself as Syn. She knew Abigail didn't want to do the interviews without some sort of emotional support, so there was a little surprise for her in a few minutes.

Niamh checked her phone when it beeped, smiling and sending a quick text.

Abigail was fidgeting and tapping her fingers constantly. She jumped when she saw someone climb up the stairs, almost launching herself in her girlfriend's arms.

"Careful, Ab," Marie smiled, hugging Abigail closely. "Don't make me fall down the stairs."

"I thought you couldn't come down, you said one of your professors was being a dick about an assignment?"

"Someone," Marie gave Saskia a glance as the older woman shrugged sheepishly, "called the professor and was able to get an extension for me."

"I've had enough of interviews for a lifetime," Saskia simply said. "I rather keep out of the spotlight for this. It's your day, Abigail. It's your story, I just helped you put it into words when you could not."

Saskia froze when Abigail suddenly came over and hugged her, but Saskia smiled down at her and hugged her back. Abigail came to just above her chin when Saskia wore heels, she was hug sized.

"You'll do fine out there," Saskia said as Abigail lifted her face from Saskia's chest. Saskia kissed her forehead lightly, giving her courage. "You've got Marie with you, and if you want, you can have Countess down there with you."

"Yes, please," She said meekly.

Saskia nodded. "I'll be up here if you need me. Shout or get Countess to get me and I'll be down there with you within a second."

"Thank you,"

"No problem."

Marie and Abigail quickly got downstairs, Countess coming tightly behind them.

Niamh picked up one of the signed copies of the new book, signed by Syn and Abigail, and handed Saskia it.

The cover was beautiful. With a mostly dark forest theme, there was a girl and her father on the cover, both employed models for this. Both wore hunting gear, with the girl standing in front of her father while he held her shoulders with a knife in one hand. Behind him was a large array of antlers coming from his back, a pair for each of his confirmed kills, including the ones done by the CopyCat.

The title was white, plain and simple in firm lettering across the top and bottom of the cover.

Minnesota Shrike and daughter:

True story of Abigail Hobbs and how she survived.

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Margot was almost five month pregnant when she invited Saskia and Alana to the manor for lunch.

Saskia was so glad they were getting along now. Alana wouldn't be suspicious of anything that would happen within the next few hours as Saskia had asked Mason Verger if she could get a fresh pig slaughtered. After batting her eyes, Mason agreed and jutted an arm out for her to take.

They got to the slaughter house so Saskia could pick out a pig, Carlo nodding to her with the tiniest of smiles as he confirmed that he did as they agreed. He would get paid handsomely for this, and the Christian camp would get a large new donation.

Saskia took her time looking at the pigs from her advantage point on the platform, Mason standing a little too close to her side.

"Do you know which pig you want?"

She smiled, looking him up and down. "I do."

"Which one would that be?"

"it's very hard to choose, isn't it?" She placed her hand onto the railing, feeling how loose it is. A simple trip into it would be enough to dislodge it. "There are so many factors you have to take into account. How much meat you want on it, how thick the fat. I'd think the breeding of them would be the most important bit."

She wanted to gag at his expression when she mentioned breeding. But it worked, she got his attention as he stood next to her with a leering smile.

"Just look at you, Saskia," He said, a hand on her hip as he stepped closer to her. "A beautiful woman just begging to be put into her place. So beautiful and fiesty. Margot was the same until she tried to prove she was straight but now she's pregnant and no longer any fun."

"You're just a man who's looking for the right one to put you in your own place," Her lips curled over her teeth, letting her flash them in warning but it just seemed to excite him.

His eyes widened with lust as they gazed down the tight jeans she wore. "Isn't my place with you?"

Saskia smiled slyly, leaning forward until he was barely leaning against the unknowingly loose railing. She suddenly stepped back, planting one foot onto his chest and shoving him back. He tried to catch the railing and he did, making it fall with him as crashed next to him.

"With me, your place would be as my foot rest," Saskia pressed the button for the pig pen before she crouched down, letting herself look over the edge as she watched the pigs appear. His glasses cracked under the weight of the pigs as they stampeded in, already beginning to bite and gnaw at his heels and tearing through his achilles' heel.

She watched for a minute before deciding she had to go back to the other women. Passing both Deogracias brothers, she handed them a check each. They could easily pay any debts off and have enough for any future children's education. They could live comfortably off this, but they would continue to work for Margot as soon as Mason was found to be eaten tomorrow morning.

With his screams, it wouldn't take long for the pigs to begin to properly tear him apart. If there was anything left, Deogracias brothers would report that they found their employer eaten by the pigs.

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It took the better part of a month for Margot to employ Saskia as a main lawyer until she received the inheritance money. With the loophole of a male heir, Margot was able to gain control over the money her father had left her brother. While the business would have been hers regardless of her father's will, she wouldn't have the money to keep the manor and all of the land. It would have taken months, perhaps years to actually accumulate that much wealth.

She was glad she was going to have a son.

There were no other loopholes for any of Margot's distant relatives to get the money, Saskia made sure of that.

Saskia had been the one to go through this exact same circumstance with relatives trying to take her father's money. Her sisters tried to do the same with their grandmother's money, but it had been left to Saskia and her alone. Some cousins of her father's tried to say that that money belonged to her grandfather and they had a right to it.

None of her father's money was her grandfather's in any aspect.

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Saskia felt her phone vibrate, picking it up as she saw an unknown number appear. She brought it upto her ear as her nail tapped against the table. "Hello?"

"This is Saskia's phone number?" A vaguely familiar voice said, a scared tone in her voice.

"Marie, is that you?"

"Thank god, it is your number! Look, Abigail's missing,"

"What do you mean by Abigail's missing?"

"She went to the shop about an hour ago and the shop is only a ten minute walk. I already tried to call her but her phone goes straight to voicemail. I even went out to see what's taking her so long and found her phone smashed on the ground. I can't find her!"

Saskia rubbed a head down her hairline before exhaling to keep herself centred.

"Shit. Okay, Marie. First, you need to calm down first. Take a breath, just like that," She sprinted to the kitchen because she knew Hannibal was starting up dinner. "Was there anything else you saw? Think, Marie."

"What is it, Saskia?" Hannibal stopped his cutting of the spring onions. "Did something happen?"

"Abigail's missing," She said in one breath. "Marie found my number. Abigail went to the corner shop about an hour ago and hasn't returned. Marie went to try and find her and found Abigail's phone smashed on the ground."

Hannibal turned everything off with ease, wiping his hands clean before taking off his half apron. "Get dressed. I'll call Will and Jack. You call Alana Bloom. She needs to be aware that Abigail could spiral if she's in Leroy's clutches. Bring Countess, and Will will bring Hades, they might be able to scent her."

"Got it. Countess, get the collars," Saskia called over her shoulder before returning to the phone. "Marie, I'm going to put you on hold. Are you back at your dorm?"

"I'm inside,"

"Stay there and stay alert, you'll be fine there,"

Alana took too long to answer, so Saskia left the phone on speaker each time she tried to call. This allowed her to get dressed. She didn't have time for anything fancy. Combat boots, jeans, hoodie, and jacket. She called Margot, remembering that Alana was supposed to be on a date with her, and luckily she picked up.

"Is Alana with you?"

"Yes, she's—"

"Give her the phone," Saskia almost snapped, listening carefully as she heard Hannibal call some people too. "Alana?"

"I'm here," She sounded sleepy. "What's wrong?"

"Abigail's missing," Saskia placed her hair into a quick ponytail and bound it. "Hannibal is calling Will and Jack before we're making our way to the uni."

"Oh my god!" There was rustling on the other side and a thud as Alana fell, probably out of a bed. "Do you think it's Leroy Harris?"

"I've got a bad feeling it is," Saskia shrugged the jacket on as she made her way downstairs to find Hannibal holding both sets of keys. He passed her the Range Rover keys as he took the keys to his own car. "Hannibal says he's going to come pick you up. Are you at Margot's?"

"No, we're both at mine. Margot says she'll have her chauffeur bring her car to mine. I'll be ready soon. Tell Hannibal to come in straight away."

Saskia ended the call without any words.

They were lodged in her throat, wanting to be released but refusing to come out.

She would prefer to lodge her foot into a very special place of Leroy Harris' instead.

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I have a feeling that the end of this chapter seems a little rushed, but I hope it works well. I've been waiting for this chapter.