Chapter 8

The FBI always kept records of what was brought in and out of the building for evidence. Clarice Starling did her job and was damn good at it. In all her research, she had acquired numerous items that Lecter had owned in order to better understand him and predict patterns to track him down. When she had confronted Barney Matthews about the various items he had sold, he managed to get her tapes of their conversations, drawings, and some books. When Clarice brought them into the infamous Hannibal House she had filled out a slip and handed it over to evidence. That is now the same room that Pearsall stood in today. He now had the list in his hand of everything Starling had brought. There were 3 cookbooks on the list to look through. He turned the list into Will Graham.

"Good, only three books we need to look through."

"Yes. But I do have some news, Starling took some of these items home with her the day she was suspended from duty."

"Then I guess we need to take a trip to her house then don't we?"

Will grabbed the keys on the table and drove to the duplex where Special Agent Ardelia Mapp currently lived. He knocked twice and Agent Mapp answered promptly.

"Hello Special Agent Mapp. My name is…"

"I know who you are."

"Oh, have we met before."

"No, but when your roommate was tasked with hunting down Hannibal Lecter, there are certain faces in those files you just don't forget."

"Ah, I see. Well then, do you know why I am here?"

"Here to gather the rest of the evidence?"

"Yes."

"Right this way."

Mapp lead him to the kitchen. There was a large brown box under the table that she reached for and pulled out. She placed it on the table and turned to look at Will.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

Will picked up the box and turned to leave. Then a thought hit him.

"Did you see her that night? Or have you seen her since she has gone missing?"

Ardelia turned to look at Will and gave him a stern look, "No."

"Are you sure? Maybe she didn't sneak in previously or…"

"I said I haven't seen her. Frankly, I just don't care."

Will set the box down in the floor and looked through the items in the box. He noted the tapes were still there, some drawings, and two cookbooks.

"That's funny." Will glanced at Ardelia.

"What?"

"There is something missing from this box."

"Well then, I guess you better check back at the office."

Will stood back up with the box in hand and sighed, "Ardelia….are you sure there isn't anything you want to tell me?"

"I am sure. Now get that thing out of my face."

Will nodded and walked out making a mental note that he may have to pay a visit to Ardelia Mapp at a later date.

Back at Quantico, he set the box down and went through its contents. Agent Hill came into the room.

"Any luck?"

"The book we need is not here. My guess that it is currently in Starling's possession."

Will reached into his pocket and pulled out the list of three cookbooks. "Do me a favor, there are two books in this box, can you get me a copy of the third one that is missing? Whether it be an online copy, or find me one at a store. I just need a copy."

"You got it Mr. Graham."

Agent Hill took the list and located the book he needed to find online. He purchased a pdf file and sent it to his email. Hill glanced around the room. He opened up his email and attached the book as a copy as well as attached a picture of the message from the Tattler. He sent these files and began typing a short letter, "We are closer than we thought Already. Will is good. We should be able to find him. I know the instructions already. I will capture Hannibal and kill the rest." Hill sent the email and deleted it from his history. He transferred the PDF to a flash drive and handed it over to Will.

"Perfect. Let's start dissecting this immediately. We need to figure out where they are meeting now."

The team began deciphering the message that Clarice Starling left for Hannibal Lecter.

Meanwhile Lecter sat on a plane in California. He was set to land in Texas where he would take one more plane to Starling's meeting location. He mused at her choice and thought it fitting. My how his little Starling has grown. But he did wonder, when their paths crossed again, what would she do? He smiled and closed his eyes.

All good things to those who wait.

Lecter slept all the way to Dallas, Texas trying to drown out the screams of the small children on the plane. Once he landed, he took one more plane to the final destination and meeting place. As he made his final steps onto that plane, his heart rate spiked above 85.

Such a feeling of excitement for once, perhaps because I have such a worthy playmate. I can't wait to see what else you have in store Clarice. I am already impressed by what I have seen so far.

Will Graham sat in a chair listening to the taped conversations between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling. He made note that they were all dated, but some were missing. Hannibal's dungeon voice filled the room. It took Will back to the days of hunting down The Great Red Dragon. He remembered how he looked, with his hair slicked back and his pale blue prison attire. He remembered that the glass didn't seem thick enough to keep him away. That awful feeling of staring the monster in the face. And yet, listening to these tapes, he could tell Starling was not frightened of him. No, she met his every challenge.

"Clarice Starling….what about you intrigued Lecter?"

Agent Hill came bursting into the room with the message written down to give to Will.

"I deciphered the message, it was tricky, but it's all there!"

Will spun around in his chair. "Perfect! Let's see it."

Will looked at the piece of paper:

"You remember the ranch I grew up on Yes? The cattle ranch, seems fitting we meet there. Two days from now."

Will looked up at Agent Hill, "Get me Pearsall and the rest of the team, we are leaving now. If this letter is accurate, they should be meeting tomorrow. Let's get a move on, now!"

Pearsall, Agent Thacker, Agent Hill, and Agent Augustus all assembled in the room surrounding Will.

"We decoded the message! Agent Thacker did some research for me into Clarice Starling's childhood. She was orphaned after her father was shot and killed. She grew up on a ranch in Montana. That is their designated meeting place. They should be meeting tomorrow. We leave tonight. I want to get there as quickly as possible and scope out the area. Agent Augustus, you will set up a perimeter. I want you as our eyes. If anything moves other than us, shoot it. Agent Thacker, I want you stationed at the road. You are to observe and report any incoming vehicles in and out of the road headed our way. Agent Hill, I want you to check with the neighbors. Make sure there hasn't already been someone there recently. I checked the address of the ranch Starling lived at. That house has been abandoned for 4 years and is listed for sale. It's the perfect meeting location between the two. Secluded and very few people around. Let's move out!"

The team nodded and began packing. Pearsall approached Will, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Thank you Will. Thanks to you, we finally caught them."

Will shook his head, "Let's not get too caught up in celebration. I will only consider this a victory when his cold corpse is at my feet."

The team made it to Montana in the middle of the night. The perimeter had been blocked off and now they played the waiting game. Will felt confident that this was his victory. He had completely immersed himself in all things Lecter/Starling. He caught the message he felt like no one could. All that was left, was to put a bullet between the monster's eyes. The old ranch house was rather large, two stories with an open lay out. There was a porch that wrapped around the front and sides of the house. The kitchen window could be seen to the left. To the right was a larger living room. Upstairs were the bedrooms and closet space. They had the entire plans of the house. Out back was an old shed that had been torn down, but not cleaned up. There was a large field out back with an old fence that was half falling down. The team waited all day, hour after hour, but no one came. Will had his men search the area over and over. He had them check the house, the local roads, and even the neighboring houses. But no one came.

Will let out a long sigh, "Something doesn't feel right." He picked up his radio. "Agent Augustus, you have the rifle in hand, yes?"

Agent Augustus's voice boomed over the radio, "Yea, I got it. Still no sign though."

"Keep your eyes open. I am going to look around."

Will left his post and began walking towards the dirt road. The nearest house was a couple of miles away. Graham had a passing thought. He got into his vehicle and drove down to the next house he could find. He got out and approached an older man and woman sitting outside. Will waved politely. The couple smiled and waved in turn.

Will started, "Evenin'. My name is Ben. I was looking to buy some property out here. I saw that old farmhouse down the road. Any clue who I could get in contact with? The sign says for sale, but I don't see a number."

The old lady stood up, "Have a seat dearie. My name is Grace and this is Clark. I think we have a card inside, let me find it."

"Thank you ma'am."

Will sat across from the Clark. "Are you from around here?"

Will smiled, "No sir, just looking to get away from the city. I searched online everywhere found this little house, but not much on it. Thought I would come check it out. Know anything about it?"

Clark nodded, "Yes sir, it was an old ranch house that used to care for sheep and horses, and the couple moved out about…"

Will's smile faded immediately, "I am sorry, what kind of ranch was it?"

Clark look confused, "Well primarily sheep and horses. I mean they had a few other things but…."

Will stood up, "Thank you for your time." He walked back to his vehicle furious.

Grace came out of the house with the card, "Young man! Did you not want this?"

Will climbed in his vehicle and drove off. Grace stared at the vehicle as it drove back down the road, "That was bizarre. What did you say to him Clark?"

Meanwhile Graham drove back to the old house where his team waited. He got on the radio. "I want everyone down here now. Agent Thacker, bring me a copy of the Tattler that contained that message again."

Pearsall came down the hill to meet Will, "What happened."

"Just let me see the paper."

Agent Thacker ran up with a copy, "Here you go sir."

Will grabbed it out of her hands and furiously flipped through the pages.

Pearsall snapped, "Will! Talk to me now!"

Will found the page he was looking for and snarled, "She made all of us look like fools."

Pearsall glanced down at the paper, confused.

Will held it up for his team to see. "This isn't a cattle ranch. It was for sheep and horses."

On that same tabloid column, on the next page, was a message from a "Little Lamb and the Horse."

Pearsall shouted, "Damn them!"