Chapter 19
Hannibal ascended the stairs of the old abandoned building where Clarice and the shooter awaited him. He smiled and marveled at how quickly Clarice was able to pick up on his mannerisms. True they had spent a lot of time together recently, but the fact she was able to read him so fast both fascinated and frightened him. By the time he had sent her a text of the sniper's whereabouts, she was already in the car on her way to him. Truly this pair is more dangerous together than separate.
Hannibal opened the door and found Clarice standing off to the right with her gun fixated on a man in an old metal chair arms bound behind his back, chest tied down, and legs tied to the legs of the chair.
Hannibal smirked, "So what have you found out thus far my dear?"
"FBI agent, so I can only guess that he was assigned to the group lead by Will Graham to hunt us down. He also had a whole set up by the window, a couple of days worth of food, water, sleeping bag, and a cyanide pill in his pocket."
"Not the usually FBI tactics, so are you really FBI or is that the cover up?"
Mitchell did not reply. Instead he looked ahead, eyes glazed over, and a stern look adorned his face.
"Not much of a talker I see. Well that is of no concern to me, I can always make you talk anyway." Hannibal exclaimed with a grin and he pulled out his knife and approached the agent.
Mitchell started, "Do whatever it is you have to do, my mission is at last complete."
Hannibal stopped and gave a sideways glance, "Oh? So you were sent here to die? Because that is the only thing you have accomplished here."
Mitchell began laughing, "I know you aren't used to hearing people say this to you Doctor but you are wrong. I have accomplished a couple of things on this mission. The first was to insure the involvement of Clarice Starling." Mitchell glanced over at Clarice and winked.
"You see, my supervisor has been watching you for years, and they were not entirely sure whether you were forced into this, drugged, or whatever the cause may be. Dr. Lecter is indeed capable of that and much more."
Clarice stared the agent down, "I know exactly what my husband is capable of. Watching me for years you say? How long?"
Mitchell smirked, "Since the Buffalo Bill case. You see, my supervisor enlisted my help to get close to Lecter, close enough to kill him even back then. I originally requested to be the one to question Lecter about Buffalo Bill when it was first brought up to the Bureau for discussion. But of course I was denied in favor of you, FBI trainee Clarice Starling. Of course, my supervisor assumed Lecter would do to you just like he did the others. He would break you apart and shut down."
Agent Mitchell glanced back at Hannibal, "But he didn't, he communicated with you. He spoke to you. Then my supervisor took an interest in her, Clarice Starling, The Bride of the Cannibal. The new mission became to test the validity of that."
Hannibal stepped forward, "And what was the second accomplishment of this so called mission?"
Mitchell turned his head toward Clarice, "She has my radio, my hands are tied, if you let me say the password over the radio, you will find out why."
Clarice and Hannibal glanced at one another. Hannibal nodded and walked to grab the radio from Clarice. He then turned and approached Mitchell. He placed the radio next to Mitchell's head then pressed the button.
Mitchell stared at Hannibal the entire time, "The Starling is Dead."
Hannibal removed the radio and they waited. Soon a voice was heard over the radio.
"Lecter….can you hear me?" Will's voice echoed through the speaker of the radio.
Hannibal smiled, "Why Will, such a nice surprise. Maybe next time you plan a party, you should join in as well."
Will's voice came back on, "I wasn't referring to you Hannibal, I was referring to the other Lecter in the room. If Starling is dead, she must have taken on her new name with you right?"
Clarice stood still looking toward her husband. In this moment an epiphany of sorts hit her. Before her, and this unborn child, he was indeed the last Lecter. Last of his blood, last to carry his name. But now….with her….with this baby….the legacy may still live on. Her husband, finally had an heir. But now was not the time for those thoughts. No, now there was an enemy at their front door waiting for them.
Clarice spoke up, "That is rather cowardly of you to send a group of men to try and kill us. Although, if I may be honest, this was a pathetic attempt."
Will spoke up over the radio, "I never intended to kill either of you, honestly, if this was enough to kill the two of you, my job would have been very easy. The only purpose of this mission, was to get your attention Clarice."
"My attention? Why do you need my attention?"
Will snickered, "I have something that belongs to you and I wanted to know if you would like it back."
All of a sudden, Ardelia's screaming voice came over the radio. "Clarice?! Are you there? Don't listen to him, he is insane….." the voice suddenly ended.
Then Will's voice came on again, "If you want her back, I will give you a place and a time for us to meet. If not, I will save us both the trouble and just kill her now. Your choice."
Clarice looked to Hannibal, eyes clear of any emotion, "What is it that you want in exchange for Ardelia?"
"A chance encounter with the two of you. Like I said if you want her then come to me. If not, she will die now. So decide. 10…."
A click of a gun could be heard.
"9…."
Ardelia screaming.
"8…"
Agent Mitchell started laughing.
"7…."
Hannibal interrupted. "Deal."
The counting stopped. Will spoke again, "My house, in Key West. I am sure you remember the place. Two days. Meet me and Agent Mapp there at 5:00pm. Don't be late."
Hannibal responded, "Remember Will, it was you who asked for this encounter. Don't be disappointed now when things don't go your way."
Then the radio went dead.
Agent Mitchell spoke, "I was never intended to survive this. So now you see what my purpose is for."
Clarice stood still, face expressionless.
Hannibal approached her, "We will get her back."
Clarice turned to look at her husband, "I know. I was just thinking that Agent Mitchell still had one more purpose."
She turned to face him and reached for Hannibal's knife. "And that purpose is for you to die by my hands for every pointing a gun at Hannibal."
On the other side of the world Will stood in a separate room from Ardelia with Lady Murasaki.
Lady Murasaki began speaking, "Do not let Mitchell's death be in vain Will. Or I will take your life."
Will turned to look at her, "He is the one that volunteered. All those other men were inmates, we needed someone trained to lead the group. He did well. And now the rest of the plan unfolds. Hannibal has no idea you are working with me. So, I will be the bait this time along with my men so that you and your group can kill the monster when the time is right."
"Did you not see what happened to these men? The two of them working together Mr. Graham, they are more dangerous together."
"She is nothing more than a pawn to lure him in."
He turned to leave the room.
"Keep underestimating her Mr. Graham…and she will be the death of you."