Chapter 28

Ardelia was in shock and Clarice was focused and more determined than ever. She knew what had to be done, even if Ardelia did not approve of her decision.

"Claire can we please talk first?"

"About what?"

"Well…I am starting to have thoughts that maybe you are acting a little on the emotional and irrational side. Maybe the pregnancy is finally getting to your head?"

"I am fine Dee. You know as well as I do that this is what that bastard wants. He wants Hannibal to be transported. It is when he will be most vulnerable we have to move and beat him to it."

"Ok. For starters you are not fine, you are doing 90 in a 55 and you really can't afford to get pulled over right now while driving because your face is plastered all over the news. Secondly, what do you think is gonna happen? You are just going to roll in there 7 months pregnant, pick up your hubby, and then the two of you are just going to ride off in the sunset together?"

Clarice sighed, "Look Dee. I know this sounds crazy. I know. But listen to me. This is my ONLY chance at rescuing him. My plan is to let this guy get as far as he can, without actually taking Hannibal. I will let him do all the ground work. Obviously he has a well laid out plan. So I am going to let him carry it out while watching from afar. The second I see an opportunity I am going to bust him out of there. If this man gets a hold of Hannibal, Dee…this child may never get to see his father. Do you understand?"

Ardelia started rubbing her head, "Alright. I am not thrilled about it, but…I guess it's a plan, it's a horrible plan, but still a plan."

Clarice drove back to her hotel room and packed up her things and Ardelia helped. The computers fit into her large black suitcase. Her clothes were folded on the bed and placed into a backpack. She showered for fifteen minutes then came down to the lobby and loaded up the car.

"You better get going to Pearsall, Dee. I would say he is pissed already it has taken you this long."

"Yeah….I know…"

Clarice drove her back to her car and hugged her friend tightly. Ardelia headed back to her car and drove off. She wanted very badly to ask Clarice where she was going next, but she knew she wouldn't tell her. Clarice was a ghost. She moved around from place to place and had plenty of IDs to stay hidden for the next month if she so chose. However, tomorrow was going to be a different story. So instead on this day, Clarice drove her car around gathering various items for her operation. She managed to gather, with the help of some old friends, a new gun, a large bulletproof vest to help cover her belly as much as possible, and a new identification for Hannibal when he was free. She also picked him up a new change of clothes, sunglasses, and a hat. He wouldn't have time to fully change his appearance so anything to cover his face would be optimal.

Clarice could easily tell anyone that she hadn't heard the lambs scream in a very long time. Hannibal's therapy sessions had brought a lot of silence to them and she was thankful. However, tonight was a different story. The screams were very loud and every time she shut her eyes she saw Hannibal, elegant as ever, covered in blood. His blood. His dead eyes met hers, but they were empty. His mouth slightly open as blood trickled out the corner of his mouth. He was dressed in all black, one lifeless hand outstretched towards her. She decided it best to stay awake and keep herself occupied.

Meanwhile, in the next town over, a man who called himself Mr. Leerson was preparing his arsenal for tomorrow. He had the upmost confidence that everything would go smoothly. He had the upmost confidence in his partner Dmitri Gibbs. Gibbs had a unique background. He had been in the marines for many years before being discharged due to an injury. He never wanted to quit. He fought to stay involved in the marines, but was sadly turned down. Apparently some of the higher ups thought that he suffered from a severe form of PTSD. So Mr. Gibbs went on his way and instead decided that he could still get the opportunity to do what he does best by becoming what some might call a mercenary. Gibbs doesn't call it that though. He prefers to call himself simply a business man that deals with all kinds of weaponry. He really couldn't care less who his target is because all he cares about is that the money gets deposited in the bank when it is promised. And Leerson was paying him rather well just to pull the trigger a few times.

The plan was ready and set.

The next morning came too fast for some and too slow for others. Time is indeed a matter of perspective. The morning dew was fresh on the ground and the fog was just starting to clear. It was going to be a rather lovely day indeed.

Hannibal Lecter stood poised in his cell pacing back and forth. Ardelia had promised to come today, as soon as visiting hours started, but she missed the deadline. He wondered briefly if perhaps Pearsall had caught on. He heard many footsteps approaching his cell and ten people came into view. Ardelia was amongst the ten. She glanced at Hannibal very briefly then turned towards Pearsall.

"Hannibal Lecter, you are to be moved today to your new facility and you will remain there until the day of your lethal injection. We have the local police department as well as members of the FBI waiting outside with the van. You will turn around place your hands on the furthest wall. You will remain there while the gates open. There will be armed men with their weapons trained on you the entire time. If you so much as flinch, they have full permission to shoot you. Three men will enter with the straightjacket, mask, and the dolly to lift you. Do I make myself clear and do you acknowledge and understand this procedure."

Hannibal smirked, "Well good morning to you ladies and gentlemen. So my move has been expedited. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"A man who works at this facility was found dead. There was a message left behind asking that you be released. Your location has been compromised and therefore you need to be moved. Now place your fucking hands on the wall Lecter. That fucking bitch of yours is causing us a lot of trouble."

Hannibal's smirk disappeared as he approached the glass. His hands were clasped behind his back and he walked upright with a slow, but steady stride. Pearsall took a step forward as if to confront him, but of course everyone knew the only reason Pearsall would make such a move is because of the thick layer of bulletproof glass that was between them.

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Place your hands on the furthest wall Lecter, or we will use force."

Hannibal glared at him, "You stink of fear Clint. I can smell it on you. The only reason you are feigning confidence is because of the large crowd you decided to bring with you, but I can see you for what you really are."

Pearsall smiled, "Oh? And what might that be?"

Hannibal hissed, "A dead man."

Pearsall flinched and Hannibal turned around to place his hands on the furthest wall as instructed and waited for the next step.

Pearsall gave the signal and the barrier opened. One of the orderlies walked forward with the restraints and Pearsall raised his hand, "No. You aren't going to be the one to put on his restraints."

The orderly objected, "But sir, its protocol I have to-"

"Not another word! Mapp! You are going to do the honors."

Ardelia's head shot up, "What?!"

"Go now!"

Ardelia grabbed the restraints from the orderly and walked forward into the cell and she felt a dark sense of irony. She felt more comfortable standing next to the cannibalistic serial killer then out there with Pearsall. As she started to place him in the straight jacket she whispered under her breath to him.

"Sorry Doc."

Hannibal nodded but didn't say a word. Then the two orderlies came in to assist in the restraints and strapping him onto the dolly. Now Hannibal the Cannibal was ready for transport.

They rolled him to the elevator and to the outside world.

The building sat for the most part alone in a large open field. It was surrounded by woods, and at the edge of the tree line, Clarice waited. She was laying prone with a pair of high powered binoculars and her trusty gun beside her. Her car wasn't far from her either. She drove it as close as she could until the woods got too thick. She controlled her breathing and tried keeping it steady for her and for the baby. She glanced around, but saw no sign of anyone. She wondered if perhaps it was someone working within the facility or within the police. Her thoughts were racing until she saw the large metal doors begin to open and she held her breath. There he was, strapped to the metal dolly with his head held high. Her heart began racing. She hadn't been in his physical presence in so long that it hurt. She hoped he knew that she was there for him, waiting. Seeing him brought her hope again, but that would soon disappear.

The men wheeled Hannibal to the large armored van preparing to load him, and then, just like that, Hannibal's chest exploded open with blood. The bullet had pierced him clean. The men began shouting and hiding behind vehicles, and they were searching for where the gunshot came from.

Clarice saw the whole thing and felt her heart snap. Her breathing stopped and she had to bite her hand to prevent herself from crying out. Her mind raged again and again as she watched the men pull Hannibal out of her view. Her vision became clouded and her mind had emptied. She shut her eyes. No. No. No. No. No. No.

She opened her eyes again and focused. Focused hard. Hannibal was facing to the North and the bullet had entered to the right of his chest. Based on the trajectory, she knew the general location of the shooter. She also knew that to have that kind of aim that it had to be a high powered scope sitting atop a rather large sniper rifle. She searched the tree line carefully looking for her clue while the FBI and police shouted down below and took cover. A few more shots were fired, but Clarice knew better. The scattered shots didn't hit anyone. But if he could hit Hannibal so cleanly from that far off, then he could hit more people, but he wasn't. His goal was to make them take cover, focus on something else, and not pay attention. She searched and searched and found what she was looking for. She, for just a few seconds, caught the glimpse of something reflecting the sunlight at the far edge of the woods. It was just what she was looking for. It had to be the sunlight catching part of the gun and scope. She scrambled to her feet and into her car.

From Mr. Gibbs' vantage point, he had just pocketed one million dollars. He needed to make a wound severe enough to insure that Hannibal would need to be transported immediately to a hospital, but not enough to kill him quickly. The scattered shots were to keep the men hiding long enough for him to make his escape. He quickly picked up his gun and made his way back to his car as well. He was going to be a very rich man.

Meanwhile, the FBI men were shouting out to take cover and search the area as best they could. The orderlies pushing Hannibal had laid the dolly on the ground and were checking Hannibal's wound. Hannibal was showing no signs of outward pain, but his breathing was labored. His chest was rising and falling rapidly.

Pearsall shouted, "Get him inside now!"

One of the orderlies shouted back, "Sir, he needs to get to a hospital now! If he doesn't he could die."

Ardelia ran to Hannibal, "Doctor!" She kneeled down and looked at the wound, "Fuck, shit…. Get him in the van now, he has to go now!"

They got him in the van and the two orderlies hopped in the back along with two FBI agents. The van drove off fast while the FBI agents began searching the area. But they wouldn't find anything because Gibbs had already left the scene with a big smile on his face. He looked down at his phone and watched the notification come across the screen from his bank showing that the million dollars had been transferred. He made it to the road again and sent his boss a quick text message.

"You are a man of your word Mr. Leerson. Should you need my services again please contact me anytime."

While he was texting, Clarice's car had come out of the woods and slammed right into Gibbs' car sending it spiraling off the road. Clarice stumbled out of her vehicle with her gun in hand and ran over to the other car. She opened the door and Gibbs fell out coughing.

"Fucking bitch! Are you crazy?"

"Some might say that."

"Wait…I have seen your face before. Aren't you-"

Clarice kicked him square in the chest and shot him in the leg, "You don't get to ask questions. I do. Why did you kill Hannibal?"

Gibbs was screaming from the gun shot in his leg. Clarice shot the other leg. Gibbs was screaming out even louder until Clarice placed her gun in his mouth next.

"You took the one thing away from me that I cherish most. So I am going to make you hurt, but first you are going to answer me. Why did you kill Hannibal!?!"

Gibbs put his hands up and gagged, "I didn't."

"What was that?" She pulled the gun out of his mouth.

"I didn't kill him! He is alive. Everything is according to plan. I don't have anything to do with Hannibal. My job is done. My boss, he wanted him. If you let me go, I can show you."

Clarice stood upright and took a step back, "Show me."

Gibbs slowly made his way to his feet and reached into his pocket and held up his cell phone. He tossed it to Clarice. She caught it and noticed Gibbs was reaching for his gun and so she shot him in the head right between the eyes. He fell to the ground.

She got into her car and raced off knowing the FBI wouldn't be too far behind. She scanned the phone and noticed it only had one contact in it from a Mr. Leerson. She read through the texts quickly and gasped. The text message read:

"After you make the shot I will be waiting down the road for the van. They won't get far. As soon as I have Lecter, the money will be transferred immediately."

Clarice sped down the road and found the van. Inside the van were four dead bodies. Two belonged to the orderlies and two belonged to the FBI agents, but Hannibal was no where to be found.