Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy this story. English is not my native language, so I already apologize for eventually mistakes. Feedbacks are always welcome.
This story happens after Silence of the lambs and before Hannibal. What if Dr. Lecter did scape but not waited 10 years before trying some kind of contact with Clarice?
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It's been three years since everything happened, since that case and also that last phone call. Life have moved on: career was ok; Clarice got the job in the department she wanted to, with Crawford and had success in a few cases, in others not so much. In her private life, a few friends and some going out with them once in a while, trying to keep good habits as eating well, exercising and sleeping well and that was it. Pretty much she lived to her duty, which was a cause for her to be alone, but also the perfect excuse to keep things in that way.
Spring was beginning and her team had successfully finished one more case. This had come in a good time, she could have some rest and have a peacefully birthday. Her closest friend, Ardelia, was planning a celebration with a few colleagues from work; she was always the one saying to Clarice she should go out more often and even try to find someone. Clarice's answer was always the same: "too much work for now, maybe in the future"with an apologetic smile.
Truth is she really had no interest in anyone she had met. Sure a few man tried to ask her out or flirt with her, but all of them were somehow boring and not charming at all. Sometimes she caught herself thinking what would be necessary for her to be interested by someone… Someone she could have interesting conversations, someone who looked to her differently but not in the obvious way man look at woman when they want something- usually sex- with them; someone she could feel… and usually the thoughts were interrupted by getting a way not allowed in her mind.
-Nope, Clarice. Wrong direction- she signed, sitting at a park bench. She had went out for a walk, which become a running and now she had just stopped to take some air and contemplate the trees and the sky.
A vibration from her cellphone took her off her thoughts. It was Ardelia, all excited about the reservation she made at a club for Clarice's birthday.
'Everything is ready! This is going to be amazing, in one week you'll be turning 29 and we'll celebrate it in a great style! You better use something special. Many pictures will be taken`
Clarice sighs again, standing while typing 'Sure, can't wait'
In this moment she hears something from a few trees away, immediately looking at it, while putting away her phone and her hand instinctively reaching her gun at her waist, but she saw nobody.
-Great, Clarice, now you do not only think about ghosts, you hear them too- she says to herself, half laughing and half rolling her eyes and starting to walk back home.
Soon she's back home. She lives about half hour from work in a small apartment on her own. After Ardelia had moved in with her boyfriend, Clarice needed to find a new place- a smaller one she could afford- but she ended up really appreciating living alone, especially when she arrived home late of the night, after work and wanting to see and speak with nobody.
She enters her building and up stair until second floor to find a package at her door. It was a black bag with satin black straps, it was small, about 15 centimeters. She examined it carefully before taking and entering in her apartment. Once inside, she opens it, to find a blank card written only 'To Clarice' with a distinct handwriting that send butterflies to her stomach. Along with the card there is a black velvet box. She takes it, feeling its texture before opening. Once she opens it, she find a silver necklace, apparently white gold, with a drop-shaped ruby with a frame set in small diamonds. It looked very expensive. She tried to analyze the entire package searching for something, anything that could indicate who sent it, any trace of him, but obviously there was nothing. To her lack of lucky, the surveillance cameras in her building were all broken for nearly two months now. She considers to ask to her neighbor, a sweet old lady living with her cats, but since it is almost 11 pm, she decides to do that in the morning.
Clarice tries earrings, looking to herself in the mirror, but her mind was very distant.
In that night it would be difficult to sleep. After all these years… Not even one clue, nothing… and now… a gift?
'Does he know about my birthday?' She thinks, already laying in bed. 'No, there could be another reason… Could it be someone else...? I… hope not…'
