I do not own anything related to Hannibal, either thru television, or written books. Everything belongs to Thomas Harris and Bryan Fuller. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter Nine
Song(s): Independent Thief (Kathleen Edwards), Nessun Dorma (Luciano Pavarotti)
Dr. Alana Bloom's Office, Psychology Dept., Johns Hopkins University…
"Everything looks to be on track Oliveah. In six months, you will present your thesis to me and some of my colleagues and you will have completed your Master's Degree."
Don't congratulate me yet Dr. Bloom, I will still need to defend it and watch it be torn apart by other Professors Oliveah thought as she gave a small smile.
"Are you having any trouble obtaining your primary sources?"
Shaking her head, Oliveah tapped her pen against her notebook as scattered snowflakes began to fly against the only window in the office.
"No I have everything I need it's just finding the time to read them without interruption" she spoke, immediately regretting her words as Bloom sat up straight in her chair and leaned her arms against the oak desk.
"What interruptions?" she questioned, immediately catching Oliveah's shaking head. "Is this job keeping you from your studies?"
"Um, it more has to do with Will Graham."
Perking her eyes up, Alana folded her hands together. "Why would Will Graham be an interruption?"
She doesn't see that something is wrong with him? If she is involved with him like Dr. Lecter said, how can she miss something like this?
"Um, he found me at the library the other evening and he didn't look okay" she spoke, hoping to catch something resembling recognition in her thesis advisor's eyes.
"Will Graham is overworked. He knows that, I know that, and Jack Crawford knows that. He is under an incredible amount of stress and I understand your concern" Bloom confirmed as Oliveah sat motionless.
That's it?
"Will is not a threat if you are worried that he might…"
"I've never thought of him as a threat it's just, well, I think he needs to see a doctor."
Silence fell over the office as Alana unfolded her hands.
"Will is not unstable Oliveah, and if he comes around to see you outside of working hours, please call me."
It was all she said as Oliveah packed her book bag and said her goodbyes.
I'm sorry Doctor Bloom, but I won't call you
…
Pulling on her grey mittens, Oliveah spied the ever present large group of huddling students around the bus stop as they danced and shifted in the cold followed by a few curse words. Joining the tail end of the group, she had just fished out her white ear buds when she stopped abruptly.
I know that head of red curls anywhere she thought as she jammed the headphones back into her peacoat pocket and made her way slowly towards the petite woman.
"Ms. Lounds, not even oversized sunglasses can hide you in a large crowd" Oliveah spoke as Freddie Lounds turned around and smiled. Hearing the roar of the approaching transit bus, Freddie took a step back and allowed for the student huddle to swarm around her, each body trying to snake its way into a line.
"I thought I might find you here Ms. Adler" she smiled as Oliveah scoffed.
"You thought that you might find me here on a Thursday afternoon not quite three pm? That's pretty impressive. Perhaps you should apply to the local police force or start telling fortunes," Oliveah spat as she took a step forward to join the surge of students of whom were already designated to standing room only on the bus.
"If you give me five minutes of your time Ms. Adler, I will drive you home myself. You won't have to stand on a crowded dirty smelly bus" Lounds offered as Oliveah held her head up.
Don't do it Oliveah, you let her have this one and she won't stop hounding you
"I'm not above taking the city bus; I am a student after all" she began just as Lounds jingled her car keys.
"I want to talk about Abigail Hobbs."
"Yes, I know about your book Ms. Lounds, and I don't agree with you pushing Abigail into it so quickly after what's happened to her."
Nodding her head, Freddie felt a brush against her shoulder as a blonde girl managed to squeeze her stick like figure into the last available space on the bus.
"SORRY GUYS, BUS IS FILLED TO CAPACITY" the middle aged driver shouted to the remaining bodies of whom some booed while others immediately started hustling towards the Seattle's Best Coffee stand just inside the front entrance of the library.
Shit.
But it's only fifteen minutes until the next one
"Do you really want to have to wait another fifteen minutes Oliveah? You know as well as I do, more students will be joining the crowd as classes let out" Lounds spoke matter-of-factly as a group of four young men with backpacks and gym bags approached the stop.
Letting out a sigh, Oliveah nodded her head and followed Ms. Lounds down the snow cleared sidewalk and towards a dark blue Volkswagen beetle.
"It's already unlocked" she offered, as Oliveah let her bag slide down her shoulder.
She must have taken a gamble leaving it unlocked. What if I had truly said no?
Closing the car door, Oliveah adjusted herself to comfort while pushing her backpack down to her feet.
Hearing the engine turn over, she took off her mitts and felt the seat warmer come on.
"Convenient" she noted as Lounds smiled.
"Well I do spend a lot of time in my car, chasing leads, speaking to those who trust me enough to talk about their lives" she added, turning the heat dial up a bit more.
"You know, the best person to talk about Abigail, is Abigail Hobbs herself. I don't know why you'd think I would know anything more about her…" Oliveah trailed off as Lounds took out her phone and a notebook.
"I know all about your upbringing Oliveah."
Hearing her words, Oliveah chuckled as she watched the mobile phone flash red before it was tucked back inside the woman's coat pocket.
"You know nothing about me Freddie Lounds that some tabloid reporter can't make up on the spot and sell to the unsuspecting fool" Oliveah challenged as Freddie cocked her head and flipped open her notebook.
"I know that your mother died of a drug overdose and was found in the bathtub when you were fourteen. I know that your step-father is in a Canadian jail for life for killing his drug dealer and two police officers, I know that your step-brother was in the military and died…"
Turning her eyes hard onto Lounds, the woman stopped speaking and closed her up notepad, capping her pen.
"This is all a matter of public record of course, and a good journalist wouldn't just simply regurgitate this information on their website in a paragraph with a sloppy picture from Istock" she spoke as Oliveah felt her blood run ice cold.
"I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of the parents I had if anything, they shaped me to be strong or the fact that my step -brother found it necessary to commit suicide an hour before I got home from school, leaving a note asking if I could clean up the mess" Oliveah began as Lounds tilted her head in a show of understanding.
"You have many things in common with Abigail Hobbs; more things than I think Mr. Graham, Agent Crawford, Dr. Bloom, or Dr, Lecter realize" she spoke as Oliveah's mind flashed back to Dr. Lecter's office and the moment that his eyes fell on hers as he lifted the heavy metal stag statute above his head before bringing it down fatally on Tobias Budge.
Feeling her lips part, Oliveah settled back in the passenger seat and focused her eyes on Freddie's small sharp nose.
"What is it that you want from me?"
"I want an exclusive interview with you. I think I owe it to my readers. Believe it or not, my readers are quite intrigued by the professional investigators overseeing Abigail's case" Freddie began as Oliveah coughed.
"Your readers? You've got to be kidding me. You think you are running a fan club online? What, do you have paid subscribers for the extra garbage you post?" Oliveah spat as she felt the mild burning of the circulation returning to her fingertips.
"It would give you some positive exposure Ms. Adler that you can use to your advantage. You graduate next year with your Masters, just think if you were to be able to present professional coverage of the work you have been doing for Dr. Bloom."
Shaking her head, Oliveah folded her hands in her lap, catching sight of the small cuts that were slowly healing.
"If you give me an interview and answer all of my questions, I will give you half of the donations that I receive online for that week. Don't tell me, you couldn't use that money"
Of course I could use the money and you fucking know it Lounds, but I am not a fucking sell out
Reaching her fingers out against the door handle, she pushed the door open and with a fleeting look to Lounds, slammed the car door hard and trudged out into the snowbank slinging her book bag over her shoulder towards the transit stop.
…
Hoping off the bus at the corner of Linwood Avenue, she had just pressed play on her mobile for the walk home when the music abruptly stopped playing.
Hearing her ring tone, Oliveah ripped out her headphones and answered the call.
"Oliveah, it's Alana Bloom."
Please please tell me I didn't forget my wallet she thought as she immediately slipped off her bag and pulled off her mitts.
"Yes, sorry, I just got off the bus it's a bit noisy" she apologized as the bus zoomed past her and merged into heavy traffic.
"Listen, Jack Crawford wants me to bring Abigail Hobbs in for another round of questions and I would like you to be there as you had a visit with her not too long ago. I can come by your home and pick you up in about an hour after I pick up Abigail from the hospital" Alana offered as Oliveah stood standing in the middle of the snowy sidewalk.
"Sure, yes, I will be ready" she replied ending the call. Grabbing her bag, she swung it over her shoulders properly and made haste towards home to at least shove an apple down her throat and down a glass of milk before venturing out again for God knew how long into the evening.
…
Behavioral Science Unit, Jack Crawford's Office, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA…
Rolling up the sleeves of her grey sweater, Oliveah folded her hands behind her back as the glass door to the office pushed open. Turning around, she watched as Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter entered, neither man acknowledging her or Dr. Bloom's presence. Feeling a slight variation in her breathing as she tried not to think of the two men standing almost directly behind her, Oliveah painfully bit the tip of her tongue while keeping her mouth firmly closed.
Face it girl, you have a crush on both those men. Both of those much older men her brain sang as she tried to concentrate on the hulking figure of Agent Jack Crawford.
"Good, now that we're all here, we have a new development in our ongoing case involving Abigail Hobbs."
Perking her ears up, Oliveah felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand as Will Graham fold his arms over his chest, not making eye contact with anyone in the room.
"Nicholas Boyle turned up in Minnesota dead." Crawford announced as Oliveah felt the blood drain in her face.
How could his body be found if Dr. Lecter buried it?
Unless…
He wanted it to be found
Keeping her eyes forward, Oliveah could have sworn there were eyes piercing her back as she swallowed hard and began taking steady breaths through her nose.
"How did he die?" Bloom questioned as Will leaned against a rather unsteady bookcase near the plate glass window.
"Knife wound, he was gutted. I've had the body flown down here and I want Abigail Hobbs to identify it for us" Jack announced, his eyes daring anyone in the room to challenge his decision.
"You already have a positive identification" Dr. Lecter confirmed as Crawford interrupted him.
"But not from Abigail Hobbs."
He must really think Abigail knows more about what her father did to those girls than she's let on Oliveah thought as she felt a chill going up her spin.
Why do I think he's right?
"You can't put her in a room with Nick Boyle's body she already has nightmares about him Jack!" Alana spat as Crawford ignored her concern.
"And I am curious about why. Why she wakes up every night screaming out his name according to the orderly's on the night shift."
"You can't think that she has something to do with this?" Will interrupted as Oliveah turned around and watched his eyes fly onto Hannibal Lecter. Was he thinking the doctor knew anymore more than the rest of them?
"I think that Abigail Hobbs is the common denominator between her father, Melissa Schurr, and Nicholas Boyle. They all go back to her. My instincts tell me that Abigail has answers we have not heard" he spoke as his eyes fell onto Oliveah's face. Remaining calm, Oliveah simply waited for his eyes to move onto another face before she exhaled the breath she had been holding.
"You might be interested to know Jack, that Dr. Lecter and I met with Abigail this morning and that she is collaborating with Freddie Lounds on a tell all book and will be mentioning all of us." Will spat, chewing on the word all as he settled his eyes on Hannibal Lecter.
"Writing a book?"
"Freddie Lounds has Abigail convinced that this is the only way to put sleeping dogs to rest and make some money while getting on with her life" Oliveah piped up as Alana Bloom turned to look at her.
"You've talked to her about this idea?" she questioned as Oliveah tucked her chin in her chest.
"Last Saturday when you asked me to go to Port Haven, I ran into the tail end of their meeting. Freddie Lounds was in the room, and had informed me upon exiting, that she was going to be assisting Abigail in telling her story."
"That's just great. Freddie Lounds being seen as the peacemaker and the savior of Abigail Hobbs" Crawford spat as Will shifted uncomfortably. "What further questions do you have for Abigail Jack?"
Knocking the knuckles of his right hand against his solid wood desk, Jack licked his lips and waited for all eyes to be focused on him.
"Let's start with where she goes when she climbs the walls of the psychiatric facility. Maybe she was meeting Nicholas Boyle? The point is that none of us really know what is going on between them."
I know where she goes Agent Crawford, and so does Hannibal Lecter Oliveah thought just as Alana's voice from her side broke through her thoughts.
"I want to go on record by saying this is a very bad idea, Hannibal?"
Hearing Dr. Lecter's name, Oliveah shifted her eyes and watched as Bloom, a good few inches shorter than the doctor cranked her neck up to watch his lips move.
"Jack has to look after a man with no interest in any opinion but his own."
"I want you to observe on this Alana. Just you, your student can wait here" Jack spoke, not bothering to apologize or even acknowledge Oliveah's presence in the room.
"Your putting Abigail in the room with a body I want to be there" Will growled as Jack shook his head. Knowing full well that he was the boss.
"Sorry Will. I am not confident with your ability to be objective about Abigail Hobbs right now. Alana if you please…"
Watching the backs of Bloom and Crawford disappear around the corner of the building, Oliveah's eyes caught the figure of Dr. Lecter slowly walking towards the front of Jack's desk as if in deep thought.
What are you thinking Doctor? Did you intend for Nicholas Boyle's body to be found?
Are you testing Abigail?
Will you test anyone else?
"He could do Abigail serious damage exposing her to this" Will shouted as he paced around the office, muttering quietly to himself as Hannibal took a deep breath.
"Perhaps she's stronger than we think."
"Media and the written word all over the world both past and present have depicted the female as the weaker sex" Oliveah offered as she caught Will's eye.
"Abigail is not a martyr; she's a teenage girl whose whole life has been turned upside down forever because of one fucking lunatic" he spat just as Hannibal turned around.
"Abigail Hobbs will get through this, and when she does, we will all see her as a pillar of strength."
Staring into Hannibal's eyes, Oliveah felt as if his spoken words were meant for someone else, and not Abigail Hobbs.
…
The Next Day
1 North Clinton Street…
6:23pm
Pulling on her grey Hopkins drawstring hoodie over her damp hair, Oliveah combed the strains with her fingers just as her ears picked up the sound of the dying doorbell from downstairs.
"God, please say that's not for me…" she spoke out loud waiting to hear her name shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Straining her ears, she heard nothing as she grabbed her laptop and plopped down on her bed. Fishing her extra earbuds out of her night stand, she had just selected a playlist featuring one of her favorite Canadian singers, when Andrew suddenly burst through the bedroom door. Nearly throwing the laptop over the side of her bed, Oliveah ripped her ear buds out and slammed the lid closed.
"ANDREW, WHAT THE FUCK?"
"Are you fucking serious, he is making house calls now? My dreams can't thank you enough," Andrew blurted as he grabbed her arm and tried to haul her towards the closet.
"Let go, what in the hell are you talking about?" she breathed as Andrew tugged at her sweater.
"You, have a visitor downstairs, and he is oh so…"
"Jesus, get a hold of yourself Andrew," Oliveah muttered as she moved past her housemate and out into the hallway towards the slightly lopsided staircase.
Will Graham you had better be asking me to take you the hospital and no more fucking mind games I'm tired she thought as a tall impressive figure with his back turned stood dressed in a dark olive peacoat.
Oh…
She knew she had no time to turn around mid-stair and boot it back up to her room to get properly dressed as the figure slowly turned around, fixing his burgundy eyes on her.
"Good evening Ms. Adler."
Nodding her head, Oliveah brushed the bangs out of her eyes and wished that she had an elastic band to gather up her damp hair that stuck against the side of her neck.
"I apologize for not calling before my arrival, but it was…spur of the moment" Hannibal Lecter spoke with a quick twitch of his lips as Oliveah stood still on the stair.
He's not a spur of the moment kinda guy she noted cautiously as he took a step towards her.
"I honestly thought you might have been Will Graham," Oliveah spoke as Hannibal shoved his hand into his coat pocket, painfully pressing the edge of his thumb against the sharp teeth of his keys.
"Will left with Alana Bloom after Abigail's interrogation with Jack Crawford" he lied, catching the hint of disappointment in the way Oliveah's lips frowned.
"Of course he did," she muttered as Hannibal offered no response.
"Um, is there something I can help you with Dr. Lecter?" Oliveah asked, wishing to god that she was not dressed in such slummy clothing in front of the three piece suited world renowned Doctor.
Why would I care what I am wearing in front of him?
I'm a student and he is in my house
"I was wondering Ms. Adler, if you would like to have dinner with me this evening. It would be a purely professional meeting," he added just as the front door behind him opened slowly.
"Oh, excuse me." Catching Tyler's eyes, he stuck out his tongue as he moved past Oliveah on the stairs slinging his backpack off one shoulder.
"My other housemate. Um, if you can give a few minutes to change?" Catching the nod of his head, Oliveah turned around and climbed the stairs as Hannibal closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, taking in her freshly showered scent.
Cheap artificial vanilla
I really must introduce you to a finer scent Oliveah
Amorem Rose? Or Spiriteuse Double Vanilla?
Entering her bedroom, she knew Andrew would still be in there, waiting for details.
"He must like you."
"You know he works with Dr. Bloom and Agent Crawford Andrew and every meeting we've ever had has been either about Abigail Hobbs or Will Graham" Oliveah spat as she took off her sweatshirt ignoring the young man who laid reclined on her bed.
"Tyler's home by the way."
"Yeah, but we have a rule, I can look but not touch" he smiled as Oliveah pulled on a black three quarter length top, one of the few clean items before laundry day.
"The why aren't you down there making small talk?" she questioned, just imaging how awkward that would be to see.
"Doctor Lecter scares the shit out of me."
Hearing her friend's confession, Oliveah turned around while trying to tame her hair into a ponytail.
"Why does he scare you? Because he's a Psychiatrist and probably will catch your unhealthy obsession over his looks?" she smirked as Andrew sat up and tossed her single pillow aside without a smile.
"Good looking that man might be, but there is something about him that screams stay the fuck away."
I know exactly what you're talking about Andrew Oliveah thought as she cocked her head and grabbed her pair of pearl stud earrings.
Rising from the bed, Andrew moved to the bedroom door and leaned against it.
"You don't get that Patrick Bateman kinda vibe off him? Wearing a rain coat while concealing an axe?"
Closing her mouth, Oliveah remained silent as she grabbed her black cardigan off the back of her desk chair and hit the light switch, bathing her room in darkness.
"Because he dresses in a three-piece suit? I am just thankful that my final year in Hopkins is being spent in the company of distinguished professionals who want me to succeed."
It was all she said as she moved down the stairs and grabbed her coat out of the closet, allowing Hannibal to open the front door.
…
Silence settled over the Bentley as Oliveah felt the vehicle slowing down for the red traffic light. Staring out the passenger side window, she could just make out a couple walking down the snowy sidewalk bathed in the soft glow of the streetlamps.
"I spoke with Abigail this afternoon."
Hearing Hannibal's words, Oliveah glanced at his profile in the darkness but couldn't make his expression.
"With Dr. Bloom?"
"No. Alone" he replied, catching her eye before focusing back on the snowy road in front of them.
"Is she alright?" she questioned, knowing full well that the purpose of his solo visit to the young girl held up in the country hospital concerned his own survival.
"She is persistent in writing her book with Freddie Lounds, to which, all of us will be mentioned for the public's enjoyment" he scowled as Oliveah sat up straight in her seat.
"The last time I saw Abigail, she told me she had to write this book to clear everyone's idea and perception that she was a cannibalistic serial killer working with her father. Try as hard as she might, she will forever believe herself to be a monster even if it feels like a small part," she spoke as Hannibal felt his lips twitching.
"Abigail believes that she has passed Jack Crawford's questioning eye for good, that she has passed the one test in her life that would require her to think of her words and how they will affect others in her life," Hannibal spoke as Oliveah watched small snowflakes starting to fall against the windshield, melting upon immediate contact with the glass.
"She was as strong as you thought," Oliveah noted as Hannibal gripped the steering wheel tightly.
"Abigail Hobbs betrayed my trust. I hope Oliveah, that you will not do the same," his low voice growled in the darkness as the Bentley passed under a row of street lamps.
Feeling a sudden coldness overtaking the car, Oliveah sat still as the houses on the side of the street grew bigger and more lavish with every passing block.
Get your head straight Oliveah, Hannibal Lecter is not some guy from school, he is a man with a lot to lose
Arriving at the Doctor's home, Oliveah opened her car door and stepped out into the quietness all around her.
The perk of living in a rich, professional area and not the low income streets of downtown she thought as she followed Dr. Lecter to the front door. Stepping into the dark foyer, she watched as he closed the door behind her and shed his coat. Reaching out for hers, their fingers touched briefly as he hung up her peacoat in the closet next to his own.
Why did I agree to have dinner with him? If Dr. Bloom found out, would she fire me? I'm the student, he's the professional. I'm here to learn…learn from him?
"Would you like a glass of wine?"
Hearing his question as she followed him down the dark hallway, she said please as they stepped into the pristine stainless steel kitchen.
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but this kitchen feels too cold for that warmth
"Red or white?"
"Um, red please," Oliveah chose as Hannibal took a bottle of Concha y Toro Carmín de Peumo Carmenère from the room just off the kitchen. Taking out the cork, he expertly poured two glasses before handing one to her.
"Pasitiketi," she blurted out as Hannibal lightly clinked his glass against hers with a curious smile.
"Pasitiketi," he repeated in expert Lithuanian before taking a small sip, his eyes watching her over the rim as the voice of his own therapist sounded off in his head…
"It's nice when someone sees us, Hannibal. Or, has the ability to see us. It requires trust; trust is difficult for you."
"How would you like to be my sous chef this evening Ms. Adler?" Hannibal asked as Oliveah held firmly onto the steam of her glass.
"If I won't be judged on proper form and cutting techniques, then I accept the position," she smiled nervously watching as Hannibal sat his own glass down.
"There is so much more that goes into preparing a meal than just blindly slicing up the ingredients and hoping for the best," he spoke as he moved past her towards a drawer beneath a shelf littered nearly with an array of cookbooks, none of which were in English.
Shutting the drawer, he turned around holding two chef's aprons and walked straight towards her. Setting one of the countertop, he began to fold the second one and held it in one hand as he twirled his finger around in a circular motion.
"Turn around."
Feeling his arm as he grazed lightly against her side, Oliveah stood perfectly still as he brought the white fabric around the front of her waist. Tying the strings around her middle from behind, he felt her back coming to rest lightly against his chest as his fingers expertly tucked the bow to hide beneath the fold.
Be careful Oliveah
Taking a step back to observe the length to her knees, Hannibal slipped off his black suit jacket and started to unbutton the cuffs of his dress shirt as Oliveah turned around.
"Perfect. Let us begin."
…
40 minutes later…
"What are you plans after you graduate in the spring?" Hannibal asked, tossing in a generous handful of a variety of mushrooms she didn't recognize.
"I know I should have a plan and a backup plan, but honestly, I have no idea. I'd love to get my PhD but it all comes down to finances and truthfully, my first, second, and third born children already belong to the government," she frowned as Hannibal simply nodded his head.
Deadpan humor
Watching the Doctor's fingers sprinkling freshly chopped parsley into the stainless steel pan, the mixing of spices made her close her eyes and breath in deep.
"Dr. Lecter, do you find cooking therapeutic?"
Hearing Oliveah's question, Hannibal nodded his head and grabbed a jar of salt.
"Cooking requires passion. It requires patience and the ability to trust the pairings," he spoke as Oliveah simply stared at him.
Jesus, that could have been poetry
"I'm afraid the student diet doesn't leave much room for variety, but it does require creativity," she spoke as Hannibal moved away from the burners, wiping his hands against his white chef's apron that hung down to his knees. Grabbing an onion, he placed it in front of her and grabbed a chef's knife from the block to his right, the sound of German steel scrapping against metal.
"You may chop this up, but not too finely," he winked, as Oliveah took the knife from his hand.
Hearing the soft sounds of music coming from somewhere in the kitchen, she raised her eyes and watched as Hannibal wiped his hands on his apron as she spied a small white ipod resting on a stand.
"Trivia Ms. Adler, who is the composer?" Hannibal asked, keeping his eyes focused on the fresh pair of human kidneys that he massaged before grabbing his own knife.
"Um, I'm not sure" she replied, hoping it wouldn't get her thrown out of the house.
"Disappointing. Bach" he confirmed as Oliveah made a mental note to download this particular piece of music the minute she stepped into her bedroom.
"The onion is finished."
Staring at the onion pieces on the cutting board, Hannibal pursed his lips as he sat his own knife down.
Not only do I need to instruct you in a variety of classical composers, but it seems I need to show you how to properly chop an onion he thought as he held out his hand for the cutting board. Letting the onion pieces trickle down into the mushroom mixture, he sat aside the board as a very distinctive tenor began to sing over the speakers in Italian.
"Pavarotti."
Hearing Oliveah's voice at his side, Hannibal nodded his head as the young woman stared at the raw kidneys resting on his board.
"I would have loved to have seen him live."
"The power and sincerity in his voice brings many a man to tears," he responded, picking up his knife once more and easily slicing the kidneys apart.
"What are we having for dinner?" Oliveah questioned, taking up her wine glass as Hannibal pressed a finger to his lips.
"Never ask, spoils the surprise."
…
"Fricassee of pork kidneys and mushrooms. Very high in fiber and iron" Hannibal spoke as he sat a plate down in front of her.
Setting his own down, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and took his seat at the head of the table as Oliveah kept her hands folded in her lap.
"Do you think Abigail Hobbs knows more about what her father did than she is letting on?" Oliveah asked as Hannibal held onto his fork and knife.
"I suspect that she does, but it is buried deep down. I believe she will tell us when she can no longer bare the secrecy" he finished, bringing his fork up to his mouth.
"In Agent Crawford's office, he hinted that he thinks she knows more, and I found myself thinking the exact same thing. As much as I want to believe that she is one hundred percent innocent, I find myself thinking that she knew it was either her or those girls" Oliveah spoke as Hannibal fixed his eyes on her.
"If you were in Abigail's situation, would you not choose to save your own life?"
His question hit home as she remembered her stepfather locking her in her bedroom and forgetting about her for two days when she was eleven. She had been hungry, tired, and scared. But she had made it through. She had decided that her life was worth living, and that no one was going to take it away.
Watching Oliveah's eyes glaze over into deep thought, Hannibal sat his knife down on the edge of the plate and took up his wine glass.
"As with Abigail, I hope that you will one day tell me your story" he whispered as Oliveah gently snapped out of her flashback.
"There is nothing sensational about my childhood Dr. Lecter, just the usual ups and downs" she lied as the man seated at the head of the table licked his lips.
"We both know that is not true."
…
Discreetly checking her watch, her eyes could just make out the hour hand passing the number eleven as the overhead light of the streetlamp shown briefly. Dinner had been amazing as usual, the conversation had mostly focused on Abigail Hobbs yet there had been interest in her own personal story of which she had not divulged any details to the doctor who sat at the head of the table.
Although she had been trusted with secrets that threatened the freedom of his life, she still was wary of Hannibal Lecter, and with good reason.
"Freddie Lounds approached me at the university bus stop the other day."
Tucking his chin in his chest, Hannibal kept his eyes focused on the road ahead.
"Ms. Lounds is a persistent problem and I'm afraid the only course of action right now would be to file a restraining order" Hannibal offered as his mind began to think.
He couldn't kill Freddie Lounds. She was too close to everyone involved with Abigail Hobbs that her death would be investigated intently.
"She knew information about my family. I'm sure anyone could Google their deaths, but it's the fact that she is researching me" Oliveah muttered as Dr. Lecter slowed for another stop light.
"Would you like to talk about it?"
"Not tonight."
It was all she said as familiar buildings began to appear on Clinton Street.
Pulling the expensive vehicle over to the curbside in front of her townhouse, Oliveah watched as Hannibal exited and slowly rounded the front of the car. Hearing her door open, she took careful steps out hoping there was no black ice as she gripped the top of the door frame for support.
"Good night Ms. Adler" Hannibal spoke as Oliveah felt nerves growing in her stomach.
You want to do this
Is he going to let you?
Or is he going to stop you dead in your tracks and report you to Alana Bloom?
Slowly walking around the car door, she found herself standing inches from Lecter as he kept a hand on the door. He made no attempt to question her verbally, but his dark eyes told her that he was curious. Taking a quick breath, Oliveah reached her hand out to his pea coated shoulder and used it as leverage as she stood on her toes and gently pressed her lips against his. Feeling the nerves in her stomach tightening, Oliveah felt his lips slightly parting to welcome hers as she felt warm fingertips inching along her jaw. Breaking their brief kiss, she moved backwards and took in a deep breath feeling flustered.
"Dr. Lecter, I…"
Closing her mouth, she simply turned around on her heel and headed for the townhouse.
Climbing the steps, she could feel his eyes firmly trained on her back as she inserted her key and pushed the door open. Closing it firmly behind her, she twisted the deadbolt and hooked up the chain. Not all the locks in the world could keep out all the thoughts that ran around in her head like rush hour traffic.
"I just crossed a line" she whispered, climbing the wood staircase to her bedroom with shaky knees.
…
Pasitiketi = to trust (in Lithuanian)
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