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!
Hannibal is a gritty, provocative, seductive, murderous bloody show. My chapters contain scenes of violence, sex, drugs, language, triggers and sometimes hard to stomach scenes. This story is rated M.
Chapter Five
Song(s): Way Down We Go (Kaleo), Always On My Own (Cat Power)
October, Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Baltimore, MD…
"I moved here at the end of spring just as the last set of Ripper murders were happening. Lectures on campus and flyers were warning students to have eyes on their back and to be aware of their company and surroundings even though it appears that he never targeted college students." Sitting in the passenger seat of Bloom's hybrid, Oliveah flipped through Abel Gideon's file notes from his early interviews after confessing to be the Chesapeake Ripper.
"It's been two years since the Ripper last made a kill, and with Abel Gideon in custody it would explain why there has been no killings in public until this morning's incident at the hospital" Bloom offered.
"Do you believe he is the Chesapeake Ripper?" Oliveah asked as Alana nodded her head.
"Jack Crawford and Will Graham were at the crime scene this morning and Jack is convinced Chilton has the Ripper, Will on the other hand…."
She had not thought about Graham at all since the night she had been an unexpected guest for dinner and a starry night show the week previous.
"I spoke with Abigail the night she left the hospital."
Keeping her eyes focused on the passing trees as they neared the State Hospital, Oliveah offered no words.
Am I about to be fired?
"She said she went for a simple walk, which I don't believe. She is refusing to say where she really was, or whom she was with."
"She doesn't know anyone in Baltimore" Oliveah offered as Bloom wheeled the car into a large parking lot.
"That's not true. She knows Doctor Lecter, and you."
Closing the file on Abel Gideon in her lap, Oliveah felt the car coming to rest as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "I was out with my housemates" she stated, staring straight into Doctor Bloom's face.
I've been having to lie to a lot of professionals in my life Alana Bloom. This lie, is a piece of cake
"It just seems odd that you didn't return my phone calls until after Abigail had been found in her room, even if you had been out with your friends."
"What reason would I lie Doctor Bloom? Remember, I agreed with you in that Abigail should have a clinical environment to help stabilize her for when she goes out into the world alone and on her own. Why would I jeopardize a possible relapse for her?" Oliveah offered as Bloom nodded her head.
"I believe you Oliveah. I just want to make sure that she is not trying to find Nicholas Boyle or some sort of closure on her own."
Abigail kept her promise. That's good for me.
Stepping out of the car, Oliveah took a deep breath of the cool air and stared up at the looming stone building of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
"Looks like something out of a horror movie, doesn't it?" Bloom whispered at her side as Oliveah handed her Doctor Gideon's case file. Walking up the stone sidewalk, Oliveah took note of two police cruisers parked along the side of the building.
"The police I believe are still here for the crime scene" Bloom spoke as they climbed up the stone steps and into the building.
"Identification please ladies."
Handing over her driver's license and student card to a grey haired security guard, Oliveah could see over his shoulder a grey marbled floor and empty prisoner boxes all lined up in single rows on either side of the large room.
Very Victorian looking
"Sign your names here, and you will be escorted to Doctor's Chilton's office on the second floor."
"No need Donald, I will take them up myself."
Turning around, Oliveah's eyes fell onto a tall, lanky dark-haired man in a light grey three-piece suit. His well-trimmed facial hair ran from sideburn to sideburn and as he stood waiting for the guard to hand them their visitors' passes, she detected a great deal of ego and entitlement.
"Doctor Bloom, nice to see you again, and you are?"
"Oliveah Adler, I'm Doctor Bloom's assistant from Hopkins" she spoke, shaking Chilton's hand as he grinned.
"Ah yes, the student. I've heard about you. Well, shall we? Will Graham is already waiting in my office" he ushered, holding out a hand towards the staircase.
Heard about me? From whom?
Clipping on her visitor's pass, Oliveah followed the Doctors across the marble floor and to a staircase that echoed their every footstep.
"My office is on the second floor."
Entering through a card pass door, Oliveah's nose cleared of the bleach cleaner used on the lower level and started to smell some sort of potpourri made of cinnamon. Watching Chilton open his door, she followed Bloom and immediately spied a spectacled Will Graham standing in front of a large floor to ceiling window with his hands shoved deep in his pockets. Nodding his head in pleasantries to Bloom, he simply stared at Oliveah as she heard Chilton's voice give directions as to who should sit in what chair.
"I'll start by saying this, going through all of Gideon's mail is becoming a nuisance; sometimes I feel more like his secretary rather than his keeper" Chilton breathed out as he let himself fall down heavily into his leather chair. Sweeping his hand in front of his desk, Alana pulled out a black chair and gestured for Oliveah to sit next to her.
"Any specific correspondences that stood out from the others?"
"Mostly just researchers, doctorate candidates requesting interviews and a scattered dozen lonely hearts seeking his hand in marriage." Chilton spoke as Oliveah's mind began to wander.
Desire for a sadistic serial killer, what makes the mind fall for a murderer?
"He butchered his last wife and her family on Thanksgiving" Bloom spoke deadpanned.
"There's no account for taste, or intelligence" Chilton added with pursed lips as he looked to Oliveah
"Speaking of intelligence Doctor Chilton, may I ask why you allowed for a female nurse who barely weighed one hundred and thirty pounds to be alone in a room with the Chesapeake Ripper without any sort of protection?" Feeling all eyes on her, Oliveah kept hers firmly trained on Frederick Chilton as he settled uneasy in his seat, awkwardly digesting her question.
"Like I said earlier to Mr. Graham and Mr. Crawford, Gideon had been a model patient and he had…"
"So there are two young children now without a mother because he used the oldest trick in the book and fooled you?" Hearing Graham's chuckle from the window, Oliveah kept her eyes firmly trained on Chilton as she felt the anger growing.
"You've got quite a smart mouth being from Hopkins Miss. Adler, you'd better take care and mind those that are already established and could possibly make or break your future" he spat through clenched teeth as Oliveah smiled.
"Isn't it always the quiet ones who should not be underestimated?" she spoke softly, catching the irritation from Chilton.
Ah yes, the embarrassment of being picked apart by a woman. I'd recognize that look anywhere
"Gideon was handcuffed. He knew enough to hide a fork prong under his skin to get loose."
"Even I know how to pick a lock Doctor Chilton."
(Flashback)
"YOU'RE GONNA STAY IN THERE UNTIL YOU FUCKING STARVE FOR ALL I CARE!"
Feeling the burn of her mother's twisting grip on her upper arm, eight-year-old Oliveah fell against the back wall of the closet just as the door slammed shut inches from her face.
"Stupid girl, talk back to me and you end up in there. Good luck trying to sleep!"
Breathing steady, her hazel eyes peered out from between the wooden shudders as she watched her mother leave the room. Curling her feet around her, she took off her sneaker and took out the tiny dessert fork that she had dropped earlier at the table and onto the floor beneath.
"I will sleep, in my own bed you drunk" she muttered to no one as she closed her eyes and waited for the sunlight of the day to turn into dark, waiting for her mother and stepfather to go to bed before she would pick the lock like so many times before…
"Interesting" Chilton responded as Oliveah suddenly felt his eyes roaming over more than just her face.
"Why didn't the nurse scream?" Bloom asked as Graham came away from the window.
"Trauma to her hyoid bone suggests Gideon may have punched her throat so that she couldn't scream or call out" Chilton offered, lightly touching his own throat.
Paralyzing her vocal cords
She was screaming…but no one could hear her
"Gideon also pushed her eyes into her head with his own thumbs. This was all done before he took a steel rod and impaled her to the floor."
Brutalization of the body. For what gain? Out of anger? Out of love? Out of attention?
"Murdering his wife at Thanksgiving was impulsive, the Chesapeake Ripper is methodical, meticulous, and that's why he is so hard to catch" Will's voice broke out as Oliveah snapped back into focus.
"Ah, was, so hard to catch" Chilton interrupted, grinning like he had just won first prize in the county fair. Letting out a forceful breath of air, Will turned away and walked back to the window, peering down onto the parking lot as the room fell silent.
"Will you be conducting a joint interview?"
"Separate. Compare and contrast."
"You think that's smart Doctor Bloom? Dragging an inexperienced young pretty girl around with you through the dungeons of my hospital? Perhaps you are hoping he will be distracted?" Chilton purred, gazing at Oliveah with no apparent shame. Taking in a deep breath, Oliveah roughly pushed out her chair, pleased that it created an awful screeching sound over Chilton's hardwood office floor and hoping that it left a mark all the same as she walked to the window to stand beside Graham.
"We'll go first."
"If you'd be so kind as to leave your school backpack here in my office Miss. Alder" Chilton's voice broke out as Oliveah turned around to face him.
"We wouldn't want anything to happen in the dungeon if you forgot it and someone got a hold of it" he smiled before holding out his hand for the strap. "You can come back up to my office and retrieve it later" he added, clearing his throat as Oliveah sighed.
Lucky me, I get to come back up here
…
Standing in front of a set steel bars, Oliveah licked her lips as a loud buzzer sounded off from above. Watching the bars slowly open, she followed Bloom down the hallway as glass windows displayed padded walls and stainless steel wash basins and toilets. A single bed with a grungy mattress made for the only piece of furniture in the room leaving plenty of time for inmates to think about the repercussions of their crimes.
If they weren't truly insane.
Walking by a cell on the left, Oliveah spotted an inmate leaning against the window with his thumb in his mouth. Pulling it out, he smeared his salvia against the glass before dragging his tongue along the screws of the window. Halting in her steps, Oliveah stood beside Bloom as they turned to face an exposed pane of window glass and cross bars.
"Why Doctor Bloom, how wonderful to see you again and you've brought me a guest?"
The man that leaned against the far right padded wall was less than six feet in height but filled out the generous room left by his dark gray jumpsuit.
"Thank you for your time, Doctor Gideon, I won't waste it. Shall we begin?"
"I believe you need to introduce yourself young lady. It's only manners," Gideon spoke as Oliveah stood behind a seated Alana Bloom.
"Doctor Gideon, my name is Oliveah Adler and I am a student in Psychology at the university" she began as Gideon cut her off with agitation.
"Doctor Bloom, what is this to be? I was caught red handed I mean…literally, there's no mystery as to who done it. I did it and yet you brought a student with you to study me from behind the safety of the plate glass?"
"She's not here for you Doctor Gideon, I am, and I am here to focus on you and your claim to be the Chesapeake Ripper" she spoke as Gideon sighed and began to pace the front of his cell, keeping his arm against the glass.
"Never liked being called the Chesapeake Ripper; maybe something with a little more…wit" he spat.
"Why didn't you take credit for the Ripper murders until now?"
"Just watching the goose chase from the box seats below me for now. So much more fun" he smiled, adjusting the collars of his jumpsuit.
"Brutalization of the body was done posthumously; the Chesapeake Ripper usually does this during the kill" Alana stated as Oliveah took in the bareness of Gideon's cell.
"Listen, I don't have to convince you that I am the Chesapeake Ripper" Gideon spat as he threw his eyes up to Oliveah's face.
"Even if that one right there is not fully convinced" he purred and pointed a single finger as Bloom turned around and took in Oliveah's crossed arms over her chest. Unfolding her arms slowly, she felt a question burning inside her throat.
"Seems it's what you need to do," Bloom spoke softly as she stood up and folded her chair.
"Doctor Gideon, if you are the Ripper, why didn't you take something from the nurse?" Oliveah questioned as Bloom stood still holding her chair.
"I hate eating raw meat Miss. Adler" he smiled, holding his hand up before waving a bored goodbye.
…
Three days later, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA…
If no one else thinks this is a bad idea, then they must be high as fucking kites!
Following Jack Crawford and Alana Bloom into a small board room, Oliveah felt irritated as her eyes fell upon the small figure of Freddie Lounds. Feeling Will's hand on her shoulder, Oliveah kept her mouth shut as she moved down the side of the table towards an empty chair beside Bloom.
"Morning Agent Crawford," speaking cheerfully, Lounds held out her hand towards him as her red ringlets fell against her cheeks.
"Hello Ms. Lounds, thank you for coming. This is Doctor Alana Bloom; she is one of our psychiatric consultants and her assistant Miss. Adler from Johns Hopkins" Jack introduced as Lounds grinned.
"Pleasure to see you again Oliveah, and in the light of day."
Bitch
"Hello Ms. Lounds"
"And Will Graham whom you've met before" Crawford muttered as Lounds held out her hand once more.
"Mr. Graham, so good to see you."
She is unbelievable
Taking her seat, Oliveah was pleased to see Will ignore Freddie's hand as she kept a smile plastered on her face.
"Ms. Lounds, you have all the qualities of a good reporter. You have intelligence, guts, a good eye, so how is it that you wound up where you've ended up?"
It took every ounce of strength in her entire body to not snort as Agent Crawford so casually bashed Lounds's entire career choice.
"Where I wound up in criminal justice journalism you mean?"
"Jesus, journalism" Will scoffed as Lounds shrugged off the insult.
"You ran an unconfirmed story about the Chesapeake Ripper. What I want, is for you to confirm it."
Hearing Jack Crawford's words, Oliveah felt the nerves in her stomach tighten.
Does he not see that this could lead to another or more deaths? Does he just not care?
"I tried to get an interview with Doctor Gideon when he was first committed and was denied."
"I'm friendly with the new Chief of Staff; I can get you an interview" Bloom offered as Lounds settled back in her chair tucking her chin into her chest, appearing to be contemplating her next move.
"Not to snap bubblegum and crack wise but what's my angle here? Is Doctor Gideon the Chesapeake Ripper or do you just want me to try and fool everyone that they are safe going out at night and about their daily lives?"
"He very well could be. Certain information was not released to the public, yet Abel Gideon appears to have followed scenes to a near perfect tee" Bloom spoke as Crawford's mobile phone began to vibrate on the table top.
"Helping us Ms. Lounds, could in the future help you."
"I don't need your help Agent Crawford, and by the sounds of it, and by the presence of all of you here today, it sounds like you need me more."
Finishing up at the table, Oliveah stood last as a black gloved hand held out a business card in front of her. "I hope you've taken some time to think about my offer Oliveah, I know how hard it is to constantly have to worry about money. I mean, everyone now a day has a Bachelors degree, a Masters is an important step up the ladder…"
Leaning over to Oliveah, Graham ripped the card out of her hand, tore it up, and flung the pieces towards Lounds on the table. "This is the second time I've stopped your shitty influence from tainting innocent hands" Graham spat as Lounds refused to bat an eyelash.
"Right now you may have the upper hand, but there is a reason people eventually come to me with their stories and their tips. There is a reason as to why my online work is spreading into print" she smiled as Will left the table without further word.
"Keep me in mind Oliveah. I promise to make it worth your while."
…
"God that woman is ridiculous."
Feeling the late afternoon sun on her face, Oliveah shook her head as she tried to make sense of the meeting she had just been in. Bringing Freddie Lounds into all of this she didn't think was a particularly smart decision by Agent Crawford.
God, even I can see that it smacks of taunting evil. It's like poking the twitching tail of a cat; the cat will turn and attack…or rip.
Looking at her watch, Oliveah felt hunger pains growing in her stomach and was surprised that they had not interrupted the meeting.
"Oliveah, if I can ask you to transcribe our interview with Gideon from the recorder and have it ready for our next meeting with Abigail Hobbs on the 24th, I will drop you off at the University as I have a dinner with Doctor Chilton and Doctor Lecter this evening" Bloom spoke as Oliveah's ears perked up.
A dinner date with Doctor Lecter? Sounds fancy and boring. He has the be the most serious man I have ever met.
"Sure, I can get this done probably tonight."
As I will be eating a box of mac and cheese on my couch and listening to my neighbors fighting in the alleyway.
Opening the car door, Oliveah's eyes caught Will Graham leaving Jack Crawford's side at the front doors.
If only I had some way to flag him down and ask if he wanted to have dinner without drawing curious and questioning eyes. I mean, we're both going to be eating alone she thought as she watched him walk into the east entrance parking lot towards a silver SUV.
"Alright, let's get going back to Baltimore."
…
North Clinton Street, Baltimore, MD…
Setting her dirty bowl in the kitchen sink, Oliveah grabbed the bottle of Sunlight dish soap and had just started to clean her dishes when Tyler rounded the kitchen.
"Damn Olive, I think this is the first time I've seen you in weeks" he chided, tossing his book bag down onto the table with a thud.
"My thesis has been buried under work and travel with Doctor Bloom" she replied, stacking her bowl onto a plate that had been resting at an awkward angle.
"Oh yeah, so I guess the job is to your liking? Any new information on that Hobbs girl? Is she going to jail?"
"Why would she go to jail Tyler?" Oliveah asked as she turned off the tap.
"Come on, you don't believe that she had no idea that her dad was killing girls and turning them into a one stop shop? Eats their body parts, uses their hair for pillows, their skin for…shit I don't know floor rugs? Bathmats?"
"She's not a monster Tyler, her father was the monster" Oliveah spat as Andrew entered the kitchen.
"You didn't save me any dinner?" he pouted as Oliveah walked away from the sink.
"Sorry, only one box."
"Hey Oliveah, I know you've already got a job, but I was going through one of my drawers upstairs and I found a business card and personal contact number for one of the head supervisors for Biddle Street Catering. If you are looking for some money under the table the company will pay cash at the end of the night. They are always short bodies and as long as you can balance a tray and can remain in the background they will take you. I can give you the phone number" Andrew offered as he turned on his laptop at the small kitchen table.
"Have you done this work before?" Oliveah questioned as she felt herself getting excited at having the prospect of some extra money to buy a few new business casual outfits that would definitely come in handy with the company she was now keeping.
"It's quick easy money. Anyone would be stupid to not take advantage of this and yes, I have done a few jobs drinking in college gets expensive" he smiled as Oliveah jotted down the phone number in her contacts.
"Oh by the way, that Freddie Lounds has a good eye when it comes to profile shots" Andrew spoke as he swung his laptop around and tilted the screen. Stepping closer to the table, Oliveah felt the anger boiling in her blood as she focused her eyes on a black and white camera picture of her coming out of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.
If I am seeing this picture, then everyone else is seeing it.
Including the real Chesapeake Ripper if it's not Dr. Abel Gideon.
"She also has pictures of Will Graham, your boss, and Doctor Hannibal Lecter. I gotta say, that man has cheekbones that would cut glass and a set of lips that could…"
"Enough Andrew, fuck sakes" Oliveah breathed as she left the kitchen and headed up the stairs to her bedroom. Slamming the door shut, she tossed her phone on the bed and went to stand at her bedroom window. Of course, she had noticed how handsome Hannibal Lecter was. Any idiot man or woman alive could see it, feel it, crave it. But he was in a category completely of his own and she was nowhere near it. Will Graham had the most innocent of eyes and the softest touch from rough looking hands…
"Jesus Christ Oliveah get a hold of yourself" she scolded shaking her head. Reaching down into her bag and taking out Bloom's black tape recorder, she sat it on her desk and changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a dark gray tank top.
Moving to her bed, she fluffed up her pillows against the wall and grabbed her Macbook, headphones and Bloom's recorder. Getting everything into a workable position, she breathed out and rubbed her eyes.
"You really need to get laid Oliveah, you really really do" she muttered to herself as she listened to Abel Gideon welcoming them to his glass enclosure of a home.
…
Five days later, Jack Crawford's Office, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA…
"Jack, you have to stop this self-blame over Miriam. You're not helping yourself in the slightest by stressing over what ifs."
Seated in front of Crawford's office desk, Oliveah kept her eyes firmly fixed on Jack's large hands as he appeared agitated.
"Alana, how do you expect me to not stress over constant phone calls to my mobile and my home phone that plays the exact same recording of Miriam's terrified voice begging for my help?" Crawford spat as he scrolled his thumb over his mobile and pressed play on his voicemail…
"Jack? Jack? Jack? It's Miriam.
I don't know where I am.
I can't…see anything.
I was so wrong. I was so wrong.
Please…Jack…Please…"
She had accompanied Bloom to the BSU after turning in her typed transcript of their interview with Abel Gideon at the State Hospital.
(Flashback)
"Jack Crawford has been receiving the same recorded call from his missing trainee Miriam Lass for the past week. He believes the Ripper took her, but if Abel Gideon is not the Chesapeake Ripper…"
"And he is in incarceration" Oliveah added as Bloom turned the engine over in her car.
"Then the real Chesapeake Ripper is still out there."
Miriam Lass had been in training here at this very building years ago. She had walked these halls, and had even stood in this very room. She had been a simple student, hand selected to advance much the same as Oliveah had been.
And she had physically paid the price for it.
Feeling a shiver run down her back at Miriam's terrified voice as she pleaded for Agent Crawford's help to find her, Oliveah felt the unease in her stomach as Bloom stirred in her seat.
"Miriam was in training Jack with the FBI. She knew there would be risks, and she ignored your instruction to not following through on her own leads and it's because of that, she is missing; not that you purposely sent her out there."
I wonder what were her own leads?
Listening to Alana's harsh words, Oliveah ran her finger along the edge of her notebook and pressed her feet firmly into the carpeted ground as Crawford ran a hand over his mouth.
"I brought her in Alana, I should have been the one protecting her, and not letting her run off and play Detective with a trainee laminate. She got too close to the crime scenes and ultimately, the Ripper himself. I failed to protect my student Alana and it has been made evident to me over and over by this…. fucking madman." "Please Alana; please take care of your student. Keep her safe, as I failed to keep mine safe."
Wait, hold on a minute.
"Agent Crawford should I be worried about my personal safety?" Oliveah broke out as Crawford fixed his eyes on hers.
"No no, it's just a precaution. Miriam was undertaking unsupported leads on her own time against my wishes and instructions and it was on one of those leads, that she disappeared. I just want to advise you from doing the same."
Well I can promise you this Agent Crawford, I certainly have no plans to go out and search for the Chesapeake Ripper in the streets of Baltimore after school hours
Hearing the office door slamming open behind them, Oliveah jumped in her chair as her notebook slide off her lap and onto the floor as a dark haired man flew into the room.
"Jack, you need to come now!"
"Please excuse Brian Zeller, he works in the laboratory and clearly doesn't see that we are having a closed door meeting" Crawford began as Zeller took in a deep breath and furiously shook his head.
"Will Graham and Beverly are already on their way, but you need to come" he urged as Oliveah noticed her book on the ground.
"Zeller…If you think…"
"Jesus, Jack! We may have found Miriam Lass."
…
4 hours later…
Her arm
Her motherfucking arm!
Graham and the BSU had found her right arm sawed off and clutching a mobile phone lying on a stainless steel table top.
Handing the cashier her last twenty dollar bill, Oliveah accepted a bag for the wheel of brie cheese and shoved the change in her coat pocket all while trying not to stare at the cashier's bare arm. Flipping up the collars of her peacoat to protect against the cold, she made her way out of Whole Foods and down Fleet Street.
The only piece of Agent Crawford's trainee to be found aside from some strands of loose hair.
I don't blame Crawford one bit for feeling helpless and frustrated she thought as she saw tiny snowflakes starting to fall around her.
Winter is coming
And my bedroom window lets in the nastiest draft at night
"Maybe a coffee?" she asked herself as she took in the crossed street signs above her as a rush of traffic sped pass to beat the red light.
"Fleet and Bond."
Fleet and Bond and…
Bayshore Ave.
She didn't need to take the business card out of her jacket pocket to know Hannibal Lecter's office address. She had it memorized one hundred percent.
"Alright Doctor Lecter, you obviously want me to come to you, so here I come to escape the cold" she breathed out loud tucking in her ipod ear buds as an older man walking past furrowed his eyebrows at her.
…
687 Bayshore Ave – Suite 200, Baltimore, MD…
Standing at the top of the second floor staircase, it suddenly hit her that she had not seen anyone else that appeared to work in any of the offices down below on the first floor. Hearing the deafening quietness all around her, Oliveah moved to stand in front of Doctor Lecter's office door and took a deep breath.
Why are you here Oliveah?
You've been through enough counseling and have gone through enough social workers as a teenager that you swore to yourself you would never subject yourself to anyone ever again.
Knocking firmly on the door, she took a step back and listened.
No music
No voices
"Please let this go well…"
She had decided spur of the moment to come to the Doctor's office after securing a server position with Biddle Street Catering at an event next week being held at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and after buying a wheel of Andrew's favorite brie cheese as a thank you gift for the easy cash, she had found herself near Bayshore Avenue.
Watching the door open, she felt her pulse quicken as Hannibal Lecter peered down into her face without a hint of surprise. With a nod, he stepped back and allowed the door to open fully as Oliveah remained still.
"Good afternoon Miss. Adler, come in."
That's it?
Just come on in?
No, what are you doing here?
Are you lost?
Slowing crossing the threshold of his office, she felt a strange sense of calmness as the door closed behind her sealing just the two of them inside. Catching the crackle of a fire, Oliveah's eyes caught the flames to her left as she felt Hannibal's presence at her side.
"You've caught me between appointments," he spoke, sounding slightly annoyed at her sudden appearance.
"I won't be staying long. I apologize for not calling first," she offered as Hannibal folded his hands behind his back.
"I see."
Bringing her eyes up to the rows of books that continued around the entire overlook, Oliveah felt Lecter pass her as he moved to the fireplace to feed the flames with kinder. "Rome was not built in a day, and I expect you are not about to book an appointment?" Hannibal questioned, tossing in small pieces of wood with ease with no fear of the flames that licked near his fingers.
"You practically insisted that I come to your office Doctor Lecter, it would have been rude to ignore your beacon," Oliveah spoke as Hannibal gave a small smile.
"One should never be rude Miss. Adler, it leaves quite the distaste on the tongue," he lectured moving to stand behind his desk before resting a hand on the back of his leather chair.
"I found your business card in my jacket pocket," Oliveah spoke catching his eyes as she pulled out the white business card and held it up between two fingers.
"And yet, I have no appointment for you in my book," Hannibal responded almost immediately as he tapped his fingers against the chair leather looking at her Whole Foods plastic bag.
"I don't need to be analyzed Doctor Lecter," Oliveah confirmed as she moved the shopping bag to her other hand.
"Of course not, you've gone through enough in your adolescence which was not that long ago."
Swallowing hard as she set her back straight, Oliveah cocked her head to the side and hummed.
Well played Doctor.
"Being only twenty-three years of age, have I left a trail of subtle hints along with my footsteps Doctor?"
"Not subtle hints, one can see that you are caged internally with a great deal of emotion both positive and negative."
He's trying to turn this into a session. Every human being on Earth is wrestling with emotions. He is colleagues with Bloom and is assisting Agent Crawford with the FBI, trusting him would be a mistake.
"One can see? Or just yourself?" she questioned, feeling uneasy as she challenged a man far more superior in her field of study. Ignoring her question, Hannibal straightened the bottom edge of his suit vest before flipping open the black hardcover book that rested squarely in the middle of his desk.
"Last week you were out with Abigail Hobbs, the night she escaped the hospital."
Feeling flushed, Oliveah crossed her arms over her chest in defence.
I have to get out of here before he records my culpability with Abigail and turns it over to Doctor Bloom. They are close after all.
"What makes you say that?" she challenged standing her ground as Lecter moved to the edge of his wooden desk.
"Abigail has confided in me that she sees you as a person of non-judgment. A person that has been through something traumatic and can help her find the light at the end of the tunnel," Lecter offered as Oliveah shook her head. "And I watched you dropped her off down the road to Port Haven."
Snapping her head up, Oliveah felt her lips parting as she felt momentarily speechless.
"Doctor-Patient confidentiality protects our conversations from being used against me legally Doctor Lecter."
"Ah, but you are not my patient Ms. Adler."
Staring straight into the foreign doctor's burgundy eyes, Oliveah felt the beginnings of a mind game. A game that she was all too familiar at playing in her youth.
"That's right. I'm not Hannibal."
"Perhaps, in due time" he replied with a twitch of his lips. Pulling out his chair from the table but not taking a seat; rather moving it out of the way to clear a path around his large table. "Abigail must have climbed over a dark section of the stone wall," Hannibal challenged as he began to slowly walk around the sharp edge of the table nearest the fireplace.
"Perhaps she had jumped over the low end of the fence for the second time in less than three weeks" Oliveah suggested, catching Hannibal's curious eyes as she started to walk around the desk…keeping distance.
You are correct Ms. Adler; the first time was to my office right after I buried Nicholas Boyle's body in the ground. But you already knew that the back end of the fence is built low to the ground.
"I am curious about a few things Doctor Lecter."
Rounding the corner of his desk, Hannibal's eyes watched as Oliveah continued her slow pace to keep the length of distance between them.
"What are your curiosities Ms. Adler?"
"Were you the unknown caller amongst Doctor Bloom's eight phone calls that night?"
Hearing Oliveah's question, Lecter taped his fingers along the desk's edge as he slowly rounded the corner.
"I was concerned for Abigail's safety."
"Concerned for her whereabouts? Or concerned by the company she was with?"
"I do not see you as a threat to Abigail, may your mind rest with ease" Hannibal confirmed as Oliveah continued to move in a circle around the large desk.
Okay, one question down…
"If Doctor Bloom knows that I supported Abigail outside of Port Haven, she most likely would fire me. Are you going to tell her?" Oliveah questioned as she took her hands out of her black skinny jeans pockets.
"I promise that I will not tell her" Hannibal confirmed as he gave a slight node of his head. "And I always keep my promises, this you will come to know" he added as Oliveah slowly nodded her head.
This feels like a dance…
"Um, my last question for you Doctor Lecter is about that night in Bloomington."
Nodding his head, Hannibal moistened his lips as a loud crack of popping wood split in the fireplace.
"The last time I was here, you had asked me about my arm and you didn't tell Doctor Bloom the real reason when she inquired nor did you mention Will Graham at all in that conversation. Does Doctor Bloom know that Will had a seizure that night?" she questioned as Hannibal Lecter halted in his steps and shoved his hands in his grey pant pockets appearing deep in thought.
"Alana does not know that Will had a seizure. I believe this was a onetime occurrence with Will Graham and I do not see the point to flash around a person's medical issues" he spoke as Oliveah nodded her head for the second time haltering in her steps.
Flipping closed his notebook; Doctor Lecter grabbed his suit jacket and pulled it on with ease before fastening the button. "You have nothing to fear in losing your position with Doctor Bloom, I wouldn't let it happen" he winked before holding a hand out towards the back of the room.
"I have a private exit and if you would be so kind" he spoke as Oliveah spied a closed door near a seated organ.
Moving towards the door, she felt his presence close behind and turned around while buttoning her jacket.
"Thank you Doctor Lecter" she spoke firmly holding out her hand. Feeling his strong fingers against her skin, Oliveah caught her breath as Lecter raised the back of her hand up to his mouth before brushing his lips against her cool skin.
"Understand that you can place your complete trust in me… Oliveah" he breathed as she felt him let go of her hand.
Oliveah…
"I…know."
It was all that was spoken between them as she began her descent down the carpeted staircase. Hearing the door to Lecter's office closing firmly, she stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked back over her shoulder.
She was alone, and it was deathly quiet.
Why did I say "I know?"
Making her way down the rest of the stairs, she pulled open the blue door and breathed in the city afternoon air as she took off down the sidewalk, anxious for the warmth of the city bus to relieve the chill that had set in through her shoulders.
…
Please Read and Review!