Here it is, the return of Clarice Starling. I promised that I would do a sequel, and this is the more serious tale of the two. The zombie tale will pop up after I finish a bit more 'research', as it were. (The video store really loves me, seeing how many bad films I can check out.) Anyhoo, I figured it out, and here be the disclaimers: Clarice and Hannibal are, sadly, not mine; instead belonging to Thomas Harris. (Along with Ardelia and Clint Pearsall) There may also be some Tom Clancy characters mentioned in passing, since I can't chase them out of my head while I try to finish reading 'The Sum of All Fears'. Lindsey, Taisa, random agents and SAICs belong to me. And the poor souls who die (Seems I can't write a story without at least ONE dead body) belong to me. Think that covers it all. Hope you enjoy!!!

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Colorado. The air shimmers off the asphalt of the parking lot in the late July heat. Dry heat, without the humidity she was used to in Texas. Often she wondered as she stared out the window if it were any better than her native state. Oh the city itself was, Denver had more to offer than Amarillo ever would. And it was pleasant to step outside and not be assaulted by the buzz of cicadas everywhere. There was enough culture to suit her needs, when she had the time to go and visit the attractions. She particularly liked the Museum of Nature and Science, and that was the one place where she maintained a membership. When she needed to think she would go there and spend hours wandering through the many halls and exhibits.

Unfortunately her eyes are drawn back from the window by the beeping of her computer. A new window had popped up on the screen, the top edge of it blinking, requesting her attention. She glared at the message on the interoffice messaging service. What happened to the days when people phoned you or knocked on your door when they needed to speak to you? The middle drawer of her desk if briefly opened and a small hand mirror, heart shaped, is withdrawn and her reflection checked in it. If she was going to be hauled up to the upper echelons, then she'd better be at least semi-presentable. She grabbed her suit jacket off the back of her chair and shrugged it over the sleeveless top she was wearing with the skirt. Always conscious of the energy saving measures that they were forced to undertake, though she wondered if it did much good, she flicked off the light switch as she left the tiny office.

Smiles and brief greetings are exchanged as she passes through the hallways and out to the bank of elevators just outside the section she works in. She hated elevators, sure that she would get stuck in one when it decided to take an uncontrolled plunge. The button for the sixth floor is pushed and she sinks into her customary corner, left hand gripping the rail that is bolted to the wall. The Rolling Stones' 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' plays over the speakers. How ironic life could be. Shuttled out here to Colorado after making a few people unhappy in Washington. Not the first agent to be thrown into a media circus, especially not the first who was thrown into that due to the misinterpretation of her dealings with a known sociopath. What she wouldn't give to have some advice on how to handle this whole thing.

The doors slide open and she releases the rail, stepping out of the elevator and straightening the hem of her jacket. She smiled at the secretary that sat just inside the lobby and received a smile in return, along with a wave down a hallway. It surprised her, that after being renowned for her calm and almost icy exterior, she had the nickname of 'Ice Queen' during her stint at the Academy, that her heart was fluttering. A quick check indicated that her palms were dry and that her hands, nor any other extremities, were not shaking. She drew in a deep breath and approached the conference room that lay down the small hallway. A pause at the door, catching the SAIC's eye as he waved her in.

"Lindsey Singleton. Glad you could make it here. Have a seat."

She could do little more than nod and shuffle to a chair that had its back to a bank of windows. The summer heat made the view of the civic center shiver, even through the haze of pollution. She could feel the sun's heat on the back of her neck as she sat, and tried not to outright stare at the group gathered around the table. One of her friends form the academy sat across the table from her and Lindsey caught her eye. Taisa Keller shook her head minutely, indicating along with the raised eyebrows that she had no clue either. It was like sitting in on a Who's Who of FBI fame. It made her more than a little nervous, and the nervousness was working its way into a tremor in her leg. SAIC Trevor Loren cleared his throat and shut the door behind him. She felt his gaze drift over the table as he took a seat at the end near the door.

"Thank you all for coming here today. I know it was on rather short notice, but we didn't get the word until this morning." She watched as Loren traded a look with Clint Pearsall at the other end. If the single event of this impromptu meeting wasn't enough to raise wind that something was up, that look cemented the fact. Lindsey felt her eyes lock on Pearsall, then shoot back over to Loren, who was once again clearing his throat.

"All of you are here because you have prior experience in the field of serial killers. Special Agents Starling and Mapp are from Behavioral Sciences back in Washington. We're stepping up our efforts in the manhunt for this man." he held up an eight by ten picture that was immediately recognizable. Ever observant, Lindsey saw Clarice Starling momentarily stiffen at the sight of the face. Bells were going off inside Lindsey's brain as she tried to process everything. Hannibal Lecter. THE Hannibal Lecter was the focus of their manhunt. She stared at the photograph that Trevor was holding. Unbelievable. She tuned her excitement out and listened to him speak.

"Dr. Hannibal Lecter, ladies and gentleman. I needn't tell you that he is dangerous. He escaped from prison four months ago, and is presumed to be in Colorado, somewhere along the Front Range. We have teams all along the I-25 corridor, the Springs and Pueblo are the other hot spots we are looking in besides the Denver Metro area. All of the state's law enforcement authorities are on alert, in case we misjudged and he shows up elsewhere."

"There's been a number of murders recently in the Springs area that fit the profile of Lecter's previous victims. All male, all within middle age. All have had internal organs removed, most notably the sweetbreads or the liver and kidneys. This along with other evidence points towards Lecter. He's come out of retirement, so to speak."

Lindsey was tapping her leg listening to all of this, taking it in. She'd seen the case file from Colorado Springs a few days back. It hadn't been her case, Taisa's rather, so she didn't dig through it. Back on the trail of a serial killer, something she hadn't expected to be doing again. Not after the whole debacle in Washington. She'd become the media's new little darling after her dealings with Jacob Preston. She'd been the one who had caught him, arrested him, put him in prison. But not until after suffering a blow to her own life. She had been dating Jacob at the time, unaware until it was almost too late that he was the man she was searching for. She bore a long scar on her abdomen from his attack on her. Washington didn't need another scandal on its hands, so they shuttled her cross country. Resigned her to a paper shuffling desk job. Someone had pulled some strings to get her on this one.

"Singleton, you're going to be running point on this thing. I want you and Starling down in Colorado Springs by this evening."

Her head whipped towards Loren, eyes going wide with disbelief. "Me? Um, sir, do you think that's really…"

"I do. Don't argue, Lindsey. I want you in my office before you go." he made sure she nodded and understood before he returned to addressing the entire table. "You'll each receive a copy of the case file, I want everyone's full out on this one. That's all. Let's get cracking, folks."

There was a shuffle of feet and chairs on the carpet as the small assembly stood. Lindsey felt a little lightheaded as she stood. Taisa was grinning and giving her a thumbs up as they both moved towards the door. They made their way out into the hall, and Lindsey cast a glance at Trevor's retreating back as he headed back towards his office. Taisa tapped her arm and nodded down the opposite hall.

"Way to go, Lin!!! What did you do to get that? Sleep with him?" If Taisa was anything, it was brash. Nothing fazed the woman, she would share the details of her sex life with you without batting an eye. It was a wonder she didn't get hauled in for sexual harassment, this being the very politically correct age and all. Lindsey on the other hand couldn't contain her blush.

"No, I didn't sleep with him. Dammit, Taisa. I didn't know anything about this case, I thought I was doomed to putting stuff in my 'Out' basket forever." Taisa grinned as they walked out to the elevator bank. "Either they're giving me another chance, or they're hoping that I'll fail so miserably, they'll have a reason to be rid of me."

"I vote for option A, Lin."

Lindsey glared at her friend, making a face as she punched the down button for Taisa. "I think I'm going to get the boot. Like I need more stress in my life." she rolled her eyes and looked up to the ceiling. The elevator arrived and the doors slid open, forcing the women to step out of the way as a couple of agents stepped out. Taisa grasped the door to keep it from closing immediately as she stepped into the car.

"Nah, they'll be singing your praises after this one. Have faith, Lin. You're not dating this one." An evil sardonic grin was given as she released the door and it closed. Lindsey growled and spun away. Now that she was in a thoroughly bad mood, perfect for facing SAIC Trevor P. Loren. She hadn't made it two steps before she was stopped again.

"Agent Singleton?" Lindsey was slow in turning to face the voice. Better face it now, since she'd be spending God knows how long with her. "I'm Clarice Starling."

"I know who you are." Lindsey spat out, instantly regretting it. Damn you, Taisa. She sighed and apologized. "Sorry, Agent Keller was having some fun ruffling my feathers."

Starling regarded her with those deep blue eyes, and Lindsey saw a spark of understanding in them. "I completely understand. You were the one who caught Jacob Preston." it wasn't a question, only a statement. and it was true whether Lindsey acknowledged it or not.

"Yeah."

"Look, I understand how the media can take things and twist them around. I went through it all too." She smiled, trying to be friendly. Clarice was going to be working with her, best to have it get off on the good foot. Acknowledge that they had something in common.

"Which is why you're back on this case. Forgive me, Agent Starling, but I followed your career and the whole case involving Lecter the first time. You caught him, put him in prison, now he's out. The media had a field day after it came out that you were in a house with him and watched him kill a man without doing anything to stop him. I know, drugged, but the media doesn't give a rip about the truth. They twisted your tale into the sensation it is today, and I'm willing to bet that Jane Morricone has made millions off that damned book. There was nothing to twist in my case. I was involved with the killer, and completely oblivious to it. It's the stuff that soap operas are made of." She stopped, realizing how bitter she sounded and saw the smile slipping from the older agent's face. Drumroll, please. You have a talent for turning everything into shit, don't you Lin? She ran a hand over her face, sighing and trying to recover from her huge mistake.

"Sorry. I'm not really this touchy. This just has me in weird sorts."

Amazingly, Starling nodded. She was just as unhappy with the case. "Once again, completely understandable. Makes you wonder if they're just setting us up to fail."

Laughter escaped Lindsey's lips. "Oh good. I'm not the only one who thinks that." she caught a glance at the clock above them on one wall. Ten til one. Better get her ass into Loren's office before she got in trouble. She managed a smile at Clarice, excusing herself. She was glad that the other agent didn't follow. Trevor Loren, tired and aging rapidly in his middle age waved her into the office. He has a small, thin face, age and care worn from too many years in the field. There are laughlines emanating from his eyes and the corners of his lips when he smiles. The watery grey eyes are hidden behind glasses that correct his myopia. Thick salt and pepper hair completes his visage, and is growing a bit long, slightly shaggy over the ears. Some how Lindsey knows that a haircut is probably the last thing on the SAIC's mind.

"Lindsey, come in, have a seat." He leaned over the desk, watching her and she was reminded of a hawk watching a rabbit. There was still a very sharp mind behind those features. Groomed for this job by the best. He had worked with Crawford and Graham. Lindsey cam in, taking a seat in the only open chair.

"We have a lot to cover in a short time, Singleton, so listen up."

*****