24hrs
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story nor do I make any profit. I think Mr Thomas Harris is the only one that does!
Short chapter to begin with, only the first few hours of the twenty-four mentioned. Thanks go to saavik for his input. Please review?
6.00am
Clarice's eyes blinked a few times. Closed. Blinked again, her eyes rapidly adjusting to the morning light filtering through the thin voile that framed the low window. Still slightly groggy she sat up and glanced at the clock. A pretty useless piece of equipment in her bedroom she thought, as without fail she wakened at exactly the same time every morning. Running a hand through her hair, she finally stood and made her way down the hall to the bathroom, to prepare for would be another no doubt droll day.
7.00am
Slowing down her brisk jog to a fast walk, she could felt the heat in her lungs and the gentle protest from her muscles as she made her way to the front door. Taking the tinted sunglasses from her face she fished for her keys and flung the door open, the sound of the ringing phone the only thing to greet her. Leaving the door open, she rushed down the short hall, and turned into the living room, seeing the blinking light on the phone cradle. Still out of breath she quickly picked it up and hit the talk button.
" Hello?" she panted, shrugging off her sweatshirt as she spoke.
There was a moment of silence on the other end. The only sound in the room was the slight panting from her.
" Hello?" she repeated, her skin becoming itchy with drying moisture.
" Perhaps you should sit down Clarice, you sound a little winded "
The voice caused her knees to tremble and the hand that was holding damp hair from her face, drop lifelessly to her side. She struggled to find her voice.
" Dr lecter?" she whispered, her eyes darting around the room she was standing in.
" What time do you have Clarice?"
She stood dumbstruck for a moment before forcing her eyes to the antique clock resting on the wall.
" 7.22" she reported clearly, her mind spinning, her breathing irregular but no longer from running.
" Good girl. Get in your car and drive towards East gate cemetery. Beside the Westside entrance there's a phone booth. It will ring three times; pick it up on the fourth. I'll call at exactly 8.05 Clarice, so you better hurry. As for you calling your pals at the bureau ……well we already know what your decision will be so lets not waste time talking about it. I know you want to finish this Clarice. Speak to you soon."
She was still holding the receiver to her ear long after he had hung up. Slowly realising this she gently replaced it in its cradle and stood immobile, her mind replaying the message word for word. What did this mean? That he was giving himself up? No, she dismissed the idea almost immediately; he would never be without his freedom ever again. How did he know she wouldn't call the dogs on him? She almost laughed at that, he knew her better than she knew herself most of the time. Glancing back at the clock, she quickly ran to the hall and grabbing her car keys and mobile, ran out the still open door. Her gun sat glinting in the sun on the table, forgotten.
8.00am
She sat in her car, the booth just the side, with her window down. Glancing at the car clock, she saw she had exactly two minutes left. Looking to the foreign street, she could see it was virtually empty, a ghost town. Drumming her fingers nervously on where they still gripped the steering wheel, she thought again on the implications and results from this meeting. He had contacted her. Why? He had said she wanted to finish this, what did he mean? Her mind closed down and her head snapped to the side on the first ring. By the second ring she was standing beside the booth, her hand hovering above the receiver. She counted aloud the third ring, sweat starting to bead again around the outskirts of her face. On the fourth ring she quickly picked it up, and held it with both hands to her ear. She didn't say anything.
" Well done Clarice. I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you like this, but as you know I have to be careful. You can be quite slippery at times."
" What do you want Dr Lecter?"
Her voice was strained and slightly high as she formed the question, and she willed herself to calm down.
" What do I want? Now that's a loaded question Clarice, but I'll tell you want you want to hear for now. The simple pleasures in life are those which are vastly overlooked and literally trodden upon. Happiness Clarice is something, which sadly falls under that catergory for you. What do I want? I want to change that Clarice."
Looking around her she still couldn't see anyone, but her paranoid brain wouldn't give her rest. Cupping her hand over the mouthpiece she continued, pressing the earpiece almost painfully into her ear, trying to hear any background noise.
" Where are you Dr Lecter?"
She heard a short appreciative chuckle from the other end of the line,
" Come Come Clarice, you wouldn't want to spoil the game already would you? Now get back in your car and drive into town. You know the old cinema on Main Street?"
"Yes"
" Park outside and follow the alley at the side. It should lead you to another phone."
Before she had a chance to protest or try and reason with him the phone was once again dead. Growling low in her phone she banged in down hard into its original position and walked back to the car. It was almost an hour's drive back into town she approximated, but it would give her time to think.
9.00am
Clarice panicked as she drove into the street, she couldn't see a parking space anywhere. Slowing down she spotted the alley in question and again speeded up, heading towards the other end of the street where she eventually found a space. Stepping out of the car and locking it, she quickly made her way up the busy sidewalk, receiving curses and looks as she bumped past people. She had had time to think during her drive and had concluded that he must be watching her now. He hadn't given her a time in which to be there, and wasn't psychic, so he must have the ability to know when she eventually reached the phone booth. Quickly glancing around at the towering building, she just as quickly realised that it was a futile effort. She was awash in a sea of faces and buildings; it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. She had also pondered on the eventual meeting, once he felt safe enough. Her thoughts had been jumbled and confused, and she had quickly put them to one side for fear of eventual conclusions. She wasn't ready to face those yet. Finally finding the alley she jumped into a brisk jog, avoiding the crates and jets of steams on the two enclosing walls. With the booth finally in sight she took a nervous gulp of air and slowed her pace to a walk. As she was just reaching it, a shrill ringing made her stop.
Sticking to previous instruction she picked up the receiver on the fourth ring, again pausing to make sure it was in fact he.
" You make good time Clarice. Better be careful, you don't want in trouble with the law"
Even she had to snicker at that.
" Speaking of the law Clarice, how's the job coming along? Are you still on field duty or has recent events forced you to the desk? Please do tell me agent Starling, the papers wont say."
His voice distantly reminded her of Baltimore, but his voice broke her reverie,
" What's wrong Clarice? You seem a little reluctant to chat."
"I'm fine" the mechanical answer that fell easily from her tongue, caused her to mentally kicked herself.
" No your certainly not fine Clarice. But alas, we've had this conversation before, and I'm not a man who likes to repeat himself. My guess would be that you are indeed resigned to spend the rest of your so- called career pushing paper. How does that make you feel Clarice? Resentful and hurt? Angry? I wouldn't be surprised if it were all three. I'll not waste time asking you why Clarice, for you already know the answer. The question is this though. What are you going to do about it?"
Clarice was biting her lip to stop from reacting. She wasn't sure what her reaction would be, whether she wanted to scream at him, cry or run away all together. She quickly answered saying the thing that first came into her head.
" I don't know Dr Lecter"
There was a slight pause on the other end.
" Walk to the end of the alley and onto the street. At the end of it you'll see a small café. See you soon."
And the phone went dead once more. Looking from the phone held tightly in her hand to the end of the alley, she could see glimpses of people passing on the quieter street. Slowly pressing the receiver back into place, she stared at it for long minutes. This was her chance. She knew where he was, one phone call and she was back on active field duty. Was he watching her even now? Was this another test of trust? Signing she rubbed the ball of her hand against for forehead, the beginnings of a migraine showing through. As she was about to turn and begin her journey that would bring her face to face with him once more, the phone rang.
Staring at the phone, she didn't notice when it passed the fourth ring and continued, didn't notice the slight breeze that made it's way hurriedly down the alley. Was it he? Was it indeed a test? Angrily picking up the phone she didn't try and hide the feelings from her voice.
" Happy now?" she spat, her rage quickly dissipating
" This isn't about me Clarice. What where you thinking when you hung up the phone?"
" I was thinking about what to have for breakfast. You know what I was thinking doctor."
" Ok, tell me what you were feeling then Clarice" His own tone had changed she noted. Best not push my luck she thought. Letting out a long sigh, she leaned against the wall at the side of the booth.
" I was confused," she admitted, her voice still carrying the message that she didn't want to talk about this.
" On what were you confused Clarice? Your options were pretty clear"
" Dammit doctor stop with these games!" she said, her voice angry once more.
" Answer the question Clarice" his own tone had grown cold and demanding, something she hadn't been on the receiving end of very often. It unnerved her slightly.
" I was confused because I knew what I should have done, what I was expected to do, and I didn't want to!" her voice carried through the alley and she lowered her head, the small admission drawing more strength from her than her morning jog.
There was silence on the other end of the phone and she was glad for it. It didn't last for long though.
" There's hope for you yet Agent Starling." His voice was low and calming, his tone bordering on fond.
" Go to the corner of Earl and Spencer Street. There's a small delicatessen. I'll meet you there."
10.00am
Ok what do you think?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story nor do I make any profit. I think Mr Thomas Harris is the only one that does!
Short chapter to begin with, only the first few hours of the twenty-four mentioned. Thanks go to saavik for his input. Please review?
6.00am
Clarice's eyes blinked a few times. Closed. Blinked again, her eyes rapidly adjusting to the morning light filtering through the thin voile that framed the low window. Still slightly groggy she sat up and glanced at the clock. A pretty useless piece of equipment in her bedroom she thought, as without fail she wakened at exactly the same time every morning. Running a hand through her hair, she finally stood and made her way down the hall to the bathroom, to prepare for would be another no doubt droll day.
7.00am
Slowing down her brisk jog to a fast walk, she could felt the heat in her lungs and the gentle protest from her muscles as she made her way to the front door. Taking the tinted sunglasses from her face she fished for her keys and flung the door open, the sound of the ringing phone the only thing to greet her. Leaving the door open, she rushed down the short hall, and turned into the living room, seeing the blinking light on the phone cradle. Still out of breath she quickly picked it up and hit the talk button.
" Hello?" she panted, shrugging off her sweatshirt as she spoke.
There was a moment of silence on the other end. The only sound in the room was the slight panting from her.
" Hello?" she repeated, her skin becoming itchy with drying moisture.
" Perhaps you should sit down Clarice, you sound a little winded "
The voice caused her knees to tremble and the hand that was holding damp hair from her face, drop lifelessly to her side. She struggled to find her voice.
" Dr lecter?" she whispered, her eyes darting around the room she was standing in.
" What time do you have Clarice?"
She stood dumbstruck for a moment before forcing her eyes to the antique clock resting on the wall.
" 7.22" she reported clearly, her mind spinning, her breathing irregular but no longer from running.
" Good girl. Get in your car and drive towards East gate cemetery. Beside the Westside entrance there's a phone booth. It will ring three times; pick it up on the fourth. I'll call at exactly 8.05 Clarice, so you better hurry. As for you calling your pals at the bureau ……well we already know what your decision will be so lets not waste time talking about it. I know you want to finish this Clarice. Speak to you soon."
She was still holding the receiver to her ear long after he had hung up. Slowly realising this she gently replaced it in its cradle and stood immobile, her mind replaying the message word for word. What did this mean? That he was giving himself up? No, she dismissed the idea almost immediately; he would never be without his freedom ever again. How did he know she wouldn't call the dogs on him? She almost laughed at that, he knew her better than she knew herself most of the time. Glancing back at the clock, she quickly ran to the hall and grabbing her car keys and mobile, ran out the still open door. Her gun sat glinting in the sun on the table, forgotten.
8.00am
She sat in her car, the booth just the side, with her window down. Glancing at the car clock, she saw she had exactly two minutes left. Looking to the foreign street, she could see it was virtually empty, a ghost town. Drumming her fingers nervously on where they still gripped the steering wheel, she thought again on the implications and results from this meeting. He had contacted her. Why? He had said she wanted to finish this, what did he mean? Her mind closed down and her head snapped to the side on the first ring. By the second ring she was standing beside the booth, her hand hovering above the receiver. She counted aloud the third ring, sweat starting to bead again around the outskirts of her face. On the fourth ring she quickly picked it up, and held it with both hands to her ear. She didn't say anything.
" Well done Clarice. I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you like this, but as you know I have to be careful. You can be quite slippery at times."
" What do you want Dr Lecter?"
Her voice was strained and slightly high as she formed the question, and she willed herself to calm down.
" What do I want? Now that's a loaded question Clarice, but I'll tell you want you want to hear for now. The simple pleasures in life are those which are vastly overlooked and literally trodden upon. Happiness Clarice is something, which sadly falls under that catergory for you. What do I want? I want to change that Clarice."
Looking around her she still couldn't see anyone, but her paranoid brain wouldn't give her rest. Cupping her hand over the mouthpiece she continued, pressing the earpiece almost painfully into her ear, trying to hear any background noise.
" Where are you Dr Lecter?"
She heard a short appreciative chuckle from the other end of the line,
" Come Come Clarice, you wouldn't want to spoil the game already would you? Now get back in your car and drive into town. You know the old cinema on Main Street?"
"Yes"
" Park outside and follow the alley at the side. It should lead you to another phone."
Before she had a chance to protest or try and reason with him the phone was once again dead. Growling low in her phone she banged in down hard into its original position and walked back to the car. It was almost an hour's drive back into town she approximated, but it would give her time to think.
9.00am
Clarice panicked as she drove into the street, she couldn't see a parking space anywhere. Slowing down she spotted the alley in question and again speeded up, heading towards the other end of the street where she eventually found a space. Stepping out of the car and locking it, she quickly made her way up the busy sidewalk, receiving curses and looks as she bumped past people. She had had time to think during her drive and had concluded that he must be watching her now. He hadn't given her a time in which to be there, and wasn't psychic, so he must have the ability to know when she eventually reached the phone booth. Quickly glancing around at the towering building, she just as quickly realised that it was a futile effort. She was awash in a sea of faces and buildings; it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. She had also pondered on the eventual meeting, once he felt safe enough. Her thoughts had been jumbled and confused, and she had quickly put them to one side for fear of eventual conclusions. She wasn't ready to face those yet. Finally finding the alley she jumped into a brisk jog, avoiding the crates and jets of steams on the two enclosing walls. With the booth finally in sight she took a nervous gulp of air and slowed her pace to a walk. As she was just reaching it, a shrill ringing made her stop.
Sticking to previous instruction she picked up the receiver on the fourth ring, again pausing to make sure it was in fact he.
" You make good time Clarice. Better be careful, you don't want in trouble with the law"
Even she had to snicker at that.
" Speaking of the law Clarice, how's the job coming along? Are you still on field duty or has recent events forced you to the desk? Please do tell me agent Starling, the papers wont say."
His voice distantly reminded her of Baltimore, but his voice broke her reverie,
" What's wrong Clarice? You seem a little reluctant to chat."
"I'm fine" the mechanical answer that fell easily from her tongue, caused her to mentally kicked herself.
" No your certainly not fine Clarice. But alas, we've had this conversation before, and I'm not a man who likes to repeat himself. My guess would be that you are indeed resigned to spend the rest of your so- called career pushing paper. How does that make you feel Clarice? Resentful and hurt? Angry? I wouldn't be surprised if it were all three. I'll not waste time asking you why Clarice, for you already know the answer. The question is this though. What are you going to do about it?"
Clarice was biting her lip to stop from reacting. She wasn't sure what her reaction would be, whether she wanted to scream at him, cry or run away all together. She quickly answered saying the thing that first came into her head.
" I don't know Dr Lecter"
There was a slight pause on the other end.
" Walk to the end of the alley and onto the street. At the end of it you'll see a small café. See you soon."
And the phone went dead once more. Looking from the phone held tightly in her hand to the end of the alley, she could see glimpses of people passing on the quieter street. Slowly pressing the receiver back into place, she stared at it for long minutes. This was her chance. She knew where he was, one phone call and she was back on active field duty. Was he watching her even now? Was this another test of trust? Signing she rubbed the ball of her hand against for forehead, the beginnings of a migraine showing through. As she was about to turn and begin her journey that would bring her face to face with him once more, the phone rang.
Staring at the phone, she didn't notice when it passed the fourth ring and continued, didn't notice the slight breeze that made it's way hurriedly down the alley. Was it he? Was it indeed a test? Angrily picking up the phone she didn't try and hide the feelings from her voice.
" Happy now?" she spat, her rage quickly dissipating
" This isn't about me Clarice. What where you thinking when you hung up the phone?"
" I was thinking about what to have for breakfast. You know what I was thinking doctor."
" Ok, tell me what you were feeling then Clarice" His own tone had changed she noted. Best not push my luck she thought. Letting out a long sigh, she leaned against the wall at the side of the booth.
" I was confused," she admitted, her voice still carrying the message that she didn't want to talk about this.
" On what were you confused Clarice? Your options were pretty clear"
" Dammit doctor stop with these games!" she said, her voice angry once more.
" Answer the question Clarice" his own tone had grown cold and demanding, something she hadn't been on the receiving end of very often. It unnerved her slightly.
" I was confused because I knew what I should have done, what I was expected to do, and I didn't want to!" her voice carried through the alley and she lowered her head, the small admission drawing more strength from her than her morning jog.
There was silence on the other end of the phone and she was glad for it. It didn't last for long though.
" There's hope for you yet Agent Starling." His voice was low and calming, his tone bordering on fond.
" Go to the corner of Earl and Spencer Street. There's a small delicatessen. I'll meet you there."
10.00am
Ok what do you think?