Washington, D.C."I suppose you're wondering why we've called you here today, Dr. Cross..."
The older black man nodded, tilting his head to the side a bit. "I have to admit that I was rather curious - not to mention perturbed. I
do have a case that I'm currently working on, gentlemen."
"We're pulling you from that case, Alex," the Chief of Detectives said. "Did you hear about the murders up on the north side last night?"
"Heard they were brutal," Cross said, steepling his fingers. "Possible serial killer."
"Parts missing, Alex," the Chief of Detectives said, tossing a file filled with black and white photographs onto his desk in front of Cross. "Breasts, thighs, thalymus glands, kidneys, livers..."
"All the stuff that, on any other animal, you'd eat."
"Right," the CoD nodded.
"So, what do you want me to do about it?" Cross asked.
"I want you to catch this sunnuvabitch," came the reply. "By whatever means necessary. You've bagged Soneji, Casanova... I want you to get this guy."
"Like I said, I do have another case..." Cross protested.
"Someone else'll take care of it," the Chief persisted. "Look, Alex, you're the best I've got. You're a psychologist. You can get inside this bastard's head... and
that's how you're going to bring him down."
Cross mulled it over a bit in his head. Finally, he nodded. "Alright," he answered, "I'll do it."
Elsewhere...A squeeze of lemon and some coarsely-chopped parsely finished off the exquisite dish of sweetbreads before him. Hannibal Lecter smiled, as he sank his fork into the dish. It was almost too pretty to eat... like the woman whose brain these were removed from... but, for Lecter, hunger superceded all aesthetics.
As he sank his teeth into the tender meat, he smiled. He would like it here in Washington. He had a good feeling about this place...
Dr. Alex Cross versus Dr. Hannibal Lecter
