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The Opera copyright 2001, by Kabochon
Clarice stared at her
platinum blonde hair, elegantly coiffed in a French twist. He had
suggested it and she smiled, loving the appearance it gave her.
They were going to the opera. She wore a coral sheath with an
overlay of tulle, cabochon emeralds green fire at her ears and
throat. She looked splendid. He was in white tie and she
rose and held out one slender arm. He smiled at her. “Shall we go, my
dear?” “Certainly.” The blue Mercedes
pulled up at the curb of the Teatro Colon, where a doorman hurried to
open the door. Hannibal got out and lent hand to Clarice, who
stepped out and raised a murmur of appreciation amongst the crowd for
her elegant beauty. Hannibal took her arm and escorted her inside,
inwardly pleased that she would rouse such a response. When the first act of
Tamerlane was over and the lights rose up, a waiter brought two flutes
of champagne for them to drink. They had a box beside the stage
and could see perfectly. Hannibal handed a flute to Clarice and
took one for himself. “I never would have
thought I’d come to love opera as much as I do, Hannibal.”
Clarice said. “I always knew you
had it in you, my dear,” he said. She placed her hand on
his and held his thumb, her eyes saying much more than her vocal cords
were capable of. He broke eye contact in order to glance up in the
stands, his brow arched. “Hannibal?” He reached down for his
opera glasses, raised them and looked into the stands. After a
moment, he put them back down. “What is it, mon
chere?” Hannibal locked eyes
with Clarice, a smile on his lips. “Barney is here.” “Barney Jackson?” “Up in the student
seats, way up. He was looking this way. I believe I scared
him.” “Barney saw us?” “Yes.” There
was no doubt in Hannibal’s mind. Clarice’s brow
furrowed. “Do we need to worry about that?” “If it were anyone
else, I should say yes. But it’s Barney, and my answer is
no. And don’t you worry, my dear.” Clarice sipped her
champagne. Barney had seen her with Hannibal Lecter. What if
he felt obliged to report it to someone? Then again, being that it
had been almost three years since she’d been “missing,” she
thought it highly unlikely that he would be believed. After a
moment, she began to share Hannibal’s insight that Barney’s
knowledge gave them no reason to worry. If anything, it made them
safer. Upon cursory glances of the crowds as they were leaving, Hannibal waited until he and Clarice were safely in the comfort of their Mercedes before telling her. “I did not notice our
friend leaving the opera house, my love. I feel as though he
departed before the opera ended, maybe right after the lights went down
for the second act.” “Really, Hannibal?” He kissed her nose. “Barney is wise.” FIN copyright 2001, by Kabochon |