Little Lamb (Hannibal x Reader)(Book One)

Chapter 14

Walking up to the front door of the address you got from Stacy, you ring the door bell three times after waiting about 15mins. The door opens, you peer in smiling "good afternoon, I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for Mrs. Lippman's family?" you say to the man "they don't live here anymore" he says, starting to close the door on you, you push back against it, politely but firmly. You hold up your ID "excuse me, but I really do need to talk to you. This was Mrs. Lippman's house. Did you know her?" you ask "just briefly. What's the problem officer?" he asks "I'm investigating the death of Frederica Bimmel. Who are you, please?" you ask "Jack Gordon" he answers "Mr. Gordon, did you know Frederica when she worked for Mrs. Lippman?" you ask "no. Wait... Was she a great, big fat person? I may have seen her, I'm not sure" Mr. Gumb answers, Mr. Gumb glances over his shoulder, towards his kitchen then turns back to you "Mrs. Lippman had a son, maybe he could help you. I have his card somewhere. Do you mind stepping inside, while I look for it" Mr. Gumb asks "thanks" you answered.

Mr. Gumb slips the chain off the door, you enter closing the door behind you. You pull out your notebook from your shoulder, glancing around the musty room "that horrible business, I shiver every time I think about it." Mr. Gumb says, you look around at overstuffed furniture, porcelain figures. One archway onto the front hall, another onto a dining alcove, and through there the kitchen. Mr. Gumb is crossing to a rolling desk, raising the top, you see him bend over, beginning to poke through cubby holes. His tone is casual "are they close to catching somebody, do you think?" he asks "I think we may be, yes" you answer, Mr. Gumb stiffens, his back is to you as he continues opening drawers, rustling papers "Mr. Gordon, did you take over this place after Mrs. Lippman died?" you ask "yes. I bought the house from her, two years ago." Mr. Gordon answers "did she leave any records here? tax or business records? maybe a list of employees?" you ask "no, nothing at all. Has the FBI learned something? because the police here don't seem to have the first clue..." Mr. Gumb says, you see in the corner of your eye, out of the folds of his kimono crawl's a death's head moth "do you have a description yet, or some finger prints" he asks, you try and keep your voice calm "no... No, we don't" you say.

Very carefully you drop your notebook back into your bag, lowering the bag to the floor. With your fingers you brush against the back edge of your blazer, loosening it's drapes. Mr. Gumb turns back towards you cheerfully holding out a business card "ahhh. Here's that number" he says, you keep your distance, your about 10 feet apart "good, thank you. Mr. Gordon, do you have a phone I can use?" you ask "in the kitchen. I'll show you" he says softly, you whip out your gun, gripping it in both hands shakily "freeze!" you yell, Mr. Gumb slowly tilts his head to one side and smiles at you, you try and force more authority into your voice "okay... Okay Mr. Gumb, your under arrest. Down on the floor, hands and legs spread, move it." you say, Mr. Gumb turns around and in two quick steps he disappears into the kitchen, you hesitate for a split second, to shoot him in the back - and then it's too late "shit!" you say.

You hurry inside, moving low, swiveling your gun. The kitchen is empty. To one side, a door still shuddering on it's hinges, you rush to the door elbowing the door aside, aiming your gun down an empty stairwell. Brightly lit, leading to the cellar. Two doors facing the bottom, both open. No signs of Mr. Gumb. You hate this, which door, it's a trap your very scared but suddenly hears the distant screams of a girl, somewhere down there in the killing maze, it had to be Catherine Martin you were hearing. You rush through the doorway and down the stairs.

Hurrying down the steps. More screams, they seem to be coming from the left door. You head in that direction entering a brick-walled passage - pipes over head, naked bulbs. The lighting, though dim, is incandescent. You come to a t-shaped intersection, stopping. Another scream, again to your left, and the barking of a dog. You follow your gun around a corner, looking right, you see an opening to some kind of chamber. The noises are louder, coming from there, you move cautiously towards this chamber you move in hugging the wall, gun swiveling. You see the opening top of a pit you move in closer looking down, very briefly, you see Catherine Martin screaming and a little white dog. You kneel staring up from door to door "FBI, Catherine, your safe." you say "safe, shit, he's got a gun! Get me out. GET ME OUT!" Catherine yells "your alright! Where is he?" you ask "get me out!" she continues to yell. "I'll get you out! just be quiet so I can hear. Shut that dog up. Is there a ladder? is there rope?" you ask "I don't know! get me out" she yells "Catherine. Listen to me. I have to find a rope. I have to leave this room, just for a minute, but-" you say "NOOO! you fucking bitch don't you leave me down here, DON'T YOU -" Catherine yells "shut up! the other officers will be here any minute! you're perfectly safe now" you say, ignoring Catherine, you back away into a door and move down the passageway towards a room.