Carnivore, Won't You Come Digest Me?

Chapter 5

"Apparently our string provider is one Tobias Budge. He owns a music shop in Baltimore," Hannibal says, reading off the text from Jack as they settle down at the Ethiopian restaurant.

Will hums, sipping his glass of ice water. "Seems kind of obvious," he replies. Hannibal tilts his head to one side. "I wonder if Mister Budge's shop specializes in stringed instruments."

Hannibal smiles, setting his phone down and picking up the menu. The scents of the restaurant are sharp and pleasant, and he contemplates eating something other than salad when out for the first time in a while.

"Killing a trombone player, it would make more sense if he used the victim's instrument of choice for his performance," Will continues, "but the killer didn't use a trombone. He used a cello. Something he was familiar with."

"You seem to already think that Budge will be our killer," Hannibal notes.

Will smiles. "Sometimes it's just not a mystery, Agent Lecter," he replies. "I'm sorry to disappoint you."

"I shall have to indulge my curiosities some other way," Hannibal says with feigned heaviness. He likes the way Will's smile widens, fond and soft. "So, we have a suspect, we have means. What of motive?"

"Like I said," Will replies, sitting back in his seat. "Arrogance. Offense. If our dead man wasn't a particularly adept player, or if he didn't perform at a certain standard, our killer might have felt the need to do away with him." He sighs, looking away, towards the back room where the kitchens are. "Or..."

Hannibal cocks his head to one side.

Will sighs again and shakes his head. "Never mind."

"Please, Will," Hannibal says, setting his menu down and sitting forward. "Tell me your theory."

"it's tenuous," Will murmurs. "It relies on a lot of...leaps."

"Leaps," Hannibal repeats. "The kind of leaps that would hold up in court?"

Will huffs, putting his eyes on Hannibal again. He shakes his head. "No," he replies. "But I'll have a better idea after we interview Budge."

"I feel like you're taunting me, here," Hannibal says. "Do you want me to beg?"

Will smiles, his cheeks turning pink, and takes another drink. The waiter comes by to take their order and Hannibal orders gored gored – a raw beef dish that he will be able to smell for any imperfections – and Will orders ful medames. "Vegetarian?" Hannibal asks with a raised eyebrow.

"It's my favorite dish here," Will replies as he hands their menus back with a nod of thanks. Then, he sighs, and leans one elbow on the table, wiping his hand over his mouth. He still looks incredibly tired, enough that Hannibal feels the strange compulsion to tell him to go take a nap. "I can't help wondering about the timing of this whole thing."

"The timing," Hannibal repeats.

Will nods. "The copycat shows up, and then this new player comes in with the same level of theatrics." He presses his lips together and shakes his head. "I can't help wondering if he came to the same conclusion I did, and he's trying to debut his solo career."

"You think he wants to contact the Ripper?" Hannibal asks, frowning.

"Either that, or he is the Ripper, but I don't think that's the case," Will says with another shake of his head. "It doesn't fit the M.O. I think this cello player wants to make a friend. To play in his sandbox," Will replies with another nod. "Which is foolish," he adds. "The Ripper doesn't like company."