Return Of The Cannibal(Hannibal x Reader)(Book 2)

Chapter 4

You fall in love with the Bureau, but the Bureau doesn't fall in love with you.

The FBI gymnasium in the J. Edgar Hoover Building was almost empty at this early hour. Two middle-aged men ran slow laps on the indoor track. The clank of a weight machine in a far corner and the shouts and impacts of a racquetball game echoed in the big room. The voices of the runners did not carry. Jack Crawford was running with FBI Director Tunberry at the director's request. They had gone two miles and were beginning to puff.

"Blaylock at ATF has to twist in the wind for Waco. It won't happen right now, but he's done and he knows it," the director said. "He might as well give the reverend moon notice he's vacating the premises." The director said. The fact that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms rents office space in Washington from the Reverend Sun Myung Moon is a source of amusement to the FBI. "And Farriday is out for Ruby Ridge," the director continued. "I can't see that," Crawford said. He had served in New York with Farriday in the 1970s when the mob was picketing the FBI field office at Third Avenue and 69th Street. "Farriday's a good man. He didn't set the rules of engagement." Crawford said. "I told him yesterday morning." The director said. "He going quietly?" Crawford asked. "Let's just say he's keeping his benefits. Dangerous times, Jack." The director said.

Both men were running with their heads back. Their pace quickened a little. Out of the corner of his eye, Crawford saw the director sizing up his condition. "You're what, Jack, fifty-six?" the director asked. "That's right." Crawford said. "One more year to mandatory retirement. Lot of guys get out at forty-eight, fifty, while they can still get a job. You never wanted that. You wanted to keep busy after Bella died." The director said. When Crawford didn't answer for half a lap, the director saw he had misspoken. "I don't mean to be light about it, Jack. Doreen was saying the other day, how much-" The director began but got cut off. "There's still some stuff to do at Quantico. We went to streamline VICAP on the web so any cop can use it, you saw it in the budget." Crawford said. "Did you ever want to be director, Jack?" The director asked. "I never thought it was my kind of job." Crawford answered. "It's not, Jack. You're not a political guy. You could never have been director. You could never have been an Eisenhower, Jack, or an Omar Bradley." The director said. He motioned for Crawford to stop, and they stood wheezing beside the track. "You could have been a Patton, though, Jack. You can lead 'em through hell and make 'em love you. It's a gift that I don't have. I have to drive them." The director said.

Tunberry took a quick look around him, picked up his towel off a bench and draped it around his shoulders - like the vestment of a hanging judge. his eyes were bright. Some people have to tap their anger to be tough, Crawford reflected as he watched Tunberry's mouth, "In the matter of the late Mrs. Drumgo with her MAC 10 and her meth lab, shot to death while holding her baby: Judiciary Oversight wants a meat sacrifice. Fresh, bleeding meat. And so does the media. DEA has to throw them some meat. ATF has to throw them some meat. And we have to throw them some. But in our case, they, just might be satisfied with poultry. Krendler thinks we can give them Y/N and they'll leave us alone. I agree with him. ATF and DEA take the rap for planning the raid. Y/N pulled the trigger." The director said. "On a cop killer who shot her first." Crawford said.

"It's pictures, Jack. You don't get it, do you? The public didn't see Evelda Drumgo shoot John Brigham. They didn't see Evelda shoot at Y/N first. You don't see it if you don't know what you're looking at Two hundred million people, a tenth of whom vote, saw Evelda Drumgo sitting in the road in a protective, posture over her baby, with her brains blown out. Don't say it, Jack - I know you thought for a while Y/N would be your protegee. But she's got a smart mouth, Jack, and she got off to the wrong start with certain people-" The director said. "Krendler is a pissant." Crawford said.

"Listen to me and don't say anything until I finish. Y/N's career was flat-lining anyway. She'll get an administrative discharge without prejudice, the paperwork won't look any worse than time-and-attendance rap-she'll be able to get a job. Jack, you've done a great thing in the FBI, the behavioral science. A lot of people think if you'd pushed your own interests a little better you'd be a lot more than a section chief, that you deserve a lot more. I'll be the first one to say it. Jack, you're going to retire a deputy director. You have that from me." The director said. "You mean if I stay out of this?" Crawford said. "In the normal course of events, Jack. With peace all over the kingdom, that's what will happen. Jack, look at me." The director said. "Yes, Director Tunberry?" Crawford said. "I'm not asking you, I'm giving you a direct order. Stay out of this. Don't throw it away, Jack. Sometimes you've just got to turn your face away. I've done it. Listen, I know it's hard, believe me I know how you feel." The director said. "How I feel? I feel like I need a shower," Crawford said.