Dangerous Trio

Deja Vu

It was déjà vu as I slipped on my black heels and applied the same shade of red lipstick. Looking at myself in the mirror, I flashed back to the moment Hannibal had taken off this very dress. I couldn't help but wonder what it was like for him to sketch me in the middle of the night. What was he feeling? I couldn't believe I was going back to have dinner with him, and now with a colleague. I questioned the reasons behind the why and who he wanted me to meet. I wasn't very important, and I knew Hannibal had valuable connections, there was no need for me to even be in his circle let alone meet a colleague of his. It was difficult to push out the intrusive thoughts of him and the last session. The images haunted me. I felt embarrassed and scared, my trust in my own mind was wavering. I didn't understand why I saw him, and I certainly couldn't ask him about it.

I pulled up to the house and parked in the same spot. I noticed a silver Volvo was parked to the side. The house looked bigger as if it had grown since the last time I saw it. Like a psychic, Hannibal opened the door just as I was about to knock. In all honesty, I wanted to get this visit over and done with. I was irritable from the treatment, and the medicine Hannibal had given me left me feeling emotional and on edge.

His smile though, tonight was unlike anything else, bright and cheerful. He looked me up and down in a sort of wonder, and I did the same to him. He had on a plaid suit and silk paisley tie. I have yet to see him where anything twice.

"You look beautiful tonight, Gaby" Hannibal said taking my hand and gently kissing it. 

Gaby. No one had ever called me that except for my father.

He slowly walked me to the kitchen, the dark halls acted as a dramatic entrance for us as if we were entering a labyrinth. Leaning on the counter with his hands in his pockets was a man, he looked boyish and timid. The opposite of Hannibal. Was this the colleague?

"Gaby, I want to introduce you to my friend, Will." Hannibal said still smiling 

First, he was a colleague, now a friend. Hannibal looked too happy about this, I was just unsure why. I was a bit caught off guard. We shook hands briefly. I could sense he was uncomfortable too as he barely made eye contact. Hannibal and I were dressed appropriately, yet this Will man was dressed..typical. A brown tweed jacket, a flannel shirt, and gray pants. If this man truly was a friend of Hannibal's I certainly didn't expect him to dress like this. I was interested in how they knew each other and what they had in common. All I could notice was his blue-green eyes and how sad they looked, but Hannibal's kitchen had a way of painting everyone in a dreary tone.Hannibal soon handed me a glass of wine over the island. I could smell a sweet, salty aroma stemming from the oven. He must have been cooking all day from the looks of it. Bowls, knives, and spoons were piled on the butcher block. I was curious as to what was on the menu for tonight.

"Gaby is a dear friend of mine, I've known her for some time now," Hannibal added as he poured himself a drink. I shot him a bewildered look, wondering why he was lying. I supposed introducing me as his patient would be unethical and raise too many questions. I went along with it, glancing over at Will, and offered a quick smile. However, he didn't seem amused. I stood there, feeling singled out and alone. The last time I was in this kitchen, Hannibal had been intimately close to me. Now, with Will here he acted as though we were just friends. 

Hannibal went through his usual routine, discussing topics that seemed irrelevant to us. His lectures on Kafka, art, and his time in Italy left me feeling almost weary. Normally I would be intrigued by Hannibal, but tonight it was different. Will and I exchanged small comments, but we both seemed out of place, like a fish out of water. Hannibal soon left us at the dinner table to retrieve the first course.

"So what do you do for a living?" Will asked, breaking the silence, and adjusting his glasses. In the dinner light, I could see his curly brown hair making his appearance seem softer.

"I'm a paralegal at the Brauner law firm," I said in a low tone as if I was scared.

He nodded.

"How about you?" I asked

"I work for the FBI, I teach classes at the academy"

That explains the way he dresses.

It was as if it was hard for him to get words through, that or he didn't want to talk to me. I am sure he had better things to be doing on a Friday night than this. I wanted to apologize, but before I could say anything Hannibal came barreling through the swinging door with a silver tray in hand.

"I hope you two didn't have too much fun without me," Hannibal said, laying the tray in front of me and Will. As soon as I looked at Will to laugh he soon looked away. Will had made eye contact with me only 3 times thus far, making me feel unwanted. I sat there still, as Hannibal started to serve me. It looked like roasted pork, but I wasn't up for making additional conversation.

As more wine was poured and dinner began Hannibal soon introduced the topic of the work he did with Will. They had been working on some cases together and made them out to be a bit of a duo. Will stayed silent for the most part. From the way Hannibal spoke Will was a smart man, he said he had a gift for seeing things that no one else sees. It was odd for me to see Hannibal in this light. To boast of someone so highly would mean a lot coming from Hannibal. But, what was so special about Will?

"Where exactly did you two meet again?" Will asked setting down his fork

Hannibal looked over at me like he expected me to speak, I said nothing and given the fact he lied earlier I thought it was best to keep my mouth shut.

"As you know Will, there are many legal ramifications in regards to my work. I too consulted with lawyers and it just so happened that I met Gaby along the way"  Hannibal said before returning to his wine.

It was such an effortless lie like it was easy for him. Concern soon deepened inside of me. I didn't know what he was trying to do or why. I stayed silent and took another bite of  food. Will had looked at me, but I pretended not to notice. Could he sense that Hannibal was lying? Did my face show it?

I hoped dinner would wrap up early. I couldn't even use the excuse of an early workday, as it was the weekend. Hannibal carried on with conversations, making little remarks about me, as if he was trying to draw Will's attention to myself. It all felt surreal. I didn't even know why I was there. I wanted to cause a scene and just leave, but it was like Hannibal was physically holding me down. We transitioned to the living room, drinks in hand. The living room was the opposite of living; it felt like death on my chest, dark and brooding. Hannibal sat to my right, angled towards me. Will sat to my left on the opposite end of the couch. The scene felt like a father meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. I couldn't help but want to stare at Will. The more he spoke the more he reminded me of a lost puppy, and all I wanted to do was scoop him up and take him home. I still didn't understand the connection between Hannibal and Will, but maybe opposites attract, as they say. Will soon managed to leave unscathed, citing he had things to get done in the morning. After I heard Will leave I figured it was my time to leave too and I certainly didn't want to relive the last time.

"I should get going, it's getting late," I said, getting up from the couch.  As I rose, Hannibal gripped my hand suddenly. 

"You're staying here tonight, Gaby" Hannibal said, looking up at me. The audacity he had to assume I would jut stay because he told me to.

But just like that, I was back in his good graces and at that moment, the entire night and all the odd moments disappeared. He knew exactly how to win me over.