Intimate Friends

Five

(The day before the funeral)

Hannibal woke up to an emergency call about some children coming up missing and rogue demons being to blame. He responded to let the people know that he would come to investigate with his wives and partners. After letting the ladies know they would be heading out he called his children into his office to speak to them.

"Your mothers and I have some work to go do, but we also have a funeral we promised to go to that's tomorrow. I need you three to go for us."

Francois made a face seeing as they didn't care for funerals at all, Jonathan shrugged but nodded his consent and Amira huffed a bit before speaking first.

"That's Dakota's funeral, right? Can't we just send a card for them to read during acknowledgments? You know those people don't like us, Papa."

"Because, mein schatz, we're an influential family. And it's the best way to show those you speak of that we don't care what they think of us and our family."

Francois spoke up then, looking at their sister.

"Dad's right, you know. Plus they're madder at the fact that they aren't us over how we live."

"Precisely, thank you, Frankie. Now, I just need you three to go there, sign the book, give our condolences to the family, and sit through the service. And Amira?"

The youngest of the Lectors perked up as her father addressed her.

"Please don't kill anyone at the funeral."

Hannibal gave her a playful smirk but she knew he meant it. After a bit more conversation on where they'd be going and who they should talk to, Hannibal sent them out of the office and went to get ready, but not before Amira pressed a kiss to his cheek, her customary way of seeing him off since she was small.

"So, I just received the intel from Hudson. Apparently, there have been 6 cases of missing children in the past 3 weeks, and two were found having been assaulted physically. Both children have confirmed it was a demon of some kind, but that's all they'll say."

Elisha, Jonathan's mother, filled in Hannibal and her sister wives with the information she'd gathered while they went over logistics and area. Diana sighed and shook her head, the mention of children being hurt making her sigh before speaking.

"Well fortunately for us Hudson is fairly small, so we'll have a slight advantage. Other than the residential areas it's mostly forest. Were the children taken from multiple areas or is there a commonplace?"

Pauline sat up and cleared her throat before casting a nervous glance at Hannibal who has been listening intently the entire time.

"I zeroed in on the area that Elisha gave and found a camp there for underprivileged youth. C.R.E.W. - Christians, Ready, Equipped, and Willing - is described as a 'Christian camp and oasis for less fortunate children to help them develop a closer relationship with the Lord and themselves'. It's owned and operated by one Mason Verger."

Hannibal's head snapped up to his first wife with widened eyes and had to reign in himself before he gave a knee-jerk reaction. He hadn't heard that name in over 15 years...

Margot Verger sat in the waiting area of Dr. Lector's office with her eyes downcast, picking with the hem of her sweater sleeve. The girl was so quiet you may forget she was there if you didn't see her. Just when she felt her anxiety spike with anticipation the receptionist called her name.

"Ms. Verger? The doctor will see you, go right in dear."

Hannibal stood and rounded his desk to greet Margot and shake her hand, noting that she didn't meet his eyes. He gestured to the small couch for her to have a seat before sitting in the chair across from it after offering her some water. Once comfortable he asked her why she'd come to see him. Margot took a deep breath before lifting her eyes to meet Hannibal's gaze.