Sometimes We Love The People Who Hurt Us

Chapter 5: Coquilles

We had spent the morning going over the cases and those that had happened in Australia just before Campbell had returned to Virginia after helping them out on other cases. Eventually, not having realised the lapse of time, James soon called for a break for lunch, asking that we all return in about two hours.

Excusing myself from the room as I saw Campbell trying to weave his way over to me, I went outside and flagged down a taxi back to the hotel, telling the cab driver to hurry when I saw Campbell heading outside and looking around, relaxing back in my seat as I watched the city pass by. Even though we were in what seemed the less busy part of Sydney, I was still uneasy, wishing I was back in the open spaces of Wolf Trap and with the rest of my dogs. Sighing once we reached the hotel, I quickly paid before hopping out and moving inside to my room. Glancing to my watch to check the time, I closed the door behind me before chuckling as Winston came running over to me, headbutting my leg before he let out a soft bark, tail wagging crazily. Giving him a scratch behind the ears in greeting, I soon made my way over my way to the kitchen, refilling his water bowl before grabbing the bag of dog food and filling up his bowl.

Winston barked again before he had moved to drink from the water bowl after I had refilled that as well, tail still wagging as I rubbed his back before glancing around with a small sigh. Moving to my room, I chose to change after a moment of indecision, unsure of how fancy the restaurant would be. Though I hadn't brought anything fancy with me on the trip; nor did I own anything more than a suit that was a bit too worn, I eventually got dressed into the nicest clothes I had before heading for the door, saying goodbye to Winston as I left.

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Looking around as I got out from the taxi, I knew straight away that even in my best dress I had brought on the trip, I was still under dressed. I had made no attempt to control my hair, as curly as it was when it was closed to raining. Soon moving inside, I glanced around with a small pause before eventually walking over to where people were waiting to be led to a table.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, a waiter came over to me before raising a brow as he examined my clothes, though he showed no other reaction as he queried. "Do you have a reservation sir?"

Biting my lip, I gave a small nod before glancing around the restaurant, scratching my arm. "Yeah, um...someone else made the reservation...I was meeting Mr Lecter here.."

He watched me with a small frown before glancing down to a list of names he held, tracing the tip of a pen down the page. "Name?" I gave it and he looked through the list again before lowering it, shaking his head as he looked to me. "There is a Hannibal Lecter with a reservation, but his companion's name isn't Will Graham. I'm sorry, you'll have to make a reservation. Our next available table should be in thirty minutes perhaps.."

Shaking my head with a small bite of my lip, I watched him as he clicked his pen before continuing to list other times when tables should be free before I spoke up. "Mr Lecter said his companion had canceled on him at the last minute, so he opened the offer to me..."

He sighed, tucking his book and pen into his pocket as he raised his head to look to me, eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm sorry, but your name isn't in the reservation. Either you reserve a table for later or you leave sir."

Huffing out a breath, I soon turned and headed back to the door with a low sigh, hand falling on the handle just as I heard someone call out my name. Turning around with a small frown, I saw Hannibal moving past the waiter and to my side, brows pulling together into a frown of his own. "I'm glad you came Will. Is something wrong?"

"I wasn't allowed to get there since my name wasn't in the reservation..." Watching as Hannibal glanced over his shoulder to the waiter, who was ignoring us to serve a couple, I scratched at the back of my neck before pausing as Hannibal turned back to me with an apologetic smile before he spoke. "I'm sorry about that. I should have changed the names, though I wasn't sure whether you would accept my invitation or not, but I'm glad you have despite the confusion.."