The seventeen mile drive to the possible crime scene was completely silent. Jack drove and Will sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window at the scenery. Hannibal sat in the back behind Will and watched as the snow came down heavier and heavier.
By the time the group got to the cabin, three other squad cars were waiting for them. The men got out of the car and Jack turned to Will and Hannibal. “I want you two to stay behind until the area’s clear. Doctor Gideon may still be inside.”
“Doctor Gideon?” Will asked curiously.
“Yes. He escaped the Baltimore Hospital for the Criminally Insane just this morning. We have reason to believe that he may be inside the cabin,” Jack explained.
“Is Doctor Gideon the one suspected to be the Chesapeake Ripper?” Hannibal asked.
“We think so, but Doctor Gideon has claimed that his psychiatrist made him believe that he was the Ripper,” Will told him.
“Okay, now that’s been cleared up, let’s get this show on the road,” Jack said. “Doctor, do you know how to use a gun?” he asked Hannibal. Hannibal nodded and Jack handed him a .9 mm. “In case Gideon escapes,” Jack told him. He glanced over at Will. “Do you have your gun?” Will nodded. “Good,” Jack said.
Then Jack and the other officers quickly surrounded the cabin and Jack, followed by two other officers, entered. A couple minutes later, Jack came out. “Doctor Lector, we have a wounded victim,” Jack called out.
Hannibal ran into the cabin after Jack. “Will, I may need your help!” he called out to Will. Jack led Hannibal into what had served as the kitchen. A chunk of what looked like counter had been moved into the middle of the floor. A figure lay on the counter, covered from the neck down with a white sheet. Hannibal quickly strode over to assess the damage. As he drew closer, he recognized the figure as Freddie Lounse, the free-lance journalist that had been writing things about the Chesapeake Ripper and Will Graham. She was conscious and looked over at Hannibal when he approached. “Gideon…he escaped,” she said. Hannibal nodded then uncovered her legs. One was badly bruised and the other was broken.
Hannibal looked up at Freddie’s face. There were superficial cuts and bruises across her neck and cheeks. “Your leg is broken,” he told her. “I’m going to set it and it will be very painful.”
She nodded and Hannibal moved the bone back into place as quickly as he could. He could see the pain etched across her face, but she didn’t scream. Hannibal quickly bandaged it to help prevent any more swelling. He then turned to Jack. “Ms. Lounse is relatively alright. She has only minor injuries and a broken leg,” he said.
Jack nodded. “The ambulance is on the way,” he said and went over to converse with the criminologists.
Hannibal quickly looked around then walked over to Jack. “Have you seen Will?” he asked.
