Hannibal: Dark Symphony Book 1 (Completed)

Shadow Of Doubt

Bedelia Du Maurier was a clever woman and clever women did not believe in ghosts. Moreover, she was a doctor and  knew that when someone was dead, he or she could not come back to the living. Yet, a certain face stole her sleep for months and made her buy gun which she kept under the pillow. A face that once she found tempting.

" He's gone. No one could have survived a fall like that with a bullet wound. No one."  that's what she tought everytime when a random noise caused by a passing car or the wind made her tremble. 

For 8 months she used to look over her shoulder, wondering if he is not there creeping on her, following her with a receipt in his pocket. Oh, he was going to make her pay, that was for sure.But he was gone, right? Anxiety pills actually almost persuaded her in that .  Half a bottle of wine helped her sleep 4-5 at best.

But today was different , she could feel it her bones. In her stomach.  Even the four glases of Chardogne by 11 am couldn't give her the peace she needed. 

It was almost 1 pm when her phone rang. It was Jack Crowford and that meant bad news for sure.  It took her a while to answer him, but she had to know if danger was around the corner.

" Hello, Mr.Crowford." she whispered, her voice was collected but her whole body ached.

" Bedelia, sorry to bother you but it's urgent. We have a case..."

" Is it him?" 

" Doctor Du Maurier, calm down. We have reasons to believe that ..."

Once again Bedelia interrupted him without paying attention to civility.

" You have to tell me, Jack. I must know if my life is in danger."

"As I said, there's a new case , three people murdered, but we believe that it is a copycat, Bedelia. It can't be other way.No one could have survived falling from such height."

" The police never found his body, only Will's. At least that's what was said on news."

For a moment Bedelia could hear only Jack's breathing on the phone. It sounded ...husky and anxious.

" Will Graham is dead, Bedelia. Dead and gone. And I'm sad because he was my friend but yet maybe this was the only way for him to be free."

"Free from what?" dr. Du Maurier inquired. 

"From Hannibal's destructive influence. It was him who destroyed Will and made him forget what good or evil is. He blurred the lines in morality  for Will."

For first time in months Bedelia laughed.

" You are being quite naive, Jack. Hannibal wasn't the only sociopath eating on your table. As much as you like to believe that Will was a victim, he was as equally mad as the other one. They were the two pieces of one being."

"Do you think they made it on purpose? Throwing off from that cliff." Jack asked.

" I believe they did it. I've known Hannibal for years and he had never shown  affection for people in the way he did for Will. I do not know if it was love or some sick obssesion, but he cared for your detective puppy."

" Then, hypothetically speaking, he would like to avenge for Will's death?" 

Bedelia's heart skipped a beat and a cold sweat covered her body.

"What are you saying , Jack? Are there any indications of that?" 

" Those three people I told you about. They were all butchered , their hearts taken out and replaced with a note."

"What note?"

" Handritten one. With a single word in it."

" What it says Jack, don't be a brute, do tell me! " 

" It says - Will."