Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Time: 2013. March 25th. 9AM
Location: A Church in Virginia.

The body was wearing a white necktie and tailcoat, there were crime scene photographers all around as special agent Beverly Katz of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit was crouching besides the body with her boss Jack Crawford standing behind her with his face reflecting an equal amount of disgust and bewilderment.

"A stab through the heart is relatively tame for the ripper. I am not sure what it means though. Assuming it is the ripper. What about you Jack?"

"I'm pretty sure its him. As for the stab maybe its symbolic of something? But i got nothing else right now."

Suddenly an agent runs up to Crawford saying "Looks like he's here sir." the two of them go to the door of the church to greet the man Jack Crawford has asked for help, as they exit the building Jack sees the absolutely most beat up, oldest piece of junk that can still be considered a functional motor car park behind one of the FBI vans. "I really hope I'm not gonna regret this..." thought the director to himself.

The car door opens (though it looks like it took some effort) and with a hand raised in greeting outsteps the shabby little man the head of the FBIs BAU had been expecting. With a lit cigar in his mouth Lieutenant Columbo approaches.

"Good morning sir. I feel honored that a federal big shot like you thought i could help with this...though its a bad business sir, real unsettling stuff." said Columbo

Crawford nods "Well be that as it may we're happy to have you on board Lieutenant. Oh Lieutenant you can't enter the crime scene with that cigar the ash might contaminate it!"

Columbo paused halfway though the door and in apparent embarrassment hit himself on the forehead "Oh gee, thanks for the heads up Mr Crawford i really don't know what's up with me today, maybe I'm still a bit tired from the long drive here from LA." He quickly dropped his cigar on the ground and stomped it out.

When they entered Jack called out "What else have we found Beverly?"

"Just the usual, a couple of organs missing, so far we've found or actually didn't find the thymus and pancreas but there could be more. But he definitely didn't die here there isn't enough blood."

Before Jack could introduce him Columbo went around the body to look at it from a different angle and scratching his head "Hello ma'am, do we know who he is?"

"Beverly this is lieutenant Columbo from the LAPD when i asked for help in the case he came highly recommended." chimed in Crawford.

"Nice to meet you lieutenant. And about your question he appears to be Benjamin Raspail, a flautist from the Baltimore philharmonic orchestra, but nothing else so far."

"Well at least we know what city he died in, this guy looks like he's been gone for a while. Couple days at least maybe less than a week but we'll need the autopsy regardless so we'll find out than." Columbo takes a small flashlight to look deeper inside the still relatively bloody cavity and notices something "This is a vary clean cut don't ya think? I tell ya i can't even get something half this well cut at the butcher shop even if i throw in 5 extra bucks when I'm shopping for a barbecue."

"Are you going somewhere with this Lieutenant?" Jack said in an incredulous way "Are you maybe saying that the ripper could be someone trained in cutting meat?"

"Nah, its way too good for that. This guy is way too good, he must take his work way more seriously than I've ever seen a butcher boy do." said Columbo scratching his head "Maybe someone like a surgeon? But its just a chance. Check if the victim knew anyone like that regardless, ya never know."

"Sir you might want to look at this" one of the agents has found something underneath one of the benches. Jack walks to the agent and leaned down to see it, it was a bloody mess, a sparrow with a flute that entered his mouth and pierced through its body. Jack put on his rubber gloves and picked up the little creature, its long dead corpse twisted in agony was a contrast to the expensive looking polished instrument inserted inside its carcass. The rest of the team looked at the poor animal with puzzled expressions.

Time: 1PM the same day
Location: BAU HQ

"Ok people. Here's what we found." Said Brian "The Ripper approaches our gut casually and than BOOM! Stab directly into the heart, doesn't even nick the ribcage, pulmonary artery severed, death is nearly instant."

"Than about 5-10 minutes later the ripper starts extracting thymus." Said Jimmy, Brian's equally enthusiastic colleague "He's done with this one in another ten and begins work on the pancreas which takes a bit more time around 15 minutes give or take. Than he dresses the corpse and dumps him in the church."

"The bird was a random sparrow, they lived on the tree next to the church so nothing to track down there. The flute was Raspails but it belonged to the orchestra though i wouldn't bet that they want it back. And as usual no prints, no DNA, not even a speck of dandruff left by our cleaning obsessed killer" Finished Brian.

"What about Raspail? Any relations? Anything concrete." Asked Jack.

"He had an old boyfriend though we couldn't manage to track him down but no other family to speak of, apparently he wasn't a really outgoing guy. Some of the orchestra didn't even notice he was gone." replied Beverly.

"So again, nothing" Said Crawford resignedly "Maybe we can track down the boyfriend? Get someone on that." even he didn't sound sure.

"Understood" Beverly exited the room.

"It sounds like the poor guy didn't have a great life. Doesn't seem like he had a lot of friends, but I'm seeing he was at least seeing a therapist. A Doctor Han...Hannibal...LEc-Tor?, how do you pronounce this?" Columbo handed Jack the file.

"I think its Hannibal Lecter, like the guy who fought Rome."

"Oh ok now i get it, thanks. I think i'll pay him a visit, after all out of everyone who knew Benjamin Raspail he aught to know the most, based on his profession ya see. Might even know what the sparrow means they're usually good at this sorta stuff. "

"Alright, if he tells you something useful i wanna be the first to know, anything could be the thing we need. Given that right now we don't even know exactly what we're searching for..." with this Jack sends the new team member on his way.

Columbo abruptly pops his head back through the door he exited through not 3 seconds ago.

"Uh just a question sir. Do you know any good diners in the area? I accidentally overslept and only had a half sandwich for breakfast..."

Chapter Text

Time: March 25th. 2:30 PM
Location: Baltimore, Maryland. The Office of Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal was never quite bored, he found something interesting in most people but sometimes he found himself splitting his concentration between the patient and thinking about some other topic that piqued his interest, this had been one of those times. "I am afraid we have run out of time Mr. Smith. I believe we had made some progress today, I expect you back at the same time next week. Have a good day!" walking todays last patient to the door and closing it after him Hannibal turned back towards the room.

More recently he has found himself without a lot of things to do, in his practice most of his current patients were garden variety personality deficient's almost textbook examples convinced of their own uniqueness and untreatability. This is partially the reason he killed Benjamin Raspail, besides his atrocious playing which was frankly bringing down the quality of the otherwise excellent orchestra and his therapy going nowhere it was because in the mundanity of these couple of days he has felt the desire to see if the authorities have gotten at all more imaginative. He intentionally killed one of his patients so that someone from the police or more likely the FBI would come to inform him of the bad news and ask him the usual questions, as this could at least engage his full interest for a time. Whoever they happen to send must be arriving shortly, he knew the body would be discovered at around 8-10 and the usual lab work would take a couple of hours so the questions would be prepared and sent out by 3:30 at most.

He had barely set back down in his chair after sending his last patient for the day on his way when his doorbell rang out. Approaching the door Lecter looked out through the peephole only to see what must have been the top of a very scruffy head slightly graying black hair.

After a few second of hesitation and thinking Lecter opens the door.

"Oh Hello! Good day, Dr Lecter is it?" Hannibal nods "I'm lieutenant Columbo I'm from the LAPD but right now I'm working with the FBI, ah s-sorry but I'm honestly not even sure what they'd call me officially sir..."

Hannibal blinked a few times and made sure he heard it right.

"I believe the term would be 'Special Agent' no? Well regardless welcome Lieutenant, and yes I am Dr Hannibal Lecter. What may I assist you with, I hope nothing bad has happened."

"Well sir I am sorry to be the one to tell ya this, I never liked this part of the job but one of your patients a Mr Benjamin... ah sorry could you wait a sec" the small Italian shuffled around in his various pockets until he found a piece of paper which was evidently the case repot. "Mr Benjamin Raspail yes, that's what it was well I'm afraid Sir that Mr Raspail was found dead this morning, he was found in Virginia sir."

With his eyes closed for just little over a second Lecter's face appeared sorrowful and resigned. When he opened them Hannibal noticed that Columbo was staring into his eyes with one of his own while the other was wondering off somewhere, the effect was slightly unnerving as if the other eye was looking at a deeper truth, something Hannibal was unable to quite perceive.

"I am very sorry to hear that Lieutenant." he said "I confess that when I heard that the FBI was involved I was afraid of the worst. May I ask how he died?"

Now Columbo was rubbing his hands together once again apologetically "Well sir we think he was murdered, but I think I remember that the exact way it happened is still classified." Columbo looked at the paper again to confirm this, seemingly unaware that Hannibal could also see it from that angle. "Yes it looks like it...well I actually came to ask you a few questions sir, about the victim I mean. As his therapist you aught to have known him very well sir."

"I assume you have a proper authorization which supersedes doctor patient confidentiality?"

"Yes sir the guys at the bureau have prepared everything already." Said Columbo seriously.

"Than everything seems to be in order." Said Lecter

"Well I cannot profess to have a full knowledge of his life, we've only been meeting for less than half a year once every 2 weeks as I recall." Than Lecter's eyes widened a little as if remembering something. "Oh excuse me Lieutenant I've been terrible to you, come inside please. I deeply apologize the news must have given me a start. Would you like anything?" Extending his hand Hannibal invited the Lieutenant further inside the office from the waiting room.

"Oh no sir I could never blame you at all, its such a beautiful day and here I come givin ya news that must feel like a gut punch. I'm the one who should apologize not you..." while walking inside Columbo was turning to every direction amazed by the look of the office "I tell ya sir you have a beautiful office here. You know my wife loves interior design she is always watching these shows on the TV about remodeling houses I have no talent for this but sometimes I sit down next to her to watch and I am amazed by what they can do, and your office sir is like one of those really well made buildings in the shows!"

Feigning humility with a wide smile and slight nod Lecter continued "Well sit down Lieutenant. As much as I enjoy the praise you said that you had questions and I'de regret to waste the bureaus time."

Hopping into one of the therapy chairs Lecter pointed at Columbo said "Don't worry about that sir, this case has already taken us a very long time I don't think they'll be angry for a little more. Say do you mind if I smoke?"

After sitting down and placing his palms on his crossed legs in a way that evoked a resting tiger Hannibal replied "Well in my professional opinion I couldn't recommend it for your health Lieutenant, but I won't stop you if you wish to smoke."

"I didn't know you used to be a medical doctor!"

"All psychiatrists have to also attain a medical degree Lieutenant, but yes before I was a psychiatrist I studied in France and became a surgeon. I could show you a few of my old anatomy sketches if you're interested."

"Well only if it is not an inconvenience sir, Oh no sir please don't get up I'll get those if its no problem" having apparently noticed the drawings Hannibal had laying on a table Columbo quickly stepped there and took them to the two chairs before Hannibal could get out of his, this irked Hannibal a bit but no matter he thought, although he realized the minor mistake of revealing he had been a surgeon but just this could not be used against him, he as made sure of that. After all several people had medical training in Baltimore and matched the rippers profile.

"Oh these are terrific doctor Lecter! Look at this one with all the weapons stuck in em" Said Columbo sitting back down "I've only seen stuff like this at the museum when me and my wife went one time to see some of the sketches of uh... da vinci I think...yes I'm pretty sure it was da vinci. Oh but look at me go again you have so many wonderful things around here I end up getting distracted!"

Carefully putting the papers aside Columbo took the cigar between his fingers and leaned in Hannibal's direction "What could you tell me about Mr Raspail? Anything you can think of is good, what was he like? Did he get into some bad crowds? Was he ahh unstable? This sorta things."

Lecter looked away with a concentrated expression for a moment "Well perhaps he could be said to be unstable but he wasn't the sort who got himself mixed up in troublesome business, I do not believe he would have gotten into a 'bad crowd' as you put it simply because that would require being a lot more social than he was. Benjamin was not outstanding in his profession and from what he told me he was unsuccessful in his love life as well."

"Yes sir, I read in the report it mentioned he was gay. Oh boy I sometimes feel real bad for them it must not be easy gettin hitched if you're gay. Not to mention all the prejudice" Columbo said thoughtfully.

"Well...it also didn't help that Benjamin had a comparatively low self esteem and was suffering from manic depression. I am also afraid we weren't making big progress in his therapy either."

Columbo was nodding slowly "Did he ever seem scared to you, or ever mention that someone was out to get him?"

"To my recollection no. I confess that Benjamins life and our sessions seemed much too mundane to me for him to have been fearing for his life. Of course he had his own little triumphs and idiosyncrasies like all of us but no I would have to say that if he was indeed murdered he could not have seen it coming."

Columbo perked up "You say 'if' he was murdered sir?"

Wearing a solemn expression Lecter's reply was "Yes, In truth I wish I could lie at the moment and say that I was making headway with Mr Raspail but I wasn't, for a while now almost every two weeks I had to talk him down from some proverbial ledge. I had suggested an extended stay at a mental health facility but Benjamin told me he could hardly afford it with his salary from the orchestra, in such situations I am afraid some sort of tragedy is inevitable unless a large change is made in the life of the patient. To speak frankly I would not have been surprised if I heard his name on the news so to say."

Columbo was nodding understandingly "I get it sir, you can't save em all. In my line of work the only way I get called in is if someone has already dead, i couldn't imagine what a therapist or a doctor would go through knowing they can't help. Was this the reason you quit surgery?"

Interesting, Lecter thought. He seemed to have headed off the reason he was readying to give him if the topic came up. This one has a certain perception.

"Well yes, it may seem a little selfish but it is a large part of the reason I quit." Said Lecter finally.

"Oh no doc don't worry I understand completely, I didn't mean to pry or to offend you. Honestly I couldn't even be a surgeon if I wanned to, I ain't got your talent and I always get a bit dizzy whenever there's blood around I can't help it" said the lieutenant with a shrug of his shoulders.

Now it was Lecter who was leaning slightly towards Columbo "That's quite extraordinary for a policeman no? Tell me Lieutenant did you ever think about quitting the force?"

Apparently this question caught Columbo off guard. Throwing up his hands he said "Me sir? No I never thought I would quit. Maybe I'll retire at some point but I never thought ide work any other job."

"Well in any case it must be very stressful. Working murder cases and interviewing possible criminals, no one would blame you if you wanted a break."

"Honestly sir the paperwork is usually the scariest part!" joked the lieutenant. Than Columbo's eye darted to meet Lecter's and he leaned forward once again to match Hannibal's position in the chair.

"I like my job Doctor Lecter, oh I like it a lot. And I'll tell you something else. Even with some of the murderers that I meet. I like them too."

For the first time since he saw Columbo through the peephole Hannibal didn't have to pretend to be caught off guard which showed on his expression.

Continuing Columbo said "Sometimes...like em and even respect them. Not for what they did! Certainly not for that. But that part of them which is intelligent, or funny or just nice."

"Well...that is certainly a surprise." Nodded Lecter.

"There's niceness in everyone doc. A little bit anyhow. You can take a cops word for it!" he said putting the cigar back in his mouth while leaning back in the comfortable chair.

A few moments of silence and puffing on the cigar ensued, during this Lecter was entertaining the possibility that this strange little man has already seen though him, he needed more time to fully analyze the policeman but than abruptly Columbo got up.

"Well I'll be out of your hair now Doctor Lecter. I can't think of anything else to ask and I already took enough of your time, you look like a busy man sir. Goodbye" he headed out the door.

Hannibal thought for a second, than he had an idea and quickly rose from his seat and headed towards the door himself with a bit of haste in his step but right before he reached it the door quickly opened again a few inches away from Lecter and Columbo's scruffy head popped out.

"Sorry doc there's just one more thing I forgot beforehand! Oh were you also heading out?"

Taking just a second to recovering which was longer than usual Hannibal said "N-No Lieutenant, please ask your question."

Looking up at the much latter man Columbo said "Well I was thinking of asking if Mr Raspail had any other acquaintances I could go to if I want to ask them something. Did he ever mention such people?"

"Well he has had several short lived boyfriends but they are not likely to know anything about this, I'll look them up in the notes I took during our sessions for you."

"I'd appreciate that very much sir! Thank you."

A couple of minutes of scanning his notes later (or pretending to scan as he had all of them memorized) Hannibal wrote down a few names on a small paper and handed it to Columbo. "Other than them Benjamin has only talked about his work relationships. I have invited some of his colleagues and superiors from the orchestra to a small dinner party at 8pm on the day after tomorrow, I made the invitations before I knew what happened to Mr Raspail you understand. I'd be honored if you would also attend Lieutenant. This also applies to your wife of course if she is in town. I enjoyed talking to you and it would also be an opportunity to ask Benjamins colleagues anything you may want on the subject."

Columbo's hand went to his forehead and his mouth was agape. "Oh gee doc...huh I never expected to get such an invitation! Of course I wouldn't want to impose..."

"Nonsense Lieutenant. I would not have asked if it wasn't convenient."

"Well I'll have to ask Mr Crawford if its ok sir, he's the head of the team. My wife isn't here she's back in LA but if Mr Crawford gives me the ok I'll be there for sure! Thanks a lot sir! I appreciate it a lot! So see you in 2 days doc!"

"I am looking forward to it!" Yelled Hannibal after Columbo. There were only 2 words echoing in the enormous halls of the cannibals mind.

"He knows."