“Mr. Crawford, he’s promised he’ll name Buffalo Bill in exchange for privileges—amenities, really. If he doesn’t do that, you can have him forever.”
“Senator Martin, I know this is sensitive, but I have to say it to you: whatever you do, don’t beg him.”
“Right, Mr. Crawford. I really can’t talk right now.” She hung up the phone. “If I’m wrong, she won’t be any deader than the last six you handled,” she said under her breath, and waved Gossage and Chilton into the car.
Dr. Chilton had requested an office setting in Memphis for Senator Martin’s interview with Hannibal Lecter. To save time, an Air National Guard briefing room in the hangar had been rearranged hastily for the meeting.
Senator Martin had to wait out in the hangar while Dr. Chilton got Lecter settled in the office. She couldn’t stand to stay in the car. She paced in a small circle beneath the great roof of the hangar, looking up at the high, latticed rafters and down again at the painted stripes on the floor. Once she stopped beside an old Phantom F-4 and rested her head against its cold side where the stencil said NO STEP. This airplane must be older than Catherine. Sweet Jesus, come on.
“Senator Martin.” Major Bachman was calling her. Chilton beckoned from the door.
There was a desk for Chilton in the room, and chairs for Senator Martin and her assistant and for Major Bachman. A video cameraman was ready to record the meeting. Chilton claimed it was one of Lecter’s requirements.
Senator Martin went in looking good. Her navy suit breathed power. She had put some starch in Gossage too.
Dr. Hannibal Lecter sat alone in the middle of the room in a stout oak armchair bolted to the floor. A blanket covered his straitjacket and leg restraints and concealed the fact that he was chained to the chair. But he still wore the hockey mask that kept him from biting.
Why? the Senator wondered—the idea had been to permit Dr. Lecter some dignity in an office setting. Senator Martin gave Chilton a look and turned to Gossage for papers.
Chilton went behind Dr. Lecter and, with a glance at the camera, undid the straps and removed the mask with a flourish.
“Senator Martin, meet Dr. Hannibal Lecter.”
Seeing what Dr. Chilton had done for showmanship frightened Senator Martin as much as anything that had happened since her daughter disappeared. Any confidence she might have had in Chilton’s judgment was replaced with the cold fear that he was a fool.
She’d have to wing it.
A lock of Dr. Lecter’s hair fell between his maroon eyes. He was as pale as the mask. Senator Martin and Hannibal Lecter considered each other, one extremely bright and the other not measurable by any means known to man.
Dr. Chilton returned to his desk, looked around at everyone, and began:
“Dr. Lecter has indicated to me, Senator, that he wants to contribute to the investigation some special knowledge, in return for considerations regarding the conditions of his confinement.”
Senator Martin held up a document. “Dr. Lecter, this is an affidavit which I’ll now sign. It says I’ll help you. Want to read it?”
She thought he wasn’t going to reply and turned to the desk to sign, when he said:
“I won’t waste your time and Catherine’s time bargaining for petty privileges. Career climbers have wasted enough already. Let me help you now, and I’ll trust you to help me when it’s over.”
“You can count on it. Brian?”
Gossage raised his pad.
“Buffalo Bill’s name is William Rubin. He goes by Billy Rubin. He was referred to me in April or May 1975, by my patient Benjamin Raspail. He said he lived in Philadelphia, I can’t remember an address, but he was staying with Raspail in Baltimore.”
“Where are your records?” Major Bachman broke in.
“My records were destroyed by court order shortly after—”
“What did he look like?” Major Bachman said.
“Do you mind, Major? Senator Martin, the only—”
“Give me an age and a physical description, anything else you can remember,” Major Bachman said.
Dr. Lecter simply went away. He thought about something else—Géricault’s anatomical studies for The Raft of the Medusa—and if he heard the questions that followed, he didn’t show it.
When Senator Martin regained his attention, they were alone in the room. She had Gossage’s pad.