Hannibal

Carlo arrives at Muskrat Farm with 16 pigs. Together with Piero and Tommaso, he is doubly careful when setting up the pen. The pigs are dangerous and very intelligent. Meanwhile, Krendler begins to orchestrate Starling's downfall using Mason's “false evidence” (395). He feels no guilt as he has a “visceral” dislike of Starling (396), to the point where he has carefully rehearsed the insult he plans to deliver when she learns of her fate.

Lecter visits the grave of Starling's father and arranges for the bones to be exhumed. Starling, armed with the knowledge of Lecter's involvement in the hunter murder, whittles down her list of “exotic purchases” that she can link to Lecter (405). She works with a man named Eric Pickford, who she learns is reporting everything to Krendler. One morning, a federal marshal arrives on her doorstep to escort her to an unscheduled hearing. She knows Krendler is out to get her, so she calls Crawford, who agrees to attend the hearing with her.

Starling and Crawford arrive at the FBI headquarters for her hearing. The media has been alerted by Krendler, and news crews try to interview Starling outside about “the Feliciana Fish Market Massacre” (412). The hearing is conducted by Pearsall, Noonan, and Krendler, who tells Crawford to leave. Starling is accused of “unlawful disclosure of sensitive materials to a fugitive felon” (416). She denies placing the classified ad in the Italian newspaper, warning Lecter about Mason. A representative from the Italian embassy named Montenegro is also present. He speaks about the liaison between the FBI and the Italian investigators. Starling is placed on “administrative leave” pending the outcome of the investigation (419). She turns over her badge and her gun. Starling declares the entire hearing to be “a frame” (420). She accuses Krendler of working corruptly with Mason to capture Lecter so that Mason can torture him to death. Krendler dismisses her complaint. Before he can deliver his rehearsed insult, however, Montenegro interrupts to apologize to Starling. He offers Starling his card and then ignores Krendler's outstretched hand. Outside, reporters clamor around Starling. As she leaves the building, Noonan finds Crawford in his office. Crawford is suffering from a cardiac arrest, and he is rushed to hospital.

Krendler stirs up the media agenda against Starling, though he insists that he “can't comment” (425). Lecter watches a documentary about time and physics. He thinks about the linear passage of time and the expansion of the universe, wondering whether time might ever be reversed so that he might be able to see Mischa again. Lecter closely follows the news out of the FBI. Watching Starling being mobbed by the press, he thinks about her as the rightful inheritor of Mischa's “place in the world” (427). Later, he drives to a hospital in Maryland. Carefully knocking out a doctor, he slips into the private areas of the hospital and steals a selection of drugs from the dispensary. After escaping without being detected, he collects a package and then drives to Annapolis for a “truly festive” bottle of wine (434). Though Starling is no longer at the FBI, one of the alerts she left in place has been triggered. Krendler is told that a “high-end wine store in Annapolis” has flagged the purchase of a bottle from the year of her birth (436). There are only three such bottles on the East Coast, and Starling asked to be told if any sold. Krendler keeps the information secret and takes it directly to Mason.

Krendler and Mason watch the videotape of Lecter in the wine store. Carlo, who has seen Lecter recently, confirms the customer's identity. Mason, hoping that they might “finish this soon” (442), issues orders for Carlo and his men to abduct Lecter. Once captured, Lecter will be brought to Muskrat Farm. He will be “consumed in two sittings” (443). During the first, pigs will eat his feet. Cordell will then administer medical care to keep Lecter alive long enough for the second sitting. Carlo will be allowed some time with Lecter, and then Mason will talk to him. Then, the pigs will eat the rest of Lecter. Everything will be filmed. Krendler hands over a tracking device that will be placed on Starling's car. If they track Starling, he suggests, they will soon find Lecter.

Carlo, Piero, and Tommaso work with a corrupt cop named Mogli from Chicago. They have a van and a rifle loaded with a sedative. Once they spot Lecter, they will shoot him with the sedative dart and then bundle him into the van. When Starling goes to the grocery store, they track her. They do not notice the “old gray pickup” following behind her (451). Once Starling is inside the store, the men in the van wait in the parking lot. Inside, Starling loses her shopping cart. Outside, Lecter approaches her car. Carlo shoots the rifle, and as Lecter collapses, he pulls out a knife and mutters Mischa's name. Piero and Tommaso grab Lecter as Starling runs out of the store, having heard the gunshot. Piero uses Lecter's knife to slash Starling's tire, and then, placing Lecter in the van, the men escape with their prize. Starling realizes what has happened when she sees the package beside her car. Inside is a birthday gift from Lecter, a bottle of wine from the year of her birth. Starling tries to call in the kidnapping. She gives a statement to the police and contacts the FBI, but Pearsall will not deputize her. She regrets that she did not pursue the van. Krendler tells Mason that Starling witnessed the kidnapping. Mason plans to discredit Starling with more lies. He insists that he can “take care” of local law enforcement (461). At home, Starling realizes that Mason has already spread lies about her harassing him. Mason has requested that the sheriff tour his property. Pearsall warns Starling to “stay out of it” (463). Starling, reflecting on her life, takes John Brigham's old guns from her closet and drives to Muskrat Farm.