The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris [92]
Starling had never heard the bitter snarl in Craw?ford's voice before. Because she associated bitter with weak, it frightened her.
“This escape doesn't mean Dr. Lecter was lying,” Starling said. “Sure, he was lying to somebody--- us or Senator Martin--- but maybe he wasn't lying to both of us. He told Senator Martin it was Billy Rubin and claimed that's all he knew. He told me it was somebody with delusions of being a transsexual. About the last thing he said to me was, 'Why not finish the arch?' He was talking about following the sexchange theory that---”
“I know, I saw your summary. There's nowhere to go with that until we get names from the clinics. Alan Bloom's gone personally to the department heads. They say they're looking. I have to believe it.”
“Mr. Crawford, are you in the glue?”
“I'm directed to take compassionate leave,” Craw?ford said. “There's a new task force of FBI, DEA; and 'additional elements' from the Attorney General's of?fice--- meaning Krendler.”
“Who's boss?”
“Officially, FBI Assistant Director John Golby. Let's say he and I are in close consultation. John's a good man. What about you, are you in the glue?”
“Krendler told me to turn in my ID and the roscoe and report back to school.”
“That was all he did before your visit to Lecter. Star?ling, he sent a rocket this afternoon to the Office of Professional Responsibility. It was a request 'without prejudice' that the Academy suspend you pending a reevaluation of your fitness for the service. It's a chick?enshit backshot. The Chief Gunny, John Brigham, saw it in the faculty meeting at Quantico a little while ago. He gave 'em an earful and got on the horn to me.”
“How bad is that?”
“You're entitled to a hearing. I'll vouch for your fit?ness and that'll be enough. But if you spend any more time away, you'll definitely be recycled, regardless of any finding at a hearing. Do you know what happens when you're recycled?”
“Sure, you're sent back to the regional office that recruited you. You get to file reports and make coffee until you get another spot in a class.”
“I can promise you a place in a later class, but I can't keep them from recycling you if you miss the time.”
“So I go back to school and stop working on this, or...”
“Yeah.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Your job was Lecter. You did it. I'm not asking you to take a recycle. It could cost you, maybe half a year, maybe more.”
“What about Catherine Martin?”
“He's had her almost fortyeight hours--- be forty-?eight hours at midnight. If we don't catch him he'll probably do her tomorrow or the next day, if it's like last time.”
“Lecter's not all we had.”
“They got six William Rubins so far, all with priors of one kind or another. None of 'em look like much. No Billy Rubins on the bug journal subscription lists. The Knifemakers Guild knows about five cases of ivory anthrax in the last ten years. We've got a couple of those left to check. What else? Klaus hasn't been identified--- yet. Interpol reports a fugitive warrant outstanding in Marseilles for a Norwegian merchant seaman, a 'Klaus Bjetland,' however you say it. Nor?way's looking for his dental records to send. If we get anything from the clinics, and you've got the time, you can help with it. Starling?”
“Yes, Mr. Crawford?”
“Go back to school.”
“If you didn't want me to chase him you shouldn't have taken me in that funeral home, Mr. Crawford.”
“No,” Crawford said. “I suppose I shouldn't. But then we wouldn't have the insect. You don't turn in your roscoe. Quantico's safe enough, but you'll be armed any time you're off the base at Quantico until Lecter's caught or dead.”
“What about you? He hates you. I mean he's given this some thought.”
“Lot of people have, Starling, in a lot of jails. One of these days he might get around to it, but he's way too busy now. It's