THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

The Department of Human Attitude Research, specializing in serial murder cases, is located on the ground floor of Quantico. Clarice Starling was walking forward, her face red as she ran back so quickly from the Hoggan Alley shooting range. A few blades of grass stuck here and there on her head and her anoraks had stains because she had lied on the ground while practicing a complex human capture project.

There was no one at the reception desk, so looking at the glass door she ruffled her hair. She knows she doesn't need to do elaborate makeup. Her hands smelled of gunpowder but she didn't have time to wash them. Mr. Crawford, the commander from earlier, told her to come see him immediately.

There was only Jack Crawford sitting in a messy office block. He was standing and talking on the phone with someone. This was the first time in more than a year that she had the opportunity to look at him from head to toe. And this image worried her.

In normal times, Crawford looked like a fit, middle-aged engineer who might have played baseball to pay for his education, a smart shooter who knew how to lock down his team's goal. But he was thinner, his shirt collar was wide open and his eyes were bloodshot with dark circles. Everyone knows that the Department of Human Attitude Research is facing many difficulties. I hope he doesn't start drinking. Clarice thought to herself. Which seems unlikely to happen.

Crawford ended the conversation with a sharp "No", then opened Clarice Starling's file that he had under his arm.

- Starling, Clarice, hello - he said.

- Hello sir - She replied with a polite smile.

- I hope I didn't scare you by calling you here?

- No. “But that's not really the case,” she thought to herself.

- Your coach said you are one of the best in math.

- I hope so, but they didn't tell me anything.

- Sometimes I ask for their opinion.

This surprised Clarice, because she had included Crawford in the ranks of hypocritical recruiting sergeants.

It was the nature of special agent Crawford's criminology seminar, invited by Virginie University, that motivated her to work for the FBI. After being accepted into the school, she wrote a small message to him, but he never responded, or paid any attention to her. It's been three months since she arrived here.

Even though Starling came from a family where people never asked for favors or friendship, she still didn't understand Crawford's attitude. Despite her regrets, she still found herself sympathizing with him.

Obviously things weren't going well for him. In addition to intelligence, there is something subtle about this man. Clarice immediately recognized the color and fabric of his clothes, not to mention the "uniform" aspect of any FBI agent. Today he was very groomed, as if he wanted to blend in with the crowd.

- I think there's a job for you. It's not really a job, more precisely an interesting task. Please put away the things on Berry's chair and sit down. Did you know that once you graduate, you will join our department?

- That's right.

- You are quite well trained in forensics, but have no battlefield experience, right? Normally we require six years.

- My father is a night watchman of the city. I'm not that stupid.

Crawford just smiled.

- You have two degrees, one in psychology and one in criminology, and how many internships at a Mental Illness Center during the summer… twice?

- Yes, twice.

- Is your license to practice sociopsychology still valid?

- Two more years left. I asked for it before you did your seminar… and before you decided to join the FBI.

- She got her degree at the wrong time when she was recruited.

Starling just nodded.

- I was lucky... I applied for a forensic scholarship in time. I then worked at the lab until there was a vacancy at the school.

- You told me about your coming here and it seems like I didn't answer... but I'm sure that's the case. I should have done that.

- You have many other things to do.

- Do you know about the ACAV program?

- I know it's about arresting those who commit violent acts. The magazine Strengthening the Law reported that he worked on a lot of data, but it seems that it is not yet complete.

- We have set up a list of questions. It is applicable to the mass murders that are occurring in our times. - Crawford handed her a bunch of papers that were roughly closed. - There is a part in here for the investigators and a part for the surviving victims, if there are any. The blue sheet is a list of questions the perpetrator must answer if he agrees; The pink sheet is the question the investigator must ask him, and must pay close attention to his reactions and answers. There's also quite a lot of paperwork.

Paperwork. This word makes Clarice Starling