Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty Eight

Jack Crawford declined Dr. Danielson's coffee, took the cup to the stainless steel sink behind the nurse's workstation, and made himself a Volcaseltz.Everything was made of stainless steel, the cup holders, the counters, the trash cans, the frames of Dr. Danielson's glasses.The metallic glow, reminiscent of shiny medical instruments, caused a palpable sting around Crawford's groin. It was just him and the doctor in this small kitchen-like space. "You can't do this without a court order," repeated Dr. Danielson.This time his words were harsh, in contrast to the friendly politeness he displayed when he offered coffee.

Danielson, who heads the gender identification unit at Johns Hopkins, agreed to see Crawford at dawn, well before the doctors made their morning rounds. "You have to show me a separate court order for each specific case, and we'll have to rebut it one by one. How did the Columbus Medical Center and the University of Minnesota tell you—like that? I said right?" "The Department of Justice is asking for their help. We've got to move fast on this, Doc. If the girl isn't dead, he'll kill her soon enough—either tonight or tomorrow. And then he'll go Get the next one," Crawford said.

"It's ignorant, unfair, and dangerous to even compare Buffalo Bill to the problems we deal with here, Mr. Crawford. That comparison makes my hair stand on end. What—to show the public that transsexuals aren't crazy, they're not perverts, they're not freaks, whatever you call that—" "I agree with you—" "You wait. The rate of violence among transsexuals is much lower compared to the general population. These are decent people with real problems—very difficult to reconcile. They deserve help and we And be able to help them. I'm not here to persecute people who have a different attitude towards life in the national interest. We have never violated the privacy of patients and never will. We'd better start here. Mr Lawford."

In his personal life, for many months now, Crawford had been developing a relationship with his wife's doctors and nurses, trying to curry favor with them in order to win her every ounce of favor and convenience.He rather hates doctors.But this wasn't his personal life. This was Baltimore, and he was doing business.It's better to have fun now. "Looks like I didn't make it clear, doctor. My fault—it was too early, I'm not a morning person. The whole thing is that this person we're looking for isn't your patient. It's Somebody you rejected because you figured out he wasn't a transsexual. We didn't just fly here blindly - I'll show you the typical transsexuals in his and your personal integrity records. Where do deviations from the kink pattern manifest themselves. Here is a short list of things your staff can look for among those who have been rejected."

Dr. Danielson rubbed a finger gently against the edge of his nose as he watched.He handed the paper back to Crawford. "It's original, Mr. Crawford. It's downright grotesque, in fact, and I don't use the word grotesque much. May I ask who gave you that . . . speculation?" I don't think you would like to know that, Dr. Danielson. "The Behavioral Sciences staff," Crawford said, "they consulted with Dr. Allen Bloom at the University of Chicago." "Ellen. Bloom approves?" "We're not relying solely on testing. There may be another aspect of Buffalo Bill's prominence on your record—that he may have attempted to conceal a violent crime record, or falsified other background information. Those who rejected you Show me the materials, doctor."

Danielson kept shaking his head. "Materials from inspections and interviews are confidential." "Doctor Danielson, how can you keep secrets about deceitful and untrue statements? Criminals don't tell you his real name and real background, and you have to find it out yourself. In this situation, how can there be any relationship between you?" Is it a doctor-patient relationship? I know how thoughtful and deliberate Johns Hopkins is. You've had cases like this before, I'm sure of that. Where's the guy who wants to do surgery? Apply wherever you do surgery, no harm to the institution doing the surgery or the legitimate patients. Do you think there are no weirdos who apply to the FBI? We run into people like that all day long. One The man with the magic wig applied last week in St. Louis. His golf bag contained a crude, homemade trombone-like instrument, two rockets, and a bearskin hat with a brim. Flat-topped army cap."

"Have you hired him?" "Help me, Dr. Danielson. Time is eating us up and we're running out of time. Buffalo Bill may be making Kathleen Martin into one of these things while we're standing here." Crawford De put a photo on the shiny counter. "Don't do that either!" said Dr. Danielson. "It's childish and frightening."I was a seasoned surgeon, Mr. Crawford.Put the picture back in your pocket. " "Of course, the surgeon with a mutilated cadaver seems to be able to bear it." Crawford said, crushing the paper cup in his hand, and stepped on the pedal of the wastebasket to open the lid. "But I don't think a doctor can bear to see a life ruined." He tossed the paper cup in, and the lid of the wastebasket snapped back down just right. "Here's my best advice: I don't ask you about the patients, as long as you pick and choose the applicants' applications on these guidelines. You and your psychiatric review board have a lot more time to deal with than I do about which applications are inadmissible. Much quicker. If we find Buffalo Bill through your information, I'm going to hide the truth. I can find another way to get the same result, and follow this method for show. That's for For the record."

"Will Johns Hopkins be protected as a witness, Mr. Crawford? Are we going to re-identify? Let's say, turn us into some sort of Bob Jones College? I very much doubt the Federal The Bureau of Investigation or any other government agency can keep a secret for a long time." "It's not what you think it is." "I doubt it. A clumsy lie by a government agency and an attempt to slip away is more harmful than telling the truth. Please don't try to protect us that way, thank you!" "I want to thank you, Dr. Danielson, for all the talk. They've helped me a lot--I'll tell you how your words have helped me. Don't you like to hear the truth? Try this for you: He kidnaps young women and rips off their skins. He puts them on and wears them around. We don't want him doing it anymore. If you don't help me soon, I will Take this measure against you: This morning the Department of Justice will publicly ask the court for an order to say that you refuse to help. We solicit twice a day, on rolling morning and afternoon news, with plenty of time. About this case Every time the Department of Justice puts out a news story about how we're getting on with Dr. Danielson at Johns Hopkins and how we're getting him to work with us. Every time there's news about the Buffalo Bill case - Katherine - Martin's floating body appears, the next floating body appears, and the next floating body appears again - we will all make news immediately, publicizing the status of our cooperation with Dr. Danielson at Johns Hopkins Hospital, And your humorous comment about Bob Jones College. One more thing, doc. You know, the Department of Health and Human Services is here in Baltimore. My mind is turning to the Office of Legal Policy, and I think yours might Let's go there first, right? In case Senator Martin suddenly asks someone over at the legal policy office sometime after her daughter's funeral: Should the sex reassignment surgery you're doing here be considered a cosmetic surgery? What if she brought that up? Maybe they'd scratch their heads and conclude, 'Yeah; you should know, Senator Martin is right. That's it. We think it's cosmetic surgery .’ As a result, the program would no longer be eligible for federal funding and would be no more than a nose job clinic.”

"This is insulting!" "No, it's just telling the truth." "Don't scare me, don't threaten me—" "Very well. I don't want to frighten you or threaten you, Doc. I just want you to know I'm not kidding. Help me, Doc. Please." You said you were with Allen-Boo Lum cooperates. " "Yes. University of Chicago—" "I know Allen Bloom, and I'd still like to have a professional discussion with him. Tell him I'll be in touch with him this morning. I'll let you know the decision by noon. I do have concerns for that young woman , Mr. Crawford. Concerned about other people. But there are many things that are problematic here, and while they should be important, I don't think they are so important to you.  … Mr. Crawford , have you had your blood pressure measured recently?"

"I measure it myself." "Do you also prescribe medicine for yourself?" "It's against the law, Doctor Danielson." "But you have a personal doctor." "yes." "Tell him what you find wrong, Mr. Crawford. What a loss to us all if you break down! You'll hear my answer later in the morning." "How long, doctor? How about an hour?" "One hour" As Crawford stepped out of the elevator on the first floor, his BP machine rang.His driver, Jeff, beckons him over, and Crawford walks quickly to the surveillance van.She's dead, they've found her body, Crawford thought, grabbing the phone, it was the Chief who had paged.The news wasn't the worst yet, but it was bad enough: Chilton had gotten into the case, and now Senator Martin had intervened.Maryland's attorney general, at the direction of the governor, has authorized the extradition of Dr. Hannibal Lecter to Tennessee.To stop or delay this action will use the full power of the federal courts and the District of Maryland.The Commissioner wanted to get Crawford to make a phone call for sentencing, and he wanted it now.

"Wait a minute," Crawford said.He held the receiver on his lap and looked out the car window.In February, it was just dawn, and there were not many colorful things to see.Everything is gray.How desolate. Jeff started to say something, and Crawford motioned him to be quiet. Lecter's demonic ego.Chilton's ambition.Senator Martin's terror for her child.Catherine Martin's life.Make up your mind! "Let them go," he said into the phone.