Clarice visits Crawford at his home. Chilton blames Clarice for Lecter’s escape and suggests that she gave him something to loosen the handcuffs. Clarice denies this and Crawford vouches for her. Crawford tells Clarice how Lecter escaped and wore part of Pembry’s face and Boyle’s skin to conceal himself. Following orders, the paramedics brought the disguised Lecter to the ambulance. Regardless, Clarice believes there is merit to the information Lecter gave her.

Crawford, on forced compassionate leave, gives control of the investigation to a new task force. Krendler filed a request for Clarice’s expulsion, but Crawford promises his support for her hearing. He wants Clarice to return to school because she’ll be recycled through the system if she misses any more class. As her final task, Clarice can follow up at the Smithsonian while the task force works to identify Billy Rubin and Klaus. Police find the ambulance of dead attendants at the airport. Clarice leaves, expressing sympathy for Jack and Bella as she goes.

Clarice meets Pilcher by the moth cages in the Smithsonian’s Insect Zoo. He and Roden identified the moth in Klaus’s head as the Death’s-Head Moth. Pilcher shows Clarice a live Death’s-Head, which the museum keeps behind safety bars.