Mike, that’s a great question, one I’d never considered and would move Lecter into the realm of…
More likely, this falls into the category of “you’re allowed one coincidence per story,” so why not make it a BIG one!
Mike, that’s a great question, one I’d never considered and would move Lecter into the realm of Joker-like precognition in terms of planning criminal activities. I read the Thomas Harris novel when it came out decades ago and do not remember any allusion to that possibility, but perhaps it’s there in the book and I forgot it. Or maybe it *did* happen as you suggest, but Harris simply never included it in the book.
More likely, this falls into the category of “you’re allowed one coincidence per story,” so why not make it a BIG one!
Interesting idea, Mike. Might be worth posing it in Google and seeing if there have been any discussions about the possibility.