Chapter Five: Waiting for Lecter
The front door opens as Starling puts down the telephone.
"Who was that?" Eddie asks.
"Wrong number I guess." Ashley says shrugging and plopping down on the couch.
"Well it's almost five, is there anywhere you want to go tonight?"
"Yeah I wanted to go to the Brittled vs. Brittled game, it's the high school all my friends go to."
"Alright, do you want me to go with you?" Eddie asks.
"No it's alright, I'll check in every half an hour like usual." Ashley responds.
"O.K. it's fine you can go."
"YEY you're the best Eddie!!!!" Ashley shouts running to her room to get ready.
"When is the game?" Eddie shouts through her bedroom door.
"It's in an hour so we should leave right now." She shouts back.
"I'll start up the car."
"Thanks Eddie."
"No problem kiddo." Eddie says smiling to himself, happy that for the first time in months Ashley is actually excited about something instead of being gloomy and miserable.
Ashley climbed into the car minutes later. It took nearly an hour when they arrived at the game that had started fifteen minutes earlier.
"Set your watch to buzz every half an hour."
"O.K. I have to go." Ashley says closing the car door.
"Don't forget to call." Eddie persists.
"Alright Eddie. C'mon I'm already late."
"O.K. O.K. Get outta here." Eddie says smiling. "Pick you up here at 11 go wherever, stay with someone you know."
"Bye Eddie." Ashley says jogging towards the stands.
Ashley sits in the highest stand surveying the game and other spectators looking for Lecter. Polite, polite, manners, manners, Starling reminds herself. Mom always said he killed rude people. Manners are the way to keep yourself alive. Ashley waits nearly twenty minutes. She turns around to make sure that Eddie is gone, there is no sight of him for miles. Suddenly, Ashley's phone rings, she reaches into her purse and answers it.
"Hello?"
"Little Starling, where are you dear? I don't see you."
"I've grown up since you saw me last doctor. I'm in the top stand." Ashley replies nervously.
"Raise one of your hands up little Starling there are so many children your age."
Ashley slowly raises her left hand in the air.
"Ah there you are little Starling, I didn't see you sitting back there."
Ashley anxiously looks around trying to locate the source of the phone call.
"Do you see the changing rooms over to your left?" Lecter questions.
"Yes. Where are you Doctor?" Ashley says getting more nervous by the moment.
"Don't worry about that for now. You should probably call your bodyguard to check in. Eddie's his name isn't it?. I'll call you right back." Lecter says hanging up.