Chapter Nine: "I'm not FBI!"
"Do you believe me now? I'm not working with the FBI or anyone else to capture you. My mother told me about when she ran away with you to Buenos Aries for three years. Then Barney saw you two together at the opera. Someone tipped off the feds that you were in Buenos Aries. The FBI somehow found her, not you and threatened if she didn't stay with them for seven more years they would use sodium amytal on her to find where you were hiding, and they'd incarcerate both of you. I'm sure it was completely illegal but they had a hold on her. She waited until the last possible moment to recapture you. I don't know if she actually found you or you gave yourself up. It's beside the fact, I'm not a sworn agent Dr. Lecter, I'm not here to put you away, if anything I'm here to help you."
"I'm interested to know why you risk your life for a few memories. After all they are just memories." Lector questions.
"Dr. Lecter, I miss my mother very much, I didn't get to know her a whole lot because, well because of you, she talked about the first day she met you, the time she came in from the rain and you gave her a towel, when you were in Tennessee and escaped, well you get the idea. She spoke of you all the time but I really don't know her, I know you." Ashley says as tears fill her eyes.
"Your mother was very brave, she was very smart, determined. I liked to give her hidden clues, she was able to figure them out quick as a jackrabbit. She never gave up in her search for me either."
"Dr. Lecter." Ashley says anxiously after moments of silence.
"Yes, little Starling." Lecter says looking up from his chair. "I don't mean to whine or anything, but these handcuffs are really uncomfortable." Ashley says as she swallows hard, nervous.
"I really am forgetful of my manners tonight. It's really not like me." Lecter says apologetically.
"It's ok, Mom always said you were a gentlemen." Starling says smiling.
"There you go." Lecter says unlocking the young teens handcuffs.
"Thank you." Ashley says as she nervously stands and looks around.