Chapter Eleven: A drive with the doctor
The young orphan loses her balance when the doctor releases her shoulders. Starling shakes when the faint light she could see from under the blindfold disappears as Lecter blows out each of the candles. She turns her head towards the door as she hears it creak open. Minutes that seem like hours pass and Starling is tempted to take off the blindfold. Suddenly a floorboard creaks.
"Doctor?" Ashley questions her voice quivering.
"I'm sorry to have left you for so long, little Starling. I was pulling the car up close so you wouldn't have to walk without a sure foot for such a long distance." Lecter says.
"Thank you, I guess." Starling says unsure of what to say.
"Ah! Remember, no I guesses." Lecter says unsatisfied with her response.
"Thank you." Starling rewords.
"Much better. Come this way." Lecter says taking her by the hand, surprising Ashley as she jumps."Don't be fearful little one. I won't hurt you."
Hannibal leads Ashley towards the car giving her instructions on where to step. He gets her into the car and closes her door. She shivers and rocks back and forth, scared, more scared then she ever had been. She can feel her hands shaking. Starling jumps to the click of the car door.
"I sincerely apologize for this Starling." Lector says starting the car.
"It's ok really, I understand your anxiousness." She responds "But please tell me when it's 9:30 so I can check in. And I should be back at the stadium at 10:30."
"How did you mother pass away?" Lecter says taking a back road to his apartment.
"We were in a car accident. Hit and run, it was presumed that the man who hit us was someone my mother had arrested. He was never caught. My mom and I were traveling down a highway, and we came to a ramp and a large truck came flying off the ramp and plowed into mom's side of the car. He pushed us up against one of those concrete barriers. And—and— he– he kept pushing until our car flipped onto the side and over the concrete barrier. There was a very steep hill on the other side of the barrier, we rolled and rolled and rolled, six times I think the police said. The car stopped upside down at the bottom of the hill." Ashley sobs stumbling for words.
"I'm very sorry." Lecter says placing a hand on Ashley's shoulder trying his best to console Clarice's daughter.
Was Lecter showing emotion here? Starling asked herself. She still feared Lecter, after all he was a convicted serial killer, cannibal, and fugitive. Traveling in silence for a few minutes unsure of how to progress. Starling feels the car come to a stop.
"We're here. I'll lead you inside, and you can take off your blindfold and you should call to check in with your bodyguard." Lecter says getting out of the car and opening Ashley's side. He then takes Starling and leads her inside of his apartment. Lecter sits Ashley down on a couch and closes the blinds.
"Very well, you can take off the blindfold now." Lecter instructs.