Chapter Twenty Six: Kidnaped.
Ashley is startled awake when she feels a hand over her mouth and pressure on her stomach holding her still.
"Shhhhh." A familar shush sounds directly in her ear.
She nods her head under Lecter's hand. Starling realizes Lecter is whispering directly in her ear so the rest of the house can't hear.
"Get up." He says louder and turns a light on.
"Don't move an inch." He dramatically slams drawers and her closet door and pulls her duffle bag from under the bed.
"Everything in the bag?" He says in the same angry tone of voice. Had Lecter lost it? Was he really here to kidnap her? She nods furiously. Then she saw the gun.
"Let's go!" He shouts taking her shoulder and pushing her forward. Hot tears burned her face. She felt the gun barrel at the small of her back. As they passed the living room she saw Molly and Will handcuffed together back to back in chairs.
"LECTER!" Will roars. "LET HER GO!"
"Oh Will. I'd rather not. I'm going to slide you the key, you'll figure out how to reach it. Don't move." He tells Ashley.
Graham nods to Ashley as if saying to run, and that's exactly what she does. Lecter looks up to see Will's nod to Starling and watches her pause then take a step to run but he's much to quick for her. Lecter catches Starling's arm and pushes her against the wall of the hallway. Molly and Will watch in horror.
He calmly speaks to her. "Now I told you not to move. Lets get a move on now. It was wonderful to see you again Graham."
Lecter grabs Starlings arm and pulls her along. She gets one last glance at Molly and Will. Will was already reaching with his foot for the key. Tears stream down her face as Hannibal closes the front door of the cabin and puts her in a panel van. The black unmarked van quickly takes off down the bumpy gravel road.
Starling bounces around in the back of the truck. She holds on to the widow pane and braces herself against the side of the truck. Lecter picks up a cell phone and tosses it to Starling.
"Call Special Agent Eddie Michaels." He says wickedly