Chapter Twenty Seven: Help me.
Starling picks up the phone and dials Eddie's cell phone number.
"Michaels."
"Eddie it's Ashley." She says sobbing.
"Oh my god Ashley. What's wrong?" Eddie says standing up from the table where the Investigative Support Unit was currently having a meeting at.
"Dr. Lecter kidnaped me Eddie. I'm in his car now. Oh god you have to help me." She cries.
"Listen to me Ashley where are you?" He says pushing the speaker phone button and placing it on the table.
"I'm in a car. We just left the cabin. Will and Molly are still there."
"Are they alright? Are you alright?" The whole unit stares at the cell phone laying on the table.
"He handcuffed Molly and Will. They're OK. I'm so scared."
"It's going to be alright. We're gonna get people out there looking for you right now. Do you know what kind of car you are in?"
"Yeah it's a dark colored panel truck." She mumbles through the tears.
"Alright. It's OK. Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm just scared. I think he's gonna kill me Eddie." She cries. "Oh I don't want to die. Please you have to help me."
Some of the agents in the room become teary-eyed as they think of their own children.
"Please help me." She pleads.
"Shhhh it's alright Ashley calm down."
"HELP ME!" She cries as Lecter takes the phone away from her.
"Well Agent Michaels I think that your chat with little Starling has been long enough. Good-bye now."
"LECTER!" Michaels shouts into the phone. "Don't hurt her. For God sake please don't hurt Ashley. She's just a kid. Promise me you won't hurt her."
"I can make you no such promise." Lecter calmly says pressing the END button.
"Sonofabitch!" Eddie shouts.
"We've got a helicopter on the roof Agent Michaels. FBI Director Burns is waiting for you."
Eddie barrels up the stair case and gets into the helicopter.
"They have her director. They've got Ashley." Eddie says.
"I know. I know. We're flying to the safe house now." Director Burns says slamming the helicopter door.