Chapter Twenty Eight: Are you joking?
Lecter stops the van and goes into the back Ashley moves all the way to the back against the doors she already found as locked.
"Please Dr. Lecter please don't hurt me." She cries tears pouring down her face. The adrenaline rush had already passed and she was in a state of panic.
"Little Starling why would I do such a thing?"
"You kidnaped me. Why did you do that?"
"You said you wanted to get away. Here you are. Away."
"What?" She wipes the tears from her eyes. "This was all an act?" She almost begins to cry again, this time in joy. "Why didn't you just tell me to act? I was so scared, you really looking like you were going to kill me."
"I deeply apologize for that Starling. It hurt me to see you so scared of me. I apologize. The look on your face for the Graham's and the phone call to the FBI needed to sound authentic. It's hard to fake that kind of terror. I apologize."
"Apology accepted." She sighs and slumps over. Ashley lays on her back and faces the roof of the truck she closes her eyes and lets out another deep sigh of relief.
Lecter lets out an amused laugh. She looks up at him. "Dr. Lecter I don't find it funny at all. I actually believed you were going to kill me. No offense but your previous track record leaves something to be desired when you get that crazed look in you eyes."
"I'm very sorry little Starling. I don't know what else to say."
"Oh why that's a first." She smiles and stands up. "You have to know when I'm kidding too." She pats the kneeling Lecter on the shoulder as she walks past him to the cab of the van.
"I believe it would be an appropriate time for us to switch cars now."
"Alright let's go." She says grabbing her duffle bag and book bag.
They both get into a small two door car. Hannibal starts the car and drives down the road. Ashley buckles her seatbelt and looks for signs of FBI agents.
"Don't worry. The FBI will take some time to find the van. We will be long gone by that time."
"Where are we going?" She notices his bags in the back seat.
He smiles. "Just wait it will be a pleasant surprise."