CHAPTER 1

 

The news was disturbing as he watched only half-paying attention as he sipped on his beer. He was too comfortable to get up to turn the channel and so he left it on and let his mind wander. The broadcast had told of gang violence in New York and focused on the families of the innocent people caught in the crossfire of a riot between two rivals that had apparently reached a head and erupted in a shootout on the street. Teenagers who had just ruined their lives he thought to himself as he watched a few of them being pushed into the back of police cars. He had to arrest a few in his time for robberies and various other crimes and it broke his heart to think of the waste of life not to mention what these things were doing to their parents.

 

 

He thought about Cassie for a moment…he worried about her so much but at least he could be thankful that she was the way she was. He would never have to worry about her getting into any serious trouble. He worried more about her becoming a victim than a felon. With so much violence on the streets it was hard for him not to be concerned because he faced it everyday of his life.

 

She had gone to a party that night with Wayne, a boy who had been calling and taking her out now for the past three weeks. Starsky didn’t like him because he acted so nervous every time he met him at the door. Cassie had told him that Starsky was a cop and it intimidated him…he could tell. Questions were answered evasively, even the simple ones like ‘What time will you bring her home?’ Forget asking the boy anything personal…he acted as if he were being interrogated.

 

 Still there was something very disturbing about him. He was so different than the other guys she had dated. He wasn’t a jock or a brain…just the kind of guy that went completely unnoticed in a crowd.  What she saw in this kid he couldn’t tell. He was reserved and quiet…and Starsky’s gut instincts told him that the kid must have something to hide. Because nobody could be that dull.

 

The phone rang at around 9:00 and Starsky reached his arm back to grab it from the table behind the sofa. He kept one there just for these times when he was relaxing and didn’t want to have to get up to answer it.

 

“Yeah”

 

“Cassie made it home yet?” Hutch’s voice asked on the other end.

 

“Not yet…” He told him. “What cha doing.”

 

“Just watching the news…”

 

“Yeah…me too.” Starsky replied.

 

“You?” Hutch said with a chuckle. “You never watch the news.”

 

“Well there was nothing else on.”

 

“Hey we should be in early…” Hutch told him. “We have court tomorrow.”

 

“Oh yeah that’s right.” Starsky had completely forgotten. “That kid…what’s his name?”

 

“Anthony Antonidez…you know the one that was hold up in the warehouse with that girl.” Hutch said as he recapped it for his partner.

 

“I remember…he took her hostage after the hold up.” Starsky told him.

 

“Ya know some kids can be rehabilitated…set back on the right track…but not this one. They really need to put him away and keep him there.” Hutch said with conviction. “He’s bad news.”

 

“I can’t believe he had the nerve to try and rape her with four patrol cars right outside the door.”

 

“Like I said…the guys too sick to be on the streets.” Hutch told him.

 

“He’s only Seventeen.” Starsky commented.

 

Hutch made another remark and he was about to respond when….Headlights pulling into the driveway quickly got Starsky’s attention. The vehicle had the unmistakable sound of a bad exhaust problem…it was Stacey’s mom’s car, but she hadn’t left with Stacey and it wasn’t 10:00 yet.

 

His attention was still focused on the noise outside when Hutch’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

 

“HEY…STARSK!” Hutch shouted after being ignored for the third time.

 

“WHAT!” He answered as he kept his eyes on the front window and stood up slowly.

 

“Where’d you go?”

 

“I’m gonna have to let you go…something funny’s going on.” Starsky said in an uneasy tone.

 

“You alright?” Hutch asked with concern.

 

“Yeah…Yeah…nothing I can’t handle.”

 

“You sure?”

 

“Yeah…goodnight Hutch…see ya tomorrow.”

 

“Yeah…sure.” Hutch said and listened for the click on the other end. His partner’s sudden urgency had concerned him so he decided to give him a few minutes and call him back. If he didn’t answer…he was going over there.

 

He walked over to the door slowly and heard the light tapping that he knew had to be Stacey…everyone has a distinctive knock and this one was definitely hers.

 

He opened the door and gave her a curious look.

 

“Stacey…is everything alright?” He asked as he looked in the direction of the car.

 

“Don’t be mad at her…it wasn’t her fault.” Stacey told him in a frightened voice.

 

“You have Cassie with you?” He asked as he stepped outside.

 

“Yes…but please hear me out before you talk to her.” Stacey pleaded.

 

-----------------------------------------

 

On the other side of town a young boy is being beaten…hit again and again by three older teens hovering around him.

 

“YOU STUPID LITTLE SHIT!!” One of them screamed at him as he kicked him over and over in the ribs causing him to cough and spit up a little blood before finally passing out.

 

CHAPTER 2

 

Cassie’s Rodeo sat next to Starsky’s car in the drive since

Wayne

had picked her up. He had expected to stay up and watch through the window as she gave him her usual goodnight kiss…just as he had done every time some young stud brought her home. It was out of being a good parent he had convinced himself but a part of him knew that there was another reason.

 

But he hadn’t expected to see Stacey at his door that night ranting hysterically and bringing Cassie home early. He wasn’t going to wait for an explanation…he had to know that she was all right

 

Without another word to Stacey…and ignoring her eagerness to explain herself…he ran over to the passenger side of the car and pulled the door open quickly. Cassie was lying across the front seat apparently giving Stacey just enough room to sit as she drove her home. She was out cold. He grabbed her by the arm and sat her up as she moaned and let out a little laugh…almost a giggle. He spoke to her as he held her chin in his hand and turned her face towards him so he could get a good look at her.

 

 “Cassie…Cassie…talk to me.” He prompted but her eyes remained closed as she just moaned and smiled.

 

Stacey opened the driver’s door and sat down in the seat next to her so she could make another attempt to give her explanation.

 

“What happened to her?” He demanded as he looked over at Stacey and held Cassie’s limp body upright in the seat.

 

“It..It…all happened so fast…I…I was trying to tell you.” Stacey stammered nervously when she saw the intense cop like look he was now giving her.

 

“Just calm down and give it to me slowly…I want the whole story.” Starsky told her in a softer voice…he could see that she was terrified of his reaction and he realized that she felt threatened by him.

 

“Well…” Stacey began. “We were at the party and everybody was dancing and having a real good time…ya know kidding around and just having fun like always. We all got thirsty and they had a big bowl of punch so Cassie and I got a glass…I think she had two.”

 

“So you think somebody spiked the punch?” Starsky asked a little calmer…he had been there before and if that’s all it was…he could deal with it.

 

“Not all of it…Just hers…because nobody else…well…she was the only one who…” Stacey stopped in the middle of the sentence wondering if she should tell him the rest.

 

“You mean you think somebody was just out to get to her?” He questioned in a tone that he was unaware sounded more like a cop all of a sudden.

 

“She started acting funny…I mean really funny.” Stacey teased him with the truth unable to get it out all in the same sentence.

 

He slapped Cassie in the face lightly to try and bring her around and she opened her eyes to mere slits and smiled at him in her intoxicated state…

 

“Hi…Davey!” She said with slurred speech as she moved her hand in the air in an exaggerated wave to him before allowing her arm to go limp by her side again and her eyes to close once more as her head fell back against his arm.

 

Then he pulled one of her eyes open and noticed that her pupils were slightly dilated. Could two small glasses of tainted punch have done this to her? He wondered as he examined her closely.

 

 

“She said she felt dizzy…and then she couldn’t keep her balance.” Stacey said as she tried to continue. “That’s when it started. She said she felt hot…like she was burning up and then she tried to take off her top…I tried to stop her…so she fought with me…then she started laughing…she just kept laughing…and laughing.”

 

“So where were the chaperones of this party while all this was going on.” Starsky asked curiously.

 

“Inside…the party was in the backyard.” Stacey was now in tears not knowing what his reaction would be to the rest.

 

“So then what?” He prompted her.

 

“So then…Wayne tried to pull her around to his car…we fought over her for a few minutes because I didn’t feel that he should be alone with her in her condition. Then Brandy’s father came out and I told him that I wanted to take her home…so he helped me get her into the car…Wayne wasn’t very happy.”

 

“So you think Wayne might of…” His words trailed off as he thought of what could of happened to her in her present state.

 

“I wasn’t gonna take the chance that he would be a gentleman…ya know what I mean.” Stacey told him.

 

“And nobody else who drank the punch was affected?” He asked in a calmer voice.

 

“No…but after that the party broke up and everyone left… Cassie was the only one as far as I know.” She concluded as a few suppressed tears finally made their way down her face. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

 

Starsky reached his hand up to touch her face and to wipe the tears away before he spoke again to her.

 

“I’m glad you were there…you did the right thing.” Starsky said with a smile as he grabbed her by the chin and made her look at him.

 

“I really am sorry.” She said through the lump in her throat.

 

“It’s ok.” He said as he flashed one of his charming smiles that instantly made her feel better…she always did think that he was cute when he smiled and it made her relax a little. “Go on home now before your mother starts to worry.”

 

He lifted her gently in his arms and stood up…shutting the car door behind him and proceeded to walk back into the house with her and Stacey backed the car out of the driveway to head for home. As he walked back inside the phone was ringing…but she was in his arms groggy and disoriented…by the time he was able to place her on the couch…the ringing had stopped.

 

He walked quickly into the bedroom to grab a washcloth and ran some cold water on it before hurrying back in to try and bring her around…he had to try and sober her up. What concerned him was that he didn’t know yet if she was just drunk…or drugged. He had to make sure it was something she could just sleep off before he put her to bed.

 

--------------------------------

 

Hutch hung up the phone and grabbed his holster as he headed out the door…Starsky hadn’t answered his phone and he had a bad feeling all of a sudden…something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut…as if he knew that something was about to happen if it hadn’t already.

 

-------------------------------

 

He sat down on the couch with her and held her head in his hand as he stroked her hair from her face with the wet cloth. The sudden sensation of cold on her forehead brought her back to a semi-conscious state as she looked up at him and moaned.

 

“That’s it Cassie…wake up now…come on…stay with me.” He coaxed her as he continued to rub her face gently with the cloth.

 

“Davey…where did you come from?” She asked him with slurred words and a smile.

 

“I’m right here Cas…C’mon now honey…keep talking.” He prompted now with the cloth down on her neck moving from one side to the other.

 

“You look so funny.” She told him still smiling as she raised her hand to touch his face

 

“Yeah well…You don’t look so great yourself right now.” He said in a teasing manner a he lifted her to her feet and held onto her as he helped her into the kitchen.

 

“Were are we going?”

 

“We need to get some coffee in you…lots of coffee.” He told her as he leaned her against the kitchen counter and held her up with one hand while he grabbed the coffeepot and began to fill it with water.

 

She watched him curiously and in her drugged state…she felt as if she were only half there, as if she was a spectator instead of a participant.  Everything had a fuzzy haze around it and it seemed as if he was moving in slow motion. A second seemed like a minute and a minute like an hour. Pretty pink and purple images floated by her as her legs lost their strength and she felt herself sliding down onto the floor. He had released her for just a moment and when he looked back he grabbed for her quickly and pulled her back up…now holding her tight against his body and the counter.

 

“Hey…where ya going?” He said as he lifted her back up.

 

“I don know…where do ya wanna go?” She asked him with a smile as she flung both her arms up around his neck aimlessly.

 

“Coffee’ll be ready in a minute…think you can stay awake for me?” He coaxed her.

 

“You’re so sweet.” She cooed as she looked into his rich blue eyes. “I wanna go to bed.”

 

“In a while…you need to feel a little better first.” He said with a little playfulness in his voice.

 

“But I feel fine…don’t you wanna go to bed with me?” she asked him with an intoxicated smile.

 

The question caught him completely off guard and he wasn’t all together sure if she even knew the meaning of what she had just asked him. He stared at her…trying to decide what to say next when…

 

All of a sudden he heard his front door being flung open violently. He hadn’t bothered to lock it back when he brought her inside and now as he turned around he found himself face to face with three teenage boys. The two who stood in his living room with their guns drawn and aimed in his direction, were complete strangers. But the third….the one who was now walking closer to him…he had no trouble identifying.

 

 

It was Tony!

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

CHAPTER 3

 

Tony glared at him as he moved closer…with a smile that was unmistakably unfriendly. Starsky held onto Cassie as he faced his intruders with a stone cold gaze. He couldn’t let them see even a hint of fear or surprise…it was an unspoken code on the streets…and as far as Starsky was concerned it was a built in instinct.

 

“Looki what we have here.” Tony said with the same evil smirk on his face. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to make it to the trial tomorrow.”

 

“Your old man go your bail again?” Starsky asked him with sarcasm. “I wonder how much you’re into him for this time?”

 

“Shut up pig!” Tony said as he grabbed Starsky by the collar of his shirt with both hands roughly and attempted to pull him away from her. Starsky grabbed him by the arms and quickly wrestled him to the floor ignoring the two teens who he knew could blow him away in an instant…he wasn’t about to be pushed around by this little street punk.

 

Cassie felt her body sliding further down until she sat dazed and disoriented on the kitchen floor…she was so groggy that she really hadn’t had time to grasp the reality of the situation. Starsky held Tony on the floor in a compromising position with his arms behind his back and his legs pinned when he felt the sensation of cold metal against his temple.

 

“Get up cop…try that again and I’ll put a bullet in your head.” The young boy told him in a serious voice…and then he moved the gun from his head and aimed it in Cassie’s direction. “Or maybe we’ll just waste the chick.”

 

“Leave her alone…Just take it easy.” Starsky said as he released his hold on Tony slowly and stood back up. “Nobody needs to get hurt here.”

 

Tony rose to his feet quickly and grabbed him by his throat, pinning him up against the refrigerator. His eyes stared deep into Starsky’s in attempt to see a sign of fear…but there was still none. They remained fixed on each other for a moment before Tony spoke once more.

 

“You think you’re tough cop?” He half asked him not expecting a reply as he pressed in tighter against his throat causing him to choke a little.

 

Starsky didn’t struggle…he knew how unpredictable the situation was. If he allowed them to have some control, he could find out what they were up to…the reason they had for invading his home. So he offered no more resistance for now. There was also Cassie to consider. In her weakened state she wasn’t in the position to put up a struggle.

 

“You got a problem with me…fine…just leave her out of it.” Starsky told him in a choked voice.

 

Tony released him and then suddenly punched him hard in the gut…causing him to bend over slightly and cough to catch his breath and hold onto his mid-section.  He then motioned to one of the other two to keep him covered while he knelt down to talk to Cassie. She was all but unconscious as he lifted her head by the hair on the back of her head to see her.

 

“How ya doin’ baby? Takin’ a little trip?” He asked her and then he laughed for a moment. “Pretty good shit ain’t it?”

 

“She’s wasted man.” One of the other boys said with a grin. “C’mon let’s get em’ outta here.”

 

Starsky had regained his strength enough to stand upright again but with two guns now at point blank range focused on him he decided to play along.

 

“So now what?” Starsky asked him. “You got a plan…or are you just playing it off the cuff?”

 

Tony released her and stood back up to talk to him.

 

“The plan was to take her…just her…but Wayne fucked up. I knew you wouldn’t put me away if we had her. But now I guess we’re just gonna have to do this the hard way.” He told him.

 

With that he pulled the gun from his friend’s hand and fired one shot…almost at point blank range into Starsky’s abdomen sending him to the floor clutching his side.

 

Suddenly the world began to spin and at the same time…it slowed to a snails pace in Starsky’s mind. (OH GOD IT HURTS) He couldn’t speak…all he could manage was a low throaty open mouthed groan as he felt his body begin to fall.

 

 The shot had caught him completely off guard…they were just kids. He hadn’t figured on them actually pulling the trigger and now all he could think about was the pain…he’d been shot before but this was so much worse. It felt like his insides had just exploded.

 

“AW SHIT TONY…HE”S A COP…YOU WASTED A COP!”

 

 “SHUT UP ZACK…JUST SHUT UP!” Tony yelled at him as he grabbed him and shoved him back hard against the counter. “That cop was gonna put me away. He saw everything…him and his blonde partner…the way I look at it…that’s one down and one to go.”

 

“You’re crazy Tony…You’re crazy!” Zack said with wide eyes and the sound of panic in his voice as he watched Starsky lying on the floor on the verge of passing out…a puddle of fresh blood forming around his body.

 

Tony raised the gun in his direction and glared at him angrily…he was weak…Tony always sensed it…and he knew now that he couldn’t count on his loyalty…so he decided to leave him there…to die with the cop.

 

“NO TONY…NO!” Zack cried as he heard the shot ring out and felt the bullet penetrate his chest…pain ripped through his youthful body as he fell in a heap onto the kitchen floor.

 

Cassie’s body jumped with each gunshot but she was so out of it that she couldn’t comprehend what was happening. She glanced over at Starsky after the first shot rang out and watched as he fell to his knees. Inside she was trembling but her mind kept telling her that it was only a dream…slow motion images of things that couldn’t be real. She couldn’t manage to keep her eyes open any longer and so she allowed her mind to take her to another place. A better place…where everything was beautiful and he wasn’t bleeding to death just a few feet away from her.

 

Tony hovered over him with an evil smile on his face as the other young boy grabbed Cassie up by her arm and flung her now unconscious body over his shoulders…adjusted her weight and began to walk slowly towards the door.

 

“C’MON TONY…LET”S GET OUTTA HERE!” He said as he pulled the front door opened and walked out with her.

 

“See ya in hell buddy.” Tony said in a wicked voice as he patted him lightly on the cheek and then watched his friends eyes close slowly. Then he stood up and looked over at Starsky who was sweating and breathing rapidly with a glassy haze covering his pale blue eyes.

 

“Save me a good seat…cop.” He told him…and then let out a laugh as he walked out…leaving the two of them to die.

 

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CHAPTER 4

 

 

When Hutch arrived he found the front door slightly cracked and an

Erie

panic swept over him. Starsky never left his door standing open and both the

Torino

and the Rodeo sat dormant in the driveway. The uneasy feeling he had experienced when he had gotten no answer with his last attempt to call him was increased now as he pushed open the slightly cracked door. With his gun drawn and the adrenaline flowing…he crept inside to have a look around. The unsettling quiet overtook him as he walked carefully through the living room and opened the two bedroom doors to find each one unoccupied.

 

Then he heard a sound…it was very weak and distant but it was unmistakable. A moan of pain that was all too familiar to him.

 

“STARSK…STARSK…Where are you?” Hutch called out as he rushed back into the living room and heard it again. From where he stood he couldn’t see all the way into the kitchen but when the sound hit his ears once more he realized where it had to be coming from.

 

As he rounded the corner of the kitchen counter his heart skipped a beat and his whole body trembled…

 

“OH MY GOD!” Hutch said as the morbid scene met his eyes. Two bodies lying on the kitchen floor within a few feet of each other. One his still breathing partner and the other just a kid…shot in the chest at point blank range…he didn’t seem to be among the living anymore. He rushed over quickly grabbing his Partner’s head from behind and lifted it up to talk to him.

 

“Hang in there…Buddy….Don’t try to talk…Just hang on.” He removed his jacket quickly and placed it under his head. Then he grabbed a near by kitchen towel and ripped Starsky’s shirt open to examine the damage. The bullet had gone clean through him…penetrating a kidney probably and possibly his intestine. The hole in his back was a little larger than the one in front and the blood was steadily spilling out from both sides. He was kneeling in a large puddle and judging by the size of it and the steady flow from the two gaping wounds he knew that he had to stop the bleeding, or at least slow it down before he could reach for the phone to call an ambulance. Time was not on his side.

 

He left him only for a moment as he ran into the Bedroom…grabbed a larger towel and headed back. Then he quickly removed his belt…wrapped the towel around his partners injuries and slid the belt under him to pull it tight, speaking softly to him the whole time.

 

“Take it easy…stay with me…try to relax…breathe…breathe…it’s gonna be alright…I’m here buddy.”

 

As soon as he felt he had enough pressure on his wounds…Hutch stood up and reached for the phone on the wall to call for the ambulance. As he spoke quickly he glanced down at the body of the young kid who lay motionless on the floor next to his feet. Hutch knelt down to feel a pulse but didn’t expect to find one.

 

As he gave the address to the dispatcher his fingers probed for any sign of life in the teenager. To his surprise…he felt something…it was weak but there. He didn’t know if this kid had been the one who shot his partner…but it was obvious that Starsky hadn’t shot him since Starsky’s gun was still resting in his holster on the hook by the door where he had always kept it.

 

“Better make that two…and Hurry!” Hutch said as he waited for the reply and hung up the phone. He then pulled the kid into a more comfortable position and ripped his T-shirt to get a better look at his injury. A bullet in his chest with no exit apparent in his back as Hutch gingerly lifted him to take a look. Maybe a collapsed lung and internal bleeding that he could do nothing about. This kid could very well die in his arms.

 

“Hutch…” Starsky managed to call to him in a very weak voice.

 

“I’m still here Buddy… Ambulance is on the way.” Hutch said still holding onto the young boy.

 

“Is he alive?” He asked in a whisper.

 

“Barely…” Hutch told him with a sadness in his voice.

 

“They took her…,” he said still in a whisper.

 

Hutch grabbed the kid by the shoulder and drug his body slowly closer to his partner so he could sit with them both until help arrived.

 

“Don’t talk…you can tell me all about it later…save your strength.” Hutch told him rested a hand on his shoulder. He had to use the other hand to keep pressure on the kid’s chest wound.

 

He had assumed they had taken her…but she was probably still alive. If they planned to kill her she would have been lying next to him.

 

“Find her Hutch…you have to find her.” Starsky told him insistently using every bit of his strength to get the words out. Every breath felt like a thousand knives in his side.

 

“Don’t worry…we’ll find her…we’ll find her.” Hutch assured him as he continued to hold pressure on the wound in the young boy’s chest.

 

 

It took five minutes from Hutch’s phone call for the Ambulance to arrive but it seemed more like twenty. Paramedics rushed in carrying oxygen and numerous other pieces of equipment and went to work on Starsky right away. Zack was pulled abruptly from Hutch’s arms and placed on a stretcher to be hooked up to IV’s and hurried out the door. Hutch held Starsky’s hand all the way to the Ambulance and climbed inside with him as they sped off.

 

------------------------------------------

 

Cassie was still not fully aware of her surroundings…but she knew that something terrible had happened. One minute she was looking into his tender blue eyes and the next she heard shots and felt herself being lifted up and carried away….away from home…away from him. But her body was not her own…she had no strength in her arms or her legs and her mind was clouded by the drug so much that the images that she could make out during her brief moments of semi-consciousness were distorted at best.

 

All she did know was that she was cold…and it was very dark. The bed she was lying on was dirty and there where no sheets…no blankets. The air was heavy with the smell of mildew……and she was naked.

 

------------------------------------------

 

 

CHAPTER 5

 

 

 

Morning came and Cassie awoke to the sound of birds chirping just outside the only window she could see in the confined area she found herself in. She climbed on top of a small table to peer outside. The window had steel bars at ground level and there was a vacant lot next door. She could see some of the street but there were no street signs close enough to read and as far as she could tell there was no one close by to hear her if she called out. She didn’t recognize the area. One thing she did know was that she was in a bad part of town. There was garbage lying around on the ground and the air had a smell to it that made her want to gag.  She was obviously being held in someone’s basement. She jumped down from the table onto the dirt floor and moved carefully over to the door. There she remained quiet for a couple of seconds…listening for any sound of life in the house. Still naked and cold, She was afraid…but she knew that crying wouldn’t do her any good. She had to find a way out before they came back.

 

 

 

-----------------------------------------

 

 

 

Hutch sat in the waiting area of the hospital sipping a cup of coffee. He had been there for hours and Dobey had sat up with him for most of the night. When the doctor walked out at around 5:00 AM to tell them that Starsky would be all right; Dobey let out a sigh of relief and said his good-byes to Hutch. ‘Go on home and get some sleep…you can see him in a few hours.’ Dobey had told him with a comforting hand resting on his shoulder, But Hutch didn’t want to leave…he had to be there when Starsky woke up so he could get the whole story.

 

 

 

They had court scheduled at Nine o’clock…but Dobey had been on the phone the night before with the DA, convincing him to request a postponement. With Starsky in the hospital and Cassie being held by his gang…Hutch knew Tony would be there…expecting Hutch to testify without his partner…expecting him to lie to protect Cassie. He wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction. A postponement to gather more evidence against the defendant…The DA would present it to the Judge in the morning although Dobey had told him the truth. The Courts would buy it for now and it should give them a few days to find her. 

 

 

 

Hutch had been by himself now for a couple hours waiting for the nurse to allow him to see his partner. He had made it very clear that as soon as he was settled in a room to let him know. He planned to be by his partner’s side when he regained consciousness.  The cup of coffee he held in his right hand began to tip slightly as he drifted off to sleep in the hard plastic chair. As he fell deeper and deeper into his dream the grip he had on the small Styrofoam cup grew weaker and weaker. When the cup fell and coffee spilled over his groin…it brought him to full consciousness instantly.

 

 

 

“Damn…” Hutch said as he stood up and examined the damaged area. Then he walked briskly to the nearby restroom and pushed the door open. There was no way to conceal the stain…at least not with anything he had handy. He hated when things like this happened to him. He was self-conscious enough without looking to the world like he’d peed his pants. After a few attempts to make himself more presentable…he finally gave up. He would just have to deal with it until he could get home to change.

 

 

 

As he walked out of the bathroom he almost bumped into the nurse…the one he had been waiting for.

 

 

 

“Oh…there you are!” She said as he startled her. “Your partner has been moved to a room on the Fourth Floor…room 412. You can go on up but he probably won’t be awake for awhile yet. Oh…and by the way…the young boy you were asking about…he’s alive but it’s still touch and go. The Doctor says he has a real good chance considering his age and his physical condition. He said the kid was lucky you were there. The boys parents are upstairs…they asked me to thank you.”

 

 

 

“I’m glad he’s gonna make it…has he regained consciousness?  He questioned her …the kid could probably tell him where they had taken her.

 

 

 

“No I’m afraid not…Do you need to talk to him?” She asked curiously.

 

 

 

“He might be able to tell us something…do me a favor…let me know when he comes around…a young girls life is at stake.”

 

 

 

“I’ll instruct the other nurses in case I’m not here.” She told him assuredly.

 

 

 

“Thank you very much.” He said as he flashed one of his gorgeous smiles at her.

 

“Just being a good citizen.” She replied as she stared back into his eyes. He was cute.

 

 

 

“Well…I guess I better get going.” He said in a soft voice as he gave her one last smile.

 

 

 

“Sure…” She answered him as he turned to make his way to the elevator…then she made one final comment just before the doors closed. “You know a little club soda will get that right out.”

 

 

 

 

 

He was feeling pretty good up until that point…he figured he had caught her attention enough with his good looks and charm that she wouldn’t notice it.

 

 

 

Starsky’s room was at the end of the hallway and the furthest one from the nurse’s station…Hutch made the mental note as he made his way to his partner’s room. He’s a cop who was just shot in his own home by a gang of hoodlums…you’d think they wouldn’t stick him in the furthest corner they could find to put him in. what if they try to get to him in the hospital? Hutch wasn’t happy as he entered the room and pulled a chair close to his sleeping partner. Starsky had a small tube coming from the end of his nose but otherwise he looked pretty good. The monitors and the IV were no big deal and to be expected. Hutch was glad to see the color in his cheeks and the peaceful look on his face as he slept.

 

 

 

He climbed into the chair and rested his feet on the edge of Starsky’s bed to make himself comfortable when he heard him begin to stir.

 

 

 

Starsky moaned deeply and with a significant amount of pain evident in his voice as Hutch stood up and grabbed his left hand…and held it tightly in his as he reached up and began to push the sweat soaked hair from his partners forehead.

 

 

 

“Hey Partner…How you feeling.” Hutch asked as he watched Starsky’s eyes adjusting to the light in the room.

 

 

 

“Like I’ve been sawed in half…” He said with a pained expression on his face…then suddenly his eyes widened and he looked intensely into his partner’s face. “Cassie…Hutch you gotta’ get me outta’ here.” He told him ignoring his pain for the moment.

 

 

 

“You’re not about to go anywhere…I’ll take care of it.” Hutch assured him.

 

 

 

“The kid…is he alive?”

 

 

 

“Yes…but I can’t talk to him yet.” Hutch answered.

 

 

 

“He’ll rape her…I know he will…and then he’ll kill her…Hutch you don’t know him like I do. He’ll do it!” Starsky told him with fear in his voice. Hutch knew his partner was right.

 

 

 

“You have to tell me what you know…everything…what happened last night?” Hutch questioned him knowing he wouldn’t be able to rest until he got it out in the open.

 

 

 

“Stacey brought Cas home early…Somebody put something in her drink at the party and she was really out of it…at first I thought it was just alcohol…ya know…but she wasn’t drunk…she was high.”

 

 

 

“Slow down…I don’t understand…I thought she went out with that

Wayne

kid.” Hutch reminded him.

 

 

 

“Yeah…he was workin’ for Tony…he’s the one who drugged her. He tried to take her with him but Stacey stopped him. She figured he was up to something.” Starsky tried to continue but the pain was increasing with his attempt and he had to lay his head back and rest for a moment.

 

 

 

“Ok…so how’d you end up with a bullet in your gut and why’d they shoot the kid?” Hutch asked as Starsky caught his breath.

 

 

 

“Tony said

Wayne

was supposed to bring her to him…so he could keep us from putting him away…Tony and another kid I don’t know…and Zack…the kid he shot. Zack got scared when Tony shot me…so he just blew him away…it was cold Hutch…like it didn’t bother him…He didn’t even flinch. You shoulda’ seen it…if he can do that…to a friend…he’ll …have no …problem…hurting her.” Starsky was growing weak…his words had become harder and harder to get out and Hutch knew he needed to rest.

 

 

 

“Ok…Shhhhh…no more for now.” Hutch said as he pulled the pillow more comfortably under Starsky’s head and helped him get settled. “You’re too weak to do anything about it right now…I have to make an appearance in court and I want to see the look on Tony’s face when the DA asks for the postponement.”

 

 

 

“Postpone…” Starsky let the word trail off.

 

 

 

“Yeah…Dobey arranged it to buy us a little time.” Hutch said in a comforting voice.

 

 

 

“Hutch…pick me up…this afternoon…Promise me.” Starsky said sternly.

 

 

 

“I said you’re not going anywhere…not for a few days anyway.” Hutch told him.

 

 

 

“If you .won’t….I’ll….catch a cab.” Starsky managed before he drifted off.

 

 

 

Hutch pulled the covers over his sleeping partner with a worried expression on his face. Starsky was stubborn and he knew that he probably would do exactly what he had threatened to do…so he might as well give in. At least that way he could keep an eye on him.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

Hutch went on home and took a hot shower and a quick shave before putting on his dress pants a nice shirt and jacket and fumbling with one of his ties. He usually hated court dates but this one would be interesting. The look on Tony’s face when he realized that he wasn’t going to get his way would be worth the aggravation. How could a kid his age harbor so much hatred for the world? Hutch had to wonder.  After court he would try to follow him…see if maybe he could find out where he was holding her. Tony would probably be expecting it so he would have to be careful.

 

 

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Cassie tried the door at the top of the small stairway slowly and discovered to her surprise that it was unlocked. She pushed it open slowly and stepped into the small kitchen. It seemed deserted and the house was quiet. In the laundry room she found a towel and quickly wrapped it around herself to cover her exposed body before proceeding to check out the rest of the house.

 

 

 

Carefully she crept into the living room and found the front door…still no sign of anyone…so she ran quickly over to it to make her escape. (This was too easy…why didn’t they have anyone here to guard me?) She thought as she pulled the door open.

 

 

 

Just then she heard a small sound from behind her…the click of a gun being cocked. She knew it all too well…so she stopped to glance behind her.

 

 

 

There on the stairway that lead to the second floor stood a young girl blonde and pretty…not much older than she was…holding onto a large gun…almost as big as the one that Hutch carried.

 

 

 

“I guess you’re the guard dog.” Cassie said as she glared at her.

 

 

 

“Yeah…I’m a real Bitch!” She told her with an unfriendly gaze. “So you’re the little virgin…or should I say…ex-virgin.”

 

 

 

Cassie was stunned…could it have happened and she didn’t remember? Was she playing with her head?

 

 

 

“I think I’d know if I was or not…” Cassie said sternly.

 

 

 

“Oh…honey…I don’t even remember my first time…that’s the way Tony likes it…you were so stoned last night…I doubt you remember much at all.” She told her as she still held the gun in a threatening angle. “I’m Tony’s girl now.”

 

 

 

“So you don’t mind if he …I mean…it doesn’t bother you if he…” She couldn’t say the words…they were so unfamiliar to her.

 

 

 

“If he fucks you…why…you’re nothing to him. They’re having a party tonight…and guess what? You’re the guest of honor.” She said in a cold voice and then she laughed at her.

 

 

 

Cassie was in shock…had it happened…if not…will it happen tonight?…with Tony?…with God knows how many others?

 

 

 

In an attempt to hide her fear Cassie posed a question to her.

 

 

 

“Do you know what happened last night?” Cassie asked as the girl came down the stairs and motioned for her to step into the living room by jerking the gun in that direction.

 

 

 

“I was upstairs…I don’t get involved with his little party’s.” she told her.

 

 

 

“I mean…at my house…I heard shots…I remember that much…did he tell you what happened?” Cassie asked almost as if she was pleading now, begging to know what she could about Dave.

 

 

 

“Oh yeah…Tony said he wasted a cop.” She told her. “Why…you a pig lover?”

 

 

 

“NOOOOoooooo……” Cassie cried out “OH MY GOD …Nooooo…” And then she burst into uncontrollable tears…As the young girl watched in amazement.

 

 

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

CHAPTER 6

 

Cassie’s world had just fallen apart when the sound of the young girl’s harsh words ripped through her soul. Her heart sank and her inner strength…her built in determination to stay alive suddenly left her. Dave was dead…Her father was dead…and she had nowhere to go. There was no one other than Hutch now in her life that loved her…that she loved. But he was a friend…not like Dave. Would he care enough to come looking for her? Maybe he would be too wrapped up in Starsky’s death to deal with her problem. He had told her time and time again that he was glad he wasn’t in Starsky’s shoes…that he was glad he didn’t have the responsibility.

 

But she knew she would be all right as long as she cooperated with them. Dave was her only lifeline…and she loved him even more than she loved her father…even more than she loved herself. The pain was so great that it sent her into an emotional spiral…a deep dark void…a place within herself so far away…that no one would ever be able to find her.

 

The young girl watched as Cassie sunk deeper and deeper within herself. It was a metamorphosis…a spectacle that she had never witnessed before in her life. One minute she was bold and brassy…standing there defending herself in nothing but a terry cloth towel…and now she looked helpless…vulnerable and weak.

 

“Hey…what’s the matter with you?” She asked as she snapped her fingers in front of her face and then shook her violently.

 

But Cassie was gone…whatever happened to her physical body she didn’t care…they couldn’t touch her…they couldn’t hurt her anymore…nobody could.

 

------------------------------------------

 

Hutch waited anxiously for Tony to appear. The courtroom was quiet except for the sound of rustling papers and the occasional cough or sneeze. Hutch hated the atmosphere of it…he always did. So many lives hung in the balance in this room. Some he was glad to see hauled away and some he had remorse for. Wasted lives…tragic stories…an endless parade of mistakes and regrets. But some had no regrets…some felt no remorse for their actions. It was those sick few…the scum of society that he had no trouble watching as they fell like dominos. On rare occasions he had even smiled as they were hauled away.

 

Tony would be one of these. He was so young and usually that in itself would spark a certain amount of sympathy in Hutch…but not this time. Most kids turn bad because of tragedies in their young lives. Being raped repeatedly by a parent or a relative...being beaten…something. But Tony had grown up with all the privileges. Parents that loved him…that handed him the world on a silver platter and then asked him if he wanted more. His father was a prominent business man involved in charity after charity and Hutch could see the pain in his face as he sat in that room…just a few feet from him…with his head in his hands almost in tears. 

 

Suddenly Tony walked through the door…smug and confident as Hutch glared at him. He wasted no time in finding Hutch and strolled right up to him boldly.

 

“She’s a good Fuck…but don’t worry…she’s still alive…” Hutch rushed at him but was held back by two other officers who happened to be close by and knew Hutch. They didn't want to see him get into any trouble over this little sawed off punk. They knew some of the story…from gossip around the station house lately…and half expected this reaction.

 

“Where’s your partner cop?…takin’ harp lessons?” He said with a laugh as Hutch glared at him with gritted teeth as he struggled to get at him once more. If the other cops hadn’t been restraining him. If he wasn’t in Court…if he could get his hands around his neck right now…IF……If….if. Hutch settled back down and yanked his arms away from the hands that gripped them.

 

“I’m fine…I’m fine.” Hutch told them with assurance…and then he gave them an unspoken look of thanks as they each shook their heads in acknowledgement and took their seats.

 

“All Rise…” The Bailiff announced and then he introduced the Judge to the room. After a few minutes the DA was called to stand and speak.

 

“You’re honor…the State at this time would like to request a postponement of these proceedings until more evidence can be obtained.” The DA stated.

 

“How long will you need Mr. District Attorney?” The Judge asked with intensity. “You should have done you’re homework before wasting my time…and the tax payers dollars here today.”

 

“Just three days…your honor…that’s all we ask.” The D.A pleaded with him.

 

“Is the defendant present?” The Judge asked as he looked around the room for Tony.

 

“I’m here…and I think this is BULLSHIT!” Tony yelled in a defiant manner.

 

“That just cost you a Five Hundred Dollar Fine…would you like to try for a Thousand?” The Judge asked him with disgust. “This case is adjourned until 9:00 AM on Friday.” He said as the gavel fell onto the hard wood platform.

 

Hutch watched as Tony’s father walked quietly up to the bailiff…pulled out his wallet…and proceeded to dish out Five Hundred Dollars like he was making change at a deli.

 

 There had been no exchange of gratitude between Tony and his father. The whole time they sat near each other in Court there hadn’t even been any eye contact between them. Hutch now had a better idea of their relationship. His father didn’t love him…or even care that much about him. His whole life he was probably given whatever he wanted just to get him out of the way…to keep him quiet…and now…the monster that his father had created was on the loose…and it was up to Hutch to try and stop him.

 

Tony left the courthouse with Hutch following behind him. But as Hutch had suspected…Tony led him on a wild goose chase…up one side street and down another. Hutch stayed with him for a little while but when he ditched his car at the subway station and hopped on board a moving tram…Hutch lost him. As he bent over a little breathing heavily and watching the tram as it disappeared…the last he saw of Tony was his face pressed up against the glass and his right hand in the air…his middle finger extended.

 

-------------------------------------

 

Starsky was sitting on the end of his bed…with the IV yanked out of his arm and the monitours disconected…he was sliding his shirt on over his bandages when Hutch entered the hospital room.

 

“You sure about this?” Hutch asked as he walked over to him.

 

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Starsky said as he winced with pain as he slid his other arm into his shirt.

 

“What if you start bleeding again?” Hutch asked him. “What about infection?”

 

“Doc says if I take my antibiotics and take it easy…I’ll be ok.” Starsky told him.

 

“Yeah…but you’re not gonna take it easy…that’s the problem.” Hutch said as he grabbed his partner by the shoulder and stared into his blue eyes.

 

“Sure…I promised not to chase anybody…or lift anything…nothing says I can’t pull a trigger.” Starsky told him.

 

Hutch just looked at him with a warm smile on his face…and Starsky gave him one of his own…it was an unspoken moment of friendship and love…one that they had both experienced before.

 

“Ok…but I’m driving.” Hutch told him and then he grabbed him by the arm and helped him out the door.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

CHAPTER 7

 

They made a quick stop on the third floor where the young boy lay hooked up to monitors and tubes. His face looked pale and his body so weak. His parents were both there along with a doctor and a few nurses. Hutch strolled over to the parents as Starsky kept his distance with his eyes fixed on the heart monitor.

 

“I’m Detective Hutchinson…that’s my partner Detective Starsky.” Hutch told them in a calm voice. “How’s he doing?”

 

“The Doctor says he’s hanging on but not by much.” The boy’s father said with tear filled eyes. “He’s a good boy officer…he really is…I don’t know what happened…One day I just felt him slipping away…I couldn’t reach him anymore…he wouldn’t talk to me…he’s a good boy.”

 

His father was in tears as he spoke and Hutch could see the torment on his face. But he had to persist…he had to know everything he could.

 

“What do you know about a boy by the name of Tony Antonidez?” Hutch asked him.

 

“He’s a piece of dirt…I tried to tell Zack…I tried to reason with him…but he wouldn’t listen to me…he stayed out till all hours of the night…sometimes he wouldn’t even come home at all. Tony had him…and I just couldn’t stop it…You gotta’ understand…I tried…we tried.”

 

His voice was cracking and Hutch knew he had pushed him as far as he was going to. Starsky suddenly looked over at them…and saw the hurt and anguish on the old man’s face. He knew he had to tell him. Tell him what had happened in the last minutes. Maybe it would make a difference.

 

Starsky walked slowly over to them and began to speak.

 

“I’m Detective Starsky…” He began. “You’re right…Zack was…is…a good boy. He didn’t want to go along with them…that’s why Tony shot him.”

 

“You where there?” His mother spoke up. “You’re a cop and you where there when my son was shot?”

 

“It happened in my apartment. They took my daugh…” His words trailed off and he stepped back…holding his face in his hands and gathering himself…she wasn’t his daughter…but how could he explain that to them.

 

Hutch looked at him with surprise…it was the first time he ever called her his daughter. It seemed like an odd thing to come from his mouth. He had never spoken of her that way before.

 

“Why didn’t you stop them?” She asked insistently…almost with a tone of accusation in her voice.

 

“I’m sorry…” Starsky said in a weak apologetic voice. “I wasn’t prepared for it.”

 

Hutch pulled Starsky’s shirt open to show her the wound…he knew his partner wouldn’t have mentioned.

 

“They shot him too…” Hutch told them. “He was in no position to defend himself…much less anyone else.”

 

“But he’s walking around and my son is…my son is…” Her words trailed off and her expression grew harsh and cold. “How dare you! How dare you come in here and interrogate us this way!”

 

“Stop it…Just stop it!” The boy’s father told his wife. “It’s not their fault…it’s nobody’s fault!”

 

“Oh yes…it’s somebody’s fault.” Hutch said with assurance as he helped Starsky tuck his shirt back in. “And we want to make him pay.”

 

“How…how can he pay for this?” she asked in desperation.

 

Hutch leaned closer to her and handed her one of his cards.

 

“If you think of something…anything that might help us…please call.” Hutch told her softly. “They have a young girl…and they’ll probably kill her if we don’t stop them.”

 

“We’ll call…if we can help.” Her husband told them.

 

They turned to leave…glancing back at the machines one last time before heading out the door but before they made it to the corridor they were stopped by one last comment.

 

“I will keep your daughter in my prayers officer.” The boy’s mother called to him.

 

“Thank you…” Starsky called back to her…and the two of them headed out.

 

----------------------------------------

 

Cassie was not aware of her body anymore…she realized what was happening as she was pulled by the arm and pushed onto the dirty mattress in the basement…and then listened as the door was dead-bolted.

 

She had given up…even if she got away…her life wouldn’t be worth living. The thought of never seeing Dave again…was more than she could bare. Her father had been her strength and when she lost him…Dave was there to pick up the pieces. She had allowed herself to love him and rely on him. But now there was no one. Hutch wouldn’t take her in…and she couldn’t ask him to. Besides…she wasn’t going to make it out of there alive anyway…so what was the point? All she wanted now was to die…to end her life…to be with her father…to be with Dave. It was the best she could hope for.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

They went back to the station and pulled the file on Tony. The list of arrests were long but since he was a minor he was given many slaps on the wrist…fines and a little time in juvenile detention but that was it. His crimes had grown increasingly hostile between the ages of twelve and seventeen. It started with shoplifting and excelled to breaking and entering…rape…and robbery. With his father always there to grease the wheels for a lighter sentence…Tony had never really gotten what he deserved. Now he was looking at attempted murder…but with Cassie missing a warrant for his arrest would mean her instant death. They had to find her before going after him.

 

As Hutch sifted through Tony’s police record… Starsky swallowed a few painkillers with a small paper cup of water and paced the floor nervously.

 

“Sit down Starsk…It won’t do you any good to torture yourself.” Hutch remarked.

 

“What good are we doing here?” Starsky asked in anger as he threw the wadded up paper into the garbage can. “We should be out looking!”

 

“Where?” Hutch asked him intensely. “You got any suggestions?”

 

“We can start with that kid Wayne.” Starsky said as the thought struck him. “If he was in on it…He’ll know where she is.”

 

“You know where to find him?” Hutch asked as he looked up at him with a renewed expression of hope on his face.

 

“No…but he went to Cassie’s school…and they have records.” Starsky told him with the same expression.

 

“What are we waiting for…let’s go.” Hutch said as he grabbed his jacket and the two of them hurried out the door.

 

It was around 2:00 in the afternoon when Starsky and Hutch found what they were looking for in the files at the High School. There had been about eight or nine Waynes on record in the eleventh grade but pictures of the boys in the yearbook had narrowed it down for them. Starsky knew what he looked like but never got his last name. When he spotted the familiar face Hutch quickly pulled the proper file and they were off…to an address on Wiltshire Boulevard.

 

 

----------------------------------------------

 

CHAPTER 8

 

When they arrived at the address in the boy’s file they were surprised to find that the house apparently belonged to someone with quit a bit of money. There were large gables at the entrance of a driveway on a hill that led to a very extravagant looking two-story house. From the look of it they wondered why this boy was even in public school. People as wealthy as they seemed to be usually had their children in private institutions.

 

They walked slowly up the steps and rang the doorbell…then stepped back and waited for a response. A very pretty woman with her hair up in a bun and dressed very conservatively came to the door and looked at them with a worried expression on her face.

 

“Can I help you gentlemen?” She asked politely.

 

“Yes Ma’am’…” Starsky began just as politely. “We’re police officers.” He told her as both he and Hutch produced their badges.

 

“The police? What can I do for you?” She asked puzzled.

 

“Does Wayne Coleman live at this address?” Hutch replied.

 

“Why yes…he’s my son…is he in some kind of trouble?”

 

“We just want to ask him a few questions.” Starsky told her.

 

“Well…so would I…” She answered. “He hasn’t taken out the garbage in two days. Come to think of it…I haven’t even seen him since Saturday.”

 

Starsky looked at Hutch at the same time Hutch turned his head to look at him. Was this lady for real? If Cassie hadn’t been seen for more than 24 hours…he would be sick with worry…pretty much like he is now. Why wasn’t she the least bit concerned?

 

“Let me get this straight…” Hutch began. “Your son has been missing for the better part of two days and you haven’t notified the police?”

 

“I go days without seeing him all the time…he lives in the cottage behind the house…I believe in giving him his own space.” She explained. “He lives his life and we live ours…what’s wrong with that?”

 

“Cutting the apron strings a little prematurely aren’t you?” Starsky asked with a sarcastic tone.

 

“Hey…I don’t have to stand here and be lectured by a couple of cops about how to raise my own son!” She told them in an angry tone.

 

“Lady…we don’t really care what kind of mother you are to your son.” Hutch told her abruptly as he handed her one of his cards. “If you hear from him…we want to hear from you…unless you want to be held accountable for obstructing justice…or possibly harboring a fugitive.”

 

She took the card from Hutch with a frightened look on her face. He had said what he had said to shake her up a bit…maybe even to scare her a little. She watched as the two of them walked slowly away…but Starsky couldn’t help but make one final comment before leaving. He turned and stopped for a moment as he raised a finger in the air at her.

 

“Ya know something…If I were you…I think I’d start to worry.” He told her with a cold stare. “That is unless you really don’t give a damn what happens to him.”

 

As Starsky made his way back to Hutch’s car he gripped his side and staggered a little. Hutch noticed his obvious pain and confronted him with it.

 

“Hey…you ok?” He asked him with concern.

 

“Yeah…I just need to sit down for a little while.” Starsky said as he slid into the passenger seat and cringed a little.

 

“I knew I shouldn’t have let you leave the hospital.” Hutch told him.

 

“Just drive will ya?” Starsky said as he continued to hold onto his side. “I’m fine.”

 

 Hutch pulled Starsky’s hand away from his shirt a little and saw the fresh blood stain he was trying to hide from him.

 

“Starsky…you’re bleeding again!” Hutch told him in a panic. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

 

“Just let me worry about it Hutch!” Starsky said almost annoyed with his partner’s concern…but then he realized his tone and spoke a little softer. “I have to find her…I just have to know she’s all right…soon as we find her…I’ll see the Doc about it….Ok?” He assured him.

 

“At least let me take you to my place and bandage it a little better.” Hutch suggested.

 

“We don’t have time.” Starsky protested.

 

“Well…it’s either that or back to the hospital…it’s your choice.” Hutch said firmly.

 

“Ok…Ok…but make it fast.” Starsky agreed.

 

They were running out of time and they knew it…every second that she was with Tony was dangerous. The kid had a temper…and if she said something he didn’t like or upset him in any way…he might kill her. With her history of brassy…sarcastic little comments…it could happen at any moment.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

Cassie heard the basement door open slowly and sat up in a tight ball on the bed…a terry cloth towel her only means of covering her exposed body. She didn’t recognize Tony as he walked over to her because she had been so out of it the night before that she couldn’t remember any of their faces. He approached her slowly and smiled as he reached out to touch her long blonde hair. She jerked away in fear as she gripped the towel tighter and stared at him with wide frightened eyes.

 

“It’s ok baby…” He said with an evil grin. “The party’s not for another couple hours.”

 

Her fear had brought her back to herself now…as he moved in a little closer to her.

 

“Please…don’t hurt me.” She whimpered as she pulled her body as close to the wall as she could.

 

“I have a little something for you…Some of the same shit you had last night.” He told her as he stroked her hair gently.

 

“I don’t want any...” She told him.

 

“Have it your way baby…” He said as he sat the cup down on the floor. “But I think it’ll be easier on you if you take it.”

 

“Easier?” She asked as she turned her head away from him…but he pulled her by the chin forcefully to make her look at him.

 

“Yeah…you know…maybe you won’t mind it so much.” Tony said with the same evil grin.

 

“What are you gonna do to me?” She asked with a small, terrified voice as he held her chin tightly.

 

“Me…you…and four of my buddy’s…are gonna have a little fun…take pictures…and show them to your cop friends.” He told her and then he laughed in her face. “Kelly knows how to take good pictures…nobody’s face but yours…What do you think Officer Hutchinson will say about that?”

 

Cassie’s face turned a pale white as the tears began to fall. How could she ever look at him again? Hutch was all she had left…the only person left in the world who cared anything for her…and they were going to do this horrible thing to him…to her…to them both. All she could do was cry. He had her…and there was no way out.

 

Tony released her and stood up to watch as she fell apart in front of him. He enjoyed it…her suffering…her torment…it turned him on.

 

He turned to walk away leaving the tainted drink behind on the dirt floor. When the door closed her crying grew a little louder…as her spirit weakened. It was a hopeless situation.

 

Then…she looked down at the cup…and she felt she really had no other choice…it was going to happen…and she didn’t want to know. She didn’t want to feel it…and she knew he was right. It would make her not care…about anything…and she needed that right now. She didn’t want to care…and so…

 

She drank it…all of it…every last drop.

 

-------------------------------------------------