CHAPTER 3

Both Starsky and Hutch spent the night at the station going over all their les and making sure her picture was circulated through the department and that every cop that walked in that morning got a good look at it. They had narrowed their search down to parolees and escapees from the past year and still had 20 possibles. But that was only out of the ones that the department had been made aware of.  There could be others that weren’t on the books yet and they could still be barking up the wrong tree.  It could be someone that they didn’t know…that didn’t want anything more than to rape her and dump her body somewhere.  The thought was eating at Starsky’s mind but he kept pushing it away…it would be like giving up hope.  And he just couldn’t do that.

A couple of younger police officers made their way into the squad room at around 7:00AM.  They were talking to each other as they sat down with a cup of coffee and picked up the paperwork that had been placed on the desk.

Current felons and missing persons and other reports for them to go over before hitting the streets…and among these was the report on Cassie and the picture attached.

Starsky and Hutch were still going through files and listening to the portable police band radio that Hutch had placed on his desk to keep abreast of any sightings of her.  They had noticed all the other officers as they came and went that morning…but they were too tired and too into what they were doing to bother to look up.

 Officer Brian Palmer and his Partner Tom Hill, began to thumb through the paperwork that they found in their in box as they sat down.  Brian picked up the file with Cassie’s picture and whistled….

“Would ya look at that…” He remarked as he held it in his hands. “It says here that there were signs of a struggle at the scene and she is suspected to have been kidnapped.”

“Yeah….so.” Tom replied.

“So just look at her…I mean…we’re never gonna find her alive.” He told him. “She’s probably already been raped and dumped by now…girls like that are only taken for one reason.”

With that Starsky leaped from his chair and jumped over the table to the other side where Hutch grabbed him by the arm to hold him back. If he hadn’t caught hold of him at that moment …he knew that young detective would be choking on that report. Because Starsky was about to ram it and his fist down his throat.

“Take it easy Starsk…he doesn’t know.” Hutch said as he held onto him.

Officer Palmer had heard the chair as it slid with a loud racking noise when Starsky pushed it out from underneath him and stood up.  It had made him look over in that direction and he watched as the hot-tempered Detective started after him.  He was frozen in place with both fear and disbelief as he wondered what the hell he had said to ruffle the feathers of the ‘Station house Lunatic’.  Only Hutch could keep his temper under control and at this moment Hutch was the only thing standing between them.

“What..” Brian said as he backed away and took shelter behind his own partner “Keep him away from me…He’s Crazy!”

Starsky glared at him as he allowed himself to be restrained by his partner…only because deep down inside the guy was probably right. Still as a cop he should keep those kind of comments to himself.

“Don’t assume anything…You just do what your paid to do and keep your eyes open for her. Take a look at her. Take a real good look…until you burn her image into your puny little narrow-minded brain. Then let us know if she walks right up to you and spits in your face.”  He told him sarcastically. “That is if you can recognize her.”

“Sure…I hear ya.” He said as he stood there shaking. “Take it easy.”

Dobey arrived at 7:30 and was surprised to see the two of them there so early.  One look at them and he knew that they had probably been there all night.  Hutch’s shirt was untucked and Starsky looked like hell. Something was obviously going on…and he hadn’t been informed.

“Ok…in my office.” He said as he opened the door and stepped inside.

They laid the whole story out for him in a matter of a few minutes and both made it clear that they weren’t gonna rest until she was found…one way or the other.  Dobey knew that he really didn’t have a choice but to let them handle it.  He had seen that same look of determination on their faces before.   They wouldn’t be of any use to him until she was found and besides all that he had grown fond of her too.  He knew what he would be going through if,  God forbid, it had been one of his own kids.

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There was a knock on the door that startled all three of them. One of the men who had been playing cards got up and walked over to the door.

“Yeah..” He said as he waited for a response.

“It’s me.” Came a voice from the other side of the door.

Cassie had been awake and hadn’t spoken another word to them during her captivity.  She just listened and waited…out of fear and also out of something in the back of her mind that told her that she would be better off by keeping quiet.  She didn’t know why they had taken her but she knew that she was obviously just part of a bigger plan. At least that was the impression she had gotten from their hushed conversation.

The door was unlocked and opened and a short balding man with what little hair he had remaining…totally gray entered the room.  He looked to be at least fifty or better and his rough exterior and disposition told her that he must have had a hard life.  He spoke in low tones to the other two men for a moment and then approached her.

“I bet your wondering why you’re here?” He said with a half-smile.

“The thought had crossed my mind.” She told him as she crept a little further away from him on the bed.  He had weird eyes.  Like he might be a little crazy.  A little crazy…she thought to herself…of course he was…he kidnapped me didn’t he?

“Don’t worry…you’ll be alright as long as you do and say exactly what I tell you to.” He told her. “If you cooperate…you’ll be released unharmed.”

“Why did you pick me?” She asked.

“Because you hold a certain value.” He answered. “To a certain pair of  cops.” He said with a smile.

He did know who she was and who Dave was.  But at least she knew now that he wouldn’t hurt her…that is if he was really telling her the truth.

He pulled a notebook from one of the dresser drawers and opened it up to a particular page. Then he walked over to the phone and began to dial a number. As it began to ring he grabbed her forcibly by the arm and sat her down in a chair in front of it.  

“Now all you have to do is read exactly what’s on the paper. Don’t try to say anything else.” He told her as he held the phone to her ear and bent down close and held the receiver at an angle so he could listen.

  She knew that she better do as she was told and so she took a deep breath and waited for the party on the other line to answer. Then a voice came on the line…a familiar voice that made her heart jump!

“Hutchinson….”

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  Chapter 4
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