THE HOLD-UP
By KerryOK
The week had actually gone better than Hutch had expected. He was very nervous about his parents'
visit. He always visited them. It was easier in Minnesota. They couldn't put his life under a
microscope there. But there was no
getting out of it this year. His
parents were determined to pay their only son a visit. And having the excuse to bring the grandkids
to Disneyland made it impossible for him to refuse. He did love having his niece and nephew visit. They really loved
their Uncle Ken and were thrilled to stay at his place.
The trip to Disneyland was the grand
finale to a pretty hectic week. He and
Starsky played tour guides of Southern California. From Los Angeles to San Diego, they hit all the tourist spots.
The kids
loved seeing all the sites, they were great little troopers. They never complained; they enjoyed being
with Uncle Ken and Uncle Dave. The uncles enjoyed the kids too. They were great kids. Starsky had come to call Hutch's
five-year-old nephew, Erik, Little Hutch.
He couldn't help but think that the adorable blond haired boy was just
as Hutch was as a child. The boy was also Hutch's shadow; he followed him
everywhere. Erik's, seven-year-old
sister, Greta, was a beautiful, blue-eyed angel with long wavy blond hair. She liked Starsky and he reveled in spoiling
her. Hutch's mom, Elsa, was a gorgeous blond woman. She had fine Scandinavian
features, and big blue eyes. His dad,
Karl, was a handsome distinguished looking man, well dressed, his thinning
blond hair now mixed with gray. That
was one thing Starsky couldn't get over, these people were SO blond. When he was with them he felt like the
gingerbread man meets the snow people.
Starsky was at Hutch's apartment at
9:00 am sharp. He was just as excited
as the kids to be going to Disneyland were. "Well you guys ready to meet
Mickey Mouse?" Starsky said as he came through the door. "Yes!" They responded in unison. "Well then let's get a move on, times a
wasting. Ready Hutch?" "Yes I am.
We have to stop by the hotel and meet my folks. They want to follow us." "Fine,
come on, Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to Disneyland we go, Hi Ho Hi Ho…" Starsky
sang his ditty all the way to the Torino and the kids sang along.
"Uncle Ken are mommy and daddy
meeting us at Disneyland?" Greta asked.
"Yes honey they are."
Hutch's sister, Kirsten and her husband Leif had been enjoying a second
honeymoon, but decided to finish off the week with the family in
Disneyland. They were all going home
tomorrow.
They were at the hotel by 9:15. "ETA at Disneyland, 10:30."
Starsky said looking at his watch. "Um, well one quick stop
Starsk." "Where?"
Starsky was a man on a mission and didn't like the unplanned detour. "I have got to stop at the bank. It's just a few blocks away and on our way
to the freeway." Hutch said a little apologetically.
Starsky pulled in front of the bank,
but noticed the "No Parking" sign and pulled around back to the
parking lot. "Starsk, you could
have dropped me off in front, the sign said no parking, not no
standing." "Well, uh, I think
I should use the facilities." Starsky said sheepishly. Hutch shook his head. "The coffee I had before I picked you
guys up, just hit home." Hutch
laughed. Hutch's parents parked next to
them. "Why we stopping here?"
Elsa asked. "I need to get some cash Mom."
The kids were right behind them. Hutch turned to them, "You two can stay
here in the car with grandma and grandpa, we'll be right out." "I
want to come too." Greta grabbed Starsky's hand. "I have to go to the bathroom." Erik whined. "Okay Erik, no problem." Hutch
took him by the hand. "How about
you Greta?" "No, I went before we left, Mommy always says we should
go BEFORE we go for a car ride." She said in a scolding tone at Erik. Erik
started to cry. "I forgot!"
"It's all right Erik." Hutch assured him. "You remembered
now, that's what counts."
The foursome entered the bank. "Hey Hutch, where's the bathroom?"
Starsky asked. "How should I know." "It's your bank."
"Yeah, but I am never here long enough to need to use the
bathroom." Starsky rolled his
eyes. "I got to go bad Uncle Dave." Erik was doing the pee pee
dance. "Hold on." Starsky
walked over to the customer service representative. "Hi, we need to use your restroom - now." He said
gesturing toward Erik. "Well we don't have a public restroom sir."
Was the curt reply. "Well ma'am you will have one right in front of your
desk in about a minute." She looked at Erik who looked like he was ready
to explode. She decided to direct them to the closest restroom. She pointed to
the office directly behind her desk.
"There is a restroom in the bank manager's office."
"Smart move." Starsky winked at her and ran Erik into the restroom.
Hutch was finishing up at the teller
when he got a tap on the shoulder.
"Hey Huggy, what's up?" "Just depositing my earnings from
last night." "And you?" Hutch replied smiling, "Getting
some money, cause we're going to Disneyland." Huggy looked down at Greta.
"That's right. Well have fun little lady." "Why don't you come Uncle Huggy?" Greta smiled at him.
"I would love to sweetie, but I can't today." "Aw, but we had so
much fun at the zoo." "I know, maybe next time you come out to
visit." Huggy patted her on the head. "Okay, I guess." Greta
pouted. Huggy walked up to the teller's
window.
Hutch and Greta were about to leave
the bank, when all hell broke loose.
**********
"Everyone lie down on the
floor! Now!" The loud booming voice scared Greta and she clung to her
uncle. "It's gonna be okay angel." Hutch tried to console her. "We will just do what the man
says." Hutch, with his arm around Greta, Huggy and two other customers, an
older white haired gentleman in a three piece suit and a 40 something attractive
woman, who obviously had money because she was wearing some very expensive
jewelry, all laid in a row on the floor.
Then the man ordered the customer service rep from her desk along with
the loan officer to lay down on the floor. He ordered the three tellers to come
out from their windows. The head teller
was able to set off the silent alarm.
The three gunmen were all wearing
ski masks. The one that was barking out
the orders, was a short white man with a slight build. If he were a woman, you would say he was
petite. He definitely had a Napoleon
complex. The other two didn't say a
word. They just held everyone at gunpoint.
"OK, everyone does what they are told and everyone lives."
"He looked around the bank and walked towards the bank manager's office.
Starsky and Erik were hiding under the bank
manager's desk. He headed there as soon
as he heard the gunmen enter the bank.
The gunman stepped into the office and looked around quickly, he checked
the bathroom. "Where is the
manager?" He yelled out to anyone that would know the answer. "He
called in sick today." The customer service rep answered. The gunman came
out of the office. "Lucky for him."
After the gunman left the office,
Starsky was able to start breathing again. He held Erik tightly. "It is
gonna be okay, easy honey. Don't be afraid, I'm right here." He tried to
sound as soothing as possible to try and calm the frightened child. He had to get Erik out of the bank. "Hey Little Hutch. You must be as quiet as a mouse. We are going to head back to the
bathroom." There was a small
window in there. He figured Erik could
fit through. He also figured the cops
would be here any minute. And if Erik got out, he could give the cops a message
about Starsky's situation. He needed a
gun too. He didn't have his because
'who takes a gun to Disneyland?' The
window was the way for Erik to get out and guns to get in.
Starsky had his fingers crossed. It was a long shot. It was easy getting to the desk, with all
the commotion going on at first, but now it was quiet. The manager's desk faced the door. But with the angle of the open door he
figured there was only about a foot of space where they could be spotted. He could see the gunmen pretty good from a slot
in the bottom of the desk. Luckily they
were not paying attention to the office because they believed it was
empty.
Sirens were blaring. Two patrol cars showed up at the bank. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson were just now
becoming aware that something was terribly wrong. They approached the policemen
and told them that Hutch, Starsky, and the children were in the bank.
The leader, who held the head teller
at gunpoint as she filled a bag up with money, went livid when he heard the
sirens. "You set off the
alarm!" He screamed at the trembling teller. "Well I guess the game
has just changed."
He headed for the front entrance. He screamed to the police officers,
"Okay cops, I got hostages in here.
We play by my rules and no one gets hurt! I've got a wish list. I've also got 10 hostages, so I get a lot of
wishes!" The officers called into headquarters and apprised them of the
situation. Captain Dobey came to the
scene.
Starsky took advantage of the
situation and got himself and Erik into the bathroom.
Huggy looked over at Hutch who was
next to him on the floor. He whispered, "Got any ideas?" Hutch shook
his head. "Huggy I don't even have my gun." "Huh?" Huggy
was not happy to hear that. "Why?" "We were going to Disneyland,
I didn't think I'd needed it."
"First, me and my pals are
hungry. We want breakfast. Scrambled eggs, cheese and bacon on a roll
sound good to me. And coffee." The
leader was testing his power. "I want a dozen of them. Don't try to drug them, my guests here will
be testing them out for me." "Okay, okay no problem." Dobey
responded. "How about you telling me your name?" "No, no names,
just call me Boss." "Fine Boss, but if we give you something how
about giving us someone, one hostage, as a show of good faith."
"Screw you!" Boss shouted. "Bring me the food, you've got 10
minutes!" Hutch spoke up, "You know Boss, letting this little girl
go, it will make it easier…" "Shut up, who asked you!" Hutch
pressed, "No one, I'm just telling you, you should let the girl go."
"I think letting the child go
is a good idea." The deep mellow
voice of the second gunman, Huggy recognized.
He looked up at the man, he could see he was a black man. He looked into the deep ebony eyes. He knew him. It was an old acquaintance of his from his old neighborhood. His
name was Little John. He was anything
but little though at 6'4" and at 325 lbs.
Huggy couldn't believe he was involved in this. He was a petty thief, a hustler. But armed robbery? "What you looking
at." He stared at Huggy. Huggy just lowered his head.
"Why, should I let her go. I am the boss! I make the rules." Boss bellowed. Little John calmly spoke. "She goes." He walked over to
Greta, "Come on child, you're leaving." She clung tighter to Hutch.
"Nooooo!" She wailed. "I won't leave you!" "Greta,
listen to me, the man says you should go, remember I told you we do what he
says." Hutch soothed. "What about you!" She cried. "I'll be leaving soon too." Hutch
looked up at Little John hoping he would say something to assure her.
"Sure." Little John pulled her up and led her to the door. She looked
back at Hutch who just smiled at her and nodded to her that it was okay to
leave. Greta ran out of the bank and
into her grandparents' loving embrace.
The bathroom window was a narrow
window that you had to crank open. It
was high; Starsky had to get on his tiptoes to see out of it. He knew they were ground level, he figured
the drop from the window to the ground to be no more than 10 feet.
"Ok, Little Hutch, this is the deal. I am going to lower you out of this
window. Then you go to a
policeman. You give him this
note." Starsky had gotten a pen
and paper off of the desk. "This
is a very important job. But I know you can do it." The boy's eyes were
wide. "I CAN do it Uncle Dave. That's why you call me Little Hutch, right,
I am brave and strong like my Uncle Ken." Starsky smiled at him.
"That's right. Now up you go. I am going to hold on to you as long as I
can, but you are going to have to jump." Erik nodded.
Starsky
turned over the waste paper basket so he could reach the window easier. Erik threw his arms around Starsky. He buried his face into his shoulder and
wept, "What about Uncle Ken and Greta?" "They will be just fine.
You just concentrate on your job, okay?" The boy lifted his head
and gave Starsky a nod. Starsky lifted Erik out of the window and slowly
lowered him down. He held on as long as
possible then softly called to Erik to jump.
The boy did it. The first part
of the mission accomplished.
Erik ran to the front of the bank to
the happy arms of his grandparents. He
gave the note to a police officer, which took it to Dobey. "This is good." Dobey said to the
hostage negotiator, Capt. Bill Carter.
"One of my detectives, Sgt. Starsky is in there, unbeknownst to the
gunmen. He wants us to get some guns to
him through the bathroom window in the rear of the building."
Dobey walked over to Mr. Hutchinson. "Mr.
Hutchinson, I think you should take your wife and grandchildren across the
street to that restaurant. We will let
you know the minute anything changes."
Mr. Hutchinson hated to leave but he knew that is was the best thing to
do.
The food arrived. No one touched it, except for the silent
member of the trio. The other two looked at him. "I'm hungry." The
tall slender but muscular white man shrugged. "I don't know where you put
it all Slim." Little John chuckled.
Boss yelled to the police, "I want a bullhorn,
my voice is starting to hurt from yelling." He felt powerful with his new toy. "I want a Cadillac here in 30 minutes and ten thousand
dollars in cash. You guys have any
requests?" He looked at his associates. "I could use a beer."
Slim responded. "A six pack
too." Boss added to his list.
"That's it for now. But I'm
just getting started!" Little John walked over to him, "Settle down,
Boss, we got to be thinking of how we are getting out of this. We definitely
don't want more than we can carry."
Hutch was frustrated. He hated being
powerless to do anything. At least Greta got out of the bank. He hoped Starsky had got something going and
most of all had gotten Erik out somehow too.
Starsky waited for what seemed like
an eternity for a cop to deliver the guns.
All he wanted were two automatics and clips. Finally he heard a shrill whistle. He looked out the window, Patrolman Bernie Glassman was climbing
up a ladder guns and clips in hand.
"Great Bernie." Starsky picked up the guns and clips and was
about to step down from the window when Bernie whispered he had some tear gas
canisters. Before Starsky could react,
he put four canisters on the windowsill.
Starsky tried to collect them but one crashed to the floor and
exploded.
"What the hell!" Boss roared. He charged toward the office. The room was
filled with the tear gas. Boss lifted
his shirt over his face and tried to scan the room. He noticed the open bathroom window. "Damn cops! They
tried to get in here! They threw tear
gas in!" He yelled to Little John and Slim. Filled with rage, he fired at the bathroom window. He left the office slamming the door behind
him.
Boss grabbed the bullhorn, "You
goddamn, lousy cops! You are gonna pay for this!" Dobey replied,
"Boss, okay, okay, the car is on its way." "FU you SOB
liar." Dobey looked at Bernie,
"What the hell happened?" "I gave Starsky the guns, I thought he
had all the canisters. One fell."
"Just great." Dobey growled.
Capt. Carter tried to diffuse the
situation. "Boss listen to me, the car will be here in a few minutes, the
money will take a little more time." "Well it just went up to $30,000
for that stunt!" Boss roared.
Carter continued, "Fine. A
plane and pilot will be at your disposal at Santa Monica Airport within the
hour. See you didn't even have to ask
for that. Just calm down. Everyone will make it through this, if we
keep our eye on the prize. You and your
pals on your way to wherever you want, and we get nine alive and well
hostages." "You'll get what I say you get!" Boss was on the
warpath. Carter told Dobey that they had better get the gunmen to move from the
bank within the hour. The longer they were in there, the more likely it was that
people would die.
Starsky emerged from the closet
where he went for cover from the tear gas.
The air was clearing.
"Damn, I didn't even ask for any tear gas, just guns." Starsky
muttered to himself. Now the door was
closed. He didn't know what was going
on out there.
Hutch realized he had to find a way
to get into that office. How could Starsky make a move if he can't
see what was going on out here. Hopefully he was all right and got some guns
through all of this. Hutch thought to himself. He was desperate to figure out a way to get to Starsky. He had no idea that the events of the next
few minutes would take any hope away of him gaining control of the situation.
*********
"Look man, we've got to get out
of here. Let's move it." Little John urged. "Yeah, yeah. How
much cash you think we got from here?" Boss asked Slim. Slim looked in the bag. "I dunno, a few
thousand." "What! All this
for a few thousand!" Boss was fuming.
"Well you just told them to bring us thirty grand." Slim reminded
him. That wasn't enough for Boss. He
looked at his hostages. He noticed the
woman with the jewelry and got to thinking, "These folks may have some
loot. Slim, Little John let's see what we can get out of them."
The gunmen lined the hostages against
the wall. First they had them hand over
all of their jewelry, watches, rings etc.
They took the women's purses and dumped them out. They took the men's
wallets. Huggy looked at Hutch and saw
that he was becoming uneasy. "What's the matter?" He mouthed to him.
Hutch didn't answer. He just hoped they
would be satisfied with the wallet. He
may not have brought his gun, but he did have his shield.
"Boy you fellas don't carry much cash do
you?" Boss said has he looked through the wallets. "Empty your pockets!" This was what Hutch had hoped wouldn't
happen. The thieves watched as the men
emptied their pockets. "All of
them Blondie!" Boss screamed at Hutch.
"You have all the money I had on me." Hutch said softly. Boss pushed Hutch up against the wall. "Spread 'em!" He said with an evil
laugh. "I always wanted to say that. Cops get all the best lines." He
patted down Hutch, but it only took him a second to find the shield in his back
pants pocket.
Boss pulled out the shield. "We've got a cop! We've got a
cop!" He screamed with a warped glee.
He dragged Hutch by the hair to the front entrance and screamed at the
top of his lungs. "Listen up people, new rules, new game. It's called I've got a cop! And the first rule is, you play you
pay." He rammed the butt of his rifle into Hutch's middle and then again
into his side. When the blonde doubled
over in excruciating pain, he hit him in the side of the head. Blood poured from the wound and he couldn't
open his left eye. The battered detective collapsed in pain onto the floor.
Dobey watched in horror. "Boss, stop. We said
unharmed hostages! "This is
payback for the tear gas!" He
aimed his pistol at Hutch. Little John spoke up, "Boss no, killing a cop
carries the death penalty. I am not
going to die for you. We came here to
rob a bank, not kill anyone, let alone a cop." Boss glared at Little John, and then turned and fired at Hutch.
Starsky was listening to everything
unfold as he leaned against the office door. His heart fell when he heard the
gunshot. OH God, please let him still be
alive. The next few words he heard, were a comfort, but he knew Hutch was
in grave danger.
"Boss, why the hell did you do
that, damn." Little John was losing his patience with him. "He's not dead. I just shot him in the leg." Huggy spoke directly to Little John,
"Hey man, let me go to him."
Starsky knew that he had to take advantage of the
first opportunity that presented itself to end this thing. He had to do
something very soon or Hutch was dead.
And most likely the other people in the bank too.
No one responded to Huggy request so he inched his
way over to Hutch. "Hey Hutch,
how's it going?" Hutch was having
great difficulty breathing.
"Look Little John." Huggy began. Little John was taken aback that Huggy knew
his name. "You know me?" He asked. "Yeah, man remember, Isaac's
cousin, Huggy Bear. We used to play
baseball over at Robinson Field." "Yeah, I remember, you still skinny
man." Huggy chuckled. "What can say?" "Enough of this
reunion!" Boss barked. "Let
me try to do something about these injuries, let me move him to the couch,
right over there." Huggy pointed to the couch across from the customer
service desk. "Go ahead." Boss said.
"I could use some help." "Look Huggy Bear, you want him
on the couch you do it yourself."
Huggy leaned down by Hutch, "Do
you think you can stand, it's only a few feet." Little John bent over and
picked Hutch up off of the floor, as if he were lifting a small child. He placed him on the couch. Huggy nodded his
head and said, "Thanks man."
"I don't like the looks of that
head injury Hutch." "I have a concussion, for sure Hug, I can't open
my eye either. I know I have a broken
rib or two, I think I may have a collapsed lung. Hard to breathe, my head hurts
like hell." "Man you are a
wealth of medical information. You could've been a doctor." Huggy knew
that Hutch studied pre-med in college. "So doc, what's your diagnosis on
your leg?" Huggy was trying to keep it light for all it was worth.
"It's numb, but the bullet didn't hit an artery, but it is still bleeding
pretty good I guess." Yeah it is." Huggy turned to Little John.
"I need a first aid kit, I've got to stop the bleeding in his leg and
clean up the head wound. Please."
Boss didn't say anything. "Where's there a first aid kit?"
Little John asked the head teller. "In the bank manager's office, in the
bathroom there is one." She replied.
Huggy started to head for the
office. Boss yelled at him. "Where the hell you think you going!"
"I'm going to get the first aid kit." "Not alone, you're not,
Slim, go with him."
Boss picked up the bullhorn,
"Listen up, you have 15 minutes to deliver the $30,000. Then me and my buddies are on our way to the
airport with three hostages." He looked
at the five women, the three tellers, the customer service rep and the 40
something woman, lying on the floor. "I'm just not sure yet who the lucky
ones will be."
"Look, Boss, we are working on
the money. It will be here. How about letting another hostage go. A show
of good faith." Carter had his fingers crossed. "You want a hostage, how about a dead cop! No one leaves
until I say they leave. End of conversation!" Boss threw the bullhorn onto
the floor.
************
Starsky's opportunity had finally
arrived. He waited behind the door,
ready to make his move. He held his
breath as the door opened. Huggy walked
passed him into the bathroom. Slim followed.
In a precision move, Starsky rammed the barrel of his gun into Slim's
mouth and forced him into the bathroom.
He had a wad of gauze that he had gotten out of the first aid kit, and
shoved it into his mouth then taped it shut with surgical tape. He sat him on the toilet and taped his hands
behind his back.
Starsky mind was racing ahead to his
next move, but of course he asked, "How's Hutch?" "He's
hurting." Huggy replied, "but
dare I say we're almost outta this?" Starsky just nodded, "With a
little luck." He picked up a glass
and smashed it onto the tile floor.
Then he fired a shot towards the door. On cue, Huggy yelled, "Slim
man, whatcha doing. Don't kill me!" Good improv, Starsky thought. It
really didn't matter what he said as long as it got Boss's attention. It sure did.
"What the hell is going on in
there Slim?" Slim, of course, did not answer. "Slim, Slim, what the
hell is going on!" Boss headed for the office. Starsky was watching from behind the door and he held Slim at
gunpoint. He kept Boss and Little John
in his sight.
When
Boss got within a couple of feet of the doorway, Starsky led Slim to the
doorway and pushed him into Boss. Slim toppled over into him, knocking the
small man down. Starsky lunged forward,
landing his knee into Slim's back and aiming one gun at Little John and the
other at Slim and Boss. Little John was
taken by surprise and had no time to reach for his gun. Boss tried to move. "Don't try it, if
you think this gun can't put a hole through Slim here and right into you, you
are sadly mistaken." Starsky said never taking his eyes off Little John.
"Little John, hands up and keep
them there. Move even a millimeter and
I promise, I won't miss." Starsky
yelled to Huggy. "Call in the reinforcements."
The cops rushed into the bank. The gunmen where placed under arrest. The hostages were safe. It was over.
Starsky ran to Hutch. "Hey pal, we made it. How
you doing?" Starsky was stroking the fine blond hair. "I think I'll
live." The paramedics came in and moved Hutch onto the stretcher.
"Starsk." "Yeah Hutch." "Do me a favor?"
"Name it." "Take the kids to Disneyland, okay?" Starsky
laughed. "Sure pal, after we get you to the hospital and I hear from the
doc you're gonna be all right, I'll take them to Disneyland." "I'm gonna be fine." Hutch said
with authority. "Well sue me Dr. Hutchinson, if I want to hear your prognosis
from someone who graduated from medical school." Starsky helped lift the
stretcher into the ambulance.
The doctor gave Hutch the same
prognosis that he had given himself. So
Starsky, Erik, Greta and Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson went to Disneyland. There was no arguing with Hutch. Huggy even went. He decided he could use a little Fantasyland after what went down
this morning.
The group, which now included
Hutch's sister, Kirsten and her husband, Leif, traipsed into Hutch's hospital
room around 11:30 PM.
"How'd you guys get in
here?" Hutch was happy to see them.
He looked much better too. The swelling around his eye had almost
completely gone down. "We
have a way of making people see things our way, schweetheart." Starsky
said doing his best Bogart.
"How you doing little
brother?" Kirsten said as she bent over to kiss him on the cheek. "Much better now that you all are
here." "My turn." Hutch's mom gave him a big wet kiss. "You
didn't think we'd be able to leave tomorrow morning without seeing you and
saying goodbye."
"Uncle Ken, look what we
brought you from Disneyland." Erik placed the Mouseketeer hat, with Hutch
embroidered on it, on his head. "See it's just like mine, 'cept mine has
Little Hutch on it!" He turned around so Hutch could see the name.
"Very nice buddy."
Starsky was just standing in the
corner of the room with a smile on his face a mile wide. "What are you grinning about,
Starsk? You look like the cat that
swallowed the canary." Then Hutch really looked at his friend and saw his
eyes were glistening with unshed tears. And Hutch just returned the mile wide
smile with one of his own.