Chapter 3

While the two detectives were preparing themselves for the future, Peggy Holder was contemplating the past. Most of her life had been filled with unhappiness. When her father died after a long illness, Peggy decided it was time for a change. She gathered her courage and cleaned out her savings account, and moved to L.A., hoping for a better life. Things had not gone well so far. Her pitiful savings didn’t last long, she couldn’t find a decent job, and the apartment she was living in wasn’t fit for humans. Then she met the man she’d waited her whole life to meet. He treated her as no one ever had, with kindness and devotion. His attentions were the one thing that made her miserable life seem worthwhile. On this particular night, she was sure he was going to propose. Then she would have everything she had dreamed about. She could say good-bye to this filthy apartment and that pitiful job. As she waited for him to come, she thought about how wonderful her life would be. He was so good to her! No one had ever bought the kinds of things that he had given her. The candlelight dinners at the most expensive restaurants and the long, romantic drives in his convertible seemed like a dream. She was putting the finishing touches on her make-up when he arrived.

“Oh, Danny, they’re beautiful!” She reached out for the bouquet of fresh flowers that he had in his hand. Finding a vase that looked sadly out of place, she quickly ran some water and put the flowers in it. “You’re always so good to me, Danny; you make me feel guilty.”

“Why should you feel guilty, baby-cakes? A pretty girl like you, all alone in this big city, you deserve a little TLC.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Danny. I know how busy you are. It makes me feel special that you spend so much time with me.”

“You are special, babe. Now, come on, grab that pretty jacket that I bought you, and let’s go. We’ve got reservations, and I’m starved.”

Dinner was as romantic as all the others had been. Peggy kept waiting for him to pop the question and when he didn’t, told herself that he was waiting for the right moment. When he suggested going to the hotel around the corner, her spirits soared. He wanted to ask her in private, that’s all. He didn’t feel comfortable proposing in a public place. By the time they reached the hotel, Peggy was breathless with anticipation. However, when they entered the hotel room, Danny’s mood changed.

He never even mentioned marriage. Instead, he pulled her close to him, kissing her passionately and running his hands all over her body. She responded at first, but when he became rough with her, she balked. Trying to put a light touch on the situation, she laughed.

“I guess we shouldn’t have had that last glass of wine. I mean, we don’t want to do anything we’ll be sorry for in the morning.”

“Oh, come on, baby-cakes, you’re not a kid anymore. Come on; show Danny a little appreciation for everything he’s done for you. How about a little taste, huh? Show me that fire.”

“Danny, no. Please stop. Stop it, Danny!” She pushed him away. “I don’t want to do this.”

“Who are you kidding, baby-cakes? You think I’m some dumb hick from that one-horse town you call home? This is the real world, kid. It’s time you grew up. Playtime is over. Now, come here.”

He tried to grab her again, but she eluded him. Shocked by the sudden change in him, she felt the first kernels of fear.

“Danny, I don’t understand. I thought you loved me. I thought you wanted to marry me.”

“Marry you? You really are living in a dream world, aren’t you? Why would I want to marry a nothing like you? Now, you listen to me, bitch. I didn’t spend all that dough on you for nothing. Come here!”

Terrified, she tried to run, but he caught her and threw her onto the bed. She saw his fist coming toward her head and then mercifully, everything went away.

Hutch was finally starting to get the hang of his computer when Dobey strode through the door.

“Come on, you two. We’ve got our first assignment.”

Starsky and Hutch grabbed their coats and followed their captain. Leaving their cars behind, Starsky jumped into the driver’s seat of Dobey’s car while Hutch climbed in the back. Following Dobey’s directions, they went to the alley between Kruger and Holland Avenue. They drove slowly through the black-and-whites gathered around the entrance. Nodding to the uniformed officers, the three men stopped at a body lying underneath a sheet. Crouching down beside the body, Starsky lifted a corner. She was young, and pretty. From the marks around the neck, they could tell she’d been strangled.

Starsky looked up. “Captain?”

“This is the third victim in the past four months. The MO is the same in every one. Each girl was beaten, raped and then strangled. All four were in their mid-twenties, with the same physical description. There’s something else they have in common. None of the victims had any immediate family, or close friends. They all worked minimum wage jobs, all in this area. The employers that took the time to talk to us weren’t any help.”

“In other words, there wasn’t anybody close enough to them to miss them. That’s neat, isn’t it? Whoever did it could do what he wanted, without worrying about somebody filing a missing person’s report. So we’ve got a serial killer on the loose.”

Dobey looked around. “That’s part of it. We’ll discuss the rest of it at the station. Let’s go.”

Once they were back at their desks, Dobey continued. “The Commissioner wants this one taken care of fast. It’s not just the three girls that are dead; it’s who he thinks is responsible for killing them.”

“OK, Cap, we’ll bite. Who does he think it is?”

“From this point on, whatever I say stays in this room. The prime suspect for these homicides is Tommy Carruthers.”

Hutch asked, “The second-in-command to Carmi DiConti? I thought the Feds were getting ready to indict him.”

“They were investigating him, but before they could gather enough evidence to get an indictment, he disappeared. He dropped out of sight for a short time, then surfaced again, here. While he was still in Jersey, there were four more homicides, all with a MO that matches the homicides here. When he left Jersey, the killing stopped. That’s why the Commissioner thinks he’s in town, and up to his old tricks. The Feds have been looking into this, with the cooperation of this department. Now, the Commissioner wants us to take over.”

“Cooperation--how?”

“For the past six months, we’ve had a detective working undercover with the Feds.”

“How deep undercover?”

“She’s been living with Carruthers, posing as his girlfriend.”

Hutch whistled softly. “That is deep. What kind of surveillance do we have?”

“None. Carruthers is paranoid about listening devices. He sweeps his house and his car several times a day. There’s no way we could get a wire in past him. Let me repeat this. No one else knows about this. This girl is walking a tightrope. Because of the way she met Carruthers, he knows she’s a detective.”

“Wait a minute, Cap. You mean that this girl is living with him, in his house, and he KNOWS she’s a cop?”

“That’s what I said, Starsky. However, he doesn’t know that she knows who he really is. Carruthers introduced himself to her as Danny Wilson, and that’s what she calls him. Now you can see why it is imperative that her cover remains intact. One whisper that she knows his true identity, and she’s dead before we can get to her.”

“All I’ve got to say is that’s one gutsy lady! Talk about being out in the cold! Has she been able to get anything solid on Carruthers?”

“She’s picked up a few good leads, mainly from conversations she’s overheard; names that he’s dropped, or places that he’s traveled, supposedly on business. It’s more than the Feds were able to get before now, but still not enough by itself for an indictment. That’s why I want you two to contact her and work together. If we can bring in Carruthers, with her help, that will get this task force off the ground in a big way.”

“OK, who is she and how do we contact her?”

Dobey handed them a small file. The folder was marked Personnel, and in it were two pictures. Hutch looked at them and passed them to Starsky.

Dobey talked while they looked at the file. “Detectives Micki Ellis and Tracy Edwards. Micki is the detective undercover, and Tracy is her partner. Since Carruthers knows Micki’s a detective, that leaves Tracy in a position to move freely. She relays all information that Micki gets, and takes it to the Feds. That way, no one else on the force has access to it. Now, that information will come here. In a strange way, it’s easier since Micki doesn’t have to hide the fact that she’s a police officer.”

Hutch looked up. “What does Carruthers think she does?”

“Micki and Tracy are assigned to the Robbery division. That’s help, too. If Carruthers thought they were in Homicide, or with OCB, he might get nervous. While Micki’s been undercover, I’ve been careful to assign them only to routine cases. She can talk freely about her work without being a threat to Carruthers.”

“Well, at least that’s something. It takes away the need for other contacts, and both these girls can come and go in the station without making Carruthers suspicious. What I don’t get is, he has to know the Feds are investigating him. Why is he still going after these girls? You’d think DiConti would want him to keep a low profile.”

Dobey harrumphed. “Carruthers is an egomaniac. He thinks the police force is too stupid to put him with the homicides. He’s cautious with his business dealings, but when it comes to his personal life, he’s reckless.”

“So, what do you want us to do?”

“Make contact with Micki, and see if she has anything on the homicides. If she does, get it from her. Let her concentrate on the DiConti organization.”

“How do we contact her?”

“Carruthers owns a nightclub as a front for his business dealings with DiConti. Micki and Tracy have had a small band for years. She let that drop to Carruthers, so he put them to work at the club. He thinks it’s a way for him to keep an eye on her. What he doesn’t realize is it gives Micki a way to watch him, too. The club’s called the Torch, on the corner of Millholland

Drive. Contact her there and set up a meeting.”

“OK, what time?”

“She goes on at eight o’clock. Be careful, you two. Carruthers is never far away from that club. Micki’s also noticed a tail whenever she’s out of his sight. Make the contact and let her take it from there.”

“We’ll be careful, Cap. In the meantime, we’ll pull up the files on these homicides and see what they’ve got so far. We’ll keep in touch.”

Hutch had to admit the computers made their job a lot easier. He pulled his chair over to Starsky’s desk, and let him access the file on the homicides. With the touch of a few keys, Starsky pulled the entire file on the investigation. Hutch shook his head.

“Starsk, the next time I rib you about who the brains of this duo is, kick me. I don’t think I’ll ever feel comfortable with these things.”

Starsky grinned back. “I’ll remember you said that.”

Their expressions turned serious as they studied the files. Starsky cursed under his breath.

“None of these girls ever did anybody any harm. None of them had so much as a parking ticket against them. If Carruthers did kill them, he’s one slimy son-of-a-bitch.”

“You got that right. Coroner’s report says they were all murdered in different locations than where the bodies were found. All of them had eaten a few hours before they were killed. They all had bruises, and broken bones as a result of the beatings he gave them, but there’s no evidence they fought back. None of the girls showed signs of drug abuse. The alcohol content in their blood was low, so they weren’t drunk. Nylon fibers were found imbedded in their necks. He probably strangled them with their own pantyhose.”

“OK, so he buys them dinner, with drinks included, then takes them to a hotel. Then he has his fun, and dumps them somewhere else. Some people have really weird hobbies.”

“Really. Well, Carruthers is smooth. He probably targets these girls because he knows they’ll fall for his line. Once he’s gained their confidence, they don’t think about resisting until it’s too late.”

“It says here that Jersey police had very few leads on their end. Only one of the girls was seen with a man at all. He matched Carruthers description, but not close enough for a positive ID.”

“OK, so we have Detectives Ellis and Edwards take a look at he file and see if Carruthers has an alibi for these dates. Then we’ll take Carruthers’ mug shot and see if any of these victims’ employers can recognize him. Even a tentative ID will be better than nothing.”

“Yeah. Hutch, what happens if Carruthers does have a solid alibi? If he was out of town, doing business for DiConti, then he’s not our man.”

“Well, if that happens, then we’ll dump the whole thing in Dobey’s lap. We’ll have to help Ellis concentrate on the racketeering end. Until then, Carruthers is our best bet. Come on, we’d better go. By the time you drop me off and we get changed, it will be time to go to the club.”

The two men didn’t say much on the way to Hutch’s apartment; both men were occupied with their own thoughts. The main person occupying Hutch’s thoughts was Micki Ellis, and the case in which she was involved. Carruthers was a psycho; there was no doubt in his mind. Anyone who thought murdering innocent girls was a worthwhile hobby had to have a screw loose somewhere. Micki Ellis had been living with this man for months. Throw in the fact that he knew she was a cop, and it was like playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun.

“Boy, she must really be something.”

Starsky looked over at him. “What?”

“I was thinking about Micki Ellis. She’s living with Carruthers and playing one Hell of a cat and mouse game. This woman’s either got to have nerves of steel, or she’s just plain suicidal. Why else would anyone with any sense take on an assignment like this?”

“I don’t know. Carruthers is a monster. Maybe she thinks it’s worth the risk if she can put him away for good. The Feds have been after Carruthers and DiConti for a long time. If she can help do that, she’s got my vote.”

“I don’t know, Starsk. I just hope that she’s not reckless enough to get herself killed and us along with her.”

Detective’s Micki Ellis and Tracy Edwards walked through the Homicide squad room and into Dobey’s old office. Special Agent Dale Benton was waiting for them.

“OK, Benton,” Micki said, “what’s so important that you called us in two hours before we go on stage?”

“I have some information for you. You’re going to be getting some help on the Carruthers case.”

Tracy looked at her partner, then back to Benton. “We’ve been on this case for six months. Why are you bringing someone else in on it now?”

“Believe me, it wasn’t my idea. Your Commissioner has a pet project that he’s started, and he wants this investigation as a test case.”

Micki was getting annoyed. “You’re not making any sense, Benton. What’s the Commissioner’s pet project and what does it have to do with us?”

“He’s created a new task force to help with organized crime, among other things. He’s decided that this case falls within their jurisdiction. I’m against it, myself. The more people who know about you, the more fragile your cover becomes.”

“Thanks for your concern, Benton. Is that your only objection to this task force, or do I detect a hint of Bureau rivalry? Maybe you don’t like the idea of anyone horning in on your show.”

“This isn’t my show. I simply don’t see the need for more people to get involved. After all, the FBI has been investigating Carruthers for almost two years.”

Tracy asked quietly, “How far have you gotten in that time, Benton? If you had a solid case, you wouldn’t have to ask Micki for help.”

Benton started to respond, then simply shook his head. “Whether we’ve built a solid case or not is a moot point. The Commissioner has decided that this task force is going to help on the Carruthers case, and that’s the way it will be.”

“OK, so what are they going to do?”

“Are you aware that during the last several months Carruthers was in New Jersey, four young girls were murdered?”

Tracy nodded. “We read the report. The Jersey PD suspected him of committing the crimes. They didn’t pull him in for questioning because they didn’t have a strong case. What’s that have to do with us?”

“In the last four months, three more women have been murdered, with the same MO. Only this time, they were from here.”

Micki looked down at her hands, then quietly said, “That’s after we were assigned to this case. So you’re telling us that he went after those girls while he was supposed to be with me. Well, that makes me feel wonderful.”

“Why should it make you feel anything? You’re not responsible for those girls, Carruthers is. Your only job is to gather enough evidence for an indictment.”

Micki shook her head. “So the fact that three young women were killed while I’ve been playing footsie with Tommy Carruthers shouldn’t bother me at all? I don’t get you Benton. Exactly what IS pumping your blood through your body? God knows, it can’t be your heart.”

“Emotions have no relevance in a case as sensitive as this. All you have to worry about is putting Carruthers behind bars. Two detectives from the task force will make contact with you tonight. They will work on the homicides, which will leave you free to concentrate on the DiConti organization.”

Micki stood and walked to the door, with Tracy behind her. She turned and snapped her heels together. “Yes, mein heir, whatever you say. Heil Hitler!”

Benton stared at Micki’s back. “Now, why did she say that?”

Tracy stopped with her hand on the door. “If you think about it, Benton, you should be able to figure it out.”

Tracy endured her partner’s silence for a few minutes, then asked, “OK, Mick, what’s bothering you?”

“I can’t believe what a monster Danny is. I know it shouldn’t surprise me, but how could he do that? I’ve been congratulating myself because I’ve managed to avoid his advances, and now I find out it’s because he’s going after these girls. I guess I wasn’t exciting enough for him.”

“Micki, Benton was right about one thing. You’re not responsible for what he does. Danny’s the one who should feel guilty.”

“You know what I keep thinking about, Tracy? It’s all those times I couldn’t avoid him. What did he do, kill these girls and then come home and jump in bed with me? You should see how soundly he sleeps. He never tosses and turns. I don’t see how he can do that.”

“People without a conscience seldom have trouble sleeping, Mick.”

On the outside, The Torch looked like any other second rate bar in town. However, when the detectives stepped inside and looked around, Starsky whistled quietly.

“I think we’re a little out of place, partner. Dobey wasn’t kidding about this place being a front for the mob.”

Hutch looked around and then glanced at Starsky. “Well, I hope nobody recognizes us. Let’s find a seat and try to look inconspicuous.”

Luckily, they were able to find a table close enough to the stage to see, but far enough back to blend in with the rest of the audience. Seconds later, the lights dimmed even more. A young man walked out onto the stage, wearing a suit that looked like it had been taken directly from The Godfather set.

“Good evening ladies and germs,” a small titter rippled in the audience, proving how classy it’s patrons were, “Tonight, the Torch is proud to present to you, for your enjoyment, live entertainment!”

The emcee waited for the catcalls and applause to stop then continued, “No, you dopes, not THAT kind of entertainment! Now, straighten up and put your hands together for the California Dreamers!”

The curtain opened and several lights illuminated the band. There were three women and two men, each playing a different instrument. The first chords wafted out over the audience, and a baby spotlight focused on the center of the stage. A woman that Hutch recognized as Micki Ellis stood before a microphone. Hutch admitted to himself that she was beautiful. Her hair was long, straight, and coal black. The spotlight surrounded her, illuminating her features. She stood only five feet, three inches tall and weighed maybe one hundred and ten pounds dripping wet. As she began to sing, the noise in the audience stopped. The music and lyrics were upbeat, and the audience responded by tapping their feet to the music.

Hutch looked around the room, hunting for Tommy Carruthers. Carruthers was standing at the bar, watching the show. Hutch nudged Starsky under the table and nodded in Carruthers’ direction. Starsky shook his head slightly, sharing Hutch’s thoughts. Carruthers was watching Micki, and you could almost see him salivating. It didn’t take a psychic to know what was on his mind.

As Micki finished the last chorus of the song, the lights came on, illuminating the room. The band stood up, and bowed to the audience as the curtain closed.

Starsky and Hutch casually worked their way backstage as the customers milled around them. After making sure no one was paying attention, Starsky knocked quietly on the dressing room door. The door opened slightly and they slipped inside.

Starsky shut the door behind him, then showed Micki his badge. Micki went to the door, and checked outside. Once she was satisfied that no one was close enough to hear, she faced the two detectives.

“Is there something I can help you with, Detective Starsky?”

“This is my partner, Detective Hutchinson. Captain Dobey thought we might be able to help each other on a case.”

Micki handed him a piece of paper. Starsky read the message, which said: be careful of what you say.

“Which case is that?” Micki asked.

Hutch kept his voice even. “It’s one of your Robbery cases. We might have some background on one of your suspects and Dobey suggested we talk to you.”

Micki went to the corner of the room and turned the radio up high. She moved closer to the detectives. “Benton told us you’d be contacting us, but we can’t talk here. Go to this address, and wait. Tracy and I will be there as soon as we can. It’s Tracy’s apartment. We’ll be able to talk without worrying about someone listening. Show your badge to the doorman and tell him it’s official business. That way, when Danny’s goons report back to him, he won’t ask too many questions. Tracy and I should be there in about twenty minutes.”

Starsky took the piece of paper with the address written on it, and moved to the door. “OK. We’d better go before somebody spots us. We’ll see you soon.”

Starsky and Hutch took an evasive route to Tracy Edwards’ apartment. They pulled up in front of a modest complex a few blocks from the Torch. Though they couldn’t see anyone around, they followed Micki’s directions carefully. George, the doorman, let them into Tracy’s apartment. Hutch stationed himself by the door while Starsky watched out the window. The two women arrived a short time later.

“OK, we can talk now. The Captain sends someone over every day to make sure that Danny hasn’t planted any bugs. So, relax gentlemen, and have a beer while Tracy and I change. Then, we can talk.”

They waited until everyone was seated in the living room, then got down to business.

“Do you know that Carruthers is suspected of four homicides in New Jersey, and three more here, Micki?”

“Yes, I read the files. I also know that they couldn’t get enough on him to pull him in for questioning. Benton said you were going to be working on that end. So, what can we do to help?”

“If you can place Carruthers out of town when any of the victims were killed, we’ll know he’s not our man. If you can’t, then he’s the best lead we’ve got.”

“Do you have the file with you?”

Hutch gave Micki the folder. The two women put their heads together and looked over the papers. After a few minutes, Micki looked up at the two men.

“Well, he was definitely in town, and he wasn’t with me at the time of the murders. So what are you going to do? Danny’s smooth. The Jersey police couldn’t pin those homicides on Danny. What makes you think you can?”

“We’re not sure. With you working on the inside, and Starsky and I working the other angles, maybe we can get enough to put a noose around his neck. It’s worth a try.”

Tracy nodded. “I agree. It can’t hurt. Look, it’s late. Why don’t we meet back here after work tomorrow and compare notes? Maybe that will give us a place to start.”

Starsky glanced at his partner. “All right, we’ll see you about six or so. What about Carruthers? Are you going to have trouble getting away?”

“No. Danny knows that Tracy and I work crazy hours. As long as he knows where I am, he won’t get nervous. He’s usually at the club at that time anyway.”

While the detectives were discussing Tommy Carruthers, he was discussing Micki. Whether she knew it or not, and he really didn’t give a damn if she did, Micki wasn’t out of his watchful eye very often. From the moment she had left the club, he knew exactly where she was and what she was doing.

“So after we followed her to her partner’s apartment, we broke it off and came here. We hid real good when those two cops showed up, boss. When we asked the doorman, he said they were on official business, but I still don’t like it. Especially since they was here watching the show.”

“Don’t be so paranoid, Stick. Micki’s a cop. She’s bound to have cops visiting her. She’s always telling me about her work, and she’s not involved in anything that’s linked to the business. The busier she is, the better it is for us. It gives her less time to get suspicious about me.”

“That’s what I don’t get. Why do you keep her around, boss? It’s crazy! You could have any broad you want.”

Carruthers’ voice turned soft, silky and dangerous. “I don’t want any other broad, Stick. I want her. Her being a cop just makes it sweeter. Understand?”

Stick backed up a step and swallowed nervously. “Sure, boss. I didn’t mean nothin’. I wasn’t tellin’ you what to do.”

“Good.” Carruthers laughed. “Take it easy, Stick. I know what I’m doing. Micki doesn’t even know who I really am. She doesn’t have any interest in what I do.”

“What if she ever does? What then, boss?”

“Cops are killed in the line of duty every day, Stick. If Micki ever gets too nosy, then her family will have a nice medal to remember her by.” Both his laugh and the glint in his eye were more than a little dangerous.

Chapter 4

Unaware of the excitement their partners were having, Starsky and Tracy were waist-deep in cardboard boxes. Searching methodically through the old files in the basement of the station, they found Tommy Carruthers’ juvenile file. Starsky slapped the folder against the wall, enveloping them in a cloud of dust.

Coughing and waving his hands to dispel the cloud, Starsky said, “Let’s get out of here. I’ve choked on enough dust for one day. How about going to the cafeteria and grabbing a bite to eat? We can read this after dinner.”

“That sounds good to me.”

Starsky picked his usual meat loaf and mashed potatoes, and laughed when Tracy picked the same thing.

“Ah, a girl after my own heart. I knew there was a reason why I liked you.”

Tracy laughed with him. “I happen to like meat loaf. I’ll prove it. When we close this case, I’ll fix you a home-cooked meal. I’ve got the best recipe for meat loaf you’ve ever tasted.”

“It’s a deal. Just say when, and I’ll be there.”

They found a table away from the other people and sat down to eat. The conversation was light until they finished their meal. Then, putting their heads together, they went through the file.

Tracy looked up from her reading. “You were right, Dave. Danny went to school with that girl and sat right behind her. She probably went with him that day because she trusted him; maybe she even had a crush on him. Then when he got her away from the school, he attacked her. It says here that her parents wouldn’t press charges because they didn’t want it made public. How much do you want to bet that the real reason was they were afraid of Danny?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. It says here that they moved away soon after the incident. Then Carruthers moved a few months after that. Looks like Daddy was trying to get his boy away from the authorities before they decided to press charges anyway.”

“It definitely establishes an early pattern. I wonder how many more skeletons there are in Danny’s closet. How many more incidents were never reported?”

“Unfortunately, we’ll never know. What we could do is have the Feds check the juvenile records back east and see if Carruthers behaved himself after they moved. The more we get on this guy, the better I like him for these murders. I want to make damn sure the noose is tight around his neck when we get ready to bring him down.”

“With everything we’ve gotten so far, I don’t think we’re going to have much trouble convincing a jury that he’s guilty.”

“I only hope we can get him in front of a jury. I’m getting tired of playing around with this guy. I’ll be glad when we can put him behind bars. Well, anyway, there isn’t much more that we can do tonight. How about we go have a drink and relax a little, then I’ll drive you home?”

“That sounds good. Micki and I haven’t had too much time to relax since this case started. It would be nice to forget about Danny for a while and talk about something besides work.”

The two detectives spent an enjoyable evening at Huggy’s Pits. The bar had a relaxed atmosphere, making it easy for them to get to know each other. They soon realized they shared the same philosophies about their jobs, and life in general. Starsky told her about his father’s death, and about the circumstances surrounding it. Tracy listened quietly, making it easy for him to talk to her. She told him that she had come from a broken home, and how her mother had struggled to raise three children on her own. They both knew what it was like to grow up in single-parent families.

For a few hours, they sat and talked about everything from baseball to having kids. Starsky looked at the beautiful blonde sitting across from him, and smiled to himself. Tracy would fool most people at first. Her green eyes and fair skin would give some people the impression that she was the typical dumb blonde. He knew better than that. Starsky slowly realized that Tracy was someone he could get serious about. Even when they disagreed about something, it was good-natured. Unknown to most people, except maybe Hutch, Starsky was a romantic. He believed in fairy tales. What he wanted most was a house with a white picket fence, a wife and kids. Each time he thought he found his dream, he was disappointed. The few women in his life that he really cared about were taken away from him in one way or another. Still, the romantic in him always survived, and poked his head out when least expected. Now, that romantic was back, jumping like crazy and waving his arms. Maybe, just this once, fairy tales could come true.

They soon noticed the time, and reluctantly decided to call it an evening. Starsky drove Tracy to her apartment and walked her up. After she unlocked the door, she turned to him.

“Thanks for a fun evening, David. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.”

“Then we’ll have to do it again as soon as possible. I’ll see you at the station, in the morning. Goodnight, Tracy.”

Slowly, he moved closer to her and touched her cheek. When she didn’t retreat, he kissed her gently. She returned the kiss, pulling him closer. Wanting to take things slowly, Starsky broke the kiss after a few minutes and stepped back. He squeezed her hand briefly, then turned away.

The next morning, Starsky and Tracy were thrilled to hear about their partner’s evening.

“Well, it’s about time! You connected Danny with Peggy Holder, and collared Ramone Ortega in the same area. I bet the Captain was dancing a jig when you told him.”

Hutch nodded. “He definitely wasn’t disappointed. I don’t think the Feds will be either, when they get the news.”

The only person who wasn’t elated was Micki. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Tracy.

“What Tracy? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

“I said, what’s wrong, Mick? I thought you’d be tickled about the progress you’ve made.”

“Oh, I am. It’s just something you said; about collaring Ortega in the same area where one of the victims worked. I don’t know why, but it struck a chord somehow.”

“Take a minute and think about it, Micki. Maybe it’ll come to you.”

Micki got up from her desk and paced. Then she whirled around.

“That’s it! Now I know what’s been bothering me. Why do you suppose Danny turned up here? He could have lost himself in New York, or Boston, or in one of the smaller towns in that area. Why come all the way here? He had to know going back and forth over that long of a distance was dangerous. He could have stayed a lot closer to Jersey.”

Tracy spoke up. “Maybe DiConti thought the farther, the better. What are you getting at Micki?”

“I think you’re right; it was DiConti’s idea. What if Danny is doing more than running the family business from here? What if he decided to branch out on his own, with DiConti’s blessing? They’ve already got the East Coast sewn up. Why not set up business here?”

Starsky saw where she was going. “You think that Ortega and the others are working for Carruthers?”

“It makes sense when you think about it. Nobody back East goes into business without DiConti’s permission. Maybe he’s planning on making Danny boss down here. If that’s true, any new fence in town would have to clear it with Danny first. You have to admit, Ortega and Bass aren’t smart enough to knock over a liquor store without screwing up. How’d they suddenly get smart enough to pull a department store heist without tripping the silent alarm?”

Hutch spoke up. “So Carruthers outlines the plan, they pull the robbery, then the new fence takes over. I don’t understand why they involved the Baron. He’s small potatoes. Why waste their time going to him first?”

“The Baron has ties to the organized crime in this area. DiConti wouldn’t want them to think he was stepping on their toes. The last thing he would want is a mob war. Anyway, it’s worth checking out. Maybe if I put all this into the computer, something will pop out. Then, we’ll take it to the Captain.”

“What about Ortega?” Tracy asked. “He’s still down in lock-up, isn’t he?”

“Oh, shoot, I forgot about him. I guess we need to talk to him first. Maybe he can put us onto Bass.”

Hutch got up to leave. “While you’re doing that, Starsky and I will go talk to Huggy. If Carruthers is trying to set himself up as the next Capo, maybe Huggy’s heard about it.”

Micki and Tracy weren’t the only ones who were interested in what Ortega had to say. Across town, in the Torch’s back room, Tommy Carruthers was discussing Ortega’s arrest with his boss.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Mr. DiConti. Even if Ortega rolls over, he can’t finger the family. I’ve been very careful.”

“I know you have, Tommy boy. That’s why I’ve put you in charge. If anybody can open up the Los Angeles area for us, it’s you. I’ve every confidence in you. My only concern is this broad you’re living with. You said this was her collar.”

“It’s her collar, sure, but she’s only after the fence. She doesn’t have a hint that the family is involved. She’s not going to find anything that connects us to the fence. Don’t worry, Mr. DiConti. I’ve got Micki under control. She doesn’t know who I am, and if she ever finds out, I’ll take the necessary steps to protect the family.”

DiConti’s laugh disguised his threat. “I know you will, Tommy. I’ve never known you to put pleasure before business. I know the family comes first. Just keep me informed of the situation.”

“I will, Mr. DiConti. As for that situation that we spoke of earlier, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

“Oh, we’ll keep in touch, Tommy boy. I promise.”

Tommy Carruthers hung up the phone and sighed with relief. He turned to his henchman.

“Mr. DiConti wasn’t happy about Ortega being busted; especially when he found out it was Micki that busted him.”

“He knows you’re taking care of things, boss. What’s the other situation you were talkin’ about?”

Carruthers went to his private bar and made himself a drink. “We’ve got a fly in our ointment, Stick. In the last month, Karl’s had three complaints about his protection service. The client’s say he’s charging too much, but what they say they’re giving him don’t match what he’s getting. The difference ain’t much, but it’s there. Mr. DiConti thinks somebody’s padding his own pocket.”

“Who would be that stupid? That would be like putting a noose around your neck and handing him the rope.”

“Yeah, I know, but the boss says the customers only started complaining recently. They’re going to start watching everybody real close to see if they can find out who it is. That’s why this thing with Ortega has to be resolved, and fast. Mr. DiConti has enough on his mind without worrying about things on this end. I want you and the boys to keep a close eye on

Micki, and Ortega. If it looks like he’s going to point her in this direction, let me know, double time.”

“Sure, boss. Anything else?”

“No. As long as Micki stays clear of the family, we’ll let her do her thing. I don’t want her to have time to wonder about what I’m doing, especially if I have to make a few more trips back east. Maybe her trying to bust this fence is just what we need. It would be worth sacrificing him if it keeps her away from me. Keep an eye on her, Stick, but don’t make any moves unless you clear it with me first.”

“OK, boss. We’ll get right on it.”

Back at the lock-up, Micki and Tracy were questioning Ortega about Bass’ whereabouts.

“Come on, Ortega, we’ve got you cold. You’re going down for that department store heist, and with your record, that means a long vacation paid for by the state. Do you mean that you’d rather go down all by your lonesome? Do you actually want Bass on the outside doing his thing while you’re in the slam?”

“Look, cop, I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. I don’t know anybody named Bass and I don’t know nothin’ about no department store heist.”

“Sure, Ramone. You’re innocent, right? It’s merely a case of mistaken identity. That’s why you ran from Detective Hutchinson and me last night.”

“You can’t prove nothin’, cop. I didn’t have nothin’ hot on me, and I was mindin’ my own business when you rousted me. So you’re wasting your time. I got nothin’ to say.” Ortega sat back and folded his arms across his chest.

Micki and Tracy traded looks. Micki sighed.

“OK, Ortega, have it your way. Take him back down, Sid. We’ve got better things to do than waste our breath on him.”

After they were out of Ortega’s sight, Micki turned to her partner. “Well, he’s not going to roll over for us. I guess our best bet is the computer. I still think Danny’s looking to expand his territory, and I think Ortega’s working for him. All we need now is a connection.”

On the other side of town, Starsky and Hutch were having better luck than the two women were. They had caught Huggy during the slow time at the Pits, so he was able to give them his full attention.

“Huggy, have you heard anything about a new family taking over?”

“As a matter of fact, I was going to call you. You know the two slime balls you asked about? LeVar Bass and Ramone Ortega? Well, my sources on the street tell me that the reason they graduated to department stores is some hotshot mob guy from New Jersey is fronting them. His name’s Tommy Carruthers. Word is, he set up the whole thing. They supplied the muscle and he supplied the brains.”

The two detectives exchanged looks. “Well, that jives with what we’ve heard. The problem is, we can’t prove a thing. Carruthers has really covered his tracks, and unless we can get Ortega to open up, we can’t do anything with the information we’ve got.”

“What about Carruthers? I’d think you guys would have pulled him in by now.”

Hutch chose is words carefully. “It’s not that easy, Hug. We aren’t the only ones interested in this creep. So far, there’s nothing concrete to tie Carruthers to any of this. All we can do is sit on it until the time is right. Well, Huggy, thanks for the help. If you hear anything else, let us know.”

The two men said good-bye and headed back to the Torino. As they pulled away from the curb, Starsky spoke.

“Well, Carruthers has been a busy little man, hasn’t he? He keeps things going for his boss back east, starts a new business here, and finds time to pursue his little hobbies, too.”

“Yeah. He’s just a well-rounded guy. You know what they say, Starsk. A busy Mafia boss is a happy Mafia boss.”

Back at the station, the four detectives compared notes.

“Well,” Micki said, “Ortega’s not going to do us any good. He knows we don’t have anything solid to go on, so he’s better off keeping his mouth shut. What did Huggy have to say?”

“Bass hasn’t been found as yet. He’s probably holed up somewhere, waiting for things to cool off. Huggy did know about Carruthers fronting Ortega and Bass. So, he’s definitely looking to expand. Which leads us right back to where we were. We can’t move on this because we can’t risk blowing your cover, Mick.”

“Right. Well, we’ll try putting all of this into the computer. Maybe we can put a name to the fence, and locate his warehouse. If we bust the warehouse and the fence, that should put a crimp in Danny’s plans. Maybe it’s only damage control, but at least we’ll be doing something. Then, we can decide how to proceed.”

“While you’re doing that, I’ll let the Captain know what’s been happening. We’ll meet you after while.” Tracy said.

Micki gathered all the information she needed and sat at one of the empty desks. Since the computers were already tied in to all of the databases she needed, they would make her job easier. Every citizen in the county left a paper trail, which could be traced from the computer.

This was also Micki’s secret passion. She knew computers were becoming an important part of police work, and she wanted to learn all she could about them. In the four years that she and Tracy had been on the force, she had bullied and cajoled the computer wizards in the precinct into showing her how these technological marvels worked. Intensely curious, and always eager to learn, it hadn’t taken her long to become “computer literate”, as the wizards called it. Now, she was able to program the information in and access any databases that she needed without assistance. To Micki, this wasn’t work, it was playtime. She became immersed in what she was doing and didn’t notice Hutch until he spoke.

“Hi, how’s it coming?”

“Oh! God, Ken, you scared me! Well, I’ve put everything in that we’ve gotten on the robberies, Ortega and Bass, and what we’ve got on the fence. Now, all that’s left to do is see if anything pops up that will give us a lead on who this guy is. That’s up to the computers.” She pushed one last button and sat back. “Now all we have to do is wait.”

Hutch smiled slightly. “You certainly seem to know what you’re doing. How’d you ever learn how to run one of these things?”

Micki laughed. “I made a pest out of myself until the guys down in the computer room taught me how to use one just to get me out of their hair. After a couple of months, they knew that was the only way they’d get any peace.”

Falling silent, Micki focused her attention on the computer screen. She watched as correlations were made, and different names scrolled across the screen.

Sitting beside her, Hutch watched her face as she watched the computer. As they sat quietly, he thought about what he’d read in her personnel file. He could see her Native American ancestors in her proud nose and high cheekbone, softened by her father’s Irish blood. He could almost see her dressed in Native clothes, astride a powerful horse, getting ready to ride into battle. Though she looked like a princess, he knew Micki would be more at home with the warriors of her tribe. She was as fiercely dedicated as she was beautiful. Emotions that he tried to ignore grew stronger and Hutch told himself firmly to forget them.

*Cut it out, Hutchinson. She’s got enough on her right now. She doesn’t need you complicating things even more.*

Moments later, the computer went blank and the printer began to chatter. A single sheet of paper held the results. Tearing it off, Micki turned to Hutch.

“Well, here it is. The computer came up with these six possible matches to our fence. Now all we can do is check them out.” She noticed the way he was looking at her. “What’s wrong?”

He started to say something, then thought better of it. Shaking his head slightly, all he said was, “Nothing. So, I guess we should get together with Tracy and Starsky and start going over these files.”

“OK, why don’t we meet at Tracy’s again? You and David bring the files, and I’ll pick up some take-out on the way. I’m starving.”

“Sure. We’ll see you there, in about an hour.” He stood watching as she walked away.

The four detectives enjoyed a short break while they ate, then sat down to read the files on the suspects. They sat on the couch again, spreading out the papers on the coffee table in front of them.

Coincidentally, they had sat down in a boy-girl pattern, with Micki sitting on the end, next to Hutch. Engrossed in the files before them, Micki and Hutch had assumed a comfortable posture. Intent on her reading, Micki slowly became aware of how close they were sitting. Hutch’s arm was lying casually across her leg, hand resting on the inside of her thigh. It was only then that she realized where her hand was resting. Mortified, she stiffened and jerked her hand away without looking at Hutch. She gasped quietly as he slowly moved his hand.

Flustered, she jumped up, blurting, “I’m going to make some coffee,” as she practically ran from the room.

When the kitchen door shut securely behind her, she went over to the counter and leaned against it. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, composing herself. She sensed, rather than heard, the door open and close. Unable to make herself turn around, she stood statue-like when Hutch came up behind her. She made a futile effort to act naturally as she reached for the coffee, but didn’t quite make it. She kept her head bowed and let her hand drop to her side. Gentle fingers cupped her chin, tilting her head upwards as he turned her around to face him. She opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again as he kissed her. The feelings that she had pushed deep down inside resurfaced as she responded to his kiss. Her arms reached up and wrapped themselves around his neck. They stood there for a timeless moment, holding each other tightly. Then a cold, impersonal voice from within asked her what she thought she was doing. Chillingly, it sounded like Danny. She broke the kiss, taking her arms from around his neck and resting her hands on his chest. Unable to look at him, she rested her head between her hands.

Her voice muffled, she said, “No, I can’t. He’d know something’s changed. He’d know I’ve changed.”

Still holding her, Hutch whispered back. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”

She leaned back and looked up at him, smiling sadly. “Don’t be sorry, just be patient. It’ll be over soon. Then we’ll have time for us.”

She sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek resting on his chest. “Why did you have to come along now? Why not six months ago, before I ever met Danny? Oh, I wish I’d never heard of Tommy Carruthers.”

“We’ll put him away, Mick. I promise.” They stood there for a while, holding each other, and blocked out the rest of the world.

The next morning, the four detectives started checking out the six names that the computer matched with their information. Of the six, two were back in prison, one had presumably left the area, and one had died of a heart attack shortly after he was released from prison. That left only two suspects for them to check out.

Micki and Tracy drove out to the pier at the end of town where their suspect was reportedly staying. Driving to the end of Pier Seven, they saw his early model Volkswagen Van parked behind the last warehouse. Cautiously, they went around the back to the small door on the end of the building. Not surprisingly, it was locked. The only window was to the right of the door, a few inches above Micki’s head. Tracy looked in it. The window was dirty, but she could still see inside. After a few minutes, she came back to where Micki stood.

“Boy, for an empty warehouse, there sure is a lot of stuff in there. I saw several racks of furs, and TV’s still in their boxes. I would be willing to bet that this is our man.”

“It certainly sounds like it. Could you see any signs of life?”

“No, but the window’s so small, I could only see a small part of the room. He could be anywhere.”

“OK, I’ll call for back up and we’ll check it out.”

Moving back to the car, she called the precinct. Less than fifteen minutes later the warehouse was surrounded by black-and-whites. After making sure everyone was in position, Micki and Tracy made their move.

Micki shot the lock off the door and the two women jumped inside, flanked by four uniformed officers. She barely had time to shout, “Police!” before three men ran out right in front of them. Once they saw they were out numbered, the three perpetrators surrendered. As the suspects were being handcuffed, four other officers came out of the small office with another man. From the description in the files, the two women knew this was the man they were after.

Micki walked over to the officer and looked at the man in handcuffs. “Well, well, if it isn’t Pernell Mason. Fancy meeting you here. How’s business, Pern?”

“I ain’t got nothin’ to say, cop. I was just looking for a TV for my mom when you two kicked in the door. You can’t prove I was doing anything wrong.”

“Oh, isn’t that sweet? You were going to buy a TV for your mommy. How does she feel about stolen merchandise, Pern?”

“Who says it’s stolen, cop?”

Tracy looked around the warehouse. “Oh, I don’t know, Pern. I imagine when we check this stuff out, it’s going to be on our hot sheets. That’s too bad, Pern. Accepting stolen property is a violation of your parole. It looks like you’ll be going back to prison. I bet your mom would be ashamed of you.”

“I think my partner’s right, Pern. You’ve been a bad boy, and unless you help us, you’re going back in the yard for about five years.”

“What makes you think I can help you, cop?”

“Well, word on the street is there’s a new Boss in town, and you’re working for him. So, if you tell us who he is, we might be able to get your sentence reduced. You could be back on the street in time to get a nice tan.”

Mason laughed. “Corpses don’t tan too good, cop. If I rat on this guy, that’s exactly what I’ll be. There ain’t no where I can go that he can’t find me. You’ll have to do a whole lot better than that before I say anything else.”

Micki smiled up at him. “OK, how about this? We’ll cut you loose, right now, and then we’ll let it out that you ratted on this guy. Then you can take your chances with him. Maybe he’ll give you the chance to tell him the truth, and maybe he won’t. I’ve heard he has quite a temper, and he’s not exactly sane. What do you think, Tracy?”

“Oh, I think he’s got a chance. If he’s got eyes in the back of his head, that is.”

“Wait a minute! You can’t do that! I didn’t say anything. If it leaks out that I did, I’ll never make it home.”

“Oh, we can do it, Pern, and we will. So you really don’t have a choice. If you’re going to get killed for talking to us, you might as well tell us what we want to know. Then we can protect you.”

“You really know how to squeeze somebody, cop. OK, you got it. The new guy is Tommy Carruthers. He came down from Jersey, I think. All I know is he’s got a lot of juice backing him. He sets the heist up, then channels the merchandise my way. When I find a buyer, I get my cut.”

“Where’s the Baron fit into this? Why did this Carruthers get him involved?”

“Carruthers is still setting up his business. Most of his muscle is still back east. He couldn’t afford to make the locals mad. So he’s greasing the wheels by sending some loot the Baron’s way. Once he’s settled in good, he won’t have to worry about anyone else. Nobody’s dumb enough to mess with the Jersey mob, no matter how much they get squeezed.”

“OK, Pern, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll take you downtown and book you for possession of stolen property. You tell your story to the DA, and we’ll talk to him. Until this cat comes to trial, we’ll put you up in a safe house. As long as you’re straight with us, we won’t let it leak to Carruthers that you ratted on him. As far as he’ll know, it was a simple bust, but doesn’t even think about getting cold feet. If you do, you’ll be out on the street before you can blink and taking your chances with Carruthers.”

“I read you loud and clear, cop. I ain’t that stupid.”

After the uniformed officers took Mason away, Micki grinned at Tracy.

“Strike three and you’re out! Let’s tell the Captain to get hold of Benton. With any luck, Danny will be in custody by tonight.” Gleefully, she walked out of the room.

Unfortunately, Benton didn’t agree with their optimistic views on the case.

Micki stood in front of the FBI agent. “What do you mean, we don’t have a solid case? We’ve got Danny linked with two of the murder victims, and we’ve got a direct link to the fence and the department store heist. What more do you want, a signed confession? He’s not going to show up on your doorstep and say ‘here I am, cop, where’s the handcuffs?’. Why can’t we arrest him?”

“Micki, if you’ll calm down for a minute, I’ll tell you why. I agree that we have enough on Carruthers for a conviction, but that’s not all we want. We want DiConti, or at least a big part of his organization. If we put Carruthers away now, DiConti will simply set up business somewhere else. We want Carruthers tied to the organized crime in this state, or in New Jersey. I know how hard you’ve been working, and you’ve done well, but it’s still not enough for an indictment. This task force was created to bring organized crime under control, and that’s what my Section Chief is expecting. When Carruthers goes to trial, you can add the other charges, but not until then.”

Before Micki could continue her outburst, Tracy laid a hand on her arm, and asked quietly, “OK, Benton, give us something specific that will satisfy your Section Chief.”

“You’ve made a good start. This fence, Mason, can link Carruthers with the attempt to expand the DiConti organization. Unfortunately, it’s only one robbery. If you can get something solid that proves he’s running his own family, I’ll personally take it to the Chief. Or, find me a body. If one of his victims had been linked to the family, I could have built a Federal case on the homicides. If he’s killed these girls, then I wouldn’t put it past him to kill for DiConti. Find that connection, and we can close this case.”

Discouraged and angry, Micki walked to the door. As she opened it, she turned to Benton.

“If you want a body, I’ll give you one. If this case goes on much longer, it might be Danny’s.”

As if the day hadn’t been bad enough, Danny’s car was parked in the driveway when she returned home. Glancing at her watch, Micki shrugged. He was probably getting ready to go to the club, anyway. At least she wouldn’t have to endure him for long. She opened the door and stood, listening for his movements. She thought she heard him moving around upstairs, so she headed for the kitchen. Maybe she could avoid him completely and he’d leave soon. Unfortunately, her timing was wrong and she walked out of the kitchen as he was coming down the stairs.

“There you are, baby-cakes. I thought I heard you come home. What’s the matter? You look like you lost your best friend.”

“It’s nothing, Danny. I had a really rotten day, that’s all.”

He walked over to her and put his arms around her. She endured his embrace, standing motionless.

“Come on, tell Danny all about it. What’s put such a sad face on my baby?”

She decided to spread the misery a little. “We busted that fence today. You know, the one Tracy and I have been chasing?”

His eyes flickered, but he recovered quickly. “Yeah? Well, that’s good, ain’t it? I thought that’s what you wanted. Why the long face?”

“The whole thing fell apart. We couldn’t put him with the robbery, or the suspects. All we can get him for is possession of stolen property. That’s not much more on than a slap on the wrist. Our only suspect in the robbery isn’t talking, either. So, all the hard work we’ve done is for nothing.”

She didn’t see it coming. His hands came up and stroked her hair.

“Poor baby-cakes, you worked so hard on that. No wonder you’re so down in the mouth. Come on, let your Danny boy kiss it and make it better.”

He kissed her passionately, his hands roaming all over her body. Too late, she tried to squirm away.

“Danny, please. It’s been a long day and I’m tired. All I want is a hot bath and some sleep.”

“Well, that sounds good to me. Hey, I’ll even scrub your back. Then after, I’ll give you a nice massage, relax you all over.” He kissed her again, his hands going under her blouse.

Vainly, she tried again to push him away. “I said no, Danny. I’m not in the mood.”

The glint in his eyes turned dangerous. “What’s the matter, baby-cakes? What happened to that old fire? Don’t I turn you on anymore? Don’t got the hots anymore for your old Danny?”

His hands tightened around her wrists like a vise, bruising her. He was so close that she could see her reflection in his eyes.

“No, Danny, it’s not like that. I told you, it’s been a lousy day. I’m not feeling very romantic.”

“Well, we can change all that. I bet I can make that bad day go right out of your head. You know, baby-cakes, I’ve really been feeling neglected lately. I’ve been thinking that maybe you don’t want your Danny boy no more. Then I think, no, Micki’s just been working so hard on this thing, trying to be a good cop. It doesn’t have anything to do with me at all, does it?”

His fingers tightened even more, cutting off her circulation.

She kept her voice carefully controlled. “No, it doesn’t. Danny, you’re hurting me. Let go of my wrists.”

He let go of her wrists, and grabbed her hair, pulling her head back sharply.

“Unless it’s something else, like somebody else. You wouldn’t keep something like that from me, would you baby-cakes?”

“No. There isn’t anybody else. I told you, I’m just in a really bad mood. That’s all.”

“Then prove it. Show me that you still belong to me. Show me that old fire.”

He kissed her hard, then, clutching her tightly against him. As he began to undress her, she closed her eyes and retreated into that private room inside her mind and slammed the door.

Micki pretended to be asleep as she listened to him get dressed. She heard him go into the bathroom and laid motionless as he came back into the room. She prayed silently that he would go downstairs. If he touched her again she would probably scream. She couldn’t make herself move until she heard the front door slam and the sound of his car pulling away. Then, finally, she got up and ran toward sanctuary.

After roaming aimlessly around his apartment for two hours and an aborted attempt to read the newspaper, David Starsky gave up and picked up the phone. He dialed Tracy’s number and waited for her to answer.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s me, David. Were you busy?”

“No, I’m pretty much on my own tonight. Micki hasn’t checked in yet, so I’ve been cooling my heels here, waiting for her to call.”

“How about some company while you’re waiting? I’ll pick up a couple of steaks and a bottle of wine so we can have dinner.”

“That’s the best offer I’ve had all night. I’ll toss a salad, too.”

“That sounds good. I’ll see you in half an hour?”

“Half an hour it is. Bye, David.”

Thirty minutes later, he was at her door. She answered his soft knock and invited him in to the apartment. He followed her into the kitchen and together, they started the steaks. Starsky felt relaxed around Tracy, puttering around the kitchen with her seemed natural. For a while, they forgot they were police officers and enjoyed each other’s company. It seemed only right to sit with her on the couch after they finished eating, holding her close. Quietly, they talked about the things they wanted, their hopes for the future. The evening passed quickly, as Tracy noticed as she checked her watch.

“It’s getting late. I wonder what’s happened to Micki? She should have called hours ago.”

Tracy headed for the phone, but before she could dial Micki’s number, someone knocked on the door. One look at her partner told Tracy what had happened. However, Starsky had no idea what the last few months had been like for Micki, and was shocked when he saw her. The two of them led Micki over to the couch and sat her between them. For a few minutes she sat silently, staring sightlessly into space. Finally, she crossed her arms, holding herself tightly, and closed her eyes.

“Oh, God, I can’t believe I did that. Why do I let him keep doing that to me?”

Tracy answered the same way she always had. “You did what you had to do, Mick. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then why do I feel so dirty? I feel like such a whore.”

“Micki, you know that’s not true. You’re a cop, on assignment, and you had no choice. He would have gotten suspicious if you had rejected him. You can’t risk blowing your cover.”

“My cover, sure. I’m sick of thinking about my cover. It doesn’t change anything. I’m still selling my body for information, so what’s the difference?”

Starsky got up and went into the kitchen, returning with a steaming mug. He sat down beside her and put it into her hands.

“What is it?”

“Coffee with a healthy slug of brandy. Drink it.”

She took a cautious sip and coughed as the alcohol went down. Her weak attempt at humor was ghastly.

“You’re ruining good coffee with that stuff.”

“Come on, drink it. You need it.”

Micki forced herself to drink more of the concoction. She looked at Starsky, trying to smile.

“What do they say about this job driving you to drink? I don’t think this is exactly what they meant.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and fought the tears back. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

Before Starsky could say anything, there was a knock at the door. Startled, Micki sat up. Starsky motioned for her and Tracy to keep quiet, then moved silently toward the door.

As she watched him move, Micki turned to her best friend. “I tried to get away from him, Tracy. I honestly did.”

“I know, Mick.”

Starsky stayed to the side of the door, and flattened himself against the wall. Taking his gun out of its holster, he thumbed off the safety and cocked it.

Speaking softly, he asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Terrific, Starsky thought, and opened the door for his partner.

“I saw Micki’s car out front and thought I’d check on how things were going.”

Hutch started toward Micki as he was talking, not really noticing her appearance. When he did, he stopped talking and stared. With one long stride he was across the room and kneeling in front of her.

“Micki, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve been crying.”

Micki kept her eyes down. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m a little down, that’s all.”

“Why? Has something happened? Talk to me, Mick. Please.”

Tracy picked up the coffee and handed it back to Micki. “She’s had a rough night, Ken. There’s nothing new with the case.”

“Then what is it? Will somebody please give me a straight answer?”

Exhaustion showed in Micki’s voice. “There isn’t anything to tell. This doesn’t concern you.”

As she sipped more of the coffee, the cuffs on her blouse slipped down, revealing the bruises on her wrists.

“What the Hell? Micki, what happened? Did Carruthers do that? Why?”

“Stay out of it, Ken. Please.”

Hutch reached out and cupped his hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him. The look in her eyes told him what he wanted to know.

“Good God, he forced you, didn’t he? Answer me, Micki. Didn’t he?”

“He didn’t exactly take no for an answer. Leave it alone, Ken. It’s over, let it be.”

Hutch refused to listen. “I’ll kill that son-of-a-bitch!”

Furious, he started for the door, with Starsky right behind him.

“Hutch, no. You heard her. Stay out of it. You’ll only make things worse.”

“No! I’m not going to let him get away with this!”

“You can’t go over there. If you get near him, he’ll kill you. That’s not going to solve anything.”

“Yes it will. It’ll give me the satisfaction of tearing that bastard apart.”

“Hutch, if you go after him now, you’ll blow her cover. If he finds out what she’s been doing, he’ll kill her. Do you want that?”

“Starsky, he raped her!”

“No! He didn’t rape me! I didn’t fight him.” Micki was standing behind the two men, looking at Hutch. “I submitted. I did what I had to do.”

She walked toward him. “Dear God, do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted his hands on me? Can you imagine how sick that makes me feel? Please, Ken, I’m begging you. Stay out of this. I need you. Please leave him

alone.”

He reached for her, enfolding her in his arms. He held her close to him, comforting her as she cried.

Tenderly, he stroked her hair, whispering, “It’s OK. I won’t do anything. I’ll stay out of it. Don’t cry. We’ll get through this, somehow, together.”

As he tried to comfort her, he heard her voice in his mind. *You don’t know what this case has been like for me.*

Later, he argued gently with her as she got ready to leave.

“I don’t want you going back there. It’s too dangerous.”

“I have to go back, Ken. I can’t let six months of work go down the drain, not after all I’ve been through.”

Realizing it was useless to argue, he touched her cheek. “At least let me walk you to your car.”

She squeezed his hand. “You can’t. Danny’s gorillas won’t be far away. I’ll be OK, really. I’ll see you at the station in the morning.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Straightening her back, she walked out the door.

NEXT