“CAT AND MOUSE”
BY P&C PRODUCTIONS

CHAPTER 4

She wasn’t expecting to hear Hutch’s voice and the sound of it caused a rush of adrenaline to flow through her body.  She wanted so much to cry out to him for help…to scream for him to come and rescue her.  But she couldn’t. All she could do was begin to cry as the lump formed in her throat. She looked down again at the paper and began to read through the wall of tears that blurred her vision.

Hutch looked over at his partner who was leaning with his head against his hand and his elbow on the desk about to fall asleep.

“Is anyone there?” Hutch asked into the receiver.  He could hear her sobbing into the phone but he hadn’t been able to recognize her yet.

“Let me speak to Detective David Starsky.” She finally managed to get out as she read from the paper.

“Oh my God.” Hutch said in a whisper as his eyes widened.  Starsky could hear the disbelief in his partner’s voice and sprang to life as he watched him for a response.

“It’s her.”  Hutch said, as he looked his partner in the eye.

Starsky grabbed the phone and pushed in the glowing button that Hutch had picked up.  He then quickly lifted the receiver to his ear to speak to her.

“Cassie where are you?” He asked insistently as his heart began to pick up it’s pace.

His voice sounded like music to her ears.  She wanted to speak to him in her own words.  But her captor now held his hand on the back of her neck tightly and she knew that she had to continue from the hand-written page.

“I’m being held by someone of your acquaintance.” She began. “Any attempt to rescue me will cause my instant death.”

“Cassie…talk to me honey…are you alright?” Starsky pleaded with her.  He could tell by her voice that she was being forced to speak.  But obviously allowed to say only what they wanted her to.

She wanted to answer his question so desperately…she knew he was worried about her…but she continued to read.

Starsky continued to listen as Hutch got on the other line to set up a tap and a trace. He wanted to have the conversation recorded so they could play it back later.

“There will be a series of robberies…all of which will not be met with any resistance.  I will let you know exactly where and when only minutes before they take place.  Any attempt to prevent them or interfere in any way and they will be forced to kill me.”

She stated as she continued through her tears. “There are also three bombs all placed in very populated areas of the city.  They have timers and remote detonators.  They can be discharged at will if you choose not to cooperate. Just a little extra incentive for the rest of cops out there who may not give a damn about me.”

Cassie hated what she was doing to him.  She knew he would have no choice but to cooperate with them and she felt responsible for putting him in this situation.  If she hadn’t gone outside to feed the puppy…if she would have just listened to him.  This wouldn’t be happening.

“For every successful robbery…the location of a bomb will be revealed. Until all bombs are recovered.  Then I will be released somewhere outside the City limits.” She ended. “Your next set of instructions will be called in at 11:00AM.”

The message was complete and her captor grabbed the phone from her and hung it up.

*****************

Starsky heard the click on the other end as the conversation ended abruptly.

“Cassie…..CASSIE….Damnit!” He said as he slammed the phone down and looked up at his partner who was still on the other line with the communications department.

“Thank you.” Hutch said as he hung up the phone.

“Well did they have time to trace it?” Starsky asked eagerly.

“No…not enough time…but we have it recorded.” Hutch told him. “They’re sending the tape up now.”

“She said she was being held by someone we know.” Starsky told him as he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and leaned on the table with the other.

“I guess you were right….at least she’s alive.” Hutch said as he put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We’re gonna get her back.”

“Yeah…I just hope we get to her before they have a chance to hurt her.” He said with a sorrowful look in his eyes.

“We won’t let that happen.” Hutch said as he began to rub the shoulder where his hand was placed. “Besides they’ll probably be too busy…”

“To rape her…” Starsky said as his eyes met his partners. “That’s what you were gonna say.”

“Isn’t that what you were thinking?” Hutch asked in a whispered voice.

“Hutch I don’t know what I’ll do if they….”

“They won’t.” Hutch said with confidence. “All they want is money…it’s not part of the plan.”

“Plans change.” He told him.

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  Chapter 5
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