CHAPTER 6

Cassie took a deep breath and began to read from the second set of instructions.

“The first robbery will occur in approximately 20 minutes.  If they see a sign of a police car or are delayed in any way…they will set off one of the bombs and I will be killed.” She spoke as if she were reading an assignment in class.  She had detached herself from the words and sounded a little calmer now than before.

“Just do what they tell you to do…we’ll handle the rest.” He told her.

“The First National Bank on the corner of Fifth and Broadway.  You are not to alert them of the situation.  Just stay out of the way.” She said calmly. “You will be informed of the location of the first bomb afterward. Expect the next call around 12:30.” She told him.

“I love you Cassie.” He told her quickly as the conversation ended.

Without thinking she answered him. “I love you t……UUHHH”

A hard backhand sent her flying out of the chair and onto the floor.

“I Told You Not To Talk To Him!!!” He yelled at her as he hung up the phone.

Starsky could hear the intense blow to the face that she received and listened as a man’s voice scolded her before the phone went dead.

“The bastard hit her.” He said as he laid the phone down gently with a hurt expression on his face. “But at least now we have his voice.”

 It was like he had been punched in the gut.  He couldn’t bare the thought that she had been hurt and there was no one around to defend her.  He walked away from the table and stood by the wall as Captain Dobey gave instruction to alert the cars on patrol to stay clear of the area. Hutch walked over to his partner and put a concerned hand on his arm.

“You alright?” He asked as he looked at him with a comforting softness in his eyes.

“Yeah…I’m ok.” He said as he gave him a small half smile.

“He still needs her to cooperate…she’ll be alright.” Hutch told him.

“Let’s get outta here.” Starsky told him as he headed for the door and grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.  They had to get to the Bank so they could watch from across the street.  Maybe they could catch a glimpse of the guys and find out a little more about them.  Maybe even follow them to the place where they were holding her.

During the short drive, Starsky didn’t speak.  He kept thinking about what he had done to her.  He had set it up so that they could try and get the guys voice on tape.  To find out who he was.  Starsky had tricked her. He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist saying it back to him.  He hadn’t really come right out and said it to her before.  How could she not return the words?  He knew it would cause a reaction…but he had hoped the guy wouldn’t hit her over it.  At any rate…he was just doing his job.  So why the hell did he feel so damned guilty?  

They parked across the street in Hutch’s car so they wouldn’t be noticed. Starsky’s car would have been spotted in an instant but Hutch had the type of car that would blend into any background.  Sometimes he was thankful that his partner drove a beat-up old wreck.

After a few minutes they spotted a black van pull up in front of the bank and two men emerged wearing stocking masks and sporting some heavy artillery.  One of the men wore brown dress pants and a button up flannel shirt and had a heavy build. The other man wore faded blue jeans and a dark colored Button up dress shirt.  The heavier one seemed to be a little older by the way he carried himself. He was quite a bit slower than his partner.

They watched and waited as the robbery took place…feeling useless as they heard the screams from inside and knew that those people were also in danger.  But there was nothing they could do about it.

Starsky and Hutch both ducked down low as they watched the two men emerge from the bank carrying the sacks of stolen money.  As the van sped off Hutch threw the car in gear and made a quick U-turn after them.  They were trying to be careful not to be spotted as they followed them down the street. After a couple of quick turns the van sped up and Hutch knew that they had been made.

“I have to turn off.” Hutch said as he made a quick turn to the right to give them the impression that he wasn’t following.

“But we’ll loose them.” Starsky said in an excited voice.

“They said they’d kill her…do you wanna take the chance?” He asked as he pulled the car over and stopped.

“Then how are we ever gonna find her?” Starsky asked as he looked at his partner.

“You seem to forget that Cassie isn’t the only consideration here.” Hutch told him. “I know you’re worried about her but there are three bombs out there somewhere set to go off at anytime and some sick bastard has his finger on the trigger.” He paused for a second and then finished. “How many people do you think could die if we aren’t careful about what we do?”  

Starsky knew Hutch was right. He hadn’t been thinking about anything else but getting Cassie back.  He had almost forgotten about the bombs.

“How do we know the bombs are real?” Starsky posed the question.

Hutch put the car in drive and stepped on the gas. “I think we’re about to find out.” He told him.

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  Chapter 7
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