CHAPTER 11

Cassie pulled the Torino into the driveway and Carefully picked her purchases up in her arms as she made her way inside. The bags where big and bulky…and thick enough to conceal their contents. Three presents for the three men in her life who meant everything to her…Huggy was the easiest to shop for. His gift took only a split second of thought because he was so open with her. She already knew what he wanted.

She noticed the lights through the window as she stepped up to the entrance and hurried to open the door so she could see what kind of tree they had purchased. She stepped in quickly….yelled a brief. “Wait a sec…” As she ran the bags she carried into her bedroom and shut them behind the door.

Starsky and Hutch stood in the living room waiting for her reaction as she came from the hallway. The tree was lit and all the ornaments were in place but there was something very odd about the way it was leaning.

“It looks like it’s gonna fall over…Can you get it any straighter?” She asked as she stared at it with puzzlement.

“Sorry Cas…but that’s as straight as it gets.” Hutch said sheepishly. “It’s a long story.”

“I’ll bet….” She said with a smile as she looked at Starsky. “Hey it’s ok…I love it really.”

“You’re not just saying that…” Starsky asked as he looked at the tree and then back at her...no sarcastic remark….no disappointment in her face…nothing.
 
“No…it’s really nice.” She told them and glanced back over to Hutch. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I was gonna make my famous spaghetti.” She told him. “I stopped by the grocery store on the way home.”

“You didn’t have to do that Cas…” Starsky said with a smile. “I was gonna take you out for dinner.”

“Don’t you like my spaghetti?” She asked as she turned her head towards him. “I was really looking forward to it.”

“Sure…I just thought…” He stopped as he saw the sadness in her eyes…the least he could do was agree after presenting her with such an ugly tree. “Alright…You got the bags in the car?”

“If you don’t mind getting them for me.” She said with a smile and then turned her attention back to Hutch. “So you gonna stay?”

“Yeah sure…why not?” Hutch said with a smile as he walked with her into the kitchen and Starsky stepped outside to retrieve the two bags of groceries that he found in the back seat.

They spent the next few hours talking…Cassie preparing dinner while the two of them downed a couple bears and discussed a few old cases. Commenting on a couple that stuck out in their minds where the criminals were so stupid that they practically gave themselves up with a blue ribbon. Hutch even went as far as to speculate how such a job should have been pulled off…and if he wasn’t a cop…and he had no conscious…he could be basking on a beach in the Bahamas for the rest of his life on that one score.

They spoke about how they used to plan to rob banks in Mexico.  Starsky knew that it was just speculation but knowing what they know…if they ever got serious about it…they probably could get away with it. The conversation had Cassie a little worried until the laughter cut the tension and she knew they were just kidding.

The telephone rang a couple times right in the middle of one of Hutch’s stories and Starsky barely acknowledged the sound. He knew it was probably for her and so he let her answer it.

“Hello…” Cassie said…then she listened for a moment and hung it up quickly.

Starsky watched curiously as she went back to what she was doing as if nothing had interrupted her.

“Who was that?” He asked as he motioned to Hutch with his left hand to hold his thoughts for just a second.

“Just another heavy breather…nothing to worry about.” She told him.

“What do you mean…just another?” He asked with a raised eyebrow. “Have they called before?”

“All the time…haven’t you ever heard it?” She asked him. “I don’t let it bother me anymore.”

Starsky got up and walked up behind her…and put his hands on her shoulders. “Why haven’t you said anything?” He questioned her.

She turned around to face him and smiled. “It’s no big deal…they hear a girls voice and think it’s funny to pant like a dog…that’s all.” She told him with a smile. “It’s harmless.”

“Do you think he’ll call again?” Hutch asked as he rose to his feet…grabbed his beer and stepped closer to them.

“Probably in the next few minutes…I usually get them three or four in a  row.” She told him. “Then it stops for a few days.”

Starsky looked at Hutch and he knew what he was thinking…her voice was getting some guy off…the sick bastard was probably jerking off…calling her every few minutes for stimulation and then after getting his pleasure he waits a few days and does it again. He more than likely dialed the number at random and liked her voice so he kept it handy for his purposes. These kind of guys were sick…but usually harmless. Still…the thought of some pervert thinking of her while getting his rocks off was detestable. Cassie had no idea just how sick it all really was and they weren’t gonna tell her.

“Next time he calls…answer it and then hand me the phone.” Hutch told her. “He probably knows Starsky’s voice by now.”

“Ya know come to think of it…I had a few hang ups lately.” Starsky commented. “It was probably him.”

They waited for a few minutes and sure enough the phone rang again…Cassie walked over to it as Hutch crept up behind her slowly. Starsky stood nearby…waiting to see what Hutch was gonna do.

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  Chapter 12
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