CHAPTER 1

The news was disturbing as he watched only half-paying attention as he sipped on his beer. He was too comfortable to get up to turn the channel and so he left it on and let his mind wander. The broadcast had told of gang violence in New York and focused on the families of the innocent people caught in the crossfire of a riot between two rivals that had apparently reached a head and erupted in a shootout on the street. Teenagers who had just ruined their lives he thought to himself as he watched a few of  them being pushed into the back of police cars. He had to arrest a few in his time for robberies and various other crimes and it broke his heart to think of the waste of life not to mention what these things were doing to their parents.

He thought about Cassie for a moment…he worried about her so much but at least he could be thankful that she was the way she was. He would never have to worry about her getting into any serious trouble. He worried more about her becoming a victim than a felon. With so much violence on the streets it was hard for him not to be concerned because he faced it everyday of his life.

She had gone to a party that night with Wayne, a boy who had been calling and taking her out now for the past three weeks. Starsky didn’t like him because he acted so nervous every time he met him at the door. Cassie had told him that Starsky was a cop and it intimidated him…he could tell.

Questions were answered evasively, even the simple ones like ‘What time will >you bring her home?’ Forget asking the boy anything personal…he acted as if he were being interrogated.

Still there was something very disturbing about him. He was so different than the other guys she had dated. He wasn’t a jock or a brain…just the kind of guy that went completely unnoticed in a crowd.  What she saw in this kid he couldn’t tell. He was reserved and quiet…and Starsky’s gut instincts told him that the kid must have something to hide. Because nobody could be
that dull.

The phone rang at around 9:00 and Starsky reached his arm back to grab it from the table behind the sofa. He kept one there just for these times when he was relaxing and didn’t want to have to get up to answer it.

“Yeah”

“Cassie made it home yet?” Hutch’s voice asked on the other end.

“Not yet…” He told him. “What cha doing.”

“Just watching the news…”

“Yeah…me too.” Starsky replied.

“You?” Hutch said with a chuckle. “You never watch the news.”

“Well there was nothing else on.”

“Hey we should be in early…” Hutch told him. “We have court tomorrow.”

“Oh yeah that’s right.” Starsky had completely forgotten. “That kid…what’s his name?”

“Anthony Antonidez…you know the one that was hold up in the warehouse with that girl.” Hutch said as he recapped it for his partner.

“I remember…he took her hostage after the hold up.” Starsky told him.

“Ya know some kids can be rehabilitated…set back on the right track…but not this one. They really need to put him away and keep him there.” Hutch said with conviction. “He’s bad news.”

“I can’t believe he had the nerve to try and rape her with four patrol cars right outside the door.”

“Like I said…the guys too sick to be on the streets.” Hutch told him.

“He’s only Seventeen.” Starsky commented.

Hutch made another remark and he was about to respond when….Headlights pulling into the driveway quickly got Starsky’s attention. The vehicle had the unmistakable sound of a bad exhaust problem…it was Stacey’s mom’s car, but she hadn’t left with Stacey and it wasn’t 10:00 yet.

His attention was still focused on the noise outside when Hutch’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“HEY…STARSK!” Hutch shouted after being ignored for the third time.

“WHAT!” He answered as he kept his eyes on the front window and stood up slowly.

“Where’d you go?”

“I’m gonna have to let you go…something funny’s going on.” Starsky said in an uneasy tone.

“You alright?” Hutch asked with concern.

“Yeah…Yeah…nothing I can’t handle.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah…goodnight Hutch…see ya tomorrow.”

“Yeah…sure.” Hutch said and listened for the click on the other end. His partner’s sudden urgency had concerned him so he decided to give him a few minutes and call him back. If he didn’t answer…he was going over there.

He walked over to the door slowly and heard the light tapping that he knew had to be Stacey…everyone has a distinctive knock and this one was definitely hers.

He opened the door and gave her a curious look.

“Stacey…is everything alright?” He asked as he looked in the direction of the car.

“Don’t be mad at her…it wasn’t her fault.” Stacey told him in a frightened voice.

“You have Cassie with you?” He asked as he stepped outside.

“Yes…but please hear me out before you talk to her.” Stacey pleaded.

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On the other side of town a young boy is being beaten…hit again and again by three older teens hovering around him.

“YOU STUPID LITTLE SHIT!!” One of them screamed at him as he kicked him over and over in the ribs causing him to cough and spit up a little blood before finally passing out.
 
  chapter 2
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