CHAPTER 21

Cassie called to Hutch to bring the clothes she had picked out and placed on the end of the couch to her. He grabbed them up in one hand and held his palm over his closed eyes as he handed them through the door to her. She was holding onto the sink with one hand and gripped a towel around her body with the other. When she reached for the clothes in his outstretched hand
the towel fell aimlessly to the floor. She was glad that Hutch was doing his best to keep his distance. He would have surely seen it all if not for the fact that his head was turned and his eyes were covered.

He went back to the task of setting the table and with a lit candle in the center and white cloth napkins resting under neatly placed silverware he had done his best to make her feel welcome and comfortable. She opened the bathroom door slowly and walked with unsteady steps into the living room. Hutch rushed over to steady her and helped her navigate the distance
to the table.

She was surprised to see the romantic candlelight and the fancy table setting he had prepared for her. It was as if she was his date for the evening and it made her feel special. Hutch was so sweet. He had always shown her nothing but kindness since the day she met him and she was grateful for his company.

He served her first and then himself, pouring two glasses of milk before having a seat at the opposite end of the small table. His blonde hair glowed in the flickering candlelight, which caused him to look almost angelic as he placed a bit of food in his mouth. She hadn’t noticed it…but she had been staring at him and it was starting to make him a little nervous.

“Aren’t you hungry?” He asked as he glanced up at her.

“Yeah…I’m sorry.” She said as she finally realized what she had been doing to him.

“You alright?”

“Sure…I was just thinking.” She told him as she took a sip of her milk.

“You want to know what I was just thinking?” He asked with a smile.

“What?” She prompted with a smile of her own.

“I was just thinking about the last time we had dinner together alone like this.”

“Oh Yeah…I remember.” She said still smiling. “I guess I musta caught you a little off guard.”

“You sure did.” He said with a small laugh. “I’ll never forget it.”

“Well…I guess I found the answer to my question.” She told him, as she looked down at her dinner plate…her appetite suddenly leaving her.

“No…I think you still have some questions.” He said setting her up for the conversation.

“I remember the way I used to feel about it” She started as she kept her eyes from meeting his. “God I was so childish.”

“You were curious…that’s normal.”

“I had this silly idea in my head that some day some wonderfully sweet and sensitive guy would fall in love with me and make a woman out of me.”

“Nobody needs to make a woman out of you Cassie.” He told her softly. “You’re more mature than most women I know.”

“You know what I mean.” She said almost annoyed with him. “I meant that he would…you know.”

“Yes I know…” Hutch admitted. “But it’s not a silly idea…it could still happen one day.”

“It’s a fairytale.” She told him bluntly. “A little girls fantasy.”

“Cassie…” Hutch began as he placed his fork on the table and rubbed his hand down the front of his face. “What you’ve been through isn’t the way it’s supposed to be. Sex between two people that care about each other is something altogether different.”

“You mean that someday I might actually enjoy it?”

“I’m saying that as far as I’m concerned…you’re still a virgin until you choose not to be.” He told her.

“Hutch…”

“Yeah...”

“You would never force it on somebody else would you?”

“Believe me…there have been times when I’ve had to back off because the lady said no…” He said softly. “That’s the difference.”

“That’s because you’re a gentleman.”

“Well…It’s just a matter of having a little respect for the other person that’s all.” He explained.

She took a bite of her food as he watched her. It was good to see her finally able to eat.

“I just have one more question.” She added.

“What’s that?”

“Do you think Davey would?”

“Starsky?” He asked surprised. “I doubt it…as a matter of fact I’ve seen plenty of women turn him down.”

“But would he?”

“No. He might be a little more persistent than I would be…but when it came right down to it. I know he wouldn’t force the issue.”

“Are you sure?”

He thought about it for a brief moment. How could he answer for Starsky? Of course he wouldn’t think so but his partner’s sexual habits had never been raised as an issue like this before. Still he had to give her an answer without too much hesitation.

“Yeah…I’m sure.”

She took another bite of her dinner and so did he. The conversation wasn’t finished and they both knew it. They were just taking a short pause.

“Hutch…”

He raised his head to answer her…expecting to proceed with round two.

“Yeah…”

“Where did he go when he left the hospital after the shooting?”

This came from left field all of a sudden. Was she suspicious of something? How did she even know that he had left?

“Who told you he went anywhere?”

“Huggy called upstairs and they told him.”

“Why did he even ask?”

“Because he was trying to give him an alibi.”

“For what?” He asked with intensity. “For your rape?”

“Hutch…” She began. “I know it’s possible to hallucinate when you’re drugged.”

“Yeah…” Hutch answered. “It’s possible.”

She placed her fork on the table and looked into his eyes with a serious gaze.

“I saw him there Hutch.” She told him. “I heard his voice.”

“That’s impossible.” He said in shock. “He was with me the whole time…we were looking for you.”

“So you knew where he was every second?”

“Yes…of course.” He assured her. “Is that why you acted so funny around him? Because you thought he was there?”

“Huggy said I was probably seeing things…but Hutch.” She said softly. “I only remember him…nobody else.”

“You don’t remember Tony and the others?” he asked puzzled.

“I remember other people there…but I only saw his face and I only heard his voice.”

“My God…” He whispered softly. “If you had to testify.”

“Exactly.” She told him. “What would I say?”

“Cassie you don’t still think that he?”

“I know it couldn’t have been him…but I can’t get it out of my head.”

“You have to believe me Cas…” Hutch pleaded with her. “I’m the only other person who can vouch for him…and they’ll probably think I’m just covering for him.”

“You mean they might not believe you?” She asked with concern.

“I’m his partner. Cops have been known to lie for other cops.” He told her. “Cassie if you breathe a word of this to anybody…he might not stand a chance.”

“But Tony and the others will know he wasn’t there.”

“They’ll say he was just to watch him take the fall.” Hutch said as he rose from the table and began to pace the floor.

“Then I won’t say anything.” She offered. “I’ll just tell them that I don’t remember.”

“And the bastards will walk.” Hutch told her with certainty. “We’ll just have to find a way to keep you off that stand.”

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  chapter 22
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