CHAPTER 22

As Hutch cleared the dinner dishes a thought suddenly occurred to him.

“Oh Yeah…you need to call Starsky at the hospital.” He told her.

She was sitting on the couch brushing her hair and sorting through some of the items Hutch had retrieved from the apartment for her.

“What should I say to him?”

“Just talk to him for a minute and let him know that you’re alright.” Hutch instructed her. “There’s no need to upset him.”

She grabbed the phone on the coffee table and began to dial. After asking for his room the line was connected and Starsky began to speak.

“Yeah…”

“Davey…It’s Cas.” She said softly.

“Cassie…is everything alright?”

“Sure…Hutch is a good babysitter.” She told him in a playful manner.

“You know if you need me…you can always call.”

“Yeah…I know.”

“It’s getting late…you should try to get a little sleep.” He told her softly.

“You too.”

“Hey…”

“What?”

“Goodnight Princess.”

“Goodnight…Hey.”

“What?”

“I wish you were here.” She told him in a soft voice.

“I miss you too.” He said with a smile. “Let me talk to Hutch for a >minute…will ya.”

“Sure….”

She held the phone up in his direction and Hutch walked over to take it from her.

“Hey you got enough sheets tied together to make your escape yet?” Hutch kidded him.

“No…I thought I’d just hang myself from this IV pole.” He told him with a small chuckle.

Hutch laughed out loud at his comment before speaking again.

“Two days will pass before you know it.” Hutch said softly. “I know you’re miserable but I’ll stop by to see you tomorrow. Want me to bring you anything?”

“One of Frankie’s pizzas with the works.” He replied with a smile.

“Yeah well…Maybe I can sneak it past the nurses under my shirt.”

“You couldn’t sneak a peanut past an elephant.” Starsky teased him.

“Oh Yeah?” Hutch said smugly. “How about a beer to go with it?”

“Now you’re pushing your luck.” He told him with a laugh. “Hey Hutch.”

“Yeah…” Hutch said as he wiped his hand down his face to control his laughter.

“Whatever you did…you did good.”

“We just had a little talk…that’s all.” He told him.

“What about the pill?” He asked a little more serious.

“I’ll have Millie see her tomorrow.” Hutch said as he walked a few feet away from her so he could speak a little more privately. “I picked up the prescription already.”

“I thought it was just the one.” He asked puzzled.

“No…she’ll have to take them for a couple of weeks before they’ll do her any good.”

“Well…at least you got her to open up to me again. It’s a start.”

“She’ll be fine. Now try to get some sleep and stop worrying.” Hutch told him. “I’ve got to put her to bed.”

“Give her a kiss for me…”

“You got it…see ya tomorrow.”

“Yeah…night Hutch.” Starsky said and waited for the click on the other end before placing the receiver back down.

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The night duty nurse knocked softly on his door and entered quietly. He was still awake and she knew he would be. The same small pill she had given him the night before would take care of that. With a little water and a few teasing remarks…Starsky downed the pill and carried on a ten-minute conversation with her before drifting off to sleep. She pulled the blanket over him with a smile on her face and crept out of the room.

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Hutch helped her to bed after a quick trip to the bathroom to brush her teeth and change into one of his old T-shirts. He had forgotten to pick up a clean nightgown but she didn’t mind. His shirt was comfortable and it fit her like a short dress. He returned to her carrying a glass of water and one of each of the pills the Doctor had prescribed for her. She took them
all except the little pink one, which she held in her palm as she spoke to him.

“This is the same one the nurse talked to me about isn’t it?”

“Yeah…I was hoping you might have changed your mind.”

“I just need a little more time to think about it…ok?”

“You shouldn’t wait too long.” He said concerned.

 “I know ….” She told him as she positioned herself more comfortably in the bed and released a tired yawn. “Goodnight Hutch.”

He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead and then watched as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. The bruises that covered her face served as a grim reminder of the violence she had had to endure just 24 short hours ago. He lingered for a few minutes and then rose to his feet and walked quietly into the living room.

He found the blanket and pillow that he kept in the closet for those  rare occasions when he had an overnight guest who was forced to take the couch.  Tonight, as usual…it would be him.

A quick trip to the bathroom and he emerged in his pajama bottoms ready to turn in for the night. His jacket lay across the back of the couch and as he lay down to pull the blanket over his body…he glanced up at it. He had only scanned the pictures briefly before tucking them away and now that he was alone…he decided to give them a closer inspection.

They were still wrapped in the same plastic baggie that the officer on the scene had placed them in. He pulled them out carefully and thumbed through the horrifying images. Cassie was easy to recognize amid the arms and legs of others who managed to keep their identity’s concealed.

As he was about to put them away something caught his attention. It was so small and he was so tired that he hadn’t noticed it until that very moment. The picture he had placed on top showed the forearm of a young boy with his hand cupped over her mouth. Just below his shoulder was a very unusual tattoo.

“I’ll be damned.” He whispered as he sat up on the couch and held it under the lamp to get a better look. It resembled a dragon…or possibly a snake…he couldn’t be sure. As he examined it closer he could see three letters above the artwork, but they were too small to read.

Engulfed in his discovery, he was startled when the silence in the room was broken…as she screamed in her sleep.

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  chapter 23
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