CHAPTER 6

Cassie’s world had just fallen apart when the sound of the young girl’s harsh words ripped through her soul. Her heart sank and her inner strength…her built in determination to stay alive suddenly left her. Dave was dead…Her father was dead…and she had nowhere to go. There was no one other than Hutch now in her life that loved her…that she loved. But he was a friend…not like Dave. Would he care enough to come looking for her? Maybe he would be too wrapped up in Starsky’s death to deal with her problem. He had told her time and time again that he was glad he wasn’t in Starsky’s shoes…that he was glad he didn’t have the responsibility.

But she knew she would be all right as long as she cooperated with them. Dave was her only lifeline…and she loved him even more than she loved her father…even more than she loved herself. The pain was so great that it sent her into an emotional spiral…a deep dark void…a place within herself so far away…that no one would ever be able to find her.

The young girl watched as Cassie sunk deeper and deeper within herself. It was a metamorphosis…a spectacle that she had never witnessed before in her life. One minute she was bold and brassy…standing there defending herself in nothing but a terry cloth towel…and now she looked helpless…vulnerable and weak.

“Hey…what’s the matter with you?” She asked as she snapped her fingers in front of her face and then shook her violently.

But Cassie was gone…whatever happened to her physical body she didn’t care…they couldn’t touch her…they couldn’t hurt her anymore…nobody could.

------------------------------------------

Hutch waited anxiously for Tony to appear. The courtroom was quiet except for the sound of rustling papers and the occasional cough or sneeze.

Hutch hated the atmosphere of it…he always did. So many lives hung in the balance in this room. Some he was glad to see hauled away and some he had remorse for. Wasted lives…tragic stories…an endless parade of mistakes and regrets.

But some had no regrets…some felt no remorse for their actions. It was those sick few…the scum of society that he had no trouble watching as they fell like dominos. On rare occasions he had even smiled as they were hauled away.

Tony would be one of these. He was so young and usually that in itself would spark a certain amount of sympathy in Hutch…but not this time. Most kids turn bad because of tragedies in their young lives. Being raped repeatedly by a parent or a relative...being beaten…something. But Tony had grown up with all the privileges. Parents that loved him…that handed him the
world on a silver platter and then asked him if he wanted more. His father was a prominent business man involved in charity after charity and Hutch could see the pain in his face as he sat in that room…just a few feet from him…with his head in his hands almost in tears.

Suddenly Tony walked through the door…smug and confident as Hutch glared at him. He wasted no time in finding Hutch and strolled right up to him boldly.

“She’s a good Fuck…but don’t worry…she’s still alive…” Hutch rushed at him but was held back by two other officers who happened to be close by and knew Hutch. They didn't want to see him get into any trouble over this little sawed off punk. They knew some of the story…from gossip around the station house lately…and half expected this reaction.

“Where’s your partner cop?…takin’ harp lessons?” He said with a laugh as Hutch glared at him with gritted teeth as he struggled to get at him once more. If the other cops hadn’t been restraining him. If he wasn’t in Court…if he could get his hands around his neck right now…IF……If….if. Hutch settled back down and yanked his arms away from the hands that gripped them.

“I’m fine…I’m fine.” Hutch told them with assurance…and then he gave them an unspoken look of thanks as they each shook their heads in acknowledgement and took their seats.

“All Rise…” The Bailiff announced and then he introduced the Judge to the room. After a few minutes the DA was called to stand and speak.

“You’re honor…the State at this time would like to request a postponement of these proceedings until more evidence can be obtained.” The DA stated.

“How long will you need Mr. District Attorney?” The Judge asked with intensity. “You should have done you’re homework before wasting my time…and the tax payers dollars here today.”

“Just three days…your honor…that’s all we ask.” The D.A pleaded with him.

“Is the defendant present?” The Judge asked as he looked around the room for Tony.

“I’m here…and I think this is BULLSHIT!” Tony yelled in a defiant manner.

“That just cost you a Five Hundred Dollar Fine…would you like to try for a Thousand?” The Judge asked him with disgust. “This case is adjourned until 9:00 AM on Friday.” He said as the gavel fell onto the hard wood platform.

Hutch watched as Tony’s father walked quietly up to the bailiff…pulled out his wallet…and proceeded to dish out Five Hundred Dollars like he was making change at a deli.

There had been no exchange of gratitude between Tony and his father. The whole time they sat near each other in Court there hadn’t even been any eye contact between them. Hutch now had a better idea of their relationship. His father didn’t love him…or even care that much about him. His whole life he was probably given whatever he wanted just to get him out of the
way…to keep him quiet…and now…the monster that his father had created was on the loose…and it was up to Hutch to try and stop him.

Tony left the courthouse with Hutch following behind him. But as Hutch had suspected…Tony led him on a wild goose chase…up one side street and down another. Hutch stayed with him for a little while but when he ditched his car at the subway station and hopped on board a moving tram…Hutch lost him. As he bent over a little breathing heavily and watching the tram as it disappeared…the last he saw of Tony was his face pressed up against the glass and his right hand in the air…his middle finger extended.

-------------------------------------

Starsky was sitting on the end of his bed…with the IV yanked out of his arm and the monitours disconected…he was sliding his shirt on over his bandages when Hutch entered the hospital room.

“You sure about this?” Hutch asked as he walked over to him.

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Starsky said as he winced with pain as he slid his other arm into his shirt.

“What if you start bleeding again?” Hutch asked him. “What about  infection?”

“Doc says if I take my antibiotics and take it easy…I’ll be ok.” Starsky told him.

“Yeah…but you’re not gonna take it easy…that’s the problem.” Hutch said as he grabbed his partner by the shoulder and stared into his blue eyes.

“Sure…I promised not to chase anybody…or lift anything…nothing says I can’t pull a trigger.” Starsky told him.

Hutch just looked at him with a warm smile on his face…and Starsky gave him one of his own…it was an unspoken moment of friendship and love…one that they had both experienced before.

“Ok…but I’m driving.” Hutch told him and then he grabbed him by the arm and >helped him out the door.

---------------------------------------------------------
 
  chapter 7
Back to Pebbles' Page
Back to Gallery