CHAPTER 8

When they arrived at the address in the boy’s file they were surprised to find that the house apparently belonged to someone with quit a bit of money. There were large gables at the entrance of a driveway on a hill that led to a very extravagant looking two-story house. From the look of it they wondered why this boy was even in public school. People as wealthy as they seemed to be usually had their children in private institutions.

They walked slowly up the steps and rang the doorbell…then stepped back and waited for a response. A very pretty woman with her hair up in a bun and dressed very conservatively came to the door and looked at them with a worried expression on her face.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” She asked politely.

“Yes Ma’am’…” Starsky began just as politely. “We’re police officers.” He told her as both he and Hutch produced their badges.

“The police? What can I do for you?” She asked puzzled.

“Does Wayne Coleman live at this address?” Hutch replied.

“Why yes…he’s my son…is he in some kind of trouble?”

“We just want to ask him a few questions.” Starsky told her.

“Well…so would I…” She answered. “He hasn’t taken out the garbage in two days. Come to think of it…I haven’t even seen him since Saturday.”

Starsky looked at Hutch at the same time Hutch turned his head to look at him. Was this lady for real? If Cassie hadn’t been seen for more than 24 hours…he would be sick with worry…pretty much like he is now. Why wasn’t she the least bit  concerned?

“Let me get this straight…” Hutch began. “Your son has been missing for the better part of two days and you haven’t notified the police?”

“I go days without seeing him all the time…he lives in the cottage behind the house…I believe in giving him his own space.” She explained. “He lives his life and we live ours…what’s wrong with that?”

“Cutting the apron strings a little prematurely aren’t you?” Starsky asked with a sarcastic tone.

“Hey…I don’t have to stand here and be lectured by a couple of cops about how to raise my own son!” She told them in an angry tone.

“Lady…we don’t really care what kind of mother you are to your son.” Hutch told her abruptly as he handed her one of his cards. “If you hear from him…we want to hear from you…unless you want to be held accountable for obstructing justice…or possibly harboring a fugitive.”

She took the card from Hutch with a frightened look on her face. He had said what he had said to shake her up a bit…maybe even to scare her a little. She watched as the two of them walked slowly away…but Starsky couldn’t help but make one final comment before leaving. He turned and stopped for a moment as he raised a finger in the air at her.

“Ya know something…If I were you…I think I’d start to worry.” He told her with a cold stare. “That is unless you really don’t give a damn what happens to him.”

As Starsky made his way back to Hutch’s car he gripped his side and staggered a little. Hutch noticed his obvious pain and confronted him with it.

“Hey…you ok?” He asked him with concern.

“Yeah…I just need to sit down for a little while.” Starsky said as he slid into the passenger seat and cringed a little.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let you leave the hospital.” Hutch told him.

“Just drive will ya?” Starsky said as he continued to hold onto his side. “I’m fine.”

Hutch pulled Starsky’s hand away from his shirt a little and saw the fresh blood stain he was trying to hide from him.

“Starsky…you’re bleeding again!” Hutch told him in a panic. “You shouldn’t be out here.”

“Just let me worry about it Hutch!” Starsky said almost annoyed with his partner’s concern…but then he realized his tone and spoke a little softer. “I have to find her…I just have to know she’s all right…soon as we find her…I’ll see the Doc about it….Ok?” He assured him.

“At least let me take you to my place and bandage it a little better.” Hutch suggested.

“We don’t have time.” Starsky protested.

“Well…it’s either that or back to the hospital…it’s your choice.” Hutch said firmly.

“Ok…Ok…but make it fast.” Starsky agreed.

They were running out of time and they knew it…every second that she was with Tony was dangerous. The kid had a temper…and if she said something he didn’t like or upset him in any way…he might kill her. With her history of brassy…sarcastic little comments…it could happen at any moment.

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Cassie heard the basement door open slowly and sat up in a tight ball on the bed…a terry cloth towel her only means of covering her exposed body. She didn’t recognize Tony as he walked over to her because she had been so out of it the night before that she couldn’t remember any of their faces. He approached her slowly and smiled as he reached out to touch her long blonde hair. She jerked away in fear as she gripped the towel tighter and stared at him with wide frightened eyes.

“It’s ok baby…” He said with an evil grin. “The party’s not for another couple hours.”

Her fear had brought her back to herself now…as he moved in a little closer to her.

“Please…don’t hurt me.” She whimpered as she pulled her body as close to the wall as she could.

“I have a little something for you…Some of the same shit you had last  night.” He told her as he stoked her hair gently.

“I don’t want any...” She told him.

“Have it your way baby…” He said as he sat the cup down on the floor. “But I >think it’ll be easier on you if you take it.”

“Easier?” She asked as she turned her head away from him…but he pulled her by the chin forcefully to make her look at him.

“Yeah…you know…maybe you won’t mind it so much.” Tony said with the same evil grin.

“What are you gonna do to me?” She asked with a small, terrified voice as he held her chin tightly.

“Me…you…and four of my buddy’s…are gonna have a little fun…take pictures…and show them to your cop friends.” He told her and then he laughed in her face. “Kelly knows how to take good pictures…nobody’s face but yours…What do
you think Officer Hutchinson will say about that?”

Cassie’s face turned a pale white as the tears began to fall. How could she ever look at him again? Hutch was all she had left…the only person left in the world who cared anything for her…and they were going to do this horrible thing to him…to her…to them both. All she could do was cry. He had her…and there was no way out.

Tony released her and stood up to watch as she fell apart in front of him. He enjoyed it…her suffering…her torment…it turned him on.

He turned to walk away leaving the tainted drink behind on the dirt floor. When the door closed her crying grew a little louder…as her spirit weakened. It was a hopeless situation.

Then…she looked down at the cup…and she felt she really had no other choice…it was going to happen…and she didn’t want to know. She didn’t want to feel it…and she knew he was right. It would make her not care…about anything…and she needed that right now. She didn’t want to care…and so…

She drank it…all of it…every last drop.

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  chapter 9
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