CHAPTER 3

After another couple of minutes Cassie stood up and started for the back of the plane…but stopped as Starsky grabbed her by the arm.

“Where are you going?” He asked her.

“To the bathroom…do I need permission?” She said in a playful manner.

“Hey…don’t talk to anyone…just go and get right back here.” He said in a serious tone.

“OK…OK …I promise.” She told him.  “It’s not like I can go very far. ”She added.

He let go of her and watched as she made her way to the back.  Hutch threw Starsky a concerned look as she passed by him…but all he got in return was a stone faced gaze…they were worried that she might get accosted after her little stunt…by some pervert who might have been watching.  There was also the fact that Joe Castiano was on board…and they both knew that he was a man not to be trusted…or underestimated.

Cassie walked slowly down the aisle careful not to make eye contact with anyone…something about the tone of Dave’s voice had made her nervous…they had been out in public before and this was the first time he had cautioned her so.  She knew there had to be a reason.  At the end of the isle she noticed a pair of eyes on her…she instinctively looked but quickly turned
away.  It was an older man…bald on top…and wearing glasses.  He was smiling at her in a way that made her very uncomfortable.  She ducked into the bathroom and locked the door.

A man in his thirties with blond hair and a stocky build…sat in an aisle seat near the front of the coach compartment.  He had been watching as Cassie walked by him and shot a quick look over to another younger man seated across from him.

“She’s the one…” The younger man whispered to his partner  “I want her.”

“It doesn’t make a difference to me…but she’s young and they wouldn’t want to see her get hurt…use her.”  He agreed.  “She’s with that curly haired dude in first class.”

“He won’t give us any trouble.” The younger man said with a grin, as he patted the gun he had concealed under his jacket. “Time to have a little fun.”

Cassie emerged from the bathroom and began to make her way back to the front carefully…she had a strange feeling…like there were so many eyes watching her every move.

As she neared the front of the compartment…she was grabbed by the arm and jerked around to face the other passengers.  They were watching her…all with terrified looks on their faces.  She started to let out a scream, but a large hand that cupped over her mouth tightly, muffled the sound.  She began to struggle, but the cold sensation of metal against her head told her it
was no use.  Sounds of panic filled the small area.

The other gunman stood in the doorway between first class and coach…his gun drawn.

Starsky and Hutch were startled by the sounds that emitted from the back of the plane…As they turned around and began to jump to their feet they noticed the man in the doorway.

“Nobody move…Hands in the air…NOW!” He insisted.

Starsky slowly put his hands in the air and shot a surprised look over to Hutch…who had his hands up and gave his partner the same response.

“Oh…shit.” Starsky whispered to himself under his breath.  Cassie was back there somewhere.

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“Let him go or she dies.” The younger gunman spoke up as he held her tightly and pressed the barrel of the gun harder against her temple.

The two FBI agents already had their hands up…they rose to their feet slowly …one of them handcuffed to Castiano so his hand was raised also.

 “Get rid of the hardware…nice and slow…toss em’ in the aisle…NOW!” He told them as he motioned with a quick movement of his head.

They did as they were told…so he wouldn’t hurt her…but they knew that once they relinquished their weapons, there would be nothing to stop him from doing whatever he wished to her.

“Now the cuffs.” He instructed.

The agent removed the handcuffs and Castiano made his way to the front of the compartment…to stand next to the gunman.

“Now there’s just one more thing……DIE!!” He said as two shots rang out from his gun and the two FBI agents dropped to the floor…one dead before he hit…the other seriously injured and crying out in pain.

The gunman pulled Cassie with him as he walked closer to the wounded agent. Still holding a hand tightly around her mouth.  “Guess I missed.” He said as he shot him once again…this time in the head point blank.

***************

Starsky and Hutch heard the shots ring out from the back and the whole plane was filled with screams of panic.  The gunman in first class made his way quickly to the cockpit waving his gun back and forth as he turned around to keep an eye on everyone.  Starsky thought about jumping him, but not knowing where Cassie was…he couldn’t take the chance.

The stewardesses had their hands raised and stood near the door to the cockpit.  He conveniently grabbed one of  them…Maureen…and held her head close to the small window in the door…a gun pressed into her lower back. Starsky could see what he was up to and felt helpless to do anything about it.  She would be shot if he rushed him. But, if he managed to get into the cockpit……….the plane would be his.
 

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