CHAPTER 11

Her pretty face changed its expression quickly with his remark..  From one of a seductress to one of pure hatred.  It was a look that made Hutch loosen his grip on her arms and stand frozen in place. She reached her hand back and slapped him hard in the face.  Harder than any woman had ever hit him before and it almost knocked him off balance.  Then she turned and walked away leaving him standing there alone…rubbing the side of his face and catching the strange looks from the other men in the room.

Starsky had been watching and walked over to his partner quickly as she left him standing there.

“So what happened to the old Hutchinson charm?” He asked as he pulled Hutch’ s hand away from his face to get a better look at the damage.

“It only works on women.” He replied, as he looked his partner in the eye.

“You mean she isn’t….” Starsky asked in amazement.

“Hardly not…I mean not hardly.” Hutch replied. “I don’t know how the hell he hides it.”

“Must not be much to hide.” Starsky told him as he sat him down in a nearby chair.

“Wanna bet.” He said with conviction…he had felt it against his leg.  He knew now why Joe Joe liked em’ big.  She wouldn’t want to give the other guy a complex when she revealed herself to her perspective lover.

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While Momo and the list girls chatted amongst themselves…Micandra noticed something familiar about one of the girls seated across the dance floor from them.  She motioned to Momo, Sonja, and a few of the others to look in that direction. “Doesn’t that girl over there look just like the way Pebbles described Cassie in The Promise?” Micandra said to them. “She shouldn’t be in here if she’s only 16 years old.”

“Lighten up Mic…after all didn’t you ever sneak into a place like this when you were younger?” She told her.  “Just leave them alone.”

“Something’s really strange about all of this.” Laura remarked.

“Yeah…like why all the old disco music and what’s with the disco ball?” Vivian replied.

“Just relax will ya…I hear some clubs go for the nostalgic look these days.” Deanna spoke up.

“Just bring on the guys already.” Robin said impatiently. She’s the one who ordered the screwdriver. (Wonder what’s on her mind…HUH)

Cassie and the girls ordered their drinks and waited patiently for the show to start.  Cassie noticed the girls across the way as they continued to give her strange looks.  She thought that they suspected she was too young to be there and she wondered if they would cause a scene about it. After a little while she relaxed a bit as she watched them go back to their conversation and ignore her.

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Starsky and Hutch had discovered that Johnny would go on first and were a little relieved since this was their first time in front of an actual audience and maybe they could watch Johnny to see how he handles it.

 They stood near the curtain, careful not to be seen as they watched Johnny preparing himself. They heard the music start as the house lights were suddenly dimmed. Thick smoke emanated from the fog machine as Johnny ran past them…skidding on his knees through the thick smoke and rose quickly to his feet..Girating to the beat of the music.

“He’s pretty good.” Starsky said as he watched him move his pelvis slowly and turn himself around moving his shirt off his shoulders and smiling as the women ate it up. The women were screaming…all but Cassie who was watching in silence as he knelt down near her to give her a close view as he pulled his shirt the rest of the way off while staring into her eyes.  She swallowed hard and didn’t take her eyes off of him. Starsky and Hutch watched the show paying no mind to the crowd until he was completely down to his briefs.  It was then that something caught Hutch’s eye…something that scared him half to death.

“Starsk!” He said in a panicked voice.  “Check the group of women left.”

“So what about them?” Starsky asked curiously.

“So what group of women we know who roam around with a giant pink flamingo?” He asked as he stared into Starsky’s eyes.

Starsky’s face suddenly turned white as he quickly glanced toward the left of the stage and spotted the large bird being petted by one of the women.

“OH SHIT…It’s them.” Starsky exclaimed with fear as he turned to look at Hutch.  “What the hell are they doing here?”

“Just don’t panic…. Think…what do they usually want from us?” Hutch asked him.

“What do you have to be worried about?… It’s me their after…they want to hurt me so you can comfort me.” Starsky told him with a hint of fear in his eyes. “OH MY GOD….The ginsu knife. They’re gonna have it cut off and make you sow it back on.” He said.

“Now wait just a minute partner…what makes you think I’ll sow it back on.” Hutch kidded him.

“Aw…C’mon Hutch …you wouldn’t let me bleed to death would you?” Starsky asked him.

“You’re being a little ridiculous aren’t you?” Hutch told him. “The one thing they won’t do is cut it off…trust me.”

“You don’t know what they’re capable of Hutch…you haven’t been they’re guinea pig lately.” Starsky said in a whisper.  “Who knows what they’ll do to me eventually.”

          Just then a thought occurred to Hutch. Something he hadn’t realized until that very moment.

         “Hey…didn’t you see Cassie today?” Hutch asked.

 “Yeah…so what’s that got to do with anything?” Starsky answered him nervously.

 “Well then you have nothing to worry about.” Hutch stated confidently.

 “What are you talking about?” Starsky asked annoyed at his partner’s sudden confident attitude.

 “Because nobody puts Cassie into their story but Pebbles and CJ…as long as Cassie is around…we’re gonna be pretty safe.” Hutch deducted.

 “Oh yeah…no wonder we’re dancing in bikini briefs…” Starsky said a little calmer.  “I shoulda’ known they were behind this one.”

 “Yeah, all they want to do is embarrass and humiliate us. Of course it had to be a P&C Production.” Hutch said with relief.  “Who else would put us through this?”

 They stood there watching the girls in the corner for a few more seconds as Johnny knelt down to receive the money that they were stuffing into his waistband.  Giving them kisses and shaking it for them with each new bill that he received.

 “So that’s what they want…to shove dollars in our pants and get a little thrill.” Starsky said smugly. “That’s why their here?”

 “Beats the hell out of getting shot or being thrown out of a five story window…remember that one?” Hutch replied.

 “How could I forget…I talked funny for a three months.” He told him.

 “So maybe if you dance good enough for them they’ll take it easy on you for awhile.” Hutch suggested.

 “Yeah…you’re right…give em’ a good show and maybe they’ll be nice to me.” Starsky added.

  Johnny finished his number and Hutch was up next.  He adjusted the cowboy hat on his head and checked his appearance in the nearby mirror.  He wanted to make it good for the devoted Hutch fans out there who had been so kind to him.  For a group that is supposed to be predominately Fans of his partner…they sure put him through a lot of crap.  He was just thankful that he wasn’t loved as much….Gee.

 “One last thing.” Hutch said as he looked over at his partner.  “I’ll need a mask…to hide my Identity.”

 “What for?” Starsky asked him.

 “Just humor me will ya…” Hutch told him. “We’re not supposed to know they’ re here and I want to see if they’ll recognize me.” He explained.”

 “Alright…but no mask for me…I want them to know what I’m willing to do for them.” He stated.

 “Let’s get back into the story now…I want to see how it ends.” Hutch suggested.

 “Ok…no more talk about this…back to work.” His partner agreed as he slapped Hutch on the rear. “Go get em’ Blondie!”

The house lights dimmed and Hutch’s music came over the speakers.  With the fog machine again blowing out thick smoke … Hutch took a deep breath before making his grand entrance onto the empty stage.

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  Chapter 12
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