Love Thy Neighbor – Part Two
jmhenderson
Chapter One
Hutch had been gone maybe two minutes, and Doug came out from the operating room. His look was somber and cold. Starsky ran over to him, his eyes pleading for answers. Doug looked at him for a moment.
“She had a brain aneurysm. It must have dislodged from her leg fracture where a lot of clogging had formed. I’m so sorry David. We did everything we could. I’m sorry.” Starsky just stared at him, then slowly slumped down in the floor. He was sobbing when Hutch returned. Hutch looked at Doctor Goodale, who just shook his head. He knelt down beside his partner.
“What the hell happened?” Hutch yelled to the doctor. Starsky told him what he said. Numb from receiving the news. Hutch just looked at Starsky and hugged him, crying with his friend, crying for his friend. Doug walked over to a chair and sat down. Holding his head in his hands, slouched over in the chair. Starsky was sobbing, and Hutch held his friend, knowing there was no amount of comfort he could offer.
Starsky was slowly but surely falling from his chair. He was mumbling, incoherent, and tears were falling down his cheeks. Hutch walked from the kitchen and tried to wake him.
“Starsk. Starsk. C’mon buddy, snap out of it.” He said as he gently shook his friend to wake him from his nightmare. Starsky jumped a little, opening his eyes in time to see his partners’ worried face staring down at him. The look of worry went to questioning as Starskys’ eyes met his and began to focus.
“That was some dream you were having. You want to talk about it?” Hutch asked him, hoping to know what was troubling his partner so badly. Suddenly Starsky jumped up from the chair that had lead him to slumber. Standing straight up, and beginning to feel a bit disoriented, he just stared at Hutch, whose look of worry had begun to creep back across his face. Starsky began recalling the dream; Gabby was gone! The reality hit him as he slowly sat back down in the chair.
“Damn Starsky. What in the world has gotten you like this?” Hutch asked, kneeling down beside him.
“What do you think?” Starsky asked sarcastically.
“The chain store killer?” Hutch asked innocently.
“Jesus, man!” Starsky began as he jumped out of the chair and walked over to the sofa, throwing Hutches’ blanket off from it before he sat down.
”What’s wrong with you?! I was dreaming about Gabby.” He said, putting his head into his hand as he leaned on the arm of the sofa.
“Gabby?” Hutch asked with a puzzled look on his face. “”Who… You mean Gabrielle? Lilas’ niece?”
Starsky looked at his partner in disbelief. His mouth just dropped open, but he couldn’t find the words to ask his friend how he could be so cold. Hutch noticed his partners’ disorientation, and walked over to him. He could tell that there was definitely something off here.
“Starsky?” he began, approaching him carefully, “What does Gabby have to do with this?”
Starsky felt as if he were going into shock. His first instinct was to haul off and break his partners’ jaw. His fist clenched, but something was so weird about all this. Was Hutch having some sort of mental breakdown? He was now the one looking at his partner with concern. He wiped his face slowly with his hands, then looked up at Hutch.
“Hutch, she, she died last night.” Starsky said, trying not to choke on his words. Hutch knelt down beside him. He knew nothing about what his friend was talking about, and wondered if he could quite possibly still be asleep. It wouldn’t be the first time that the stress from a case had his partner sleep walking; it had happened plenty of times before. But his eyes didn’t have that glassy look this time. He decided to just talk him through it.
“Starsk. Gabrielle is not dead.” He said gently.
Starsky didn’t know what was going on. His mind was reeling at the prospect that his partner had lost his mind.
“What were you dreaming?” Hutch asked him, trying not to make Starsky feel as belittled. Starsky just stared at him. He wasn’t the one who was loony. It could not have been as simple and crazy as some damned dream. It was real. He could feel it. He looked at his partner with a blank stare.
“I’ll be right back.” He told Hutch, getting up suddenly and jumping around Hutches’ legs to head towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Hutch demanded.
“Over to Gabbys.” He said, opening the door.
Chapter Two
Starsky arrived at Gabbys’ door just a few minutes after leaving his own. The morning sun had already begun to warm the ground, and he was grateful, since he hadn’t bothered putting on shoes. He stared at the door to Gabbys’ apartment, then took a deep breath. He heard movement inside, and immediately reached for his gun, which he left in his apartment. He put his hand gently on the door handle, and turned it very slowly. It wasn’t locked. He hadn’t been dreaming, it was real, and now he was there to prove it. But he heard someone inside, and his instinct told him it could only be a prowler. He refused to believe anything else.
Hutch put his shoes on, grabbed his shirt and went out the door towards Gabbys’ place. His head was spinning from all he just witnessed, and had no idea what to expect next. Then he heard it. The scream. He ran around the corner, going into the open doorway of Gabrielles’ apartment. Starsky was just standing there, and Gabby had apparently screamed from being startled to find him in her home.
“David?” she questioned. “David. What are you doing in here, and haven’t you heard of knocking?” she said smartly. All Starsky could do was stare. Hutch walked up to him, putting his arm on his shoulder. But Starsky could not stop looking at the woman standing before him. Becoming concerned, she walked over to him, and touched his cheek. He took her hand and held it, kissing it, feeling the warmth of it to bring her into his reality.
“Gabby!” he hollered suddenly, picking her up and holding her tightly in a bear hug. She glanced at Hutch, who was a bit dumbfounded.
“David! What are you doing???” she asked him in a tone he was not expecting. He set her down, still holding her hand. The sudden reality flooded him, realizing that what his partner had said was true. He tried to cover for himself.
“I, uh, just hadn’t seen you in a while and, well, I guess I just missed ya.” He said, smiling and letting her hand go.
“What is going on here?” she demanded, a touch of anger flaring in her eyes as she set her hands on her hips. She looked at Hutch, who simply shrugged his shoulders.
“Come on, partner.” He began, “Let’s get going…. We have a lot of work to do today.” He pulled Starsky by the arm, who was still grinning and staring at Gabrielle.
“Sorry for the intrusion, Gabby.” Hutch offered as he pulled his partner back out the front door. Hutch leaned in to close the door behind him, then they walked silently back to Starskys’ apartment. Once inside, Hutch grabbed the pot of coffee he made earlier and poured two cups, then sat them at the kitchen table, motioning for Starsky to sit down.
“Now, do you want to tell me what that was all about?” Hutch asked, a kind tone to his softened voice.
“God Hutch,” Starsky began, “It was a dream, wasn’t it.” He stated as he stared into space. He began telling Hutch about the dream, the only other person alive that he knew would not judge him or put him down. He told of the store robbery, of Gabby getting hurt, and keeping her in protective custody, healing her, and falling in love with her. He told him about the trial, about the guy breaking out of jail and Gabby being shot. How it was all getting back to a sense of normality when she just died, coming out of no where. He even told him about the engagement ring, and the funeral. His pain was obvious.
“It was like one time, then another, her life was in jeopardy, and then wham. She was gone.” Starsky said, shaken.
“Three strikes.” Hutch said, not sure if he had thought it or actually said it out loud.
“Huh?” Starsky asked.
“You know, it was like three strikes, and then she was out. Jesus, Starsk. I don’t know what to say. That had to be the weirdest dream I ever heard of, and so detailed, so real.” He offered.
“Yeah. It was real alright.” Was all Starsky could say.
“But it’s okay now, buddy, she’s over there alive and well and none of that happened to her. You’re okay.” He said, putting his hand on Starskys’ shoulder.
“You think you’ll be alright to go to work?” Hutch asked, looking at the clock on the wall.
“Yeah.”
Chapter Three
Their day at work was particularly strained. Starsky was quiet and Hutch knew where his thoughts had been. It had been an awful day anyway. Their time had been spent working on files, then interviewing all the people on their contact lists who knew the victims of the C-Store Killer. When they got back to the station, they were emotionally drained, Starsky more so than Hutch.
“You ready to call it a day, pal?” Hutch asked as he watched Starsky, who had been reading the same six-page file for 45 minutes. Hutch got up from his desk.
“Starsk?”
“Uh, yeah. Be there in a minute.” Starsky replied, picking up the phone.
Starsky got into the Torino and started the engine. Hutch waited to speak until they pulled away from the station.
“You called Gabby, didn’t you.” He said bluntly.
“No,” Starsky answered quickly, then hesitated a moment. “I called Lila. And they were planning on going to Buddys’ store.” He said.
Hutch looked out the side window as Starsky ended up at Buddys’ store; slowly driving by it, then turning around and parking across the street where he could have a good view. He cut the engine off. “Starsk.” Hutch said, with a tone that was asking what they were doing there.
“Just a few minutes, okay? Buddy closes at 8, I just, well, I just wanna reassure myself.” Starsky said, hoping his partner wouldn’t get upset.
“Sure, why not?” Hutch began, “I’ve got nothing better to do a Saturday night.” He said sarcastically.
Their silence was abruptly disturbed by a voice coming over the Motorola radio. “All units, all units, 2-11 in progress, 227 Jamestown Road. Available units please respond.”
“That’s close.” Hutch said, picking up the mike and looking over at Starsky, who shook his head in agreement.
“This is Zebra Three, log us back in, we are responding.” Hutch said as Starsky started the Torino and put it into gear. Buddy was coming out from his store, keys in hand to lock it up. He saw them and waved. The Torino roared down the street, and Hutch put the light on top and flipped the switch to the siren.
It was one of the local chains of convenience stores, set in an area that wasn’t very populated. Starsky slowly pulled the silenced car to the side of the store. There were two cars out front. Guns raised, they moved around the side of the building. It was quiet. Looking in the store through the windows, Hutch took the lead and went to the front door, which was propped open with a standing ash tray. Entering slowly, the scene was looking all too familiar to both of them. There was blood on the floor, but no movement. Each began walking around the stores’ perimeters.
“Starsk.” Hutch said, motioning for his partner to come towards him. Starsky walked over and saw the body that Hutch was leaning over. A man, probably in his forties, shot at least twice. Hutch felt for a pulse, then shook his head. Starsky turned around to look for anyone else, since there were two cars in the lot, and Hutch got up, heaving a deep sigh. The stock room door was ajar, and Starsky used his gun to maneuver it open. It was there he found the second body. A young girl, probably no older than twenty years old, who apparently had gone in there to hide. As Starsky checked her, he looked up at Hutch; shaking his head and looking disgusted. They heard a car pull up, and heard the sirens in the background of approaching patrol cars. Looking at the front door, they saw Gabrielle and Lila walk in, then abruptly stop, realizing what they had walked in on. The smiles of the two women who had entered the store fell from their faces. Starsky looked at them in surprise as they stood in the entrance.
“Oh my God.” Lila said as she looked around the store, putting her hand to her mouth. Starskys’ mind was racing.
“You two don’t need to be in here.” Hutch said as he took them gently by their arms and walked them outside. Oncoming headlights approached them from the road as the patrol cars made their way to the scene. Hutch met with the patrolmen; telling them what need to be done and making sure forensics and the coroner were on their way. Starsky walked out to Gabby and Lila. They couldn’t leave now, being blocked in by the other vehicles. Starsky began a little small talk with them, then just had to know.
“How come you two are here?” he asked, trying not to let the concern come out in his tone.
“I told you on the phone that we had to pick up a few things David.” Lila answered him.
“We decided to go out to dinner, over at Rosettas’ up the street.” Gabby began, lighting a cigarette, “Then figured we’d stop by here on the way home.” She said, looking at all the activity inside the store.
“Okay, look it. I want you two to tell me what you need, and I’ll pick it up after we’re done here. That way you can go straight home. I’ll bring it over there.” Starsky said, as Gabby studied his face, not knowing where this sudden concern was coming from.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Gabby began, “We can…” her words were cut off as he interrupted.
“I want you two to go straight home.” He said, urgency
in his voice. Gabby began to protest, but Lila put a hand on her
arm and simply said ‘alright’ as Starsky had some of the officers move
their cars and make a path to drive out from.
Chapter Four
Hutch sat silently in the car as Starsky drove. Yes, it was a good coincidence that Gabby and her aunt had shown up there, but that’s all it was. And he knew his partner was seeing more into it than that.
“Whatcha thinkin’?” Starsky asked, already knowing as he drove the car towards Hutches’ home.
“You know what I’m thinking,” Hutch began, “and it’s just a coincidence Starsky.” He said, hoping that his words would sink in, but knowing otherwise.
The rest of the ride to Hutches’ place was quiet. As Starsky pulled up he put the car in park and cut the engine off. Hutch knew he wanted to talk about it, so he didn’t attempt to open the car door.
“Look, “ Starsky began, shifting his weight to face his partner, “Don’t you think it’s kinda strange that I dreamed all this crap and it all revolved around Gabby, and then there she was tonight?? I mean, she told me that they had gotten held up in traffic on the way over because of a tractor-trailer jack-knifing down the street from the restaurant. Now if it wasn’t for that…” his voice trailed off as he let his mind wonder about the consequences.
Hutch looked over at Starsky, turning his body to face him. “Starsk, it’s a coincidence, and that’s all. Come on now. Don’t let that awful nightmare of yours clog your detectives’ training. “ he said gently.
“I can’t help it. I mean, maybe it’s some kinda omen or something, but I just can’t act like it never happened.” Starsky said, taking a deep breath. “I even ran that name of the guy in my dream who was the C-Store Killer, Chester Brown.” He stated.
“And?” Hutch asked.
“And no record, come to find out he was some guy I went to high school with.” Hutch smiled and gave him a little chuckle.
“See” he said to his friend.
“Yeah, yeah. Look, let’s just see what happens, okay?” Starsky began, “and pray that I’m wrong.” Hutch put his hand on Starskys’ shoulder.
“Hey,” Hutch began, “what are you going to do with your day off tomorrow?” he asked. Starsky just shrugged his shoulders.
“I dunno. Maybe see if Gabby has any plans?” he questioned, looking over at Hutch. Hutch just smiled and looked down.
“Alright. Goodnight.” He said as he opened the car door and gently closed it behind him, then leaned in through the open window. "Look Starsk,” he began, “Remember that Lila and Gabby coming in the store was just a coincidence. Okay? You have to think rationally.” Starsky shook his head in agreement.
(Strike One, he thought.)
Chapter Five
Starsky pulled theTorino up to his normal parking spot, cutting the engine and taking a second to lean his head back and stretch his arms. He got out, grabbing the bag with milk, bread and cigarettes out from the car, then walked around to Lilas’ place. After knocking only once, Lila opened the door for him and kissed him on his cheek as he walked in.
“Where’s Gabby?” he asked as he looked around.
“Oh, she’s at her place, she said she’d be over in the morning to get her cigarettes. I don’t like her smoking, you know, but she’s a grown woman…” her words drifting off while she poured him a glass of tea and set it in front of him.
“I’ve noticed.” He said, grinning at her. She looked at him, smiling. She took a five-dollar bill and set it in front of him, then turned and placed her milk and bread in the refrigerator. Starsky took the bill while her back was turned and put it in her purse, which sat in a chair at the table.
“Now David, I want you to tell me what is really going on.” She said, turning to him and sitting down, putting the cigarette pack on the table.
“Lila, there’s nothing going on.” He told her, looking at his glass.
“You know,” she began, “I didn’t get to be this old without learning a few things here and there, and one thing I have always had was a talent for reading people. Now, you don’t have to tell me, but I do know for certain that something is going on with you, and I know it has to do with Gabby.” Starskys’ shoulders slumped a little as he looked at her. Weighing it out in his mind, he decided to tell her some parts of his dream, being vague, but letting her in on a few of the details.
“My great grandmother used to have a wonderful intuition.” She began, “and I think you may have one as well. I want you to trust your dream as you trust your instincts, and I will help you as best I can.” Starsky looked at her; surprised not to hear her scold him for believing his dream could actually be a reality of some sort.
“You won’t tell Gabby about this, will you? I don’t want to upset her, or maybe have her thinking I’m some kinda nut case or something.” He asked.
“No, David, I wont. But you need to know that her instincts are sharp and she already feels like something isn’t quite right, so if you don’t want to tell her, you’ll have to be careful.” He looked at the clock on the wall in her kitchen. It was 11pm.
“I will Lila.” Starsky stood up and grabbed the cigarettes from the table and put them in his pocket.
“I think I’ll go deliver these personally.” He said as he kissed Lila on her cheek.
“Thank you for caring about her so much.” Lila told
him as he left. She closed the door behind him.
Chapter Six
Starsky walked around to Gabbys’ apartment, trying to get himself in a good mood, hoping to find Gabby more receptive to his visit than the last time. He knocked on the door. A few moments passed, and she was asking who was there through the door.
“It’s Dave Starsky.” he said loud enough for her to hear. She opened the door, peering around it with a towel on her head. He looked at her and grinned.
“I remembered to knock this time.” He said, and pulled the cigarette pack from his pocket, handing it to her. She smiled at him. She opened the door for him to come in, and he looked at her, wrapped in her robe, noticing her ‘ensemble’ was complete with fuzzy slippers.
“Excuse me for looking like this,” she began, “but
I just got out from the shower. Can I get you something to drink?”
she asked. He was surprised by her invitation, and graciously accepted.
She went to the kitchen and looked back out at him.
“Beer?” she asked. He nodded ‘yes’ and she brought out two, setting
them down on her coffee table, then excused herself to change out from
her robe and towel. Within a few minutes, she returned in a pair
of sapphire blue pajamas and no slippers. He didn’t know whether
to compliment her or not, and chose to keep quiet for a change. She
sat down across from him at the other end of the sofa; taking the beer
bottle from the table and sipping it as she sat back, crossing her legs
and getting comfortable. She had brought her brush in with her, and
began brushing her hair out, looking at him.
“So…” she began, as he raised an eyebrow and grinned. “What’s going on with you here lately?” she asked him. He took a couple of swallows from his beer.
“Not much.” He answered, not taking his eyes from her. She just looked at him. ”Well, I think there is, and I think it has something to do with me, and I’m wondering what it’s all about.” She said, her tone even and her eyes still fixed on him as she drank again from her beer.
“I’ve just been thinking about ya a little.” He told her.
“And?” she asked. He stayed quiet for a minute, looking down at the coffee table, then back at her, catching her eyes with his.
“And nothing.” He said, letting a broad smile form on his face, hoping that his charm would sway her line of questioning.
“You hungry?” she asked, sitting up, grabbing their empty beer bottles, and heading towards the kitchen.
“No thanks. Hutch and I ate a couple of burgers earlier.” He said as he got up and followed her in there. He had never really seen her kitchen before, in fact, he had only been in her apartment twice. They gathered for card games and dinner some times, but always at Lilas’. He was there once when he helped her bring in a few things as she moved in, and then this morning, when he burst in. She cut the light on and walked to the refrigerator. He watched her as she bent down to get two more beers. As she turned around, he turned his line of vision towards the cabinets so she wouldn’t catch him staring. He froze. The cabinets had hand painted ivy vines in a random pattern, just like he had dreamed. She turned and noticed his glare.
“Do you like that? I painted them myself, trying to keep the cabinets from looking so plain.” He looked at her and the seriousness of his expression concerned her.
“What’s wrong David?” she asked him.
“I’m just worried about you.” He said. Before she could speak, he walked closer to her and took the beers from her, putting them down on the counter. He took her hands in his, and gently kissed her. She pulled back.
“I don’t understand what is going on with you.” She said. He leaned into her and kissed her again. She could feel the overwhelming warmth of her body as his kiss sparked excitement within her, but again, pulled away.
“David.” She said breathlessly as she turned from
him, tipping over one of the beer bottles in the process.
“Damn.” she said under her breath, reaching for her dishtowel. She
turned; facing the sink as she mopped the beer with the towel.
“I don’t know what you are up to, and I don’t know where this is leading
to…” she began, as Starsky got behind her and with one hand pulled her
hair away from her neck; “but I, I, uh…” Starsky began kissing her
neck, and her resistance faded. He wrapped his other hand around
her waist and held her closely, then turned her to face him, and kissed
her deeply. She could do nothing but swoon under him. Holding him
tight, she responded in full, kissing him as her arms entangled with his.
He leaned her back and kissed her with the love he had found for her in
his dream, and the other beer bottle toppled. They didn’t notice.
Chapter Seven
It was 6:15am. Starsky sat at his kitchen table that morning thinking only of Gabrielle and the previous evening. He had really pushed himself on her, he thought. She had no idea how much he felt for her; where his emotional outburst had stemmed from. But she did respond, and that, to him, was a good sign. He knew her feelings for him were not as strong as his, especially when she did not ask him to stay, but why would she? One minute they are no more than passing friends, the next he’s all over her. She probably thought he was only trying to get in her pants. Well, yeah, he was, but, not like that. He shook his head, almost disappointed with himself for not telling her about the dream. But wouldn’t she think he was crazy? Someone was knocking at his door, interrupted his thoughts.
“We got another murder.” Hutch said as he walked in the door.
“Good morning to you too.” Starsky said in monotone. Hutch walked to the coffeepot and got himself a cup as Starsky closed the door.
“He hit that little all night store off of Mulberry a couple of hours ago. You ready to go over there?” Hutch asked.
“So much for the day off.” Starsky announced. “Yeah, let me get my shoes on.” He said as he went into the bedroom.
The traffic was nil being so early on a Sunday morning. Hutch was driving his car, so Starsky sat quietly in the passenger seat, with Hutch looking over at him now and then, wondering where his thoughts had taken him.
“How did last night go?” Hutch asked.
“It wasn’t bad.” Starsky said, his face letting go of a grin. Hutch waited for him to continue until he tired of the silence.
“Well?” he asked. Starsky grinned again and turned to face him.
“Yeah, it went well.” He said sarcastically.
“Alright. Give up the goods. What happened?” Hutch said, his curiosity rising.
“Gabby and I broke the ice, I guess you could say.” Starsky said sheepishly.
“Hmmm. Uh huh.” Hutch said as he turned the car.
“No, not like that.” Starsky replied. There were a couple of minutes of silence between them.
“Did you tell her about your dream?” Hutch asked.
“No, but I think I’m gonna take my chances and tell her tonight.” He answered.
“Tonight, huh? Got a date I take it?” Hutch asked with a teasing tone.
“Yep.” Starsky answered, obviously pleased.
“Hey, you want to double? I’m going to take
Deanna to dinner and then over to that little carnival in town afterwards.”
Hutch suggested.
“Naw, I think I’m gonna try for something a little more intimate. Maybe another time though, okay?” Starsky asked.
“Sure pal.” Hutch said. “Well, we’re here.” He pulling the car into the parking lot.
The scene was all too familiar at the store, only this time things were bloodier than usual. From the looks of things, the man who was working tried to get away after he was shot, only to be shot again by the door. The coroner said he had been shot five times total. This made eight stores and fourteen deaths. Again there were no witnesses, and again there were no clues. This perp picked stores with no cameras and obviously wore gloves. The storeowner had come in, assessing the total money taken at sixty-two dollars. They had set up seven different local stores with cops playing clerks, and none of them had been hit, almost as if he knew where the set ups had been randomly placed. This case was far from being solved, and Starsky and Hutch were becoming more than frustrated.
They left the scene in silence, driving to the station.
Dobey walked into the squad room, surprised to see Starsky and Hutch at their desks on a Sunday afternoon. "What are you two doing here? I thought you were going to have a day off today.” He said in a gruff tone.
”There was another hit this morning, Cap.” Hutch told him.
“Don’t you think I know that? Why do you think I’m here?” he answered, scowling. He looked at them both, then softened his tone a little.
“Any leads?” he asked.
“None.” Starsky said in monotone. Dobey just shook his head.
“Well, you two might as well head out of here then. Looks like we’re going to be waiting this one out until we can catch a break.” He said, heading for his office.
“Yeah. Right Cap.” Hutch answered.
“You ready to go home?” Hutch asked his partner. Starsky looked at his watch. It was 2:30pm.
“More than ready.” Starsky said as he stood up.
Hutch pulled his LTD into the curbing behind Starskys’ car.
“You coming in?” Starsky asked, trying to change the subject of the thoughts that ran through them both.
“No, I think I need to get home and cleaned up, get ready for Deanna.” Hutch said, smiling.
“Sounds good.” Starsky said, getting out from the car and looking back at his partner.
“It usually is.” Hutch replied, chuckling to himself as Starsky grinned.
“You have a good evening with Gabby.” Hutch told
him, putting the car in reverse. Starsky smiled, as if just remembering
he had that date tonight. He walked up to his apartment and took
a shower.
Chapter Eight
Starsky walked up to Gabbys’ door with a giddy feeling of anticipation. Knocking on her door, she answered promptly, and he smiled at her, enjoying what he saw. He was right on time, which was most times hard to do. It was 5pm. When he had asked her the night before where she would like to go, she told him somewhere casual, and he liked that. She stood before him in blue jeans, not too tight, but close, and a pale yellow blouse that was unbuttoned just enough to show off her cleavage. Being a well-rounded gal, she had plenty to show. And he was admiring it. Her make up and hair were done to perfection he thought, and her perfume smelled heavenly, like a soft musk. She just looked at him, watching as he looked at her.
“Well?” she asked him nicely. He just smiled. “Come on in.” she invited. And he did.
He walked in and closed the door behind himself, then reached out to Gabby and kissed her gently on the lips. She kissed him back, then drew herself away from him, looking up into his eyes.
“David, I would really like to know what’s going on. I’m not complaining, mind you, but I’m a little worried.” she said, looking very sincere.
“Well, I wasn’t really planning on it right now, but, yeah, c’mon, let’s sit down.” Gabby let him lead her to the sofa, and after a deep breath, Starsky began telling her about the dream. Her reaction to his words was more concern than being skeptical, which made him feel comfortable enough to go into more details than he had with Lila. She watched him, listening, until he finished explaining all that he wanted her to know. She lit a cigarette, watching him as he waited to hear a reaction from her.
“Do you have dreams like that often?” she asked.
“You’re my first.” He said, grinning halfway. She got up and grabbed two beers from the fridge, sitting back down and handing him one.
“Wow.” She began. “No wonder you’ve been acting so strangely.” She said, sipping her beer, then looking at him with adoration and a touch of sympathy.
“I don’t know where it came from, but I gotta tell ya, it really shook me up.” He said, drinking from his beer. She moved in closer to him, taking her hand and stroking his hair gently back from his face.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to be just fine.” She whispered.
“I know you will.” He began, “This is all strange as hell to me, but I’m gonna make sure of it.” He told her. He put his hand around her waist, kissing her with an intenseness that enveloped her very being. She returned it completely. They took a breath.
“You still want to go out?” she asked him, leaning her head to look him in the eyes.
“Do you?” he asked her, returning her gaze.
“No.” she answered him, kissing him. She leaned back and smiled, then quickly got up, looking down at him.
“I bet you haven’t eaten all day.” She said as she walked into the kitchen. Starsky just sat there, a little confused by her sudden change of subject. Gabby took a kitchen towel and fanned herself, feeling very warm.
“Uh, no, I guess I didn’t.” Starsky began, “But I wasn’t really thinking ‘bout food.” He said, smiling. She took a deep breath and tried to regain a little composure.
“You need to eat.” She said, looking through the fridge, grateful for the cool air that was hitting her. He came through the kitchen and walked behind her. She was trying to keep a distance, and he had to respect that. But he knew that she had feelings for him too. He had to play it her way, though he desperately wanted to express the way he felt. She turned around with eggs and cheese in her hands, facing him as he didn’t step back.
“Let me fix you something.” She began, “It’ll make us both feel better.” She said, walking around him, but brushing against him as she did so.
“Feels pretty good to me.” He said, smiling, but not blocking her way. He sat down at the table as she cooked scrambled eggs with cheese and found himself studying her.
“You’re awful quiet.” She mused, stirring the mixture in her frying pan.
“Just enjoying the view.” He quipped.
They sat at the table eating and talking, and began to find out the different things they had in common. He was surprised to find that one of her favorite passions was playing pinball.
“I guess I’ll have to take you to Huggys’ sometime.” He began, “He’s got a few really good ones down there.” He said.
“Oh, I know. I’ve been there before. He’s quite a character.” She told him.
“You know Huggy?” he asked with surprise.
“Yes, why?” she asked him, stopping short of taking a mouthful of eggs. Starsky put his fork down on his plate.
“I dreamed that too.” He said quietly.
“This is getting weird.” She told him.
(Strike Two he thought)
“Yeah, look it, Gabby. I never believed in e s p and all that stuff, but I don’t like the way things are starting to fit together here.” He said, grabbing her hand and holding it.
“We will just have to make sure there aren’t any more coincidences.” She told him. He thought about everything as she cleaned up the dishes and sat down beside him. She touched his hand, and he looked at her, as if just realizing she was there.
“Welcome back.” She said, smiling at him. He smiled back at her, then leaned forward to kiss her. She leaned towards him as well, and it was nice.
The phone rang. With Starskys’ resistance, she went to answer it. It was Hutch. She talked to him briefly, then leaned around the doorway at Starsky.
“It’s for you.” She said nicely.
“Yeah, what?” he said, knowing it had to be Hutch and hating his timing.
“Sorry to interrupt you, pal. But the killer just struck again. He’s gotten a little bit braver this time.” He said.
“Where are you?” Starsky asked.
“The Safeway on Fifth and Mercury.” Hutch answered. Starsky looked at his watch. It was 7:26pm.
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He said, hanging up the phone. He turned to Gabby, who was looking at him with some disappointment.
“Duty calls?” she asked, grabbing his jacket from the chair and handing it to him.
“Yeah, I’m sorry.” He said, taking it. “I’ll make it up to ya, I promise.” He said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into him, kissing her with great passion, indeed.
“Come back by when you’re done?” she asked him, with an innocent tone in her voice. He was a little surprised by her invitation, and grinned at her.
“It might be late.” He said.
“Okay.” She said sweetly. Starsky smiled then left, and Gabby wiped the sweat that beaded on her forehead.
Chapter Nine
Starsky arrived on the scene a little before 8pm. Getting out of his car, he heard people crying and hollering back and forth, the paramedics wandering about feverishly as they loaded two stretchers into an ambulance. Hutch saw him pull in and walked over.
“Well partner, we’ve got us a few witnesses.” He stated as he looked over his notepad.
“If it’s the same guy.” Starsky said with a tone of disbelief.
“Well, we do know it’s the same caliber gun.” Hutch said, looking hopeful. “I just took their statements, they weren’t really hurt too bad, one has a shoulder wound, another was shot in the leg, and another got away with only a flesh wound.” He told him.
“And you think it’s the same guy?” Starsky asked as they walked into the store. There were uniformed officers scattered all around the store, picking up any evidence they spotted, grasping for any and all clues. Starsky looked over to a cluster of people standing by the office, then he saw them. Two body bags. Hutch saw the direction where he was looking.
“Yeah, we’ve got two dead here.” He said somberly.
They finished up their investigation of the scene and arranged for mug books to be taken to the hospital for the survivors to go through, hoping they could identify this creep. Ballistics would be comparing the bullets from this crime scene to the others, and they were hoping to find a match.
“How’d you end up here?” Starsky asked Hutch as they walked over to their cars, “I thought you had a date with Deanna tonight.” He stated.
“Oh, I did. We were at the carnival down the street when we heard the sirens and commotion heading down here. So we drove down here to check it out, then I ran her over to my house, called you, then came back up here.” Hutch said, smiling.
“Right now she’s probably taking a bubble bath waiting for me to get back.” He added, his face smirking a little.
“She’s pretty understanding, huh?” Starsky asked, smiling.
“Who Dee? Yeah man, she’s the best. And I’m going home to enjoy it.” He said as he hopped around to the drivers’ side door of his car.
“Oh, hey Buddy,” he began, looking at Starsky, “I’m sorry about interrupting you and Gabby.” He said.
“No problem my friend, no problem. She’s waiting for me too.” He said, winking at Hutch.
“See ya I the morning then.” Hutch said as he got in his car.
“Not too early, eh pal?” Starsky said, smiling, getting in his car.