MANDY

BY

TOOKI

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

   Hutch was half dozing on his couch when there was a knock on his door.  He didn’t make a move to get it he was tired.  He and Starsky had been on an undercover operation for the last four days and neither of them got very much sleep.  They had broken the case only four hours ago.  After a mountain of paper work they finally went to their separate homes to catch a little sleep before meeting up at Huggy’s for dinner.

  The knocker refused to go away and had resorted on now pounding on the door.  “OKAY OKAY,” Hutch yelled getting up from the couch.   He was exhausted and now angry that he had to get up.  Hutch jerked open the door, “WHAT!”

  Mandy stood there tears pouring down her face with a suit case in her hand.  “Oh Hutch,” she wailed and practically fell into his arms.

  “Mandy what happened?” Hutch asked taking her suitcase and pulling her into his apartment.

  It had been two months since Mandy and her boyfriend had taken Hutch and his car on a joy ride.  She had been as much as a victim as Hutch and in the end he had helped Mandy get her diploma, get in to summer school and a scholarship to a local college.

  “My mom kicked me out of the house,” Mandy sobbed.

  “Why?  Are you still in summer school?” Hutch asked.  The only way her high school had given Mandy her diploma was if she finished up what she missed her senior year in summer school.  She had been doing great, top of her class.

  “I’m still in school,” Mandy said softly.  “She is mad because she found out that I’m...I’m...”

  “You’re what?” Hutch asked steering her toward the couch.

  “Hutch I’m pregnant,” Mandy moaned.

  “WHAT?”  Hutch sat back in shock.  “How did that happen?” Mandy just gave him a funny look.  “Ok when did this happen?” Hutch rephrased his question.

  “It’s Joey’s, he is the only boy I have ever been with.”  Mandy said embarrassed.  “I’m about three months along.  I didn’t even realize. I guess there was so much going on I just didn’t pay any attention to the symptoms but now that I go back and think about it...”  Mandy broke down in a fresh batch of tears.

  Hutch put his arm around her and tried to comfort her the best he could.  What could he do, his first thought was to call her mother.  “Give me your phone number.”

  “Why you aren’t going to change her mind,”  Mandy assured him.

  “I can try,” He answered.  He dialed the number that she gave him.  When the phone was answered he said,  “Can I speak to Mandy’s mother?”

  “Speaking,” said a curt voice.  Rita Morrison recognized the detectives voice and she was sure that was right where her daughter would run when she tossed her whoring ass out of the house.  “What do you want Detective?”

  “Mandy is...” Hutch began but was cut off.

  “I knew she would run to you.” Rita snapped.  “You take care of her now. I’m done with her.  You get her a clean start and this is how she repays you and her family.”  There was a sharp click in Hutch’s ear.

  Mandy gave him a “told you so look” as he hung up the phone.  “It was just an excuse to get me out of the house.  She has enough younger ones to look after and she actually married a few weeks ago. I’m sure it won’t be long until she adds another kid to her collection.  And she calls me a whore.”

  “Mandy that is no way to talk about your mother,” Hutch admonished.  But he had to admit she had a point.

  Mandy just shrugged and played with necklace that he and Starsky had given her only a month ago.  “My life is over now.”

  “No it’s not, you have a lot of options,” Hutch said.

  “I can’t get an abortion, I’m too far along,” Mandy said slowly she ashamed of her self even thinking that way but she could see college along with the rest of her life going down the drain.

  “There is always adoption.” Hutch said.  “You know in my line of work I know a lot of people that will be willing to help you.”

  Mandy had to smile she remember him telling her some thing like that once before.  “You aren’t ashamed of me?”

  Hutch shook his head, “I’m not here to judge you sweetie.”

  Mandy sighed, leaned her head back against the back of the couch and closed her eyes.  “But where do I go in the mean time? I still have six months left.”

  “First off you are going to stay in summer school, second off you are staying here with me,”  Hutch was as surprised by his words as Mandy was.

  “You would let me stay here?”  Mandy asked sitting up and looking at him.

  “Sure why not,” Hutch smiled at her.  He knew there was no place else; she couldn’t get a job and stay in school at the same time.  She was too old to go into the system as a juvenile; she had turned 18 shortly after gradation.  “This old couch makes out into an ok bed.  I’ll sleep here and you can have my room.”

  Mandy shook her head,  “I’m not putting you out of your own room, the couch will be fine.”

  Hutch wanted to protest; he knew that it was no place for a pregnant woman to sleep.  Woman, she wasn’t a woman yet she wasn’t a child either.  “Deal.”  Hutch smiled at her.  “Now how about you get settled in, then we will go meet Starsky for dinner.”

  The color drained from her face, she hadn’t thought about Starsky.  He would know too now. She just wanted to crawl in a hole and pull it in after her.  She took a deep breath, everybody would know very shortly.  Mandy wasn’t showing yet but she could feel the difference and that was what had alerted her that something was up.  She hadn’t noticed she had missed her period for three months or the fact that some mornings she felt a little queasy. She had just chalked it up to the stress she was under.  But a week ago when she felt something move in her stomach and realized she could barely get her jeans button she had gone straight to the drug store and gotten a pregnancy test.  When it had read positive she went to the free clinic for a second opinion where she had been told she was three months along.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

  Starsky was sitting in their usual back booth when Hutch and Mandy walked in.  He was still tired but had been too wired when he had gone home to sleep so he had come to the Pits early and was now on his third beer while waiting on his partner.  He wondered who the babe was that Hutch had with him and racked his brain trying to remember if they had agreed to bring dates.  But as the couple got closer he was surprised to see it was Mandy with Hutch.

  Starsky got up from the table and hugged her before she and Hutch sat down.  “Great to see you Kiddo, how’s life been treating you.”

  Mandy burst into tears startling Starsky, who looked at Hutch for an explanation. “It’s a long story partner, sit down.”

  While they were waiting on the burgers and fries the trio ordered Hutch explained to Starsky the reason for all of Mandy’s tears.  Starsky was sympathetic and covered her hands with his as she rested them on the table.  “So where are you going to stay?”  Neither of them said a word and he looked from Hutch to Mandy.  He felt his heart sink for he sudden knew the answer to his question.  He wasn’t sure this was a good idea.  A young girl staying at Hutch’s apartment even if she was of age didn’t look good.

  Huggy brought the food to the table, “Well, well who do we have here?” he asked smiling at the young woman.  He had known about Mandy but had never met her.

  “This is Mandy Porter, Huggy,” Hutch introduced his old friend to his new one.  “Mandy this is our how can I put this?  Our colorful friend Huggy Bear, he owns this joint.”

  “I’m happy to meet you Mr. Bear,” Mandy said shyly. 

  Huggy laughed, “Huggy will be fine young lady.  So how is school going?”

  She looked rather surprised that he knew that much about her but smiled, “It’s going pretty good.  I’m really enjoying my classes especially math.”  She wonder how much he knew about her but then realized that there was no way he could know she was pregnant and for that she was thankful.

  “Well you keep up the good work,” Huggy said, the place was beginning to fill up.  “I had better get back to work. Yell if you need anything.”

  After the barkeeper was gone Mandy said, “He seems very nice.”

  “He is,” Starsky said. “He has help us out countless times.” 

  “Is he an undercover cop?” She whispered.

  Both detectives burst out laughing.  “No honey he’s not an undercover cop.” Hutch said still laughing.

  “O-oh,” she said her eyes getting big.  “He’s an informant.”

  Again they laughed.  “I think you watch to many cop shows on TV,” Starsky teased.  Mandy giggled and began to eat her dinner.

  After they were finished with their food Mandy excused her self to use the restroom.  The moment she was out of earshot Starsky hissed under his breath at Hutch.  “Are you nuts?”

  “Uh?” Hutch asked drinking the last swallow of beer.

  “She can’t live with you.”  Starsky said.

  “Starsk she has no place else to go for the moment,” Hutch answered, he looked at Starsky intently. “I’m not discussing this with you it’s not up for debate.”

  Starsky knew that look and he also knew there was no arguing with Hutch when he had that look.  “I sure hope you know what you are doing pal.”

  “Shhhh,” Hutch said as he saw Mandy heading back to the table.  He smiled at her as he got up to let her back into the booth.  “You okay?”

  She nodded, “Just a bit tired, it’s been kind of a rough day.”

  “Maybe we should call it a night uh?”  Hutch suggested.

  Starsky didn’t make a move to get up. “I think I’ll stay a bit longer.”

 Hutch knew that disapproving look all to well. He chose to ignore it, he helped Mandy out of the booth.  “I guess I’ll catch you tomorrow Starsk.”  Starsky nodded but didn’t speak.

  Once outside Mandy said, “Starsky isn’t happy about me staying with you is he?” 

  Hutch sighed a very intuitive girl, “Don’t you worry about Starsky.  He’s like an old mother hen you know.”

  “I don’t want to come between the two of you,” Mandy fretted.  “I can find some place to stay, maybe some one in class can…”

  Hutch stopped and turned Mandy toward him.  “Listen you will stay with me until we can figure out what to do.  Starsky will be fine so stop worrying.  All you need to do is finish your classes and take care of that baby.  You got me?”

 “Yes sir,” Mandy saluted him.  And they both laughed, he slipped his arm protectively around her shoulders and they went to his car.

 

   The next morning both detectives were quiet as they sat at their desks.  Finally Starsky broke the silence, “Hutch about last night,” Starsky began, “I’m really sorry. I know she needs help, it’s just…”

  “I know it just doesn’t look right but Starsk I can’t toss her out on the street. You should have heard the way her mother talked about her. There is no way she can go back there.  It’s surprising she has turned out like she has.” Hutch said sorrowfully.

  “Let’s take this thing one step at a time partner, we’ll get through this.”  Starsky winked at Hutch.

  “We?”

  “You are going to need all the help you can get on his one,” Starsky chuckled.

  “Starsky, Hutchinson in my office now,” Dobey called from his open door.  He had grim expression on his face and asked them to close the door after they had entered.

  “What’s up cap?”  Hutch asked as the both sat down.

  “You remember that kid Joey Donovan?” Dobey asked. They both nodded.  “Well he just escaped from the mental hospital.”

  “Son of a …” Hutch said under his breath as he ran his hand over his face.

  “You got any idea where the girl, Mandy is?” Dobey asked.

  Starsky glanced at Hutch,  “Yeah I know where she is Cap,” Hutch answered.  “She’s safe if you are worried he might go after her.”

  “Would you like to enlighten me as to her where abouts?” Dobey asked he had noticed the look that Starsky had shot Hutch.

  “She is with me Cap,” Hutch said with out looking his captain in the eye.

  “What?” Dobey barked.  “Just how the hell did that happen?”  Then he held up his hand. “I don’t want to know.  You just be on the look out for this kid.”

  Hutch headed for the squad room door the moment they were done in Dobey’s office.  “Where are you going?” Starsky called after him.

  “The school,” Hutch said.  “Mandy is at her old high school taking classes I don’t think she would be very hard to find.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Starsky said grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair.

 

  Mandy had just finished her English glass and was heading across the quad when she saw Starsky and Hutch coming toward her.  She smiled and waved at them, “This is a nice surprise.”

  “Mandy we need to talk,” Hutch said guiding her toward a bench.

  “What’s wrong?  Has something happened to my mother?” Mandy asked.  She lived in fear that some day one of the men in her mother’s life would kill her. She had been beaten several times. And Mandy didn’t like or trust her mother’s new husband.

  “No, she’s fine,” Starsky said taking Mandy’s hand.  “It’s Joey.”

  “What happened to Joey?” Mandy said furrowing her brow.

  “Mandy,” Hutch said she turned to look at him.  “Joey escaped from the mental hospital today.”

  She sat with her mouth open for a few moments.  Mandy wasn’t sure how she should take the news, was she frightened, afraid for her life?  She knew that at some point she would have to testify against him in court but would he come after her?  “What does that mean for me?”

  “We really aren’t sure,” Hutch answered.  “What do you think he will do?”

  Mandy thought for a moment, “Come home.”

  “I think we need to get you out of here,” Starsky said.

  “B-but what about my classes, I have a math test at one,” she protested.  “I have to take it if I want to pass the class.”

  “Mandy this could mean your life.”  Hutch said.

  “If I don’t get my diploma I will have no life.” She answered her eyes pleading with them both.

  Hutch thought a moment, “Okay, I’ll get an officer to guard you until that math test is over then you will go the apartment and stay there until I get there.  You understand me?”

  Mandy nodded she was suddenly frighten, they were taking Joey’s escape so seriously.  “You think he is going to come after me don’t you?” When they didn’t answer her she repeated, “Don’t you?”

  “We are just being careful, honey,” Starsky answered.  “Joey is a pretty confused young man who knows what he might be thinking.”

  Mandy nodded then asked, “Would you warn my mother, please?”

  “Sure thing,” Hutch said.

  “I’ll go call for a black and white.” Starsky said. 

 

  

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

   “Well young lady everything looks fine,” Doctor Mangrove said as he turned to wash his hands in the sink.  “You want to know the sex of your baby?”

  Mandy thought for moment then asked, “Could I have my friend come in.  He is out in the waiting room.”

  “Sure I’ll have the nurse call him,” the doctor dried his hands and pushed a button on the intercom to tell the nurse to tell Mandy’s young man to come in.  The doctor was more than just a bit surprised when a man old enough to be Mandy’s father knocked and stepped into the room.

  “Dr. Mangrove, this is Ken Hutchinson,” Mandy introduced.  “And Hutch this is my doctor.”

  “Mr. Hutchinson,” Dr. Mangrove said, Hutch could hear the disapproval dripping from his voice.

  Just one more person jumping to conclusions, it rankled Hutch that people thought that he was the father of Mandy’s baby.  “Dr. Mangrove, I am just a friend of Mandy’s,” Hutch began.  “I am only interested in seeing that she gets proper care.”

  The doctor turned red and looked at his feet.  “I-I’m sorry Mr. Hutchinson.  When Mandy said she wanted you in here to find out the sex of her baby I just assumed that you were the father.”

  “I’m sorry, this is my fault I should have explained.” Mandy whispered.

  Hutch took her hand, “Mandy you shouldn’t have to explain anything to any body.”

  “Well now lets see what you are having,” Dr. Mangrove said changing the subject.  He looked at the screen where the image of Mandy’s baby had been frozen in time.  The doctor pointed with the tip of his pen that he had removed from his pocket.  “See here this is the baby’s head, an arm, there are the legs and right there is his little penis.” 

  Hutch squinted at the screen trying to envision what the doctor was pointing out but all he saw was a big dark blob. Mandy leaned closer and grinned as if she could see just what the doctor was talking about.  “It’s a boy?” She said excitedly.

  “I would say so.  Now you can start picking out names,” he smiled at her.

  Mandy’s face went a bit pale.  She had decided only the night before that she would give up her baby for adoption but now the thought saddened her, he was now so real to her.  Hutch squeezed her hand, Mandy looked up at him with tears in her eyes.  “It’s a boy.” She repeated.

   “Am I missing something?” the doctor asked looking back and forth between the two.

  Hutch sighed, “Mandy is an unwed mother and is giving the baby up for adoption.”

  “Oh,” Dr. Mangrove checked his records, usually this type of information was put in this patients files but not this time.  “Looks like I put my foot in it again.  Mandy I’m very sorry.”

  She shrugged, “It’s okay, I just want to make sure he is healthy.”

  “Well that he is.” The doctor assured her.  “How about if you come back in a month to see me.  If you have any problems don’t hesitate to call my office.”

  Mandy didn’t take a breath until she and Hutch were out of the building and heading toward his car.  “You ok?” Hutch asked her.

  “Yeah I guess.  Up until now I have felt like I have been standing out side my body watching the movie of the month now it’s very real.”  Mandy stopped and Hutch turned to look at her.  “I don’t know if I can do this Hutch.”

  “Do what?”

  “Have this baby, give him up, pretend that he never existed, go on with my life like nothing has chanced.”  She said with a sob in her voice.  “Tell me what to do.”

  “I wish I could help you make that decision but I can’t. I can give you advice and I can be there for you, what ever you decide but I can’t decide for you.” Hutch put his arm around her.  “You have to decide and it has to be a decision that you can live with for the rest of your life.”

 

 

   It had been a week since Joey had broken out of the mental hospital and he had been laying low knowing that the cops must be looking for him.  But now it was time to go back to the old neighborhood and look up old friends.  He couldn’t believe it when Mandy had turned on him sided with that cop and then left him to be sent to a nut house.  He was never going back there, never even if it meant he had to die.  Joey decided that if he had to die he wasn’t going to go alone.

 

  Hutch dropped Mandy off at his apartment and headed for work.  He hadn’t wanted to leave her she had looked so forlorn as he had driven off.  When he got to work Starsky was just finishing up some paper work. Hutch had taken a couple of hours to get Mandy to her doctor visit.

  “Well you know just when to show up,” Starsky quipped as he put the finishing touches on the form and tossed the file on a stack with other ones.  “How is Mandy?”

  “Fine,” Hutch said as he sat down.  “It’s a boy.”

  “A boy? Is she excited?” Starsky asked.

  “Starsk Mandy decided last night she was going to give the baby up for adoption.  Now I don’t know what she is thinking.”  Hutch said as he let his mind drift back to the conversation he had with Mandy the night before.

 

  “Hutch I think I have come to a decision,” Mandy had said coming out on the porch where Hutch was sitting getting a little air.

 “About what?” Hutch had asked pulling up a chair for her.

 “The baby,” she said as she sat down. “I want it to have a good home with parents that love it. I don’t want the baby to grow up like me.  I can change this mistake instead of making it worse.”

  “What made you decide?” Hutch had wanted to know.  Mandy had been struggling all week with what do to.

  She shrugged, “I guess part of me is being selfish. I’m not ready to be a mother. There are so many things I want to do.  I have always dreamt of going to college and with a baby that would be impossible.”

  “Mandy that isn’t being selfish. Realizing that your aren’t ready for something and wanting to give your baby a good life is a very unselfish thing to do.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so.”

 

   “Hutch?” Starsky called to his partner.  “Hutch where did you go man?”

  “Oh sorry,”  he said shaking the conversation from his head.  “I was just thinking. Hey any word on Joey?”

  Starsky shook his head, “it’s like he disappeared off the face of the earth.  All his friends have been checked out and unless they are lying none of them have seen him.  In fact a lot of them looked a bit nervous that he was out and about again.”

  “I have a feeling there is much more to this Joey than we know. I wonder just how well Mandy knows him?”  Hutch said thoughtfully. He would ask her when he got home.

  “Hey you want to go out for a beer after work,” Starsky asked glancing at his watch. 

  “Not tonight,” Hutch said. “I don’t want to leave Mandy alone.”

  Starsky frowned.  “You might as well just marry her,” Starsky snapped.  “She has got you so wrapped.”

  “Cut the crap,” Hutch growled.  “I don’t need this from you.”

  “Hutch we haven’t done one thing since Mandy turned up on your door step,” he said as he pushed himself away from the desk and got up.

  “Aren’t you a little old to be jealous?”  Hutch asked hiking his eyebrows.

  “I’m not jealous partner, just a little worried you are getting too attached.”  Starsky answered.

  “She needs help.”

  “And there are other places besides your apartment that she can get it.” Starsky fired back.

  “Come on Starsk, I need your help.”

  “And I need a drink,” Starsky said grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair.  “Let me know when you have some time.”

  Hutch sat and watched Starsky leave the squad room with out trying to stop him.  His partner was right there were other places he could send Mandy that could help her even better than he perhaps but Hutch some how felt responsible for the girl.  After all if it hadn’t been for Mandy he would probably be dead from the rattlesnake bite.

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

   Joey stood menacingly over Mandy’s mother Rita a butcher knife in his hand.  “Where is she?” he demanded as Rita crouched in a kitchen corner.

  “I don’t know I kicked her out,” Rita said hiding her face from her attacker.

  “What do you mean you kicked her out?” Joey grabbed her roughly by the arm pulling her away from the wall but Rita yanked loose and curled back into the corner.

  Suddenly Rita was very angry, Mandy had been nothing but trouble from the day she was born. Starting with Mandy’s father baling out on her the moment he had found out she was pregnant. She raised her eyes toward Joey and yelled. “I kicked the little slut out.  I’m not caring for her brat.”

  Her words took Joey by surprise, “Her brat?”

  “Mandy is pregnant and I don’t have time to raise any body else’s kid.”  Rita spit out.

  “Is it mine?” Joey asked wondering what his “girlfriend” had been up since he was gone.

  “She is about three months along so I would say so.”

  “So where is she?” Joey advanced on Rita again.

  Rita’s courage left as quick as it had come and she pressed her self back into the corner.  “I don’t know.”  Then she thought a moment and said.  “You know that cop called here, she might be there.”

  “Cop what cop?” Joey growled at her. But he had a feeling he knew what cop.

  “You know the one that you kidnapped.”  Rita wished she had chosen different words.

  Joey’s eyes narrowed and he plunged the knife into Rita’s back, over and over again until he was covered in blood as well as the whole kitchen.

 

  The gory sight that greeted the two detectives turned their stomachs.  They had been called because of who the victim was. Rita Morrison was almost unrecognizable.  Her two youngest children stood in the doorway watching the commotion.   “Get them out of here,” Starsky snapped at a near by officer he stood in front of the children to block their view of their butchered mother.

  Hutch knelt down next to the woman.  There was no need to even feel for a pulse, for her life force was in a sticky pool on the floor.  He looked up at his partner and shook his head with out speaking they knew who had done this.

  “Mommy?”  Hutch knew the voice immediately, he jumped up and headed for the back door but wasn’t in time.  Mandy got in the kitchen door before he could block it.  “Mommy?” Mandy repeated looking a round the room.  When the girl caught sight of her mother she fainted and crumbled to the ground, Hutch caught her just before Mandy hit the floor.

   Mandy regained consciousness in the emergency room, Hutch was hovering near by, Starsky had stayed at the scene.  “Where am I?” she asked confused.

  Hutch was at her side before she could ask again.  “You are in the hospital, you fainted I thought it best if you were brought in.” 

  Suddenly her eyes filled with tears as she remembered the sight she had seen just before everything went black.  “Is my mother…is she dead?” Mandy stammered but she knew the answer; there had been so much blood.  Hutch nodded.  “What happened?”

  “Somebody stabbed her,” Hutch answered figuring it would be better just to tell her all of it.

  “Somebody or Joey?”  Mandy asked her eyes flashing.  “Did Joey kill my mother looking for me?”

  “Honey we don’t know who killed your mother.”  Hutch said smoothing her hair.

  “But you have your suspicions, and you think it was Joey don’t you?”  Mandy demanded trying to sit up.

  “Just take it easy, lay back until the doctor comes back. They did a few tests just to make sure everything is okay.”  Hutch gently pushed her back into the pillow.

  “Hutch.”

  “Yes he is at the top of our list of suspects.”  Hutch revealed.  Mandy closed her eyes two tears slid form under her lids.

 

  Starsky sat at his desk in the squad room looking at the photos of Rita; he didn’t really need to, as the images of the woman would be ingrained in his memory forever.  He had stayed as the C.S.I. went over the house from top to bottom looking for any clues that might point them in the direction of the killer.  He made sure her two youngest children were cared for and that the schools of the rest were notified.  He was doing all this as much for Mandy as he was Hutch.  He knew his partner was becoming much to attached to the girl.

  As Starsky was leaving one of the men from the unit called to him.  “What have you got Gil?” Starsky asked walking to where the man was standing.

  Gil pointed at a perfect bloody handprint on the backside of the kitchen door, nobody had noticed it before.  “I think we might have our killer.” He said grimly. 

  “You let me know as soon as you have identified the print,” Starsky patted the man on the back. “Thanks Gil.”

  “I’ll bring it up personally,” Gil answered and set to work getting the print off the door. He knew how personal the case was to both of the detectives.  And even though his expressions never show it and he was known for having a “tin” heart.  Gil cared about every one of the cases he worked on.

  Hutch was back at work after making Mandy comfortable at his apartment.  He had called and requested a guard for her until they ruled out that it was Joey that did the killing, if they ruled him out.  He went to the coffee pot and after inspecting the inside of his coffee cup pour the hot liquid in.  Starsky was missing from the office but Hutch was too preoccupied to really notice.  They had to find Joey and fast even if he had nothing to do with Rita’s death Hutch felt that Mandy was in danger from her former boyfriend.

  Starsky came in the squad room carrying a rather large file folder. “How’s Mandy doing?” he asked seeing Hutch.

  “Upset of course but she’s okay.” Hutch responded.  “What have you got?”

  “Joey Donavon’s records,” Starsky said dropping it on his desk.  “Did you know his first run in with the police was at five years old?”

  “Five?” Hutch asked. “What could a five year old do to get a police record?”

  “He killed his little brother.”

  “WHAT?” Hutch almost dropped his coffee cup. “Please don’t tell me with a butcher knife.”

  “He suffocated him with a pillow, it was ruled an accident,” Starsky said flipping the page.  “At seven Joey was back, he stabbed a neighbor lady with a pair of gardening shears.  Claims he thought she was trying to hurt him.  She was pruning her roses he reach from under the bushes and stabbed her in the back of the leg.”

 Hutch sat down, he wondered if Mandy knew of Joey’s past. “Get he get off?”

 “No this time they put him in a home for disturbed children, where he stayed for six months,” Starsky said scanning the paper.  “After he was let out he went until he was ten, he was sent back for another year for trying to stab his art teacher with a sculpting knife. He was released shortly after his 11^th birthday and he had a clean record until now.”

  “Or he never got caught.”  Hutch shook his head.  “I know this is stretching it a bit but did anybody go missing in the area he lived in?”

  Starsky looked at his quizzically.  “What are you suggesting Hutch?”

  “This kid has a violent streak in him, I find it hard to believe that he just stopped?  This wasn’t a kid shopping lifting this is a kid that was killing or trying to kill.”  Hutch said.  “What was he up to for those seven years he wasn’t in trouble?”

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

   Gil shoved open the squad room doors, “Your suspicions are correct, it’s Joey Donavon.” He said before he even read the detectives desk.

  “Let’s find him and pick him up before he has a chance to hurt anybody else,” Hutch said slamming his chair under his desk.  He was thinking of Mandy, knowing that she had to be the one Joey was after.

  “Hey Gil could you do us a favor,” Starsky asked.

  “Sure anything.” Gil answered.

  “See if there are any unsolved murders or anybody missing in the area Joey lives from the past seven years.”  Starsky said.

  Gil furrowed his brow but said, “Yeah I’ll get right on it.”

  “Read the file on my desk you will understand the reason for my request.”  Starsky told him and headed after his partner who was already out in the hall.

 

  “Hello?”  Mandy had been sitting at a desk in Hutch’s apartment trying her best to do her math homework but her mother’s body kept haunting her.  The ringing phone startled her.  “Hello?” she said again when nobody answered her.  “Anybody there?  Hello?”  There was a soft click on the other end.  Mandy hung up the phone slowly, then she shrugged hoping it was just a wrong number she couldn’t be paranoid every time somebody hung up without talking.

 

  A smile spread across Joey’s face, he had found her.  He would know her voice anywhere.  At first he had a hard time trying to find Hutch’s phone number and address, police numbers were unlisted.  Then he remembered that some one had told him that Mandy was going to summer school in their old high school.  After that it had been easy, he had called the school worked up a good cry told them that he was Mandy’s brother and that he needed to talk to her.  They had given him the cops phone number and his address.  He called first just to make sure that she was really there.  He was angry when she had answered the phone and almost said something to her but in the end he had remained silent not wanting to scare her off.

  What he had planned for Mandy would make what he had done to her mother look like a scrapped knee.  First he wanted to watch the comings and goings of the cop not wanting to be interrupted once he started having fun.  Once he knew the cops hours he would plan the best time to catch Mandy alone.

 

  Mandy screamed as Hutch opened the front door and she giggled nervously when she realized who it was. “You scared me.”

  “No need to be afraid there is a cop posted right out side.”  Hutch said as he knelt next to Mandy.  He took her hand, “It was Joey that killed your mother.  There was a perfect print found at the scene, there is no doubt.” He reached up and put his hand on her cheek, “I’m sorry sweetie.”

  Mandy nodded unable to speak.

  “If you will be okay for a while Starsky and I are going to see if we can locate Joey and get him off the street.”

  “I-I’ll be fine,” Mandy said as she dissolved in to tears.

  Hutch stood pulling Mandy into his arms holding her as she cried.  “It’s going to be alright.”

  She shook her head against his shoulder, “No it’s not, and nothing will ever be okay again.”

  “Yes it will,” Hutch assured her.  “You are a strong young lady, you will get through this.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to get through this.”

  Hutch pushed Mandy away from him so he could look down into her face. “Don’t you talk like that,” Hutch said angrily.  “Don’t you let Joey win you hear me?”

 

  Starsky was just about to come after his partner when Hutch bounded out on the sidewalk from his apartment.  “She okay?” Starsky asked as Hutch got into the car.

  “Okay?  Would you be okay if your boyfriend just killed her mother?”  Hutch asked.  He waved at the officers in the patrol car as they pulled out into the street.

  “I guess not,” Starsky answered.  “Don’t you think it would be better if we got Mandy into a safe house?”

  “She’s safe, there is only one way into my place and there is a black and white out front.” Hutch said. “She will be fine.”

  Starsky started to say he didn’t think Hutch’s apartment was the place for her no matter how safe it was, but he held his tongue.  Hutch needed his support right now not criticism.  He glanced sideways at Hutch who was wearing a pinched look.  “Hey man are you okay, you aren’t looking so good.”

  Hutch let out a deep sigh, “Yeah…yeah I’m fine just thinking we should have put a guard on her mom.”

  “There was no way we could have known he would kill Rita, we are cops not mind readers.” Starsky said.  “So stop beating yourself up over this.  We didn’t even know how violent he was until this happened and we read his record.”

  “But we should have known we should have looked up his record the moment we got back.” Hutch said feeling guilty.  “If we had done that then maybe Joey would have been watched more closely at the hospital or they would have been more concerned when he had broken out or…

  “Hutch.”

  “What Starsk.”

  “Just stop will you, stop trying to second guess yourself,” Starsky said knowing what was going through his partners mind.

  “Let’s just find Joey, uh?” Hutch said.

 

 

    Joey pulled up out side Hutch’s apartment only moments after they had left.  Seeing the squad car he drove around the corner and parked then got out and walked down the street past the cop’s apartment.  Joey continued on down the block until he rounded the other corner then stopped.  He had to think of a way to get past the cops guarding.  They must be on to him if a guard had been posted on Mandy.

 

  It was nearing 10 p.m., when the two detectives finally decided to call it a night.  They talked to as many of Joey’s old friends as they could get to talk to them.  Most just walked away afraid to say anything.  The ones that did talk called him crazy, scary and somebody you did not cross.  They had tried to talk to Joey’s mother but she just slammed the door in their faces.  She hadn’t even been at his trial and had even made the statement that she was glad he was finally locked up.

  “Want to get something to eat?”  Starsky asked as they head back toward Hutch’s.

  He shook his head, “Need to get back to Mandy.  Hutch looked over at Starsky, “Don’t start on me.”

  “I wasn’t,” Starsky answered.  “Hey why don’t we pick up a pizza and I’ll join you guys.”

  Hutch started to decline the offer but then nodded, “Okay maybe it will take her mind off all this for a while.”

  When they entered the apartment carrying to pizza’s they found Mandy curled up on the couch dabbing her tears with a tissue. 

  “Are you okay?”  Hutch asked sitting down next to her.

  She nodded and pointed toward the TV where the credits of a movie were rolling.  “I was just watching a movie.”

  “We brought some pizza,” Starsky said setting two white boxes on the kitchen table.

  “Did you find Joey?” She asked softly.

  “Not yet, but we will,” Hutch said.  He was going to wait until later but decided now was as good a time as any.  “Mandy did you know about Joey’s record?”

  “Record? Sure, he got caught shop lifting a few times nothing major.” She answered looking from one detective to the other. She could tell by the looks on their faces there was much more on Joey’s record than a few minor offences.  “I take it there is more?”

  “A lot more, in fact we never saw anything about shop lifting,” Starsky said coming into the living room.

  “That gas station attendant and my mom weren’t the first people he has killed is it?” Mandy asked wide-eyed.

  “Did you know he had a little brother?” Hutch asked.

  “Yeah Zak,” she answered.

  “There was another one Tim,” Starsky said slowly. “Joey killed him.”

  Her mouth fell open and she stared at him.  “Oh my God.”

  “There were other violent episodes also. They got him committed to a hospital.”  Hutch told her.  Deciding not to hold anything back from her he said, “And we are checking to see if there have been any missing persons or unsolved murders in the last seven years where you live.”

  Mandy’s face went white and they both thought she was going to faint.  “M-my best friend disappeared about eight months ago.  Her parents thought she had just run away but I wasn’t so sure.  I always felt that she would have told me where she was going.”

  “What was her name?” Starsky asked.

  “Sara Richardson. You don’t think that Joey…killed her do you?” Tears formed her in eyes.  “I know he was very jealous of our relationship and complained any time I went out with her.”

  “Believe me we will check it out.”  Hutch assured her.

 

 

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

    

 

   Hutch sat at his desk reading the missing report on Sara Richardson.  Just as Mandy had said she had disappeared eight months before. In statements by both her parents they claimed there were no family problems that would have prompted their daughter to leave.  They also knew of no problems in school or with friends.  There was even a statement by Mandy and several other girls but none of them had a clue.  What if Joey was angry because Mandy had someone other than him in her life and killed the girl?  Hutch sure couldn’t rule it out.

  “Any leads?” It was Dobey standing in his office door.  He had been watching Hutch studying the report.

  “None,” Hutch said closing the file and tossing it on his desk. “Everybody is terrified of this kid and I can’t say that I blame them.  I don’t think he has one ounce of remorse in his body.”

  “How’s Mandy’s doing?”  Dobey asked.  He wanted to tell his detective that he should get the girl out of his apartment.  But he didn’t have the heart, Dobey realized that Hutch was all Mandy had.

  “She is hanging in,” Hutch answered.  He tapped the folder he had just tossed on his desk.  “If Joey had something to do with her friends disappearance I don’t know what she will do.”

 

  Joey hung around the school after Mandy had gone to class.  The cop had driven her then walked her into the building.  It was going to be harder than he thought to get at her.  She wasn’t being left alone.  He angrily kicked at an empty pop can on the ground.  He had also found out that the cops had been grilling everybody in his neighborhood.  Joey had already held a knife under one boys throat telling him if he talked that he would take care of his family and to pass it on.

  He decided to take off, if he hung around too long he might be stopped by one of the several cop cars he saw patrolling the area.  He knew they were looking for him.  Joey hopped a bus and headed back to the cops apartment figuring that would be his best bet. 

 

  “Can you believe this?”  Starsky handed Hutch a stack of files.

  “What is it?” Hutch asked taking them; there were ten different folders.

  “Missing people,” Starsky answered.  “Ranging from toddlers to old woman.”

  “From Joey’s neighborhood?” Hutch asked but he knew the answer.  Starsky nodded.  “Didn’t anybody find this odd that so many people would go missing in the same area?”

  Starsky shrugged, “It was over a period of about seven years. I guess unless the investigating officers were looking for something like that they would have missed it.  None of the disappearances were that close together. There was one death.”

  Hutch closed his eyes.  “How.”

  “A little girl was found in the middle of the street, cause of death, hit by a car.”  Starsky said.  “And I will give you one guest as to who I think was driving that car.”

  Hutch looked at Starsky.  “Buddy I think we have a serial killer on our hands.”

  “And if we don’t stop him I think Mandy is going to be next.”

  “I wonder why he never killed her?” Hutch asked.

  “Maybe in his warped way he loved her.” Starsky suggested.

  “I think it’s time to pull Mandy out of school and get her some place safe.” Hutch said.

 

   Mandy sat in class looking out the window; it was a beautiful sunny day she was eighteen just beginning her life.  She should have been happy and carefree trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life. Instead she was pregnant with her crazy boyfriend after her.  A figure caught her attention standing out on the lawn.  He was looking up at the school as if studying it.  A cold chill ran down her spine, she knew that it was Joey.

  “Miss Porter?” the teacher called to her.  “Miss Porter?”

  Mandy snapped out of her trance, “Yes Mrs. Rosen?”

  “Can you answer the question?” the teacher asked.

  Tears filled the young girls eyes as she shook her head, “I-I’m sorry I didn’t hear the question,” Mandy jumped up and ran out of the room.

  When Hutch came to pick up Mandy at the end of the day she wasn’t waiting out side where she usually was.  He pulled open the office door hoping that she was inside but only the secretary was there.  “I’m looking for Mandy Porter.” Hutch told the woman behind the desk.

  The woman shrugged, “I haven’t seen any students in the office today.  I can look to see what her last class was, perhaps she went home sick.”  The secretary typed something into her computer and Mandy’s name came up on her screen.  “Her last class was English, Mrs. Rosen is the teacher, room 211.”

  Hutch dashed out of the office and went in search of the room.  He met Mrs. Rosen coming out of her classroom.  “Are you Mrs. Rosen?”

  “Yes, may I help you?” she asked.

  “I’m looking for Mandy Porter,” Hutch said, he was getting worried; he could clearly see that Mandy wasn’t with the teacher.

  “She left about thirty minutes ago.”

  “Where did she go?” Hutch demanded panic beginning to set in. He pulled out his badge and showed it to the teacher.

  “I don’t know.” She answered.  “I asked Mandy a question, she wasn’t paying attention.  Then she jumped up and ran out of the room crying.”

  “And you didn’t go after her?” Hutch growled.

  “Look Officer…”

  “Detective Hutchinson,” he said.

  “Detective Hutchinson, I have 25 students in my class. I’m trying to cram a years worth of leaning into six weeks,” she told him. “I don’t have time to chase every over emotional girl down the hall.”

  Hutch started to raise his finger to shake in her face but instead he turned on his heels and ran back down the hall.  Once he was out side he dashed to his car and grabbed the radio.  “Dispatch? I want an APB out on a Mandy Porter.  She is eighteen years old about five-five, long blond hair, blue eyes.  She has been missing from her school about thirty minutes.  Hutch barked into the radio.  After giving them the general area he thought she might be in, he started up the car and began combing the streets of her neighborhood. 

   Twenty minutes later dispatch was on the radio, “Patch through from Detective Starsky.”

  Hutch grabbed the mic.  “Starsky?”

  “Hutch why didn’t you call and tell me Mandy was missing?”

  “Sorry buddy I guess I just wasn’t thinking.”

  “Have you checked your apartment to see if she has showed up there?” Starsky asked.  He was on his way there.

  “No,” Hutch sighed he hadn’t even thought of that, he must be slipping.

  “Listen I’ll check then head your way. I think we need to find her fast.” Starsky said.  He didn’t tell Hutch why they urgently needed to find Mandy.  He didn’t want to frighten his partner.  Right after Hutch had left to pick up Mandy, a called had come in from Gil for them to come to the crime lab.

  When Starsky had arrived he had been led into an examine room by one of Gils assistants.  Gil had been standing over a table examining something gruesome; it looked to Starsky like a pile of bones, which is exactly what it turned out to be.

  “What’s up Gil?” Starsky asked keeping his distance from the table.

  “What’s up is Sara Richardson.” Gil said turning, he motioned for Starsky to come closer.

  The Detective took a death breath then stepped closer to the table.  There lay a body, mostly decomposed.  There were still bits of flesh, hair and clothing hanging on parts of the limbs.  Starsky put his hand to his mouth and force his himself not to throw up.  He had seen a lot of things but this had to have been one of the worse.  “You sure?” he managed to ask.

  Gil nodded, “I have taken samples they match hairs taken from her brush at home.  Good thing that her mother left her room as it was.  It’s her alright.”

  “What was the cause of death?”  Starsky has asked not really wanting to know.

  “It’s going to take a while to be sure. But she was burnt pretty badly right now I can’t tell if that was before or after she was dead.  I have found traces of gasoline on her body.” He said then pointing at several places. “You can see the charred marks here and here where she was set afire.”

  “Where was she?” Starsky asked wondering why she was just now found.

  “Some kids playing in a drainage ditch found her.  Guess the rain washed the body out finally.”  Gil said prodding into the chest cavity.

  “What kind of monster is he,” Starsky said under his breath as he turned away from the sight.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

 

 

  Mandy sat in a swing swaying back and forth digging her toes into the soft powered dirt beneath her.  The small park was empty save for an old man walking a dog.  She almost hoped that Joey would find her.  Mandy wondered what he would do to her if he did. Kill her?  Kill their baby?  Was he truly that mad?  She was tired of being afraid of him.  She had been afraid of him for sometime now but before, when they had been together she wouldn’t allow herself to think of him as a danger.

  Hutch had almost missed Mandy sitting in the swing.  Starsky had called just as he was driving by to tell him that Mandy wasn’t at the apartment.  “Starsk I have looked everywhere.”  Hutch told his partner.  He was beginning to fear that maybe Joey had gotten to her.  He was just about to tell Starsky he was on his home when he spotted her sitting on the swing.  “Hold on Starsky I think I have found her.”

  Mandy looked up to see Hutch striding across the grass toward her. She could tell he was angry by the look on his face.  She slid off the swing and stood just as he got to her. 

  Hutch grabbed her arm.   “What the hell do you think you are doing?” He yelled at her. “That crazy bastard is running around here and you sit in the middle of a park by your self?”

  “You are hurting me,” Mandy wailed trying to pull loose.

  “I’m sorry,” Hutch said softer pulling the girl into his arms.  “I was just so afraid that…that…”

  “Joey found me?” she finished the sentence for him. She buried her face in his shirt, he smelled of aftershave and leather. “I’m sorry, I just had to get out of that school.”

  “I know I know,” he softly cooed to her.  “I think its time to get you out of here.”

  “But what about school?” Mandy asked worried that she wouldn’t finish high school.  She knew there was no way she would be able to start college in the fall with out her diploma.

  “We will find a way even if I have to hire a tutor for you.”  Hutch put his arm around her and guided her to the car.  “Let’s get you back to the apartment and have some dinner. Then we will decide what to do with you uh?”

  Mandy nodded smiling at him.  As they reached the car they could hear Starsky on the radio.  “Hutch, Hutch is everything alright?”

  “Sorry Starsky,” Hutch said picking up the mic.  “I have Mandy with me we are heading to my place.  Could you call the station and let them know I found her?”

  “Sure thing partner, I’ll see you at your place.”

 

  Joey was camped out across the street from Hutch’s place.  He sat in a doorway just out of sight but he could see all the comings and goings from his post.  He had seen Starsky pull up and go into Hutch’s building but he was back down and gone in a matter of minutes. He was about to leave when he saw Hutch pull up, the cop got out went around the car and opened the passenger side door.  Joey’s blood boiled as he saw Mandy get out, she had her back pack slung over her shoulder.  He watched as Hutch put his arm around her shoulders and kept watching until they were into the building.  Moments later Starsky was back, he carried several bags of what the boy guessed was take out.  It made his stomach growl.  He touched the butcher knife that he had stuck down the back of his jeans, it was the knife that he had killed Mandy’s mother with.  He was going to get himself something to eat.

 

   Jimmy Townsend couldn’t wait to deliver his last pizza, his girlfriend was waiting for him back at the restaurant and they were going to a movie.  It was just getting dark and he was having trouble reading the numbers on the buildings.  He spotted a bright red car with a white stripe on it and shook his head.  It happened to be parked in front of the address he was looking for.

  He started to go up the stairs when someone stepped out of the shadows  “I’ll take that.” The box was lifted from Jimmy’s hands and before he could turn around a knife was under this throat.  In one fluid motioned Joey drew the knife cutting the pizza delivery boy’s throat.  Then he turned and walked down the street leaving the boy to die on this sidewalk.

 

  Hutch and Starsky were sitting on the couch watching TV while Mandy was working on her homework.  They had decided that they would let Mandy finish out the week but she would have a policewoman with her every second. 

  Starsky was almost asleep when they heard the sirens out side.  “Man that sounds like it’s right out front.” Starsky said rousing up.

  Moments later there was a pounding on Hutch’s door.  Hutch grabbed his gun and opened his door slowly.  Officer Craver was standing there a grim expression that turned to surprise when he found Hutch standing in front of him.  “Detective Hutchinson.”

  “Craver,” Hutch answered, “What’s going on?”

  “There was a boy found in front of your building with his throat slit.” The officer explained.

  Hutch pushed the officer out of the way and ran down the steps.  Starsky jumped up and followed him, “You stay here,” he called to Mandy as he went out the door.

  Mandy didn’t listen and tagged along behind them.  She found the two detectives at the bottom of the steps staring down at a boy lying in a pool of blood.  “Who was he?” She asked.

  “I thought I told you to stay up stairs,” Starsky scolded.

  “Looks like he was a pizza delivery boy,” Hutch said bending out to examine the emblem on the kid’s shirt.

  “Guess he got hungry,” Mandy said matter-of-factly.

  “Huh?” Starsky said looking at her puzzled. “Who?”

  “Joey,” She said and turned to go back up stairs.

  Hutch followed behind her, “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t think that Joey is watching every move I make?”  Mandy said swinging around to face Hutch. “He is not going to rest until he finds me, don’t you know that?  “This kid died tonight because of me, because he can’t find ME!” she yelled.

   “Mandy you don’t know that.” Starsky said.

   “Yes I do know and so do you.”  Mandy lashed out, tears were streaming down her face.

  Hutch grabbed her, “Is that why you were in the park today?  Hoping he would find you?”

  “I-I guess I was,” Mandy admitted and went up the stairs to the apartment.

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” Hutch said rubbing his hands over his face.

  “You go after Mandy,” Starsky said. “I’ll stay down here.”

  “Thanks buddy.”

 

  After finishing his pizza Joey cleaned the knife on an old rag he found lying in the alley he was hold up in.  There were several street people there also but none of them had made a move toward him even though he had been carrying food.  The bloody knife he had in his hand was enough to keep them all way.

  Once he had the knife cleaned, Joey curled up in an old cardboard box to sleep.  He kept the knife in his hand just in case anyone bothered him.  He would not hesitate killing anybody; it would only be another notch in his belt.  Actually he had lost count of the number of people he had killed.  He did remember his first victim, his rotten little brother who got all the attention. But that was the only death they had pinned on him.  The others they never knew about.  They thought that they stopped him by putting him in hospitals but he still had gone on killing. It had been easy in the hospital, all those poor disturbed kids.  They were always falling down, doing terrible things to each other.  And once out of the hospital it still hadn’t been hard and he had continued to kill.

 

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

 

 

  Mandy’s cries woke Hutch in the middle of the night, he got up and went to the couch where she was curled up in a ball crying and moaning.  “Wake up honey,” Hutch said shaking her gently.

  Mandy’s eyes popped open and she threw her arms around Hutch.  She sobbed on his shoulder, “I dreamt that Joey killed you.”

  “Shhh, I’m right here and I’m fine,” Hutch rocked her back and forth like a baby.  “Everything is going to be alright.”

  “No it’s not,” she said still sobbing.  “How many more are going to die because of me?”

  After talking to Starsky and leaning of Sara Richardson’s death, Hutch decided not to tell Mandy. She already felt guilty enough for the death of the pizza boy.  He knew this was all eating at her and it certainly couldn’t be very good for the baby.  “Calm down,” Hutch said sitting back on the couch.  Mandy curled up against him and fell back to sleep.

  Hutch smoothed her hair and pulled the blanket up over them.  The next thing either of them knew it was morning and Starsky was banging on the door.  Mandy sat up stretched and went to open the door.

  Starsky stepped in,  “Next time you ask who it is.”

  Mandy smiled at him, “I would know your knock any where detective,” she teased him.

  Hutch was just waking up as Starsky flopped down on the couch next to him. “Do I even want to know what has been going on here,” Starsky asked cocking his eyebrow at his partner.

  “Get your mind out of the gutter. Poor girl was having terrible nightmares.”  Hutch growled getting up and folding the blanket.

  “Whoa buddy I was just joking here,” Starsky said seeing the angry expression on Hutch’s face.

  Hutch sighed, “I know, I’m sorry guess I’m just on edge.”

  “You have a right to be,” Starsky said.  “There is a police woman waiting down stairs for Mandy. She will drive her to school and stay with her all day.”

  “Thanks partner.”  Hutch said as he headed for the bathroom Mandy had just vacated. 

 

  Joey knew that killing that kid on the cop’s doorstep had been a mistake; it was like leaving a calling card.  He was sure that by now they had dug up his records but they didn’t even began scratched the surface of what he had done.  He also knew that his time was drawing near, the search for him would be widened they would stop at nothing to bring him in. He had to get Mandy…today.

 

  Some how Mandy managed to get through her morning classes, even doing well on a pop quiz in Social Studies.  The policewoman, who was dressed like a student in blue jeans and a tank top sat in the back of the room of each one of Mandy’s classes.  When lunchtime came Marci took her to a nearby hotdog stand.

  “How long have you been a cop,” Mandy asked curiously as she munched on her dog.

  “Eight years,” Marci said.  “I was going to college to be a doctor and I don’t know what happened.  I dropped out went to the Police Academy and here I am.”

  “Do you like it?”

  Marci shrugged, “Most of the time.  The job is tough at times.”

  After finishing eating they headed back to school.  Mandy only had two classes in the afternoon.  Marci made sure Mandy was securely in the Science Lab then went to the bathroom two doors down.  There was an out of order sign hanging on the door.  Marci glanced back at the open door of the lab and decided that Mandy was safe with a room full of students and a teacher.  She headed toward the stair well, as she got there a rope was strung across the stairs leading down to the first floor another sign was posted there that said ‘wet paint’.  The school was in the midst of doing it’s sprucing up for the coming fall term.

  Marci headed up the fight of stairs leading to the third floor bathrooms.  If she hadn’t had to go so bad she would have just skipped it.  She cursed her self for the second soda she had gotten at lunch.  As Marci stepped onto the landing the first thing she noticed was how quiet it was.  All the summer classes were being held on the first two floors of the school.  She quickly walked down the hall her heels clicking on the tiled floor until she found the bathroom door that said ‘girls’.  After looking up and down the hall she push open the door and went in.  It smelled of cleaning supplies mingled with cigarette smoke, she found it odd but just figured that one of the janitors had snuck a smoke.

  After relieving her self, Marci went to the sink to wash her hands.  Suddenly she felt as if she weren’t alone and spun around but the room was empty.  She laughed at herself.  Starsky had briefed her on this Joey kid leaving out no details. Marci had to admit it had spooked her a bit.

   As she turned back to the sink Marci didn’t see the pair of legs drop silently down into one of the stalls or the door open slowly. With the water running she didn’t hear the footsteps behind her all she felt was the cold blade of a knife against her throat. 

  “Move, or scream and you are dead,” hissed the threat in her right ear.

  “I’m a police officer,” she said with more conviction that she felt.

  “I know.”  As if in slow motion Joey drew the blade across her throat.  Marci opened her mouth to scream but only gurgling sounds came out as the blood ran down her neck soaking her white tank top.  Joey kept cutting until he was into her windpipe then stopped and let her body fall to the floor. 

  Casually he went to the paper towel dispenser pulled out several towels and wiped the knife clean, then he dropped them in the trash receptacle, stuck the knife in the back of his jeans and left the bath room.  Marci lay on the floor, eyes open wide, her left hand opened and closed for several moments before it was finally still.  The pool of blood was ever widening around the police officers body as her supply poured from the wound in her neck. 

 

  Lab was almost over before Mandy notice that Marci hadn’t returned.  She raised her and was about to ask the teacher if she could go to the bathroom in search of the officer when a blood-curdling scream could be heard echoing in the hallway.  All of the students jumped and got to their feet going to the door to see what was going on.  Mandy dropped the hand she had been holding in the air to her lap and closed her eyes. 

  Mrs. Armbrewster the history teacher came tearing past the lab door, she was covered in blood and as white as a sheet.  She had gone to the third floor where her room usually was, she had needed a certain book that she had forgotten to take when they had moved her down to the second floor for the summer.

  She had heard something dripping in the bathroom and thought that somebody had left one of faucets on in the sink.  Mrs. Armbrewster opened the door and saw Marci lying in the floor at first I didn’t register in her mind what she was seeing.  The dripping sound she had been hearing was the officers blooded dripping into the drain in the center of the floor, it echoed in the room.

 The teacher looked down, the tips of her pale blue shoes had blood on them, which was when she realized that she was standing in an ever-widening pool of blood.  As she started to back out of the bath room her mouth working like a dying fish she caught her heel on a lose tile and fell to the floor.  Blood splashed her arms, neck and face that was when she found her voice and she let out a scream that could be heard through the whole school.

 

 

CHAPTER NINE

 

  Both Starsky and Hutch were on a dead run across the parking lot to the emergency room doors, they hit them at the same time going straight to the front desk.  “You have a Mandy Porter here,” Hutch said leaning over the desk. 

  “Yes,” the nurse answered she is in exam room three. “But you can’t…”

  She never got to finish the sentence for Hutch was already half way down the hall.  When he entered the room Mandy was laying on a bed an IV running into her arm, she was pale and her eyes were closed.  “Mandy?” Hutch called softly to her.

  Her eyes fluttered a few times then opened.  It took her a few moments for them to clear so that she could see Hutch’s face.  She took a ragged breath, “Oh Hutch.”  Tears slide down her cheeks and on to the pillow beneath her head.  “S-s-she’s dead Hutch.”

  “I know baby I know, it’s not your fault,” Hutch pulled a chair up next to the bed and took her hand.  He had been stunned when the call had come into the office.  Then on the way to the school they had gotten a call that Mandy was being transported to the hospital, she was in hysterics and they were afraid for the baby.

  “Then whose fault is it?” Mandy asked.  “If it weren’t for me she wouldn’t have even been there.  Did you know she was going to be a doctor at one time?”

  Hutch shook his head.   “She was doing her job.”

  Mandy let out a bitter laugh, “You should have left me in that park this all would have been over by now.”

  “You stop talking like that,” Hutch commanded. 

  The door to the room opened and a man dressed in a white coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck entered.  “I’m Doctor Manning.”  He said extending his hand.

  Hutch got up to shake his hand. “I’m Ken Hutchinson a police detective.”

  “You shouldn’t be in here,” the doctor said sternly.

  “I’m also a friend, Mandy is staying with me right now.” Hutch explained.

  The doctor nodded.  “Mandy about lost her baby. She needs rest and no more stress, the next time I don’t know if we can save the child.”

  Hutch looked over at Mandy to see if she was aware she had almost lost the baby.  He could tell by the look on her face she had been told.  “Mandy why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I don’t want this baby, I hope I do lose it,” she stormed.  “I don’t want anything that belongs to that monster inside of me.”

  “Mandy, Mandy,” Hutch bent over the bed. “Don’t say that, this is an innocent baby you are carrying.”

  “I don’t care,” she closed her eyes and turned her head away from Hutch.

  “You do care,” he insisted.  “You know you do.”

  Slowly Mandy opened her eyes and looked at him.  “But what if he turns out like Joey?”

  Hutch smiled at her, “The baby is part you too.”

  “I don’t ever want him to know about his father.” Mandy said.  “Then she looked up at Hutch.  “I want to put you on the birth certificate.”

  Hutch was taken back a bit, “Mandy as honored as I would be I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  Mandy blushed as she realized how that would look after all Hutch was old enough to be her father.  “I guess it wouldn’t would it.”

 

   Joey flopped down in his cardboard box house in the same alley he had spent the night before.  His stomach was growling but he was out of money, he had spent what little he had gotten off the pizza guy.  He was too tired to bother stealing anything to eat so he closed his eyes and he stretched out.  Nobody in the alley bothered him; they spoke of him in whispers it was if they knew how evil he was.

  Tomorrow was the day; he was going to kill that little bitch even if he had to take out the whole school to do it.  Joey wanted to leave town but he wasn’t going until Mandy was dead.

 

  Hutch insisted that Mandy take his bed and finally after much discussion she relented.  They had stayed at the hospital several more hours before the doctor satisfied that she wouldn’t loose the baby sent her home with strict instructions that she rested.  No school for the rest of the week, nothing but bed rest.  So Hutch made her comfortable then went into the kitchen to see what he could rustle them up for dinner. 

  In the end Hutch made them scrambled eggs since he didn’t want to leave Mandy even to run to the store or to get carry out.  They sat on Hutch’s bed and ate, neither of them speaking.

  Finally Mandy looked up at Hutch,  “Why is Joey the way he is?”

  Hutch set the plate on the bed and looked at her, “If I could answer that question maybe there wouldn’t be the need for police anymore.  Who knows what drives somebody like?  Joey seems to just like to kill, that is why he is now labeled a serial killer.”

  “Really?” Mandy’s eyes got big.  “So he has killed a lot of people.”

  “We suspect so,” Hutch said getting up and taking the plates to the kitchen. 

  Mandy padded after him.  “How many?”

  Hutch turned around, “You get back in bed young lady.”

  “He killed Sara didn’t he,” she asked in a soft voice.

  Hutch sighed and leaned up against the sink.  “Yes, we think so.  Mandy Sara’s body was found yesterday.”

  Mandy sucked in her breath, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I thought you had enough on your mind. Now you get back in bed.”

   “Hutch?”

  “Yeah,” he replied as he guided her back to bed.

  “Why didn’t Joey kill me?” she asked as she slipped under the covers.

  Hutch shook his head, “I don’t know honey.”

 

  The next morning Starsky was there bright and early bringing a big bag of donuts, two cups of coffee and a quart of milk for Mandy.  “How are you doing?” Starsky asked taking the milk into Mandy. Hutch had forbid her to get out of bed except to go to the bathroom.  He had moved the TV in to the bedroom and placed the phone on the bed.

  “I’m feeling better,” Mandy said digging into the bag of donuts he sat on the bed.

  The phone rang, “Hey Starsk can you get that?”

  Starsky snagged the receiver, “Yeah?”

  “Is that anyway to answer a phone,” Hutch scolded his partner as he came into the bedroom.  Starsky waved his hand in Hutch’s face to get him to be quiet.

  “We’ll be right there.” Starsky said slamming the phone down.  Hutch looked at him eyebrows raised.  “Joey was just spotted three blocks from here.”

  Hutch ran to the closet and grabbed his gun and shoulder holster.  As he put it on he looked at Mandy, “You stay put, and there are officers right out side.”

  Mandy nodded but there was fear in her eyes. “Be careful please.”  If anything happened to either of them she didn’t know what she would do.

 

  Joey hung up the phone in a pay phone booth just around the corner from Hutch’s apartment. An evil grinned spread across his face, then he slipped down the street staying out of sight as much as possible.  He maneuvered himself until he could see the entrance of the cop’s apartment building.  He waited and with in minutes of his arrival Starsky and Hutch came running out of the building, jumped into Starsky’s car and sped off.

  Joey pulled a gun from under his shirt; he had gotten it just before dawn.  He had decided that he couldn’t take both cops that were guarding Mandy out with a knife so he chose an apartment and broke in.  After killing the owner in his sleep Joey ransacked the place until he found what he was looking for, a small hand gun.

  He walked up to the passenger’s side of the car, placed the barrel of the gun to the first officer’s head and pulled the trigger.  Before his partner could even draw his gun Joey had pulled the trigger a second time, the officer slumped against the steering wheel. 

  Joey looked around to see if anybody had seen or heard him but the streets and sidewalk were empty.  He went into the building and up the stairs.  He knew she had to be in there.

 

 

CHAPTER TEN

 

   Mandy heard the apartment door open, “Hutch?” she called from the bedroom.  When there was no answer she got up and started into the living room but Joey met her in the bedroom door.

  “Finally,” Joey said grinning at her.  The grin chilled Mandy to the bone.  “I was beginning to think you were trying to avoid me sweetheart.”

  Mandy backed up, “N-no, I didn’t even know you were out.”  She lied; the moment the words were out of her mouth she knew she had said the wrong thing.

 Joey backhanded her across the mouth, “You lying little bitch.”  Mandy fell on the bed crying out.  He was on top of her pinning her to the bed, his face inches from hers.  “So you missed me did ya?  Looks like you are living pretty good.”

  “My mom kicked me out,” Mandy said looking into his eyes; they were dark and vacant as if he had no sole, no inter light. 

  “Ahh you don’t have to worry about her anymore now do you?” He said his hot breath caressing her face.

  “Joey let me up, Hutch will be here any minute,” she said hoping to scare him off.

  “Naw I don’t think so, I sent them on a wild goose chase.”

  “T-That was you on the phone?” she asked, he just smiled at her.  “Joey please, you know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” She thought a moment, “I’ll go anywhere you want, and we can leave right now. We could…”

  “We could what?  Live happily ever after?” he snarled in her face. “You stomped all over that when you took off with that cop.”  Joey yanked her up off the bed dragging her into the living room.  He pushed her down on the couch.  “Come on tell me some more lies.”

  Mandy looked up at him her eyes filled with tears, “I’m going to have your baby.”

  Joey tilted his head back and laughed,  “What am I going to do with a kid?  I don’t want some snot nosed brat dragging me down.”

  “I was going to give her up for adoption,” Mandy said bravely she wasn’t sure what kind of reaction this news was going to bring.

  But Joey just laughed at her again.  “Now isn’t that just the sweetest thing, that cop friend of yours talk you into that?”

  “No I made the decision on my own. I didn’t want her to end up like us.”

  “What the hell is that suppose to mean?” he flared.

  “I just meant I want her to have a better life, not have to live with revolving dad’s.  Live in a house full of kids nobody really wanted in the first place.” Mandy said.  “I want to get my diploma and go to college, make something of my self.”

  Joey just looked at her there was no emotion on his face or in his eyes.  “Well I’m sorry to tell you that is never going to happen.  He reached over and ripped open her blouse sending buttons everywhere and reveling a white bra underneath.  Then he dragged her to the floor between the couch and the coffee table and stood over her.  Joey knelt down straddling Mandy’s body and put the blade of his knife just below her breastbone.

 

  “What the hell is going on here?” Hutch asked looking around.  The street was empty save for a few homeless people in an alley.  There was no all out manhunt going on, no squad cars. “What did the called say?”

  “That Joey had been spotted on this corner,” Starsky said looking around.  He looked up at the street sign to make sure they had the right place.

  “Was it somebody from the station?” Hutch asked.

  “You looking for that kid?” a tattered looking man ventured out of the shadows from the alley.

  “Kid?” Hutch asked.

  “Yeah, he showed up here two nights ago.  A real scary dude, I haven’t slept for the last couple of nights, ‘fraid he might kill me in my sleep.” The man reeked of cheap whiskey.

  Starsky fished around in his jacket then pulled out a folded piece of paper, “This him?” he said unfolding it and holding it for the man to see.

  “Yep that’s him,” the man said.  “He took out of here early this morning. I sure hope he don’t come back.”

  After thanking the man the two detectives looked at each other.  “We have been set up.” Starsky said.  “I think Joey was trying to get us out of your apartment.”

  “Shit,” Hutch said under his breath as they ran for Starsky’s car.  Hutch grabbed the radio to raise the two officers guarding his place.  They had to be warned that Joey might be heading their way. “Dispatch, patch me through to Zebra 12 please.”

  “Go ahead Zebra three.”

  “Zebra 12 this is Zebra three, come in please.”  Nothing but silence met their ears.  Hutch called them several more times but still no response.   Starsky jammed the car into gear and they sped toward Hutch’s apartment.

 

  Joey put a bit of pressure on the tip of the knife, it broke Mandy’s skin a thin stream of blood ran down her side.  “You got any last words?”

  “Please don’t do this,” Mandy pleaded she was afraid to move for fear he would plunge the knife in further.  “You can get help.”

  Suddenly his expression changed, his features soften and he shook his head, “It’s too late for me.”  Then the hardness came back. “And it’s too late for you.”  He pushed the knife in a bit further.

  “Joey please you are hurting me,” Mandy said crying.  She closed her eyes; no body was going to save her this time.

  She gave a sharp cry as he pushed the knife in even further.  Blood was now pouring down her side and pooling on the floor.  Joey gave the knife a twist, Mandy’s eyes opened wide and her face was etched in pain, then he pushed the knife in the rest of the way until the handle met with her flesh.

  Slowly her head fell limply to one side and her mouth went slack but her eyes reminded open and almost frighten looking.  After giving the knife a final twist Joey pulled it out almost as slowly has he had put it in.  He got to his feet; he went into the bedroom the knife still in his hand leaving bloody splotches on the wooden floor.

 

  Starsky screeched to a halt in front of the squad car, they both jumped out and dashed to the car.  They could tell that both of the officers were dead with out even feeling for a pulse.  Hutch took the steps two at a time up to his apartment.  The door was standing ajar; he drew his gun and quietly pushed it open.  He looked around, nothing looked disturbed. Then he spotted Mandy’s legs sticking out between the couch and table.  He shoved the table over so that he could get to her.  There was so much blood on the floor, she was pale and he could tell she wasn’t breathing. 

  Hutch fell to his knees, “Mandy, Mandy,” he called to her.  He lay his head on her chest and felt for a pulse.

  Joey stepped from the bedroom, he watched the scene before him for only a second then walked toward Hutch the knife raised over his head ready to thrust into the cops back.

 

  Starsky had run quickly back to his car to call for back up, and then he ran up the steps to Hutch’s place.  The door was standing open when he arrived and a figure was standing over Hutch with a butcher knife in his hand.  “HUTCH!” Starsky yelled as he raised his gun and fired.

  The bullet struck Joey in the back, a surprised look crossed his face, and he turned to look at Starsky.  The knife fell from his hands and he dropped to his knees then fell face forward at Starsky’s feet.

 

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

 

 

 

   Hutch stood for a long time looking at the head stone; he had a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a stuffed bear in the other.  He bent down and placed the flowers on the fresh grave then put the bear next to them.  He put his hand on over Mandy’s name and closed his eyes willing himself not to cry but tears slid from under his lashes anyway.  He had failed her in the worst way.

  Starsky leaned against his car giving his partner a few minutes, then he went to him, “Come on Hutch.”

  Hutch looked up at him eyes swimming with tears.  “This isn’t fair Starsky.  She never had a chance to live.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Starsky said pulling him to his feet.

  Hutch sighed and allowed Starsky to guide him back to the waiting car.  He turned and looked back at the grave marker  “Goodbye little one,” Hutch whispered.  “Now you have God to protect you.”

  Starsky started the car and as he was pulling away Hutch thought he saw a young woman standing near Mandy’s grave holding a baby.  She raised her hand as if she were waving then turned and walked away.  Hutch blinked the tears from his eyes and looked again but there was nobody there.

 

THE END