BACK FROM THE GRAVE
                                                                                             BY TOOKI
                                                                                 (Sequel to Tangled Web)

​​

                                                                                         CHAPTER ONE


“Izzy?” called a voice.
Susan felt the blood drain from her face and a knot formed in the pit of her stomach. It had been years since she had heard that name. Janie had last used it but she was long dead. Slowly Susan turned to look behind her. A woman stood there it was almost like looking into a mirror, she had long dark hair and dark eyes, and she was the same height of 5’4.
They both stared at each other. Finally the woman spoke, “I have been following you around for a hour trying to get the nerve to speak to you.”
That voice, Susan knew that voice even after twenty-five years it was still the same. “Katie? Is it you?” Susan asked with a catch in her voice. She closed her eyes there was no way. Katie had been killed when she was just sixteen in a car wreck. Susan felt as if she were going crazy there was no way this woman could be her sister.
“Yeah,” she said softly.
“Mommy who is that?” A girl about nine asked looking at the strange woman that looked so much like her mommy.
Susan hadn’t even noticed the girl until she has spoke. She looked down at the little girl; she looked so much like Katie at that age.
“This is my sister, Isabel,” Katie said as tears ran down her face. “Iz, this is my daughter Jesse.”
Susan sucked in her breath and then smiled, “I have a daughter named Jesse too.” Suddenly she felt dizzy and looked for a place to sit. There was a park bench close by; she had been taking a short cut through the park when this woman had approached her. Katie followed her and carefully sat down next to Susan.
“How…where…” Susan began not understanding how her sister could still be alive. She had seen the flat line of the heart monitor; she had stood at the graveside as her sister’s casket had been lowered into the ground next to the new graves of their parents.
Slowly Katie reached for Susan’s hand, “I have been looking for you for years Iz. I had amnesia for about six months and when I started remembering you were gone and I found out our parents were dead.”
“But I saw you die, I was in the room with you,” Susan whispered.
“Jesse why don’t you go play over there on the swings for a bit,” Katie suggested. After the little girl scampered off Katie looked at her older sister. “I can’t tell you what happened before I woke up. I didn’t even know I was in a car crash until the doctors told me. I had been moved in to a sanitarium until I regained consciousness. I don’t know who put me there or why. I was told you were dead killed in the car wreck we were in but then as I begin to remember I knew that was a lie so started looking.”
‘’But how did you know I was in California?” Susan asked still stunned to find her sister alive.
“I didn’t, my husband got transferred out here a couple of months ago.” Katie explained. “I was reading the paper a few days ago and saw an article about these private detectives that had found a kidnapped little girl. The woman in the photo looked like my sister but her name wasn’t right so I started doing some digging. I found out where the detective agency was and I sat across the street and watched, waiting to see if this woman in the photo might be my long lost sister. And then I saw you and a blond headed man get out of a car. You stood on the sidewalk talking. I heard your voice and the way you walked and I knew it was you Izzy I just knew.”
“Oh my god,” Susan said tears welling up in her eyes as she threw her arms around her younger sister. “Katie I have missed you so much.”
Katie buried her face in Susan’s shoulder finally at peace after all the years that had passed with her wondering what had happened to her sister. “Who was the man I saw you with?”
Susan smiled as she looked in to her sister’s eyes. “That is my husband Ken Hutchinson. We have three kids. Jesse who is 20, Davy is 12 and Mikey who is almost 2.”
“Wow,” Katie smiled back. “Jesse is our only child. So you are a private eye?”
Susan laughed at the way her sister said it. “Well its not like Charlie’s Angels or anything but yeah. I use to be a police detective. That’s how I met my husband. We decided to retire from police work and with our other partner Dave Starsky we started a detective agency.”
“I’m impressed,” Katie beamed at her older sister.
“What do you do?” Susan asked wanting to know every tiny detail of her sisters life.
“I’m a stay at home mom,” Katie said glancing across the grass at her daughter who was going down the slide. “My husband was made a partner in a law firm. We just couldn’t turn down an offer like that so we packed up and moved out here.”
At a moment Jesse came running over to them. “Can I get some ice cream?” she asked pointing to a vender several yards away.
“How about if you let your Aunt Susan buy you some?” Susan said as she stood up. “In fact I think we could all use a treat.”
“When did you change your name?” Katie asked as they walked toward the ice cream stand.
“When I left and came out here I changed it to Susan Carlston. I just wanted to forget my past and move on. I thought my whole family was dead and I wanted a new start. Nobody knew of my past not even my husband and partner until Janie turned up here.” Susan explained.
“How is Janie anyway?” Katie smiled upon hearing the name. “Do you keep in touch with her?”
Susan stopped dead in her tracks and stared at her newfound sister. “Janie is dead, Katie. She is the one that killed our parents and almost killed you. She rigged the car some how.”
Katie’s eyes filled with surprise and horror. “B-but Janie was your best friend she stay at our house all the time.” Katie was flabbergasted. “How did she die?”
“My partner Starsky killed her, Janie had kidnapped Jesse and she was going to shoot me but he killed her before she could. It’s a really long story.” Susan said.
Katie put her arm around her sister’s waist. “Well Iz…. I mean Susan I guess we have a lot of catching up to do uh big sis.”
“I would say so little sis,” Susan hugged her tightly as they continued on to the stand.



Ken Hutchinson sat at his desk reading the article on the kidnapping that Katie had read several days earlier. It was a case they could really be proud of. The police had all but given up on finding the little girl when one of the officers on the case had suggested to the parents of the girl to hire S&H Detective Services. The officer had been friends with them when they had been on the force and knew they would give the case their all. He had been right and with in 48 hours they had located the girl, had the kidnapper in jail and two parents very happy. The newspapers had haled them as heroes. The police department had been left with a bit of egg on its face but the ex-cops still had many friends on the streets. One of them being Huggy Bear, who had been their source of information for years.
Starsky walked into the office. “Is Susan back yet?” He asked. She had been picking up lunch for them and he was hungry.
“Not yet Starsk,” Hutch said putting down the paper. “If you are that hungry why don’t you just go into the kitchen and make you something.”
“Nahhh I’m waiting for that burrito she is getting me.” He grinned at Hutch who he knew would roll his eyes.
“Eww Starsky that stuff is going to rut your gut.”
“Hutch how many years have you been telling me that?”
Hutch though for a moment, “Well I guess ever since we became friends.”
“And how long as that been?”
“I think I would rather not add up those years,” Hutch said running his hand though his blond hair that was now mixed with a bit of gray. Starsky had a few wisps himself these days. “Let’s just say a long time uh?
“Yeah and in all those years have you seen my guts rot?” Starsky gave him a lopsided smile. Hutch just shook his head and went back to reading the article. “How many times you going to read that?”
Hutch looked up again. “This is just the first case in a long time that has really meant something to me you know?”
Starsky did know they had all be elated when they had found the girl alive. Everyone including the police had given her up for dead.
They both heard the front door of the house open and close, “It’s about time,” Starsky shouted from the office. Susan appeared in the doorway, her face was flushed, but happy looking. She was also empty handed. “Where is my lunch?”
Suddenly a woman that looked so much like Susan she could almost been her twin appeared next to her and a little girl pushed her way in-between them. “Guys I would like you to meet Katie my sister.”
Hutch got up to shake her hand when Susan’s words registered with him and his mouth fell open, he looked over at Starsky who had the same surprised expression on his face also.




                                                                                       CHAPTER TWO


“But I thought…” Starsky began looking from one woman to the other then his gaze dropped to the little girl. He grinned at her and she returned his smile. Woman just couldn’t resist that smile even a woman in training.
“I don’t have all the details myself.” Susan said as she guided Katie to a chair in front of the desk Hutch was sitting at. Hutch was still half standing with his hand out stretched and his mouth hanging open. “Close your mouth honey your sister in law here is going to think I married a total boob.”
Hutch turned slightly red, closed his mouth and sat down. “I’m sorry it’s just…this is such a shock. Susan had told us you were killed in a car accident many years ago.”
“Yes and I was told that Iz…I mean Susan had died with my parents.” Katie answered smiling at her newfound family.
“So who gave out all this false information.”? Starsky asked perplexed by the whole thing.
Both Katie and Susan at the same time said, “Janie.”
Starsky paled at the mention of her name, she had come so close to killing him also that her name sent shivers up his spine. “Janie strikes again uh?” It was all he could manage to say. Katie noticed the look on his face and made a mental note to ask her sister at a later time.
A blond head poked in the door, “Hey mom, dad can I go ride bikes with Eddie?” twelve-year-old Davy asked. Then he noticed the girl standing next to his mother. “Who’s that?”
“This is your cousin Jesse,” Susan said smiling at her son. “And I would like you to meet your Aunt Katie.”
“Hi,” he said shyly at first then he smiled at the girl. “You have the same name as my older sister. This could get confusing. You want to come and ride bikes?”
Jesse looked at her mother. “Can I?” The grown up talk was boring and kind of scary at the same time.
Katie looked at Susan and her older sister nodded, “Sure honey but you be sure to wear a helmet.”
“Oh mommy,” Jesse sighed as she got up to follow her new cousin.
Susan shook her head. “We have the same rule too kiddo. There are plenty of bikes and helmets in the garage.
After the children were gone Susan sat down next to Katie. “You must stay for dinner.”
“Could I call Rob and let him know?” Katie asked, she was so excited and wanted to let her husband know that she had finally found her sister.
“Sure,” Hutch answered pushing the phone across the desk toward her. “Ask him for dinner too. He might as well get the bunch of us all at once.”
“Bunch?” Katie questioned as she dialed his office number.


Rob Thomas had just come back from lunch when the phone rang, his secretary had just stepped out so he answered it him self. “Porter, Stevens and Thomas.”
Katie giggled at the tone of her husbands voice, “You sound so official.”
“Katie,” Rob said into the phone. “My secretary is away from her desk. Anything wrong?”
“No,” Katie all but beamed. “I have found my sister.”
Rob frowned for a moment then put a smile on his face for no one in particular. “That is wonderful darling.”
“They want us to come to dinner tonight.” Katie grinned at Susan. “I can give you the…”
“I have to work late tonight,” he interrupted his wife.
“Oh…but couldn’t you get away for just an hour?”
“Katie I just told you that I have to work late. You know I’m a new partner to this law office I have to work my butt off to prove myself,” he said testily.
“But…I understand Rob,” Katie said as the smile slid from her lips. “Maybe tomorrow.”
“Yeah maybe,” he said noncommittally. He put the phone back in the cradle. He opened his Rolodex and flipped through it then picked up the phone again. He dialed the number on the card and waited for the other party to answer. “She found her. I know you said it would happen. Well I’m sorry I just couldn’t turn down this job. We will figure out a way to handle it.” Rob slammed the phone down and propped his feet up on his desk.

“Are you ok sweetie?” Susan asked sitting down next to her sister who look as if she was going to cry.
Katie dug in her purse for a tissue as she nodded. She didn’t want to cry in front of her newfound family but Rob had grown so distant since they had moved to California three months earlier. Their marriage was far from perfect; she had met Rob fifteen years ago. He had knocked on her door looking for the address of his blind date but instead found her. They had a whirlwind courtship and were married less than six months. At first she had been in heaven, finally she had a family again or the beginnings of one. She had wanted to have a baby right way but Rob wanted to wait until they could afford a house and then after that it was another excuse until six years had pasted. Finally after countless battles, which always left Katie in tears, he relented. She was pregnant with in a month of their trying.
Katie was elated when their daughter was born. She doted on the small girl giving into her every need. When Jesse was a year old she again approached her husband about having another child. Rob blew up and told Katie no and that if she brought it up again he would take Jesse and leave her. Fearful that he might really do it Katie never brought up the subject again. Several times she had played with the idea of just tossing her birth control pills in the trash but thought better of it thinking that Rob might take her daughter and disappear.
Things got better after she quit annoying him about more children. Rob even participated in a few family outings but he was never a doting father or for that matter a husband. But Katie more than made up for the things that Rob missed or didn’t do with their daughter. Now that she had Jesse she concentrated on raising her child and trying to be a good wife. She was a good-looking woman and Rob would buy her expensive dresses to impress his clients as he climbed the ladder to success.
As their lives progressed they moved several times always to a bigger and better house, the more successful that Rob got the less and less time he spent at home with is wife and child. During this time Katie tried to research her sisters whereabouts when Rob found out what she was doing he blew a fuse. And for bid her to look anymore. He said it was a waste of time from what she had told him her sister was either dead or didn’t want to be found. If she wanted to contact Katie then she would.
Katie was dumbfounded by his reaction to her wanting to find her sister but she laid her research aside in order to keep the peace. After that things moved along smoothly until he had gotten the job offer in LA. For days he was moody and stormed about the house yelling at both her and Jesse. A week later he informed her that they would be moving to LA and to start packing. Once in LA things got better and Katie and even thought to bringing up the having a second child. They were busy furnishing their new home, going to parties and meeting new people. Rob was more attentive than he had been in years, he finally seemed happy.
The day Katie had seen Susan’s photo in the newspaper it had turned her life up side down. She had gone running down the hall to show her husband the photo and article but stopped short just out side his office do. She had remembered his reaction before when she had talked of her sister so she decided to wait do some research and see what she could find out on her own before involving her husband. Also she was afraid of bursting the bubble they seemed to be living in the past few months.




                                                                                         CHAPTER THREE



Katie was a bit overwhelmed at dinner that evening and she saw what Hutch had meant by meeting the ‘bunch’ of them. She had no idea that Susan and her family along with the Starsky’s all lived in the same house.
The house was alive with six children plus her daughter as dinner approached. Jesse Hutchinson was surprised when she came home from work that evening to find that she had an Aunt and was delighted that she had a cousin with her name. Libby had her and Starsky’s three children Samantha, Deanna, Kenny and the Hutchinson’s youngest son Mikey at the park all and was also surprised when she had arrived home.
With everyone trying to crowd in the dinning room, it was a whirlwind of activity. Katie sat happily at the table just watching as Mikey put mashed potatoes in Deanna’s hair and Samantha and Davy were arguing who could ride their bike the fastest. Kenny started screaming at the top of his lungs because he dropped the spoon he was eating with. The phone rang, Jesse sprung from her chair so quickly that it tipped and hit the floor with a loud bang causing everyone to jump. She righted the chair and grabbed the phone in one fluid motion then disappeared into the kitchen.
Hutch sat with a frown on his face watching the chaos around him. He looked across the table at Starsky who was egging on Mikey who was still plastering Deanna’s hair with potatoes. Hutch sighed and stood up. “OK!” he boomed. Everybody stopped what they were doing even Jesse peeked in the dinning room from the kitchen. “Mikey stop that, Sam, Davy quit fighting, somebody give Kenny back his spoon and Jesse get off the phone it’s dinner time and we have guests.”
Jesse hung up the phone and slipped back into her seat. Libby retrieved the spoon from the floor and handed it back to Kenny who started to bang it on his high chair. “Kenny,” Hutch gave him a look of warning. Then he looked at Katie and little Jesse who was looking wide-eyed back at him. “I’m sorry it’s not usually like this.”
Starsky burst out laughing, “Yes it is, and it’s like this every single mealtime.”
“I think it’s too late to make a good impression,” Susan teased her husband.
Katie looked at Hutch who was trying so hard to keep order. “Please don’t do this on our account. I love it. I have lived all my adult life with out family.”
“What about your husband?” Susan asked, “Doesn’t he have any family.”
Katie shook her head, “He was an only child and both of his parents are dead.”
Starsky looked around at the mob at the table, “Sounds kind of lonely.”
“It is,” Katie admitted, “Especially at holiday time. It’s just the three of us and a bunch of business parties with people I don’t even know.”
“Well this Christmas will be different,” Susan promised her sister.
Dee the Starsky’s middle child looked across the table where Katie and little Jesse were sitting, “Are you moving in with us too?”
They all burst out laughing. “No honey we have our own house.”
Dinner was almost finished when there was a loud knock at the front door. Libby went to answer it as Susan was dishing up ice cream in the kitchen. A tall thin man dressed in a three-piece suit stood on the porch.
“May I help you?” Libby asked.
“Yes I’m looking for my wife Katie Thomas,” he said. He looked at her coldly.
“You are at the right place,” Libby smiled at him and stepped aside for him to enter. “We are just finishing up dinner. If you would have come sooner you could have joined us.”
Rob Thomas grunted as he followed her to the dinning room. Katie sprang from her chair, “Rob!”
“It’s getting late don’t you think it’s time to come home.” He said surveying the room full of people.
Katie turned red embarrassed by her husband’s words. “Rob I would like you to meet my sister and her family.”
Rob just stood there with out responding. Hutch stood and extended his hand, “I’m Ken Hutchinson.”
For a moment Rob looked like he wasn’t going to take Hutch’s hand but finally he gripped the offered hand. “Nice to meet you.” The tone of his voice said he was anything but glad to meet any of them. “Get your things Katie, come on Jesse.”
Katie stood there staring at her husband not understanding his attitude. “Rob.”
“I said get your things…NOW!” Rob grabbed Jesse’s hand and pulled her toward the door.
Katie gave her new family a humiliated look, “I had better go,” she whispered almost under her breath.
Susan came from the kitchen carrying a tray filled with bowls of ice cream. Katie was standing with a devastated look on her face and a man Susan didn’t know was pulling little Jesse toward the door. The girl had her hand out stretched toward her mother. “What’s going on?" Susan asked as she set the tray on the table.
Hutch got up from the table, “I’m not really sure,” he glared at Rob who was struggling to keep a hold of his daughter. "This is Katie's husband. He seems to think that his wife and daughter have stayed here too long."
"I think you need to mind your own business." Rob snapped. "Katie now or I'm leaving with Jesse and you can find your own way home."
"But…but Rob," Katie in tears looked from her husband and daughter to her sister.
Starsky stood, Libby grabbed on to his arm fearing what he might do. She could see the tension in his jaw and how rigid his body was he had had enough. "Mr. Thomas why don't you have a seat, join us from some ice cream." Starsky said his voice was crisp but controlled.
"Mr.…" Rob began they hadn't been introduced.
"Starsky…Dave."
"Mr. Starsky, I have come here to take my wife and daughter home where they belong. Katie has gotten along just fine all these years with out a sister." Rob growled.
Katie looked at him dumbfounded. Rob knew how much she had wanted to find her sister and how much she had missed her over the years. "Rob how can you say such a thing."
Rob leaned over and picked up Jesse who was still pulling away from him. He went to the front door and opened it. "You coming?" With that question Rob went out leaving the door standing wide open.
"I have got to go," Katie said tears standing in her eyes. "I'll call you tomorrow Izzy." She dashed out leaving everybody in the room staring after them with open mouths.

Susan ran to the door and watched as Katie got into her car while her husband and daughter got into his car. Katie gave her a timid wave as she backed down the driveway and both vehicles disappeared into the darkness. Susan stood there until both cars taillights faded. As she turned to go in, she found Hutch standing behind her. "What was that all about?" She asked confused.
"I don't know baby, but I think we had damn well better find out." Hutch said putting his arms around her. "If your sister is in trouble we will help her."
Susan turned and buried her face in Hutch's shoulder, "I can't believe I have found her after all these years."
"Something else I intend to get to the bottom of." Hutch said as they both went back into the house.

When the Thomas's arrived home Katie went straight up stairs, and into the bathroom slamming the door. Jesse went to her room afraid of the fight she was sure would come. Her parents didn't fight often but when they did it frighten her. The fights were loud and occasionally things were thrown but as far as she knew, they had never come to blows.
Rob went to the bar in the living room, poured himself a scotch, and flopped down on the couch. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. He knew he had been totally out of line but he had to keep Katie and Jesse safe. Despite what she thought or was thinking now, he did love her and Jesse dearly. Moreover, he would do everything in his power to make sure nothing happened to his family but for her sister and her family there was little he could do.


                                                                                            CHAPTER 4


It was well after midnight when Starsky stumbled down stairs driven by hunger. First thing he noticed was that the desk lamp in their office was on. He made a detour to the office, he found Hutch in front of the computer typing away. "Working?" Starsky asked making Hutch jump.
Hutch turned to look at his partner. He gave him a brief smile. "I couldn't sleep."
"Me either. That Rob is some piece of work." Starsky said taking a seat opposite of Hutch. "What did Susan say?"
"She was pretty upset by how he treated her sister to say the least." Hutch said as he hit the enter key.
"You think all this is on the up and up?" Starsky asked leaning across the desk to see what Hutch was reading.
"Katie?" Hutch asked. Starsky nodded. "I think she is the real thing but Rob worries me. Something is not right there."
"Finding anything?"
“Not much,” Hutch said squinting at the screen. He leaned back in the desk chair and looked at Starsky. “I think I’m going into the station in the morning see if Kerrie can dig something up on our friend Rob here. Let’s just keep this between us until we find out some something concrete.”
Starsky nodded then scooted down in the chair sticking his feet up on the edge of the desk. For once Hutch didn’t yell at him. “That name really brought everything back.”
“Janie Stillwell.” Hutch said shaking his head. “I thought we had heard the last of that name.” Hutch rubbed his hand over his face. “Starsk I have something…” The look on Starsky’s face stopped him. He wasn’t going to say anything now, hopefully he would never had to tell them.
“Go on,” Starsky said.
“Never mind, just rambling. Tired I guess.” Hutch looked back at the computer screen. “I think I’ll do a little searching on Katie too. I find it hard to believe it took all these years for them to find each other.”
“Hey we lived with Susan and didn’t know her secret. If Janie hadn’t shown up we probably still won’t have known.” Starsky said yawning.
“Until her sister turned up on our door step.” Hutch sighed. “I think it’s time we go to bed pal, got lots of work to do in the morning. We have a new case.”
When Katie woke that morning Rob was gone, he left a note on the dinning room table for her. It simply said sorry on it. Katie crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trash. He had finally gone to far this time. She had put up with so much over the last years, his parties, his forgetting parent nights, plays and art fairs. She wasn’t letting him come between her and her sister even if it meant leaving him. She knew he had left early so that he didn’t have to face her and he would probably show up that evening with a dozen or so red roses. He always did that when he knew he had gone too far.
Katie walked into the living room; a blanket and pillow still lay on the couch. She picked them up before Jesse got up and saw them. Katie had just finished putting the items away when Jesse patted into the room. “Good morning sleepy head.”
“Where’s daddy?” Jesse asked looking around the room; they usually had breakfast together if nothing else.
“He had to be at work early this morning,” Katie replied. “What do you want for breakfast this morning? How about some French toast?”
Jesse looked doubtfully at her mother then answered, “Sure. Are we going to see Aunt Susan today?”
Katie smiled at her, “I sure hope so.”


“You are going to get me fired Hutch,” Kerrie said handing him a print out.
“You always say that,” Hutch grinned at her. He took the papers and studied them for a few minutes. This only goes back about twenty years. You still waiting on the rest?”
Kerrie shook her head, “That’s it. I typed in the information you gave me twice just to make sure. This is all that came back.”
“This is strange what was Rob Thomas doing before his record appeared?”
“Possibly being somebody else?” Kerrie said leaning over the desk. “You know it’s not all that unusual.”
“Believe me I know.” Hutch folded up the print out. “Thanks Kerrie.”
But who? Was he hiding? Hutch thought as he left the building.
Starsky was sitting behind the desk when he arrived home with the printout; he dropped it on the desk in front of his partner. “So who is our mystery man?” Starsky asked picking up the papers.
“Still a mystery it appears,” Hutch answered. “Seems up until about twenty years ago Rob didn’t exist. Kerrie could only get the last twenty years, there are a few parking tickets nothing more than that.”
“So we don’t know where he came from originally, where he was born and I’m betting that Rob Thomas isn’t even his real name.” Starsky said. “So we are back to square one, now what?”
Hutch shrugged, “I would like to find out more before I tell any of this to Susan.”
“Ha, if I know Susan she will find out something before we do. You know how she can be.” Starsky laughed.
“She is just to close to this, I think we had better handle this one.” Hutch said.
“Handle what?” Susan came into the office holding two mugs of steaming coffee. “What did you find out at police headquarters Hutch?”
Starsky just shook his head and smiled. “How did you know Hutch went to headquarters?”
“How long have we been married?” Susan said the cups of coffee on the desk in front of them. “Well?”
“You aren’t going to like it.” Hutch said pushing the printouts toward her.
Susan picked them up and studied them then said. “Who has Katie gotten her self mixed up with?”
“We don’t know anything yet, could just be an error.” Starsky said.
Susan looked at him, “Now don’t tell me you believe this crap you are trying to sell me. I love my sis to death but I swear to God she always picked the worse men.”
“Unlike her big sister,” Hutch teased her.
“Jury is still out on that one,” Susan smiled. Starsky howled and almost knocked over the coffee. “Oh you’re no prize your self Starsk.”
Starsky stuck his bottom lip out, “Am too just ask Libby.”
“Ask me what?” Libby said stepping into the room. She had Kenny and Mikey one on each hip.
“Starsky was just telling me what a prince he is,” Susan said taking Mikey. “You ready to go to the sitter?”
Mikey nodded, “Play with ants.”
“Ants?” Susan looked at Libby who just shrugged.
“Come on prince,” Libby said to Starsky, “Help me get the kids into their car seats. I have a little detective work to do to day I’m dropping the kids off at Lulu’s.”
Starsky took Mikey from Susan, “What kind of detective work?” Libby just usually manned the fort at home, answering phones and keeping them fed when they were working on a hard case. At times they would call on her for some legwork but she was happy taking care of the kids and the house.
“Nothing dangerous, just going to find out where Mr. Thomas works,” Libby said following Starsky out the door.
He stopped abruptly, “I don’t think so,” he said turning to look at her. “You stay away from him.”
“Listen Starsk I’m just going to his building checking a few things out. I’m not going to talk to him I won’t even go to his office I promise.” Libby said shifting Davy to her other hip.
Starsky squinted at her. “Alright but you be careful. I don’t like what we aren’t finding out about this guy.”
“You put Libby up to this?” Hutch asked eyeing his wife.
“She offered to help,” Susan said.
“And who said you could help?” Hutch asked.
“Hutch don’t start, Katie is my sister and if she is mixed up with something I’m going to find out what it is.”

Rob Thomas was on the phone when his secretary knocked then entered his office carrying a small bag and a cup of coffee. Silently she placed it on his desk and left the room. Rob waited until the door was closed before he responded to the party on the other end. “You leave Katie out of this. I mean it if one thing happens to her or Jesse I’ll come after you.” He listened a moment, “I didn’t let her go there she just went. If I had forbid her to do she would have been suspicious. I caused a big enough scene getting her out of there. Katie is pissed at me and I’m sure they all think I’m nuts.” Again he listened, “I don’t care what you do as long as you leave Katie out of it.” He slammed the phone down. Rob then picked it up again dialed to within one number of his home phone then put it down. What was he going to say? Stay away from your own sister? “SHIT!” he said loudly.
The office door opened. “Anything I can do for you Mr. Thomas?”
“Thanks Cecil but I’m fine,” Rob said pulling the bag toward him. He had left that morning before Katie had gotten up. No breakfast but also no explaining and he knew that she was going to ask him what his problem was. He knew that she had been angry with him last night since she had gone straight to bed with out a word to him. Rob hadn't even bothered going to bed, he just lay down on the couch. He wanted to explain to her, wanted to tell her he was really glad she had found her sister but it could mean her losing her again permanently. And he wasn't going to be a party to it; Katie would never forgive him for that.
​


                                                                                           CHAPTER 5



All thought summer was almost behind them Libby had chosen a sun dress instead of her usual blue jean shorts to make her visit to the office building that Rob Thomas worked in. She mostly wanted to get a look at it; she wanted to know kind of place they were dealing with. It turned out to be in one of the newer buildings in downtown LA. Since Libby had given up police work she spent very little time down town opting to use the computer to dig up information. The building of glass and chrome impressed her; the lobby was cool as she entered from the unrelenting sun. People milled about, a security guard sat at a desk near the front door and a receptionist sat at a big round desk in the middle of the room.
Libby walked over to the elevators where a listing of all the offices were and studied the names on it. The offices of Porter, Stevens and Thomas were on the tenth floor. She started to push the button when she remember she had told Starsky that she wouldn't go any where near his office. But what would a little stroll down the hall hurt? Libby pushed the up button and waited for an elevator car to come. Several businessmen joined her and by the time the doors opened there was a crowd waiting to get on. Libby ended up crushed in a corner being first to get on.
Just as the doors were about to close a female voice called, “Please hold the door.” Just as the door started to slide shut a man jabbed the open button and the door held for the woman to get on. “Thank you.”
Libby craned her neck to see the woman, the voice sound so familiar that she wanted to get a look at the woman. She was dressed in a tight red dress with a white belt and a white floppy hat sat on her head shielding her face from view. As the elevator began to empty out Libby eased her self toward the woman.
The light indicated that they had arrived on the 10th floor and the door slid open. To Libby’s shock Rob Thomas stood there, she shrank back in the corner. She wasn't sure if he would recognize her or not but didn't want to take any changes. He greeted the woman in the white hat, and then kissed her cheek.
“Sorry I’m late.” She said. He just shrugged
The elevator went up to the 11th floor where the rest of the remaining people got off, Libby keeping her head down got off with them. She hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until the doors went shut and the car was on it’s way back down. She blew out her breath and tried to calm her shaking hands. She tried to tell her self so what if he had seen her. She could have told him she had business in the building it was a big place. But Rob Thomas made her uneasy and the woman even more so. She just wished she could place the voice.
Libby waited five minutes or so then got out of the building and headed for home. She really hadn’t found out much of anything. Or had she, was Rob having an affair?

Rob pulled out a chair for his companion to sit in, then sat across the table from her. He looked around the room not wanting to be spotted with her. He knew that Katie never came into the city with out him. She had only been to his office once and that was because he had brought her so she could see where he worked.
The woman pulled off the hat laying it in the chair next to her as she shook her blond head. “I really wasn’t ready to step things up like this,” she said.
“Listen I told you I wasn’t turning down this job,” Rob said scowling at her. “There is too much prestige in this company, I have been working toward this for years.”
“Yeah, yeah I have heard this song and dance routine before.” She sighed. “I was having a good time in Europe.”
“I’m sure you were, how many old men did you swindle out of their money?” he asked giving her a sly smile.
She batted at him playfully with a while gloved hand. “Rob now would I do that?”
“Yes.”
“Ahh you know me all to well don’t you?” She said smiling at him. “I was planning on coming back to seek my revenge you know. I just wasn’t ready quite yet.”
“It’s been what fifteen years?” Rob asked.
“Some thing like that.” She answered not wanting to be reminded of her age although she didn’t look a day past thirty. She spent a lot of her money on her looks. “I was rather surprised to find them all living in the same house. Should be a piece of cake to take them out. I’m done playing games with her, she has cost me enough.”
Rob nodded in agreement, “Yeah almost your life being on the top of the list.”
“She didn’t pull that trigger but she might has well have.” She spat venomously. “I’ll enjoy taking care of both of them but only after they watch their family die. They will be the last two to die. And when it’s just the two of them I’ll make sure she watches her precious Starsky dies…slowly.”
“You just leave Katie out of it. You hear me?” Rob glared at her. “I swear I will turn you into the police if I even think you are going to hurt her or Jesse.”
“She should have died the first time.” She said her eyes flashing.
“But she didn’t and I don’t know what brought us together but I’m not letting anything happen to her.”
The woman tipped her head back and laughed. “You really are a fool Rob. I’m the one that got you together. I didn’t know it would turn out like this but I was the one that gave you that address, made sure it was wrong so you would knock on her door.”
“But why?” Rob asked stunned.
“So I could keep track of her. I had enough trouble hunting down her sister I didn’t want Katie disappearing on me too. So that is where you came in,” she explained.
“You really are a devious bitch aren’t you?” he said shaking his head.
“Yep and proud of it.” She proclaimed as the waiter brought their menus.

Libby paced the detectives office as she told them of her almost encounter with Rob. Starsky frowning as she talked, he didn’t like the idea of her getting that close to him. Libby looked at Starsky’s expression. “Don’t start. He didn’t see me.”
“But he could have,” Starsky answered.
“Yes but I could have been there for a thousand different reasons.” Libby said. “Besides I don’t think he would have even remembered me. I don’t think he took that much time while he was here. He had his eyes on Katie the whole time.”
“You didn’t get a good look at this woman?” Susan asked.
Libby shook her head, “Damn hat. I would have followed them but then I was afraid I would get caught. I assume they were either going to lunch or a motel room.”
“God I hope he’s not having an affair with this woman.” Susan said knowing how much it would hurt her sister.
“Why don’t you call Katie,” Hutch suggested. “Maybe you can find out some things from her.”
“You mean pump my own sister?” Susan asked in mock indignation then she grinned. “I guess I could do that.”
“Yes exactly. How else are we going to find out anything?” Hutch said. “Starsk and I will do some foot work see what we can find out.”
“And you my love are staying at home,” Starsky said grabbing his wife around the waist and pulling her toward him.
“Oh bare foot and pregnant?” She asked smiling at him.
Starsky went a bit white, “Bare foot yes, pregnant no, this house is busting at the seams as it is. You aren’t trying to tell me something are you?”
“NO,” Libby said startled. “It’s just an expression for heaven sakes.
The phone rang; Hutch picked it up and said, “S&H Detective Services.” He held his hand over the phone and held it out to Susan, “It’s Katie,” he whispered.
“Katie,” Susan said into the phone. “Is everything okay?” She paused a few moments, “How about a place called the Precinct?”
“Is she okay?” Hutch asked taking the phone back from his wife.
“She sounds a bit upset. I thought I would take her to the restaurant for a late lunch.” Susan said.
“Why don’t I come along and take little Jesse off your hands so you two can talk?” Libby suggested. She looked over at Starsky, “If you think it’s safe enough.”
“Smart ass,” Starsky retorted.
She wrinkled up her nose at him. “I’ll take her to pick up the boys then you and Katie can come back here and pick her up.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Susan answered.
​


                                                                                           CHAPTER 6


Susan and Libby met Katie out on the sidewalk in front of the Precinct. Susan immediately hugged her sister. “Are you okay?”
Katie nodded but didn’t answer. “Daddy didn’t eat breakfast with us this morning.” Jesse piped up.
“Jesse,” Katie admonished her daughter.
Susan smiled at her niece. “How would you like to go with Libby to pick up Davy and Kenny? You could play at our house for a while.”
Jesse looked up at her mother her eyes sparkling. She hadn’t made any friends yet with it being summer time when they had moved to town. “Can I Mommy?”
Katie looked doubtful wondering what Rob would think. She knew he would probably blow his top that she was with them now. “I guess it would be okay.”
Jesse hugged her mother then grasped Libby’s hand. “We’ll be back to the house as soon as we pick up the boys.” She said hoping to reassure Katie.
After Libby left Susan opened the door to the restaurant, “Let’s have some lunch. Jesse is in good hands little sis don’t worry.”
“You can still read my mind after all these years,” Katie said grinning.
A young woman stood behind a pedestal a book laid before her where she was taking names, the place was pack. Many were sitting on benches while others waited at the bar. She smiled as they entered. “Mrs. Hutchinson, lunch for two?”
“Yes thanks Sally,” Susan returned the smile.
As the hostess led them to their table and handed them menus Katie whispered. “Wow who do you know?”
Susan just laughed as they took their seats. “Just the owners.
Katie hiked her eyebrows as she read the menu. “You must be famous you have stuff in the menu named after you.”
Susan laughed again. Little did her sister know she was sitting across the table from one of the owners of the restaurant. When she and Hutch had returned with their family they had bought into the place that Huggy Bear and Starsky had started.
Huggy came strolling up to the table, “So what can I do for you fine ladies today.”
“Huggy I would like you to meet my sister Katie,” Susan said grinning broadly.
“Your sister?” Huggy looked confused.
“Talk to the guys they will fill you in,” Susan said. “So what’s good today?”
“It’s all good, “Huggy teased her.


Hutch and Starsky stood on either side of Kerrie. “Come on work some more magic for us,” Starsky pleaded with her.
“Look you two I’m going to get fired,” Kerrie said as she slipped out from between where they had cornered her in the cafeteria. “I off duty in an hour and I want to go home and soak in a hot tub.”
“Oh come on Kerrie, this is for Susan,” Hutch said.
“Don’t please.”
“How would you feel if this was your sister?” Starsky asked.
“Is this how you got Libby?” Kerrie asked as she dumped the contents of her lunch tray into the trash.
“Yes with my charm,” Starsky teased.
Kerrie looked from one to the other, she knew them they wouldn’t leave until she gave them what they wanted. “OK OK I give up. I’ll see what I can do but you guys are looking for a needle in a hay stack.”
“We have had worse odds before,” Hutch told her as they followed her back to her work place.
Starsky stood over her shoulder staring at the computer monitor as she worked. “Do you mind Starsk,” Kerrie grouched. “Now what was the name you wanted me to pump into the computer Hutch?”
“Stillwell.”
Starsky looked at his partner stunned, “Stillwell? What the hell?”
“Rob Stillwell?” she asked.
“Yeah for starters,” Hutch said.
Starsky pushed Hutch into the hall and up against the wall. “What the hell are you doing? You think this joker is related to Janie?”
“Think about it partner, Susan’s sister turns up from the dead. Where was she? The Midwest, she moves here with some mystery man that has no past after about 20 years ago? Who told her she had no family? Who told her that her sister was dead? Who is conniving enough to pull all this off?”
“A dead woman? A woman that has been dead for what now about 15 years?” Starsky sputtered. Starsky still had Hutch pinned against the wall. Several people passing by stared at them. “What the hell are you saying partner, WHAT?”
Hutch stood there allowing Starsky to hold him firmly to the wall. Maybe this wasn’t the best timing in the world but things were starting to go screwy again just like the last time. The time when Janie came into their lives 15 years ago. “Starsky listen to me,” Hutch took a deep breath. “I don’t know what is going on I’m just playing a hunch, a feeling.”
“Some damn feeling,” Starsky mumbled
“Starsky…Janie is not dead,” Hutch then held his breath for the explosion he knew was going to come.
But instead of blowing Starsky dropped his arms to his sides letting the front of Hutch’s shirt go. “S-S-She’s alive?”
Hutch nodded, “Or I am assuming she is, she didn’t die that day out in the parking lot Starsky. You did not kill her.”
“B-But,” Starsky looked at Hutch with confused eyes. It all came rushing back, her kidnapping him, drugging him, pushing him off a cliff leaving him there to die. “DAMN IT HUTCH! Why…how could you keep this from me?”
“She was put in a hospital for the criminally insane where she recuperated. She then escaped and left the county.” Hutch said. “I had left orders that if she ever returned that I be notified immediately. I have waited for the last 15 years for that call and it never came. As time went on I became more confident that she would never return here. But Starsky I think she is back.”
Starsky’s jaw worked but no sound came out. Finally he said, “I can’t believe you kept this from me.” Then he stopped and looked at his partner. “Does Susan know?”
Hutch shook his head, “No, I was afraid that she would go after Janie.”
“Shit Hutch,” Starsky said still unable to believe what Hutch had just told him.
“Hey guys,” Kerrie called from the doorway. “I got a hit on your Rob Stillwell.”

Katie and Susan had just finished their meal and started on a cup of coffee when Huggy came by with two pieces of pie, “Blackberry, best in town,” Huggy said sitting a plate in front of each woman.
“Thanks Huggy, you always seem to know what I want even if I don’t need it.” Susan smiled at him.
“Hey I left the ice cream off,” Huggy winked, “Enjoy Ladies.”
After Huggy left Katie said, “He’s quite a character.”
“That he is,” Susan said affectionately.
“You never did tell me who owns this place,” Katie said. “Your friend Huggy Bear?”
“Yep one of them along with Starsky, Libby, Hutch and I,” she grinned at the expression on her sisters face.
“No shit,” she burst out. Then covered her mouth with her napkin she sounded sixteen again. “Wow I am impressed sis.”
Susan just shrugged, “It’s a long story kiddo, I’ll tell it to you some time. Now why don’t you tell me what is up with that husband of yours?”
The smile slid from Katie’s face and she shook her head. “To be perfectly honest I really don’t know for some reason he has been against me finding you for the beginning. When I realized that you weren’t dead all those years ago he forbid me to even look for you. He said if you were interested that you would find me. I guess I allowed my self to believe that just to keep the peace in the family. He held Jesse over my head just like you saw him do last night.”
“Katie why in the world do you put up with him?” Susan asked.
“He is my family, he and Jesse. They were all I had up until yesterday. And I knew if I left he would take Jesse away from me.” Katie said tears standing in her eyes.
“You don’t have to be afraid of him any more.” Susan said reaching across the table.
“I’m not afraid of him, not physically anyway. Just that he would take Jesse. He has never hurt either one of us.”
“I would say he has hurt you plenty. Threatening to take your daughter from you is abusive.” Susan told her.
“I guess I knew that but like I said I had no place else to go.” Katie gave Susan a weak smile, “Until now.”
“Why don’t you tell me all you know about Rob,” Susan said, Katie gave her a puzzle look. “I would like to know him better before passing judgment.

The car was black with heavily tinted windows; double-parked five car lengths behind where Libby had pulled into to the baby sitters. It idled quietly waiting as the driver watched for the red headed woman and the little girl to return.
“Thanks,” Libby called over her shoulder as she came out carrying Davy and Kenny. Jesse had a diaper bag slung over her shoulder.
She unlocked the car door then opened the back doors; she set Kenny on his feet while she strapped Davy in to his car seat then did the same with Kenny. Jesse got in the front seat and put the diaper bag between her feet. “This is fun,” she proclaimed as she looked into the back seat at the boys. If Jesse had just looked up she would have seen the black car accelerating toward them at a frightening speed. Libby had just closed the drives side door when the black car swerved plowing into the side of their car.
The force knocked Libby sideways throwing her into Jesse’s lap and smacking the little girls head into the window glass door. The boys were securely belted in but the jolt scared them badly and they both began to cry. Lulu came running out of the house upon hearing the crash. She got there just in time to see the black car speed down the road and screech around the corner.
“Oh crap, oh crap,” she said bending over to look into the passenger side window. The little girls head was against the glass and blood was running down the window. “Somebody HELP!” she screamed as she ran back into the house to call 911.



                                                                                               CHAPTER 7


When the call came Starsky was sitting at the computer hunting and pecking at the keyboard which he called typing. He had been pulled kicking and screaming into the 21st century complaining the whole time that he had just mastered the typewriter. As where Hutch embraced the new technology mastering e-mail, surfing the web and numerous programs on the computer easily.
“Yeah,” Starsky answered the business phone, then he sighed, “S&H Detective Services.” Hutch yelled at him constantly for answering the phone “yeah”.
“We are looking for a David Starsky,” Said an official sounding voice.
Starsky stopped typing his forehead creasing in worry, “This is David Starsky.”
“I’m sorry to tell you this but you wife and children have been in an auto accident,” the voice said. “They are in the Memorial Hospital Emergency Room.”
“Are they alright?” Starsky asked as he covered the receiver and yelled for Hutch who was in the kitchen.
“Your wife had a bad cut on her forehead, your daughter has a concussion but the boys are fine they were belted in their car seats.”
“Thank you I’ll be right there,” Starsky slammed the phone down as he started out of the office he met Hutch in the dining room.
“What’s going on?” He asked.
“Libby and the kids were in an accident,” Starsky answered heading for the front door. Then he stopped short. “They said my daughter and son’s. But the girls are next door.”
“I bet it was Katie’s daughter and Libby had Mikey and Kenny,” Hutch said. “Let’s go I’ll call Susan on the way.”

Susan and Katie were strolling in the park where they had met the day before when Susan’s cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“Susan is Katie with you?” Hutch asked sounding a bit frantic.
“Yeah right here what’s wrong?” she wanted to know not liking the sound of his voice.
“Libby was in some kind of car accident,” He said. “The boys and I’m guess little Jesse were in the car with her.”
“Shit,” Susan gasped, “Are they okay?”
“What’s wrong,” Katie said tugging at her sister’s arm, a feeling of dread washed over her.
“Yeah it sounds like minor injuries Starsk and I are on the way to Memorial.” Hutch said. “We’ll see you there.”
Susan slipped the cell phone back into her purse. “Libby and the kids were in a car accident but Hutch said they are okay.” Susan hugged Katie tightly. Memories came flooding back to her of the night when she was told her parents and sister were in an accident. “We are meeting them at the hospital. Leave your car here we will come back for it later.”
“Oh God, oh God,” Katie said. “Rob is going to kill me.”

Libby sat in a chair in one of the examining rooms in the ER. She had a large white bandage on her forehead; a nurse had taken the boys after being examined to the hospital daycare so that she could stay with Jesse. The little girl looked tiny on the big white bed and her eyes were big, round and scared looking. Libby held her hand, “I’m sure your mommy is on the way.”
Libby was relieved when she saw Starsky coming down the hall, actually she heard him before she saw him. He was demanding to know where is wife was. She suppressed a smile as he walked into the room.
“Are you alright,” he was kneeling at her feet before she could even answer.
“Just a cut,” she said touching the bandage gingerly. She had ended up banging her head on the dashboard of the passenger’s side. “I think poor Jesse got the worst of it. She has a slight concussion but the doctors say she will be fine. They want her to spend the night just to be safe though.”
Hutch arrived in the room just as she was explaining about the boys. “Where’s Mikey?”
“The boys are fine they are in the hospital daycare.” Libby told him.
“You okay,” he asked coming in the room and taking her hand. She nodded, and then he looked toward the little girl on the bed. “How are you sweetie?”
“My head hurts and I want my mommy,” she said trying not to cry.
“She is on her way,” he told her. Then to Libby, “I called Susan and Katie.”
“What happened?” Starsky asked now that he was sure his family was safe.
“We were side swiped out side Lulu’s house. I had just put the boys in their car seats and gotten in when this car came out of no where and plowed into the side of the car then took off down the street.”
“Oh my God,” said a voice from the doorway. It was Katie, she and Susan had arrived just in time to hear Libby’s story. Katie rushed to her daughter’s bedside. “Are you okay honey?”
“My head hurts,” Jesse said softly. Then asked, “Is daddy going to be mad at us?”
“Don’t you worry about that sweetheart,” Katie said cradling her daughter. She looked at Susan who was still standing in the door. “I’m going to have to call Rob.”
“You want me too?” Susan asked her sister. Slowly Katie nodded and released her daughter just long enough to write down his office phone number. Susan turned to Hutch, “Where is Mikey?”
“Let’s go check on him and Kenny.” Hutch suggested. “You stay here Starsk we’ll bring the boys.”
Out side the daycare entrance Susan placed a phone called to Rob’s office at the pay phones. Once she got past the secretary she had to wait five minutes before Rob came on the line. “Rob? This is Susan Hutchinson, Katie’s sister.”
“Yes,” he said curtly. “How may I help you?”
“Jesse has been in a car accident, she is fine but Katie asked me to call you.” Susan explained.
“Car accident?” Rob was stunned for a moment. “Is Katie alright?”
“Katie wasn’t in the car.” Susan said. “Jesse was with my partners wife.”
“Where are you?” he demanded in an angry tone.
“Memorial Hospital,” Susan answered almost wishing she hadn’t called him.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Rob slammed down the phone. He had told Katie to stay away from them, he had warned Katie. It hadn’t crossed his mind yet that this could be part of a bigger plan that she had started on her killing spree.

Thirty minutes later Susan and Hutch returned with the two little boys. Kenny snuggled into Starsky’s arms and popped his thumb in his mouth. Katie pulled Susan out into the hall. “What did Rob say?”
“Well he was none to happy and of course asked how you were. I had to tell him you weren’t involved.” Susan said.
“I’m going to catch hell,” Katie fretted as she looked over her shoulder back into the room at her daughter. “This is all he needs to take Jesse away.”
“You did nothing wrong. A judge would not take her away because of this.”
“Who said anything about a judge, he would just take her and disappear,” Katie said with a catch in her voice.
A doctor came up to the two women standing in the hall. “Are one of you the little girls mother?”
“Yes I am,” Katie said. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes but we want to move her to a room and keep an eye on her over night. She can go home in the morning.” The doctor explained.
“Can I stay with her?” Katie asked stricken at the thought of leaving Jesse alone in the hospital.
“Of course,” the doctor answered. “We will be moving her in just a few minutes.”

Hutch sat in the waiting room bouncing Mikey on his knee. The wheels in his head turning, what were the odds of getting side swiped on a quiet residential street, the driver not even stopping. What if Janie had returned and was out for them again? He knew he had played with the idea when he told Starsky but now he had a feeling he was right. She must have come back into the county under a different name. He had to get a photo of this Rob Stillwell and see if he was Rob Thomas. The print out that was lying on the desk at home told of a young man that had been sent away to a private school. Who had been in trouble off and on with the law but nothing major just schoolboy pranks that had gotten out of hand. It said nothing of a sister or parents. He had to be sure, he made a mental note to get the name of the school and see if they kept old yearbooks.
“So what’s on your mind?” Susan asked.
Hutch looked up at his wife and the question he asked her made her blood run cold. “Does Janie Stillwell have a brother?”
Susan caught her breath at Janie’s name, the second time in two days she had heard it. “No she didn’t have a brother.” She said then paused. “Why?”
Hutch shook his head he didn’t want to let go of this theory just yet. Susan flopped down on the waiting room couch and looked at her husband. Mikey held out his cubby arms to her, Susan took her son and hugged him tightly. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“You can’t just ask me a question like that and then not spill it.” Susan said.
Today for the second time Hutch was about to tell the secret he had held on to for the last 15 years. “I think Janie Stillwell is here and might have been the one to side swipe Libby.”
“Are you nuts, Janie is dead,” Susan narrowed her eyes as she looked at Hutch, “Isn’t she?”
Hutch took a deep breath. “No she’s not.”


                                                                                                       CHAPTER 8


Katie saw Rob striding down the hall before he saw her. Katie sealed herself for what she knew was going to happen and her sister and family standing around wouldn’t stop Rob from saying what was on his mind. He had embarrassed her countless times in front of others, last night being one of the worst. As she stood there watching him approach he caught sight of her, his eyes locked into hers and held her as if she were in a trance. Susan and Hutch had gone somewhere and Starsky was with Libby. The doctors had just move Jesse into a room for the night and she was sleeping from a sedative they had given her. Rob must have asked at the desk to have found them.
Rob grabbed her arm roughly when he reached her, “What in the hell happened?” He demanded.
Katie tried to get away from him he was hurting her arm but he held fast. “The car Jesse was sitting in was side swiped. They were parked when it happened. Nobody did anything wrong.”
Rob’s face went as snow white and he released Katie’s arm stumbling back against the wall. “Did they catch who did it?” he asked.
“No, it happened so fast nobody was able to get a plate number.” She answered. Then asked, “Rob are you alright?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine.” Some of his color was coming back. “I’ll be back in a while.” He almost ran back down the hall without waiting for Katie to respond. She stood there in shock watching as he disappeared. She just did not understand him at all. Sighing she went back into Jesse’s room and sat down next to the bed.

Rob’s heart was racing as he climbed into his car; he slammed his hands down on the steering wheel. Then he turned the ignition backed out the parking spot with tires screeching and speed out of the lot. He couldn’t ever remember being this furious; he knew that Katie thought he was crazy, mean, over bearing. He could go on and on with adjectives, if she only knew why she would understand. It looked like he was going to have to finally come clean if he wanted to save her life and their daughters.
His first instinct was to go home toss stuff in suitcases and run but he knew that now Katie would never go with him. Now that she the support of a family he couldn’t keep her under his thumb, not that that was what he had wanted anyway. He hated the way that he treated her but now maybe all that could change and they would have the marriage that she had always dream of.
Rob pulled into the circle driveway of an ostentatious apartment building, a gentleman dressed in a blue and gold uniformed opened his door for him and held out his hand for the keys. “Can’t you leave it here?” Rob said sharply. “I’ll only be a moment.”
“I’m sorry sir but it’s against fire regs to leave a vehicle parked here.” The uniformed man said politely.
“FINE,” Rob dropped his keys in the man’s out stretched glove hand and dashed up the stairs to the revolving doors that entered the lobby.
Another uniformed man dressed in the same uniform stopped him. “Sir may I announce you?” asked the clone.
“NO you may not, “Rob snapped and started to push his way past the man.
A white glove was planted in his chest, “I’m sorry sir but you can’t enter the building with out being announced.”
“Shit,” Rob muttered under his breath. “Rob Thomas I need to see the woman in 445.”
“Thank you Mr. Thomas, just a moment,” the man said. He stepped in front of the door so that Rob couldn’t get in as he spoke on a radio. After a moment a reply came and the guard stepped aside. “Alright Mr. Thomas, your party will see you.”
Rob brushed past the man with out another word to him. He as half expecting to be stopped again before he could get to the elevator he but no one else approached him. He jabbed the up arrow on the panel between the doors they slid open almost immediately. Rob stepped on and as the car rose so did his anger if that were possible. By the time the doors slid open he was ready to kill.
Rob walked down the hall on the plush carpeting until he found the apartment number he was looking for. He tapped on the door softly not wanting to give his anger away. After waiting a few moments the door opened. Rob pushed his way in and slammed the door behind him. “You crazy bitch!” he yelled.
“Rob what’s wrong?” It was the woman from the restaurant.
“Wrong?” he said grabbing her and pushing her up against the wall. “My daughter was in that car you side swiped to day.”
“I have no idea what you are taking about,” she lied but her eyes betrayed her, she had never been able to lie to him, ever.
“God damn it Janie you could have killed her.” Rob burst out. He released her and slammed his fist into the wall next to her head.
“Calm down Rob,” Janie said she took a tentative step way from him. When he didn’t grab for her, she snatched her cigarettes from the coffee table and lit one. Then she flopped down in an over stuffed chair. “Take a load off little brother.”
Rob glared at her but sat down on the couch across from her. “Damn it you could have killed her.”
“So you keep saying.” Janie said exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“I will not allow you to hurt my family,” Rob leaned toward her.
“Then I suggest you get them the hell out of town since you can’t seem to control what your little wifey does.” Janie spit out.
Rob closed his eyes, “I don’t know if I can get Katie to come with me. Not after everything I have done to her.”
“Oh boo hoo,” Janie said mockingly. “Nobody and I mean nobody is going to stop me do you understand?”


Susan clutched Mikey tightly. “You are saying that Janie is alive?” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her husband.
“Yes I think she is,” Hutch said. Quickly he retold the story that he had told Starsky earlier.
“So you think she is back seeking revenge on us again?” Susan stood up still holding Mikey in her arms. “Shit Hutch.” Susan walked away leaving him standing there staring after her.
When Susan appeared in the curtained room holding her son in her arms Starsky was singing softly to Kenny trying to get him to go to sleep. A nurse had come in and taken Libby for one more x-ray just to make sure before allowing her to go home. Starsky looked up as she entered, he could tell from the devastated look on her face that Hutch must have told her his theory. “So you know.” He said simply.
She nodded then her eyes narrowed, “Did you know?”
“Hell no!” he said a little to loudly, Kenny opened his eyes for a moment then they slid shut again. “Hell no,” he said again in a whisper. “I was just as shocked at you.”
Susan sat down in a chair by the door, her legs unable to hold her anymore. “If he’s right what the hell are we doing to do?”
“I would be more worried about your sister right now.” Starsky said.
“Why?”
“I guess he didn’t tell you all his theories uh?” Susan shook her head. Starsky took a deep breath and looked at her. “Susan, Hutch thinks that Rob Thomas is really Rob Stillwell, Janie’s brother.”
“He asked me if she had a brother, she was an only child.” Susan sputtered. “There is no way.”
“Well some of the evidence we got at the station tells a bit of a different story.” Starsky explained what they had found.
“Son of a…”
“Listen you guys I’m really sorry, I should have told you both years ago.” Hutch was standing in the doorway.
“You think?” Susan retorted. “We are lucky we weren’t all murdered in our beds. And now you have this cock-n-bull theory that Rob is her brother? I know he is strange and he treats Katie like shit but that doesn’t make him related to Janie. I knew her well if she had a brother especially a younger one I would have known it. And do you think that Katie would have married him if he was?”
“I don’t think she knows.” Hutch answered.
“No, no, I refuse to believe this!” she said standing, handing Mikey to his father. “This isn’t happening!”
“Susan, please!” Hutch said.
“I’m going to see how Jesse is,” Susan said stalking out of the room
After Susan was gone Hutch looked at Starsky, “You pissed at me too?”
“Yes,” Starsky answered but gave his partner a grin.


                                                                                                  CHAPTER 9


Katie was sleep at Jesse’s bedside her head laying on her across arms, her hand holding Jesse’s small one. Susan stood there a moment and watched them. She could remember when her Jesse had been that small. How odd that they both named their daughters the same thing. She tried to think back to when they were younger, had they discussed names for their children? She was sure they had but Susan couldn’t remember now. Susan’s next thought was of her Jesse, the present, if Hutch was right she was in danger after all Janie had tried to kill her once. She made a mental note to call Cassie’s parents in Arizona; she would send Jess there until this was over.
Susan’s sister stirred and raised her head, Susan smiled at her, “How’s it going?”
“Ok,” Katie stood up and stretched. “Rob was here but then rushed out he hasn’t come back yet.”
“Was he angry?” Susan asked coming into the room she looked at her sleeping niece.
“Of course, he demanded to know what happened. Then when I told him he went snow white and rushed out.” Katie said still as confused as she had been with him.
Susan shook her head trying to shake out what Starsky had told her about Rob. Janie’s brother? It was impossible wasn’t it? “Katie do you remember Janie having a brother?”
Katie looked surprised and started to shake her head then stopped. “You know that’s weird because I remember once I was at her house waiting for you and Janie I think we were going to the movies. I was sitting in the living room, there was a photo album laying on the coffee table. I picked it up and started looking through it. There was a photo of Janie with a boy, he looked like he was a couple years younger than her.” Katie pulled Susan out into the hall so they wouldn’t wake Jesse. “Janie came in snatched the album from my hand said some thing silly about not looking at her awful photos but then next time I was over I picked up that album again and that picture was gone. You could see where it had been.”
“Oh God sis,” Susan pulled Katie into her arms.
“What is it what’s wrong?” Susan was scaring her badly.
“I know this going to sound crazy and I have no idea why this would have happened or why Janie would have orchestrated it but I’m beginning to think that...”
“That what?” Katie said fear in her eyes.
“Well Hutch and Starsky found out some stuff at the station this morning they were doing some checking on Rob.” Susan said.
“Checking on Rob?” Katie frowned. “Why would they do that? I know he can be a real bastard some times but nothing the police would be involved in.”
“How much do you know about him?” Katie just shrugged. “Katie they couldn’t find any records past about twenty years ago. Then they put Rob Stillwell in to the computer…”
“And?” Katie asked.
“Starsky said that stuff came up on him. He was in some kind of a boys school, got into some trouble.” Susan watched her sister’s face, which dissolved in to tears.
“Oh my God,” Katie whispered. “I am married to the man whose sister destroyed my family.”
“We aren’t totally sure of it,” Susan said trying to sound reassuring.
“Yes you are Iz I can see it in your face.” Katie said looking at her sister through her tears. “What kind of sick twisted game are they playing?”
It was time to stop pretending and they both knew it. “We have got to get you two out of here before Rob comes back.” Susan said as she stepped into the room again. “Get Jesse’s cloths,” She gently lifted the sleeping girl from the bed.

Both men were holding their sleeping son’s when Libby was wheeled back into the room. “All clear,” Libby smiled at her husband. “Let’s get out of this place.”
She started to get out of the wheelchair but the nurse stopped her, “I’m sorry Mrs. Starsky but we have to wheel you to the door.”
Libby sighed and sat back down. “Where’s Susan?”
“She went to check on her sister and Jesse,” Hutch said shifting Mikey’s weight in his arms. He looked at Starsky, “Would you mind finding her? I don’t think she really wants to see me right now.”
Libby looked at him but didn’t say anything and took Davy from Starsky. “I’ll be back in a flash,” Starsky said.
After inquiring as to the room number they had put Jesse Thomas in he made his way there only to find the room empty. “Shit,” Starsky said under his breath.
He caught up with Libby and Hutch in the waiting room. “Susan spending the night here?” Hutch asked not really surprised.
Starsky shook his head, “They are gone.”
“Gone?” Hutch echoed. “Where?”
Starsky shrugged, “I’m guess Susan took them out of here. Maybe she is starting to believe your scenario, I know I am.”
“Well let’s just hope that it was Susan and not Janie or Rob.” Libby said fearfully.
“Let’s get you home,” Starsky took the wheel chair from the nurse and pushed Libby to the front door. He turned to the woman in white. “This close enough?” The woman nodded, figuring it would do no good to argue.

Susan had just tucked Jesse and Katie into bed in the spare room when the front door opened and the rest of the family returned home. Sam, Dee and Davy were spending the night next door Susan had called earlier and arranged it and Jesse was still at work.
Susan was heading down the stairs as Hutch was going up they met in the middle, “We need to talk,” Hutch said turning around and heading back down, Susan followed him.
“What’s to talk about, you lied to Starsk and I for the last fifteen years,” Susan said coolly.
“I have not,” Hutch said defensibly.
“What would you call it?” Susan said as she sat on the bottom step, Hutch joined her. Libby herded the rest of them into the kitchen for a snack.
“I just didn’t tell you Janie was still alive. I didn’t want you looking over your shoulder the rest of your life,” Hutch said putting his arm around her.
Susan shrugged it off, “Sounds like I needed to be looking. Damn it Hutch I just don’t understand. We both had a right to know.”
“I’m not the only one that is good a keep secrets around here,” Hutch snapped.
Susan glared at her husband. “Its not the same thing.”
“And why isn’t it? Your secret almost killed Starsky. If you had just come clean once she had come back then she could have never taken him.” Hutch said angrily. Why couldn’t she see he had been trying to save her from worrying.
“Damn it that is a cheap shot Ken Hutchinson.” Susan yelled as she got up and headed for the door. She jerked it open. “A damn cheap shot!” She slammed the door behind her as she went out into the night.
Starsky crept into the room, Hutch still sat where she had left him his head in his hands. “Didn’t go so good uh buddy?”
Hutch looked up at his friend. “Shit Starsky.”
“Just let her cool off,” Starsky advised. “You remember how angry you were when you find out about Janie?”
Hutch sighed, “Yeah, I know she is shocked but…” He stopped and cocked his head. “You aren’t that mad at me.”
Starsky laughed, “I’m not married to you either, I think it’s a bit different when you are married. She feels betrayed that you didn’t tell her. Susan will get over it just give her some space. Besides we are all going to have to work together to find Janie. You want me to go and talk to Susan?”
“Would you mind?” Hutch asked.

Starsky found Susan only a block from the house, he stole up behind her and said, “You think it’s safe to be walking out here alone lady?”
Susan jumped and then giggled. “I’m not alone now.”
“Give Hutch a break,” Starsky said putting his arm around her neck.
“I know,” She sighed, “It was just a such a shock after all these years to find out that she didn’t die after all. She is like that damn Michael Meyer’s in those Halloween movies.”
Starsky laughed, “I know just how Donald Pleasant felt.”
Susan stopped walking and turned to face Starsky, “Starsk what am I going to do? It looks more and more like Katie is married to Janie’s brother. What the hell are they planning?”
“Have you ever thought that maybe he’s a pawn in this too? I would say he’s lucky to be alive after what she did to her parents.” Starsky said then taking her face in his hands. “We are going to be okay you know.”


                                                                                CHAPTER 10


Hutch was in bed with the lights out when Susan entered the room. After changing into her nightgown she stole into bed next to him and put her arms around him. “I’m sorry,” She whispered knowing that he wasn’t asleep yet.
“I’m the one who should be sorry,” he answered softly. “I should have told you and Starsk.”
“We could debate this for ever,” Susan answered. “I think we need to figure out what to do to protect Katie, Jesse and our family. Everybody is a target here.”
He rolled over to look at her and even through it was dark and he couldn’t see her face he knew it was creased with worry. Hutch brought up his hand and smoothed the wrinkles that were formed on her forehead then kissed her nose. “We will be safe.”

A loud noise awoke most of the household about six the next morning. It sounded like someone was trying to break in the front door. Both Starsky and Hutch bolted down the stairs guns drawn at the same; they each took a side of the door. Hutch peered out one of the narrow windows that ran along each side of the door. It was Rob Thomas.
He looked disheveled and as if he had been drinking all night. Just as he was about to pound on the door again it opened, the first thing he noticed were the guns that Starsky and Hutch held in their hands. Rob stepped back a bit surprised, then asked, “Is Katie and my daughter here?”
“Yeah they are here,” Starsky asked but didn’t invite the man in.
“Could I see them?” Rob asked. He would have been more forceful it they hadn’t been holding guns.
“I think that is up to Katie,” Hutch answered. “You wait on the porch I’ll see if she wants to talk to you.”
“What do you mean wants?” Rob stormed suddenly not caring about the guns. Who the hell were they to keep him from his wife. “You tell her to get her ass out here. I need to talk to her now.”
“Have a seat,” Starsky said indicting one of the chairs on the porch.
As Hutch started up the stairs Susan and Katie were standing at the top, Katie’s were huge and scared. “Rob is here.” He told her.
“I gathered as much,” Katie said in a trembling voice.
“You want to talk to him?” Hutch asked. “I’ll send him away if you want.”
“I-I’ll talk to him,” Katie walked down the stairs slowly. When she reached Hutch she grasped his arm tightly and looked into his eyes.
“Starsky and I will be right there,” he promised then turned and followed her.
“I’ll go sit with Jesse,” Susan said.
When Katie opened the front door Rob was sitting on the top step, “Rob.”
He turned and looked at her, she was expecting an angry out burst but instead he said, “I’m sorry Katie.”
“Sorry for what?”
He just shrugged; he looked so despondent her heart almost went out to him. “For everything.”
Katie went and leaned on the railing just out of his reach, she looked over her shoulder, and she could see shadows in the windows. They were watching over her just as they had promised. “Rob I think Katie and I are going to stay here fore a while.”
“NO, I mean…why don’t we just go away for a while?” Rob suggested.
“Why so your sister can finish off my family?” Katie snapped.
He looked startled, “I wasn’t part of that Katie, I-I…” he stopped and looked up at her. “God help me Katie, I didn’t know about Janie. When I finally found out the whole story she had me under her thumb and told me she would kill you and Jesse.”
Katie looked at him coldly, “You expect me to believe you?”
Rob hung his head, “No I guess not.”
“So you are trying to tell me the reason you have been such an ass to me and your daughter is that you have been trying to protect us? What a load of crap Rob Stillwell.”
Rob winced at the use of Stillwell. He had changed the name himself when he had turned eighteen. He hated his parents for sending him away to boarding school. They only seemed to care about Janie, never him. It was a rare occasion when they even allowed him to come home on holiday breaks. He was usually one of the only ones that stayed at school. And when summer rolled around he was sent to a series of summer camps. He never got letters or packages from home. Once a month he would get an envelope with cash in it, no letter saying we miss you, nothing. Even as a young boy he never remembered his mother or father taking any interested in him and as soon as he was school age he was shipped off.
Janie was nice enough to him the times he was home but he could only remember maybe hand full of times between when he was six and eighteen. Then he heard that his parents had been killed, by that time he had moved on with his life and cared little that they were gone. He had no interest in looking up his sister either. She found him.
“Katie please, get Jesse and we will go away somewhere.” Rob pleaded.
“Hide? Do you know that Janie tried to kill me? I was in the car with my parents and somehow by the grace of god I survived. Then I spent the last years trying to find my sister. You did everything in your power to stop me.” Katie glared at him, she was no longer afraid of him. Rob no longer had a hold on her or Jesse. “You want to tell me why we came here? To flush her out so that Janie could kill her?”
“Janie has always known every move your sister and her family has made for the last fifteen years. She begged me not to move here because she was afraid that you would find Susan and she was right.” Rob looked across the yard at the bikes and scooters. This could have been them, happy but he wondered even if Janie hadn’t come into the picture if he could have been happy…he didn’t know how to love, nobody had ever taught him how. “Janie was just bidding her time.”
“You are so damn stupid Rob she was waiting, just for this so that she could finish us all off, probably including you.” Katie’s eyes blazed as she looked at Rob. “You bastard! How could you bring a child into all this?”
Rob stood up, “You were the one that brought a child into this, I kept telling you no kids.”
He started toward her immediately the door opened Hutch stepped out. “I think it’s time you go.”
“I’m not finished yet.” Rob growled.
“You are for now.” Starsky said coming out behind Hutch.
Rob looked as though he was going to say something but thought better of it he remembered the guns he saw earlier. He started down the stairs then turned and looked at Katie. “You are not going to take Jesse away from me.”
“I don’t have too your sister has done that for me.” Katie snapped. “You stay away from me and Jesse. If I have to I’ll go to court and get a restraining order until I can find a lawyer and divorce you.”
Rob opened his mouth, then turned and went down the sidewalk to his car. He got in, gave a final glance toward the house then pealed out leaving tread marks on the street.

Katie leaned heavily against the porch railing. Her legs unable to hold her anymore, Starsky went to her side and guided her to a near by chair. “It’s over,” he said looking at her. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you want. Heck what are two more?”
“Thanks,” Katie whispered and kissed his cheek. “Can you find Janie?”
Starsky laughed. “Of course we are the best detectives in the city maybe even the country, maybe even…”
“Hold that thought partner,” Hutch grinned knowing where this was leading.
“Ah Hutch can’t you let a guy have a little fun.” Starsky pouted then winked at Katie.


CHAPTER 11


It had been two days since Rob came knocking and no one had seen him since but everyone was still looking over their shoulder. Susan had put her Jesse on a plan to Arizona, which eased her mind and frighten her at the same time. The last time Jesse had made the trip home from there she had been kidnapped and almost killed. Susan had stayed watching until the plane was in the air. She had given the stewardess strict instructions that Jesse was to be turned over only to Cassie’s parents and gave her their names and address. Jesse had been embarrassed, her mother was making her feel like 10 instead of almost 22 but on the other hand she totally understood her mother’s worry. She remembered all to well Janie Stillwell.
At home the decision was made to let the older children start school and to keep the younger ones with an adult at all times. But one of them dropped off the kids and picked them up in the hallway of the school every day. No more school buses where they could be kidnapped. Katie wouldn’t allow Jesse out of eyesight so Jesse stayed home with the younger children.
Starsky and Hutch started an intense search for Janie they didn’t bother with Rob they figured if they found Janie Rob wouldn’t be far away that is if he had anything to do with what was going on. He had sounded sincere on the front porch but they didn’t know if he was playing the games that Janie was so good at. Hutch had gone to customs to see what he could find out. He was about to give up when one of the agents recognized the photo of Janie. The picture was fifteen years old but he said he couldn’t for get those cold blue eyes. Janie and been in town almost six months.
Starsky had gone to pay a visit to Kerrie at the station. The young policewoman had anticipated that the one or the other detective would return and had put together a thick file on Janie and Rob Stillwell.
Kerrie heard him come in, she turned and smiled, “I thought you might be back,” she said getting up. She went to a filing cabinet and pulled out the folder that she had been compiling. “Here ya go.”
Starsky took the file, “What’s this?” He flipped the first over open. He was impressed by what he saw there. “You have been busy.”
She shrugged. “I just worked on it in my spare time. “

The explosion was deafening seven people were killed instantly as the entrance of The Prescient blew out onto the sidewalk. There wasn’t much left of Sandy the hostess who had just come on duty. Two customers that had been dining at a table close to the door never knew what hit them and four people walking down the street were stuck by flying debris and killed. Huggy had just come in from the storage room when the blast occurred, for a moment he was stunned unable to move then he sprung into action helping other patrons out the back of the restaurant. Fortunately it was still early if it had been an hour later many more would have lost their lives.
Huggy handed a man a white dishtowel to staunch the flow of blood coming from as gash on his head. Sirens could be heard in the distance, people were sitting and leaning against the alley walls waiting for help to arrive. A frantic Kit came dashing down the alleyway. She had heard the explosion two blocks away where she had been waiting to get her hair done. She threw her self in to Huggy’s arms hugging him tightly.
“Are you alright?” she asked releasing him long enough to get a look at him. He had blood on his shirt but he assured her it wasn’t his.
“I’m fine, I was just coming out of the back room.” Huggy explained.
“What happened?” Kit asked looking at the smoke that was finding it’s way out the back entrance.
“I-I don’t know,” Huggy stammered.

Susan had just sat down with a glass of tea and flipped the television on when the news broke in with a special report. She watched aghast as she realized that it was their restaurant. “HUTCH!” she hollered from the living room.
Hutch was on the phone in the office when he heard her terrified yell. He hurriedly finished up and dashed to the living room. “What?” he asked looking around the room. All she could do was point at the TV screen. His mouth fell open as they both watched as firefighters poured water on to the now blazing restaurant. Countless ambulances were parked blocking the streets as paramedics rushed to help the injured.
Libby who had been out side with the young children entered the room, “What’s going on.”
“The restaurant was blown up just a while ago.” Susan answered with out taking her eyes off the screen.
“Restaurant?” Libby repeated, suddenly it sunk in. “Our restaurant?”
Hutch nodded, “I’m going down there. I want to find out if Huggy is alright.”
“I’m coming with you.” Susan said jumping up.
“Where’s Starsky?” Libby asked.
“He went down to the station to see what else he could find out about Janie.” Hutch’s eyes went wide and he looked at Susan. “Y-You don’t think…” He pointed at the TV.
“No, no she wouldn’t, would she?” Susan looked horrified.
“You think Janie did that?” Libby said picking up the thread of their thoughts.
“Who knows what that unbalanced bitch might do.” Hutch said. “Libby get the kids in the house and lock up after we leave. You know where the extra gun is if you need it.
“Call the school, have them hold Davy, Sam and Deanna I don’t want them out doors.” Susan said as she followed her husband out the door.

Janie sat in a rental car a block away; from there she could see the commotion going on. She smiled to her self, this was just a warning she had purposely had the bomb go off before the place got overly crowed. She wondered how Susan would feel now with the blood of innocent people on her hands, people she didn’t even know. Janie had hired some low life to place the bomb after she had it made; he had done a good job too bad she had killed him when he had returned for his moneys she might have used him again. Half then and the rest when the bomb went off but he wasn’t around to collect. She was leaving no loose ends. Once Susan and her family were dead Janie would return to Europe where she had made a life for herself in the last fifteen years.

Kerrie was busy working when the desk Sergeant poked his head in the computer room. “Starsky still here?”
Kerrie looked up from the computer screen and shook her head. “He went to the cafeteria, why he would want to eat that crap when he doesn’t even work here I don’t know.” She grinned but the smile faded as she looked at the expression on the Sergeant’s face. “What’s the matter?”
“The Prescient just blew up.” He answered grimly.
“Oh shit,” Kerrie jumped up from her chair. “I’ll go find Starsk.”
Starsky was sitting at one of the tables eating what looked like meat loaf swimming in a pool of gravy. “Decided to join me?” he asked. Starsky had tried to talk her in to coming with him earlier.
She shook her head as she pulled out the chair next to him. “Starsky there was an explosion at the Prescient.” She said slowly as she sat down.
He looked at her for a moment letting her words sink in. “What?”
“The desk Sergeant just told me.” Kerrie explained.
Starsky leaped up from the table. “I’ve got to get over there.”
“Let us know,” Kerrie called after him.

Starsky arrived on the scene only moments before Hutch and Susan. At first the police wouldn’t allow him through until one of the officers recognized him. “Let him by,” called Justin Wright.
“What the hell happened?” Starsky asked.
Officer Wright shrugged, “We don’t know anything yet.”
“What about Huggy Bear?” Starsky asked, “Was he hurt?”
“I haven’t seen him sorry,” the office said. “I better get back to work.”
“Starsky!” He turned to see Hutch and Susan rushing toward him.
”Have you see Huggy?” was the first question out of Susan’s mouth.
Starsky shook his head. “I just got here myself.”
They had to move to let a gurney by from the alley. Hutch headed down the alley hoping to find their friend uninjured. He first saw Kit; she looked worried but not distraught. He walked up to her and touched her shoulder. She turned and seeing who it was threw her arms around his neck. “Oh Ken it’s just awful.”
“Is Huggy alright?” he asked hugging her.
She nodded, “He went back inside with one of the fire inspectors.
“Any one killed?”
Kit nodded as tears sprung to her eyes, “Sandy, sounded like she was standing about ground zero.”
Hutch closed his eyes. “Others?”
“Yeah but I don’t know who, no more employee’s they have all been accounted for.” Kit answered.
Huggy stepped out the back door covered in soot, his once white shirt was now red and black smudged. “Hey man.” He addressed Hutch.
“You OK?”
Huggy nodded. “Sandy didn’t make it.”
“Kit told me.” Hutch said grimly.
Susan and Starsky were talking with investigators near the front of the restaurant. “It was defiantly a bomb,” the head investigator informed them.
“No doubt?” Susan asked.
The investigator shook his head. “I have seen enough of these to know a bomb when I see one.”
“Damn it,” Susan said softly. “I’m going to kill her when I get my hands on her.”
Starsky grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the investigator. “Thanks,” he tossed over his shoulder at the man. Then he looked at Susan, “What are talking about.”
“Janie, she did this,” Susan said.
“You can’t be sure of that,” Starsky said but the whole thing reeked of something she would do. “Shit.”


                                                                              CHAPTER 12


Katie came down stairs refreshed from her nap, the last few days had been very stressful and she hadn’t been sleeping well at night. Jesse along with the young ones were sitting in the living room watching a video. Katie could hear Libby moving around in the kitchen. She was starved since she had slept through lunch. Libby had thought of waking her but figured she needed the sleep more.
As soon as Katie walked into the kitchen she knew something was wrong. Libby was scrubbing the sink with a vengeance and even though Katie didn’t know Libby well she could tell she was distressed. “What’s wrong?”
Not hearing Katie come in Libby jumped when she spoke, she spun around. “Oh Katie you startled me,” Libby exclaimed then she dissolved in to tears.
Katie went to Libby and pulled her into her arms, Libby was scaring her. “What’s happened?” Quickly Libby explained as much as she knew. Nobody had called home yet to give her any further details. “Dear God,” Katie exclaimed. They were both tempted to see if there was still a live board cast from the scene but they didn’t want to alarm the kids.
Libby looked up at the clock. “Oh dear it’s time to get the kids from school.”
“I’ll stay here,” Katie offered.
“Do you know how to use a gun?” Libby asked as she headed toward the office.
Katie followed her, “Gun?” Libby unlocked the desk drawer and pulled Hutch’s old Magnum out. “That’s not a gun that’s a cannon.”
Libby laughed and nodded in agreement. “It’s here in case you need it.” She replaced the gun locked the drawer then handed Katie the key.
Katie gingerly took it and slipped it in the pocket of her jeans. “Why would I need it?”
Libby looked at her, “You never know.”

With the fire put out and the fire inspectors gone the partners went into to the ruined restaurant. The fireman had cautioned them that there might still be some warm spots and to stay away from the major blast area. Susan walked behind the charred bar something crunched under her feet. She bent over and picked up the photo that had hung on the wall of her, Hutch and Starsky. She gently laid it on the bar; most of the other photos on the walls were either damaged or gone. Her eyes filled with tears as she surveyed the once beautiful restaurant and bar.
Hutch came up behind her and put his arms around her. “We can rebuild honey,” he said softly.
“So Janie can just destroy it again?” Susan sobbed. “I can’t take then anymore.” She turned in his arms a buried her face in his shoulder.
Hutch kissed the top of her head. “It’s going to be ok,” he soothed. She only shook her head no; nothing was ever going to be okay again.
“It’s not all that bad,” Huggy said more cheerful than he felt. Kit looked around the room doubtfully. There were at least several months of work before they could even think about reopening.

It was almost dinnertime before Hutch, Starsky and Susan arrived home, they were tired, dirty and discouraged. Libby flung her arms around Starsky not caring how dirty he was. “I was so worried, you should have called,” she admonished.
“I’m sorry babe,” Starsky said kissing her. “It was kind of crazy over there.”
“Why don’t you all get cleaned up and we’ll have some dinner.” Libby said. She and Katie had already fed the kids and packed them off to the den to play video games and do homework. That night’s dinner was a somber event as the partners told the grim details for the explosion. It wasn’t until dinner was over that Janie’s possible involvement in it came up.
“Do you think Rob had anything to do with it?” Katie asked horrified.
“To be perfectly honestly with you Katie I don’t know.” Hutch said. “But for your sake we will give him the benefit of the doubt right now.”
“I don’t know where he is,” she said then kind of sucked in her breath. She hadn’t told anyone that she had tried to call him several times. She looked down at her hands in her lap. “I have been trying to call Rob.”
Susan reached across the table, Katie grasp her hand. “It’s ok sweetie, it’s hard to stop loving.”
“I just don’t think Rob would hurt Jesse or I.” Katie said hoping she was right.
“Yeah and I thought…” Starsky began Susan shot him a look. He was going to say he thought that Janie had loved him too. Katie looked at Starsky waiting for him to finish. “Never mind.”

Darkness fell around Rob Thomas as he stood on the corner watching the house. He had seen the trio of partners come in earlier, he wanted to talk to Katie one final time. He had to talk her into bringing Jesse and coming away with him. But he had to talk to her alone with out the gun toting men of the household.
The streetlights came on, as did the lights in most of the houses surrounding him. He moved into the shadows so that he couldn’t be seen. He knew that Katie had to still care for him as she had called the home several times. Once he had been there but hadn’t picked up the phone.
It was nearing ten o’clock and knowing his wife he figured she had headed for bed by this time, she always went to bed early. And now that he thought about it probably to get away from him and his over bearing ways. Rob slipped around behind the house on the corner and made his way to the middle of the block where the Starsky and Hutchinson house was. Praying they didn’t have a dog that would set off an alarm he crept into the shed in the back yard in search of a ladder. He was rewarded quickly by tripping over it. Starsky had been cleaning the gutters only the week before.
After retrieving the ladder, he surveyed the upper windows of the house wondering which one his wife and daughter might be in. Finally he selected one based on the fact he could tell it was open thus easier to break into without being noisy.
Gently Rob placed the ladder on the side of the house and as luck would have it the moon went behind a cloud throwing the side of the house in to darkness. Quickly but quietly he climbed the ladder stopping only a moment every couple of steps to listen for voices. Finally he reached the window, he cupped his hands around his eyes trying to peer in. He could make out a form lying in bed, he slipped a pocketknife from this pants and slit the screen. He peeled it back then crawled into the room. The door was open only a crack, he went directly to it and looked out into the hall, he could see a light shinning up the stair well but all was quiet on the upper floor.
Rob crept toward the bed, just as he was ready to place his hand over the sleeping forms mouth, Jesse turned over and opened her eyes. “Daddy,” she squealed.
“Sssh,” he said putting his finger to his lips. Rob sat down on the edge of the bed he couldn’t believe his luck. Jesse threw her self into his lap. “How ya doing baby?”
“Better now,” she beamed. “I have missed you. Where have you been?”
“I had some business I had to take care of.” Rob smiled at her. At least she still had an unfailing love for him. And he planned on making up the last nine years to her. “How would you like to go on a trip with me?”
“Can Mommy come too,” Jesse asked looking at her father in the darkness.
“I don’t know if Mommy wants too honey. I think she wants to spend some time with her sister right now,” Rob said. He very much wanted Katie with them but he knew that the only way to get her to come was if he had Jesse and used the girl to force Katie to come away.
“But we can’t go with out Mommy,” Jesse said in a tremble in her voice.
“Oh,” Rob tried to sound sad. “So Mommy gets you all these days to herself but you don’t want to spent anytime with me?”
“Don’t be sad Daddy, I just want to be with both of you.” Jesse said ready to cry.
“I know but it’s my turn for a little while. Then when Mommy gets done with her visit with her sister she can join us. How about that?” Rob thought for a moment. “How about if we go to Build-A-Bear first thing in the morning and I buy you that one bear you have been wanting?”
“Really?” Jesse asked perking up.
“Yep cross my heart!” he smiled at her, he had won. “Get your suitcase sweetie.”
“I don’t have a suitcase.” Jesse said. “I have been borrowing clothes.”
“Well we will just get you a whole bunch of new ones.” He smiled at her. “Now slip your shoes on and lets go but you will have to be quiet.”
Robs plan was to slip down the stairs and out the front door if possible he didn’t want to chance going down the ladder with her. After Jesse put on her shoes Rob opened the door a crack and looked out again. This time he could hear voices but they didn’t sound as if they were coming from the living room. Holding Jesse’s hand he stole down the stairs as they reached the bottom he peered around the corner into the living room, it was empty. He could still hear voices but they sounded even further away then he heard the back door open and close.
Rob yanked open the front door and pulled Jesse out after him, once they were down off the porch he scooped her up and ran down the street amid her protests. Suddenly things didn’t see right to Jesse why would her Daddy be sneaking her off. She opened her mouth to scream but he clamped his hand tightly over it. Finally he reached the car opened the drivers side door shoved Jesse in and climbed in after her. He started the car did a U-Turn and sped away.


                                                                                       CHAPTER 13


As Rob was going out the front the adults in the house were taking their beers to the back yard to sit and enjoy the night air. Libby was the one who noticed the ladder leaning against the house. “Starsky,” She sighed pointing at the ladder. “You can’t leave that ladder there the kids will be climbing on it.”
“What ladder?” Starsky asked peering through the darkness to see what she was talking about. He was surprised to see it leaning against the house. “I finished the gutters last week.”
A sudden breeze caught the cut screen causing it to flutter. Katie looked up the side of the house. “Isn’t that the window to the guest room?” she asked as a knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
“Yeah it is,” Starsky asked noticing the flapping screen. “What the hell?”
“Oh my God,” Katie cried and made a mad dash for the back door.
Susan and Hutch were just coming out as Katie pushed passed them. “What’s going on?” Hutch asked.
“Oh shit,” Starsky exclaimed, suddenly it registered with him what Katie had been thinking and he tore after her.
Libby pointed up the side of the house, there was a scream from in side. Libby, Susan and Hutch ran back in to see what was wrong. The front door was standing open and Katie stood at the top of the stairs sobbing. Starsky was out on the front porch looking down the sidewalk.
“Katie what is it?” Susan asked running up the stairs.
“J-Jesse is gone,” she wailed as she crumpled to the floor.
Susan sat down next to her wrapping her arms around her. She looked down the stairs toward Hutch, “Check the kids.”
Hutch took the stairs two at a time as Libby picked up the phone and dialed 911. Hutch opened the door to the nursery where Kenny and Mikey were sleeping peacefully. He worked his way down the hall; all their kids were there. He came back to the stop of the steps. “My bet is that it’s Rob. I think if it had been Janie she would have taken one of our kids.
Susan put her hands on the side of her sister’s face and made her look at her. “Katie do you think Rob would hurt Jesse?” Katie shook her head no but was unable to speak. “Where would he take her?” All Katie could do was shrug.
Susan looked up at her husband helplessly. For down stairs Libby called up, “The police are on their way.”
Starsky came back in and slammed the front door behind him. “I didn’t see anyone, it couldn’t have been long since he left. I’m going to cruise around and look.”
“I’m coming with you,” Libby said slipping her feet in a pair of canvas shoes that were sitting near the door.
Fifteen minutes later the police arrived at the house. Hutch explained the situation to the officers while Susan put Katie to bed; she lay down next to her sister talking softly to her trying to calm her. But Susan knew there was little she could say that could ease Katie’s pain for she knew all to well the feelings of having a child ripped from your life.
Katie finally fell asleep long after midnight and Susan crept from the bed in search of Hutch. She found him sitting in an easy chair in the living room staring at a blank TV screen. “That bastard stole her right out from under our noses.”
Susan leaned over the back of the chair and massaged his shoulders. “It’s not your fault.” She said knowing her husband all to well.
“Then whose fault is it? I can’t even protect my own family in my own house.” Hutch said softly sinking further down into the chair. “Starsky and Libby back?”
Susan came around and sat on the arm of the chair. “Not yet. You know how Starsk is he will be looking all night. What did the police say?”
“They took a description of Rob and Jesse, the make of car…you know the drill.” Hutch answered her. They had sure been through it enough in the years of their police work.
“Where do you think he went? To Janie?” Susan asked.
“Not if he’s smart. I sure hope he doesn’t trust her. I think Janie would kill both of them in a heartbeat. She would know that would cause Katie pain, you too.”
“Hutch,” Susan said, he looked at her. “Why do you think Rob took Jesse?”
“My gut feeling?” she nodded. “I think he took her to protect her and maybe thinking it was a way to get Katie back.”
“Me too,” Susan agreed. “I think Janie would eat her own young but I don’t get that feeling from Rob. I think he has some problems but I don’t think he would hurt either of them.”
“Well let’s hope for Katie’s sake we are both right.” Hutch got up. “We better get to bed. Starsk might not be back until daybreak.
It was nearing dawn and Starsky was still driving the streets he drove by the Thomas’s house countless times. Libby was asleep her head resting on the window. He looked over at her and smiled, he hoped that she knew how much he loved her and the kids. He knew it was time to head home, time to give up the search. Rob and Jesse were probably long gone or under ground where they would never find them unless they wanted to be found.
At the house the rest of the family was beginning to wake. Susan was in the kitchen making coffee when Davy walked in rubbing his eyes. “What was all the noise last night mom?”
Susan sighed, it was had been so much easier when he had been younger unlike his sister Jesse he had paid little attention to what was going with their police work. She was glad she wouldn’t have to explain this all to Mikey. “Sit down honey.” Davy made a face at her calling him honey but sat down at the kitchen table. “Your cousin was taken out of the house last night. We think it was her daddy that came in and got her.”
“But you’re not sure?” he asked.
Susan hesitated for a moment then shook her head. “No not totally sure but pretty sure.” She didn’t want to tell him that if it had been Janie one of them would have been probably missing.
“This has to do with that Janie woman doesn’t it?”
Susan furrowed her brow, so he had been listening. “Yes it does. But I don’t want you to be scared honey.”
There was that word again, Davy looked at her. “Mom please stop calling me honey I’m not a baby anymore.”
Susan smiled at him then ruffled his hair. “I know you aren’t but you will always be my baby just like Jesse.”
He shrugged. “I miss her.” He had wish he could have missed school and gone with her but Cassie had no younger brothers so he would have been stuck with all their girly stuff.
“Me too.”
“Mom, I think we all should stay home from school until this woman is caught.” Davy said seriously.
Susan smiled again. “You do, do you? Big test today?”
“MOM! Geez,” Davy said but turned a bit red. He in fact did have a big test in math, which he hated with a passion.
“We’ll see,” Susan said getting up from the table. “You hungry?” The front door slammed causing them both to jump, Davy looked at Susan wide-eyed. “You stay here.”
But as she got to the living room she found a very tired Starsky. Libby was all ready heading up the stairs. “Let me grab a quick shower and I’ll be down to help feed the mobs.” Libby joked stiffing a yawn.
“You go get some sleep I think I can handle it,” Susan told her.
“You sure?” Susan nodded. “Ok I’ll get an hour or so then I’ll be down.”
“No luck?” Susan asked.
Starsky flopped down in an easy chair and propped his feet on the coffee table. “Nothing. We went by his place countless times. I kept hoping that maybe he would show up there. But I think they are out of state possibly the country by now.”
Susan sat on the arm of the chair. “I don’t know, I still think he might try and contact Katie. He probably still wants her with him.”
“I sure hope you are right,” Starsky said as he closed his eyes. Almost before he finished his sentence he was sound a sleep.
“Any news?”
Susan turned to see Katie standing on the stairs. Her eyes were swollen from crying and she was twisting a tissue in her hands. “I’m sorry sweetie. They didn’t find them. And nothing from the police either.”
Katie sat down on the steps and put her head in her hands and began to sob. “What am I going to do with out my Jesse? She is the only thing I have lived for. The only reason I just haven’t killed my self. I have nothing now.”
Susan went and wrapped her arms around her sister. “Don’t you say that. You have us and we will find Jesse I promise you that.”


                                                                                       CHAPTER 14


“Where are you?” Katie demanded. “I want you to bring Jesse back.” She looked around hoping that somebody had come home. Hutch and Starsky and gone out searching for information on Janie while Susan and Libby had gone to the restaurant to help out with clean up. Katie had volunteered to watch the children, “Please Rob.”
“You come to us Katie. We are at the airport our fight leaves in thirty minutes, I packed you a bag.” Rob said he watched Jesse as she stared out at the planes landing and taking off. She had her new bear tucked under her arm; it was dressed like a soccer player.
“No Rob you bring her here. You can’t just steal her away from me.” Katie pleaded.
“You took her away from me when you moved in with your sister.”
“That was different.”
“Katie, we are getting on that plane in thirty minutes with our without you.” Rob said evenly. He desperately wanted his wife to come away with them for he feared that Janie might just kill Katie along with the rest of them.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“Does it matter?”
Katie closed her eyes, tears slid from under her lids she knew that if she didn’t go she would never seen Jesse again. On the same note she might never see Susan again either, not if Janie had anything to do with it. But Jesse was just a little girl and needed her mother. “All right Rob,” She conceded. “I’m on my way.”

The note Susan found when she returned home struck fear in her heart. Soot covered and tired she flopped down on the coach to read the note a second time. Katie had sent the younger children to their next-door neighbor and had called a cab.
“What’s the matter?” Libby asked she was standing in front of her friend; she was in the same condition. The clean up had been a miserable job and they had barely put a dent in it. With out saying a word Susan handed the note to Libby. “Shit.” Libby responded to the letter. She looked at Susan, “What do you want to do?”
“Go to the airport I have got to try to stop her. Maybe we can get Jesse back from Rob,” Susan said wearily getting to her feet.

Rob stuck some more coins in the pay phone and dialed a number from his phone book. As he waited for the party to answer he watch his daughter who had grown tired of watching the planes and was now sitting in one of the waiting room seats playing with her bear. He had really hated black mailing Katie like that it was an awful thing to do and he knew it but he would make it up to her, he would make it up to both of them. They would disappear where nobody not even his sister could find them and start over. It wasn’t too late; maybe he would let Katie have the second baby that she had longed so much for.
“Hello?” said the voice on the other after six rings.
“Janie I just wanted to tell you goodbye,” Rob said. “My family and I are leaving on the next plane out of this town. And if you know what is good for you, you won’t come looking for us. I don’t ever want to see you again. You have cause enough heart ache for us.”
For a moment Janie stood there holding the phone stunned. Her little brother was telling her to take a hike? “Just like that goodbye? After all I have done for you?” She snapped.
“And just what have you done for me?” Rob bristled.
“How about getting you a big fancy job here in LA?” She said angrily. “Or lets start from the beginning, how about the strings I pulled to get your sorry ass in to Law school?”
“You are a liar,” Rob answered furiously.
“Oh no little brother check it out I’m not a liar. I have been dragging your sorry ass around and you didn’t even know it.” Janie said. “If it hadn’t been for me you would have been out on your ass the first time you got kicked out of that fancy private school. You have been nothing but a pain from the day you were born.”
The color drained from Rob’s face as he thought about times when he thought he was failing something or about to get fired or things weren’t going his way. Something always happened at the last minute to turn things around. No he thought this couldn’t be his sister she didn’t have that much power…did she?
“You better watch your back little brother,” Janie seethed. She had hoped that she could get him to come with her, help her wipe out this family then they could be a family, the one they never were. But she could see now that was impossible.
Gently Rob replaced the receiver with out saying anymore. He pickup up his brief case then went over to sit down next to Jesse. He thought of changing flights at the last moment but there was no way that Janie could know what fight they would be on. He used a different name and they had several different places they would stop before their final destination. He looked around the airport hoping to see Katie but she wasn’t there yet.

Katie was just entering the airport as Rob sat down next to their daughter. She saw a bank of phones to her left as she came in and thought about calling Susan just to hear her voice one last time…to say goodbye. But what good would it do, it wouldn’t change anything. She knew her sister would just try and talk her out of going saying they would get Jesse but she couldn’t take that chance. Jesse was her heart and soul she had to be with her daughter.
Before they had hung up Rob had told her the fight they would be on so leaving the phones behind her she went to the first desk she saw and asked directions to the gate. After getting them she began the long walk to her new life, one that she hoped would be better.

Janie picked up the phone after Rob hung up on her and tossed it across the room, it hit the wall knocking drywall to the floor. Her face was red with rage as she went to her desk; she pulled open the middle drawer and got the gun that she kept there. She had ever used a gun opting for killings that looked like accidents but she didn’t have time to plan this accident. Janie grabbed her purse from the couch, stuffed the gun inside and left her apartment.

As Susan and Libby pulled into the parking garage at the airport Susan’s cell phone rang. She had called Hutch as they were leaving the house but he hadn’t answered his phone. Libby grabbed it from Susan’s purse and answered it. “Hello.”
“Libby, where are you guys?” Hutch asked.
“We are just pulling to the parking garage at the airport.” Libby said as Susan parked. “We will be in the terminal in just a few minutes.”
“Starsky and I found out where Janie is living we are on our way there right now. As soon as we check it out we will come to the airport.” Hutch told her.
Libby looked at Susan, “They found out where Janie is living.”
Susan grinned, “You guys be careful.”
“You tell her that you need to be careful.” Hutch warned.

Starsky pulled up in front of a rather fancy apartment building. A doorman guarded the front door. The two detectives jumped out of the car and ran to the front door. “May I help you gentlemen?”
“We need to speak to Janie Stillwell.” Starsky said as he pulled out his ID. Hutch did the same. The man inspected the two detective licenses. “I’m sorry but Ms. Stillwell is not in.”
“Could we get a look at her apartment?” Hutch asked as he put his wallet away.
“Do you have a warrant?” the doorman said with out missing a beat.
Starsky sighed. “Do you know where she went or when she might be back?”
He heisted a moment then answered, “She went to the airport, seems her brother is leaving town and she…” The doorman didn’t get his sentence finished before the two detectives were running for the car.



                                                                                 CHAPTER 15


“Mommy,” squealed Jesse the moment she caught sight of her mother. For a split second Rob held his daughters hand tightly then released her so that she could go to his wife.
Katie scooped up Jesse and held her tight as she kissed her head. “I have missed you honey,” Katie whispered to her then she looked at her husband. She was startled to see the change in him; no longer was there cocky air about him. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in days and his normally perfect suit was reduced to only dress pants a wrinkled white shirt open at the throat. No tie adorned his neck, no perfectly tailored suit coat; his hair wasn’t slicked back in its usual perfection. This was actually the man that she had fallen in love with so many years ago, the man that had come to her door looking for another, the man that had swept her off her feet. “Rob.”
“Katie,” he answered and took one step toward her then stopped. She held out her hand to him, which he took, “God Katie I am so sorry for everything.”
She gave him a tentative smile then asked, “Does it have to be this way? Do we have to run?”
“Janie will kill all of us if we don’t,” he said. “I’m sorry this is the way it has to be. Maybe in a few years you can contact your sister but for now we must hide.”

Libby and Susan got to the gate just as the fight was being announced. Susan caught sight of Katie in the line of people waiting to board Rob was behind her holding Jesse. “Katie wait,” Susan called.
Katie ran to her sister clinging to her. “I have got to go sis please understand I have got to go with them.”
“If you run now you will be looking over your shoulder the rest of your life wondering if Janie is out there waiting for a moment when your guard is down.” Susan told her.
Katie looked back at her husband and daughter then at her sister, she felt as if her heart would break. How could she choose?

As Janie entered the terminal she realized there was no way she would get through the metal detectors with the gun so discreetly she placed it in a trash receptacle near the front door then went to the ticket counter. After getting the information she needed and being informed that the plane was boarding she ran down the concourse looking for the gate.

Starsky and Hutch screeched to a halt in front of the airport and jumped out of the car with out bothering to turn the engine off. They made a mad dash in to the terminal; they found the nearest security officer and explained the situation. After the officer relayed their plight, he accompanied them to the gate.

Katie looked at her sister with tears in her eyes. “I never thought I would find you but I did and we will see each other again but I have got to go.”
“No, it’s about time this family takes a stand against Janie Stillwell and her family,” Susan said pointedly looking at Rob. “We will never have peace until she is taken down.”
Rob got out of line and came to where they were standing. “I was never her family. But I have to save mine now, if I let anything happen to Katie and Jesse I will never forgive myself. It will be all my fault if Janie harms them.”
“Last call for Flight 228,” called the flight attendant.
“We have got to go,” Katie said as she grabbed Susan’s hand. “I’ll contact you I’ll let you know we are alright.”
“Damnit Rob you take care of them,” Susan choked out. If Katie trusted him enough to go with him after all this then she would have to trust too.
Rob put Jesse down and hugged Susan, “Thank you, I won’t let you down or them.”
Susan hugged her sister one last time then went to say goodbye to Jesse but she wasn’t there. They all realized at the same moment that Jesse was gone. Rob spotted the bear that he had bought her laying on the floor by a bank of seats. He ran over and picked up the bear and spun around looking for his daughter.
“OH GOD,” Katie screamed. “Where did she go?”
“Calm down maybe she was thirsty and went looking for a drinking fountain,” Susan suggested, but it sounded ludicrous even to her own ears. They all knew where Jesse was.
Libby grabbed Susan’s cell phone and called Hutch she hoped they were close to the airport. “Yeah,” came the out of breath reply when the phone was answered.
“Hutch we think Janie has Jesse, where are you?” Libby asked.
“On our way to the gate.” He huffed.
“Watch for them on your way.”
“Will do.”
Susan caught sight of a blond head heading away from them down the concourse. “Janie,” she screamed. The woman stopped and turned she had a girl with her, it was in fact Janie and she had a tight grasp on Jesse’s hair. Suddenly Susan was transported back to when Janie kidnapped her Jesse they were in a standing in that dusty parking lot.
As Susan got closer she pulled her gun from the holster she wore under her jacket. After showing her ID earlier she had been allowed though the security checkpoint.
“What are you going to do shoot me? Ha not as long as I have the brat.”
“Damnit Janie let her go,” Susan yelled she advanced on them her gun drawn.
Katie came up behind Susan, “Don’t let her hurt Jesse,” she pleaded.
“Get back,” Susan hissed at her sister.

Starsky and Hutch arrived at the gate to find Libby standing there waiting for them. She pointed toward the direction that Susan had gone. “They are down that way.” As the three started to go in the direction Susan went five gunshots rang out one right after the other.
When they arrived they found Katie sitting on the floor holding Jesse rocking her back and forth. Janie Stillwell lay dead on the floor with Rob cradling her head in his lap, Susan stood over her with her gun in her hand Hutch went up to Susan, gently he put his hand over hers. “Let me have the gun honey.”
She looked at him then loosened her grip on the gun, allowing Hutch to have it. “She’s dead.”
Rob looked up at her enraged. “You killed her, you killed her in cold blood. She didn’t even have gun. Janie was just taking Jesse to the restroom.
“What?” Susan asked stunned unable to believe her ears. What was he saying? She had to have misunderstood him.
“ROB!” Katie jumped to her feet. “That’s not true Janie was trying to steal Jesse away from us to do who knows what with.”
“No she wasn’t she was only doing what I asked her to do before you even got here.” Rob glared at Katie.
Several security guards along with the police joined the ever-growing crowd. One of the officers pulled aside the guard that had been with the two detectives.
“What is your problem?” Hutch asked advancing on Rob. “Are you crazy?”
“Back up,” Rob warned. “You stay away from me.”
“You,” the officer pointed at Rob, “I need to speak with you.”
Katie picked up Jesse who was in tears. Janie had terrified her when she had grabbed her and pulled her down the concourse. She wasn’t a nice lady and she had said nasty things about her aunt and mother.
Starsky put his jacket around them and guided them away from the crowd Libby went with them leaving Susan and Hutch standing there looking down at Janie’s dead body. “I want to kick her to make sure she is really dead this time,” Susan whispered in Hutch’s ear.
He grinned at her, “Guess you are a better shot than Starsky.”
There was a shout over the hum of the crowd talking about what had happened, “I heard her she threatened to kill that woman.” It was one of the passengers that had been standing in line with Thomas’s. “I heard her say that she would never be at peace until she took her down.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Hutch said putting his arm around his wife. “We’ll sort this out at the station.”
As they started away a police officer stepped in front of them. “Susan Hutchinson?”
“Yes, that’s me,” She said. “We’ll head down to the station.”
“I’m afraid you can’t do that ma’am,” he said grimly. “You are being placed under arrest for the murder of Janie Stillwell.”
“What?”
“You have the right to….”
“I know the spiel, I was a cop,” she snapped.
“Then you know I have to say it anyway,” he answered.
As he went on with her rights Susan looked desperately at Hutch, she couldn’t believe she was being arrested for killing that murdering bitch.
“We’ll get the straighten out, go on I’ll be right behind you.” Hutch said trying to comfort his wife.
“Turn around,” the officer ordered, Susan did as she was told and she felt the cold steal of the handcuffs snapped on to her wrists.

…..to be continued