Buried Alive
                                                                                                         By
                                                                                                           Tooki


​​​
                                                                                                 CHAPTER ONE

​​
Starsky stood at his partner's front door trying to figure out how to ring the bell. In one hand he held two one pound containers of potato salad and baked beans with a jar of pickles balanced on top in the other he had a case of beer. He tried to sit down the case of beer but when he started to bend over the pickles almost toppled to the ground. Starsky sighed and looked around, there was nobody in sight. He could hear whom he thought sounded like Jesse and Cassy but they must have been in the back yard. Finally he kicked the door with the toe of his tennis shoe hoping he wouldn't leave a mark.
Susan was just putting the finishing touches on a plate of deviled eggs when she heard the thump at the front door. She glanced at Davy who was now six months old and no worse for wear after being kidnapped at birth. He was playing happily in his high chair with a couple of measuring cups. She patted him on the head and went to answer the door.
The pickles were starting to slide and Starsky's arm was almost numb by the time Susan got the door open. She grabbed the jar just before it slipped off the baked beans. Then she relieved him of the beans and salad. "Thanks," he said smiling at her. He kissed Susan on the cheek as then followed her into the kitchen. Starsky sat the beer up on the counter and went to play with his godson. "So I'm the first one here?"
"Yep, where's Hutch," She asked taking the beer from the case and stacking them in the refrigerator.
Starsky shrugged. "He left the station at the same time I did. Maybe he stopped at Huggy's to give him a hand."
Susan nodded; she got out couple of bowls for the beans and potato salad. "I think Huggy said he was going to bring a keg."
Starsky laughed, "Your neighbors might be calling the cops on us tonight."
"I invited them all so that wouldn’t happen." She grinned at her partner.
She had been so excited all day; it had been a while since she had seen some of the people from the department. They had decided to have huge B-B-Q for their friends and co-workers. Susan had taken a six-month leave to be with her son. She was just now getting where she would leave him in a room for even a few minutes by himself. The female detective missed work, her partners and even Captain Dobey's grumpy expression.
Susan was a bit frazzled as their nanny and housekeeper Mrs. Edna Gray was back east with her daughter who was expecting a baby at anytime. Edna had been reluctant to leave after what the family had been through but both Susan and Hutch had insisted that she go. Susan would be going back to work in just a few weeks and the nanny had promised to be back by then.
Starsky slipped Davy out of his high chair and held him at arms length over his head. Susan laughed, "I don’t think that is such a good idea Starsk, he just ate."
He lowered the baby quickly; he loved his godson dearly but didn't like the idea of being thrown up on. "Hey where is Jesse, I thought I heard her yelling when I came in."
Susan nodded toward the back sliding door as she was filled a basket with napkins, cups, paper plates and plastic flatware. "She and Cassy are decorating out there, I’m almost afraid to look."
"Cassy's mom and dad here?" Starsky asked.
"No we are keeping Cassy for the week they went on a cruise." Susan explained.
"Boy you got her hands full." Starsky said tickling Davy until the baby squirmed.
Susan wrinkled her nose, "You just had to do that didn't you?"
"What?" Starsky asked until he caught a whiff of the baby's diaper. He started to hand the child to his mother.
"Nope, you tickled it out of him you change him." She said picking up the basket and heading out the door.
Starsky stood there holding Davy and staring after Susan. Sighing he headed up stairs in search of a fresh diaper and some fresher air.
Jesse and Cassy had crape paper hung from the trees and bushes, balloons were tied everywhere and there was a homemade banner across the back door that said Welcome. Susan shook her head at their handy work it looked more like teens had toilet papered the yard than decorating.
"How's it look Mom?" Jesse asked climbing down from the ladder she had been up on to position the banner.
"Wonderful," Susan sighed. "You girls need to get cleaned up. The guests will be here soon."
The two girls dashed into the house laughing and talking a mile a minute. Starsky came out carrying a much fresher Davy. "Where are they going in such a hurry?"
"To clean up, no telling what they will come down in." Susan took her son and checked his diaper. "Not bad."
"Hey I do know how to do that I have changed a few diapers in my day." He glared at her for a moment then smiled. "Where is everybody?"
Just about that time the doorbell ring, Susan handed Davy back to her partner and went to get the door. Captain Dobey and his wife Edith were standing there, she was holding a two layer chocolate cake. Susan took the cake and showed them to the back yard.
"I told you we were early Harold," Edith whispered when she saw only Starsky in the back yard.
"Actually everybody else is late." Susan said giving Edith a hug. "Why don't you all have a seat."
With in the next thirty minutes the back yard was full of guests. Huggy arrived with the keg of beer; Libby, Sam Walters and several of the guys from the squad room arrived at the same time. The back yard had about twenty-five people in it when Cassy and Jesse made their appearance.
Starsky was the first to spy them and sidled up to Susan, "Get a load of the girls."
Susan craned her neck to get a look at them as they were talking to Huggy who was tapping the keg. "Oh my God," she exclaimed. Both girls had piled their hair up on their heads with a gallon of hair spray. They had enough make up on to put any streetwalker to shame, very short skirts and tube tops. And to top it off they were wearing or trying to wear Susan's high heels. She quickly made her way over to the girls and hustled them into the house. "Just what do you two think you are doing?"
"But Mom," Jesse protested. "We look great."
"You both look like hookers, you are nine and even if you were older I still wouldn’t let you dress like that. Now get up stairs before you dad gets home." Susan ordered. As the girls stomped out of the room she began to wonder just where her husband was. Everything was so hectic that she hadn't realized that he hadn't arrived yet. Starsky said he was going over to help Huggy. She made her way over to Huggy who was pouring beer for everybody.
"Want some?" he asked holding up a cup to her.
Susan shook her head, "You see Hutch?"
"Nope not since he and Starsk were in for lunch." Huggy said sipping the beer he had offered his hostess.
"So he didn't come by to help you with the keg today?" Susan said a cold chill running up her spine.
"He said he would but never showed. I just figured he and Starsk got busy." Huggy answered.
"Hey Susan," Libby called from the back door. "There is a delivery for you. I told him you were busy and I would take them but he said he had to give them to you personally."
She frowned for a moment trying to remember if she had ordered anything. Then followed Libby through the house to the front door. A young man stood there holding what was obviously a box of flowers. She took the long white box and was going to tip him but the deliveryman shook his head as he walked away.
"I bet these are from Hutch he probably got held up some place was sure I as going to be mad." Susan laughed but her laugh turned to a gasp of horror as she slipped off the red ribbon that held the lid on to reveal a dozen black roses.
"What kind of sick joke is that?" Libby said wrinkling up her nose. She plucked an envelope stuck in the flowers. Susan nodded for her to open it. "Oh my God," Libby whispered. "The card says 'Where is Hutch'?"
Susan dropped the box of flowers to the floor and grabbed the card from her friend. She looked at Libby with shear terror on her face. "Someone has Hutch."
The first thing that struck Hutch was how cold it was all thought it was the middle of summer. Then the darkness, so black that he could hardly see the only light was a hole about the size of a small pipe. He tried to move but his knees bumped into the sides of …what? Hutch was lying on his back, he brought up his hands but only inches from his face something solid met his touch. He tried to beat on it but there was only a dull thud, dirt sifted down into his face. The detective shook the dirt from his eyes it smelled damp and earthy. Suddenly it dawned on him where he was he swallowed hard trying to keep down the terror that was quickly creeping over him. He was buried…. buried alive.


                                                                                           CHAPTER TWO

​​
Hutch had left the station at the same time as his partner; he was going to swing by The Pits to see if he could help Huggy with the keg of beer that he was bringing to their party. Hutch pulled around in the ally behind the bar knowing that Huggy would bring the keg out the back. He was just about to ring the bell to let the barkeeper know he was there when a large white van pulled in next to his brown heap. Two men jumped out and were on him before he could even call out for help. One of the men slapped a rag over his mouth and nose. Hutch struggled for a second or two and was out cold.
The men tossed the detective in the back of the van, one got in the van the other got into Hutch's car and they both drove off down the alley. They drove for over an hour then stopped at an old out of the way graveyard. The two men drug Hutch from the van and carried him to an open grave. A wooden coffin was waiting for him; they laid him face up then placed the wooded lid over the top of the box, nailing it shut. About a six inch round hole was drilled toward the top of the lid, one of the men slid a long metal pipe into the hole then held it up right as the second man began tossing dirt in on the lid. When they were finished the detective was about six feet under ground with only the pipe to give him breathing air. They tossed old leaves and branches over where they had just buried their victim making sure nothing covered the pipe.
Finally the one man spoke, "How long do you think he can stay alive down there?"
The other shrugged, "you care?"
"Naw, just wondering." With those words the two men drove off again. One in the van the other in the detectives car.
It was getting hard to breathe, Hutch started to breathe harder trying to suck in the air that wasn't there. He held his breath trying to make himself calm down. "Come on calm down Hutchinson," Hutch said out loud to himself as he released the air he was holding. He looked up at the hole that was he only supply of oxygen. He pointed his mouth toward the hole and yelled. "HELP!" He sighed, he knew that nobody could probably hear him but it made him feel better at any rate.
He put his cop mind to work trying to figure out who would do this to him? Who was out to get him? Nobody came to mind at the moment, his legs were starting to cramp, the coffin was not very wide he could barely lay his arms to his side. He tried to bring up his knee, bumped the top sending a shower of dirt down on him self. What if it caved in, there was no way he could dig him self out. He wondered if Starsky and Susan knew he was missing. He had no idea how long he had been under ground; there was still light coming through the tubing so it couldn't be that late…unless it was the next day. He had lost all sense of time but he had a feeling it was the same day, he wasn't hungry yet. Just how long could he survive under ground he wondered. The fear started creeping up on him again, he shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. He would just hang on until his partners found him that was all there was to it. Easy, Hutch smiled a ruthful smile, yeah right.

Susan ran through the house and out into the back yard clutching the card. She franticly looked around for her partner. She spotted him sitting at the picnic table playing with Davy. "Starsky," she cried out making everyone in the yard to look at her.
Starsky knew from the look on her face that something was very wrong. He handed Davy to one of the neighbors and went to Susan's side. She held out the card that she was clutching. He read the card, his eyes widen, "Where did you get this?"
"Just a few minutes ago, it came in a box full of black roses," Susan explained with a catch in her voice.
"Black Roses?"
Starsky dashed into the house, Susan followed him. Libby had picked up the box of roses Susan had dropped and placed them on the coffee table. She had checked over the box looking for a florist name but there was none.
"Anything?" Starsky asked Libby. She shook her head; he looked over the card. "Where is the envelope?" Susan handed it to might but it was blank. "What did the delivery guy look like?"
"Like a delivery guy." Susan snapped. "I can't remember the last time we had flowers delivered to the house. The last time was…was…Oh my god."
"What?" Libby asked.
"Those damn sunflowers remember?" Susan asked.
"Yeah but Agiesti is in jail and these are roses black ones at that." Starsky said doubtful that it could be Agiesti.
"And how hard to you think black roses are to get? Maybe about as hard as four dozen sunflowers? Two dozen in Dobey's hospital room and two dozen for Edna." Susan said.
"I think you are grasping at straws." Starsky answered. "We don't even know if he is missing, this could be a joke.
"You got anything else better to grasp at?" she yelled at him almost in tears. "A joke? A joke? It's not funny."
"Calm down this isn't getting us anywhere." Starsky said trying to her hold her in his arms to comfort her. But she pushed him away not wanting the comfort only wanting to find her husband.
Dobey sensing that there was something wrong had followed his two detectives into the house. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching them. From his years as a cop he knew that going with your gut feeling was usually right. And if Susan felt that Agiesti was some how behind this then it was worth checking out. "I'll call the station and see what we can get on Agiesti."
Both detectives jumped at the sound of their captain's voice. "Thanks Cap, at least somebody takes me seriously."
"I didn't say I wasn't taking you seriously I just don't see how it could possibly be old man Agiesti. He was given life for killing Maddie." Sadness filled his eyes as he spoke her name.
"I know," she said softly taking his hand. "But I just have this feeling and I bet if we could trace this florist it would be the same on as before. He left us clues last time he wanted to be caught."
Dobey was busy on the phone, demanding that they stop what ever they were doing and find out about the ex-mob boss. Libby finally went over and took the phone from the captain said a few heated words and then hung up. "They will be calling back with the information in just a few minutes." Libby said and grinned at the captain. "You just have to know how to talk to them.
But the minutes turned in to thirty and the officers were beginning to pace the room. Edith had come in to see what was keeping her husband. Susan had explained what was going on and asked Edith if she would mind hosting the party and keeping any eye on the girls and Davy. The girls had breezed through the living coldly with out even noticing anything was going on, something which they were all grateful for. At least they had changed in to more suitable clothing.
Hutch woke himself up shaking from the chill of the ground. A first he thought he was laying in his own bed and Susan had stolen the covers. He tried to reach for them but hit his hand on the top of his death trap. Dirt filtered into his face jolting him to reality. Fear hit him again, that was his biggest battle. Hutch knew that if he wasn't found and soon that he would die a slow death of starvation and dehydration. Trapped in the box with nothing he couldn't even end it himself. He looked toward the pipe that let in his air, but couldn’t fine it. He finally moved just enough that he could reach up and touch where he thought the tube came into the casket. It was still there, and then it dawned on him that it must be dark outside. He shivered again; Hutch felt like the dampness was creeping into his bones.
He tried to force himself to fall asleep again but couldn't his mind was running a mile a minute. He hated this there was nothing he could do to even try to save him self. He would just lay under the ground and hope that his partners would find him. Hutch felt tears pricked at the corner of his eyes as he thought of his children. Sweet Jesse who so much wanted to be grown up and to be like her parents. Davy their long awaited second child who was only six months old he would never remember his daddy. He wanted to grow old with Susan; he wanted to rock his grandchildren on the front porch. He wanted to see Starsky finally find the right woman and settle down and be happy. He wanted to be his best man.
"Damn it I want out of here," Hutch yelled loudly. He kicked at the bottom of the wooden box; dirt fell in his face once again.
He replayed the day's events in his mind. Nothing unusual had happened; he and Starsky had a regular day. They had lunched at Huggy's that was when he had told the barkeeper he would be there after work to help him with the keg. They had busted a two-bit bookie but he couldn't have even made bail yet and this was a little too much for some one like that. Burying him had to have been a well thought out plan not a spur of the moment idea. He had been ringing the bell at the back of the Pits when a smelly rag was place over his nose and mouth. He was being chloroformed, that was Hutch's only thought as he fell unconscious. In fact he still had a bit of a headache from the chemical.
Having nothing else better to do Hutch began racking his brain again trying to think who would want him dead and why would they do it in such a gruesome way? Had they had any cases similar to this? He and his partners had seen some awful things but nothing like this. They had many many death threats over the years but rarely were they more than threats.
Suddenly he felt something crawling on him; hundreds of maggots were wiggling all over him. Hutch tried to brush them off to no avail, every time he brushed one off two would appear in its place. He tried to move but couldn't, as they made their way to his face the detective screamed out, "get them off me, Starsk please get them off me." Hutch jerked awake, his breath was rapid and his pulse racing. He felt his chest no squirming maggots. He had been dreaming Hutch tried to calm his breathing. He was beginning to feel like he was suffocating, he gasped for air but the six-inch pipe didn't let in much air especially when it had to go down six feet. He felt himself loosing consciousness, he tried to focus on the pipe but with it being dark out side he couldn’t tell where it was.
"Please," he prayed silently, "let my partners find me.

​​

                                                                                        CHAPTER THREE
​

When the phone rang Susan literally pounced on it, "Carlston."
"Detective Carlston, this is Officer Oney," Said the voice on the other end. "I have the information you wanted on Gregory Agiesti."
"Is he still in prison?" Susan asked holding her breath.
"He escaped two days ago," Officer Oney answered.
"What?" Susan gasped. She was hoping that she was wrong about it being the old man. She knew from experience that he had no fear of what would happen to him. That made him even more dangerous.
"He walked out of prison two days ago."
"Walked out? How could he just walk out?" Susan demanded.
"Some kind of mix up," Officer Oney said.
"Well that was one hell of a mix up," Susan said. "He was in there for murder."
"I'm sure some heads are going to roll for this one." He said.
"Thanks for calling," She said. "And if you hear anything, anything at all you call.
After hanging up the phone Susan turned to face her partner. Starsky's face was pale, and he looked like he might cry. " Agiesti is out there somewhere? The man that killed my girlfriend just walked out of prison? And now he has our partner?"
"Now let's not jump to any conclusions Starsky," Dobey said. "I'm going to go back into the station and see what I can find out."
"I'm coming with you," Susan said leaving the room to get her gun. Dobey didn't even bother to tell her that she still had two weeks leave left. As she came back in the room Susan stopped, "Shit the kids."
"I'll stay with them, " Libby offered.
Dobey shook his head, "We need you on that computer of yours. I'll asked Edith, I'm sure she won't mind."
When they arrived at the station Libby went to her computer while Dobey and his two detectives went up to his office. Dobey walked in flipping on the light, he flopped down in his desk chair. A large envelope lying on his desk caught his attention. He distinctly remembered clearing his desk before he had left earlier in the day. He picked up the manila colored envelope, on the front in black marker was written 'Captain Dobey' He flipped it over, opened the flap and pulled out a white sheet of paper. On it was typed "Where do all good cops go when they die?"
"Son of a…" Dobey trailed off.
The two detectives looked up at him. "What is it Cap?" Starsky asked.
Dobey held up the sheet of paper for them both to read. Susan closed her eyes, "Hutch," was all she said.
Starsky gingerly took the paper from Dobey by the corner. "I'll take this down to the crime lab and see if they can raise any prints."
"I wish Sam was here," Susan said softly.
"Some body call me?" Sam asked poking his head in the office door. "I heard what happened at the party I thought you guys might just need me. I brought the roses and the card with me."
"Thanks Sam," Dobey smiled at the man gratefully. Sam took the paper from Starsky. "I'll be back when I find out something."
"Ok," Susan said gathering her wits about her. "So if this is Agiesti he seems to be in the mood to play games. Two notes two different questions. I guess our biggest question right now is Hutch alive?"
"Yes," Starsky said with out hesitation. "I don't feel like he is dead. Do you?" He looked at Susan who shook her head no. "Looks like old man Agiesti is going to make us figure out where Hutch might be."
"So are we going to play?" Susan asked.
"I don't see where we have much of a choice," Dobey said. "We have no idea where Hutch is or where to even start looking."
"Let's get an APB out on his car, it's at least a start," Starsky suggested. Dobey agreed and made the call.
"So why Hutch and not me?" Starsky asked. "I was the one involved with Maddie if that is what this is all about."
"What makes you think he's not out to get us all?" Susan questioned. "I'm sure if he held Maddie responsible for his son's death then surely he must blame us too."
"Maybe this is a way to lure us to him." Starsky said following Susan's train of thought.
"We don’t even know if it is Agiesti yet." Dobey said.
"But Cap you were the one backing me up at the house," Susan frowned at her captain.
"I know, but we don't want to over look something because we think we know who it is." Dobey explained. "Until we get some solid evidence that it is Agiesti I think we just need to keep our options open."
There was a light tap on Dobey's office door and Sam poked his head in. "Sorry guys the letter and envelope are clean."
Susan's face fell and she flopped down on the couch. This was just all too much, how could they find Hutch when they didn't even know where to begin looking?
Dobey's phone rang startling them all. "Dobey," the Captain barked into the phone. He listened intently for a few minutes. He had a grim expression on his face as he was shaking his head. Finally he said, "Thank you for calling warden."
Susan stood up, "Did they find Agiesti?" she asked hopefully.
Dobey nodded, he stared at his hands not wanting to see the look on his detective's faces when he told them the news. " Agiesti was found about thirty minutes ago."
"That’s wonderful, " Susan grinned.
"He's dead Susan," Dobey said not being one to mince words. "He was found by two teenage boys on a back road about five miles from the prison. Looks like he had a heart attack."
"So there is no way this could be him?" Susan said her eyes filling with tears. Starsky put his arm around her and she turned burying her face in his shoulder.
"Then who?" Starsky asked over the top of her head. "Who would have it out for Hutch?"
When Hutch awoke again there was light coming from the pipe. He was cold so very cold, his clothes felt damp. His arms and legs were numb from the chill and lack of movement. He tried to take a deep breath but coughed instead, his mouth and throat were so dry. His stomach was beyond growling, he almost felt sick from the lack of food. Several times he thought that he heard someone walking above, he tried to call out but he couldn't get his voice above a whisper. It was probably his imagination anyway. He thought that he might die because of his job someday but this was not the way he ever dreamed it would happen. Being shot or stabbed sure but never buried six feet under the ground.
He wonder if his partners were any closer to finding him, if they even had any leads. How in the hell would they even begin to look for him? He tried to shift his weight around his butt was beginning to hurt from lying so long in one position. He finally was able to move slightly over onto one hip. His legs begin to cramp; he flexed the mussels in his legs trying to ease the cramping, finally it started to subside. He thought he would go crazy if he had to spend one more minute under the ground. The fear started to rise again, he held his breath then let it out slowly and wondered what would happen when he could no long calm his fear.
Hutch hadn't even been missing twenty-four hours yet but he knew the clock was ticking. How long did he have forty-eight, seventy-two hours? He figured not much longer than that. Hutch tried not to think of how thirsty and hungry he was, instead he wondered what Jesse and Davy were doing. But that only made him sad, he loved his children so much it hurt to think he might not be around to see them grow up. His only comforting thought was that he knew they had Susan and Starsky. Starsky would see to it that they were all taken care of. Hutch wondered if they would marry, he thought of it for a moment and realized that he hoped they did. He knew how Starsky felt about her and that Susan cared a great deal for him. They would need each other if he weren't found in time. It would only be natural for them to cling to one another.
How many hours had he and Susan lost in silly fights, or even he and Starsky. Life was way to short and things would be different if he got out of this alive. He was going to spend more time with his family. Hutch was now envious of the time Susan had gotten to spend with the children, he should have taken some vacation time and spent it with them. He felt like he was in "A Christmas Carol" looking at this life through a water globe, only problem was he was already buried just not dead yet.
Hutch knew he was going to die now, he could hear the angels singing. White puffy clouds surrounded him; a beautiful woman with huge white wings was motioning for him. Hutch looked behind him, he could see a hole in the clouds looking down through that hole he could see Susan and Starsky pacing in Dobey's office. Dobey sat at his desk; he was talking on the phone. There was a bulletin board on an easel, cards were tacked up on it but he couldn’t read what they said. Then he looked at the winged woman again; no he couldn't go with her just yet. He could tell his partners were working on something. They weren't going to give up on him so he couldn't give up either he would wait just a bit longer. He could hold out just a little while more.
Hutch jerked awake again, was he dreaming? He felt calmer than he had since the whole nightmare had started. He felt that his partners were making some headway and if they got to him in time great but if they didn't there was a wonderful place waiting for him. He suddenly didn't feel quite as thirsty or hungry. Hutch looked up through the hole and few drops of water splashed on his face. He wondered if he was still dreaming but then more water hit him. There was no way for him to know that above the ground a summer rainstorm was pounding the ground. Occasionally a few stray drops would make their way down the pipe.

​​

                                                                                     CHAPTER FOUR


​​​
Dobey had an easel brought in to hold the bulletin board. So far they had the card from the flowers and the note tacked up on it. Susan and Starsky paced the room, Dobey slammed the phone down and looked at his detectives.
"An officer thought he spotted Hutch's car," Dobey said. "But it wasn't his."
"You mean there are two hunk's of junk like that running around?" Starsky said.
Susan wasn't listening to the two men she was thinking. It would take some time but it might be worth it. "Let's start visiting all the florist in town." She said out of the blue.
"You have got to be kidding," Starsky countered. "That could take days."
"Not if every officer pitched in, " she answered.
"They could have been sent from out of town," Dobey said.
"I don’t think so, if you went to this much trouble wouldn't you want to be around to watch?" she told them. "I think this person is watching every move we make. How else would they know were to send stuff to so that we get it?"
"You got a point there Carlston." Dobey said.
"And we are going to start with the one that Agiesti used." She said as she reached over Dobey's desk for the phone. She called records and got them busy looking up the file on the old man.
"But he is dead." Starsky said frowning at her.
"We have to start some place." Susan said.
Armed with a photo of Gregory Agiesti the two detectives went to the florist that the mob boss had been to before. A young woman was behind the counter; she was working on an arrangement of carnations when they walked in.
She looked up and smiled at them. "May I help you?"
"We hope so," Starsky said giving her his award-winning smile. He glanced at her nametag. "Jennifer."
She grinned back at him. Susan nudged Starsky over and asked the girl. "Have you or anyone here sent out black roses in the last oh say twenty-four hours?"
The girl's mouth fell open, "yeah, it was so creepy. I have never had anyone order black roses before."
"Can you describe the person who bought them?" Starsky asked.
"Well it was an older gentleman, nice looking for an old guy. Dressed nicely and had a wad of cash that could have bought this place." She said.
The two detectives looked at each other. Susan pulled the picture of Agiesti out of her jacket and held it out to Jennifer. Susan held her breath, "Is this the man?"
Jennifer took the photo and studied it for a second. "Yes, that's him."
"Are you sure?" Starsky asked stunned. "Take a closer look."
"It's him," she said. "If it's one thing I know besides flowers is people. And I don't usually forget a face especially one that walks in with a wad of dough and orders black roses."
The minute the two detectives were back in Starsky's Torino Susan radioed Dobey. If Agiesti had been buying flowers then who was the poor bastard they found lying in the weeds a few miles from the jail? Dobey was totally speechless probably for the first time in his life. He sputtered a few times but nothing came out. By the time the detectives got back to headquarters their captain had been on the phone to the prison. The warden had assured him that he would find out just what was going on and call him right back.
Starsky stood staring at the bulletin board reading the two notes over and over again. "Who's idea of a good cop?" he said more to himself than the others in the room.
"What?" Susan asked joining him.
"Ok our idea of a good cop, I guess he would go to heaven right?" Starsky theorized. "And a crooks idea would be hell is my guess. Only good cop is a dead cop? How many times have we heard that one?"
"Maybe y'all need to be a bit more literal," said a voice from Dobey's office door. Huggy Bear had just let himself in.
Dobey rolled his eyes, "Doesn't anybody knock?"
"Sorry Cap'n Dobey I just wanted to come down and see what was what," Huggy answered stepping in the room.
"Now what were you saying about being literal?" Susan asked him.
"Starsky here is making this a heaven and hell thing. But where do you go when you die…your body that is?" Huggy said looking at the board.
Starsky's mouth fell open. "You are buried."
"Bingo!" Huggy said snapping his fingers.
"Dear God do you think Agiesti buried Hutch alive?" Susan said with a look of horror on her face. "How long can he live underground?"
"No way," Starsky said trying to shake the thought away. "No way would anybody do that."
"It's been done before," Dobey said.
"Shit!" Susan exclaimed. "How are we going to find him?"
There was a tap on the office door, "IN!" Dobey yelled.
The door opened slowly, one of the younger detectives stood there with an envelope in his hand. "This was just brought up for Detective Starsky."
Starsky took the white business size envelope, "Thanks Bob." He tore open the end of the envelope with out worrying about prints there hadn't been any up to this point. He slid out a white piece of paper. He felt his heart drop as he opened the paper. There was a picture drawn of a tombstone and in block letters was printed 'Here Lies Hutchinson' Starsky slapped the paper up on the bulletin board and savagely pinned it in place.
"Dear God," Susan whispered. "That bastard has buried Hutch some place." Suddenly all the strength went out of her legs and if Starsky hadn't caught her the detective would have hit the floor. "I just can't take this any more," She sobbed.
He steered her toward a chair, "It's going to be alright. We'll find him." Starsky said smoothing her hair back.
"How? How are we going to find him there are more cemeteries than there are flower shops around here." Susan said as her eyes filled with tears.
Starsky turned to look at Dobey for he had no answer for his partner. Dobey rubbed his hands over his face and held them there. He love Hutch like family and he did his other two detectives and the thought of losing him especially this way was almost to much to bare. The phone rang, slowly Dobey reached for it. "Dobey," he said into the receiver. The Captain nodded as he listened. "Ok thank you. We'll be there as soon as possible."
"What is it?" Starsky asked taking Susan's hand.
"Hutch's car was found." Dobey said. "It was run into a lake called Perris not to far from a little town called Lake View. A couple of kids fishing saw the bumper sticking out of the water." Both detectives looked at Dobey with the same expression on their faces. "No he was not in the car when they pulled it out. And since the windows were rolled up there is no way he could have gotten out of the car if he had been in it."
"Thank God, " Susan said finally breathing.
"I guess that is the first place we should start looking for cemeteries." Starsky said. "Just how long do we have? Hutch is been missing going on forty-eight hours. How long can you survive under ground."
Dobey shrugged, "I think it would depend on many things. Food, air, water. You can't live very long with out them."
"This is like looking for a needle in a hay stack." Susan said getting up to look at the bulletin board.
Huggy who had been standing by the door thinking suddenly said. "It would have to be an old grave yard."
"Why is that Hug?" Starsky asked
"Well don’t you think a couple of guys digging a grave in a well kept place wouldn't be noticed? I am sure they would pretty much know what was going on." Huggy explained. "Or the grounds keepers might stumble upon a strange looking grave."
"I see what you are getting at." Susan said. "Like a old deserted grave yard, some place not many people go."
Dobey got on the phone calling down to Libby to start looking up cemeteries in the Lake View area. For the first time they all felt hopeful that they might find Hutch.
The maggots were back crawling and squirming their way toward Hutch's face, he could feel them on his neck. He tried to brush them away but he couldn't move his arms, he moved his head side to side trying to shake off the advancing insects. But they wouldn’t been shaken off they keep moving, now they were to his mouth crawling across his lips. Hutch wanted to scream but was afraid he would swallow them, a couple crawled up his nose, into his ears and across his closed eyelids. He couldn’t breath any more there were to many in his nose, he was going to have to open his mouth or suffocate. Hutch finally opened his mouth to take a breath hundreds of maggot's fell into his mouth clogging his throat.
His screams of terror woke him, Hutch jerk bumping his head on the top of the box cutting a small gash in his forehead. He tired to move his hand to his head but found that he was too weak to move. His breathing was so hard that his chest hurt. Hutch also found that he could no longer feel his feet or legs. Finally his breathing slowed, he glanced toward the pipe, and it was daylight he could see a bit of light filtering down. He wonder what day it was, how much longer he had left to live. Hutch had lost all track of how long he had been under ground. He knew that he had fallen unconscious several times only to regain it with horrible dreams. But he had no idea how long he was out.
He wondered for the millionth time if his partners were getting any closer to finding him. He knew he couldn't have much time left. He could feel himself grow weaker as time worn on. Hutch closed his eyes for what could be the final time; he smiled as he thought about the kids, Susan and Starsky. Then the smiled relaxed has he drifted off into unconsciousness again.
​

                                                                                           CHAPTER FIVE

​​
Armed with a list of old cemeteries in the Lake View area, Starsky, Susan, Dobey and several other officers that had volunteered along with the Lake View police department started on the task of searching the graveyards. There were seven deserted old graveyards in a twenty-mile radius of the town. They all split up, Susan and Starsky followed an old dirt road where the map showed one of the yards were.
"There!" Susan yelled pointing to a fallen down black wrought iron fence lay in the weeds. Starsky slowed down and turned into a narrow barely noticeable driveway. "Stop." She jumped out of the car before Starsky had even stopped. She ran ahead. "Look here Starsky, tire tracks, somebody else has been here and not to long ago."
Starsky jumped out of the car and hurried to her side. He crouched down and pointed, "There are two sets of tire tracks. I'll bet one of them was Hutch's car."
Susan nodded excitedly, "Let's play a hunch and get everybody over here."
After radioing Dobey and telling him what they found the two detectives carefully made their way into the dilapidated graveyard. Large head stones were toppled over and broken into pieces. Broken bottles littered the ground in the undisturbed weeds, except for the tire tracks it looked like it had been a long while since anyone had been there. Both detectives were losing hope that this was where their partner was until Starsky spied a shovel.
He picked it up and examined it the shovel was brand new and had dried dirt clinging to it. "Looks like we are in the right place after all." He said knowing that Susan had been thinking the same thing he had. After more searching they found a second shovel but still no fresh grave.
By this time Dobey and several of the other searchers had arrived. Dobey followed the path his detectives left in the weeds. When he found them they were both holding shovels and looking around. "Find him?" Dobey asked
"No Cap, but we are sure this is where he has to be." Starsky said holding out the shovel.
"Alright everybody spread out and start searching." Dobey commanded. He turned to one of the offices that had come from the station with them. "Ted you go radio for an ambulance Hutch is going to need it when we pull him out."
The graveyard was very old some of the graves dating back into the seventeen hundreds. Most of the stones were wreck and vine covered. And it was clear that at one time it had been used as a party ground but that was also along time ago.
Finally Starsky spotted a place where the weeds were beat down. Carrying the shovel as he ran he made it to the spot in record time. Several beer cans litter the ground, a brown paper bag crumpled and fresh dirt had been raked from the grass. "OVER HERE!" Franticly he looked for the grave and finally found it toward the edge of the flatten grass. He made himself stop and look at the grave before he dug in knowing that if he went to quickly it might cave in. That was when he spied a pipe about six inches in diameter protruding from the ground several inches. "HUTCH, HUTCH YOU IN THERE?" Starsky called into the pipe. He put his ear close so he could hear and response, but none come.
Susan joined him she also called into the pipe but still nothing. "We got to get him out of there."
Dobey and the rest of the men armed with shovels arrived and began the slow task of digging out the buried detective. They were careful not to dump dirt into the pipe and moved inch by inch so the sides of the grave would not collapse in. After two hours of digging Starsky's shovel hit the lid of the coffin. He looked up at Susan who was all but holding her breath.
"Anybody got a hammer," Starsky called when he saw the lid was nailed shut. He looked at the top of the coffin and whispered, "hang in there buddy we are coming."
A hammer was quickly handed down to him and nail by nail he loosened the wooden top. Slowly Starsky lifted the lid almost afraid to look in side. He handed it up then looked down at his partner. Hutch had a bluish tint to his skin for the lack of oxygen. His lips were crack, there was a small gash on his forehead. His body was twisted in an odd position from where he had tried to reposition himself, his fingers were cut and bleeding.
Starsky stood for a moment and looked at him in horror this didn't look like the partner he knew. Hutch was so dirty he barely recognized him, he didn't look like he was still alive. Slowly Starsky bent down and touched him, Hutch's skin was cold and clammy. Then Starsky felt for a pulse at first he didn't feel one but then it was there but just faintly. "GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Starsky hollered. He gently reached into Hutch's death trapped and pulled his partner to a sitting position, Hutch's head flopped backward almost hitting the side of the grave.
Hands reached in from above as Starsky lifted Hutch's dead weight toward freedom. He didn't even think about how heavy Hutch was all he cared about was getting him out of that hole and getting him help. After Hutch was pulled out Starsky climbed up and out. Susan was at her husband's side clinging to his hand Starsky joined her taking his partners other grimy hand.
"Where are the damn paramedics?" Starsky called out when he looked around and saw they were weren't there yet.
"They are on their Starsky." Dobey assured him.
Susan brushed some of the dirt from Hutch's face. "You are out sweetie, we have you," she said through her tears of joy and fear. "Just hang on, we'll get you to the hospital, you'll be just fine." She laid her head on his chest; Hutch reached up and put his hand on her head. Susan raised up to see if he was awake, his eyes were closed but he had the sweetest smile on his face she had ever seen. His hand dropped back to his side and the smile relaxed.
His angel was there and he was finally ready to go with her. He had tried his best to hang on for his partners to find him. He tried so hard but he was tired, cold and just didn't have the strength to fight anymore. The winged woman was there for him again, he felt her touch him this time. He reached his hand out to her and she was there for him…
She looked across Hutch to Starsky to see if he had witnessed what had happened. The color was drained from the detective's face and he grasped Hutch's wrist to feel for a pulse again. This time there was none. Starsky shook his head. They both knew what they had to do and began CPR immediately.
One of the officers crouched down next to Susan to take over for her. "Get away from me," She snapped as she blew into her husband's mouth.
After what seemed like an eternity the paramedics finally arrived and took over for the two detectives. They worked on him for several minutes more and Hutch finally began to breathe on his own. The paramedics started an IV put him on a gurney and sped him away to the closest hospital.
Susan and Starsky followed behind the ambulance; neither of them spoke except for Starsky complaining under his breath that the ambulance was driving too slowly. The ambulance pulled into the hospital parking lot, and then Hutch was whisked into the emergency room. The two detectives followed but were left to sit in the waiting room for news on their partner. Dobey showed up along with some of the officers from their prescient while the rest went back to spread the news that Detective Hutchinson had been found.


​​​
                                                                                               CHAPTER SIX
​

Susan made two calls one to Libby who was still sitting by the computer. And the other home to her children. Edith Dobey was still caring for them; Harold had called her once letting her know what was going on. She had been able to keep Jesse and Cassy from finding out what was going on but she knew that couldn't last much longer. As time went on more and more was on the television about it. And it had hit the front page of the morning paper. Edith was so relieved when Susan had called telling her they had found Hutch. But she knew that he wasn't out of the woods yet from what Susan had told her. Edith had keep the girls busy cleaning up after the party. She told Jesse that her parents had to leave on police business. But even Jesse knew it was odd for them not to call. One of them always did when they were going to be gone for long periods of time.
When the phone had rang Jesse had picked it up the same time as Mrs. Dobey, she had started to hang it up but when she heard her mother's voice on the other end she held on and listened. Jesse's eyes filled with tears as she listened to her mother tell Mrs. Dobey what had happened to her father. After the two adults had hung up Jesse made a call to the station.
Thirty minutes later Libby pulled up in front of the Hutchinson townhouse and got out. Mrs. Dobey was surprised when she answered the door and found Libby standing there. "I thought you would have been with Susan and Starsky," the older woman exclaimed.
"I got a call from Jesse she asked me to come and get her." Libby said as Jesse appeared at the door.
"Please don't stop me Mrs. Dobey," Jesse pleaded.
"I wouldn't think of it dear." Edith said giving the girl a hug. "You give your parents and Starsky a hug for me. Tell your mother that Davy is just fine."
The doctor walked into the waiting room and stared at the mass of dirty people waiting to hear on Hutch's condition. "Mrs. Hutchinson?" he asked zeroing in on the only woman in the room.
Susan stood up she was a mess as the others were, she pushed back a long strand of hair that hung in her face. She stepped forward to shake hands with the doctor. "I'm Mrs. Hutchinson."
"Your husband is going to be just fine. He is very dehydrated, a bit malnourished, but we have him on IV's that will take care of it. He also has a mild case of hypothermia from being so cold but that shouldn’t have any lasting effects."
Susan sagged with relief, Starsky put his arms around her and they clung together. "Thank you Doctor." Starsky said. "When can we see him?"
"He is sleeping right now but might wake soon," the doctor told them. "You can go in and sit with him. Please keep it to just two at a time."
Starsky and Susan started down the hall toward Hutch's room after getting the room number. "MOM" came a shout from the waiting room
Susan turned just in time to see her daughter running toward her. "Jesse what in the world are you doing here?" Susan asked then saw Libby standing there. She smiled at her friend. "Thanks Libby."
Starsky picked up Jesse in his arms. "Good to see you kiddo."
"How is Daddy?" she asked with tears in her eyes.
"He is going to be just fine honey." Susan told her. "You want to go and see him?"
"You bet!" Jesse exclaimed.
They found Hutch's room and pushed the door open but before they went in Starsky stopped and looked at his goddaughter. "Sweetie, he might not look so good to you. He has some IV's and got a little banged up."
"Uncle Starry, I have seen ER." Jesse sighed. Susan hiked her eyebrows at her daughter wondering when she had seen the show.
Starsky shrugged, "Sorry I let her watch it with me when she comes over."
Susan just smiled and shook her head as they proceeded into the room. Actually Hutch looked better to them. His face had been cleaned up, he no longer had the bluish tint to skin and his breathing was stronger. But to Jesse he looked horrible; she wiggled to be free of Starsky's arms. When he sat her down she went to her father's bedside. She took his big hand in her little one and squeezed it tight.
"I love you Daddy," she said in choked voice. Susan brought a chair close to the bed and pulled Jesse into her arms with her still clinging tightly to her father's hand.
"He's going to be fine," Susan whispered into her hair. "He's sleeping right now he needs his rest to get strong."
"You want to get something to drink Jess?" Starsky asked. She shook her head no.
A nurse entered the room, she glanced at Jesse and started to say something but Susan cut her off. "This is our daughter, she needs to be here." The nurse just nodded and after checking the IV's left them alone.
They sat that way for several hours, Jesse on her mother's lap holding Hutch's hand. Starsky would sit on the other side of the bed, roam the room or stare out the window. Once Susan had suggested that both he and Jesse go find something to eat but neither of them would budge.
It was going into the forth hour when Hutch began to moan and mumble. Jesse tightened her grip on his hand and stood up. "Daddy? It's me Jesse. Wake up please wake up I love you."
Slowly Hutch's eyes opened and the tried to focus on whom was standing next to him. At first he thought it was his angel but then as things became clearer he realized who it was. "Jesse?" he asked to be sure.
"Oh Daddy," she cried and hugged him.
"Hutch," Susan said and bent to kiss his forehead, he smiled up at her.
"Hey buddy," Starsky said. Hutch turned to look at his partner. "Good to see ya."
"Thirsty," he whispered.
"I'll get the nurse," Starsky said leaving the room.
"Who?" he asked looking into Susan's eyes.
"We think it was Agiesti," she answered.
"But he's in jail." Hutch said softly his throat was killing him it was so dry.
"He escaped some how…but don't worry about that now you are safe." Susan said kissing him. Jesse got up on the bed to sit next to him; Hutch put his arm around her.
The nurse came bustling in carrying a pitcher of water and a cup. "So you are awake Mr. Hutchinson. I'll let the doctor know." She sat the pitcher on the bedside table after pouring a small amount in the cup. "You can take tiny sips just don't drink to much your stomach is very empty, it might make you sick."
Hutch took the glass from the nurse and took a couple of sips and grimaced as the water went down his throat. "Throat hurts," he said.
She nodded and assured him, "It will, but it will get better."
Hutch took a few more sips of water his stomach cramped, he was afraid it was going to come up. But after a bit his stomach settled and began to feel better. "I guess food better wait until later."
"You are getting what you need from the IV's right now," the nurse smiled at him. "We'll start you on Jell-O tomorrow." Hutch made a face at her then grinned.
"Visiting hours are about over." The nurse informed them and left.
"I'm going to spend the night," Susan said hugging Jesse. "You let Starsky or Libby take you home."
"But mommy." Jesse protested.
"You need your rest honey." Susan told her. "You can come back tomorrow, I promise."
"Oh OK," she said reluctantly.
The maggots were back crawling over Hutch again, he tried to move but couldn't the box wasn't big enough. They were inching their way towards his face; he knew they would get in his mouth and choke him. "NO! Get them off!" He yelled.
Susan jerked awake to see Hutch thrashing around. She jumped to her feet pushed the button to call the nurse then grabbed Hutch's arm with the IV needles to keep him from pulling them out. "Hutch," she called loudly to him. Hutch's eyes popped open there was a look of sheer terror on his face. Susan turned on the light near the bed. "Are you alright?"
Hutch finally awake enough to know where he was nodded slowly. "Yeah," he breathed. "I am now." He took her hand and squeezed it tightly.
The night nurse came running in. "Is something wrong?"
"My husband was having a nightmare. He might have loosened the IV's." Susan told the nurse. After the nurse checked the needles and left Susan asked. "What were you dreaming about."
Hutch closed his eyes for a moment then opened them slowly and looked at her. "Maggots, they were crawling all over me and I thought I was still buried. I had that same dream over and over again down there. But I also had one of an angel that kept coming for me. The last time I went with her."
Susan was awe struck, "You know you stopped breathing just after we got you out of the ground. I laid my head on your chest, you touched my head then got the most peaceful smile on your face then you stopped breathing."
"I went with her," he said calmly. "I just couldn't hang on any longer I knew you and Starsk were looking for me and I knew you were getting close but…but."
"It's alright," she said kissing him.
Starsky appeared in the doorway. "Everything OK in here."
They both looked up, "What are you still doing here?" Susan asked. "I thought you took Jess home."
"Libby took her, I just couldn't leave." He answered as he came in the room. "I couldn't leave my partners."
After three days the doctor finally released Hutch to go home. They wanted to make sure there were no lasting effects of the hypothermia and that he was able to eat all right. Everybody was waiting for them when they drove up. Huggy and wanted to have the BBQ again but Susan was afraid that Hutch might not be up for that so they just settled on a cake and some ice cream. Hutch never wanted to see Jell-O again.
When Starsky pulled the Torino into the driveway, Jesse ran out holding Davy. Hutch got out of the car slowly his legs still sore from being cramped in the box. He held his arms out to his children, he couldn't believe he had come so close to never seeing them again. Jesse handed Davy to him and then threw her arms around his waist hugging.
Libby, Dobey and Huggy Bear were standing in the doorway waiting for their friend. Susan came and took Davy from Hutch and they walked toward the house. "So Hutchinson, you ready to go back to work?" Dobey joked.
Hutch shook his head, "Nope Captain I am taking my family on a vacation."
"Oh God," Susan exclaimed. "You have got to be kidding. You know what happens every time we go on vacation."
"You could use my cabin," Dobey offered.
"Captain I'll be at work bright and early in the morning," Starsky said. There was no way he was going to Dobey's cabin again. EVER!
"Aw come on Starsk," Susan said poking him with her elbow. "We'll have fun."
"Fun is not going to that cabin." Starsky said. "I hate the woods, I hate that cabin. No offence Cap."
Dobey chuckled. "No taken."
"You are such a chicken Starsk," Susan giggled.
Starsky flapped his arms, strutted around the yard and clucked, "Yep, I’m a chicken."
Davy watched his godfather, and bounced on his mother's hip then started imitating Starsky. They all looked at the baby and burst out laughing. Hutch stopped laughing and just stood and listened to his family and friends and was glad to be alive.
​
THE END