Hey…That’s My Sister
                                                                                                             By Tooki


                                                                                                          Chapter 1

The unmistakable sound of female laughter filtered through Starsky’s apartment door, Hutch had his arm raised to knock when he heard it. Hutch shook his head, it was time for them to leave for work and Starsky was still playing footie’s with an overnight guest. Hutch only hesitated for a few more moments before he rapped on the door with his knuckles.
“Oh crap.” Hutch heard Starsky say from the other side of the door. Hutch shook his head again and knocked a second time.
“Come on Starsky, open up, we’re going to be late.” Hutch called. He didn’t understand why his partner didn’t just let him in, this wasn’t the first time Starsky had a lady in his apartment when he had arrived.
“Just a second,” Starsky yelled then laughed, probably at something his lady had just done to him.
Hutch sighed and leaned on the wall next to the door, he didn’t like cooling his heels. Hutch glanced at his watch; they were going to be late. Finally, Starsky opened the door, “About time,” Hutch growled, he looked around when he entered but didn’t see any sign of Starsky’s friend.
“Sorry Hutch, just noticed what time it was.” Starsky opened the closet and grabbed his holster and gun, then his jacket.
“Somebody new?”
“What?” Starsky was clearly distracted.
“Your lady friend.”
“What lady?”
“Oh come on Starsky, I could her giggles through the door.” Hutch peered around the room. “Where are you hiding her?”
“We are going to be late,” Starsky said preying on Hutch’s punctuality.
“I think we have time, I would like to meet her.”
“Hutch, when I’m ready for you to meet her you will, now let’s go to work, uh?”
Hutch furrowed his brow; it was totally unlike Starsky to be so secretive. “You don’t have a hooker in here do you?” Hutch grinned.
“Excuse me, I’m not hooker,” The bedroom door banged open, a woman dressed in nothing but a white button down shirt of Starsky’s stood there. Her blue eyes were blazing and her long blond hair was tousled. “Will you stop grilling Dave; it’s really none of your business.”
The smile slid from Hutch’s face, “Julie?”
“Hutch, let me explain.” Starsky began.
“Explain that you are sleeping with my sister. She is not some one night stand.” Hutch blustered as his face turned red.
“That is what you think of me, that I would fall in bed with somebody for a one night stand. Tell him David or I will.” Julie commanded.
“Tell me what?” Hutch wanted to know looking from his partner to his sister.
“Hutch, we have been dating for nearly three months, ever since Julie moved to town.” Starsky said, getting ready to duck in case Hutch decided to throw a punch.
“You both have been lying to me for three months?” Hutch was incredulous. “Why?”
Starsky just shrugged, it was Julie who answered as she stepped into the room, “Because Dave was afraid of your reaction and I can see why.”
“My reaction to my sister dating my best friend and then not telling me, how am I supposed to react?” Hutch began to pace. He knew Starsky’s track record ever since Rosie and then Terry; he had not been true to any woman. He was sure his partner was emotionally damaged.
Julie moved toward her brother, “Ken…”
“Will you please put some clothes on?”
Julie nodded and went back into Starsky’s bedroom and closed the door. Hutch turned on Starsky, “That’s my sister.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Starsky felt like crying. “Hutch, I love her.”
“No, no, I don’t want to hear that because I don’t believe you. You are going to leave her broken hearted for me to pick up the pieces. You can’t be serious with any woman for too long and you know it.” Hutch had raised his voice louder than he had intended.
The bedroom door flew open again, Julie still had on Starsky’s oversized shirt but now she had on a pair of blue jeans under it. “Kenneth, I am a grown woman, I can take care of myself. If I get my heart broken then it’s my fault not yours.”
“Whoa, who says I’m going to break anybody’s heart here,” Starsky said, hurt that each of them thought that he was going to break Julie’s heart.
“You are my sister.” Hutch said again.
“Why do you keep saying that, I’m not your pet dog? I might be your sister but you don’t own me and you don’t tell me who to love.” Julie was standing nearly toe to toe with her little brother.
“You love me?” Starsky said, they hadn’t said it yet to each other although he had just professed his love for her to his partner.
“Well of course, silly,” Julie’s face and voice softened as she turned to look at Starsky.
“I love you too.” Starsky smiled at her from across the room but was afraid to get too close to her.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Hutch said backing away from Julie and sitting down on the couch. “You two sound like a bad soap opera.”
Starsky turned to Hutch, “Am I really that bad? Do you think I would purposely hurt your sister?”
“No, not on purpose, you just can’t help yourself.”
“That is a crappy thing to say,” Starsky was beginning to get angry himself.
“It might be crappy but it’s the truth, I can’t tell you how many girls I have had crying on the other end of the phone wanting to know why you never called them back.”
Starsky looked at Julie to see her reaction to what Hutch said. He was sure she would have questions, wanting to know just how many girls there had been.
But Julie’s expression didn’t change, “Ken, I think it’s time you and Dave to go work. I need to get dress and get to work myself. We can discuss this over dinner tonight…my treat.” Julie turned on her heels and went into the bedroom again and slammed the door.
The two men looked at each other; they had just been dismissed.
“Well, I guess we go to work,” Hutch said getting up from the couch. Starsky opened the door allowing his partner to leave first then followed him out. He was going to call goodbye to Julie but then thought better of it and closed the door.

The drive to work was a quite one, Starsky didn’t make fun of Hutch’s car and Hutch didn’t make comments about the donuts they had stopped to get for Starsky. They entered the squad room in silence and went to their desks in silence; it stayed that way until Captain Dobey called them into his office.
The captain looked at his two officers, “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean, Cap?” Starsky said innocently.
“It’s too quiet.”
“Did you call us in here for a reason, Cap?” Hutch asked.
Catching on that it was none of his business, Dobey got down to the matter at hand. “There was a young woman raped last night, I want you two to check into it.” Dobey handed Hutch the file.
“Why us? Sounds pretty cut and dry.” Hutch said after he thumbed through the file and handed it to Starsky.
“Well, it would be except it’s the Mayor’s daughter.” Dobey said as he pointed to the folder Starsky was holding. “Didn’t you notice the name?”
“Katherine Reynolds.” Hutch said.
“Mayor Reynolds?” Dobey raised his voice.
“Cap, Reynolds is a pretty popular name.” Starsky piped up. “Sorry we didn’t make the connection.”
“No, I’m sorry, the Mayor is a personal friend; I have known Kathy since she was a little girl. That is why I want you two to handle this case, discreetly as possible.”
“She’s nineteen?” Starsky asked, making sure he was reading the right age.
“Yes,” She was leaving her dorm when she was attacked, someone jumped out of the bushes, knocked her out, when she woke up, her clothes were ripped and she was bleeding. Tests at the hospital proved she had been raped.”
“We are really sorry, Cap,” Hutch said. “We will be as discreet as possible.”
“Thank you.”

“I guess first thing we need to do is talk to Katherine Reynolds.” Starsky said, dropping the file on his desk. “I hate these cases.”
“Me too.”
“Friends?” Starsky wanted to know.
“I didn’t know we weren’t friends.” Hutch said but didn’t smile at his partner.
Starsky nodded, he knew that Hutch would have to mull the situation of him and Julie over for a while. They should have come clean as soon as they realized that the attraction they had for each other was real.
Starsky couldn’t believe they were driving Hutch’s clunker up to the Mayor’s residence. He cringed as the gate opened and Hutch parked near the front door, Starsky’s only hope was that the heap didn’t drip oil on the Mayor’s pristine driveway.
They were escorted to a large office where they were told to wait. Bookcases adorned the oak lined walls. There was an enormous desk with a large comfy chair behind it. Two smaller chairs that matched sat in front of the desk. The two detectives were unsure if they should sit so they just stood awkwardly as they surveyed the room.
After several minutes the Mayor walked into the room from a side door, his face was grim as he acknowledged the two men, “Thank you for coming, Harold assured me you two are the best.”
“Thank you, sir,” Hutch said shaking the Mayor’s hand.
“We are sorry for the reason we are here, Mr. Mayor.” Starsky said when it was his turn to shake the man’s hand.
“Please, call me Alex,” He said as he walked around the massive desk and sat down. “Have a seat.”
Both detectives sat, Hutch spoke first, “Mr…..Alex, we need to speak to Katharine.”
“She is pretty upset, I just brought her home from the hospital an hour ago, and she is in her room resting.”
“We understand that,” Starsky said gently, “But the sooner we can talk to her the better, before she forgets anything.”
“She was knocked out detective. Kathy doesn’t remember anything.” Alex said as he fiddled with a pen on his desk. “Besides, she already told the police woman at the hospital everything.”
“Alex, I don’t know what you want us to do if we can’t speak to your daughter, I know it’s going to be very difficult for her, but if there is any chance at all of us catching the man that did this we need to speak to her,” Hutch gave Starsky a look that said they were wasting their time.
The Mayor steepled his fingers together and brought them to his lips as he was thinking. “Alright, let me go talk to her.”
After the Mayor left Starsky said, “I hope she is easier than her father.”
“I can understand him wanting to protect her.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Starsky snapped.
Hutch looked at his partner confused. “It means just what I said.”
Starsky started to say something else when the office door opened and a girl that looked more like sixteen than nineteen, wrapped in a pink fuzzy blanket, walked in. She had shoulder length hair and big brown eyes.
“Daddy, could you wait outside?” Kathy asked of her father. He started to protest then nodded and closed the door behind his daughter.
Both detectives stood, “I’m Detective Hutchinson, this is my partner Detective Starsky.”
“Nice to meet you,” She said timidly as she went to sit in her father’s office chair. She curled up in the chair wrapping the blanket around herself.
“We are very sorry,” Starsky said leaning forward, “Could you tell us what happened?”
“I don’t really remember much,” Kathy said as she leaned back and pulled the blanket up around her neck. “I left my dorm, it was just after dark, not late, I was going to my car when somebody came up behind me and knocked me down. I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up in the hospital and the nurse told me I had been raped.”
“They didn’t speak?” Hutch wanted to know.
“No, I just heard footsteps but I didn’t turn around, there are a lot of people walking around on campus, I have never felt unsafe before.” She said meeting his eyes with hers.
“Has anybody been bothering you?” Starsky asked.
“No.”
“Don’t you have some type of security?” Hutch asked.
“My father is a mayor, not the president.” Kathy said as she fiddled with the edge of the blanket. “I guess if there were threats, which there haven’t been any, then I would be assigned security detail.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Hutch wanted to know, Starsky had grown quiet, and he was studying the girl.
“What does that matter?” She wanted to know, Kathy was noticeably nervous.
“We need to start somewhere; we will question him to see if maybe he has noticed anything.”
“Well, I don’t have a boyfriend,” Kathy snapped.
“Okay, then, how about a list of your friends?” Hutch asked taking a pad out of his pocket to make notes.
“You are not going to start questioning my friends.” She stood up, “I just want to forget this whole thing ever happened.”
The two detectives rose also. “I don’t understand why we were called if you don’t intend on finding out who did this to you.”
“It is my father, not me.” Kathy pulled her pink blanket tightly around her and walked across the room, “Sorry to have wasted your time.”
She opened and closed the door; they could hear her and the mayor exchanging angry words. Moments later the door opened again and the Mayor entered. “I’m sorry detectives, seems like my daughter wasn’t very cooperative.”
“There is really very little we can do without her help, Mayor, I’m sorry.” Hutch said. “She won’t even give us her friend’s names.”
“I can do that.”
“It’s pretty obvious she doesn’t want to pursue this.” Hutch said putting away his notebook.
“So this guy is just going to get away with this?” Alex looked angry.
“There isn’t much we can do if your daughter won’t help us.” Hutch said.

As they got into Hutch’s car, Hutch said, “You got awfully quiet.”
“Something’s not right.” Starsky said, “Did she look like a girl that was just raped?”
“You can’t predict how somebody is going to react to something like that.”
“Oh come on, how many rape victims have we interviewed? I have yet talked to one that didn’t cry at least once and none of them would look at us. After a rape all men are evil, and she looked both of us in the eye.”
“She did look scared to death.” Hutch said in her defense but he knew what his partner was talking about.
“If it wasn’t an act, the only thing she could be scared of is that we are going to find out something that she doesn’t want daddy to know about.”
“Boy, you are a real skeptic today Starsk.”
“I thought you had cornered the market on that this morning,” Starsky said as he looked at the mansion.


                                                                                   Chapter 2



Julie was putting the finishing touches on her makeup when she heard the front door slam. A smile played across her painted lips as she thought of the man that just came through the door. She wondered what Hutch would think if he knew she and his partner were nearly living together. She spent far more time at Starsky’s apartment than she did at her own.
“Hi, babe,” Starsky said leaning in the bathroom door.
“So how did it go today? Ken wasn’t an ass to you was he?”
“No, we’re fine,” Starsky answered, Julie wasn’t sure if she believed him.
“I guess we should have told Ken a long time ago.” Julie turned from the mirror and put her arms around his neck.
“Yeah,” Starsky planted a kiss on her cheek and went into the bedroom to remove his clothes; all he needed at the moment was a long hot shower but there wasn’t time.
As he stripped off his jeans Julie came into the room, “Want some company?”
“You’re already to go, just let me hop in and out; I don’t want to be late meeting Hutch for dinner.”
“You worry too much,” Julie grinned, “Don’t let my bratty little brother get to you.”
“He’s like a brother to me Jules; maybe that is what is making this so odd for him.”
“And it’s not odd for you?”
Starsky shrugged, “At first a little, but damn it woman, I love you.” He pulled her into her arms and kissed her hard on the mouth. He released her quickly knowing if they kept it up they would be really late to dinner.
After showering and dressing Starsky found Julie sitting on the couch watching some sort of sitcom. “You ready?” she asked.
He sat down next to her and looked into her eyes with a serious expression, “Before we leave I wanted to talk to you about what Hutch said this morning.”
Julie shook her head, “You have told me about Terry and Rosie, I don’t need to know the rest. You didn’t even have to tell me about them, but I’m glad you did, those two women were very important chapters in your life. I don’t care about the one night stands.”
“How did I get so lucky?” Starsky said, pulling her in his arms again and kissing her until they were both breathless.
She finally pulled away and looked into his blue eyes, “We better get to Huggy’s.”

Hutch was already sitting in a booth at Huggy’s, working on his second beer. He pulled his pocket watch out to check the time, they were twenty minutes late. What a surprise, Starsky was already passing on his bad habits to his sister.
He was grumbling to himself when the couple came in arm in arm laughing, this only put Hutch into a fouler mood. As they approached the table, Hutch patted the seat next to him indicating he wanted Julie to sit next to him.
Starsky released her arm and slid in across from Hutch leaving Julie to decide if she was going to defy her brother. She winked at Starsky and slid in next to Hutch, “How are things baby brother?” Julie asked kissing him on the cheek.
“It would have been better if my partner would learn to be on time,” Hutch growled.
“It wasn’t his fault; it was mine, so just take the scowl off your face.”
“Don’t take up for him, I know my partner and he is always late.”
“I invited everybody to dinner to talk, not fight,” Julie said her face clouding over. “Now be nice, Kenny.”
“Yeah, Kenny, be nice,” Starsky teased. Hutch glared at his partner, making Starsky wished he had kept his mouth shut.
“What can I get you all?” Huggy asked appearing out of nowhere.
“How about a few minutes,” Hutch said a little curtly to his friend than he intended. “Sorry, Hug, we’ll call you over when we are ready to order.”
Huggy gave a sideways glance at Starsky, wondering what was going on. Starsky merely shrugged, Huggy walked away to attend to a couple at the bar.
“Can’t this be a pleasant discussion?” Julie wanted to know. “You have had all day to get used to the idea of David and me dating.”
“Wow, a whole day, and how long has this been going on and I get a whole day to digest it?” Hutch blustered.
“Listen, Kenneth, I’m a big girl; I have been on my own since I was eighteen. I made it with no help from you or mom and dad. I certainly don’t need you to interfere in my life now. Do you want us to stop dating, we can do that?”
Starsky’s mouth fell open. “Hey!”
“Is that what you want, Ken? Do you want us to stop dating?” She repeated
Hutch looked from his sister to his best friend, that was exactly what he wanted. He didn’t want her to have the lifestyle of dating or marrying a cop. It was hard, never knowing if they would come home at night. It wore heavily on relationships, he could attest to that with his own failed marriage, a marriage that his family never knew anything about.
“You know what, screw this, screw you,” Julie got up, she looked at Starsky, “Let’s get out of here.”
Starsky remained rooted to the seat, he was torn, did he go with Julie, a woman he had only know for a few months but was in love with or stay with Hutch, his best friend and partner for years.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to make that choice, Hutch slid out of the booth and grabbed Julie’s arm. “I’m sorry, kiddo, sit down uh?”
She looked at him warily but slid back in the booth with him, “Are you going to stop being so ridiculous? You are acting like we are getting married tomorrow. We are dating, getting to know each other, do I love Dave, yeah I do, will it lead to marriage, who knows.”
Starsky sat watching the two Hutchinson’s, not sure what to do or say. He suddenly realized, not that he hadn’t really known it before, that Julie Hutchinson was a strong woman, who knew what she wanted and probably how to get it. If he would admit it, she scared him a bit, especially at this moment. Marriage? He hadn’t even thought about marriage.
Hutch slumped in the booth and sighed, “I’m sorry…to both of you. I’m not being fair. It doesn’t have anything really to do with Starsk, it’s more the job. I know what that can do to a relationship, it’s not easy, sis.”
“Nothing ever worth anything is.” Julie smiled across the table at Starsky and reached for his hand.
Starsky was almost afraid to take the hand she offered him. But, finally, he grasped her hand and smiled into Julie’s eyes. Then he looked at Hutch, I’ll take good care of her buddy, I promise you.”
Hutch gave his partner a reluctant smile. “I know you’ll try.”
Starsky bristled but let it go, things seem to be calming down and he didn’t want to rile up his partner again. He would show Hutch that he could be a good guy for his sister. His thoughts went first to Rosie, then Terry, he had loved both of them so much and they had both left him, one out of loyalty to her father, the other to death. It had taken all he had in him to start this new relationship with Julie, partly out of respect for Hutch and partly because he wasn’t sure he could get that attached again and Julie seemed like the kind of girl that he could see himself spending forever with. What if she left him like the other two.
Starsky was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear Hutch ask if he was ready to order. “Starsk!” Hutch said again
Starsky came back to the present, “Yeah, what?”
“You ready to order?”
“Sure, sure,” He squeezed Julie’s hand and turned loose of her. Julie got up and slid in next to him, almost daring her brother to say anything but he didn’t.
Hutch motioned to Huggy that they were ready or order. “Order anything you want my treat.”
“I thought I was taking you two out?” Julie grinned at her brother.
“This is my way of making up, how ‘bout it?” Hutch said, “Angie, Huggy’s cook makes one hell of a good steak.”
“Sounds good,” Julie answered.
“Yeah, real good,” Starsky plastered a smile on his face that he hoped didn’t look fake. He needed to talk to someone, that someone was usually Hutch but he wasn’t sure he could do that now. Hutch’s resistance to him and Julie dating and things that his partner had said, had gotten him to thinking…maybe this won’t work. He knew Hutch was worried about him hurting Julie, but what if he was the one that got hurt? There was no question that he had feelings for her, strong feelings, but what if she didn’t really feel the same way? What if she was just trying to get at her brother, what if she were trying to prove a point?
Starsky pushed his food around his plate as Hutch and Julie talked, every so often Starsky would interject with a comment or a question but for the most part he stayed quiet and neither Hutchinson seemed to notice.

When the evening was over Julie and Starsky went back to his apartment, even if she wasn’t planning on staying the night, her car was still there. As they walked up to the door she said, “You sure were quiet tonight.”
Starsky gave a genuine laugh, “I didn’t think either of you even noticed.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I’m just tired, long day or maybe I’m coming down with something, who knows.” Starsky opened the door and allowed Julie to enter.
“Would you like me to go home?” Julie asked. She just got a feeling that maybe he was spooked and needed sometime alone to think. She shouldn’t have brought up marriage; it was the last thing on her mind, at least for now.
Starsky thought for a moment then pulled her into his arms, “No.”
“Would you like to talk?”
And talking was the last thing he had on his mind. “No.” he said as he kissed her and pulled her toward the bedroom.

After the couple left the bar, Hutch went up to pay Huggy Bear what he was owed. “So, I see your sis is dating your partner.”
“Yeah.” Hutch said digging money out of his wallet.
“You don’t sound pleased my man.” Huggy said as he rung the bill up on the cash register. Hutch handed him money, Huggy returned change. “You want to talk about it?”
Hutch shrugged, Huggy poured two glasses of beer and motioned for Hutch to follow him to the far end of the bar where there were no customers. Hutch slid onto the last barstool and Huggy came around the end of the bar. “So what’s going on?”
“I’m just worried, I don’t want to see my sister get hurt, you know Starsky’s track record of late.”
“Maybe a good woman is what he needs and your sister seems to fill the bill, I haven’t seen him smile this much in a long time. Well at least until tonight, he didn’t look too happy.” Huggy said.
“That would be my fault. I was hard on him this morning when I caught him with Julie and not so nice this evening.” Hutch sighed, “I guess I’m just being over protective. Like Julie said, she is a big girl and up until a few months ago we weren’t even really in each other’s lives.”
“My advice is to back off, let this work its self out. If she gets hurt, you will be there for her, if Starsk gets hurt then…well you know, you have gotten him through a lot of crap.” Huggy drained his beer, “I better get back to work.”
Hutch sat his beer down on the bar; something Huggy had said struck him. If Starsk gets hurt. Hutch had been so worried about his sister he didn’t even take into account how it would affect his friend if Julie broke up with him.


                                                                                                 Chapter 3


The next morning instead of going to the door Hutch tooted his horn from the street; he knew his sister was there since her car was parked behind Starsky’s. Starsky was out in a flash, slamming the door behind him. He already had a donut in his mouth as he was slipping his jacket on.
“Already got breakfast I see,” Hutch said as Starsky slid into the passenger’s seat.
Starsky took the pastry out of his mouth and said, “Yeah, Julie….” He stopped and looked at his partner.
“It’s okay, buddy, I know she’s here,” Hutch pointed toward her car. “And I’m sorry I was such an ass yesterday, you deserve to be happy.”
“But?”
“But nothing, I just don’t want to see either one of you get hurt, that’s all.” Hutch said as he pulled away from the curb. “Are you alright?”
“Sure, why?” Starsky asked around his donut.
“You were kind of quiet last night. I guess my outburst didn’t help but that has never stopped you from talking a blue streak before.” Hutch grinned.
Starsky just shrugged and looked out the window.
“Come on, Starsk, I know you better than you know yourself. Spill!” Hutch looked over at his partner this time concerned for him not Julie.
“I can’t talk to you about this, she is your sister.”
Hutch took a deep breath not sure that he wanted to hear what his partner had to say. But he still encouraged him, “Starsky, it’s me, we always talk through everything.”
“It’s different this time.” Starsky said looking rather miserable.
“Just pretend like I don’t know Julie.” Hutch said, “I promise anything you say will be between you and me.”
“Are you sure you won’t get upset?”
“I promise,” Hutch braked at a red light.
Starsky, still looking straight ahead, finally said, “I guess she freaked me out last night talking about marriage! I’m not ready to marry Julie or anybody for that matter. Hutch this is hard for me. I want to be committed to her but like you said, I don’t have the best track record, the two women I gave my heart to one left me and one died.”
Hutch chuckled in spite of himself. “Starsky, last night when Julie was talking marriage she was doing that to get at me. I know my sister; she’s not ready to get married either. Have you talked to her about it?”
“No, I guess I was kind of afraid to open that can of worms.” Starsky gave a quick look at his partner to see if he was mad but trying to hide it. But all he saw on Hutch’s face was concern and love for him.
“Nothing is going to happen to Julie, I know you have to be scared, Terry and Rosie were a long time ago, just give it a chance.”
“I can’t believe you are saying this, Hutch, I thought you were opposed to us going out.” Starsky allowed a small smile to play across his lips.
“I can’t believe it either,” Hutch joked, then turned serious, “I guess if my sister is going to date somebody in L.A., I can’t think of anybody better than you. At least I can keep an eye on you both.”
“Can I ask what brought on this change of heart?” Starsky wanted to know.
“I guess you can thank your local bartender.” Hutch said and turned his attention back to the road.
“Huggy?” Starsky asked wondering what went on after he had Julie had left the bar the night before.

Dobey was yelling their names before they even entered the squad room, both detectives rushed to his office. “What is going on with the Reynolds case?” he demanded the moment they entered his office.
“We really have nothing to go on Cap, Kathy refuses to cooperate with us and the mayor wasn’t much better.” Hutch answered flopping down in front of Dobey’s desk.
“If you want my opinion, I don’t think she was raped at all.” Starsky said, Hutch shot him a look.
Dobey’s face turned red and looked like he was going to explode. “So, now you are a doctor?”
“Hutch and I have interviewed hundreds of women that have been raped, they don’t want to talk and they won’t look you in the eye. They are terrified of men.”
“Not everybody reacts the same way,” Dobey blustered. “What do you think Hutchinson?”
“As for the rape, I don’t know but I would bet she is hiding something.” Hutch answered.
Dobey pondered what he had been told then asked, “So what is your next move?”
“Move?” Starsky said, “We have nothing to go on, there is no next move.”
“Maybe something else is going on here that she needs help with.” Dobey suggested.
“With all due respect Cap, we are not babysitters.” Hutch said.
Dobey glared at Hutch, “Her father is the Mayor of this city so I think it makes this a little more than babysitting, maybe somebody is threatening her.”
“But if she won’t talk, I don’t know what you expect us to do.” Starsky reiterated.
Hutch sighed, “We can do a little more checking, but I don’t think it will get us anywhere.”
Starsky grumbled under this breath, “What was that Starsky?” Dobey asked.
“Nothing Cap, maybe we can look around the college.” Starsky answered.
Starsky was fuming by the time they got back to their desks in the squad room. “Just what does he expect us to do? The girl won’t talk, her father isn’t helpful, where do we go from here?”
“To the college, like you said, maybe we can talk to her roommate and find out what is going on.” Hutch said. They hadn’t even had time to sit down, or grab a cup of coffee.
“You should like all those little co-ed’s, Starsk,” Hutch joked.
“Hey, I’m a taken man, you trying to get me in trouble?”
Hutch clapped Starsky on the back, “Oh, that’s right, nearly forgot you were off the market!”

It was a warm, sunny day as the two detectives made their way to the main office of the college. A secretary greeted them as they came in the door and told them to wait to see the Dean. They cooled their heels for nearly thirty minutes before the secretary finally told them that Dean Simmons would see them.
The Dean was a small, rotund, balding man; he shook their hands as they exchanged greetings, then told them to sit. He asked if they wanted coffee, which Starsky was eager to take, but Hutch spoke up saying that they needed to talk to him about one of the students.
“Go right ahead Detective Hutchinson.” The Dean said graciously.
“Her name is Katherine Reynolds.”
“Oh yes, the Mayor’s daughter.” The dean looked at them over his round glasses. “Have you found out anything about the rape?” The way the man said the word “rape”, it didn’t sound as if he believed it.
“No, I’m afraid not,” Starsky said, “Ms. Reynolds is not been very cooperative.”
The dean made a noise deep in this throat, “That does not surprise me.”
“Why is that?” Hutch asked.
“I’m really not at liberty to say.”
“Dean Simmons, we are not going to get to the bottom of this if somebody doesn’t start saying telling us something.” Starsky was beginning to get frustrated.
The man sighed then got up and closed his office door. “Alright detectives, I’m going to tell you this, but if it gets out it could mean my job.”
“We won’t say where we got the information from.” Hutch promised.
“Ms. Reynolds has been in and out of trouble at this University since she entered last year, she nearly didn’t make it to her sophomore year. She has been caught cheating numerous times; she has tried to steal tests, there are several professors that will not allow her in their classes.”
“Why has she been allowed to get away with this?” Starsky asked.
“Look at who her dad is, nobody wants this University’s name in the newspaper’s headlines for expelling the Mayor’s daughter.” The dean looked ashamed to admit the reason the girl was still there. “Now she is screaming rape? I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe her. I’m sure it’s a ploy get out of a test or a paper she has to write.”
“And I take it that her father knows nothing of this?” Hutch asked.
“We reported a few incidences to him but all he did was write a check, he’s not only the Mayor, but probably one of the richest men in the state. After a while I just stopped reporting to Mayor Reynolds.”
“Well, at least she is not naming a suspect,” Starsky said. “I would hate to see her drag an innocent young man into all this.”
“I just hope it stays that way, you never know what she will say or do next. I’m not sure I can last another two years with that young woman on our campus.” The Dean scratched his balding head.
“If there is anything at all that comes up, that you might think would help us, give us call,” Hutch said handing the Dean a card.
“I will,” the Dean said as he escorted them from his office.
“Oh, one more thing, is it alright if we talk to her roommate and friends.” Starsky asked.
“Of course, my secretary will give you Ms. Reynolds room number and direct you to the correct dorm.”
“Thank you for your time, Dean Simmons.” Hutch said.
Being the middle of the day, the detectives didn’t think they would find, Kathy’s roommate in their room, but surprisingly the young woman was there and answered the door on the first knock. She eyed the two men suspiciously.
“We’re the police,” Starsky said producing his badge. “I’m Detective Starsky; this is my partner Detective Hutchinson.”
“I guess you are here about Kathy?” The girl said without introducing herself.
“Yes, Miss…” Hutch began.
“Keels, Sandy Keels.” She turned and went to sit at her desk where she had books and papers spread out.
“Well, Miss Keels, we are looking for any information that might lead us to the identity of Kathy’s attacker.” Hutch said walking into the room.
“You actually believe her?” Sandy asked surprised.
“She was taken to the hospital and an examination revealed that she had…uh…” Starsky stammered.
“Sex? I’m sure she did, but was it rape? I seriously doubt it. Kathy uses sex to get what she wants, then she plays little innocent school girl for her rich daddy, I have seen it over and over again.” Sandy played with the edge of her book as she talked. “Is she coming back to school?”
“We have no idea, when we interviewed her she was with her father.” Starsky said.
“Are there other friends we can talk to?” Hutch asked taking out his pad to write down names.
Sandy began to laugh, “Friends? Kathy has no friend’s, only victims.”
“What about you?” Starsky asked.
“Her father is paying for my education, all I have to do is stay roommates with her until we graduate and I’m not sure it’s worth it to tell you the truth.” Sandy said, “That girl is crazy.”

As they were leaving the dorm they ran into Julie, “What are you doing here?” Hutch exclaimed in surprise.
“Believe it or not, I’m teaching a class,” Julie laughed at both men’s expressions, it was exactly the reason she hadn’t told either of them that the college had been looking for a business woman to teach a class on women in the business world. Her boss had recommended her and after several interviews she got the job for a semester, with the promise if the class went well they might want to keep her on. Julie wasn’t sure she would want to teach more, but she was finding it fulfilling helping young girls find themselves.
“You are teaching a class,” Hutch repeated with a smirk on his face.
“I have been told that I’m doing a great job and my students happen to love me.” Julie replied with self importance.
“I’m sure those college guys love you,” Starsky quipped.
“It’s all girls, women’s studies,” Julie shook her head, “But, I will say, I have been hit on in the hall a couple times, pretty heady stuff for a forty year old woman.”
“You’re THAT old?” Starsky remarked, winking, for he knew how old she was. Julie was five years older than he.
“Very funny, besides what are you two doing here, thinking of enrolling?” she teased.
“No, we are here looking into a rape case.” Hutch said ruffling her hair.
“Kathy Reynolds?”
“Yeah, you know her?” Starsky asked.
“That kid is a piece of work.” Julie rolled her eyes, “The Dean begged me to take her in my class since so many of the professors won’t allow her in theirs.”
“Since you know her, do you think she is lying about the rape?” Hutch asked.
Julie started walking to the parking lot, her class was over and she needed to get back to work. “Ken, why don’t you come over tonight and we can talk about her. I have to go back to work.”
“Okay, sounds good, that is if Starsk doesn’t mind.”
“Why would I mind, just bring beer.”


                                                                                            Chapter 4


Hutch kicked the door with the toe of his shoe, he was carrying two six packs of beer and bouquet of flowers for Julie. Starsky opened the door almost immediately, he took the flowers, “You shouldn’t have.”
“I didn’t, they’re for Julie,” Hutch laughed shaking his head.
Starsky handed the flowers to Julie and took one of the packs of beer. Julie hugged her brother, “Thanks Ken, they’re beautiful, but you have apologized so you don’t need to bring me flowers.”
“I know, I just wanted to bring my favorite sister flowers, is that okay?” Hutch kissed her cheek.
“HA….I’m your only sister,” she teased.
Hutch followed his partner into the kitchen and put the rest of the beer in the refrigerator. “What’s cooking?” he asked as he lifted the lid of the pot on the stove.
“My special spaghetti sauce, nosey,” Julie answered taking the lid from his hand. “And it’s not done yet so why don’t you boys get a beer and go in the living room.”
“Bossy.” Hutch quipped as he grabbed two beers from the fridge. Both men retired to the living room with Starsky flopping down on the couch and putting his feet on the coffee table.
Julie followed them with her own beer, “David, feet off the table.”
Starsky rolled his eyes, “I see Hutch isn’t the only bossy one.”
Julie snapped Starsky in the back of the head with a dish towel she had hung over her shoulder. “Watch it.” She settled next to Starsky and Hutch sat in a chair across from them.
“So, Julie, what do you know about Kathy Reynolds?” Hutch asked taking a long drink of his beer.
“I really don’t know much, just what I told you today. Most of what I know I have overheard.” Julie answered. “The students talk, especially the girls; it’s amazing what you can learn just by listening.”
“Do you think she was raped?” Starsky asked.
“That isn’t really a question I can answer. Don’t you have evidence?”
“She had sex but that doesn’t mean she was raped. She didn’t have a mark on her and rapists usually aren’t gentle.” Hutch said; he felt a little funny discussing the issue with his sister.
“Her roommate suggested that she wasn’t raped at all.” Starsky said. “Ms Reynolds doesn’t seem to be well liked.”
“I can see why, that girl is as mean as a snake.” Julie said. “She has been nothing but trouble in my class; that is when she’s there. She never turns in her assignments; I’m going to have to fail her.”
Hutch looked at his partner; he could see the wheels turning. “What is it Starsk?”
Starsky turned to Julie, “Call her in for a conference or whatever you call it in college, use the guise of her grades and see if you can get her to talk.”
Julie furrowed her brow, “I’m not a social worker. Besides, why would she talk to me? I’m sure she hates me because I’m always on her back about coming to class. Why don’t you two talk to her?”
“We tried that sis and got nowhere.” Hutch said liking Starsky’s idea. “Just give it a try, huh? What could it hurt? Maybe she just needs somebody to open up to.”
“The police department is going to have to start paying me extra.” Julie teased.
“So, does that mean you’ll do it?” Starsky asked.
Julie nodded, “If she comes to class.”

Later that evening after dinner was eaten and Hutch had left, Starsky and Julie lay in bed. “So, you think he is getting use to the idea?” Julie asked.
“You mean us?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, at the moment he has this case on his mind,” Starsky said. “I don’t think we are out of the woods yet.”
Julie laughed as she kissed Starsky. “Maybe he will get used to it by the wedding.” Starsky pulled away from her. He didn’t like the talk of marriage and weddings. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Starsky said quietly.
“You did this to me the other night.”
Starsky sighed and sat up in bed, then turned on the bedside lamp, “It’s just you keep mentioning marriage and I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Starsky prepared himself in case Julie became outraged.
But the blonde only laughed. “Babe, the last thing on my mind right now is marriage. You don’t have to worry about that, at least not for long while.” She winked at him.
He let out a really long breath “Really? You aren’t just saying that?”
“Hell, no! You have been the steadiest boyfriend I have had in years. I’m used to being on my own and I’m not ready to jump into something permanent, I like the way things are. Don’t you?”
“I love the way things are,” Starsky snuggled close to her. “And I love you; I just didn’t want to lead you on.”
“Why are you so down on marriage?” She asked.
“I wouldn’t say I’m down on it, just careful, it didn’t work out so good for Hutch.” (Uh…oh!)
“What didn’t?”
“Marriage.”
“Ken was married?”
Starsky sat up again, knowing he had just put his foot in it. “It’s getting late,” He reached over and turned the light off and worked his way under the covers.
“Oh no you don’t, David Starsky, what are you talking about? When was Ken married?” she demanded.
“It was a long time ago,” he mumbled.
“If you don’t spill, I’m getting up and calling Ken right now.” Julie threatened.
“No, don’t do that,” Starsky said turning over to face her. “It’s not something he likes to talk about. If I tell you, promise me, you won’t ask him about it. There is no need to stir up those bad memories.”
“Alright,” Julie agreed.
“Her name was Vanessa; they were married less than five years, I barely knew her and they divorced shortly after Hutch became my partner.”
“Where is she?”
“Van came back to town a while back; she was into some shady dealings with a fence and was murdered in Hutch’s apartment. He had a warrant out for his arrest, all the evidence pointed to him killing her. But we were able to prove that he didn’t, of course.”
“Oh my God!” Julie exclaimed, “How horrible for him. Why didn’t he ever tell us about it?”
“Obviously, I didn’t know he hadn’t or I wouldn’t have opened my big mouth.” Starsky said looking at her in the darkness.

Hutch lay in bed staring at the ceiling, he had a feeling sleep would be long in coming tonight. He felt a twinge; could it be he was a bit jealous of the relationship between his partner and sister? Hutch shook his head trying to shake the idea from his brain. But they had something he hadn’t had in a while now. He had accused Starsky of being emotionally damaged but he had his ghosts too, a couple of his women had died, Gillian and Vanessa. He and Van might have been divorced but he still had feelings for her and he had never truly gotten over her walking out on him. He hadn’t realized he still had feelings for her until she had called him out of the blue. Her death as well as Gillian’s had hit him hard. There had been a few others but none of them ever stuck around, nobody wanted to be married to a cop. That was his greatest worry with Julie; it was a novelty at the moment but what happened when it wore off? Would she leave him after one too many nights sitting at home wondering if he would come home, or if she would get that knock on the door or that phone call?
Pounding his pillow, Hutch tried to get comfortable, but all he could see was the way Starsky and Julie, looked at each other, laughed, lightly touched hands during dinner and they were nearly finishing each other’s sentences. Maybe he needed to find somebody like his sister. What was he saying? Hutch sprung up out of bed, and went to the kitchen for a cup of water. He just needed a strong independent woman, but wasn’t that what Vanessa had been? Maybe he was just meant to be alone, sadly he padded back to his bed and crawled in, the bed seemed vast to him, and it was much too big for just him.

Hutch was reluctant to get out of bed the next morning but he knew Starsky would be there to get him soon. At least he wouldn’t have to see Julie’s smiling face this morning. Slowly he climbed out of bed and headed for the shower.
When he came out of bedroom dressed, Starsky was sitting on the couch. “Hey, Hutch! Hope you don’t mind that I let myself in, you didn’t answer the door.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you knock,” Hutch said faking a good mood, the last thing he needed was his partner questioning as to what was up. “Is Julie going to try to talk to Ms Reynolds today?”
“She said if the girl came to class today she would, if not, maybe she would try and contact her,” Starsky relayed the information. “She will give us a call if she talks to her.”

To Julie’s surprise Kathy Reynolds was in class, sitting in the back row, slid down in the seat as far as she could looking rather glum. “Miss Reynolds, is everything alright?”
“Sure,” Kathy said without looking up.
“Would you please stay after class?” Julie asked.
“Why?”
“Because I asked you to,” Julie said in an even voice. All she wanted to do was turn the young woman over her knee and give her a good spanking.
“Fine,” she snapped.
An hour later class was over and Kathy Reynolds was standing in front of Julie’s desk. “What is it Ms. Hutchinson, I have things to do.”
“Please, sit down.”
Grudgingly, Kathy sat down, she stared at the floor.
“Miss Reynolds…Kathy…” Julie began. “I know you have been having a hard time and I just wanted to know if there is something I can do.”
Kathy looked up and tears filled her eyes, “Things are just horrible. I don’t want to be here.”
“That is obvious,” Julie said sternly, then checked herself. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“Can you make my dad love me?”
“Excuse me?” Julie was taken aback by the girl’s words. She was expecting her to complain about her grades or professors, even friends.
“My mother ran off when I was very young, she just didn’t want children, she wanted to be the wife of a politician, not a mother. When I was born, my father made her stay at home with me. No more parties, no traveling, just staying at home. She hated it, so she left. After she left, my father was very cold to me. He hired a nanny and that was the end of it, well except to throw money at me, like that would make up for parents that didn’t care.”
“When was the last time you saw your mother?”
“The day she left and that was from the window, she never even said goodbye.” Kathy reached for a tissue on Julie’s desk.
“I don’t want to be mean, but what does that have to do with you being in college?” Julie wanted to know.
“Daddy just wanted me out of the house; the best place for me was school, so here I am.”
“Why don’t you take advantage of it, get a degree on his dime and then do what you want, you will be able to get a good job. I know you are a smart girl, I have seen your test scores.” Julie advised.
“Thank you,” Kathy smiled at her professor. “Can I go now? I’m going to be late for my next class and if I’m going to make something out of myself I had better get busy.”
Julie nodded but gave the girl a suspicious look as she left the lecture room, it had been too easy and she hadn’t broached the question of the rape, she had been so thrown off by the girl’s admission about her parents and it had slipped her mind. Maybe she would pull her aside the next day now that they had seemed to have built up some trust.


                                                                                                      Chapter 5

Hutch was surprised to see Julie walk into the squad room just before lunch. He jumped up as she pushed open the door. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some time before I needed to be back to work so I thought I would drop by,” Julie said following him to his desk. She was looking around the room to see if Starsky was there.
“He had to go down to booking.” Hutch said as he held out a chair for her.
“Who?” Julie said innocently.
Hutch just looked at her and shook his head. “So you talked to Kathy Reynolds?”
Julie nodded but got distracted as Starsky entered the room. “Hey hon,” Starsky said as he planted a quick kiss on her lips. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was just about to tell Ken that I had talked to Kathy Reynolds this morning.” Julie had only eyes for the dark headed detective.
Hutch suddenly feeling like a third wheel asked, “So what did she have to say?”
“What that poor girl has been though, her mother leaving her at such a young age and all, the way her father treats her, it’s a crime.”
Both men looked at her quizzically. “What are you talking about?” Starsky asked.
“Ellen Reynolds hasn’t gone anywhere!” Hutch said, “That girl is snowing you. Does she know you are new to town?”
“I’m sure she does, I told the class about myself on the first day.”
“She is taking you for a ride, trying to make you feel sorry for her. “ Starsky shook his head, “That girl needs some help!”
Quickly Julie relayed the rest of what Kathy had told her. “How could she say those awful things about her own parents if they weren’t true?”
“It was just probably a ploy to get you to pass her most likely.” Starsky said.
Julie’s face grew angry, “I don’t like being played, I have a mind to call up her parents and tell them what she is saying.”
“I’m sure the Mayor will just throw some bills at the college.” Hutch said.
“You sound like Kathy, what makes you think he is a terrible father?” Julie wanted to know, her eyes boring into her brother.
“Come on, sis, this isn’t a cause that you need to take on.” Hutch said remembering his sister from younger days when she would champion causes that nobody else would touch. Once she had picketed the animal shelter because she thought that the animals were being treated unfairly because they were locked in cages. No matter how much their mother had explained to her that they had to be or they would just run the entire place, it hadn’t changed Julie’s mind. Finally the shelter offered her a kitten of her choice if she would go away; she had been all of eight years old. That was only one example and Hutch knew that look on her face very well.
“But this girl needs help, just sweeping it under the rug is not going the help her.” Julie persisted. “And I am her teacher.”
“Julie it’s not your job, it’s not our job either. We were sent there to see if there was anything to this rape case and it’s looking more and more like there was no rape.” Starsky said.
“Yeah, now if we can just convince Dobey of that.” Hutch quipped. Their Captain was still insisting they work the case.
“Well, I’m going to at least try and talk to her again.” Julie said looking at her watch, she got up. “I better get moving, I’m going to be late back to work.”
“Thanks for talking to her Julie, and please for all our sakes, let this go. Her dad is a powerful man.” Hutch warned her.
After Julie left Starsky asked, “Is she always like that?”
“Well, she was when we were kids. She just loved a fight.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t become a lawyer.”
“Funny you should say that Starsk, that is exactly what she wanted to be but our father would not hear of it.”
“And she let that stop her?”
“I have no idea what my father had on her but I’m sure it was something good. You see how she is, nothing stops her.” Hutch said smiling fondly as he thought of his sister carrying the sign back and forth at the shelter.

It was late when Starsky got home that night; Julie was snuggled in bed reading a book when he entered the bedroom. “What are you reading?”
Julie put the book down. “The Feminine Mystique, it’s for class.”
“Sounds scary!” Starsky laughed as he stripped off his blue jeans and t-shirt. He went into the bathroom and closed the door.
Julie stared at the book for a few more minutes then tossed it on the bed and got up. She opened the bathroom door, steam poured out and she could hear Starsky humming to himself. “So what do you think of this whole Kathy thing?”
“Jesus Julie, scare me to death.” Starsky jumped, startled by her voice, soap ran into his eye, “Hand me a towel,” He yelped.
“Here,” she absently handed him a towel. “I just don’t understand this whole thing. How dysfunctional can a family be?”
Wiping the soap from his eye, Starsky said, “Hutch and I have seen some pretty dysfunctional families in our years on the streets. Theirs is nothing. At least they have money.”
“Money isn’t everything.”
“I didn’t say it was,” Starsky peeked around the shower curtain; he was hoping that Julie was undressing with plans to join him but she wasn’t. “I just meant Hutch and I see some pretty horrible things.”
“I have to do something Dave, I just can’t allow that girl to go on like she is, she will never make anything of herself.”
Starsky sighed and turned the water off; wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out on to the bathmat. “Julie, you’ve got to leave this alone, it’s none of your business.”
“Well, I’m going to make it my business.”

Friday came around quickly and Kathy Reynolds hadn’t returned to school, Julie checked in the office to see if it was just her class the young woman was skipping, but as it turned out she hadn’t been there at all. Even her roommate hadn’t seen her. Julie asked the office secretary for Ms. Reynolds’ address and even though the woman gave her a funny look she still wrote it down.
After announcing herself at the gated Mayor’s home, she was surprised to be met by the Mayor himself. He was standing on the steps waiting her arrival. He smiled and extended his hand to her as she came up the steps. “Miss…what was it?” He asked.
“Hutchinson, Julie Hutchinson.”
He thought for a moment, “There was a police detective here by that name several days ago.”
Julie smiled, “That would have been my brother.”
Mayor Reynolds nodded and escorted her into the house, “I’m glad you took the time to come and see me about Kathy. She has been having trouble in school.”
Julie studied the man to see if he was putting on a show for her but he seemed sincere, “I’m worried about her, Kathy is a bright girl and has some wonderful ideas, she just doesn’t seem to be very motivated. And frankly, I’m worried about the tales she tells about you and your wife.”
Alex Reynolds eye brows shot up, it was the first he had heard of this, the stories of her not applying herself yes, but stories about him and his wife. “Please come into my office Miss Hutchinson.”
“Please, call me Julie,” That was the last thing that Kathy heard from her hiding place near the stairs leading up to the second level. A scowl formed on her face and she quietly made a dash to her bedroom and picked up the phone on her bed side table.
Just before Julie exited the mansion, Kathy scurried down the driveway to a battered nondescript car that was waiting for her with the motor running. Alex opened the front door and followed Julie to her car, “I assure you, this will be handled. I can’t believe Kathy was telling people that her mother left when she was little.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I think she only told me that story to make me feel sorry for her.” Julie smiled at the mayor.
“She shouldn’t be telling anybody that, her mother has taken excellent care of her.” Alex shook his head, “Not that you could tell by the way she is acting. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.”
“I’m just glad I could help,” Julie slid into her car and the Mayor closed the door for her. He waved as she drove down the driveway. If he had stood there watching he would have seen the battered car pull out right after Julie and follow her down the street.

Julie was weary from the long week and her talk with the Mayor; she decided to go to her apartment before heading to Starsky’s. She was tired of wearing what she had left there and thought she would take a long, slow bubble bath and put on something he hadn’t seen a million times. As she was parking and getting out of her car she wondered if he would ever ask her to move in with him, they were practically living together anyway.
“Miss Hutchinson?” Julie spun around to see who had called her. A car that had seen better days was pulled over at the curb. As Julie drew closer to the car she could see that the driver was Kathy Reynolds.
“Kathy, what are you doing here?” Julie asked surprised. Students were not allowed access to the staff’s addresses and it was only by chance that Julie had even gone to her apartment. She moved closer to the car, “Is there something wrong?”
“Why were you at the house?” she wanted to know.
“I thought your father needed to know about the lies you have been spreading about your family,” Julie said without mincing words. “If you would like to talk, why don’t you come in?”
“I don’t need to talk; I need you to get in the car.” Kathy growled.
“I don’t think so,” Julie said and started to back away.
A male voice came from the back seat, “You need to get in the car.”
Startled Julie took another step back nearly tripping. “I think you need to just go home.”
“Get in the damn car,” the male voice said in a deadly tone but this time he brandished a gun.
Julie looked around to see if there was anybody out and about that she could signal for help but the street was deserted. She was afraid if she ran he would jump out, chase and possibly shoot her. “Can’t we just talk about this?”
“Please, Miss Hutchinson, just get in the car before my boyfriend decides to shoot you.” Kathy gave her an eerie grin.
Reluctantly Julie got into the passenger seat, she knew she should have called out for help or tried to run and taken her chances but she didn’t.

Hutch had just emerged from the shower when the phone rang; toweling his hair he moved to answer the phone. “Yeah.”
“Hey is Jules there?”
“No Starsk, I haven’t seen her today.” Hutch said sitting on the edge of the couch. “I thought you guys were going out to dinner tonight.”
“We were but she never showed.” Starsky’s tone was worried; she was as punctual as her brother.
“Maybe she got held up at work.” Hutch suggested looking at a clock on the wall; it’s only a bit after seven.
“You know Julie, she would have called.” Starsky was stressing, Hutch could hear it in his voice.
“Let me get dressed and I’ll be right over.”
Twenty minutes later Hutch arrived at his partner’s apartment to find him pacing the floor. “It’s about time.” Starsky said.
“Have you called her apartment?”
“First place I called and I called work; she didn’t show after her class this morning.”
It was Hutch’s turn to be worried; it was not like his sister to blow off work or anything for that matter. “Let’s ride over to her apartment.”
“What if something has happened to her?” Starsky fretted.
“It’s going to be fine, maybe she fell asleep.”
“And slept through me calling a dozen times? I don’t think so.”
“Let’s not jump to any conclusions until we get there.”
When they got to Julie’s apartment, Hutch pulled in behind her car, “See, I told you she was here.”
“Then why didn’t she answer the phone?” Starsky jumped out of Hutch’s car and went to examine Julie’s.
“Maybe she walked to the store, who knows. Let’s go knock on the door, uh?”
Satisfied that everything about Julie’s car looked normal, Starsky followed his partner up the steps to her apartment. Hutch knocked loudly several times and called Julie’s name but there was no answer. “Do you have a key?” Hutch asked Starsky.
“No, we are always at my place so I never needed one.” Starsky answered as he pounded on the door a few more times.
Suddenly there was a shout from a window above them. “What is all the racket down there?”
The two detectives stepped back so they could see who was yelling at them. An older woman had her face pressed to the screened in window and was peering down at them. “We are sorry ma’am but we are looking for the woman that lives here.”
“She not there, hardly ever is anymore.”
Hutch shot a look at Starsky, “Have you seen her recently? Her car is parked out front.”
“Yeah, I saw her, but she got in another car and they drove off.”
“What kind of car?” Starsky asked.
“I don’t know, some kind of crappy thing,” the woman said. “Now are you boys going to stop hollering down there?”
“Just one more question,” Hutch asked.
She sighed, “Go on.”
“Could you tell us about what time she got in the car?”
The woman thought a moment, “I guess it was about four or so. My soap had just gotten over.”
“Thanks,” Hutch called up.
As they moved toward Hutch’s car Starsky said, “You are the only one I know with a crappy car.”
“Very funny.” Hutch growled as they jumped in his beat up car.

                                                                                               Chapter 6


As Hutch pulled away from the curb Starsky grabbed the microphone, “What are you doing?” Hutch asked.
“I’m going to put out an APB on Julie.”
“We don’t know if she was taken, maybe she was just going out with friends.” Hutch suggested but not really believing his own words.
“Hutch, we were supposed to have dinner, I don’t think she was meeting friends.” Starsky said, “Besides, do you know any of her friends, has she said anything about anybody? She spends all her time with us.”
“Alright, call it in,” Hutch said as he pushed down on the accelerator not knowing where he was going.”
After Starsky radioed into the station he turned in the seat and looked at Hutch, “Now what?”
“I don’t know, what was she doing today?” Hutch asked.
“Work, teaching, work, we know she never made it back to the office.” Starsky looked at his watch, it was nearly eight. “They’re gone from the office and the college, it’s a Friday night. We can’t wait until Monday to ask questions.”
“We can call her boss at home, maybe the dean,” Hutch said, “Why don’t we go back to the station and make some calls see where it leads us?” Starsky didn’t answer; Hutch looked over at his partner then reached out and gripped his shoulder tightly. “Well find her Starsk, I promise.”
Starsky gave a bitter laugh, “You’re comforting me? She’s your sister, your family.”
“You are family too, buddy.”

“Just shut up,” Kathy yelled at Julie when she tried to speak, “You are screwing everything up. What gave you the right to meddle in my private life? Who are you to think you can go to my house and talk to my parents?”
“Oh, so you have two now do you?” Julie snapped. “I thought your mother left you.”
“Shut the hell up,” the young man from the back shouted in her ear.
“Where are you taking me?” Julie wanted to know, she wasn’t exactly scared, and her mind was racing on how she could possibly get away.
Kathy glanced over her shoulder at Ray, her boyfriend of six months. It hadn’t been a perfectly thought out plan. She had been so angry when the woman had turned up at her home that she had wanted to kill her, but her anger had somewhat dissipated. Kathy didn’t really want to hurt her teacher as much as she wanted to scare her.
“Shut up,” He snarled again as he waved the gun near the side of her head.
“Listen, if you just let me out, I won’t tell, promise,” Julie said hoping she didn’t sound like she was pleading.
The light turned red and Kathy looked like she was thinking about doing just that. “Answer me one thing?”
“Sure.”
“Something has been nagging at me, your last name sounded familiar,” Kathy said, “Are you related to a cop that came to my house?”
For a moment Julie thought about lying but then said, “Yes, he’s is my brother.”
“Her brother is a cop? Are you freaking crazy Kath?” Ray in the back seat freaked out. “Do you really think she will not tell him?”
“Quite Ray,” Kathy said in an annoyed tone.
“I should have never have gone along with this, you are crazy.” The panic in his voice was evident.
“Ray!”
“Come on, it’s obvious that neither of you thought this out, just let me go.” Julie said. “I won’t tell Hutch, okay?”
“And I supposed the other one is your boyfriend?” Kathy snapped.
“Wel-l-l.”
“Oh, come on.” Ray screeched. “You really know how to pick a winner.”
“Do you want to go to jail Ray, do you? You can forget all your hard work.” Kathy sent him a searing look.
There was a honk behind their car, Kathy jumped and looked in the rear view mirror expecting to see a cop, but it was just an angry motorist. She glanced up to see the light was green and stepped on the gas.
“Are you prepared to use that gun Ray?” Julie wanted to know.
“Aw hell, I’m a med student, you think I could kill anybody?”
“RAY!”
“Oh shut up Kathy, the thing isn’t even loaded.” Ray said and aimed the gun at the window. “See?” He pulled the trigger and the window exploded sending a shower of glass all over them.
Kathy swerved and nearly plowed into a parked car, “Are you freaking crazy?” She screamed slamming on the breaks. Cars behind them pulled around the stopped car and sped away.
“Let’s get the hell out of here before somebody calls the cops.” Ray said dropping the gun onto the back seat.
Julie shook her head; both her ears were ringing from the deafening sound of the gun going off and the window shattering. “Are either of you hurt?” She looked at her lap that was covered with glass and she had a few cuts on her hands, but other than that she thought she was okay.
Kathy pulled back out into traffic without answering; her hands shook on the steering wheel. “Damn it Ray, now what are we going to do?”
“Let me out.” Julie said.

The radio squawked and Starsky grabbed the microphone. “Zebra Three here.”
“Shots fired.”
“Listen, we are busy.” Starsky growled.
“The description of the car was a beat up, possible silver car. The shot came from inside the car, it shattered the windshield, we’ve had more than a dozen calls on this.”
Both detectives perked up. “Where?”
By the time they got to the scene the car was long gone but there was glass in the street. They looked around but any driver that had called it in was also gone. “Damit!” Starsky slammed his hand on the hood of the car. “How are we supposed to find this car?”
“We aren’t even sure it had anything to do with Julie.” Hutch said, but he had a gut feeling. Starsky had the same feeling, he just looked at Hutch. “Okay, well we know they are heading east, probably out of town; at least that would be where I would be headed.”
“But who would have taken her and why?” Starsky frowned.
Hutch shook his head, “I don’t know who she could have made mad enough that they would have kidnapped her?”
Their heads jerked up at the same moment and they looked at each other, and said at the same time. “Kathy Reynolds!”
“But do you think she would do something like this?” Hutch wanted to know.
“Maybe if Julie pushed hard enough, she talked all week about speaking to Kathy’s parents.” Starsky said remembering several conversations he had with her.
“This is a wild goose chase, why don’t we make a trip to the Mayor’s and see if Julie ever showed up and find out where Kathy is.” Hutch suggested getting back in the car.
When the detectives pulled in the driveway, like with Julie, the Mayor was standing waiting for them. “Have you found Kathy?”
“What?” Hutch got out of the car.
“I called the police thirty minutes ago, Kathy is gone.” Alex Reynolds said.
“We are here because Julie Hutchinson is missing. Was she here?” Starsky wanted to know.
“Why yes, several hour ago, after she left I went to talk to Kathy and she was gone. I called all her friends nobody knows where she is. And her boyfriend Ray is missing too and took his mother’s car.” Alex relayed all the information he had. “What the hell is going on?”
“We believe that Kathy probably followed Julie from here to her apartment and forced her to go with her.” Starsky said.
“Why would she do that?”
“Because Julie ratted her out to you. I think she is the first person to stand up at that college and call Kathy on her actions. Now, I don’t know what your daughter’s problem is or why you haven’t done anything about it. But if she hurts my sister, your money won’t keep her out of jail.” Hutch nearly yelled at the man.
Alex’s face crumbled, “She is on medication. When she is taking it she is the sweetest girl you could ever meet, but when she is off, well you have talked to her, you know what she is like.”
“Do you think she would harm Julie?” Starsky asked anxiously.
“I don’t think so.”
“What about the boyfriend?”
The Mayor nearly smiled, “Ray? No, he wouldn’t hurt a fly; I don’t know why he puts up with Kathy’s crap.”
Both of the detectives relaxed a bit, but there was always a chance that something could go wrong, there was a gun in the car. “Do you own a gun, Mayor?” Hutch asked.
“No, of course not.”
“Well, we have reports that a car matching the description of the one that Julie got in had its windshield shot out from the inside.” Hutch replied.
“WHAT? Where would they have gotten a gun?” Alex began to pace, wringing his hands. “When I get my daughter back she is going in the hospital, she is just out of control.”
The detectives looked at each wondering why it had taken such extremes for the man to realize what was happening to Kathy.
“We need the name of Ray’s mother.” Starsky said.
“Sure, sure,” Alex disappeared into the house and returned with a piece of paper. “Take it easy on Alice, she isn’t a well woman.”
Alice Wallace was a slender woman who looked as though she had been ill for a long time; she had dark circles under her eyes and could barely walk as she welcomed the detectives into her meager living room. “You are here about my son?”
“Yes, Mrs. Wallace. You reported your son missing and your car stolen?” Hutch asked taking out a pad of paper in order to get a better description and license plate number of the car.
“I wouldn’t say the car was stolen, I’m sure my son took it.” She qualified as she carefully sat down in a chair. “Please, have a seat.”
Both men remained standing. “We believe that your son has helped Kathy Reynolds kidnapped one of her teachers.”
“What?” Alice looked up at them with red rimmed eyes. “Ray wouldn’t do that.”
“Ma’am, it’s looking like that, I’m sorry.” Starsky said his patience draining away. “Do you own a gun?”
“Yes sir, I have a permit for it, we don’t live in the best neighborhood and Ray is often gone.” Alice lifted herself out of the chair and went to a china cabinet standing in the corner. She opened the drawer and moved around some linen’s she had covering the weapon, then she went to the next drawer. She turned around with a horrified look on her face, “It’s gone.”
“We need a description of the car and the plate number.” Hutch said poised to write down the information.
“Please don’t hurt Ray, he is a good boy. I know Mayor Reynolds is helping with his education expenses, but ever since he got hooked up with his daughter things have been….” She trailed off.
As soon as they left the Wallace’s, Starsky put on an APB on the car with a description of Kathy, Ray and Julie again. “Hope Kathy doesn’t do anything stupid.” Starsky fretted.
“These kids aren’t criminals, they just got in over their heads,” Hutch said trying to convince Starsky as much as himself. They had no way of knowing if anybody had gotten hurt when the gun had gone off in the car.


                                                                                                   Chapter 7


“Kathy, you have got to pull over,” Julie said, there was blood running down the girls face from a cut on her forehead, “You’re hurt.”
Ray nearly fell into the front seat trying to get a look at Kathy. “You are bleeding, come on Kath, pull over.”
“No, I can’t,” Tears were forming in the girls eyes; she was tired and scared and hated what she had become.
“Where do you plan on going then?” Julie asked. “I know you aren’t going to hurt me. Why don’t you let me call my brother?”
“NO!” Kathy wailed as she began to cry in earnest.
“Then let me drive,” Ray said, Kathy was beginning to swerve all over the road. “The way you are driving you are going to kill us all.
Kathy shook her head.
“Do you want to kill the baby?” Ray asked, knowing that would get her to do what he wanted.
“Baby?” Julie looked at Kathy in shock. “You are pregnant? That is what this is all about?”
“Ray, shut up,” Kathy hissed but finally pulled the car over. She looked over a Julie, “Don’t try anything.”
“I won’t,” Julie promised, she had decided that the girl needed her help.
Ray climbed into the driver’s seat while Kathy crawled in the back, she looked exhausted. “Just drive, uh?” she said without much conviction.
“Sure, sure,” Ray said as he pulled out into traffic.
Julie leaned over the seat, “How far along are you, hon?”
Kathy was surprised at the concern that was in her teacher’s voice considering what she had been putting her through for the last several hours. “Almost four months.”
“That is why she has been acting so crazy, she had to go off her medication, she was afraid it would hurt the baby.” Ray informed Julie.
“Damn it Ray, shut up.”
“Have you been to a doctor?” Julie asked Kathy, reaching out to take her hand.
“I went to the campus clinic once, that’s where I found out I was pregnant.” Kathy said taking Julie’s hand. “I can’t tell daddy, he will kill me. That was why I made up the rape story; I figured I could blame the pregnancy on that. But then after I called the police and went to the hospital I realized it wouldn’t work, I was too far along.”
“Kathy, we need to end this now. I’ll help you talk to your dad, he might surprise you.” Julie looked at Ray, “Are you the father?”
Ray nodded, his eyes were round and scared. “I wanted her to go to her dad in the first place but she was just too scared.”
“Ray, pull over there,” Julie pointed to a payphone outside a quick mart. “Kathy, I’m going to get out and called Ken I’m going to tell him we are going back to your father’s and to meet us there. “
“But I don’t want to have my baby in jail and Ray, this isn’t his fault, he was just…”
Julie smiled at the girl, “Nobody is going to jail, I’m not going to press charges. We just went for a little ride because you needed some advice.”
“You would do that for me after all this?” Kathy was amazed by the woman’s kindness.
“Everybody miss steps once in a while, there is no need for you to pay for it the rest of your life.”
“But what about me, I shot off a gun.” Ray looked scared; his mother had given up everything to send him to college. “I’m sure somebody called the police.”
“It was an accident; you weren’t planning on hurting anybody. I’ll make sure they know that.” Julie winked at him, “I have connections. Can I make that call?”
Kathy looked at Ray who nodded at her. “Okay, Miss Hutchinson.”
Julie slowly got out of the car, as she walked toward the phone she rummaged in her purse for a dime. She called the station knowing that the boys were probably out looking for them. “Yes, I need you to relay a message to Detectives Hutchinson and Starsky. This is Julie Hutchinson, would you please tell them that I am alright and we are heading to the Mayor’s house.”
“Are you sure you don’t want a patrol car sent to where you are Miss Hutchinson?”
“No, and please don’t let any patrol cars stop us.” Julie said then as an afterthought, “If we aren’t there in thirty minutes, put an all points bulletin out.”
“I’ll let them know.”
Julie went back to the car and climbed in. “I called the station and told them that we are going to your dad’s house, my brother and his partner will meet us there.”

When they pulled into the driveway, Starsky and Hutch were there waiting as well as Kathy’s parents and Ray’s mother. Ray pulled the car to a smooth stop and started to get out.
“Stay put, son.” Starsky called as he moved toward the car. “Julie, are you hurt?” She shook her head no. “Get out of the car.” Hutch was there waiting for her to emerge, he wanted to get her away from the car as quickly as possible just in case. “Alright,” Starsky addressed the boy, “Now, you get out slowly. Where is the gun?”
“In the back seat some place.”
“Ray, do not say anything more,” Julie advised. Hutch looked at her sternly.
Slowly Ray got out of the car with his hands over his head; Starsky peered into the back seat, “Ok, Miss Reynolds, now you.”
Kathy opened the car door and got out, she looked scared to death. Giving Starsky a wide birth, she ran to her father who enveloped her in his arms. Her mother smoothed her hair as she clung to her father.
Starsky crawled into the back seat to retrieve the gun. After sticking it in the back of his belt he went around the car to check on Julie. When Hutch was sure his sister was in good hands he went to talk to the Mayor.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to bring Kathy down to the station.”
“No,” Julie pulled herself out of Starsky’s arms. “There was no crime; we were only driving around talking. Kathy just needed some advice.”
Hutch gave his sister a perplexed look. “What about the gun?”
“That was an accident; nobody was trying to hurt me.” Julie said which was the truth. “I’m not pressing any charges.”
“But Ray was still in possession of a gun that he took.” Hutch insisted.
“Come on Ken, I think you can overlook that can’t you?” Julie asked, then she turned to Starsky, “There has got to be something you can do.”
“Well, nobody was really hurt,” Starsky said looking at the cuts on Julie’s hands and Kathy’s face.
“And what are we supposed to tell them at the station, you know how many motorist called in that shooting?” Hutch wanted to know.
“Well, maybe if we don’t say anything nobody will ask,” Starsky said hopefully.
“Nice try, Dobey will be all over this, especially since it has involved Kathy and Julie.” Hutch said. “We haven’t heard anything from him, is it possible he doesn’t know what happened?”
The Mayor stepped up, “If you have to take Ray in, I’ll get him a good lawyer. But if you could see your way clear not to, I would really appreciate it.”
Hutch thought for a moment, “We have the gun; if I give it back Mrs. Wallace will she put it in a safe place?” Hutch looked at her, the woman nodded. “Well, maybe it was a rock that broke out the windshield.” He sighed and looked at Julie. “Good enough?”
“I’ll back that up,” Julie smiled at him. Julie went to stand by Kathy, “I think you need to tell your parents.”
“Here? Now?” Kathy sputtered.
“Looks like as good as time as any.” Julie said taking the girl’s hand.
“Tell us what?” Ellen Reynolds wanted to know.
“Daddy, Mom, I-I’m…” Kathy looked to Julie for support; the older woman squeezed her hand. “I’m pregnant.” She held her breath waiting for the explosion.
“That is why you have been acting so crazy?” her father said.
Kathy nodded, “I went off my meds, I was afraid for the baby.”
“Then why didn’t you come to us when you found out?” Ellen asked. Kathy just shrugged.
“You aren’t mad?” the girl wanted to know.
“I wouldn’t say your mother and I are overjoyed with your actions over the past few months or that fact you are pregnant and unmarried at nineteen but we still love you.” He hugged her to him.
“I can fix that,” Ray stepped up. “We can get married.” Kathy beamed at him.
“That is a nice intention young man but you still have a whole lot of schooling in front of you.” Alex said, “We will discuss this all later, first order of business is to get you to a doctor young lady.”
“I think we need to get your cuts looked at too, Jules,” Starsky said looking at her hands.
“It’s nothing, just a few scratches, I’m fine.” She assured him.
“Then are you ready to go home?”
Julie nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
“We are going to have to get this all past Dobey.” Hutch warned.
“We can do that tomorrow,” Starsky said as he led Julie to Hutch’s car.
Hutch sighed, as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Dobey is going to have our asses for this.” Hutch hissed in Starsky’s direction.
“You worry too much partner.”
“How about some dinner before we head home, I’m starving.” Julie asked
“Anything you want my dear,” Starsky kissed her lips.
“Hey…that’s my sister.” Hutch protested as they headed down the driveway. “You want to knock it off.”
“You aren’t jealous are you?” Julie teased.
“NO!” Hutch blushed.
Julie leaned over and kissed Hutch on the cheek, “Don’t worry little brother, I still love you too.”


The End