Killing Spree
                                                                                                                           By
                                                                                                                            Tooki

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                                                                                                              CHAPTER ONE

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The old woman sat on the floor with her dying husband’s head in her lap. Two punks robbing his small had shot him in the chest all night store. She rocked him back and forth sobbing and talking incoherently. Two paramedics tried to take him but she pushed them away. The woman knew it was too late and wanted to spend the remaining minutes with her husband.
Detective Susan Carlston stood watching the sad sight. She had seen this same scene played a hundred times but she never got use to it and never would. She pushed her long dark hair over her shoulder as she leaned down to the woman.
"Mrs. Goldman . . .. Margie, he’s gone," she said around the lump in her throat.
The old woman shook her head and clutched her now dead husband even tighter. Susan’s brown eyes filled with tears, she stood up and backed away. Her partner Detective Dave Starsky entered the small neighborhood grocery store. He was in his late thirties with dark curly hair and sparkling blue eyes. He had an infectious grin that you couldn’t help but smile when he smiled.
Starsky came up behind Susan and put his hand on her shoulder, then turned giving him a sorrowful look. One of the paramedics bent down and tried to pry the woman from her husband. She started to scream as the man grabbed her. Starsky stepped forward, "You guys wait out side," he ordered.
The paramedic looked at the detective then shrugged and motioned to his partner. As soon as they left, the woman looked up at Starsky. With pain in her old eyes she said, "Thank-you Dave. Look what they did to Stan."
"I know," Starsky said. He sat down on the floor next to her. After all his years on the streets Starsky knew the Goldman family well. Margie leaned heavily on him, he put his arms around her. "You want me to call Sara?"
"Not just yet," she said. "I just need some to say good-bye."
Starsky nodded, he got up and went over to Susan, "What did you say to her?" the female detective ask.
"Nothing really, Margie just needs a few minutes," he said leading Susan out side leaving the grieving woman alone.
The sidewalk was full of people, and police cars littered the street with their lights flashing. The paramedics glanced at the two detectives as they came out. The men started back into the store.
"Not yet," Starsky said. They both sighed and went back to leaning against the wall.
Detective Ken Hutchinson was taking down information from several witnesses. He like Starsky was in his late thirties and had blue eyes, but there the similarity stopped. He was six feet tall where Starsky was five eleven. Hutch as he was better known as, had blond hair and looked more like he belonged on the cover of G.Q. instead of a cop on the streets of LA He and Starsky had been partners for years. Susan had joined them about nine years ago. She and Hutch had instantly fell in love. They had gotten married just six months ago and had a four-year-old daughter, Jesse.
Hutch came over and stood with his partners, "How’s she doing?" He asked looking toward the store.
Susan gave him a distressed look, "How do you think she is doing," Susan snapped. "Her husband was just mowed down for a couple of bucks." She stalked off toward Starsky’s Ford Torino, it was candy apple red with a white stripe that ran over the top tapering to points at the front.
"What’s with her?" Hutch asked staring after his wife and partner.
Starsky’s shrugged, "I think these guys are getting to her. This is the forth robbery this week where someone died." Hutch started to follow Susan, Starsky grabbed his arm, "Let’s give her sometime too."
Just then Mrs. Goldman came out of the store. The front of her flowered dress was soaked in blood. Both detectives went to her side, "You can call Sara now," she patted Starsky’s had. Glancing up at Hutch she said, "Hello Ken."
Hutch smiled at her and gave her a hug, "Hi ya Margie, you doing OK?"
"I’ve been better," she sighed, her face was tear stained but calm.
Margie Goldman had already made peace with her husband’s death. She had known all along that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. He died doing what he loved to do. The couple had lived over their small store for fifty years. It made Stan happy to sell candy to the youngsters then when they grew up they always brought their kids in.
Margie and Stan had seen several generations of kids and they treated them all as if they were their own.
Starsky went to his car to place a call to the couple's only child. Sara and Starsky had dated for a short time. Her parents had hoped that they would have a cop for a son-in-law but things didn’t work out. Although Starsky and Sara remained good friends and occasionally went to a movie or dinner, there was no romance.
Sara was in her late twenties, she didn’t have time for a husband or kids. At first she had been to busy with law school then later to busy trying to push her way to the top. At present time she was working for the DAs office, hoping to find a place in a good firm.
Sara had had several offers but they were all out of town and she wanted to stay in LA so she could be close to her parents. She had a wonderful relationship with her parents. The only running argument was over the store, she wanted them to retire and move where they would be safer.
Susan was leaning on the car door when Starsky approached the car. She had her eyes closed and didn’t hear him.
"You all right?" He asked looking at her with concern.
She jumped at the sound of his voice and opened her eyes. Susan gave him a small smile, "Yeah, I’m sorry," she apologized. "I shouldn’t let all this get to me."
"Hey, these people are like family," he said slipping his arm around her shoulder. "We’ve known them for years, hell you just went shopping with Sara last week. Don’t be so hard on yourself."
Susan gave him a real smile, "You always know the right thing to say."
"Yeah, I guess that why I get stuck with calling Sara," he said grimly, not wanting the task at hand.
The smile slid from the female detective's face, "You want me to?"
"No I’ll do it," he opened the car door and sat in the passengers seat. As he picked up the radio Starsky said, "If you feel up to it why don’t you see if you can help Hutch with Margie?"
Susan realized her partner wanted to be alone to make the call, "Sure."
Thirty minutes later Sara Goldman arrived. By this time her father’s body had been taken away and most of the crowd had dissipated. Her mother was sitting in a chair in front of the store. Some kind soul had brought it to her.
When Sara saw her mother she broke out into tears. Margie got up and went to her daughter, both woman clung to each other and sobbed.
The three detectives stood off to the side watching, wishing there was more they could do. The two suspects that had been terrorizing the neighborhood stores had never left any witnesses to identify them. They always seem to hit stores when only one clerk was present and no customers.
The whole police force was working the case. Every squad car kept a watchful eye out for anything suspicious. The police had a few witnesses out side the stores but everything happened so fast that they didn’t realize what had gone down until it was to late. The suspects always fled on foot, never left behind fingerprints or anything that would clue in the police on their identity.
Finally Sara broke away from her mother and approached the detectives. She brushed her short brown hair out of her eyes, "Anything?" Sara asked.
"Sorry," Starsky said softly. "Just like the others."
"Dave, someone has to stop these people before anyone else dies," she looked at him, Her brown eyes filled with pain.
His heart went out to her, he still had a soft spot for Sara Goldman and probably always would. "I know, we are trying our best. One of these times they are going to mess up and we’ll have them."
"But how many more innocent people are going to have to die first?" Sara asked angrily.
"We have put together a task force to work on this," Hutch interjected.
"Hell of a lot of good your task force is doing," she yelled.
"Sara, Sara," Mrs. Goldman said softly putting her hand on her daughters back.
Sara turned and looked at her mother, "But Mama . . . . ."
Margie Goldman shook her head at her daughter then smiled at the detectives, "They are good cops and are doing their best. They will find your fathers killers.

By the time Hutch and Susan headed home she was beat. It had been a long day. After the Crime Lab was finished at the store, Sara packed up her mother and took Margie home with her. It had taken a couple of hours of cajoling but finally between Susan and Sara they convinced the older woman the best place to be was with her daughter.
The two younger women packed a small suitcase with only a small amount of clothing, which was all Margie, would allow. Several times she changed her mind but in the end Margie went with her daughter.
Hutch pulled up his battered brown Ford into the driveway of their town house. It was a beautiful place with four bedrooms, a huge living room with a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. There was a dining room and a large kitchen with a cozy breakfast nook that looked out into a small back yard. The yard was filled with all kinds of flowers planted there my Mrs. Gray. It reminded Susan of the garden the nanny had at the apartment building they had both lived at in the Midwest.
The porch light was burning brightly waiting for their return. It was almost nine p.m. they were several hours late but it had taken them along time with Margie. Time that the couple hadn't minded spending. She was such a dear old lady and it broke their hearts when they thought of what she was going though but at least she had Sara.
Hutch got out went around the car and opened the door for Susan. She sat there deep in thought for a few minutes before she got out. "Are you sure you are all right?" Hutch asked as he slammed the car door when she finally got out.
She nodded, "Just tired."
He unlocked the front door, a small blur came rushing at them. Hutch scooped up four year old Jesse and planted a kiss on her tiny cheek. Jesse hugged her daddy then leaned over hugging Susan.
"Hi Mommy, Hi Daddy," She beamed at them. "Mrs. Gray said I could stay up until you came home as long as I was good."
"Then you must have been a good girl," Susan said in a tight voice. She tried to hold back the tears but it was no use, they spilled down her cheeks. She was just so thankful her family was safe.
"Mommy why are you crying?" Jesse asked seeing the tears.
Hutch looked at his wife startled. "A friend of ours was killed today. Mommy is just sad. Why don't you go tell Mrs. Gray we are home."
He set his daughter on her feet. Jesse scampered away to find her nanny. Hutch pulled Susan into his arms holding her tightly.
"I'm OK," she said in a whisper. "I was just thinking of how lucky I am."
He held her away from him and looked into her hazel eyes. "We will get these guys, I promise you that."
"I know," Susan wiped her face and smiled up at him, he was a good eight inches taller.
Mrs. Gray appeared in the hall, she was in her mid sixties, had silver hair and pale blue eyes. She had been taking care of Jesse since she was born.
She cleared her throat, the two detectives glanced at her. "I saved dinner for you."
Susan smiled at her then went over and gave the older woman a hug. "Thank you."
Jesse peeked around her nanny's skirt and grinned at her parents. Susan smiled back then picked up her daughter and went down the hall.
"Rough day?" Mrs. Gray asked as she watched Susan disappear into the living room.
"Yeah," Hutch said. "A good friend was murdered today."
"Oh I'm so sorry," the older woman said softly. She patted Hutch on the arm. "You want dinner now or should I wait?"
"I think dinner would be perfect. She needs something normal right now." Hutch said. Mrs. Gray had been a godsend to them. Not only did she care for Jesse. She held the household together. Both Hutch and Susan depended on her greatly. Mrs. Gray was always there for them no questions asked.
"Give me a few minutes, I'll have dinner on the table," she said as she went down the hall.
Hutch found Susan in the living room curled up on the couch asleep. Jesse was in the process of covering her mommy up. She put a small finger to her lips, "Sh-h-h, Mommy is sleeping."
Hutch helped Jesse finish covering Susan up when he grabbed her swinging her high in the air. Jesse started to squeal then clapped her hand over her mouth. He laughed at his daughter and took her into the dining room. Mrs. Gray was just putting their plates of steaming food on the table when they came in.
She looked around on seeing father and daughter and asked, "Where's Susan?"
She fell asleep on the couch," Hutch handed Jesse to her nanny. "I'm going to get her up."
Mrs. Gray took Jesse up stairs to bed. Hutch went in and sat on the couch next to Susan. He pushed her hair out of her face then kissed her forehead. Susan opened her eyes and looked at him then looked around. "Did I fall asleep?"
He nodded as he ruffled her hair. "I think you need to take a day off. You have really been dragging lately. Spend the day with Jess."
"Sounds good," Susan got to her feet and went into the dining room. Hutch stood staring after his wife, usually he had a fight if he even suggested she take a day off. He frowned then followed her to the dining table.
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                                                                                                              ​​CHAPTER TWO

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Starsky was sitting in Captain Dobey's office when Hutch got to work then next morning. Both men looked up when the detective entered.
"Where the hell is Carlston?" Dobey bellowed. Captain Harold Dobey was a large black man in his late forties. He had short black hair, a mustache and dark eyes that flashed when he was angry. He rarely smiled and came across as a gruff man but it was only out of concern for his detectives.
"She took the day off," Hutch said taking the seat next to Starsky. "She was really upset by everything yesterday.
Dobey cocked his head at Hutch. "Oh come on Hutchinson, she's too professional to let something like that get to her."
"Maybe she's coming down with something. Susan's been awfully tired lately," Hutch said trying to explain something he didn't understand himself. He had been worried about her for the last couple of weeks. Whenever he asked Susan what was wrong she just shrugged him off.
Starsky sat frowning as he listened to the exchange between his partner and captain. He had also notices the change in Susan and was pretty sure he knew what was going on.
Dobey grunted but didn't say any more about Susan. Instead he asked, "What about the Goldman case?"
"The Crime Lab went over the place from top to bottom and nothing," Starsky said.
"Where do we go from here? Those guys just disappear into thin air," Hutch said. He was totally baffled by this case.
Two men with black ski masks had hit twelve stores in the last month. They would only hit small stores with one employee. They would kill then clean out the cash register. The two mask men had been spotted only a few times as they fled the stores. Squad cars patrolled as many of the shops as they could but there were just to many. There were teams staking out some of the stores but those were never hit. The closest came when a shop next door was hit. Leaving the clerk dead and the stake out team feeling foolish and angry.
Dobey shook his head, "I don't know what to tell you but these guys have to be stopped! Have either of you talked to Huggy Bear? He always has a handle as to what is going down."
"Not in the last several days." Hutch admitted. "We have been so busy with the case. Why don't we grab lunch there Starsk? See what's what."
"Sure," Starsky said agreeably. "But I have an errand to run first."
"Fine let's go," Hutch said getting up.
"I'll meet you at Huggy's, OK?" Starsky got up and left before his partner could protest.
Hutch stared after Starsky, "What's that all about?"
Dobey rolled his eyes, "You're asking me? He's your partner," he grumbled. "Tell Carlston I hope she feels better. Hutch nodded to his Captain and left for the Pits.
Susan spent the morning at the zoo with Jesse, and then they went to lunch. She realized how much time she spent away from her daughter. Susan pulled Jesse close to her in the booth. They were at Jesse's favorite restaurant the Hard Rock Café. Jesse smiled up at her mother, it wasn't often they spent a day together just them and Jesse was loving every minute of it.
After they finished eating Susan took Jesse home for her nap. The little girl was tired and was fast asleep after only one story. Susan had given Mrs. Gray the day off so she didn't hear the doorbell up stairs when it rung.
Starsky pushed the doorbell again. He knew Susan was home, her blue Madza was parked in the driveway. Finally he slipped out the house key his partners had given him and opened the door.
There was no one down stairs so he climbed the stairs to the second floor. The master bedroom door was standing slight jar. Starsky pushed open the door a little wider. Susan was standing sideways with her hand on her stomach looking in a full-length mirror.
"Does Hutch know?" Starsky asked from the doorway.
Susan spun around startled, "Know what?"
"That you are pregnant?" the detective stepped into the room.
"How did you figure it out?" She asked not even bothering to deny it.
"I remembered how you acted when you were pregnant with Jesse," Starsky smiled at her. He sat down on the edge of the bed Susan joined him. He looked at her seriously. "You aren't planning on running off again are you?"
"NO!" she exclaimed giving him a shove. "What would make you think that?"
"We-l-l-l" Starsky began.
Five years earlier she had left Hutch moving to the mid west. She had been pregnant with Jesse but didn't know it until right before she left. Starsky was the only person she had told. He had thought she would change her mind about leaving. But it had only made Susan more determined to get away from police work. To his dismay Susan left anyway making him first promise not to tell any one especially Hutch.
"Does Hutch know?" Starsky asked again looking directly into her eyes. But he already knew the answer.
Slowly Susan shook her head, "I haven't told him, I haven't told anybody yet."
"And why not?" he demanded. "Just how far along are you anyway?"
"About three months," Susan looked down at her hands. She twisted her wedding ring on her finger. "You know how he is. When Hutch finds out he won't let me out of the house much less work."
"He missed out the first time," Starsky said. "Don't let him miss out this time."
"OK, OK," she laughed and hugged her partner. "It's been killing me to keep it quiet. Besides my pants are beginning not to fit so good." She pulled up the sweatshirt she was wearing to reveal that the top button of her jeans was undone. "The doctor said I could keep on working as long as I wasn't scaling walls or jumping over fences."
"You just leave that stuff to me," he teased her. "Tell you what. I'll take Jesse and Mrs. Gray out tonight. Then you and Hutch can have a romantic dinner."
"You are impossible," Susan laughed hugging him again. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I was worried about you." Starsky said as he patted Susan's stomach. "Hutch is too."
"You should be a detective," Susan shoved him again. This time Starsky went sprawling on the floor.
He looked up from his place on the floor, "Now was that nice."
Susan laughed offering him her hand. Starsky acted like he was afraid to take it for fear she would drop him back on the floor. Finally with a big smile he excepted the hand offered him. Susan pulled him to his feet. Starsky gave her a big hug.
She hugged him back for a few minutes then asked, "Any breaks on the Goldman case?"
Starsky stepped away from her and frowned. "The Crime Lab went over the place twice, nothing."
Susan shook her head sadly, "How's Sara and Margie?"
"As all right as they can be," Starsky said putting his arm around her shoulders as the started down the stairs. "The funeral is in a couple of days."
She sighed, "I want to be there."
"We’ll be there," Starsky assured her. Every murder case was hard but this was especially hard since it was a friend. Hoping to cheer Susan up he said in a bright voice. "So what are you going to wear?"
Thinking he was talking about the funeral she said, "Black, I guess, isn't that what people usually wear?"
"Black?" Starsky cocked his head, he went back into the bedroom hauling Susan with him. He pulled open the closet door and began searching though her clothes. He finally found his favorite dress. It was a long shiny red evening dress with spaghetti straps. "How's this? If you can still get into it that is." He said playfully.
Susan hiked her eyebrows, "Isn't it a bit much for a funeral? And what do you mean if I can still get into it?"
For a second Starsky looked puzzled then he smiled, "For tonight silly."
"Oh you."
I'll take my best girls out for dinner and a movie that should give you guys plenty of time." Starsky handed her the dress.
"You just have this all planned don't you?" Susan smiled at him fondly. She didn't know what she would do with out him.
"Come on," Starsky grabbed her hand. Susan hung the dress on the bedroom door. He led her downstairs and into the dining room.
"Now what?" Susan asked watching Starsky go though the buffet. He produced a couple of candlesticks.
"I know how to do this, really.
Starsky gave her a sheepish look as he handed her the candlesticks. He glanced at his watch, "Shit, I was suppose to meet Hutch an hour ago at Huggy's. You take care of things here, I'll do the rest."
"Yes sir," Susan said saluting him. "Dave Starsky you are a good friend and I love you."
"You aren't too bad yourself," he kissed the top of her head, "I'll call you when Hutch is on his way home."
"Alright," she grinned at him. She linked her arm though his and walked him to the door. She felt that the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders. "I'll have Jesse ready."
Hutch was just getting ready to leave the bar when Starsky showed up. The Pits was a bar and grill owned and operated by a tall thin black man named Huggy Bear. He was given to dressing loudly in bright yellows, greens, pinks and purples often mixing the colors. He had black mischievous eyes, an easy smile and a wily sense of humor.
"Here comes your wayward partner," Huggy said as Starsky came running into the bar. The lunch crowd had thinned out leaving only a few customers here and there. Hutch was sitting at the bar where he had eaten lunch with only Huggy for company.
Hutch turned on the barstool and glared at his partner, "And just where the hell have you been?"
"I told you, I had an errand to run," Starsky said sitting down next to his partner. "What's the special today Hug?"
But before Huggy could speak Hutch said, "You don't have time to eat, we have to be back to work."
Starsky frowned, "but I'm hungry, he complained.
Hutch shrugged, "You should have eaten while you were out on your errand!" Hutch snapped. He got up and then turned around when Starsky didn't follow. "You coming?"
"What if I get something to go?" Starsky questioned. Hutch just looked at his partner. "OK." Starsky sighed. "Gee what a grouch."
He found Hutch leaning on his beat up Ford LTD Starsky joined him. Hutch brushed his blond hair out of his eyes then squinted at his partner in the afternoon sun. "What's going on?" Hutch asked.
"What?" Starsky stared at his feet trying not to smile.
"Starsky both you and Susan are acting strange." Hutch said frowning. He was always concerned that he would wake up one morning and she would be gone. The last time Starsky was the only one Susan confided in. And now they were acting strangely again, he couldn't take it.
"For God sakes Hutch I just had something I had to do?" Starsky sputtered. "It was no big deal. And as for Susan, she just lost a friend. Cops don't have hearts of stone you know."
"This stuff with Susan has been going on for weeks," Hutch said softly.
"Snap out of it Hutch, stop letting you imagination run away with you." Starsky said and stalked off to his car that was parked directly behind Hutch's heap.
Hutch stared after him then went around to the driver's side and opened his car door. The horn blared loudly. Starsky shook his head, Hutch got in slamming the door. The horn stopped.
Once back at the station they went to see Sam Walters in the Crime Lab. Saw in his forties had thinning brown hair, eyes and was beanpole tall. He always had a slightly rumbled look about him. Sam was busy looking though a microscope when the detectives entered the lab.
"Hey Starsky, Hutch," Sam said looking up from his work. His glasses were perched on the top of his head. "Here about the Goldman case?"
"Yeah," Hutch nodded grimly. "Anything?"
"Sorry," Sam said searching the counter where he had been working. "I went back there, spent a couple of hours going over the place for a third time. Those boys have got to slip up sometime. I plan on being there whey they do."
"The Goldman's are friends of ours." Starsky said sadly.
"Yeah I know," Sam said softly, still searching.
"You lose something Sam?" Hutch asked
"My damn glasses," Sam blustered. "I've had the darn things for a week and I have lost them at least a dozen times."
Starsky chuckled pointing to his own curly head. Sam reached up patting the top of his head. He snatched the glasses from his head and tossed them on the counter.
Hutch smiled slightly then it faded. "We are all doing our best but it just isn't enough."
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                                                                                                           CHAPTER THREE


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"Hey, where ya going?" Starsky shouted after his partner.
"Home," Hutch said over his shoulder as he pushed open the squad room door. "Isn't that where we usually go this time of day?"
"I'm coming with you." Starsky said grabbing his leather jacket and dashing after Hutch.
Hutch pulled into the driveway and Starsky screeched to a halt out on the street. He jumped out of the car and sprinted across the yard. Hutch watched him puzzled, key in hand as Starsky pushed the doorbell. The door opened instantly and Jesse leaped into his arms. Starsky had put a call into Susan from the car on his way over. Mrs. Gray stood in the doorway with a sweater over her arm.
Hutch stood there opened mouthed as Starsky started across the lawn with his daughter. "What's going on?"
"I'm taking my best girls to dinner and a movie." Starsky called over his shoulder. Mrs. Gray just smiled at Hutch as she followed Starsky and Jesse.
"Bye Daddy," Jesse waved to her stunned father.
"Mrs. Gray?" Hutch called after the older woman.
"Have a good evening Ken." She called to him but she didn't turn around for fear he would see the smile on her face. Although Susan hadn't told her about her pregnancy she knew even before Susan knew herself. The older woman had been worried when Susan hadn't told Hutch the news but she promised herself she wouldn't get involved. Mrs. Gray had been relieved when Dave had taken the matter in hand. She was over joyed with the plans for the evening. Before leaving she had helped Susan ready the house. The female detective fussed and fidgeted all afternoon. She had almost gone into a panic when Starsky called saying they were on their way.
Hutch stood in the doorway watching Starsky's red tomato disappear down the street. He turned and went into the house, the living room was dark except for a fire burning brightly on the hearth. "Susan," he called looking around.
"I'm in here," she answered from the dining room.
Hutch slid open the double doors, Susan stood there in the red dressed Starsky had picked out. Her long brown hair was curled and pulled back held with a diamond stuffed clip. The table was beautifully set for two, with fresh flowers and the best china. He stood there in shock gaping at her.
"What's all this?"
"Why don’t you go get cleaned up," Susan said coming toward him, Hutch didn't move. "Go on, your clothes are laid out up stairs."
He backed out of the room and disappeared up the stairs. Susan took a deep breath, she was so nervous she could hardly stand it. Hutch's reaction or lack of it didn't help matters. She was almost afraid to tell him now. What if he didn't want another child, they hadn't talked about it. What if he insisted that she a quit work, what if…the timer went off. Susan hurried into the kitchen, the potatoes were ready, the steaks grilled and the mushrooms sautéed. She put everything on plates with shaking hands. Susan backed her way into the dining room thought the swinging doors. Just as Hutch entered from the living room.
"Here let me help you," he took one of the plates from her. Hutch looked very handsome in his gray suit but he was very confused and beginning to get scared. It was apparent she had something to tell him.
"Is it our anniversary?" he asked slowly. He was sure that it wasn't but there was just no explanation for all this.
Susan laughed, "Nope, you're safe, sit down." She handed him a bottle of wine that was cooling in a bucket on the table. He took it and started to pour some in her glass. Susan put her hand over the rim, "None for me."
"Since when?" he asked pouring himself a glass which he downed half of then refilled the glass.
Susan just smiled at him. There wasn't much dinner conversation, which left the couple to stew with their thoughts. A few times Susan almost broke down and told him but she wanted it to be perfect. She had planned the whole night. Finally they finished eating and went into the living room.
Susan sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace. She patted the seat next to her, Hutch sat down then bounded to his feet. "What the hell is going on?" he almost shouted. He got a flash of when she had left him before. He had been in the hospital recovering from being shot. She had stopped by on the way to the airport to say goodbye. It had taken him months to stop looking for her. During that time he inadvertently found out Susan was pregnant.
Hutch didn't stay on the police force long after his recovery and left for the mid west for a teaching position at a college. Little did he know that it was the same college Susan was going to. When she ended up in the class he was teaching she realized the mistake she had made.
Starsky had known everything about her leaving and the baby. Hutch was now afraid it was happening all over again. His partners were acting strangely again. He always envied the relationship between his wife and best friend. In some ways Susan and Starsky were closer than he was with her. When she really needed someone to talk to it was Starsky she went too.
He also flashed on the time she left him standing at the altar while she helped an old friend. That had almost ended it between them. Hutch had been sure she had taken off that time too. Susan had promised him she would never leave again with out fist talking it over with him. Now here it was.
Susan was staring at him opened mouthed wondering why he was so angry. "Sit down," she patted the spot next to her again "I've got something to tell you."
"Then just tell me," he said angrily. "It was easier when you told me on the way out."
"What are you talking about?" Susan stood up. "If you will just listen to me."
"I don't want to listen, just do what you have to do," Hutch said then stormed out of the house slamming the door.
Susan stood there in shock for a few minutes trying to digest what had just happened. Slowly she walked back into the dining room. The candles were burnt most of the way down dripping wax on the table. Susan began clearing the table, just before she went into the kitchen she blew out the candles.
When Starsky arrived back at the townhouse with his dates the place was dark. He scooped a sleeping Jesse out of the back seat and followed Mrs. Gray to the front door. They entered quietly he handed the sleeping girl to her nanny, who took her up to bed.
Starsky peeked into the living, the fire was still smoldering but his partners weren't in the room. He smiled to himself as he glanced up the stairs at their closed bedroom door. Just as he was about to let himself out there was the sound of something breaking from the direction of the kitchen. Starsky pulled his gun out of his shoulder holster and silently crept toward the kitchen. He pushed on the door just enough to open it a crack. What he saw shocked him.
There was Susan in her beautiful gown, no shoes, soap bubbles up to her elbows bent over picking up the pieces of a broken wineglass. Starsky pushed open the door wider.
She looked up startled, "Ow!" she cried out as she cut her hand on the broken glass.
He stepped into the room looking around for his other partner. As he knelt to help here he asked, "Where is Hutch?"
She shrugged as she wrapped a dishtowel around her hand, "I don't know."
Starsky grabbed her by the shoulders forcing her to stand up. He could tell by the streaks down her face she had been crying. "What is going on?" Was he upset by the news?"
Susan emitted a bitter laugh, "I never got a chance to tell him."
Starsky led her into the down stairs bathroom. He fished around in the medicine cabinet until found a box of Band-Aids. Susan sat up on the counter while Starsky played doctor.
Once he was finished he looked at her seriously, "Now what happened?"
"I really don't know," she said as her voice broke. Tears began streaming down her face, "I think he thought I was leaving him."
"Why would he think that?"
"I don’t know, he wouldn't even listen to me," she sobbed. "He just stormed out."
Starsky put his arm around her, kissing the top of her heard, "It's going to be alright." He suddenly realized how much he really loved Susan.
Over the years he had come to love her more than just a friend. It started as a wonderful friendship, they had so much in common. IN fact when Susan had first joined them Hutch had thought they were in love. But Starsky assured him they were just friends, which was what they were at the time. As time went on his feelings began to change. He didn't think either of his partners was aware of it. He wouldn't do anything to hurt or come between them. It hurt him to see the pain her eyes now and knowing that Hutch had cause it was even worse
"I'll be back," Starsky said giving her another hug. "I think I know where he is."
When Hutch walked into the Pits, Huggy noticed him immediately. The black bar keeper poured him a beer and took it over to the detective. Hutch had picked the back booth in the corner. "You undercover?" Huggy asked indicating the suit Hutch still wore.
Hutch shook his head but didn't explain. He didn't feel like talking to anybody right now. He didn't even look at Huggy as he place the beer in front of him.
"Hungry?" Huggy asked. He knew that something was wrong, Hutch rarely came in with out one of his partners. He had been there twice in one day now with out them.
Again the detective shook his head no. Huggy gave up leaving Hutch lone. The Pits was beginning to fill up and he was needed behind the bar. He made a mental note to give Starsky a call later on. Laura his number one waitress was looking flustered behind the bar, he hurried to help her.
Hutch had been there about an hour when Starsky showed up. Huggy also saw him immediately, he knew by the look on Starsky's face something was very wrong. Huggy watched as the curly headed detective made his way though the mob of people to the back of the room. He stopped at Hutch's booth but didn't sit down. Huggy poured two beers, sat them on a tray and began making his way toward his friends.
Hutch looked up at Starsky who was glaring at him angrily. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Me?" Hutch frowned up at his partner, "just what have I done?"
"What did you do?" Starsky shouted
Even though the bar was at a low roar several people turned to stare at the two detectives. "You are a jerk."
Hutch slid out of the booth and stood up to face his friend. "Why don't you just stay out of things for once?"
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Starsky demanded.
Hutch shook his head and started to push past Starsky but Starsky grabbed his arm, Let go!" Hutch said between clenched teeth. Huggy had just reached his two friends when Starsky deck Hutch sending him toppling into the unsuspecting bar keeper causing him to drop the tray he was caring.
Hutch looked up at Starsky from the floor stunned. "What the hell is with you?"
Starsky was as surprised as Hutch at what he had done. But all he could see was Susan's tear-stained face and broken heart. Huggy helped the blond detective to his feet.
"What the hell is with me?" Starsky sputtered. "Susan went to a lot of trouble to put together a nice evening and you just walked out on her. She had something very important to tell you."
"What that she's walking out on me again?" Hutch said rubbing the side of his face where the punch had landed. He started toward the front door of the bar.
"No you idiot," Starsky yelled after him. "She was trying to tell you she's pregnant."
The whole bar turned and stared at Starsky. Hutch stopped dead still then turned slowly to look at Starsky though the haze of smoke. "WHAT?"
Starsky crossed the room stopping next to his partner, "She's having your baby. She wanted it to be a special night. He stalked past Hutch leaving his partner to gape after him.
The house was dark when Hutch arrived home. The fire was out, the kitchen cleaned. Slowly he climbed the stairs, their bedroom door was closed. He stood out side the door for a few moments, then knocked softly. There was no answer, suddenly he was afraid she had left. Who would blame her after the way he had acted? He resisted the urge to check if Jesse was in her bed, he knew Susan would never leave with her. Instead he opened the bedroom door and slipped in. At first he didn't see her sleeping form curled into a tight ball at the edge of the bed.
Her beautiful dress was lying in a heap at the foot of the bed. Hutch bent down to retrieve the dress from the floor. He laid it across the end of the bed. "Susan," he whispered softly as he sat down on the opposite side of the bed. He leaned across the bed touching her shoulder though the sheet, she didn't move. "Susan?" he said louder. "Are you alright?"
She still didn't answer him. Hutch stared to get up and turn on the light. Finally she croaked out, "I’m OK," her throat hurt and her eyes ached from crying herself to sleep. She didn't move but remained wrapped in the sheet like a cocoon.
Hutch put his hand on her shoulder again but his time rolled over to face him. "God I am so sorry." He tried to hold her but Susan wouldn't let him. She rolled back over. "I talked to Starsky, he told me…"
Before Hutch could finish Susan bounded off the bed. "Oh that's just great," she yelled at him. "I tried to tell you but you wouldn't listen to me. So you find out you are going to be a father in a smoky bar."
Hutch was only slightly surprised that she had known where he was. He turned on the bedside lamp. "I didn't have much of a choice but to listen to what Starsky had to say." He turned so that she could see the said of his face, that was already taking on a bluish tint and his right eye was beginning to swell.
Susan stared at his face. "Starsky hit you?" A small smile played across her lips.
He nodded as he got up and walked around the end of the bed toward her. "I had it coming." Hutch said sheepishly. "My imagination got me in trouble again. We al have been under so much pressure with this case. And you two have been acting so strangely lately. It's just been so crazy, but that's no excuse not to trust you or him."
"You're right it's no excuse," Susan snapped, stepping away from him. "Do you really think if I was planning on leaving you I would have gone to all that trouble? Didn't you even stopped to think about that?"
"I guess not," Hutch hung his head. "I don't know if you car now or not but I'm very happy about the baby. I wouldn't blame you if you did leave. Have I blown it this time?"
Susan heaved a hug sigh, finally going to him. She looked at him seriously. "Hutch, I love you. I'm not going anywhere. I thought we had all this settled but guess not, uh?"
Hutch put his arms around her hugging her to him. Susan slowly returned the hug. "I thought I was over it but then so much has happened." Hutch tried desperately to explain. "You and Starsky are so close. You two tell each other everything.
Susan wanted to say that wasn't true but it was, she and Starsky just some how clicked in a way that they not always did. She stepped back and looked into her husband's face. "What are you trying to say?" she asked then reading his thoughts she smiled slightly. "Did you think I was leaving you for Starsky?"
"NO!" He exclaimed but that was exactly what he had been thinking. "I guess I'm just jealous some times.
"Wait a minute, I think we are kind of getting off the subject." Susan said. Then she looked at him again. "Hutch."
"What?"
"I wanted to night to be special but that didn't happen." Susan said. "So I'll tell you this way. I'm three months pregnant. I’m sorry I didn't tell you when I found out but I was afraid."
"Afraid?" Hutch looked at her puzzled.
She shrugged, "I thought you wouldn't want me to work or even worse wouldn't want another child. We have never talked about it."
He smiled at her, "Not want our baby? How could you even think that?" Gently he pulled her into his arms. "I love you," he whispered in her hair. "I'm really sorry I guess I need to learn to listen."
She smiled though her tears, happy ones this time. "And I need to learn not to keep things from you and to talk it out with you."
"How long has Starsky known?" He asked not really wanting to know the answer.
"Just today," she said sitting on the edge of the bed. "He showed up here late this morning asking me if I was pregnant. Starsk figured it out on his own, Mrs. Gray too.
"So everybody noticed but me. That doesn't say much does it? How did I miss what was going on?"
"Well Mrs. Gray knows me better than I know myself. As for Starsky he was there the first time he knew the signs I guess." Susan looked at Hutch. The pain was plain on his face. "I'm sorry you weren't there the first time around but this time will be different."
He smiled at her, "I can't wait."
Down stairs the doorbell begin ringing. Then the phone started to ring, Susan kissed Hutch and headed for the door. "You get the phone, I'll get the door."
Hutch started to protest, but instead nodded. Susan opened the bedroom door, Mrs. Gray was coming down the hall. The doorbell was still ringing franticly then who ever it was began pounding on the door. For a moment the two women stared at each other, Susan thought about getting her gun. "Go on back to bed." Susan said as she started down the stairs.
Mrs. Gray looked worriedly after the detective, the older woman tapped on their bedroom door. "Ken?"
Susan flipped on the hall light. The pounding and ringing was still going on. She tip toed to looked out the peephole. Starsky was standing there, just as she opened the door he started to pound again and almost fell in on top of her.
"What the hell is going on, why didn't you just use your key?" Susan demanded as he stumbled in.
Hutch appeared behind her as Starsky regained his balance. Dobey had been the one on the phone so Hutch already knew. "Let’s go sit down." He said steering her toward the living room.
Susan dug in her heels. "No you tell me right here," She flared. "Is it police work or personal?"
"Both," Starsky said softly.
Susan glanced from Starsky to Hutch, "well apparently you know what's going on too. That's what the call was about. So lets fill me in I'm part of this team too."
Hutch took a deep breath. "It looks like our two suspects in the store robberies just hit the Pits about thirty minutes ago."
Susan stared at him opened mouthed. "Is Huggy…"
"He's find or at least we assume he is," Starsky said. "Huggy wasn't in the bar at the time. But Cindy wasn't so lucky."
Cindy was a beautiful busty blond with sparkling blue eyes and a dazzling smile. She had just moved to evenings. Cindy had been on Huggy to move her where she could make better money. So when one of the night girls quit Cindy got her wish.
"Not Cindy." Susan whispered, tears filling her eyes. "Does Huggy know?"
Starsky shrugged, "No one seems to know where he is."
"Since when did these guys graduate from grocery stores to packed bars?" Hutch wanted to know. But as always they didn't have the answer, nothing the two robbers did ever made since.
"Is everything alright?" said a voice from the top of the stairs. The three detectives turned to see Mrs. Gray standing there in her robe.
"Huggy's was just robbed," Hutch explained. "You keep and eye on Susan and Jesse."
"You think I'm staying home?" Susan blustered. "You can just forget it. She went to the desk where they kept their guns locked up. "Until my doctor tells me other wise I'm no the streets. And I don't wasn’t to hear a word out of any of you?"
Hutch sighed as he tossed her the key for the desk drawer, "just take it easy OK?"
"You got it," Susan said as she unlocked the drawer retrieving their guns. After she handed Hutch his she dashed up the stairs to get dress.
​

                                                                                                                  CHAPTER FOUR

​​

By the time the three detectives reached the Pits, it was a mad house. The Crime lab was there along with the coroner not to mention half a dozen squad cars. An ambulance was also there, lights flashing.
Several of the patrons of the bar were being interview by officers out side the door. The rest were still inside. Everyone had been left unharmed except for Cindy. She had given them the money but the white one had shot her point blank in the chest. The two men had deviated greatly from their previous hits. This time they had left a whole room full of witnesses.
Sam was just about to begin taking photos of Cindy's body when the detectives entered the bar. Starsky went around the end of the bar. Cindy was laying on her back in front of the cash register, which was still standing open. There was a large red stain spreading across the front of her white tank top. Her long blonde hair was spread out around her head like a halo. Starsky knelt down next to Saw who was in the process of putting film in his camera.
"It's a shame isn't it?" Sam said shaking his head. "Such a beautiful young girl."
Starsky started to pick up her hand Sam shook his head. "Sorry," Starsky said clearing his throat. Trying to hold back emotions wasn't always easy. "I know better."
"I understand," Sam said gently as he started snapping pictures.
Hutch and Susan joined their partner and watch Sam as he took more pictures. Angie the cook and Laura were sitting together in a back booth being questioned by a couple of uniformed officers. Laura dabbed her eyes with a tissue every once in a while. Angie had is arm protectively around her shoulders.
There was a sudden commotion at the front door. Hutch went to check it out. He shoved though the mob of people, Huggy was lying on the sidewalk face down. A young policeman had his knee in Huggy's back trying to cuff him.
Hutch grabbed the officer by his collar pulling him off his friend and to his feet. "This is the owner of the bar," Hutch growled at the rookie.
"I'm…. I'm sorry. I didn't know." The young officer sputtered.
"Next time let's check some ID before you start throwing people on the ground and cuffing them." Hutch said helping Huggy Bear to his feet. "You OK Hug?"
"Yeah!" Huggy said glaring at the uniformed officer. "What the hell is going on?" Huggy brushed the dirt from his bright purple suit.
"You don't know?" Hutch asked astonished. Huggy always knew everything happening on the streets.
Huggy shook his head, "I went to see Alice, remember her?" Hutch nodded. "She was in town for a couple of nights…"
"Hug," Hutch interrupted. "Your place was hit." He placed an arm around the tall man's shoulders.
"Anyone hurt?" Huggy asked worriedly forgetting about Alice.
Hutch nodded solemnly, "Cindy."
Huggy had started into the bar stopped in his tracks and turned to face Hutch. "Is she OK?"
"Hug they killed her."
Huggy went rushing into the bar, he saw Susan and Starsky behind the bar with another man. They all looked up as he came running in. Huggy started around the end of the bar but Susan met him before he could get to where Cindy was laying.
"Don't," she said pushing him back around the bar toward a stool.
"I should have been here," Huggy said mournfully.
Then you would be dead too." Susan said matter-of-factly.
He jumped up from the stool, "Laura, Angie."
Hutch cocked his head toward the back of the room. "They are fine."
The black man heaved a sigh of relief, "Why weren't they killed?"
"I guess they weren't behind the bar. Fortunately none of the customers tired to be heroes. I think we would have had a massacre on our hands." Hutch said.
"Huggy it was our guys," Susan said.
"You mean the ones that hit the Goldman's?" He frowned at her. "What would they be doing hitting a place like this for then?"
"We are pretty sure," Susan said, "But we won't know for sure until everyone compares notes. If it's them they much be getting desperate to hit a full place.
"Or cocky," Starsky added leaning on the bar.
Two men came in pushing a gurney, Sam indicated that he was finished. After packing away this things in a large metal box he joined them on the other side of the bar.
"Anything?" Hutch asked.
"Appears to be the same caliber but I won't know for sure until get to the lab." Sam answered. "There are no prints as usual. Anything from the witness?"
"W e haven't talked to anyone yet." Susan said. "Dickerson and his partner are with Laura and Angie over there." She pointed to the front of the building.
"Starsky you and Hutch were here tonight," Huggy said.
"I left before you did," Starsky said.
"I must have taken off right before they came in." Hutch said wishing he had stayed. If he had been there maybe Cindy would still be alive.
"I was half way home when the call came over the radio," Starsky said. "I went straight to Susan and Hutch's. He had radioed in to find out as much details as he could. The detective had also put a call into Dobey. All thought Huggy wasn't Dobey's favorite person, the barkeeper was always a good source of information. He had helped the detective's countless times and Dobey was grateful for that.
Laura suddenly spotted Huggy at the bar. She jumped up and ran across the room. Laura threw her arms around him hugging her boss tightly. Angie followed the waitress, he stood looking at Huggy teary-eyed. He loved all the girls and treated them like daughters.
Daniels came over to where the detectives were standing, "Not much to go on. They were both wearing dark blue or black ski masks. One was a white male the other back. No age, both tall muscular, neither talked."
"If they didn't talk then how did Cindy know what they wanted?" Susan questioned.
"I would say it was pretty obvious," Huggy growled.
"Maybe but…" Susan began.
"A note," Starsky interrupted picking up Susan's train of thought. They looked at each other. Starsky dashed around the end of the bar closely followed by his partners.
He began searching the floor. Susan walked up to the cash register and pushed several buttons until the drawer flew open. It was empty, just as she was about to close the drawer Susan stopped, she pulled the top part of the drawer out there lay a scrape of paper.
"Bingo!" she cried. "Sam bring your gear, I got something
Sam picked up his box and came around behind the bar. He looked into the drawer. "I think you're right. He opened the box removed a zip lock bag and tweezers. Carefully he tweezed the note open. "All your money now." Sam read out loud.
"Maybe this is our break," Hutch said hopefully.
Sam slipped the note into the bag. "Let's hope. I’m getting this to the lab maybe I can lift some prints.
Huggy joined them. "You guys find something?" He had been comforting Laura.
Susan hugged her friend, "We hope so. This is getting way too personal.
An hour later the detectives were sitting in Captain Dobey's office. He looked sleepy as he opened the report the detectives had prepared. It was two AM when Hutch had called the Captain at home. Dobey upon hearing they might have a break threw on clothes. Finish reading the report the black captain grunted, "Sam got anything yet?'
Susan shook her head, "He's working on it right now."
They filled in the captain in on all the details that weren't in the report. Suddenly Dobey's office door burst open. Sam stood there with a huge grin on his face. His thinning hair was standing on end.
"I've got prints," he shouted excitedly.
He handed Starsky a copy of the print. "Did you have it run though the computer yet?" the detective asked.
Sam shook his head, "I came straight here, I thought you would want to know."
Susan got up, took the print from Starsky, "Come on Sam, I think Libby is on duty tonight."
Libby Standford was hunched over her computer keyboard when Susan and Sam arrived. Her reddish hair was pulled back into a ponytail, she rubbed her green eyes a stretched. "Hey Lib," Susan called. Libby jumped and turned around, she smiled at her friend.
"What are you doing here this time of night?" She asked getting up from her desk. Libby was just slightly taller than Susan and dressed in a police uniform.
"We need a print run." Susan explained.
"Got something to do with the robbery at the Pits?" Libby asked. "I heard what had happened. I’m so sorry about Cindy. How's Huggy doing?"
"He's pretty upset," Susan said sadly. "Poor Cindy."
"Yeah she was a good kid," Libby said taking the piece of paper Sam held out. "This might take a while. I probably won't have this before morning."
"Do your best," Susan gave her a halfhearted smile.
Dobey sent the detective's home. There wasn't any thing they could do until Libby came up with a match, if she did."
Starsky dropped his two partners off at their townhouse. Then went home to his empty one bedroom apartment. He keyed open the door and flipped the light on. Starsky stood there looking around thinking it would be nice to have someone waiting for him. He tossed his keys on the coffee table and his jacket on the back of a chair. Then he flopped down on the couch, stretched out and promptly fell asleep.
It was about eight AM when his phone began ringing. Starsky rolled off the couch landing on the floor. Groggily, he answered the phone, "Yeah?"
"Libby found a match," Susan said excitedly. "Meet us at headquarters."
"OK," Starsky mumbled, he hung up the phone. Then jumped in the shower, dressed, grabbed a couple of slices of cold pizza and reached the station in record time.
Susan and Hutch were already in Dobey's office along with Libby and Sam both who had looked they hadn't had any sleep. Dobey sat behind his desk sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Starsky took his usual seat.
"Now that we are all here," Dobey said gruffly. "Let's have it Libby."
"The print was from a man named Calvin Black. White male, twenty-two, six feet tall, brown hair, and eyes." Libby read from the print out. "He's been in and out of jail since he was sixteen. Robbery, car theft, attempted rape, the list goes on and on."
"Anything on a partner?" Starsky asked.
Libby nodded, "I think we just might have our other guy too. Black runs with a guy named Samuel Lewis, he's black, six one, also late twenties. Lewis has also been in and out of prison all his life. That's where they most likely met."
"What are we doing sitting here?" Susan said jumping up.
"Sit!" Dobey ordered as he picked up the phone. "I'll get an APB out on them, every officer on the street will be looking for them. But the three of you are off the case. This one has gotten way too personal."
"Cap!" Susan protested. "You can't do this!"
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do," Dobey yelled, he pounded his fist on his desk as he stood up. Then he pointed at the three detectives, "You ARE to close! I don't want any of you doing something stupid, got it?"
"But Cap," Hutch said. "We aren't a bunch of vigilantes."
"I know that," Dobey said more calmly. "But sometimes emotions get best of you."
"But…" Starsky began his appeal.
"No buts," Dobey interrupted. "You three aren't the only officers in this department. You are off the case!"
"FINE!" Snapped Starsky as he stalked out of Dobey's office slamming the door behind him. Libby and Sam left though the other door that went into the hallway.
Dobey shook his head, he understood how his detectives felt but he also had the responsibility to make sure things were done by the book. The system couldn't afford one of them making a mistake and blowing the whole case.
Dobey smiled at Susan, "I hear congratulations are in order."
Susan and Hutch were still standing in front of his desk. Susan shot Hutch a look. "Well I had to tell somebody," Hutch said in defense of himself.
"Thanks Captain." She smiled. "Just no special treatment. You'll be the first one to know when I need to come off the streets."
"You got it," Dobey said easily giving her another of his rare smiles. He knew her partners would watch out for her. "Now you two get out of here. There are plenty of other cases that need your attention. "You'll be kept up to date on any developments, I'll see to that."
Huggy sat in the Pits, everybody was gone except for Laura and Angie. He looked around the bar, it was a total mess. Laura came out of the kitchen, she walked over to Huggy. The waitress bent over putting her arms around his neck.
Huggy patted her on the arm, "Why don't you and Angie go home. I’m going to close the place for a few days."
"I'll help you clean up," Laura offered looking around. Tables were over turned, chairs up ended and there was broken glass on the floor. Food sat uneaten on a few tables and then there was the mess behind the bar.
He shook his head, "Thanks but I'll do it."
"Are you sure?" She persisted.
Angie came up behind her. "Come on Hon," Angie said. He was short, slightly over weight and in his early fifties. "Huggy you call when you are ready to re-open."
Huggy nodded waving at them off handedly. He just wanted to be alone for a while.
Two hours later Huggy Bear was still sitting in the same place when the three detectives walked into the bar. Susan knelt down next to the chair he was sitting in. "You been here all night?"
The black man nodded but didn't say anything. Starsky looked around, "Where is everyone?"
"Sent them home," Huggy said in a barely audible voice. "I'm closing up for a while."
Hutch went back into the kitchen. He rummaged around in the cabinets until he found what he was looking for. The detective grabbed a coffeepot from the stove and began making coffee.
Starsky and Susan were sitting up tables and sweeping the floor. Huggy had protested but the two detectives ignored him. None of them had ever seen Huggy like this before. It was clear he blamed himself for Cindy's death.
Hutch came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with cups of coffee on it. Placing the tray on the table in front of Huggy, Hutch said, "We know who it was.
Huggy jerked his head up and stared at Hutch, "Who is it?"
A couple of guys name Black and Lewis," Hutch told him. "You know them?"
After a beat or two, Huggy shook his head. "Hey I really appreciate what your guys are doing abut I'm going up stairs to bed." Huggy had a small apartment above the bar, he yawn as if to prove his point.
"Sure, you call if you need us," Susan said giving him a hug. "Or if you hear any word on the street about these two."
"Yeah, you got it," Huggy said ushering them out. As soon as his friends were out the door and he locked up, Huggy went behind the bar. He picked up the phone and begin dialing.
Starsky leaned up against his car. Susan joined him and Hutch stood in front of them. "I kind of got the feeling Huggy wanted us out of there and it wasn't so that he could get to bed either." Hutch said glancing back over his shoulder at the closed bar door.
"You got that feelin' too uh?" Starsky said as he slung his arm around Susan's neck.
"I think he knows one or both of these guys or at the very least know someone who can find out." Susan said as she leaned her head on her partner's shoulder. She was very tired, all of this was just too much. "We better keep an eye on Huggy so he doesn't get himself in trouble."
Starsky left the Pits, telling his partners he would meet back up with them after lunch. He went to the courthouse to tell Sara Goldman what was going on.
The detective found Sara's office easily. She was sitting behind a batter wooden desk with files stacked around her.
Starsky stood in the doorway watching her a few minutes. Finally he cleared his throat and she looked up. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Dave!"
"Hi Sara," Starsky said softly
She got up, came around her desk to give him a hug. Then she looked up in to his face. "Something has happened hasn't it?"
He nodded, "you remember Huggy Bear?"
"Sure, you took me to his place several times."
"Yeah, well it was hit last night by our guys. This killed one of his waitresses." Starsky said sadly thinking about Cindy.
"Oh my God!" Sara gasped. "Huggy? Is he alright?"
"He wasn't there when it happened but he feels responsible for Cindy dying."
"I know how he feels, " Sara said as she pulled him into her office and closing the door. "I tried to get my parents to move out the that neighborhood for years."
Starsky sat down in a chair in front of her desk. Sara perched on the edge of the desk. "So what's going on?" She asked. "You didn't come down here to just tell me about Huggy right?"
Starsky sighed wishing he hadn't come. "No, we know who they are."
"Really?" Sara stood up, going around her desk she sat down at her computer. "Give me their names.
"Listen Sara, I would rather not," Starsky shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"Why not?" Sara demanded. "I can punch them in and have all the information y9ou need."
"We have computers at the station. We have the information on them." Starsky said firmly. "We have APB's out on them.
"So what are you doing here instead of out there looking for them?" She said with any edge to her voice.
"Sara," he said softly.
"I'm sorry," she leaned back in her chair placing her arm over her eyes. "It's been really hard on me. I feel like I need to be doing something but there is nothing I can do. I can't even get my mother to stay with me."
"Believe m, I understand how you feel," Starsky told her. Then he landed the second blow. "Dobey took us off the case."
"Are you kidding me?" She said sitting up and looking at him with unbelieving eyes.
"He says we are to close to the case," Starsky sighed. "He's right to, you know. First your dad, then Cindy."
"The little blond?" Sara asked sadly. Starsky nodded. "Are you really off the case?"
"I said Dobey…" Starsky begin.
Sara cut him off. "I know what your Captain said but I know you guys.
Starsky grinned at her, "I guess you do know us. Dobey knows us too. I don't know why he even bothered taking us off. We are just being quieter about our investigation. We are watching Huggy, he might go after them.""
"You told him who they were?" Sara Asked.
"Yeah, but I wish we hadn't."
"That's why you won't tell me isn't it, you think I'll go after them too?"
"You have the means of finding out any information on them," Starsky said indicating the computer. "Huggy has the street smarts to find them. We don't need you running around out there getting yourself killed. Your mother needs you."
"Yeah sure," Sara sighed shaking her head.
"Everything is OK isn't it?"
"Oh sure," Sara gave a ruefully laugh. "I guess you haven't been by the store. She's opened it back up."
"What!" Starsky exclaimed.
"I tried to stop here but she went home and opened that damn store. She said it's what dad would have wanted." Sara said with a catch in her voice. "And damnit she's right too."
"We'll keep an eye on her for you." Starsky promised as he got up to leave.
While Starsky was with Sara, Hutch and Susan were parked watching the ocean. They hadn't really disused the baby, there hadn't been time. Hutch unbuckled his seat belt and turned to watch his wife. She seemed to be in deep thought as she watched the waves crash onto the shore. "So were do we go from here?" Hutch asked almost afraid of the answer.
"Meaning?" Susan asked not taking her eyes off the water; she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Meaning how mad are you at me?" Hutch sighed still watching her. The last thing he wanted to do was to lose the woman he loved. "I really screwed up."
Susan finally looked at him. She just couldn't stay mad and couldn't imagine living without him. The year and a half they had spent apart had showed her she was no good without him. Gently she touched his cheek, "I love you, does that answer your question?"
He smiled, "then we are alright then."
She nodded, "but promise me you'll come to me with your doubts ad not let your imagination run away with you." She leaned over and kissed him.
"You got a deal."
"Not to change the subject but what are we going to do about Huggy?" Susan asked returning her gaze to the ocean. She knew that Hutch wanted to talk about the baby but there would be time for that later.
"I would like to haul his ass in," Hutch replied. "Just to keep him out of trouble."
"That is if we could even find him. Huggy is good at disappearing," Susan said.
"Tell me about it."
The radio went off, Hutch rolled his eyes then grabbed the microphone. It would be nice to get through just one break with out the thing going off. "Hutchinson."
"Patch through from Detective Starsky," said a voice.
"Hey guys," Starsky said.
"What's up?" Asked Hutch it didn't sound as if thing was wrong.
"Meet me at the Goldman's store," he answered.
"Why?"
"Just do it," the curly headed detective said. "You'll see when you get here."
Susan rubbed her hands over her face, "now what?" She sighed.
Hutch replaced the microphone then looked closely at Susan. She had dark circles under her eyes and could tell she was exhausted. "You OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighed again. "Just a little tired."
"A little?" He exclaimed. "You have been going without much rest for almost twenty-four hours. Why don't I take you home?"
"No, I’m fine," she said firmly then smiled at him. "Don't you look at me like that Hutchinson. After we see what Starsky wants you can take me home."
Hutch shook his head he didn't like it. She looked more than tired. He knew Susan, she always pushed herself to the limit but now there was more at stake. "Promise?"
"Scouts honor" she said holding up two fingers then three then two again. "Oh what ever. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I'll take it easy the rest of today and take all of tomorrow off, happy?"
"Extremely," Hutch smiled at her. Satisfied he started the car and pointed it in the direction of the Goldman's store. Halfway there he glanced over at his wife, she was sound asleep her head resting on the back of the seat. When they arrived at the store, Starsky's Torino was parked in front of the store but he was no where in sight.
The blond detective touched his sleeping partner gently on the arm. Susan's eyes popped open and she looked around, "Guess I was more tired than I thought."
"Well Starsky's car is here but I don't see him, he must be in the store." Hutch said getting out of the car.
Susan got out joining Hutch on the sidewalk. She peered into the plate glass window of the store. "Its open," she exclaimed.
They opened the door, Margie Goldman was standing behind the counter. Her gray hair was in a bun. She wasn't quite five feet tall. Margie had crystal blue eyes but they had a touch of sadness in them that wasn't there before.
"Ken, Susan!" She cried when she saw them enter the store. Margie came around the counter hugging them both. "How are you?"
Hutch gave her a perplexed look, "Margie what are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Sara.
"Oh goodness I couldn't impose on her," Margie said wiping her hands on her apron. "How about a sandwich I just took some bread out of the over."
"Sure, sounds good," Susan smiled at the older woman. She hadn't realized how long it had been since she had eaten.
"Hey I need a loaf out here." Margie called toward the back room.
Hutch was just about to ask Margie about Starsky when he appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a white apron and carrying a load of fresh bread. "Here ya go darlin."
"Starsk!" Hutch exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"Helping out, " he handed Margie the bread. Then he came around the counter and said in a whisper. "Sara told me Margie opened back up. I was trying to talk her into going back to Sara's, but no dice."
Margie was busily preparing sandwiches for her guests. She hummed to herself as she worked, happy to have something to do. IT hadn't been hard for Margie to come back to the store. She knew that's what Stan would have wanted her to do. Margie had opened the store at six a.m. among protests from Sara.
The old woman had woke up her daughter at four o'clock in the morning demanding to be taken home. Sara tried for an hour to talk her mother out of reopening the store to no avail. Finally when Margie threatened to call a cab Sara relented and drove her to the store on her way to work.
"Here you go." Margie sat a tray with sandwiches and sodas on a small table in front of the detectives. She ruffled Starsky's' curly hair. "You're a good boy Dave. He's been helping me for the last hour. I know you have better things to do than baby sit an old woman."
"Baby sit!" Starsky scoffed indignantly. "I can here in hopes you would make me one of your world class sandwiches."
"I know Sara sent you over here," she said wagging her finger at him. "You can't fool me David Starsky."
"Guilty," Starsky blushed slightly.
"Well you're just a sweetie aren't you?" Susan teased, leaning over planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Oh stop it," Starsky grinned swatting at Susan.
Hutch frowned as he watched the exchange between his partners. He hated feeling jealous, he knew they would never do anything to hurt him. Susan elbowed hutch, "What?" he asked looking over at her.
"Just where are you?" Susan asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.
He shook his head, "thinking we really should get back to work and that I need to get you home."
"I'm going to stay here awhile longer, help out Margie." Starsky said talking the older woman's hand.
"You go to work, protect our streets," Margie said patting his hand. "You go on now, I'm fine."
The three detectives got up. Hutch bent over and kissed Margie on the cheek. "We'll get them."
"Yes, she nodded tears in her eyes. "I know you will."



                                                                                                       CHAPTER FIVE
​

Calvin Black and Samuel Lewis had a map spread out on the bed between them. The hotel room was small and shabby. The wallpaper was peeling, the floor stained and dirty. The bed had seen better days, as had the rest of the furniture in the room. The two men could afford better than the Royal Hotel but they wanted to lay low, blend in. Blending in was easy to do in at the rundown hotel. No one paid any attention to their comings and goings.
No one that is except Albee, he was the manger of the motel and would sell out his own mother for a dime. Albee was a skinny tall man who looked far older than his thirty-two years. His greasy think hair always hung limply in his face. He watched everyone including the salt-n-pepper team that had been on the third floor for the past month.
Calvin had a red maker in his hand. There were more than a dozen read circles all over the map of the downtown area of LA
I didn't like hitting that bar full of people, "Samuel growled.
"Stop being such an old woman," Calvin laughed as he studied the map. "
We got away clean didn't we? Nobody is knocking on our door."
"
We were lucky and you know it," the black man said.
Ignoring his partner Calvin said, "What next?"
"Maybe we should lay low for a while," Samuel suggested. "Why push our luck. We get caught and the cops are going to fry us. Let's just blow this town."
Calvin leaped to his feet. "Shit, the police don't have a clue!" He paced around the room maybe his partner did have a point though. They had gotten away clean more than a dozen times, their luck had to run out something. Each place they had hit they left a body behind. Samuel was right about one thing, if they got caught they were going to fry.
"What?" Samuel asked as he watched the white man pace the room. They had been together long enough for Samuel to know when the wheels were turning.
"Just a couple more jobs then we will head for Mexico."
Sighing Samuel watched his partner Calvin was a greedy son of a bitch but he was making them rich. "OK, OK but no more places full of people and no more witnesses."
Calvin picked up his gun from the bedside table and turned it over in his hands. "No more witnesses," he agreed giving Samuel an evil grin.
It was still dark when Hutch leaned over the sleeping form of his wife and kissed her on the cheek. He was dressed, ready for work he stood there watching her for a moment then turned to go.
"Hutch?" Susan called out sleepily. He came back sitting on the edge of the bed. "You be careful."
"Always, you go back to sleep," he said getting up to leave again. "Call after you talk to the doctor. Are you sure you don't want me to come?"
She shook her head as she snuggled back down into her covers. "Next time," she said then she sat up. "You find those guys."
"Go back to sleep," Hutch ordered a second time as he softly closed the door.
Mrs. Gray was already up and in the kitchen fixing breakfast when Hutch pulled open the kitchen door. She turned around with a spatula in hand. "Good morning Ken," she said cheerfully. "You're just in time."
"Just coffee," he said grabbing a mug.
"Don't be silly, sit down," Mrs. Gray ordered. Hutch sat down at the small breakfast table. She put a steaming plate of bacon, eggs and toast in front of him. "Et me get the coffee."
After pouring her boss and herself a cup of coffee, Mrs. Gray joined him at the table. She watched him intently. "What?" he asked around a bite of toast.
"You know I don't like to butt in," Mrs. Gray began. Hutch hiked his eyebrows at her for the woman to continue. "I'm worried about Susan. I don't think she is getting enough rest."
"I know but if you say anything she just gets more determined," Hutch took a last bite of toast then drained his coffee cup. He got up patting the nanny on the back. "Thanks for breakfast. And try to keep an eye on Susan, see if you can get her to rest today."
Hutch left for work, Mrs. Gray began cleaning the table. "I'll try, I'll try," she said to herself.
"Try what?" said a little voice from the door.
Mrs. Gray turned around, Jesse was standing in the doorway in pink pajamas and bunny slippers. Her long brown hair was tousled and her blue eyes were full of mischief. She was the spitting image of her parents. "Breakfast?"
"Try what?" persisted Jesse.
"To get our mommy to rest," Mrs. Gray sighed, she knew Jesse wouldn't give up unless she said something. "She's been working too hard."
"Froot Loops." Jesse said climbing into her booster seat. "I'll help you watch mommy."
The phone began ringing, Mrs. Gray smiled a the child, "Just a minute." The nanny grabbed the phone before it could disturb Susan. 'Yes?" She listened for a few moments. "I'll tell her, thank you."
"Who was that?" Jesse wanted to know as soon as the older woman hung up. The little girl had already managed to cover the table with sugar. She was in the process of drawing pictures in the spilled sugar.
"Just your mommy's doctor canceling her appointment."
"What?" Susan had just come into the kitchen. She wasn't one for just lying around in bed all day.
"The doctor's office called, he had an emergency. You'll need to call and reschedule." Mrs. Gray informed her. Susan started back out of the kitchen. "Where are you going?"
"To work," Susan said. "I might as well."
"Oh no you are not!" Mrs. Gray scolded. She grabbed the young woman by the shoulders and propelled her toward the breakfast table. "You are taking it easy today."
Susan sighed, "This is a conspiracy." She looked over at her daughter. "What are you having Jess?"
"Froot Loops," Jesse bubbled as Mrs. Gray sat her cereal in front of her. It wasn't often she got to have breakfast with her mother.
"Sounds good to me," Susan smiled, then to Mrs. Gray, "make that two please."
Starsky and Hutch cruised by The Pits then checked up on Margie, Huggy hadn't been at the bar and it was closed up tight. On the other hand Margie had the front door of the store propped open and she was handing out candy to the neighborhood children. After making sure that the older woman was doing fine then went to the station. Dobey had a pile of folders for them. There was no news on Black and Lewis all though the whole department had been looking. Starsky took the files from Dobey handed half to Hutch as he stalked out of the office taking the rest with him.
"Listen, I'm sorry…" Dobey began.
Hutch held up his hand, "You had to do what you had to do, just don't expect us to like it." He slammed the office door with out waiting for his captain to respond. Hutch dropped the files on his desk then flopped down in his chair.
Starsky was angrily flipping through some papers, suddenly he slammed his fist down on the desk top. "Damnit! I hate this does Dobey really expect us to forget those to murdering bastards?" He exploded.
"I don't know," Hutch sighed, he looked at his watch then picked up the phone. "Susan should be back from the Doctor by now I'm going to give her a call."
Just as he was about to dial his number Dobey opened his office door and stepped into the squad room. "Hutch," the plump black Captain called.
"Yeah Cap," Hutch answered as he continued punching in the numbers.
"Isn't there a market close to your home named Jerry's? Dobey asked, he had a concerned expression on his face.
Seeing the look on his Captain's face Hutch hung up the phone before it could ring. "It's a couple of blocks away. We go there all the time. Why?"
"It was just hit and I believe it was our two guys." Dobey informed his two detectives.
Both Hutch and Starsky jumped to their feet at the same time. They grabbed their leather jackets. "Was anyone hurt?" Starsky asked as they were going out the door.
"Jerry was killed," Dobey said grimy. "I think there was some others hurt."
"Damn," Hutch said under his breath. The family and Jerry were friends, they were always picking up this or that at the small store. Jerry was always giving Jesse treats of some kind, she loved going there.
The two detectives stopped looking at Dobey suddenly remembering they had been taken off the case, "Can we go?" Starsky asked.
"Get the hell out of here," Dobey growled.
Susan was almost to the front door when Mrs. Gray spotted her. "And just where do you think you are going?"
"I was going for a walk and then stop at the store." Susan smiled at the older woman's concern. Mrs. Gray gave her a suspicious look, the detective knowing what the nanny was thinking held open her jacket, "See no gun."
Jesse came bounding into the room, "Mommy can I come?"
"Sure, get your shoes and sweater on," Susan watch her daughter run down in the hall in search of her things. "You want to come Edna?"
Mrs. Gray shook her head, "you two go on you don't get to spend that much time together."
Jesse reappeared in the hall, she had one tennis shoe in her hand, one on the wrong foot and was dragging her sweater by the sleeve. Mrs. Gray bent down to help the child with her shoes. "Thanks!" Jesse beamed at her.
"Need anything?" Susan aske3d when Jesse was ready.
"Sugar," the nanny replied. "Seems somebody spilled what we had left on the table at breakfast." Jesse gave Mrs. Gray her best I'm sorry face. The woman just smiled at her and ruffled her hair. "We'll make cookies when you get back maybe even some bread."
"Oh yummy," Jesse cried as she took her mothers hand. "Will you help?"
"Of course I will. I couldn't miss bread and cookies," Susan opened the door. Mother and daughter went out into the bright sunshine. It was almost November and there was a slight coolness in the air but it sure wasn't like a mid west winter. Susan still missed the ice and snow. She wanted Jesse to get to play in the snow some day.
Suddenly Jesse began to run down the sidewalk, "Hey where are you going?" Susan called after her coming out of her thoughts.
"I see Jerry!" the little girl shouted over her shoulder as she ran.
Susan looked down the street, Jerry was out front sweeping the side walk. Jerry Drake was a kind middle aged man, he lived in a small house next to his store. His house as his store was neatly kept up.
Jerry had just finished sweeping when Jesse hit him from behind, "What's this," he chuckled as he turned around. He had seen Jesse coming down the block. Jerry leaned his broom against the doorframe and scooped Jesse up in his arms. "Well what will it be today Miss Jesse?"
Jesse looked thoughtful for a moment, "Can I get back to you on that?"
Jerry burst into laughter, he was always delighted to see Jesse and her family. He set Jesse back on her feet then turned to greet Susan who had just caught up. "What brings you here today Susan?"
"Just need to pick up a few things," Susan answered following Jesse into the store. Jerry grabbed his broom as he went in. "Seems like all our sugar got used up just as we were going do some baking." Susan shot a look at Jesse who was trying to look innocent.
"That wouldn't have been you would it?" Jerry teased Jesse.
She giggled, then went off to look at the candy. Susan shook her head as she watcher her daughter inspect the sweets. Turning back to Jerry she asked, "Any specials today?"
"Got some nice looking pork chops."
"Sounds good, will go nice with the bread we are going to bake this afternoon. You had better give me five just in case Starsky stays or you can make it six if you would like to join us?"
"Is that an invitation?" Jerry smiled at her.
"You bet ya."
"Well then you got a date, I haven't seen those partners of yours in a while. What have they been up to?" Jerry asked going behind the counter.
"We've been really busy," Susan replied looking around the store.
"You get the rest of you groceries, I'll go in the back and get those chops," Jerry said disappearing into the back room.
About three blocks away two men got off a city bus. They were both dressed alike in black shirts and pants. They both had black ski masks tucked in their back pockets. Samuel and Calvin had noticed the small grocery store about a week ago. They had watched it several days and found that right after lunch there was a lull in business.
They stopped just before they got to the store and slipped on their masks. Then pulled guns from their belts. Calvin peeked in the store window, no one was in sight. He glanced at the front door, which had a sign on it that said 'Open Please Come In'. Well at least it was open, he was beginning to wonder. Then Calvin saw a man come out of the backroom carrying a small with package. The man laid it on the counter next to the cash register. "Come on," Calvin said under his breath to Samuel who had also been watching.
Jerry glanced up when the two men entered his store. The ski masks startled him, he flicked a look down the candy aisle where Jesse was still standing. Jerry started to reach under the counter for his gun.
"I wouldn't do that," said the black man as he cocked his gun poking it in the store keepers face.
"Just take the money and leave," Jerry said holding up his hands so they could see them.
'Put your cash in a bag," the white man ordered.
Jerry grabbed a brown paper sack. He opened the register and began stuffing money in it. Finishing he tossed the money toward the masked men. "Please just go now." Jerry pleaded. He was afraid to look down the aisle again for fear the old up men would look and see Jesse.
The black man lowered his gun, then stuck it in the back of his pants under his jacket. Calvin stepped up to the counter and fired one shot point blank into Jerry's chest. The shopkeeper dropped to the floor, his last thoughts were of Jesse.
Susan spun around almost dropping the sugar she was holding when the gun went off. Jesse froze where she was, she had a perfect view of the hold up men. Slowly she crouched down next to the candy rack. She looked around for her mother, not seeing her Jesse made herself as small as possible and hid her face in her knees.
Susan reached for her gun under her jacket then remembered she had left it at home. The detective looked wildly around for her daughter but she wasn't in sight. Slowly Susan made her way toward the front of the store.
"Hold it right there, " said a voice behind her. Calvin had seen her in one of the mirrors posted around the store and slipped up behind her pressing his gun in the small of her back. Jerry had them installed only the week before because he was having trouble with some of the local kids stealing.
Calvin and Susan were standing in front of the meat counter she could see his refection in the glass case. Slowly she turned to confront the gunman, she had her hands slightly up so that he could see she had no weapon.
Suddenly there was a siren screaming in the background. "Get out of here," Susan hissed under her breath. She wanted them to go so that she could check on Jerry and Jess. As she stood there staring into the ski masked face she realized that this was the pair that had been pulling the robberies. She also knew that her chances of coming out of this alive were slim to none, she just hoped that when the commotion had started that Jesse had hid. Why had she left her gun at home, she rarely left home without it.
"Come on!" Samuel yelled looking out window expecting to see it fill with cop cars.
Calvin cocked his gun then pointed it at the officers head as he started to squeeze the trigger a small voice yelled, "Mommy!" Both gunmen looked around, Susan gasped in horror as Jesse came running at the man. "You leave my Mommy alone." Jesse cried as he hit the man with her tiny fists. Tears were streaming down her cheeks but she fearlessly punched the man who was going to hurt her mother.
Calvin looked down at the small girl, "Man you got guts kid."
Susan took the opportunity while the man was looking at Jesse to elbow the gunman in the stomach. Calvin grunted then swung his body around catching Susan off balance. She fell full force into the glass case which shattered around her, she fell inside the case as the glass broke. She hit the meat then slid to the floor, she had many small cuts on her arms and face and a rather large gash on her leg but all she could feel was the pain in her stomach that felt like fire.
Calvin and Samuel fled the store leaving Jesse to knell next to her mother. Susan was barely aware of Jesse who was holding her hand and sobbing.
By the time Starsky pulled up in front of the store there were two police cars all ready there, the coroner, crime lab and an ambulance were also there. The two detectives leaped out of the car. Starsky went in the front door of the store Hutch stared to follow him. Then noticed a little girl sitting on a gurney crying as a paramedic was trying to talk to her.
"Oh my God!" Hu8tch exclaimed, fear creeping into his heart. "Jesse?"
Upon hearing him the paramedic looked up. "Detective Hutchinson, is this your daughter?"
Hutch nodded numbly as he pulled his daughter into his arms. Jesse hung on tightly as she sobbed. "Mrs. Gray," he cried as he looked toward the store. "What about he woman who was with her?" Hutch asked. When the paramedic didn't answer immanently Hutch carried Jesse toward the store.
"Wait!" the paramedic called after the detective.
As Starsky entered the store Officer Shawn Daniels grabbed his arm, "It's Detective Carlston."
"What?" Starsky exclaimed as he watched the paramedic's work on a woman lying in a shower of glass.
When Starsky didn't move Daniels shook his shoulder, "It's Susan."
Starsky snapped out of his daze and ran to where his partner was laying. Susan was unconscious, one of the men was starting an IV on her as the other looked into her eyes with a small flashlight. After starting the IV the paramedic looked up at Starsky, "Was she pregnant?"
"What do you mean was?" he asked as a sick feeling settled in his stomach. The attendant just looked at the officer and shook his head. Starsky knelt down next to Susan, he took her hand it was cold and clammy. "Will she be alright?"
"None of the cuts are very bad, the one on her thigh might need a few stitches but as for the baby she's bleeding pretty badly, I don't think it can be saved." He answered the detective. "Looks like she got slammed into that case pretty hard."
Starsky closed his eyes as he pressed her hand to his lips. "Everything is going to be OK," He whispered around the lump in his throat. How was he going to tell Hutch, although Hutch hadn't said much Starsky knew that his friend was excited about becoming a father again.
Hutch appeared in the doorway of the store still holding Jesse in his arms. "Starsky," he called
Starsky looked around at his partner then he said softly to the men working on Susan, "Take good care of her." Then he joined his partner and Goddaughter at the front of the store.
"How's Mrs. Gray doing?" Hutch asked worriedly trying to crane his neck to watch the paramedics working. Jesse was still crying softly on her father's shoulder. She hadn't said anything just clung tightly to him.
"Mrs. Gray?" Starsky asked puzzled looking around. Then he realized that Hutch thought that Jesse had been with the nanny.
"Hutch," Starsky began, he put his hand on Jesse's back and rubbed the little girl reassuringly. "Jess wasn't with Mrs. Gray."
The blond detective stared at his partner trying to comprehend what he was saying. Suddenly his face went white, "Susan?" Hutch cried out.
Starsky nodded slowly then took Jesse from Hutch's arms. There was no reason in letting the child see more than she already had. Hutch gave him a stricken look then dashed to Susan's side. The paramedics were just putting her on the gurney when Hutch got to them.
"Susan," he leaned over whispering in her hair. "I know you can hear me. Hang on just hang on." Then he stood up and addressed the two paramedics. "Get her out of here."
Hutch put on a brave face for his daughter as he found them sitting on the curb in front of the store. Starsky and Jesse were talking softly, she was leaning on Starsky her small hand in his big one. She had finally stopped crying but still was shaking looking like she began sobbing at any moment.
Hutch sat down on the other side of Jesse, "What were you two doing here?" Hutch asked his daughter. "Your mom was suppose to be at the doctor."
"He called," Jesse said so softly Hutch had to lean toward her to hear.
"What baby?" Hutch asked pulling her up on his lap.
Jesse hugged him tightly, "the doctor called," she said a little louder. "Mommy had to re…re…" Jesse stopped then looked up into her fathers face.
"Reschedule?" Starsky asked. "The doctor cancelled the appointment?" Jesse nodded.
"Let's go home," Hutch said standing up, Jesse grabbed his hand. "You want me to carry you?"
"No," she said sounding more sure of herself, he smiled down at her. She defiantly had her mother's spirit and strength. All Hutch wanted to do was get Jesse settled at home and get to the hospital to see how Susan was.
As if reading his partners thoughts Starsky asked, "You want me to take Jesse home so that you can go to the hospital with Susan?"
Jesse's grip tighten on Hutch's hand she loved Starsky but at this moment she needed her father. "No, I think I had better take her. Would you go to on to the hospital and stay with her until I can get there? And you better call Dobey so he knows what is going on."
"You got it partner," Starsky said. "You take your time I'll call if you are needed."
Hutch gave him a brief smile, "thanks buddy." Then he and Jesse headed for home three blocks away with Jesse clinging tightly to his hand. Once a car back fired as it went by, Jesse almost jumped out of her skin. Despite her protest Hutch scooped up his trembling daughter in his arms. It broke his heart to see her so scared.
Hutch opened the front door of the townhouse just as Mrs. Gray was coming from the kitchen. "Finally," Mrs. Gray said wiping her hands on her apron. "I have started the…" She stopped mid sentence when she saw Hutch instead of Susan and Jesse's tear stained face. "What happened, where is Susan. Jesse began sobbing running to the older woman and burying her face in the white apron.. She bent down and picked Jesse up hugging her tightly then looked fearfully at Hutch.
"She's been hurt." Hutch said choking on his words. "Jerry's was robbed, he's dead, I guess Susan and Jesse were lucky."
"How bad is she?"
"I don't know, I sent Starsky on to the hospital," Hutch said stepping forward to kiss his daughter. "I wanted to bring Jesse home first."
Mrs. Gray put her arm around Hutch hugging both him and Jesse to her. "You go on, I'll see to Jess."
Hutch nodded, he didn't want to leave Jesse but he wanted to be with Susan. As he started out the door Jesse called, "Daddy, it was the same ones."
"What Hon?" Hutch asked coming back into the room.
"The bad men, they were the same ones," she said going to Hutch who crouched down to be on eye level with her.
"Same as who?" he asked confused.
"The ones that killed Uncle Stan," she said with a quivering voice. She loved going to Stan and Margie's. Margie always made the little girl one of her famous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which Jesse swear were the best in the whole world. Margie said that she didn't do anything special but everyone knew better and she refused to share her secret.
"How did you know about Stan?" Hutch looked at his daughter stunned.
"I heard you and Mommy talking," she smiled at him. It was her first smile since the nightmare had begun. "I know I'm going to have a baby brother or sister too."
Hutch stared at his daughter. "And just what else do you know Miss Smarty Pants?"
"Oh all kinds of things, " she said.
"I guess we are going to have to be more careful what we say around you." Jesse shrugged. "Now back to the subject little one. How do you know it's the same guys?"
"Well you said it was tow men dressed black with black masks, right?" Hutch nodded in amazement. "That's what the two men at Jerry's looked like. The white man shot Jerry and was going to shoot Mommy but I yelled and hit him."
Both Mrs. Gray and Hutch looked horrified, why the guy just didn't kill them would remain a mystery.
"You are a hero you know," Hutch said hugging Jesse. "And our only witness."
She nodded gravely, "You go take care of Mommy, I'll be fine."
"You will make a great detective someday," Hutch stood up. "I'll call as soon as I know something."



                                                                                                           CHAPTER SIX

​​

Susan had just been taken to her hospital room when Captain Dobey arrived, he looked around the empty waiting room wondering where his detectives were. Just as he was about to find a nurse Starsky came down the hall.
"Cap," Starsky called out. "Have you seen Hutch?"
"He isn't with Susan?" Dobey asked surprised.
"No, he wanted to take Jesse home first," Starsky said looking up and down the hall. "I thought he would be here by now."
"Don't tell me the child was in the middle of all this," Dobey exclaimed frowning. Starsky had told him very little of what had happened, only that Susan had been hurt and was being taken to the hospital.
"I'm afraid so."
Dobey shook his head sadly, "How is Susan doing?"
"She will be fine," Starsky said slowly, "but she lost the baby."
Dobey closed his eyes, "My God."
"She is asleep right now." Starsky said. "I was hoping Hutch would be here when she woke up, she's going to need him."
"Have you heard anything from Huggy?" Dobey asked as he sat down on one of waiting room chairs.
"No, we went by his place this morning," Starsky said as he watched the elevator doors down the hall. "He is either not answering the door or he's gone. I’m betting he's out looking for Lewis and Black. If it was them that did this to Susan there's not a rock big enough for them to hid under."
Down the hall the elevator doors slide open. Hutch emerged from them and hurried toward the waiting room. He smiled at his partner and Captain as he approached them. "It was Lewis and Black." Hutch said as soon as he got with in earshot.
"We have witnesses?" Starsky grinned.
"Yep."
"Who?" Dobey asked. "I want them down to the station and in my office pronto."
"Well it might have to wait until after her nap," Hutch said.
"What?" Dobey boomed, he was getting aggravated very quickly.
"It's Jesse," Hutch exclaimed.
"Jesse? Our Jesse?" Starsky croaked, "But she's only four."
"Maybe so but she IDed them," Hutch said proudly. "I can't wait to tell Susan, is she in a room yet?"
"Just came up," Starsky replied looking at Dobeythis was one job he didn't want.
"Let's go." Hutch said eagerly. On the way to the hospital he had radioed the patient information where they had told him she was in good condition. He started down the hall toward the rooms. "What's the room number buddy?"
"516, but Hutch," Starsky called after his partner. "Hutch!"
Hutch stopped, "What?"
"Come sit down son," Dobey said.
Hutch looked from his captain to Starsky, he felt a stab of fear, "She's alright isn't? I call on my way in they said…"
"She's fine," Starsky stalled, Dobey motioned for him to go on it would be better coming from his best friend.
"Will someone just tell me what is wrong?"
Starsky sat down next to his partner, "Hutch, she lost the baby."
"What?" Hutch jumped to his feet. "Are you sure?"
Starsky nodded, then he grabbed Hutch's arm as he started to her room. "Susan doesn't know yet. She is on some painkillers, her face looks pretty scratched up but they are nothing serious. She had one gash on her leg that took a few stitches. But the baby didn't survive, I guess the impact of the fall was just too much."
It hurt Starsky's heart to see the tears of pain running down his partner's face. Hutch was trying desperately trying to get a hold of himself, she was going to need him to be strong for her. "I better go see her." Hutch wiped the tears from his face as he started down the hall again.
"Want me to come with you?" Starsky asked catching his elbow and squeezing.
"Give us a few minutes," he said then continued on down the hall by himself.
Susan curled on her side when Hutch entered the room, he wasn't sure if she was awake or not. There was an IV running into her arm but other than that she wasn't wired to anything else. Quietly he said in a chair next to the bed, counting his blessings that his wife and daughter where still alive even if it meant looking their unborn child.
"How's Jess?" Susan said softly with out turning over.
Hutch looked up, then stood, "She's fine, not a mark on her."
"What about Jerry?" She asked as her turned over to face her husband and partner.
The words caught in his throat when he saw her face, it had many tiny cuts all over it. How she hadn't gotten glass in her eyes was a miracle in it's self. He could tell she was in pain when she moved from the grimace on her face. "Jerry…he didn't make it."
"Oh," she said looking at the many cuts on her hands. "It was our guys wasn't it?"
"So says our witness," Hutch said grinning in spite of himself.
"We have a witness? Who? Susan asked, there had not been anyone else in the store except…
"Our daughter, she said they were the ones that killed Stan."
"How would she know something like that?
"Well it seems that we talk a little too much in front of her. Seems she knows quite a bit about police work." Hutch said shaking his head. He was relieved to be talking about Jesse, it put of what he was going to have to eventually tell her.
"You know that Jesse tried to kick the shit out of Black." Susan had to laugh now at the sight of her young daughter trying to take on the killer.
" Yes I know she told me. You and Jesse are very lucky to be alive. The doc said falling through glass can be deadly."
"And it was too wasn't it?" Susan said taking his hand, a tear slid down her cheek.
"You know? Starsky said that…"
"No one had to tell me," Susan said sadly. "When I hit that counter I knew."
"I'm so sorry," Hutch said stilling on the bed and pulling her into his arms. He wanted to say there would be other babies but it wouldn’t be this baby.
"I'm sorry too. You missed out on Jesse now this." Susan said the tears coursing down her cheeks.
"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I’m just glad that you two are OK."
There was a knock on the door, it opened slowly and Starsky poked his head in. "Hi guys."
"Come on in," Susan smiled through her tears. He came in going to stand on the opposite side of the bed, he took her hand then looked across Susan to Hutch.
"She knows," he said in answer to the question in his partner's eyes.
"I'm so sorry you guys," Starsky said and bent to kiss Susan on the forehead. "I wish there was something I could do."
"There is," Susan said swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and tugging at the IV in her arm. "Help me find those bastards before they cause anyone else pain."
"Get back in that bed," Hutch ordered grabbing her hand to keep her from pulling out the IV. "You are in no shape to be going any where."
There was another knock on the door Dobey peered in. "Cap get in here and talk some sense into your detective here." Starsky called out. "This crazy woman is trying to get out of bed."
"You stay put Carlston," Dobey said sternly. "You aren't allow back to work until the doc releases you, got that?"
Susan sighed leaning back on the pillow. "Alright, alright I get the point besides I am kind of tired."
"You get some rest, I'm going to check on Jesse," Hutch said as he kissed her hand that he was holding tightly too. It scared him to think how close he had come to losing his family. "I'll be back in a little while."
"You be back in the morning. You don't need to seat there in that chair and watch me sleep. The doctor said they were giving me some more pain medication in a bit, it will knock me out." Hutch started to protest but Susan wouldn't hear it. "Hey if you want me to stay here then you go home and be with our daughter, she needs one of us."
Susan tossed and tuned, dreaming the nightmare over and over again. Sometimes she was shot, sometimes it was Jesse and sometimes it was a baby. She jerked awake, her pillow was wet from the tears she had cried in her sleep. Susan stared at the ceiling trying to understand how all this had happened. Everyday she was faced with life and death decisions at work. All she had wanted to do was get sugar so that she could make cookies with her daughter. Where was the crime in that? A good man was dead along with two other friends plus a dozen more.
She put her hand on her stomach, had it just been a couple of days ago that she had been doing that? Standing in their bedroom looking at her self in the mirror wondering if anyone could tell yet. Then Starsky had appeared from no where and…Susan felt someone take her hand, holding it tightly.
"It's OK, I'm here," Said a voice in the darkness.
"Oh Starsky," Susan whaled. She sat up throwing her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her they sat that way along time.
When Hutch had gone home and Dobey had gone back to the office Starsky had only gone as far as the hospital cafeteria. After he had eaten, Starsky had gone to check on Susan, finding her asleep he flopped down in the chair next to the bed falling sound asleep himself.
Finally she release him, "thank you for being here."
"I couldn't leave you here by yourself," he said softly. "Not tonight."
She smiled at him gratefully, "I'm glad you're here." Susan loved Hutch very much but Starsky was her best friend too. She didn't feel she had to put up a brave front for him. Susan knew that Hutch was hurting over the death of the baby as much as she was and she wanted to be strong for him. Starsky was there to be strong for her.
He stroked her hair, rocking her back and forth wishing he could take the pain away. Starsky kissed her forehead then her cheek then he stopped himself after all she wasn't his. Suddenly there was a shaft of light from the hallway. The two detectives glanced toward the door. A tall thin man stood there silhouetted in the light. "Huggy is that you?" Susan asked.
"In the flesh," the black man strolled into the room. "How ya doing?"
"I'm OK now," Susan smiled up at Starsky squeezing his hand. She reached up flipping the light on over the bed. She gasped when she got a good look at Huggy. He was unshaven, something Susan had never seen before. He also looked like he hadn't slept for days, his clothes were wrinkled and dirty. "Huggy are you alright?"
"Don't worry about me," Huggy said as he headed back out the door. "I just wanted to see for myself that you were doing good. I head what happened, it's all over the streets."
"Hey where are you going?" Starsky asked following Huggy to the door.
"I'm going to find these two punks, they have made their last kill," Huggy spit out.
"Tell us what you know," Starsky begged holding the door closed so Huggy couldn't leave.
"Why so you can do nothing?" Huggy shouted in Starsky's face. "You and Hutch haven't done one damn thing since Goldman was killed. They have gotten Cindy, that store owner, almost your own partner. How many more people are going to have to die before you guys get off your asses?" Huggy raged.
"Just one damn minute," Starsky flared. "First off Hutch and I were taken off the case but you know that has never stopped us before."
"You going somewhere with is?" Huggy demanded. He had things to do and wanted to get going. Everyone on the streets were scared but they were beginning to talk and Huggy had a very good idea where the killers were.
"Huggy all this has happened in the last 72 hours, one right after the other," Starsky shouted. "We can't even get one mess cleaned up before they hit somewhere else."
"What crap, these guys have been out there for over a month," Huggy growled. "You know how many people they have killed?"
"As a matter of fact I do," Starsky yelled. "I have their files on my desk."
"Files, files," Huggy threw up his hands, "Who gives a good damn about your files."
Starsky moved away from the door as he felt someone pushing form the other side. The door opened and a nurse poked her head in, "What is going on in here? Who are all you people? It's way after visiting hours, Miss Carlston needs her rest."
"I was just leaving," Huggy said seeing his chance to escape the room. He pushed past the woman in white and was gone.
"I'll be back," Starsky said to Susan and followed his friend.
"You need anything?" the nurse asked.
"No I’m fine," Susan said. The nurse gave her a doubtful look. "Really I'm fine."
As soon as the nurse was gone Susan pulled the IV from her hand and slipped out of bed. She went to the closet to retrieve her blood stained clothes. Quickly the detective put them on, gently pulling her shirt over the cuts on her face hands and arms. Once Susan was dress she slipped out of her room and out of the hospital.
A cab pulled up in front of the townhouse, Susan got out after paying the driver. She let herself in the front door, the house was dark and quiet. Softly she padded up the staris first Susan made her way to her daughters room. She opened the door and peered in at Jesse's sleeping form. Susan went in gently sitting on the edge of the bed. She pushed a piece of hair out of Jesse's face.
Jesse opened her eyes, "Mommy?"
"I'm here honey, " Susan said leaning over to kiss her cheek, "You go back to sleep."
"OK," Jesse said sleepily, "Mommy?"
"Yes Hon."
"Froot Loops in the morning?"
"Froot Loops in the morning," Susan said smiling at her daughter.
"No sugar," the little girl said softly.
"No sugar," Susan repeated as she pulled the covers up around Jesse's shoulders. "You get me up in the morning so I don't miss breakfast OK?" But Jesse didn't answer, she was already fast asleep.
Susan left her daughters room closing the door so she didn't wake her. As she went down the hall to the bedroom she hared with Hutch, she stopped at another bedroom door. Susan put her hand on the doorknob but didn't turn it. This room would have been for the baby. She stood there for a few moments thinking about what would never be.
Finally she continued on down the hall to their room. When she opened the door she was surprised not to find Hutch in bed. The bathroom light was on and she could hear the shower running. As she entered the bathroom she could see Hutch standing under the water. Susan pulled back the shower curtain, he stood there in pajama bottoms letting the water hit him in the face. She touched his arm, hutch's eyes flew open and he looked at her in surprise. With out saying anything she climbed fully clothed in the shower with him. They stood under the water clinging to one another for a long time.
Thirty minutes later Susan was propped up in bed with her wet hair wrapped up in a towel. The bedroom door opened, Hutch came in carrying a small try with to mugs on it. "What's this," she asked as he sat the try on the bedside table.
He handed her a steaming mug, "Hot chocolate."
"Really?" Susan took the mug, she peered down in it, there were tiny marshmallows floating in it, her favorite. She gave him a small smile, "thanks."
"Welcome, anything for my favorite girl," He said sitting down on the bed next to her. "Now, what are you doing here?" He hadn't questioned her when she had appeared in the bathroom earlier.
"Huggy showed up at the hospital," Susan explained as she sipped her cocoa.
"Couldn't stay away could he?" Hutch smiled but then it faded. "That still doesn't explain what you are doing here."
She sighed, "he and Starsky had a huge fight and…"
"Starsky was there too," Hutch interrupted. "What was he doing there?"
"Apparently he had been there all night sitting with me." She said softly. "I woke up from a nightmare and he was there."
"That was nice of him," hutch said with a slight edge to his voice.
Susan gave him a strange look, "Hutch, he's my friend, our friend."
" I know never mind, just tell me what happened." Hutch said waving away his comment. He felt foolish for being jealous, he was grateful that Starsky had been there when she need someone but it should have been him.
"Huggy looked awful, I don't think he's slept since Cindy was killed. He accused you and Starsky of not doing your job." Susan gave her partner a distress look. "I think Huggy is going after those guys and I’m pretty sure Starsky is going with him. We have to find Lewis and Black before they do. I’m afraid Huggy is going to end up in jail and Starsky will lose his badge. Huggy really got him worked up, he took off after Huggy when he left."
"There is no we," Hutch said looking at her intently. "You are suppose to be in the hospital. I'll take care of this."
"What about Dobey?" Susan asked. "We are officially off the case."
"Well I'm back on." He stood up looking down at her. He should his finger at her, "you still haven't told me how you happened to be here."
She looked at him sheepishly, "When they left I just…" She paused.
"Got up and walked out of the hospital." He finished for her. Susan nodded. "Well thank God you didn't go after them."
"I'm not that crazy," she gave him a rueful look.
"Yeah ya are." He grinned, then picked up the phone dialing Starsky's number. He let it ring more than a dozen times before hanging up. Then he called their extension at the station but another officer picked it up. Hutch question him about Starsky but the officer hadn't seen him all evening. Hutch hung up the phone, he gave Susan a perplexed look.
"Try the Pits." Susan suggested. He shrugged, that would be almost too easy if they were there. But he phone rang off the hook. "Damn, where are they?"
"Maybe they just aren't answering the phone," Hutch said slamming the receiver down. Starsky might show up here or at least call when he finds out you flew the coop."
The slight edge was back in his voice, Susan cocked her head at him, "you and Starsk fighting?"
"No, why?"
"Well you sound mad or something," Susan was unable to describe the tone in his voice every time he spoke of Starsky. She looked closely at Hutch, "do you think there is something going on between Starsk and I?" This was the second time in the last couple of days they had this similar conversation.
"Don't be silly," Hutch said without much convection, he wouldn't meet her eyes though.
"That's exactly what you are thinking, isn't it?" Susan gasped stunned. "I do love him, he's my friend, my partner. Hell all of us have been through so much together. We are probably as close as three people can get but I am in love with you there is a difference you know," She got up painfully from the bed, her cuts and bruises hurt her and stomach was achy. She put her arms around Hutch lying her head on his chest.
Hutch kissed the top of her head, then he said, "I'm not sure if he feels the same way. I think he's in love with you."
Susan looked up into his blue eyes to see if he was joking. "Oh come on, you don't really believe that do you?"
Haven't you noticed the way he's been looking at you lately?" he asked.
She shook her head no but actually there had been a few times she had wondered about Starsky. She had dismissed the feelings thinking she was just reading him wrong. But the last couple of days she had felt it even more. And at the hospital before Huggy had arrived she thought he was going to kiss her. Susan just figured it was the stress of everything that had been happening. It was such an emotional case for them and she told Hutch her feeling on the matter.
But he disagreed with her. "I noticed long before these clowns blew into town."
She sighed shaking her head, "We can't deal with this right now. Let's get these assholes first." Hutch nodded as he reached for the phone. "Who are you calling now?"
"Dobey."
"Are you crazy?" Susan exclaimed he is going to kill me.
"He's going to find out sooner or later," Hutch told her. "And I don’t want him freaking out when he finds you are gone from the hospital. It's going to be bad enough if Starsky has truly gone AWAL."


                                                                                                                    CHAPTER SEVEN
​

Captain Harold Dobey had just walked into his office, it was six a.m. and the phone was already ringing, it was going to be a bitch of a day. Sighing he sat down at his desk, a cup of coffee and a box of donuts were already on the desk. Grabbing the receiver he barked into the phone, "Dobey!"
"And a good morning to you too Cap," Hutch said holding the phone away from his ear. He glanced at Susan, she was smiling because she had heard the captain.
"Where the hell is Carlston!" he hollered. "I called the hospital, they said she walked out."
"She's here with me," Hutch said.
"Is she alright?" the captain's voice soften slightly.
"She is just fine," Hutch said then asked, "have you seen Starsky?
"No, why?" Dobey leaned back in his chair, he rubbed his hand over his hair and across his face. He had come in early to catch up on paper work but that didn't seem likely now. "Is he missing?"
"Not exactly."
"Then exactly what the hell is it? Hutch related what Susan had told him happened at the hospital. "So what are you telling me is that Starsky and Huggy have teamed up and they are going after those two clowns?" Dobey finally exploded. Hutch was glad he wasn't in the office.
"I'm not sure they are together but I am sure they are both looking for Lewis and Black."
"I'm putting an APB out on both of them." Dobey growled. "And when they are found I'm going to look them both up until this is over! You and Carlston get your asses down here."
"But Cap, Susan's not even suppose to be out of the hospital yet," Hutch protested.
"I didn't say I was putting her out on the street," He grunted. "I want all of us to sit down, put our heads together and see if we can find your partner and see if we can't put an end to this nightmare."
"If she's up to it," Hutch said not really sure Susan should be going anywhere except back to the hospital. He hung up the phone and started to speak to his wife but she was gone, "Susan?"
She came out of the bathroom with a toothbrush hanging out of her mouth she was already dressed. This case was as much hers as anyone's and she wasn't going to sit by letting Starsky or Huggy get hurt because of her. She knew that Starsky was out there because of what had happen to her, it had been the last straw.
By the time the two detectives got to Dobey's office there still had been on word from either Starsky or Huggy. The captain was sitting behind his desk, he looked tired and haggard even though it was early in the morning. None of them had been getting much rest, it was beginning to take its toll. The commissioner was coming down hard on Dobey. As the press was coming down hard on him, William Eldridge had felt the pressure for he last few weeks. As the robberies became closer and the body court rose the outcry became louder. Eldridge knew that Dobey and his men were doing their best but it just wasn't enough. The Mayor's office had called the day before, that was when Eldridge had laid it out to Dobey making it sound like the captain's job was on the line. After Eldridge had gotten done, Dobey had been ready to hand in his resignation. Everyone had been working around the clock, Dobey had been exhilarated when they had gotten prints then the names of the two men. But they were still on the streets, no one had even spotted them. Dobey was now about to pass on the word to his two detectives.
Susan and Hutch were sitting sipping coffee waiting for Dobey to speak, it was clear he had more on his mind than just the missing Starsky. But he had taken one look at Susan's pale face and Hutch's pinched expression and lost most of his steam. "Hutchinson, Carlston," he began gruffly then slumped in his seat. There was no way he was going to lay this on them. After all he had taken them off the case, Eldridge about blew a fuse when he had found that out. Dobey's tone turned sympathetic, "How are you Susan?"
"I'm OK, really Cap," She said but she sounded tired.
"Are you sure you are up to this," the captain asked feeling more than guilty that he had asked her to come in.
"I'm fine," she said sitting up straighter in her chair as if trying to prove her point.
"So you have any idea where Starsky might be?" Dobey asked
Hutch shook his head, "I have called Starsky's place and the Pits there is no answer either place. We thought that he might contact us when he found out that Susan left the hospital but nothing yet."
"He's out on the streets looking for those two bastards," Susan frowned shifting slightly in her seat. She had wished that she had some of the pain medication they had been giving her in the hospital. But there was no way she was going back there.
"And nobody has spotted that striped tomato of his?" Hutch scoffed.
"That's why I'm sure he is with Huggy," Susan said as she tried not to let them know just how much pain she was really in.
"Well why don't I get out on the street, maybe I can spot them," Hutch said getting up. Dobey nodded in agreement. "Come on I'm taking you home to bed, Mrs. Gray and Jess can keep an eye on you."
Susan got to her feet stiffly, "NO! she said firmly. "I'm going with you, I'm not sitting at home while they are out there some place.
"Susan for God sakes be resasonable," Hutch pleaded as he looked to their captain for support.
"Hey don’t look at me, I think she needs to be in the hospital." Dobey said.
Hutch sighed as he looked at his wife then he shook his head, "You wouldn't stay there anyway would you? And the last thing I need is to be looking for you."
Susan gave him an innocent look, "Now would I do that?"
"Yes," both men said at the same time.
"You just take it easy out there," Dobey advised.
"I promise," she said.
As Susan and Hutch were on their way to the Pits, Starsky and Huggy Bear had just pulled up in front of the Royal Hotel. Huggy was driving his white caddy, Starsky was sitting in the passengers seat.
Albee was behind the desk reading a day old newspaper, a cockroach crawled across the battered desk. He rolled up the paper then swatted the offending bug. It scurried away unharmed, Albee tossed the rolled up paper on the desk in disgust. The manager bent down to look for a can of bug spray under the desk. The newspaper he had left on the desk came down sharply on his head. Albee straightened up quickly, he was looking right into Starsky's face. There was a tall black man that look vaguely familiar but Albee couldn't place him.
"What happened to Hutch?" Albee inquired eyeing Huggy. He didn't look like a cop but neither did Starsky or Hutch.
"Hutch is busy," Starsky answered as he reached into his coat pocket.
Albee flinched back, Starsky gave him a strange look, "Be cool man," Huggy said. "We just want to ask you a few questions."
The man looked at Huggy then addressed the detective, "you going to introduce me to your new partner?"
"No," Starsky said slapping two mug shots down on the desk in front of the skinny man. "Know this two?"
Albee suddenly looked nervous, "uh…uh…n-no never seen'em," he stammered as he looked around the hotel lobby.
Starsky leaned over the desk grabbing the man by his collar, "Listen Albee, these two have kill a lot of people we want them. NOW!"
When Albee didn't answer right away Huggy went around the desk, he wasn't usually the physical type but his friends was dead and he wasn't in the mood to play games. The black man was almost standing on top of the shaking little man. Huggy said, "He's a cop, I'm not! These two punks killed a good friend of mine. So you can either tell us now or I'll just beat it the hell out of you."
Albee looked at Starsky who was tightening his grip on his collar then at Huggy, he couldn't decide who he was more afraid of. Finally he crooked out, "Third floor."
"Room number?" Starsky said sweetly letting go of the man's shirt, he straightened it then patted Albee on the shoulder.
"306," he said without hesitation, he was afraid he might just get his head ripped off if he tried to play anymore games.
Huggy and Starsky bounded up the stairs two at a time. As soon as they were out of sight Albee grabbed the phone, he dialed three numbers spoke briefly to the party on the other end. Then he slammed down the receiver and took off out the front door leaving the desk unmanned.
When the pair got to the top of the stairs on the third floor, they stopped Huggy turned to Starsky, "Maybe you should call it in."
Starsky looked at his friend, "Now you know Albee probably already called them, so I can take time to call back up or we can go in. That is if they haven't already climbed out the window.
Huggy smiled, "Just didn’t want you getting yourself in trouble pal."
"Hug I’m already in trouble."
"Let's go," Huggy said. They started down the hall checking out the numbers on the doors. Finding the room, they each took a side of the door. It felt strange to Starsky not to have Hutch at his side.
"Ready?" Starsky whispered, getting a nod from Huggy he tapped on the door with the barrel of his gun.
A loud crash of breaking glass came from in side the room. Starsky kicked in the door holding his gun in front of him, Samuel Louis shoved his partner out the window onto the fire escape then followed. Louis tuned just long enough to fire two shots at the detective in the doorway.
Both Starsky and Huggy hit the floor, the bullet whizzed harmlessly over their heads the second shot kept them pinned to the floor just long enough for the gunman to disappear out the window. Starsky was the first to his feet, he dashed to the window. As he looked down he saw Black and Lewis climbing down the fire escape. The detective squeezed off two shots both missed. Black jumped to the pavement below and dashed down the alley.
Starsky fired tow more shots one caught Lewis in the shoulder. The black man almost lost his grip on the ladder but regained control and finished his descent to the ground. Before Starsky could get off any more shots he was dashing after his partner who had just disappeared around the corner of the building.
Huggy jumped up ran out of the room, down the stairs and out of the hotel. He didn't even stop to think that the two men he was chasing had guns and he didn't the bar owner tore up the alley, it was empty, Starsky was coming down the fire escape.
"Where the hell did they go?" Starsky yelled, the black man shrugged his shoulders. "Damnit." Starsky dropped from the ladder then kicked the closest trashcan.
"Now what?" Huggy asked watching Starsky as he kicked a second can.
"We keep looking!" Starsky yelled. He started to kick a third can but changed his mind and stalked of down the ally toward Huggy grumbling to himself.
Hutch pulled up in front of the bar, the lights were out and there was a sign on the door 'Closed Until Further Notice' Susan joined her partner on the sidewalk. Hutch knocked on the door not expecting to get an answer, which of course he didn't. He rubbed the grimy window trying to see in.
"Let's check out back," Susan suggested. They walked down the side of the building, as they turned the corner Susan stopped, Hutch almost walked into the back of her. Starsky's car was parked by the back door of the Pits. Hutch walked up and put his hand on the hood.
Sighing he said, "It's been here a while,"
"I guess that means they are together," Susan frowned, "how the hell are we going to find those two?"
"Dobey already has an APB out on them, I guess we could do the same for Huggy's car," Hutch suggested as they started out of the alley.
"Oh sure," Susan leaned up against the wall of the Pits. She was so tried and sore, everything seemed to be falling apart. "He could have borrowed a car from anyone of his friends. He has to know we are looking for him, he's not going to drive around in something we can spot them in. Why do you think they didn't take Starsk's car? We aren't going to find them unless they want us too."
"So what, we wait until Starsky just decides to show up at work?" Hutch yelled frustrated.
"Dobey is going to be pissed," Susan closed her eyes. Sudden she was afraid, what if something happened to Starsky or Huggy for that matter. She loved them both very much and couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to them.
"You OK?" Hutch asked gently coming to her side. The look on Susan's face worried him.
"Yeah I'm fine," she said smiling up at him. "We have got to find them now!"
Hutch heard the urgency in her voice, "Come on we'll just drive around maybe we can spot them.
As they got back to the car the radio went off. Susan leaned in grabbing the microphone. "Zebra three here."
"Zebra three, shots fired at the Royal Hotel, " Said the dispatcher.
"We are busy, you get someone else?" Susan said clearly annoyed.
"Detective Carlston it was Detective Starsky involved in the shooting," the voice said.
"Shit," she said under her breath. Then into the mic, "We're rollin."
They jumped in the car, Hutch made a U- turn as Susan slapped the flashing red light on the top of the car. The two detectives headed toward the seedy hotel, they knew it well. Hutch screeched to a halt in front of the hotel, both detectives's jumped out and stared toward the door. A pain ripped through Susan's stomach, she double over grabbing on to the car to keep from falling. The pain was so severe it almost took her breath away.
Hutch was in the lobby when he realized that his partner wasn't with him. He backtracked to find Susan recovered and starting in the door. "What happened to you?"
Susan looked up and down the street trying to avoid Hutch's gaze. "I thought I saw Starsk," she lied.
But Hutch didn't believe her, Susan's face was even paler but before he could question her more she brushed past him as she went to the front desk. There was nobody behind the desk, which was very unusual, Albee hardly ever left his post. The detectives looked around, there were only two wino's sitting on a ratty couch in the lobby.
Hutch stepped up to the old men, "Where's Albee?"
They both shrugged, then one of them said, "He took off right after them two cops showed up," One of the men said.
"What cops?"
"Don't know, one was a white the other black, dressed real funny for cops."
"Where did they go?" Hutch asked.
The old man motioned up the stairs. "Third floor I think."
"But I think they are gone," the other man finally spoke up instead of just staring at Hutch. "There sure was a hell of a lot of shooting though."
Hutch took out his wallet and handed one of the men a ten. "Thanks, take your friend here and get something to eat." But he well knew that most likely they would drink they meal instead. Susan was still standing by the front desk, as Hutch joined her he said, "Third floor."
The two detectives climbed the stairs, Hutch glanced over his shoulder at his partner several times. He knew that Susan had to be in pain from everything that she had suffered the last twenty-four hours. But she wasn't letting on how badly she felt. He wanted to suggest that she go home and take it easy but he knew she would have no part of it as long as Starsky and Huggy were out on the streets.
Once they reached the third floor it was clear which room Black and Lewis had occupied. The door hung by one hinge, the frame was splintered and there were bullet holes in the hall wall where the gunmen had fired at Starsky and Huggy. Slowly they entered the room with their guns drawn. Hutch sent over and looked out the broken window, a splintered chair laid in the ally. One of the gunmen had thrown it through he window.
They both breathed a sigh of relief, at least it didn't appear either Huggy or Starsky had been hurt in the gun battle. "What do we do now?" Susan asked. "Wait until they get into another shooting match?' She was disappointed they hadn't caught up with their partner. Not that Susan expected them to just be sitting around waiting for her and Hutch to show up.
Hutch was very worried, it had been along time since he had seen Starsky act like this. There was only one other time that he could remember Starsk going after someone like this. Susan was talking to him but he was in such deep thought that he hadn't heard her. Finally she placed her hand on his shoulder, Hutch jumped and looked at her, "What?"
"Where are you?" she asked wondering what he was thinking about.
"Nothing," he said shaking his thoughts away. "I don't think we are going to hear from Starsky until he and Huggy have found these guys."
"You want to call Dobey, tell him what's going on?" Susan asked.
"Let's just sit on this for now," Hutch said. It wouldn't be the first time they had kept their Captain in the dark.
But it wasn't to be, as the pair got to Hutch's beat up car the radio was going off. "Yeah," Susan said into the microphone after grabbing it and depressing the button.
"Patch through from Captain Dobey," Said dispatch.
Hutch rolled his eyes, "He already knows."
"Hutchinson, Carlston! Are you there?" Dobey bellowed through the receiver.
"We're right here Cap," Susan said grimily, she knew what was coming
"Where the hell is Starsky?" he yelled.
"We don't know," she said looking at Hutch.
"Well he was at the royal Hotel wasn't he?" Dobey wasn't calming down at all in fact he was getting louder by the second. Several people stopped on the sidewalk to stare at them.
Hutch shrugged as Susan looked at him for an answer, "Yeah, he was here, Huggy was with him."
When his detective didn't elaborated Dobey hollowed, "WELL?"
"There are gone, so are Louis and Black," Susan finally said.
"You find that partner of yours or he's going to be out of a job," Dobey said loudly. "I can't have my detectives running around doing what ever they damn well please! "
"Does that mean we are officially back on the case?" Susan smiled, Hutch shook his head at her, and she was playing with fire.
"Damnit Carlston find Starsky!" He shouted without answering her question. Dobey slammed down the phone.
"I think he's upset," Susan said still grinning but the smile slid from her face. She knew he was right and they had to fine their wayward partner.
Just as they were getting into the car several squad cars come roaring up, one of the policeman jumped out running toward the brown LTD. "False alarm?"
Hutch shook his head, "You need to check out the room on the third floor. Louis and Black were hold up there. You guys find anything we need to know about give us a shout."
"What's the room number?" the officer asked.
"You'll know which one it is," Hutch answered at he drove off.
Huggy Bear and Starsky had switched cars. They were now in a puke green compact, borrowed from one of Huggy's friends the pair had been cruising the streets since Lewis and Black had escaped them. It had been over an hour since the incident at the Royal. They had driven past the hotel twice in hopes that the thugs would reappear but the place had been crawling with cops on their second pass. Starsky had caught a glimpse of Susan and Hutch sitting in his heap in front of the hotel. He wondered what she was doing out of the hospital. He had made Huggy stop at the next pay phone they came to so that he could call the hospital. They had informed him that Detective Carlston had walked out during the night.

​​

                                                                                                         ​​CHAPTER EIGHT


Black and Lewis stopped walking outside a small grocery store they both peered in. There were at least a dozen people shopping inside. Lewis nudged Black but he shook his head. The two men had walked the streets staying mainly in the alleyways. They had very little money on them, everything had been left in the room during their hasty retreat. The map, money and stocking masks were hidden under the mattress. Black knew that the police were having a field day. After this one last hit they were leaving town.
Lewis's arm hurt like hell, it was only a flesh wound but Black had refused to let him go to a doctor. He was afraid that the doc would turn them in and they couldn't afford that now. Black stared into the store, there were too many people but they were desperate.
"NO!" Samuel Lewis whispered, still peering into the plate glass window. "I'm not killing all those people."
"Who said we were going to kill anybody," Calvin Black said, Lewis just looked at him. "Ok, ok I know we don't have a great track record but there are too many people in there to start shooting them all. We need money now, so we can get out of town that is unless you want to go back to the hotel and take our chances there.
Lewis shook his head, "It has to be crawling with cops by now."
"If we keep walking around like this the cops are going to spot us. The whole force is probably looking for us." Black said. "So what's it going to be?"
"But couldn't we find some place that's no so crowded?" Lewis whined. He was really beginning to get on the other man's nerves.
"Listen, we'll hit this place, clean out the cash register, empty everyone's pockets and grab some food. We'll find us a car and blow this town, what do you say?"
Lewis looked at his partner, "as long as this is the last job and nobody gets hurt." He was getting tired of the killing, none of the shootings had been necessary.
"Jeez, OK OK!" Black said in a discussed voice.
The two men walked in to the store, no one paid them any attention. There was a young black woman ringing up an order, they hung back until she was finished. Then Lewis went up to the register, as Black locked the door after the old woman went out. She wouldn't know until hours later how close she had come to becoming a hostage.
Dana looked up at the back man standing in front of her and smiled. She worked at the store everyday after school to help support her family. Her father had left when she was ten leaving her mother to raise and support Dana and her five brothers and sisters. "Can I help you sir?" Dana asked.
"Sure thing Hon," Lewis said as he pulled his gun from the back of his pants.
Dana froze as she looked down the barrel of the gun, then she glanced up at the man, "Please don’t shoot anyone, " she said grabbing a paper bag and shoving money into it.
Black also had pulled out his gun, he grinned at Lewis, and this was too easy. There was a scream from someone in the store that had spotted the two gunmen, another person began praying in Spanish.
Black grabbed a small plastic-shopping basket that was sitting in a stack next to the front door. "OK, everybody," he said loudly. "Please place your money in this basket and no one will get hurt."
The store was mostly woman with young children, there were a couple of older men and one teenage Hispanic boy. The boy looked around wildly then made a dash for the back room. Black dropped the boy in his tracks, the bullet struck him in the back. The boy spun around falling into a display of chips. Chip bags flew everywhere, the voice praying in Spanish got louder, there were several screams and the children began to sob.
Black walked over looking down at the boy then looked at the horrified faces of the customers. "Now anyone else want to try something stupid?"
There was silence except for the praying and muffled sobs of the children. At the cash register Dana handed Lewis the paper bag. "Thanks sister."
"I maybe black but I’m not your sister!" she said between clenched teeth. Instantly Dana wished she had kept silent but the man only laughed at her.
"Shut up that praying back there your making me nervous." Black yelled. He walked around to each customer who deposited his or her money in the basket. Black grabbed a small girl from her mother's arms. "You, go up front get another basket and start filing it with food."
The girl's mother held fast to her daughter, not letting her move. Black cocked his gun placing it to the girl's head. The mother let go of the child arm, the little girl ran to get a basket. When she returned with it she looked up at the gunman, "What do you like mister?" she said softly.
Black looked down at the small girl, she was a pretty little think with huge brown eyes that didn't appear to be afraid of him and long dark hair. She looked to be around nine years old. He smiled at her, "anything in a package."
The girl nodded, she picked up several bags of chips, Slim Jim's that were scattered over the floor. She steeped over the body of the dead teen, it wasn't the first time she had seen a dead body and probably wouldn't be the last. She selected several kinds of cup cakes and cookies, then moved on to the canned meats making sure they had pull tops.
Black watcher her for a few minutes then asked, "anyone here have a car?"
No one moved, then the little girls mother stepped forward, "We all live in the neighborhood, we walked here."
"Alright, then does anyone have a car at home?" he asked. Again they all shook their heads no. They could hardly afford food let along the expense of a car.
"Never mind," Lewis called from the front hoping to avoid trouble, Black was such a hot heat he would start shooting them just because they didn't have cars. "We'll get one later, let's just get out of here."
"Just hold on, this little lady here hasn't finished shopping for me yet." Black said, then to the girl. "Get some cold cuts and a couple loves of bread honey."
"The meat will spoil," she advised.
"We'll eat it first, oh and grab some peanut butter." He said smiling at her again. Maybe they would just take her with them. "What's your name sweetheart?"
"Marie," she said, the girl looked over at her mother who was silently praying.
Huggy and Starsky just happened to be driving by the store when Black and Lewis came backing out the door. At fist they didn't pay much attention to the two men but something caught Starsky's eye, "Hey Hug go around the block, " Starsky instructed. He was staring out the back window. He thought he had seen a gun in the hand of one of the men.
Huggy turned the corner, "Got something?"
"I think our boys are robbing that store back there," Starsky said hoping they would still be there when they got back.
Huggy made it around the block in record time, as they approached the store Huggy slowed down to a crawl. As they crept by they both got a good look at the two men standing in the doorway. One had two sacks the other was waving a gun and apparently telling the patrons to stay put.
Huggy pulled the car into a parking spot half way down the block, "Now what?" Huggy asked turning in his seat to look out the back window.
"Wish you had a police radio in this thing," Starsky sighed. He looked up and down the street, he spotted a pay phone about half way up the next block. "You go call it in."
"And what are you going to be doing?" Hutch asked opening the car door.
Starsky thought for a second, "I don't know I'm making this up as I go."
The tall black man unfolded himself from the tiny car, after glancing backward at them men he started off at a trot toward the phone booth. Starsky hunched down in the seat as far as he could and still be able to watch. The two men looked like they were arguing about something, Starsky could see a small girl standing in between them. Suddenly the white man tuned the gun on the black one holding the sacks.
"Oh shit," Starsky mumbled to himself. He glanced down the street, Huggy was now in the booth talking on the phone. Help would be on it's way very soon but soon enough? He was afraid to do anything without back up for fear that the gunmen would just start shooting up the place. Starsky was so engrossed in watching them that he about jumped through the roof when Huggy opened the car door and jumped in.
"Take it easy man, it's only me," Huggy said closing the door softly as not to draw attention to themselves. "What's going on?"
"I'm not really sure, looks like Lewis and Black are having some kind of disagreement. And look there is a little girl with them." Starsky said. "Are they on the way?"
"I talked directly to Dobey, boy is he hot," Huggy grinned. "I think he's calling in the troops though."
"I just hope nobody comes in here with their sirens blaring," Starsky said, seconds later he heard the scream of sirens in the distance. "Shit!"
Black and Lewis were standing in the doorway of the store. All the customers were lying face down on the worn wooden floor. The girl that had been collecting food from Black was standing between the two men. "I'm bring her with us," Black announced.
The child's mother began to sob and beg, "please don't take my baby."
"Shut up," the white man yelled at her.
"You leave the girl here," Lewis snapped "She's only a child what are you going to do with her? Besides we don't need that kind of heat."
"She can be our protection," Black said. "No cop is going to shoot us with a hostage especially a kid."
"They may not shoot us but they will be breathing down our necks, they won't let us get away with a kid." Lewis said.
Black turned his gun on his partner, "I've about had it with all your whinning."
One of the customers, a young woman started edging toward the store room door. Black caught the motion out to the corner of his eye. He swung the gun back into the store, "you want to die dear?" he yelled, the woman stopped moving instantly.
Lewis heard the siren wailing in the background. "Hey man cops."
Black cocked his head and listened, "So doesn't mean they are coming here." He grabbed the young girl by the arm.
"Doesn't mean they aren't either," Lewis snapped. He looked down the street just in time to see a black and white turn the corner, lights flashing, siren blasting. "So they aren't coming here uh? Then what do you call that?"
Black leaned out the doorway to look down the street. "Get back in the store," he ordered his partner. When Lewis didn't move he roughly shoved him causing the black man to drop the bags. Food spilled all over the floor, Black kicked the stuff out to the way so he could shut and lock the door.
The police car screeched to a halt in front of the store, Two young officers jumped out. Starsky bounded out the car he was sitting in and dashed up the street. One of the officers pointed his gun in the detectives direction.
"HOLD IT!" Starsky yelled, "I'm a cop." He snatched is ID out of his back pocket holding it up for them to see. "Turn that damn siren off will ya?"
About that time Hutch's brown heap roared up, the two detectives jumped out joining their wayward partner and Huggy on the sidewalk.
"You guys OK?" Susan asked hugging Starsky.
"We're fine," he said pulling her away from the front of the store. Starsky quickly filled them in on what was going on.
"So they are in there now?" Hutch said trying o peer into the plate glass window.
"I'm not sure how many hostages they have, Starsky said. "But I do know Black had a little girl with him and it sure looked as though he was talking her with them."
"You have got to be shitin' me," Susan exclaimed. "What in the world would they do with a girl?"
"Don't even go there," Huggy said shaking his head.
Three or four more police cares showed up along with a green Ford, which Captain Dobey stepped out of. He made his way over to his detectives just as several shots were fired through the plate glass window. The glass shattered filling the sidewalk with tiny fragments. There were several screams from inside and some shouting then silence.
Everyone outside ran for cover. Starsky dove to the sidewalk pulling Susan with him. Hutch and Huggy also hit the pavement.
"Hostage situation?" Dobey asked gruffly, at this moment all he wanted to do was take off Starsky's head but it would have to wait.
Starsky nodded, "We should check and see if there is a back door."
Dobey agreed and called the two officers that first responded. "Go quietly around back, see if there is a back entrance to this store," Dobey ordered.
"Then what should we do?" one young cop asked.
"Come back and report to ME!" Dobey growled.
When the two young officers went around the building Susan slipped away behind them while her partners were talking to Dobey. They made their way along the side of the old building. Once the two officers reached the corner they peered into the alley way, it was empty.
Susan walked up behind them and stopped, she tapped one officer on the shoulder, he jumped spinning around gun in hand. "Whoa," she said softly, "I’m Detective Carlston."
He nodded without replying then jabbed his buddy in the back motioning him to go on. Slowly the three of them moved along the back wall until they came to a rackety screen door. The screen was rusty and half-falling out.
"Go on back tell Dobey there is a back entrance," Susan whispered softly. "I'm going to see if I can get in." As soon as the officers were out of sight Susan quietly leaned forward looking in the door.
She could see a number of people lying on the floor. One young woman glance back seeing the detective, her eyes got huge. Susan pressed her finger to her lips, the woman smiled slightly then averted her gaze. The female detective wasn't sure how to get into the door. She was certain the rusty hinges would announce her presence.
Suddenly a pain traveled across her middle causing Susan to lean on the door, it groaned in protest. She held her breath hoping that the gunman hadn't heard it. As the pain subsided she glanced through the door, the woman on the floor was watching her but apparently Lewis and Black hadn't heard her. She had to get in that back door some how.
Hutch looked around, Starsky, Dobey and Huggy were crouched down next to the building but Susan were no where to be seen. He poked Starsky and whispered, "Where's Susan?"
Starsky also looked around, "I thought she was behind you."
Just about that time the two officers Dobey had sent around back appeared. One knelt next to the captain. "There is a back door and it's open," he said softly.
"Good job," Dobey praised. "Let's get some men around…."
"Captain Dobey," the officer interrupted, "There is already a detective back there."
"What? Who?" he demanded a little louder than he intended.
"I think she said her name was…" he began.
This time it was Dobey who interrupted, "Carlston?" The man nodded. "She is in no shaped to be back there!"
Starsky and Hutch moved closer to their captain, "What's going on?"
"Susan is around back, that's what is going on." Dobey stormed. "Just what the hell is she trying to prove?"
"Damnit!" Hutch said under his breath.
"Let's go," Starsky said starting to move toward the end of the building.
"Hold on," Dobey reached out grabbing the back of Hutch's jacket. "Let's just wait a few minutes before we go storming around the back. We might just get one of those hostages killed."
Susan gently eased the door open, hoping that the door wouldn't squeak. The girl lying on the floor was watching her intently. Holding her breath she got the door open wide enough for her to slip in. Susan ducked behind several boxes so that she would be out of sight. After waiting a few moments to make sure she hadn't been detected Susan began to inch her way toward the doorway where the woman was lying. But as she moved two boxes toppled on top of her.
Black's head snapped up, he turned lose of the girl and ran toward the back of the store pointing his gun at the people on the floor as he went. The woman in front of the store room door begin crying, "I'm sorry I hit some boxes, I didn't mean to. Please, please don't kill me." She hoped that she has stalled the man enough time for the officer to hide.
Black grunted at her, training his gun on the woman for a second then turned but a scuffling sound from the back room got his attention once again. "So it was you, uh?" he glared at her and gave her a kick in the side as he past by.
Susan had managed to get up next to the doorway and when Black entered the room she stuck her gun in his back. "Hold it right there!" The man started to spin around. "I won't think twice about killing you." Susan said in a deadly voice.
"You don’t really think I’m going to let some broad get the best of me, do you?" Black growled.
"I don’t see that you have much of a choice at this point," Susan jabbed the gun in his back harder. "Now back into the store."
Lewis was still standing at the front of the store, he took a step toward the little girl then pushed her toward the mother. He stepped back to the front door and turned the lock. Slowly Samuel Lewis opened the front door and motioned for the little girl her and her mother to leave.
As soon as they were out the door a couple of officers grabbed them hustling them to a squad car. Once they were safe Lewis motioned for another hostage to leave and one by one he let them out the door. He was on his fifth hostage when Susan and Black came down an aisle from the back.
Calvin Black went crazy when he saw what his partner was doing. He suddenly swung around and knocked the gun from Susan's hand, they both scrambled after the gun but Black was first to come up with it. He jumped to his feet and planted one foot in the detective's back pinning her to the floor.
"What in the hell do you think you are doing?" he screamed at Lewis.
"Calvin it's over," Lewis said calmly. "Let the rest of these people go."
"No!" Black shouted. "I'm not going back to jail ever again."
"Have you taken a look out side?" Lewis jerked his head over his shoulder. "The street is crawling with cops. There is probably more cops coming in the back."
"More cops? He looked down at Susan, you a cop?" He asked, for some reason it hasn't dawned on him that his woman was a cop.
"Yes you idiot I'm a cop so why don't you get your big foot off me!" She said trying to get up. "Your partner is right you aren't getting out of here."
Black bent down putting the barrel of Susan's gun to her head. Suddenly he exclaimed, "hey I know you, you are that broad from that grocery we knocked off yesterday."
"Get off me you ass hole," Susan growled.
"Samuel, looky at this," Black said gleefully. "I'm going to finish you off this time bitch."
Lewis extended both his arms in front of him, taking aim with his gun at Black. "Get away from her."
"Oh put that down," Calvin Black scoffed at his partner, "you aren't going to shoot me."
Black cocked his gun pressing it harder into Susan's temple. She closed her eyes tightly waiting for the blast. She thought of Jessie whom she would never see grow up, she thought of the baby that would never be born. She thought of Starsky her best friend and of Hutch her only love. Susan held her breath waiting for the darkness wondering if death hurt, if it was lonely or scary. A tear slid from under her closed lashes and dripped on the hard wood floor. Silently she prayed, "Please let them be alright with out me."
There was a single gun shot, the detective flinched then Back toppled over on top of her, his weight knocking the air from her lungs. Susan realized she wasn't the one who had been shot.
Suddenly all hell broke loose, police cam busting in the front door shoving Lewis to the floor. Starsky and Hutch came through the back, Hutch rolled Black off Susan and helped her to her feet.
"Are you Ok?" he asked, she nodded.
Black was still alive but barely, Lewis reached for his gun that was lying on the floor after being knocked from his hand. He had had enough of Calvin Black, he was going to make sure he didn't hurt anyone ever again. Lewis locked eyes with Susan as his fingers closed around the handle of the gun. A foot came down on the man's wrist making him drop the gun.
"Keep it up and you'll end up like your friend over there," said the stern voice of Captain Dobey. "Cuff him and get him out of here."
"Don’t hurt him," Susan cried out to the officer cuffing him. Dobey looked at her in surprised. "If it hadn't been for him I would be dead, Lewis was the one that shot Black." She quickly explained what had happen.
Dobey turned to the man in handcuffs, "Thank you for my detectives life, but it doesn't change much."
"I know that sir," Lewis said as he was taken out to a squad car.
"Just what to you think he was going to do with the gun?" Starsky asked as he went over and pick up Lewis's gun.
"Finish off Black, I'm sure of it." Susan said.
The paramedics had arrived and were putting Black onto a gurney, "He didn't have to bother." One of them said. "He's dead."
Susan watched as they covered the man's face, she couldn't feel sorry for him not this man who had taken their baby from them. A pain suddenly tore though her much worse than the last one, her knees went weak and if Starsky hadn't notice how pale her face went she would have hit the ground.
Starsky grabbed Susan just before she went down. "Hutch," he called.
Hutch had started the door he had wanted to speak to Lewis himself before they took him away. He turned just to see Starsky scooped up his wife as she fainted. Hutch yelled out the door to the paramedics then went to his partner's side.
Two men raced in the door pulling a gurney. There had been several life squads out side just in case the hostage situation went sour. Starsky gently laid her on the stretcher. Dobey came hurrying in, "What's going on?" he demanded. When he saw Susan he stopped, "Is she alright?"
One of the paramedics said, "She's hemorrhaging we've got to get her to the hospital now."
Hutch followed the paramedics out and climbed into the life squad with his wife. Starsky stood on the sidewalk watching the squad pull away it's lights and siren going. He wished that he could go too, but his place was here questioning the hostages. Starsky turned and went back into the store.
By the time Starsky made it to the hospital it was late, it was quiet in the hallways and the lights were low. Hutch was sitting in the surgery waiting room, Susan had to be taken into emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. He was staring into a cup of coffee that had long gone cold when Starsky sat down next to him.
"How is she," he asked.
Hutch shrugged, "I don't know, she was pretty bad off when they took her in."
Starsky put his arm around his partners shoulder, "She's going to be alright, you know that." Hutch just shrugged again with out anwering. "Listen here Ken Hutchinson, she's a strong lady, she is going to be fine." Starsky said and then added, "she has to be."
"What if she can't have any more children?" Hutch said so softly that Starsky could hardly hear him.
"You have Jesse," Starsky said.
"I know but…" Hutch began he looked up at Starsky unshed tears in his eyes. "I never got to be part of Jesse's birth. I was looking so forward to this baby and now there might never be more."
Starsky pulled his friend in his arms and held him tightly. "Everything is going to be alright, you'll see."
An hour later a doctor came walking down the hall, "Detective Hutchinson?"
"Yes?" Hutch said standing up. "Is my wife alright?"
"She is going to be fine. We were able to stop the bleeding and from what I can tell right now she should be able to still have children but we won't be completely sure until she is totally healed." The doctor smiled at the detective. "Now why don’t you go home and get some rest, she won't be awake until the morning."
Hutch shook his head, "the last time I left she took off I’m staying right here."
"Very well," the doctor said. "Would you like to stay with her?"
Hutch nodded and followed the doctor down the hall, leaving Starsky standing in the waiting room. He smiled to himself, she was going to be alright, he told Hutch she would be. Starsky looked around the empty room, sighed then settle down on the couch, he wasn't leaving either.
The next morning Hutch stood in the waiting room watching his partner who had curled himself up into a ball sleep on the couch. He bent over and shook Starsky awake, "You want to see Susan? She's awake"
Starsky jumped up running his hands through his curly hair. "How is she doing?"
Hutch just kept walking until they came to her room, "You judge for yourself."
He pushed the door open Susan was sitting up in bed, she was pale and looked a little tired but she had a smile on her face. "So both of you spent the night here just to make sure I wasn't going any place, uh?"
Both detectives grinned at her, "Well somebody had to make sure you stayed put this time," Starsky said planting a kiss on her cheek. "How long do you have to stay here?"
"The doc said about a week," She said. Starsky sighed, Susan laughed knowing what he was thinking. "You don't have to spend the night every night. I promise I'll be good."
"You better be or I'll turn you over my knee and spank you," Hutch wagged his finger at her.
"Promise?" Susan said giving him a wicked grin.
"Detective Carlston!" Starsky exclaimed as if in shock.

Chapter Nine

Starsky's red Torino pulled up in front of Margie Goldman's store. Hutch, Susan and Jesse piled out. Sara met them at the front door, she hugged each detective in turn then picked up Jesse and kissed her cheek.
Huggy Bear was already there along with Captain Dobey. Margie came bustling out of the back carrying a tray with sodas on it. She had made some changes to the store turning it into to small sandwich shop. She had kept the candy counter just for the children and that was where Jesse was at the moment mulling over the candy selection.
"Dave, Ken, Susan," She exclaimed upon seeing them. "And where is my Jesse?"
"Where is always is," Susan laughed pointing toward the candy counter.
Jesse giggled and ran to hug the older woman. "Hi Aunt Margie."
"And what can I get my girl for lunch?" Margie asked the little girl, knowing full well the answer.
"Peanut butter and jelly," Jesse said as she jumped up and down clapping her hands.
"You got it sweetie," Margie grinned at her. "You want to help?"
"Yeah," Jesse said skipping toward the kitchen. Sara got up to join them in the kitchen, motioning Susan to come also.
Margie busied herself making sandwiches for everyone as Sara and Susan readying the plates with chips and pickles. Jesse was standing on a stool handing Margie slices of fresh baked bread. When Sara and Jesse left the kitchen Margie came over to Susan hugging her tightly.
"What's this all about?" Susan asked as she returned the embrace.
"I hadn't told you how sorry I was about the baby," the older woman said sadly.
"Oh Margie not any sorrier than I am about Stan, he was a good man." Susan said tears springing to her eyes.
"It's not the same," Margie said, "Stan lead a full happy life, your baby never got a chance."
"I guess it's the price you pay," Susan said softly around the lump in her throat. It was the first time any one had mentioned the baby in months.
"What?" Margie said stepping to look into her young friend's eyes.
"For living and loving," Susan said. "Bad things happen but you have to go on living just like you have Margie. Look at this place, it's wonderful."
"It keeps me close to Stan," Margie smiled. "I just wish Sara could understand that."
"I think she does, she is just worried about you," Susan told Margie. "Give her some time."
"Hey what's going on in here," Starsky said poking his head into the kitchen. Both woman wiped their tears away, he came over putting his arms around the two women. "Come on you guys are missing the party."
The three of them entered the store, everyone was sitting around laughing as they watched Dobey try to play jacks with Jesse. "Hey give me a break I'm a little rusty at this," Dobey commented.
The front door opened a young couple carrying a baby entered. The woman smiled at the large group, "Are you open?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes, yes of course," Margie smiled at her as she pinched the baby's cheek.
The couple sat down at a small table by the window, they kept glancing over at the laughing group. Margie handed them a small menu. "Thank-you," the young man said in a rather worried tone looking again across the room.
"Don’t worry about them, they are cops," Margie said leaning over the table. "And the one talking on the phone over there is my daughter, she's a lawyer. So you see your are safe."
The couple smiled at her still unsure, Dobey was now down on his hands and knees trying to retrieve Jesse's jack ball that have rolled under one of the tables. Starsky took Sara's phone from her and ran toward the back of the store. Huggy and Hutch were having an argument over who played pool the best. It sounded more like a zoo than a place of business.
Susan walked over to where Margie was standing, "Need some help?"
Margie grinned, "Tell that bunch to take it down a notch or two they are about to scare away my customers." She joked.
Susan smiled at the couple, "we are really harmless." She noticed the baby who was barely six months old in the woman's arms. "What a sweet baby."
The young woman smiled at the detective and if sensing she had just suffered a lost said, "Would you like to hold her?"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course," she said holding out the baby to Susan.
She took the baby in her arms, Hutch glanced up and saw her holding the child. He got up going to her side, he put a comforting arm around her waist. Susan looked up at him but didn't dare speak.
"This is Ken and Susan." Margie introduced them.
"I'm Barb and this is Terry," she said giving them a real smile. "Are you really cops?" Then she turned bright red.
Laughing Susan nodded, "Yes we really are cops, surprising isn't it?"
Jesse came running up and tugged on her mother's jeans pocket, "Can I see?"
Susan squatted down so that Jesse could see the baby. "Gently" she said as Jesse started to touch the baby.
"Is this what our baby would have looked like?" Jesse asked curiously.
"Yes sweetie," Susan said kissing her daughter's head. "You'll get your chance to be a big sister yet."
Barb looked startled by Susan's words, she now understood the sadness in her eyes. Starsky chased Sara up to the table where she finally grabbed the phone away from him, they were both out of breath. "Got it!" came a shout from behind them. Dobey had just snagged the ball and stared to stand up but before anyone could yell a warning he came up under the table tipping it over. The table toppled over sending pop cans flying, Dobey gave everyone a sheepish look, "I'm to old to be playing jacks, " he mumbled.
Everyone in the room laughed, Jesse ran over and hugged the captain, "You're never to old to play jacks."

                                                                                                                                                                          The End