Missing
By Tooki
The day dawned clear and bright perfect for a good run. Detective Susan Carlston sat on the bottom step leading to the up stairs of the townhouse she shared with her husband, seven-year-old daughter and their nanny. She put on her running shoes tying them tightly; she was dressed in shorts and a tank top. Even though it was early it was already quite warm out side. The city was in the grip of a heat wave that had been pounding them for the entire week. She glanced up the stairs and sighed, usually Ken Hutchinson, also a detective went with her but Jesse was sick and bed with the chicken poxes having come down with them during the night. Their nanny Edna Gray was visiting her grandchildren back east. Hutch had volunteered to stay with their daughter while Susan got her run in.
Susan went into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. She didn't usually run with one but in the heat it was to dangerous not to have water on hand. Hutch crept up behind her as she was rummaging for something to snack on. He grabbed her around the waist causing her to drop the water. She turned in his arms laughing, he kissed her then released her to get the orange juice from the top shelf.
"Jess wants some juice," Hutch informed her. "Still hot out?"
Susan nodded as she looked for her water. It had rolled up against the stove she retrieved it and then turned to smile at her husband. "Well I better get going or I’m going to be late to work. You sure you don't want me to stay at home with Jess?"
He shook his head, "you go on, we'll be fine."
She took her water, kissed her husband and slipped out the back door. Susan took a deep breath as she looked up at the sky; the sun was hot on her face. The temperature was already eighty and heading toward ninety quickly the day before it had topped out at 102. There hadn't been much action on the streets; it had been a quiet week except for a few fights where tempers had flared because of the heat. Susan almost went back into the house not wanting to get any hotter than she already was but then at the last minute started around the side of the house.
Once out on the sidewalk in front of the house the detective pause to look at the bedroom room where her daughter laid in bed. She knew Hutch would take good care of her, he was a wonderful father but it still felt odd leaving her. Susan glanced at her watch, it was nearing seven a.m. and she had to be to work by eight thirty. So clutching her water bottle she slowly began jogging up the street.
Inside the townhouse Hutch poured orange juice in a glass then made a couple pieces of toast for his spotted daughter. Jesse had been so upset when she had come do with the chicken poxes, she and Cassy her best friend next door were suppose to go swimming all week. Hutch put the juice and toast on a tray and took it up stairs. He toed opened Jesse's bedroom door. She sat propped up in bed with several pillows a scowl on her small face.
"It's just not fair," Jesse complained. "Cassy and I were going to have so much fun this week. I was suppose to spend the night tonight."
Hutch looked at her with sympathy, "I know Hon but you guys got the rest of the summer, it's only the second week of July."
Jesse stuck her lip out, "Where's Mommy?"
"She went out for her run before she goes to work. Just you and me today kiddo," he said sitting down on the edge of the bed and offering her the tray.
Jesse promptly shook her head. "I want ice cream."
"But ten minutes ago you told me you wanted orange juice." Hutch sighed. "You can't have ice cream for breakfast."
"It's hot," Jesse complained.
"Not in here, the air is on. Besides we don’t have any you ate it all yesterday." Hutch picked up the tray. "Are you going to eat this? She shook her head no. "I'll leave it here on your desk in case you change your mind."
"But Daddy," Jesse whined.
"When Mommy comes back I'll tell her to pick some up on the way home for work. What kind do you want?" Hutch said standing in the doorway.
"I probably won't want it by then," Jesse stated.
"You little miss are just trying to be difficult." Hutch looked in her in amusement. "I'll have your mom come in before she leaves.
Susan glanced at her watch again, it was a quarter to eight she would have just enough time to shower, change and get to work. They tried to stay off the busier streets when they ran opting for the park most of the time but today Susan had just ran the streets close to where they lived. The most dangerous road was called Wild Pines Road. There was a steep embankment on one side of the road and a stand of pines on the other side. Hutch and Susan rarely jogged it unless they could run against the traffic on the tree-lined side. There was no place to bale out on the other.
Susan stood on the corner, if she went down Wild Pines she would be home much faster than if she went all the way round but she would have to run on the embankment side. She watched the traffic for a moment, it wasn't very heavy today and she would only be on the road five minutes ten tops. There was no sidewalk that ran down this road so she stepped off in cement and into the gravel. After one more glance she began running down the road, one or two cars came toward her but moved over so she didn't have to get to close to the edge. She was almost to the street where she would turn off the road when a black car came weaving toward her.
"Come on Tim, will you just watch the road?" Justin Jacobs said to his friend. "I'll get the right station."
Tim Macdonald slapped Justin's hand away, "I can do it man."
This had been going on every since Tim had picked up Justin at his apartment. Always searching for the perfect song, Tim had run into several things in his lifetime, a plate glass window at a local donut shop, the back end of an old ladies car and a telephone pole that he swore that he never saw. He had numerous near misses also, the last one being his mother's prize dog.
Tim had only been out of jail less than twenty-four hours; he and another buddy had held up a Quick Mart and had gotten caught. The judge had been lenient and Tim had only gotten six months since there had been no weapon involved and other than that he had a clean record. But the judge had warned him if he even got so much as a parking ticket that he would throw the book at him.
Tim looked up just in time to see a young woman standing on the side of the road and tried to swerve but an on coming car prevented that. He clipped the woman with the front fender sending her tumbling down the embankment. "Shit!" he exclaimed. "Did you see that?"
Justin was sitting with his mouth open in horror, "Of course I did you idiot, you hit that woman. Stop the car!"
"Are you kidding me?" Tim said in a panicky voice. "You know what the judge said."
"Damnit Tim, you can't just leave her back there." Justin said looking over the back of the seat, a cloud of dust was rising into the air where the woman had disappeared. "We have to go back and help her."
"I'll go back to jail," Tim whaled.
"It was an accident, go back," Justin yelled at his friend. When Tim didn't stop the car, Justin grabbed the steering wheel almost causing them to go over the embankment. Tim slammed on the breaks just in time. "Stop this damn car. If you aren't going back then I will!"
"Fine, but I'm not waiting around you can just walk home." The driver said. Justin jumped out of the car and started walking back to where the woman disappeared. Tim hit the steering wheel with his fist. "Shit," he said under his breath. Then jumped out and followed his friend.
When Susan had seen the car coming towards her she knew there was no place to go. She glanced down the steep embankment knowing there was no way for her to maneuver the rocky slop with out sliding to the bottom. There was nothing but rocks on the slop until about half way down when the rocks turned in to boulders and small shrubs began to appear. Beyond that were larger trees and finally at the bottom a small creek cut through the landscape. The car was headed straight for her, Susan stepped as close to the edge as she could with out slipping and hoped the driver would see her and swerve back the other way at the last minute. But the front fender hit her right leg just above the knee, she felt the bone break then she begin tumbling down the embankment.
She rolled stones and branches scraping her face, arms and legs as she went. Susan tried to grab onto something to stop her descent but there was nothing to get a hold of. A large boulder loomed directly in front of her, she tried desperately to slow herself down by digging her toes into the gravel but she was moving too fast. One of her shoes came off as she tried to stop herself. The detective didn't remember the side of her head smashing into the boulder and opening a large gash from her temple down the side of her cheek. Nor did she feel her left wrist crack or three of her ribs break. Susan lay crumpled against the boulder like a rag doll, her breathing shallow and her head bleeding profusely.
Tim and Justin stood on the shoulder of the road peering down the embankment. They could see the woman lying up against a huge boulder, she wasn't moving. Tim backed away from the edge almost stepping into the on coming traffic. Justin grabbed his shirt pulling away from the road. Justin tentatively took a step over the edge to test how loose the rocks were. His foot sent a shower of small stones down on the woman he stepped back.
"Where the hell do you think you are going?" Tim asked glancing down at the woman again. She had long dark hair pull back into a ponytail, her bloody face was toward them, and her eyes were closed.
"We have to help her," Justin said testing the rocks again sending another shower down upon her. "We just can't leave her laying down there."
"She looks dead," Tim said looking at the unmoving figure.
"What if she's not? Justin yelled. "She will die if we just leave her down there. It was an accident." He walked a few feet to the left of where the runner was laying and started down the embankment. Justin slipped and slid down on his butt, he back peddled trying to stop but like their victim it was too steep to stop. He slid down past where the woman was; a bush caught him just below the boulder. Justin crawled up to where the woman lay. She did looked dead, there was a huge cut on the side of her face that was bleeding badly, her leg was in an unnatural position.
Justin leaned over putting his ear to her mouth listening for a breath. "Is she alive?" Tim yelled down the embankment. Justin jumped startled by the sound of his friend's voice.
"Shut up," he yelled back as he place his ear to her mouth again then to her chest. "She's alive. You go get help I'll stay here with her."
"NO!" Tim screamed. "I am not going back to jail."
"Well I'm not leaving her down here," Justin said squinted up at his friend. The sun was bright and hot, his face was streaked with dirt and sweat.
"Damnit," Tim said under his breath. He looked around, the traffic was beginning to pick up some and he knew it wouldn't be long before a cop came by wondering what was going on. He thought about just leaving his friend down there but he and Justin had been best friends since they were five and he just couldn't do it. He went back to the car got in and backed it up to the spot where the woman had went down.
When Justin heard the car start he swore to himself thinking that Tim was just going to leave him with the dying woman. Why did he have to be the good one all the time, he was always the one who had kept Tim out of trouble. Except for the robbery, he had been in the hospital having his appendix removed. Justin looked up just in time to see the car stop and Tim jump out.
"Tim," Justin called up. "What are you doing."
"Getting you out of there," Tim answered running around to the trunk and opening it. He had rope in there from the last time they had gone rock climbing. Suddenly he heard a car slow down next to him. Slowly Tim turned his head holding his breath knowing it was a cop. But instead it was a middle-aged man driving a truck that stopped.
"You need some help son?" the man called out the passenger's side window he had rolled down.
Tim took a deep breath, "No sir, I'm fine." He lied, "my friend just slipped a little ways down I can get him out."
"Are you sure," the man persisted.
"Yeah no problem, he didn't get hurt," Tim gave the man a smile. The man shrugged and drove off. He gave a sigh of relief and quickly tossed the rope down to Justin. "Come on up Just."
"Not with out her." Justin said. "I'm not leaving her down here."
Tim closed his eyes he wanted to just get in the car and leave. What the hell would they do with her once they got her up? He kicked a rock angrily then rummaged around in the truck some more until he produced a blanket. He threw it down the embankment Justin grabbed it and spread it out on the rocky slop. Then he carefully rolled the woman on it. He had enough first aid to know that she shouldn't really be moved but he had no choice. Justin knew that Tim would never let him report that she was down there.
Quickly he tied the rope around the one end of the blanket, "OK Tim start pulling." Justin helped guide the woman up the rocky slop having Tim stop several times to remove larger rocks in the way so she wouldn't be injured further. Once she groaned in pain but didn't regain consciousness. Finally they got her to the top, Justin's jeans were ripped and his knees were bleeding. Tim untied the rope tossed it in the trunk and slammed the lid.
As he started to get in the car Justin hollered, "Where the hell are you going?"
"Leave her somebody will see her laying there." Tim said.
Justin looked at his friend horrified, "We can't just leave her here on the road she will get hit!"
"Fine!" Tim stormed around to the back of the car and opened the trunk again. "We'll put her in there."
"NO."
"You either put her in there or I’m leaving, you can deal with the cops," Tim spit out.
Justin knew all to tell the look on his friend's face was nothing to argue with, so with Tim's help he lifted the woman into the trunk. He closed the lid gently and got into the passenger's side of the car. Tim jumped in and they sped off.
Hutch put down the newspaper he had been reading and looked at his watch, it was nearly eight. Susan should have been home by now. He went to the front door to see if he could see her coming up the street. But the street was deserted expect for their neighbor walking her dog. Hutch called out to her, "Hey Deanna, you seen Susan?"
The young woman stopped, "Hi Hutch, nope not today."
"She went out for her run about seven and she's not back yet." Hutch explained.
"I hope she didn't get over heated," Deanna said giving him a worried look. "You going to look for her?"
Hutch shook his head, "I can leave Jess alone she's here with the chicken poxes."
"Let me take Max home and I'll come and sit with Jesse for you." She offered, Hutch agreed. He left the door open a crack so that Deanna could get in then went to tell Jesse he was leaving and change clothes.
When he came down stairs Deanna was standing in the living room. She was a pretty young woman with shoulder length hair and green eyes. She smiled at Hutch when he entered the room, "I'm sure she just stopped some place to cool down, don' t worry."
"I sure hope you are right," Hutch said grabbing his car keys. "Thanks for staying with Jesse."
Hutch ran out and jumped in his beat up brown Ford. He knew the way that they usually ran and hoped that Susan had followed the same course. He drove slowly so that he could watch for her as he drove. Hutch arrived at the park they ran at parked and got out of the car. There were several people jogging but as the day wore on and it heated up fewer and fewer people braved the heat. He walked quickly searching the park, checking all the benches and the bathrooms but no Susan. Hutch saw their favorite ice cream stand, once in a while they would get a cone then sit on one of the benches by the lake watching the ducks.
As Hutch approached the stand an elderly man called out, "Hey Hutch, where's this Mrs. this morning?"
"Hi Charley, I was hoping you could tell me." Hutch said.
"I haven't seen Susan all morning and I have been here since six," the old man said. "When it's this hot people will eat ice cream anytime. Anything wrong?"
"I hope not, she just hasn't come back from running yet." Hutch told him. "If you happen to see her let her know I'm looking for her."
"Sure thing Hutch," Charley said as he dipped out a cone and handed it to the detective. "Oh the house, you look like you could use it."
Hutch accepted the cone gratefully; he hadn't realized how hot he was. Sweat was running down his back soaking his shirt, "thanks Charley."
It was nearing ten a.m. and still no Susan so Hutch headed back to the house hoping that he had just missed her. But when he got to the house Deanna was sitting on the floor playing a game with Jesse. He looked at her; Deanna shook her head with out speaking not wanting to say anything in front of Jesse. Hutch climbed the steps two at a time, when into the bed room and shut the door. He grabbed the phone from the bedside table and dialed their extension at headquarters.
"Starsky," said a voice on the other end.
"Hey Starsk," Hutch said, "Susan there?" He didn't really think she would be but he held out a thread of hope.
"No and where the hell are you guys? Dobey is about to have a fit, I was just getting ready to give you a call." Starsky said. Detective David Starsky was the third partner that rounded out their trio.
"Starsky I can't find Susan," Hutch said numbly into the phone. "She went out for her run this morning and hasn't come back yet."
"You didn't go with her?" Starsky asked surprised.
"Jess came down with the chicken poxes, I stayed at home with her while Susan went running, that was at seven."
"Did you go out looking for her?" Starsky asked his blue eyes looking concerned.
"Of course I did," Hutch snapped, then regretted the tone he had taken with his best friend. "Sorry buddy. I'm just really worried."
"Hey I understand," Starsky said. "Listen I'll go talk to Dobey then I'll be right over."
Starsky knocked on his Captain's office door then went in with waiting for an answer. Captain Harold Dobey was sitting behind his battered brown desk the telephone cradled between his shoulder and left ear as he wrote on a piece of paper. He scowled at Starsky for not waiting to be invited into his office. "Yes, yes," Dobey said, "I'll get them right on it." Dobey slammed down the phone then took his anger out on Starsky. "Damnit Starsky don't you ever wait for a reply before you just come barging into my office?"
"But this is important Cap," Starsky told him.
"NO important is the Commissioner breathing down my neck about this arson case." Dobey's dark eyes flashed. He was a large black man with dark hair and a mustache; he rarely smiled and to day was no exception. "You guys find out anything yet?"
Usually they didn't work arson cases but this one three people had died in one being a hit man for the mob. Starsky shook his head, "We are going to talk to Carone to day."
"The what the hell are you doing still here," Dobey stormed. "And where the hell are Hutchinson and Carlston?"
"Cap if you will just let me explain," Starsky huffed, he was getting angry himself. "Hutch just called in, he can't find Susan."
"What do you mean he can't find Susan?" Dobey growled the phone rang, he snatched the receiver from the phone and yelled, "Hold all my calls." Then slammed it back down.
"She went out for a run about seven and hasn't come home." Starsky explained.
The anger that had been on Dobey's face quickly chanced to concern. "Has he been out looking for her?" Starsky nodded and told Dobey what Hutch had told him. "I think you better get over there. I'll see if I can get a couple of other detectives to talk to Carone."
Starsky paused, "Can't that wait? We would really like to talk to him."
Dobey sighed. "I'm getting all kinds of heat, we really need a break on this case."
"I know, let me run over to Hutch's then I'll see Carone if I have to go by myself." Starsky promised.
Dobey thought for a moment, "Alright but if you aren't over there by this afternoon I'm putting somebody else on it."
The heat was blistering as Starsky got into his red Ford Torino and pointed it in the direction of his partner's home. The traffic slowed to a crawl, he couldn't stand it a moment longer. Starsky reached for the red light and slapped it on the top of the car then pressed the siren. Traffic moved aside the best it could let the red car move through. He still had the siren blaring when he pulled into the driveway. Hutch was waiting for him out side.
The blond detective grimaced at the loudness of the siren as Starsky jumped out of the car. Hutch said something to his partner but Starsky couldn't hear him. "What?" Starsky yelled over the noise.
"Turn it off," Hutch shouted pointing at the light on top of the car. Starsky stopped short went back to the car and turned off the siren and stowed the light away. "Did you see her on the way over?"
Starsky shook his head. "So I take it she's not back. Why don't you get in and we'll go take a look."
"Just as long as you promise not to use the siren." Hutch said getting into the passenger's side.
They cruised the path that they thought she would have run for an hour hoping to see her. But there wasn't any one running now, it had grown too hot to bother. It was approaching nine; it had been two hours since she had left. Hutch knew there was something wrong, she would have either turned up at home or called if she had been able.
Starsky stopped at the top of Wild Pines road, "We haven't been down this road yet."
"She would never run this road especially by herself it's too dangerous." Hutch said. He prayed that she hadn't taken the short cut. But if she had been running late, there was always that chance. "Let's give it a try anyway."
Starsky drove down the road slowly; Hutch tried to see down the embankment from the passenger's seat. "Shit, I can't see a damn thing," Hutch said as he rolled down the window. "It's too steep."
There was no place for Starsky to pull over so that they could get out and look more closely. He leaned forward looking at the road, "Isn't that tire marks?"
Hutch peered out the windshield trying to see what his partner was looking at. "Maybe but who knows how long they have been there. This is a dangerous stretch of road, lots of accidents."
Once they got to the bottom of the hill Starsky pulled over. No sign of her and he really needed to get to Carone's house. He quickly explained to his partner what they were up against. Hutch agreed that Starsky should go and meet Carone and he would continue to look for Susan on his own. Then they would meet up later in the afternoon. Starsky hated leaving knowing that she was missing but it just couldn't be helped.
He dropped Hutch off at the townhouse then drove to the Carone mansion. Huge black wrought iron gates greeted him as he pulled into the driveway. A man stepped from a small gatehouse, a clipboard in hand. Starsky gave the man his name and was waved through. The detective pulled around the circle driveway stopping in front of the house. He knocked on the massive front doors, almost instantly the doors opened and Carone himself allowed Starsky to enter. He led the officer into his den; he offered him a drink, which Starsky declined.
"Please sit Officer Starsky," Carone said as he poured himself a martini. Carone was a distinguished looking gentleman with dark brown hair just graying at the temples. He was the same height as the detective at five eleven and had gray eyes instead of Starsky's blue ones. "Have you found the people responsible for torching my warehouse?" Starsky just stared at the man for a beat or too. "Ah I see…I'm under suspicion."
"Well frankly Mr. Carone…yes you are." Starsky said looking around the room, it was impressive and decorated very expensively.
"Come now Detective do you really think that I would burn down a warehouse housing some of the finest Persian rugs in the world?" The man took a drink then set the glass on his desk. "Two of my oldest employees were also killed."
"And what about the hit man?" Starsky asked bluntly.
"I had no idea at the time who the third person was in killed in the fire." Carone said looking directly into Starsky's eyes.
For some reason Starsky completely believe Art Carone. He knew that he was a mob boss, he also knew that many of his dealings to say the least shady but Carone looked upset at the fact that his warehouse was a total lose. And that three people had been killed. Starsky was about to ask a question when the front door slammed shut loudly and the sound of running feet met their ears.
A young man came tearing into the room, he couldn't have been any more that twenty-two his face was streaked with sweat and dirt and his clothes were dust covered. He stopped short when he saw the strange man sitting in his father's office. "Justin," his father admonished him. "Is that anyway to enter the house."
"Sorry dad but I really got to talk to you," Justin said out of breath.
"I'm busy right now. Justin this is Detective Starsky. He is here about the warehouse fire," Carone said. "Detective this is my son Justin."
Starsky's eyebrows shot up, he had read every report ever written on Carone and his family and there had never been any mention of a son or any other children. The look of surprise on the officer's face was not lost on the mob boss. Justin's face paled slightly at the word detective and he began backing out of the room. "Uh…sorry Dad," Justin stammered.
Art Carone looked at the detective, "Guess I might as well tell you or you will dig until you find out and I would rather you be out looking for who ever burnt down my place." Carone said, he didn't look pleased as he told Starsky about Justin. "Justin's mother and I were divorced when he was just a little over a year old. She didn't like my…uh dealings so she packed up Justin and left. I had no contact with my son except for a bank account that I set up for him. When he turned eighteen much to his mothers dislike Justin came looking for me. So for the last five years we have been doing some catching up. She did a real good job of raising him, I am pleased to call him my son."
"Thank you," Starsky gave him half a smiled. "You did save me sometime. Now if you can think of anyone who would want to burn your warehouse."
Carone threw his head back and laughed. "Take your pick detective. I'm going to be totally candid with you. I think I owe it to my son if not to myself. It is true I was a mob boss if that is what you wish to call it. But I have been out of that for sometime now. True the money I got to get my business started might have been dirty money but for the last six years I have been on the up and up. My carpet business is booming, every thing you see here was earned honestly." Carone pause, he looked at Starsky to see if the officer was taking him true to his word.
Carone sighed and continued, "The hit man in the warehouse was Jake Johanna, he's from Canada. I guess they wanted to hire a big gun to hit me."
Starsky looked at the man with interest. "You mean this Jake Johanna was here to hit you? You didn't hire him?"
Carone shook his head, "he was here to hit me, I'm almost sure of it. I guess he was in the warehouse looking for me. I spent a lot of time there but that day I just happened to have a meeting downtown. I have no idea who would have started the fire or why. If the mob was sending a hit man after me why would they burn down the place killing the hit man with?"
"Is it possible that the hit man started the fire and got caught in it?" Starsky asked.
"I don't think so besides that's not Jake's style plus I think the boys are trying to make an example out of me. They wouldn't want it to look like an accident." Carone opened up his middle desk draw and took out some photos. "Here, this could be some of the men you might be looking for."
Starsky got up and took the photos held out to him. "Thank you Mr. Carone. You have been a lot of help. And as for your son he has nothing to do with this, I'll keep his name out of my report."
Carone stood and shook Starsky's hand. "I appreciate that Detective Starsky. Please if I can be any more help let me know."
Justin had beat it out of the house as fast as he could. What were the odds of a cop sitting in his father's den when he needed help? He jerked open the car door and jumped in, "get the hell out of here."
"What's wrong?" Tim asked looking a little frightened.
"There is a cop talking to my dad, now step on it." Justin yelled.
"About us?" Tim looked toward the door of the house expecting to see the cop come out shooting.
"I doubt that," Justin said as Tim gunned the car around the circle driveway. "What the hell are we going to do now? Damn it why couldn't you have just dropped her at the hospital?"
"Oh shut up with that," Tim cried. "We got to figure out what to do now."
*Hutch had gotten back into his car and went back to Wild Pines Road; he just had a bad feeling. He wasn't going to start ignoring his cop instinct now. Hutch parked at the top of the hill not far from where Susan had started down the road herself. He got out of the car and began slowly walking down the side of the road looking down the rocky embankment. Several cars honked their horns as they went by and one motorist even threw a beer bottle at him, which he was able to dodge. Hutch got to the spot where he and Starsky has seen the skid marks. He stood looking down into the rocks; it looked like something had been pulled up or slid down. Then about half way down he saw what looked like a running shoe. A chilled went through the detective; he called out his wife's name several times. Then put a tentative foot over the edge of the steep grade, Hutch slipped almost going down himself. He had to get down there and check out that shoe, maybe there were other clues as well. Hutch stepped back then started up the road on a dead run he had to get help.
Starsky was half way back to the townhouse when the call came from Hutch. He thought about using the siren again but the traffic was moving so he just gunned past the car in front of him and made a U-turn heading for Hutch.
By the time Starsky got to where Hutch had left his car parked he could see a fire truck half way down the road. He left his car next to his partners, running down to where the fire truck was parked he was just in time to see Hutch going over the edge of the embankment clinging to a rope. A fireman was already standing almost at the bottom in front of a huge bolder.
"Did you find her?" Starsky yelled down.
Hutch looked up at his partner, "No, but there is a running shoe over there and Ned said he thinks there is dried blood down there by that rock."
"I'm coming down too." Starsky said going over to take the rope. One of the firemen tired to stop him. "Listen my partner is missing and you aren't stopping me from going down there." The fireman just shrugged and step aside.
Hutch released the rope and made his way over to where the shoe was laying. He picked it up and examined it closely, it was the shoe Susan had put on that morning before her run. There were several rusty colored spots on it; Hutch scratched one with his thumbnail. It flicked off; a chill ran up his spine, he tossed the shoe to Starsky, "It's Susan's."
"Down here," Ned called to them. "It looks like a lot of blood."
Both detectives managed to reach the fireman without using the rope to guide them. Ned bent over showing them a small pool of something dark. Hutch leaned over and rubbed his index finger in it. Mostly it was dried but in one spot it was still sticky. He rubbed the substance between his index finger and his thumb then smelled it. Hutch looked at Starsky with pure terror in his eyes. "It's blood."
Starsky paled then began calling out Susan's name; he tried to go around the bolder but almost slipped. "Where could she have gone?"
"By the look of the side of the hill when we got here I would say somebody pulled her out." Ned said. "See look there is a clean path to the top, the larger rocks are thrown to the sides. Maybe somebody took her to the hospital."
"Let's get out of here," Hutch said with one last look around, it was clear that Susan was not still there.
The two detectives put in a call in to their captain who said that he would start checking all the hospitals. Hutch made a quick stop home to check on Jesse and let Deanne know what was going on then he joined his partner. They headed for headquarters Starsky need to talk to Dobey about his meeting with Carone.
Tim and Justin drove around not sure what to do. Justin was afraid with every tick of the clock that the woman was dying and it was going to be entirely fault. Finally he snapped his fingers; Tim looked over at him. "I know where we can take her. My dad has a house that is hardly ever used."
The house that Justin spoke of was the house that Carone and Justin's mother had lived in when they first married. When she left him Carone hung on to the house unable to part with it, he had loved his wife and son very much; the house was the only thing he had left of their life together. He occasionally used it when he wanted to be left alone but as the years went by he went there less and less. But he still had the house maintained and it was fully furnished all though the furniture was a little dated.
Justin had been there a couple of times, in fact his father had even offered to let him live in the house but his mother about had a coronary at the suggestion. His father had given him a key to place telling him not to tell his mother and that he could use the place anytime as long as he didn't have any wild parties. Justin wondered what his father would think of this.
Justin had Tim pull around to the back of the house so that they would be out of sight of any prying eyes. He went and unlocked the back door then joined Tim who had the trunk open and was staring at the woman. She was very pale but the wound on the side of her head had stopped bleeding. Her long hair was matted with blood and her face was turning an ugly shade of purple. Her left wrist was swollen badly, as was her right leg; she had been lucky that the broken bones hadn't torn through the skin. There was no way for the boys to know she also had broken ribs.
Gently Justin picked her up by the shoulders, "Grab her legs Tim. Easy now, lets not cause anymore damage." Fortunately for the detective Justin had just finished his first year of medical school.
They got her into the house and settled into one of the three bedrooms. Then Justin sat down and began making a list of things that he would need. Tim prowled around the house checking out all the rooms.
"Hey this is cool," Tim exclaimed. "This would be a great party house. How come you never told me about this before?"
"That's exactly why. I knew you would want to party here and I promised my dad I wouldn't do that." Justin said as he finished the list and handed it to Tim.
"What's this?" he asked scanning the items on the paper.
"Stuff to patch her up," Justin said. "We just can't let her die. She needs to be in a hospital, she could have brain damage or a concussion at the very least."
"No hospitals," Tim barked. "Ok I'll get the stuff but what the hell are we going to do if she wakes up?" Justin just shrugged. "She is going to scream her head off."
"Just get the stuff OK, we'll worry about that later." Justin said pushing his friend toward the door. "And don't take all day either."
Tim grumbled as he went out the house to his car. As soon as he was out the door Justin went in to check on the woman. Softly he sat on the edge of the bed; he turned her head to look at the side of her face. It was clear that was going to need stitches but he couldn't do that. He got up to get a wash rag to see if he could clean up the cut to get a better look at it. Once her face was clean, the damage was more evident. The cut was deep right over her cheek and he could see the bone if he spread the cut apart. He pried her eyes open to check her pupils they were equal and reactive to the flashlight he shined in them. That was a good sign but her breathing was rather shallow, he felt her ribs the detective groaned.
"Damn," Justin said to himself. This woman was just to messed up for him to be much good. Her only hope was for him to talk Tim in dropping her off at a hospital. He thought of calling a cab or even a life squad but he was in too deep now. If he was arrested medical school was out the window. How did he always let Tim drag him down? After they got out of this mess it was over between him and Tim, if his friend wanted to wander through life getting into one scrap after another that was fine but he was done.
After more than an hour Tim returned carrying several bags of stuff. He had even brought food for them. Justin went in a patched the woman up best he could then went to talk Tim in to getting her real help. "Listen I have done all I can. We have to get her to the hospital."
"I don't care," Tim retorted. "I'm not going to jail."
When Starsky and Hutch arrived at the station Dobey was in his office on the phone. He dropped the receiver back in its cradle as they entered his office. Looking up at them he shook his head. "There have been no women brought in matching Carlstons description to any of the local hospitals. I'm going to put out an ABP on her."
Hutch plopped down in a chair in front of Dobey's desk; he had a stricken look on his face. Starsky laid his hand on his friend's shoulder. "We are going to find her buddy," he said sounding surer of himself than he felt. If the truth were known Starsky was terrified that she might be dead. "I think we should get this on the air, and in the papers, maybe somebody out there saw something and will come forward."
"Good idea Starsky," Dobey said picking up the phone again. "You talk to Carone?"
"Yeah, he seems to think that the hit man was after him.
Dobey paused before punching in the numbers. "And what do you think?"
"I think Carone is telling the truth. He claims that he as been straight for the last several years and my gut tells me he isn't lying."
"Man we really don't need this case right now," Hutch muttered to himself. Starsky squeezed his shoulder reassuringly but didn't disagree.
"We'll find Susan," Dobey said as he placed the call to the newspaper.
Two men sat in a dark, dank office in the inter city, both were well dressed and looked out of place in the airless room. There was a battered desk in front of them with a broken down chair behind it. They sat in folding chairs that had seen better days, there was no other furniture in the room and a naked light bulb hung from the ceiling. The door opened behind them both turned to look at the woman that entered. She was on the tall side, her blonde hair was up in a bun and she had on a business suit. Neither man made a move to stand as she walked toward the desk.
"Gentleman," she addressed them.
"Miss Hicks," one of the men began. "We hired you to take out Art Carone, why is he still alive?"
"Good question, I got some bad information. He was supposed to be at the warehouse but he wasn't there.
"So your hit man burned the place down." The man snapped. The second man just sat watching the woman.
"No, he was a victim in that also." The woman replied.
"Well isn't that just wonderful, so what the hell are we suppose to do?"
"I will get Carone if I have to do it myself."
"Do you have any idea who this is?" he said pointing at the other man.
"Of course," she smiled at the second man and extending her hand toward him. "Mr. Angelo. And you want Art Carone dead because he got out. Am I right or wrong?"
Angelo nodded, "Smart lady, you don't leave the family not and live."
"I do my home work, I'm good at my job. I hired Johanna; he was one of the finest hit men I know to do the job. I don't like making hits in my hometown to much heat. I have used him several times and he always got the job done."
"But somebody did a job on him this time, eh?" Angelo frowned at her. "Too bad Carone wasn't there, the problem would be solved."
"He will be dead by the end of the week, you have my word on that."
The two men got up. "He better or you will be." The other man threatened, they left the office with out closing the door.
Cammy Hicks kicked the door shut; she had to find out who was raining on her parade and quick. Then she had to figure out how to get to Carone, he rarely left the house unless he was going to the warehouse. There was nothing left to go to now that it was burnt to the ground. Maybe she could just fire bomb his house and be done with it. This case was proving to be harder work than she anticipated. She had thought this would be an easy in easy out since he had no bodyguards to speak of.
Cammy started to make a call then slammed the phone down, she would take a chance and do it herself then she would know it was done right. She looked around the office and rolled her eyes she hated this place but it didn't draw attention to her and that is just what she wanted.
Then next morning Susan's face was splashed on the front page of the newspaper with the caption "Missing Detective" underneath it. Tim who had been out getting them some breakfast saw the paper on the newsstand and grabbed one. He looked closely at the woman's face, he wasn't sure but it looked like the woman he had hit.
Justin was in the bedroom when Tim slammed into the house paper in hand. "Just get out here!"
Justin appeared in the bedroom door, a worried look on his face. The woman was burning up, he didn't have a thermometer but she was hot to the touch. She kept moaning and saying a name that he couldn't make out. "Listen Tim we got to…" he began but was cut off by his friend.
"Look at this," he said holding up the paper. "Do you think she is that missing cop?"
Justin snatched the paper from him, "Crap, yes that's her. Man you really know now to pick'em don't ya?"
Tim ran into the bedroom to look at her. "Wow a cop, how cool is that?"
"Cool? Cool? What that hell is cool about her being a cop?" Justin asked. "That puts us in even more hot water. Damn it Tim she is dying and if she does it's just the same as if we murdered her."
"She doesn't look too good does she?" He said. Justin sighed finally Tim was coming to his senses. "Let's just dump her some place."
Justin closed his eyes and shook his head. "You really are an ass aren't you? It's not going to be long until you wind up in prison at the rate you are going."
"Oh shut up, I got away with torching that…" Tim stopped, he shuffled his feet and looked at the floor.
"Torching what? What the hell are you talking about?" Justin demanded. Sudden it dawned on what he could have torched. The day before his fathers warehouse burnt he had taken Tim there to show off some of his favorite rugs. He had been working a few days a week for his dad to get some extra money for school. Justin advanced on Tim his fists clenched. "You had better tell me now!"
"OK OK what's the big deal? I burnt down the warehouse. Your dad is loaded and I'm sure he is insured." Tim yelled as he took a step backward.
Justin stared at him. "But why?"
"Me and this guy took a couple of rugs."
"So you burned it down?"
"Didn't want anyone to know the rugs were missing." Tim said nonchalantly.
"Are you brain dead? Three people were killed in that fire," Justin was so angry he didn't know what to do.
"I didn't mean to kill anybody."
"It doesn't matter you moron, it's done they are dead you can't take that back." He had had enough; Justin took a swing at his friend sending him sprawling across the floor.
"Hey why did you hit me?" Tim asked looking up at Justin in surprise.
"Get your ass out of here and don't come back." Justin snarled. He turned to go back into the bedroom to check on the officer.
Tim got to his feet then picked up a small statue sitting on a bookshelf, he walked up behind Justin and clubbed him on the back of the head. Justin went down not far from the bed where Susan lay. Tim tossed the statue on the floor then stalked out the back door. He went to a shed that was at the back of the property hoping to find what he was looking for. The shed door had a pad lock on it but he quickly pried that off with the jack from his car. Inside he found a lawn mower and a full can of gas. Tim grabbed the gas can and started toward the house.
*The phone was ringing on Hutch's desk as the two detectives came into the squad room. Starsky carried the morning paper with Susan's picture on the front. Hutch ran and grabbed the phone on the third ring. "Hutchinson."
"Hey you looking for some information on that warehouse fire?" said a voice.
"Hi Huggy, yeah you got something for us?" Hutch asked as he motioned for Starsky to pick up the extension.
"Fat Rolly is trying to get rid of several Persian rugs."
"Now where would that little slug get a hold of Persian rugs?" Hutch asked.
"I'm surprised he even knows what they are." Starsky quipped.
"Looks like we know why the fire was set." Hutch said taking the paper from his partner. "Seen the newspaper this morning Hug?"
"Yeah, any news on Susan?" Huggy asked softly. He had been up most of the night calling in ever favor owed him trying to find her. "There is not a peep on the streets about her."
"Nothing yet, let's hope with her picture on the front page someone will have seen her." Hutch said hopefully. "We'll keep in touch, thanks Huggy."
Both Hutch and Starsky hung up the phone at the same time. "Well?" Starsky asked as he flopped down in his chair. He knew that the longer it took for them to find Susan the less likely that she would be alive.
"Well what?" Hutch snapped.
"What do you want to do now?"
"How the hell am I suppose to know?" Hutch yelled his eyes brimming with tears. He was at a total lose at what to do. Going home with out Susan the night before had been the hardest thing he had ever done. All Jesse wanted was her mother and he had to sit and explain that she wasn't coming home. He hadn't slept all night pacing their bedroom floor endlessly.
Starsky got up and came round the desk and despite the room full of people he put his arms round his partner. A soft shuddered sigh escaped Hutch's body as he clutched the back of Starsky's jacket. Starsky had tears in his own eyes as he hugged his friend. The room was aware of what was going on but went about their own business with out comment.
Finally Hutch released Starsky and looked at him with redden eyes. "We are going to find her buddy." Starsky said. "She's a tough lady."
"I know that's what scares me the most. If something happened and she was able to get in contact with us she would have by now. I think she might be…"
"Don't you even say it," Starsky stormed. As long as it wasn't spoken out loud then it couldn't be true.
Hutch nodded then said, "Why don't we go over to Rolly's and see what is up with these rugs. I can't stand just sitting round here and maybe we'll pick up a lead now that her disappearance is news."
The two detectives arrived at Fat Rolly's place thirty minutes later. The overly plump man was standing behind a grungy counter. The storefront was nothing but a junk store of stuff that no other pawnshop owner would touch. Rolly began to sweat the moment that they pair walked in.
Starsky walked over to the counter, "You really need to get yourself a fan in this heat big guy, you are going to have a stroke."
"Yeah sure," Rolly grunted. "What do you guys want?"
"We heard you have some Persian rugs for sale. Hutch here is looking for one." Starsky grinned at the fat man.
Rolly smiled broadly, "yeah, just got five the other day. I'll give you a good price Hutch."
Hutch walked over to him and grabbed the man's shirt collar, "How about if you just tell us where the hell you got them. You have never had anything that classy in the joint."
Rolly tried to pull himself free of Hutch's grip but the detective just tightened it. "Come on Rolly spill it or we'll run you in for murder."
"Murder!" he sputtered. "I didn't kill anybody. Some kid came in here with them. Sold them to me for a hundred a piece. Hell even I know that Persian rugs so for thousands."
"What's the kids name?" Starsky demanded. "What's he look like. He was praying that it wasn't Carone's son.
Rolly pulled away from Hutch again and this time he let the man go. He riffled through some index cards. Finally he pulled one out, "his name is Tim Macdonald."
"Think the kid was stupid enough to use his real name?" Hutch asked Rolly who had now soaked the front of his shirt with sweat.
"He wasn't your typical street kid if you know what I mean. He was dressed nice, nice car. I think he was just looking to score some extra cash." Rolly said.
"Thanks Rolly," Starsky said as they started out.
"Hey guys, sorry to hear about your partner," he called after them but the two detectives were already in Starsky's car.
Cammy Hicks drove her red sports car past the Carone estate several times before parking a block away. She had changed out of her suit and was now wearing a very tight very short black dress with matching shoes. She slipped a gun from under the seat of the car and placed it in her purse then got out of the car. Cammy walked the block to Carone's house and up to the gate. A man stepped out of the gatehouse blocking her way.
"May I help you miss?" the man asked eyeing the low cut dress.
"My car broke down back there and I was wondering if I could use a phone." She said in a sexy husky voice.
"Sure, there is one right in here." The guard indicating the gatehouse.
"You don't happen to have a bathroom in there do you?" Cammy smiled batting her long lashes. Then she whispered to him, "I really got to go."
"Look miss I think you had better move along."
"I think you had better move along," she hissed and pulled the gun from her purse putting a bullet in the center of his chest. The man fell to the ground, she looked around to see if she had drawn attention to herself but it was quiet except for a few barking dogs. She figured that around here people would just think a car backfired. She pulled the man into the gatehouse and shut the door behind them. She checked out the panel that operated the gate and opened it just enough for her to slip in.
Cammy walked up the driveway toward the house, gun still in her hand. If Carone showed his face she was going to put a bullet in it. Nobody made her look bad. Everything was quiet out side; she walked up to the front door and rang the bell. After standing there a few minutes she rang it again. Still no one came, at first she thought that no one was home but there was a car in the driveway and she could see a second sitting in the garage. Slowly she made her way around to the side of the house. Once she got toward the back she would hear someone swimming. Quietly Cammy crept to where she could see the pool Art Carone was swimming laps. She looked around carefully but there was no one else in sight. The hit woman stepped from the shrubbery and walked to the edge of the pool. Carone didn't see her standing there until he finished his last lap and started up the steps in the shallow end.
"Good afternoon Mr. Carone," Cammy said as she pointed her gun at him. "Fine day to die isn't."
Art Carone looked at the woman and shook his head. "Is this best Angelo could do?"
"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" she growled at him. "I can kill you just as dead as any man."
"I'm sure you can," he said stepping out of the pool. "Do you mind if I get my towel before you do me in?"
Cammy looked around again. "Sure go head, just don't try anything."
Carone laughed, "I don't bring a gun to the pool. In fact I don't even own one anymore."
She walked to with in a few feet of him and cocked the gun. Carone stood there, his unwavering look made Cammy nervous. She was use to people pleading for their lives but this guy wasn't backing down.
Just as she began to put pressure on the trigger a voice behind her said, "Hold it right there sweetheart." Starsky stepped out of the bushes, Hutch appeared behind Carone both had their guns drawn and trained on the woman. "Why don't you put the gun down?"
Cammy didn't move as she looked at the two detectives. "Come on, put it down," Hutch said. "Don't want to have to shoot you and mess up that nice dress."
"Shit," she said under her breath as she lowered the gun. Starsky stepped in and took it from her hand.
Carone sat down on a lounge chair with a sigh of relief. "What are you doing here Detective Starsky?"
"Well my partner and I came to asked you a question. Guess it was a good thing we did, uh?" Starsky answered him as he cuffed the woman and pushed her down into the nearest chair.
"I'll go call it in and get a black and white out here to pick her up." Hutch said and disappeared around the house.
"Excellent timing, detective." Carone smiled at him. "I think you might want to question her about Johanna, I'll just be he was working for her. Am I right honey?"
Cammy looked out across the pool with out answering. "Oh so you are a tough one. You'll have to be where you are going."
After a squad car picked up the hit woman and Starsky introduced Hutch to Carone they went into the house. Carone led them in to the den, "I need a drink, care for one."
"Thanks but we are on duty," Hutch said as he looked around the room.
"Ok now what were you here to talk to me about?" Carone asked as he perched on the edge of his desk.
"Do you know a kid named Tim Macdonald?" Starsky asked.
"Sure he's my sons best friend, why?"
"Well he pawned several Persian rugs at a pawn shop the other day." Hutch told him.
Carone's mouth fell open, "You think he burned down the warehouse?"
"I would say the odds are pretty good. He probably stole the rugs then burnt down the place so you won't notice they were missing." Starsky theorized. "Could you call your son to see if he knows where this kid is?"
"Sure, you don't think Justin is involved do you?" Carone asked as he picked up the phone.
"I don't know what do you think Mr. Carone, would your son be capable of something like that?" Starsky asked.
"I sure hope not. But I know Tim has been in a couple of minor scraps with the law before." Carone answered. Then in to the phone he said, "Anna this is Art, can I talk to Justin? Yes I know you don't like me calling there…no not since yesterday…are you sure…I'll see if I can find him." Carone hung up the phone and looked at the policeman. "Seems like my son didn't go home last night."
"Is that unusual?" Hutch asked.
"He always lets his mother know if he's not coming home at night." He said with a worried expression on his face. "God I hope that he's not involved in this. I'm paying for his medical school he would have no reason to do this."
"Sometimes kids just do it for the fun of it," Starsky said. "Do you have any idea where he might be?"
Carone nodded and told them about the other house he kept. The three men got into Starsky's car; Carone gave them directions to the house. As they rounded the corner they could see black smoke billowing down the street. When they got closer they discovered that it was Carone's house on fire, the whole front was engulfed in flames. A car was backing out of the driveway. Starsky sped up blocking the car, a young man jumped from the car and fled. Hutch bolted from the car to give chase as Starsky radioed in for a fire truck and back up. Carone crawled out of the back seat and ran toward the house calling his son's name.
As Starsky was getting out of the car Hutch was walking up the side walk pushing the boy in front of him. "Guess who we have here?" Hutch asked tossing a wallet toward Starsky.
He caught it and said, "Tim Macdonald."
Hutch nodded as he pushed his prisoner in the back of the Torino. "Where is Carone?"
"I think he went looking for his son."
Carone rounded the back of the house just in time to see a chair come flying through the bed room window. Justin stuck his head out to get a breath of fresh air then ducked back in. "Justin? Justin?" Carone called as he ran the window kicking the chair out of his way.
Justin reappeared in the window, seeing his dad relief flooded his face, "Dad, help me."
"Give me your hand," Carone said holding out his arms.
"I have someone else in here and she's hurt." Justin said then ducked back in again.
Starsky and Hutch came running around the house. Carone motioned for them, "Justin is in there and says there is one hurt in there with him."
"Well let's get them out of there," Starsky said. "Think we can get in the back door?"
Hutch turned the knob; the door opened and thick black smoked poured out of the opening. The detective pulled his jacket up over his nose and mouth as he entered the house. Starsky did the same and followed his partner into the smoke filled house. Only the front part of the house was on fire but the heat and smoke was very intense.
"Justin," Hutch yelled.
"In here, help us please," came a call from their right.
The detectives went through the kitchen and down a short hall, they could see the young man struggling with a body. They ran to help him, Starsky picked up the woman as Hutch pushed Justin out the door ahead of him.
Carone was waiting just out side the back door when they emerged. All of them were soot covered and coughing as they stumbled from the burning house. Starsky lay the woman on the ground just as a couple of paramedics came around the house.
"Be carefully, she's hurt bad," Justin said falling to his knees next to her. "She was hit by a car yesterday, Tim was driving."
Hutch and Starsky looked at each other, could it be? They had been so busy trying to get out of the house either of them paid any attention to the woman. Both men dropped to their knees for a closer look at the woman before them.
"I think it's that cop that was in the newspaper." Justin said looking up at them; tears were streaming down his face. "I tried to get Tim to take her to the hospital but he refused, he wanted to leave her there to die but I wouldn't let him."
"My god Susan," Hutch said he leaned over kissing her forehead.
"She has been out since he hit her. She has a pretty good gash on the side of her face. I tried the best I could to patch her up. I’m so very sorry."
Starsky took her and holding it tightly, "Get over here," he yelled at the paramedics.
The two detectives stepped back to allow the two paramedics to look at her. Carone pulled Justin into his arms. "Are you alright son?"
He nodded, "I got a bump on the back of my head, Tim hit me with something then I guess set the house on fire. Dad he burnt down your warehouse too."
"We know that, he's in custody out front." Carone informed his son as he inspected the lump on his head. "Detectives are you going to arrest my son?"
Starsky looked at Hutch who shook his head no. "I think your son saved our partners life."
"Partner? She is your partner?" Justin asked stunned.
Starsky nodded, "We have been looking for her since yesterday."
"I'm really sorry," Justin repeated tears returning to his eyes.
Starsky patted him on the shoulder, "I know you are and you kept her alive. If you would have allowed your friend to leave her out there Susan might have been dead by the time we found her."
The paramedics had Susan on the gurney and wheeled her around the house, the two detectives followed after telling Carone and his son that they would like to talk to them later on.
Three weeks later Susan sat on the couch with Jesse in her lap. She had spent most of that time in the hospital where she had her face stitched up and casts put on her breaks. Hutch spent most of his off time with her as did Starsky and Carone along with Justin visited several times. The doctor was amazed at her quick recovery after everything she had been through and was pleased with the work done her face. He had assured her that the scarring would barely be noticeable.
There was a knock at the front door; Mrs. Gray came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. She had been in there most of the day but wouldn't tell Susan or Jesse what she was up too and Jess had strict orders to stay out of the kitchen. Mrs. Gray came back in to the living room followed by Mr. Carone and Justin.
"Mr. Carone," Susan exclaimed this is a surprise. "Hi Justin."
"Please call me Art," the older man said. He shook her hand, "How are you doing?"
She smiled much better but I'll be glad to get these casts off so I can do something. Sit down please. How are you Justin?"
"Fine," he said. Justin still had a hard time looking her in the eye. He had nightmares often about what happened.
"Justin," Susan said softly. "Look at me." The young man looked up at her. "Justin you saved my life. If it hadn't been for you I would have been left to die."
She held out her hand to him, Justin took it and she pulled him to her giving him a hug. Justin relaxed for the first time and gave her a hug back. "It's just I feel so guilty. I should have stood up to him."
"You did fine and you are going to be a wonderful doctor someday." Susan told him as he sat down next to Jesse.
The front door opened and Starsky and Hutch entered the living room. Surprised Susan asked, "what are you guys doing here?"
"We just came for lunch," Hutch smiled and bent to kiss his wife and patted his daughter on the head.
The kitchen door opened and Mrs. Gray came in carrying a huge cake, which she set on the coffee table in front of Susan. The female detective leaned over to look at the cake, in large letters it said 'Welcome Home'. "Is this for me?" Susan exclaimed.
"Who else would it be for?" Starsky teased.
"I'll have to get hit by a car more often," Susan joked. "I kind of like this treatment."
"Mommy," Jesse said staring at her mother.
"I was just teasing honey."
"Justin and I have something for you," Art Carone said getting up and going out side. Minutes later he returned with a beautiful Persian rug. Justin helped his father spread it out so that everyone could see it.
"It's lovely, thank you." Susan said. "You didn't really have to do that."
"Yes we did. Your partners saved my life and my sons by sticking up for him. He could have joined Tim in jail. He was wrong for not insisting on getting you help or just telling Tim to go on and staying with you." Art told them.
"I have something for you too," Starsky said and produce a wrapped box.
Susan took the box from him; she unwrapped it and opened the lid. The box contained a pair of new running shoes. Susan rolled her eyes, "I think running to dangerous to my health," she laughed.
Hutch hugged her, "Only when you go with out me."
The End