OUR LITTLE ROMANCE
                                                                                                        BY
                                                                                                           TOOKI



                                                                                             Chapter 1

Their hands touched as they put groceries on the belt, she looked into his smiling blue eyes and smiled back at him. When the cart was empty he moved close to her and put his hand on the small of her back, something that always made her feel safe no matter where they were or what they were doing. She didn’t even mind waiting in line, she had him. Her brother hadn’t been able to scare him away, even when Alex had shown up unannounced at her house one night and poked him so hard with two fingers in his chest that he bruised. He had laughed it off saying if he had a sister like Mary, he would be protective too.
It was nearly their turn, the woman in front of them was handing her credit card to the cashier, a moment later the cashier handed the woman her receipt and she was on her way out the door with her bags, she was lucky. After the woman cleared the door the plate glass window shattered with a roar, everyone in the store stared at the glass unable to process what had just happened. An earthquake? A car crash? What? There was another roar and the young woman that was about to check them out crumpled to the floor, blood spattering her blue smock. After a second or two an older woman still shopping began to scream and panic broke loose with the rest of the customers.
Hutch threw himself in front of Mary in order to protect her, he was reaching for his gun when there was another shot, the bullet caught him in the shoulder spinning him around and knocking him face first into the floor. Mary dropped to his side instantly; she didn’t see the four men all armed, with masks over their faces step though the broken window. All she cared about was Hutch, Mary wasn’t scared, she knew that the shots were meant for her, she had been expecting it for a long time. She had nearly been to her breaking point when Hutch had entered her life, and now one way or another she was going to lose him.
The two men sprayed the room with shots to keep anybody who wanted to try and be a hero back. Then they reached down and pulled Mary from Hutch, she didn’t fight them her only words were “Please don’t hurt him anymore.” Hutch tried to reach for his gun but the pain was too much, darkness swam in front of his eyes.


~Six Months Earlier~


“Starsk the traffic is stopping,” Hutch yelled as he braced himself knowing there was no way his partner was going to make the stop.
Starsky stomped on the brakes, but the car in front of him had stopped too quickly and he plowed into the back of the late model Mustang. “Shit!” Starsky exclaimed as he his chest connected with the steering wheel. “That’s going to leave a mark.” He glanced over at Hutch who had a thin line of blood appearing on his forehead. “Are you okay, partner?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Hutch said getting out of the car to check on the occupant of the car Starsky had hit. He found a lovely strawberry blonde about his age behind the wheel, she looked up at him, she also had a cut on her forehead but otherwise looked uninjured. “Are you alright?”
“I-I think so,” She gave him a weak smile as she leaned forward trying see if there was damage to the front of her car.
Hutch looked also, “You missed the guy in front of you, but just barely, can’t say the back of your car fared as well.”
Starsky was on the radio calling in the wreck, “Looks like we are in a multicar pile up, buddy.” He yelled from inside the car.
Hutch opened the door of the woman’s car, “You might as well get out if you can, Miss…”
“Mason,” She smiled at him, “Mary Mason. I think I’m okay, other than my head.” She touched her forehead gingerly as she swung her legs out of the car.
“It’s nice to meet you Mary Mason,” Hutch extended his hand, “I’m Ken Hutchinson, Hutch for short, and that is my partner back there that hit you, Dave Starsky.”
Mary walked to the back of her car and looked at the damage; the whole back end of the car was caved in. She sighed and looked up at Hutch, “I just bought this last night.”
Hutch winced, “I’m really sorry, Mary, but I’m sure Starsky’s insurance will have you all fixed up in no time.”
Starsky glared at Hutch then smiled at Mary, “Don’t worry, Hutch is right and I know a great body shop.”
Hutch leaned close to Mary and whispered, “I wouldn’t listen to him about that body shop.”
Mary giggled, “I’ll keep that in mind.
“How long is this mess?” Hutch wanted to know as he walked back to help Starsky out of the car.
“Headquarters said about a mile.” The curly headed detective said as he made a face after taking a deep breath.
“I think you need to be looked at.” Hutch said. Starsky waved Hutch’s concern away. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Cap.”
“Fine, as soon as we can move, I’ll go to the hospital.”
“What are you two cops?” Mary asked.
“Give the lady a cigar,” Starsky said doing his best Groucho Marx impression.
“Detectives,” Hutch corrected.
Mary nodded and headed back toward the front of her car, she inspected both her car and the car in front of her, just as Hutch said she had just stopped short of hitting the man in front of her, but you couldn’t have slid a piece of paper between the bumpers. But the driver she had nearly missed hadn’t been so lucky and had plowed into the car in front of him.
“Are you sure you are okay?” Hutch asked. Mary had taken a seat in her car to wait until help arrived.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Her tone of voice was a bit colder than it had been and didn’t go unnoticed by Hutch.
“Hey, listen, we are really sorry about your new car.” Hutch persisted.
“Thank you,” The coldness was still there.
“Could I offer you a drink?” Hutch wanted to know.
Mary looked around at the interstate which was now a parking lot and burst out laughing. “Unless you have a mini bar in the back of your car, I don’t think you are going to find a drink.”
Hutch turned a pale shade of pink then said, “Well at least I got you to laugh.”
“That you did.”
“Why don’t you get out of there, it’s getting hot,” Hutch suggested, “We could at least get in the grass and off this steaming road.”
“Alright,” Mary said and allowed Hutch to take her arm. Then she stopped, “Oh, my purse.”
“I’ll get it,” Starsky said as he moved toward the damaged car but as he leaned in to retrieve her purse he lost his breath and had to hang onto the car.
“Starsk?” Hutch called out in alarm as he noticed the pale look to his partner’s face. “I’ll be right back.” He rushed to Starsky’s side, “What’s wrong?”
“Just lost my breath.” Starsky puffed. Hutch snagged the purse from the front seat and guided his partner to the side of the road.
Mary took one of his arms and helped Hutch sit Starsky down in the shade of a shrub that was growing nearby. Hutch handed her purse to her, “Thanks,” Then turned her attention to Starsky. “Did you hit your chest on the steering wheel?”
He nodded, “How did you know?”
“We see a lot of these in the emergency room,” she said as she expertly unbuttoned several buttons on his shirt and looked at the angry bruise that was forming. “Doesn’t look too bad but Hutch is right, you need to get that checked out, you might have bruised a rib or even a lung.”
“So, you are a nurse?” Hutch asked kneeling next to her.
“Ah….no,” Mary stood up quickly.
“But didn’t you say something about the emergency room?”
“Did I?”
Starsky and Hutch exchanged looks and let it drop. She was a stranger that didn’t want her life pried into.

“Are you happy?” Starsky asked as he buttoned up his shirt. X-rays had been taken of the detective’s chest to make sure there had been no damage from the accident.
Hutch smiled and nodded, then looked at his watch. “Well this day is shot.” It was nearly 2 pm and they had been on their way to work when the accident had occurred.
“Did you get her number?” Starsky wanted to know as he gingerly got off the table.
“Her who?”
“Mary Mason.” Starsky winked at his partner.
“I don’t even know if she is single.” Hutch said as he handed Starsky his watch, wallet and gun that had to be removed before the x-ray.
“I would say the way she was looking at you she’s single.” Starsky poked at Hutch. “Besides, I need it for my insurance.”
“You mean you didn’t get it?” Hutch asked.
“I thought you would, you two seemed to hit it off.”
“She ran a little hot and cold for me.” The blond detective said, he would never admit to his partner that he was interested in her.
“I’ll check her out when we get back the station.” Starsky suggested as they headed toward the parking lot to his damaged car. He stopped in front of his baby and looked at it mournfully. “Merl, here she comes.
“The car or Mary?” Hutch quipped as he held his hand out for Starsky’s keys. When he didn’t give them to Hutch, he said, “Hand’em over, you aren’t driving anymore today.”
Starsky sighed and reluctantly handed Hutch his keys. “You take it easy; we don’t need any more damage.”
“When have I ever damaged your car?” Hutch asked as he slid in behind the wheel. Starsky didn’t answer, he was too busy assessing the damage and trying to calculate the cost to get it fix. “Starsk, get in the car, I’ll take you to Merl’s as soon as we check in at the station.”

The moment they stepped in the squad room Dobey burst from his office, “You two okay?” He asked gruffly but the relief on his face was apparent.
“Starsky is a little bruised and I got a bump on the head”, Hutch touched the white butterfly bandage a pretty little brunette nurse had put there.
“Why don’t you go ahead home,” Dobey tossed over his shoulder as he retreated back into his office. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning unless you think you need another day.”
“We’re fine Cap,” Hutch assured him.
“Do you want to go see what we can find out about Mary?” Starsky asked wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
“No Starsk, you do it for your insurance, leave me out of it,” Hutch said heading for the squad room door. “Stop playing match maker will you? Let’s go get that car of yours to the shop so you can quit worrying.”
“I’m not worried.” Hutch turned and looked at his partner, “Okay, maybe a little worried, but Merl will fix her right up. What worries me is driving in your heap until mine is fixed.”
Hutch shook his head, “You feel like driving to the shop and I’ll follow you, then we can grab some dinner.”
“Sounds good to me.”

The next morning both detectives were sore but no worse for wear and eager to get back to work, the accident had put them a day behind in their paper work. When they entered the squad room there was a large bouquet of daises sitting on Hutch’s desk. Starsky rushed over and snatched the card that was sticking in the greenery. Hutch grabbed it out of his hand but Starsky took it back and opened it before Hutch could get it back.
“Looks like she is single,” Starsky said flipping the card to where Hutch could see it. Printed on the card in neat script was ‘Thanks for everything, Mary’”.
Hutch grabbed the card and looked at it, then he turned it over, no address or telephone number. “That was nice of her, but what makes you think it’s to me and not you?” Starsky held up the envelope which had Hutch’s name on it. “And how does this make her single? She is just thanking me.”
“She is making contact.”
“But there is no way for me to contact her back,” Hutch said tossing the card on his desk.
“Maybe she thinks that you can figure out how to contact her.” Starsky said picking up the card and looking at it again. “You ever think of that?”
“Starsk, I really don’t have time for games, yours or hers.” Hutch said as he sat down at this desk and pulled a file from a large pile.
“Oh come on, Hutch, where is your sense of adventure?”
“Staying alive everyday is my adventure.”
Ten minutes later Starsky tossed a slip of paper on Hutch’s desk and sat down at his own. Hutch looked up puzzled. “Well, read it.” Starsky urged.
Hutch sighed as he picked up the paper; on it was Mary’s address and phone number. Hutch squinted at his partner, “Are you kidding me?”
“Oh go on Hutch, call her, she must like you or she wouldn’t have sent flowers.” Starsky winked.
Hutch snorted in disgust at what his partner had done, he tossed the paper aside and went back to work. But as the day drug on Hutch kept eyeing the paper, she had seemed very nice even if she had a few odd moments. He looked around to see where Starsky was, he was getting a fresh cup of coffee, so Hutch grabbed the paper and stuffed it in his pocket. Maybe he would call her, after all, Starsky needed to give her his information.



                                                                          Chapter 2


Hutch stood on Mary Mason’s front porch, white lilies in hand, lilies that it had taken him a long while to pick out. He nearly didn’t get them, thinking it was silly for him to get her flowers since she had just sent some to him. Several times he started to turn and walk back down the steps but something held him in place. Finally, Hutch knocked gently on the screen door.
Within moments Mary appeared on the other side of the screen wiping flour covered hands on a towel. “Hutch, what are you doing here?” She unlocked and pushed the screen open.
Holding the green tissue wrapped bouquet in one hand, Hutch fished in his pocket with the other producing a scrap of paper with his partners name and number. “I thought I would bring by Starsky’s information.”
Mary looked puzzled, “I talked to him yesterday and have already taken my car to Merl’s.”
“Oh,” Hutch looked at the ground and shuffled his feet. He wasn’t normally this shy with women.
“Are those for me?” Mary wanted to know, indicating the lilies.
“I’m sorry, of course.” Hutch held them out to her.
“Would you like to come in?” She held the door open wider.
“You look like you are busy.”
“Not at all, come on in. I don’t get company very often. I’m pretty new in town.” Mary motioned for Hutch to follow her into the kitchen. It was a large airy room with a butcher block standing in the center; it was covered with flour and a large mass of bread dough in the middle. Mary dug under the sink cabinet until she found a vase for the flowers, then she turned back to her bread. “This will only take me a minute then we can go out back and have some lemonade.”
“Sounds good if you are sure you have the time.”
“Pull up a stool,” Mary indicated, they were on the other side of the table she was working on. Hutch watched as she divided the dough into three loaves and plopped them into greased pans. She was not his normal type of woman, most of his dates were between twenty and twenty-five and were stewardesses, Mary looked close to his age.
“Looks good,” Hutch commented as his mind wandered back to his childhood when he would sit and watch his mother make bread.
Mary put the pans on top of the stove and covered them with a towel. She pulled out a tray, placed two glasses filled with ice and a pitcher of lemonade she had from the refrigerator. She also added a plate with what looked like homemade cookies on it. She picked up the tray and headed for the back door.
“Here, let me,” Hutch said jumping off the stool taking the tray from her.
“Thank you,” Mary smiled as she held open the back door for Hutch. He followed her across the lawn to a small round table under a tree and two comfortable looking chairs.
After they were seated and Mary had poured them glasses of the yellow liquid, they both spoke at once. “You go ahead,” Hutch said as he helped himself to a couple of cookies.
“I was just going to say thank you for coming over here.”
Hutch shrugged. “It was on my way home.” Mary looked at him. “Okay, I made it be on my way home.”
They both laughed.
“I hope that Merl doesn’t take too long with my car,” Mary looked across the green lawn at two butterflies playing tag.
“I just hope it doesn’t look like a pimp’s car when he gets finished.”
Mary look startled. “What?”
Hutch laughed at her expression, “Last time I let Merl touch my car it ended up with a fuzzy interior and dice hanging from the mirror.”
Mary’s look turned from startled to horror. “You don’t think he would do that to my car do you?”
“I’m sure Starsky told him just to fix what needed fixing and nothing more.” Hutch reassured her, “Besides, I’m sure Starsky had a hand in what Merl did to my car.”
“You two are very close aren’t you?”
“We have been partners for a long time. You have to trust your partner to always have your back out on the streets.” Hutch explained.
“He always has your back no matter what, doesn’t he?” Mary smiled.
“Yeah.” Hutch said. He was surprised that she had picked up on their closeness just seeing them together on the side of the road. Most of his girlfriends didn’t care for the closeness between the two men.
Mary glanced at her watch; they had been talking nearly ninety minutes. “Oh boy, my bread.” Mary jumped up and nearly sprinted to the back door.
Hutch picked up the tray and followed her; by the time he got into the house she was sliding the bread into the oven. “Is it okay?”
“Yes, thank goodness, a few more minutes and it would have been spilling over the pans and ruined.” Mary took the tray from Hutch and placed it on the counter. “Why don’t you stay for dinner? You can help me eat all this bread.”
“I don’t want to put you out. I have already over stayed my welcome.”
“Nonsense,” Mary waved away his concern. “I’m enjoying having somebody to talk to.”
“Well, I guess if I’m not intruding. The bread is starting to smell really good. I haven’t had any fresh baked bread since I was a kid.”
“I told you, I never have company.” Mary was delighted that he was going to stay; she went to the refrigerator to see what she could come up for them to eat.
“What about the people you work with?” Hutch was curious about what she did for a living since she seemed to have nursing skills.
“I don’t have a job yet.” Mary said. “I was trying to get settled in the house first.”
From Mary’s tone Hutch could tell it wasn’t something she really wanted to talk about. So he changed the subject, “So what are we having? I would be happy with the bread and a pound of butter.” He joked.
“Yeah me too, but I think I can rustle up something for us.”
An hour later they were sitting at the butcher block table eating steak, baked potatoes and lots of bread. “This is just like my mother made,” Hutch said as he slathered butter on yet another piece of bread.
“I will take that as a compliment.” Mary smiled at him.
“It was sure meant that way.” He leaned back and patted his stomach. “Man, it’s been a long time since I have had a meal that good. It’s usually pizza and burgers with Starsky, although I try to eat better than that. But with the hours we work it’s not easy.”
“I’m sure,” Mary commented as she began putting the dishes in the sink. “Would you like some coffee? If you have time we could go back outside for while.”
Hutch looked at his watch, dusk was starting to set in, but he didn’t want to leave Mary’s company. “Alright, if you sure you aren’t tired of me.”
Mary laughed as she pour two mugs of coffee and handed one to Hutch. Once again they went back to their chairs under the tree. They talked and laughed until the insects chased them into the house. Again Hutch looked at his watch. It was now nearly eleven, “I am going to have to go, got work tomorrow.”
Mary nodded and tried not to look disappointed, she didn’t want the night to end. She followed him to the front door, “Thank you spending the evening with me. I’m sure you had better things to do.”
“Not at all,” Hutch leaned over and kissed Mary on the forehead, for some reason it just seemed like the right thing to do. If she had been one of his young stewardesses he probably would have had her in bed already but there was something about Mary. He didn’t want to rush things or have a one night stand.
“Night,” She said softly as he headed out the door and down the steps.”
“Night,” Hutch responded. He stopped and turned to look at her, “Hey, you want to have dinner tomorrow night?”
Mary beamed. “I would love to.”
“I’ll pick you up at the same time I showed up tonight, is that okay?”
“Perfect,” Mary said. She watched Hutch get in his car and kept watching until she could no longer see his taillights.

As Mary was turning to go back in the house a voice boomed, “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
She jumped, turning around as she saw Alex coming up the sidewalk. He was a tall rugged looking man, wearing a cowboy hat and boots. “Were you spying on me?”
“I was waiting for your friend to leave.”
“Thought we agreed, no dating yet.” Alex grabbed Mary’s arm and guided her into the house. He shut and locked the door. Mary jerked her arm from his grasp and went into the living room.
Alex tossed his cowboy hat on the coffee table and flopped into an arm chair. “I’m not dating him. Hutch came by to give me his partner’s information from the wreck.”
“Hutch, what kind of name is that,” Alex wanted to know.
“It’s a nickname; his last name is Hutchinson, Ken Hutchinson. He’s a cop.”
Alex just shook his head, “You really know how to pick them don’t ya, Mary.”
“I didn’t pick anybody,” Mary snapped. “I told you that he came by to….”
“Yeah, I heard that already, he sure stayed a long time for somebody just dropping off a phone number.”
“It’s really none of your business.” Mary burned a long look into Alex’s eyes.
“It is my business.” Alex stood and grabbed his hat from the table. “You stay away from him, you hear?”
“Fine,” Mary spat out.
“Look, it’s for your own good and it’s not forever…just for now.”
“Whatever.” Mary didn’t bother getting up, Alex could see himself out.
“Come lock this door.” Alex called from the front porch.
Mary rolled her eyes as she got up from the couch. She locked the screen, “Happy?”
“Close the door and lock it too.”
Mary did and yelled though the door, “Are you happy?”
“No, but this will do for now.”

Hutch was at his desk when Starsky entered the squad room; he grabbed himself a cup of coffee before he joined his partner at their desks. “So what’s up?” Starsky asked interrupting Hutch’s typing.
“Nothing, same old stuff.” Hutch didn’t look up from the typewriter because he knew that Starsky was not referring to what he was doing.
Starsky sighed, “Do you want to do something after work?”
“I have something I need to take care of.”
“You know I don’t mind taking you where ever you need to go.”
“I know, Starsk.” Hutch looked up from his typing; he knew if he didn’t spill, Starsky would needle him all day long. “I have a date alright?”
Starsky mulled that over for a few minutes. He knew that Hutch’s flavor of the month was out of town, suddenly the light came on. “Mary?”
“You were the one that sent me over there aren’t you?” Hutch pulled the paper from the roller and shoved it into a folder. “Even if it was bogus, you had already talked to her.”
Starsky grinned, “Guilty.”
“Why did you do that?” Hutch wanted to know, “It was embarrassing.”
“Must not have been too embarrassing, you have a date. And where were you half the night anyway? I tried calling a bunch of times.” When Hutch didn’t answer, Starsky snapped his fingers, “You were with her weren’t you? Just how long were you over there?”
“Almost eleven.” Hutch mumbled as he got up to get fresh coffee.
“Eleven? You two hit it off,” Starsky slapped the desk. “I knew you would.”
“Okay, you did a good thing, is that what you want to hear?” Hutch admitted.
The phone rang, Starsky grabbed the receiver, “Starsky,” he barked into the phone. “Oh, hi, sure just a minute.” He held out the phone to Hutch who was just sitting down. “It’s Mary.”
Hutch grabbed the phone as a smile spread across his face. “Hi Mary.” He was hoping that she wasn’t calling to cancel their evening.
“I’m sorry to call you at work, Hutch, but I was wondering if we could just meet somewhere for dinner if you don’t mind.” Mary purred into the phone, she felt like a school girl again.
“That would be great.” Hutch said and suggested a place that he knew served all kinds of food so they didn’t have to spend time discussing it.
“I know where that is. See you tonight.” Mary hung up to the phone and smiled to herself. She was not going give up seeing Hutch just because Alex said so; she would just have to be careful and not let him find out.
Starsky sat watching Hutch; he hadn’t seen that look on his partners face in a long time. Only two other times could he think of that he saw that look, first with Vanessa and then Gillian.

Hutch entered the cool dimness of the restaurant he had picked for them to meet at. He looked around the room and quickly spotted Mary, she was wearing a Marine blue dress that accented her strawberry blonde hair that she was wearing down.
Mary moved quickly to where Hutch was standing, she leaned into him and whispered. “What you do say we get out of here and go for a walk?”
He was surprised but nodded and they left the restaurant and stepped out onto the sidewalk, it was a beautiful evening and Hutch guided her to a park nearby. They ended up dining on hot dogs from a sidewalk stand with ice cream cones for dessert. They found a bench close to a pond and watch the ducks and geese swim across the water.
Hutch snuck his arm around her as she tossed what remained of her bun to the ducks. “You are very unique Mary Mason.”
“Why thank you.” Mary moved closer to Hutch and snuggled closer to him. “You are pretty special yourself.”
“I don’t know many girls that would find this a fun evening.”
“Well, I’m not just any girl.” Mary teased.
Hutch leaned over and gently kissed Mary’s lips, she kissed him back hoping that it would never end.


                                                                                   Chapter 3


Hutch pulled up in front of Mary’s house, it had been two days since they had dinner in the park, his work had kept him from seeing her again until now. Starsky had told him that he had a call from Merl that Mary’s car was ready. So Hutch decided he would surprise her by picking her up and taking her to the garage.
Hutch tapped lightly on the door, he was about ready to leave when Mary finally appeared. She almost looked afraid. “What are you doing here?” There was clearly a cold tone in her voice.
“Merl has your car ready and I thought I would take you over.” Hutch explained his presences.
“Oh,” Mary glanced nervously back into the house, she was holding the door in such a way that Hutch couldn’t see inside.
“I’m sorry, this is a bad time.” Hutch began backing off the porch, it was clear to him that she had company. Male company he figured from the large black truck he was parked behind. “I should have called.”
Mary stepped out onto the porch. “Wait, come on in, if you give me just a minute I’ll go with you.”
Hutch looked at her doubtfully but followed her into the house. A man that looked like a cowboy was sitting on her couch and looked startled when Hutch entered the room.
The man’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Mary. “And who do we have here?”
Mary looked from one man to the other. “This is Hutch…Ken Hutchinson, the officer I was telling you about.”
Hutch extended his hand but the cowboy just looked at him. “Mary?” Alex looked at her; he had given her strict instructions to end it with the cop.
“I’m sorry if I’m intruding.” Hutch turned to leave. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“No, you won’t,” Alex stepped toward Hutch; he was a good two inches taller.
“Alex, back off.” Mary grabbed Hutch’s arm. “Hutch, this is my….”
“Brother!” Alex interrupted.
“Brother, my over protective brother,” Mary glared at him. “Hutch is taking me to get my car.”
“I’ll take you,” Alex said grabbing his hat.
“No, Hutch is taking me, back off Alex.” Mary said again as her eyes flashed.
“Listen, buddy,” Alex poked Hutch painfully in the chest. “You bring Mary right back here.”
“ALEX!” Mary got in between the two men and pushed Hutch toward the front door. “I will be back when I get back.” She turned to Hutch, “Let’s go, I’m sure my brother will lock up.”
Once they were in Hutch’s car he let out the breath he was holding. “Your brother is rather intense.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him.” Mary stared out the car window wondering just what she had gotten herself into. She couldn’t understand why Alex was being so unreasonable. She had agreed not to tell Hutch about herself even though she wanted too.
She was still lost in her thoughts when they pulled up to Merl’s dump of a garage. Hutch had let her ride in silence; he was having thoughts of his own and wondering what he might have gotten into. “We’re here.”
Mary snapped to attention and looked around for her car which she didn’t see. “’I’m hoping for no fur.” She joked sounding more like herself.
Hutch jumped out of his car and ran around the back end to open the door for Mary. She got out, closed the car door and leaned on it looking into Hutch’s eyes. “Don’t let Alex rattle you, he is harmless, really.”
Hutch reached up and tucked a stray hair behind Mary’s ear and grinned at her. “You want to get some dinner after we get your car?”
“Only, if we can go back to our favorite dining place.” Mary smiled back. She had loved their dinner of hot dogs and ice cream. Then she said, “I love it when you grin like that, I can see the little boy that you once were.”
Hutch leaned toward her until their foreheads were nearly touching. “And I love looking into your green eyes; I can see what a wonderful woman you are.”
“Oh get a room,” A loud voice called from the other side of the car. Starsky was leaning across the top of the car watching them. “Hi Mary.” He said more softly.
“Hi Starsky, your car ready too?” Mary wanted to know as she moved away from Hutch slightly embarrassed at being caught in such an intimate moment.
“No, I just wanted to make sure you were happy with your car.” Starsky winked at her.
“As long it’s not covered in fur I’ll be happy, I’m sure” Mary grinned at Starsky.
“Fur?” Starsky looked confused. He glanced at Hutch who was smirking. “Hutch, I would never do that to Mary.”
“But you would do it to your best friend, nice.”
“It was a joke!”
Hutch grumbled under his breath, “Some joke.”
Mary stood watching the boys banter back and forth, loving every minute of it. It made her life seem so normal, if they only knew. Merl brought out her keys and handed them to her. Mary thanked him and went to inspect her car.
“What are you two doing?” Starsky wanted to know.
“Getting a little dinner.” Hutch said.
“What are you going to do about Candy?”
“Candy?”
“Yeah your girl friend that you were dating before Mary came along?”
Hutch rolled his eyes; he had all but forgotten about Candy Michaels, they had been dating several months. She was a stewardess and for the past month she had been flying overseas. She was due back at the end of the week. “Oh boy,” he looked toward Mary who was going over her car with Merl.
“Oh boy is right.” Starsky leaned on Hutch’s brown heap. “Candy isn’t going to be too happy to share you.”
Hutch sighed, he only had a few days, he had been planning on breaking it off with Candy when she got back anyway. She had become far too serious for Hutch’s taste and she did nothing but stare into store windows at diamond rings. If he was going to marry anybody, it would be Mary. He startled himself with that thought; it had come to him so easily. He looked over to where Mary was still talking to Merl, and found himself nodding; he could see himself married to her.
“Hutch…Hutch!” Starsky had to finally poke his friend in the ribs to bring him back to earth.
“What?” Hutch asked coming out of his thoughts.
“I was talking to you.”
“Sorry, I was just thinking of Candy, you know I had forgotten about her.” He lied his only thoughts had been of Mary.
“No kidding,” Starsky grinned at Hutch. “You are really head over heels for Mary aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess I am.” Hutch admitted his eyes still hadn’t let her.

The plane landed and the passengers filed thorough the exit gate, Hutch waited, looking for Candy as the planes staff finally began to come into the airport. Hutch spotted Candy; she had her blonde hair up under her cap and her perfectly pressed matching uniform. She carried a suitcase and looked tanned and relaxed as she flashed an award winning smile as soon as she saw her man.
Seeing her for the first time in a month Hutch suddenly realized just how young she looked…how young she was. What was he even doing with her; she was not much more than a child. Candy dropped her suitcase and threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips, one that Hutch did not return, at least not in the way Candy expected. It was more like a friendly peck from a brother.
“What’s wrong?” Candy said stepping back and looked Hutch up and down as if she expected to find something different about him. He was different but nothing she could see on the outside. He was really in love for the first time in a long time.
“What makes you think anything is wrong?” Hutch avoided the question; he didn’t want to break up with her in the airport. He was planning on taking her to dinner in a quiet little Italian place he knew she loved. He had even been totally up front with Mary and told her all about Candy. Mary hadn’t even batted an eye. The only thing she had said was that she wasn’t surprised that he had a girlfriend; he was much too handsome to be alone. This had cause Hutch to blush furiously which had only made her laugh. Hutch had wanted to take her to bed that very moment but until he was free of Candy he wouldn’t do that to Mary.
“Ken, I have known you for a while now and I can tell when something is up so spill.” Candy demanded with her hands on hips and her lower lip poked out which made her look even younger than her twenty-two years.
“Let me take you to dinner.” Hutch leaned over and picked up her suitcase. “Then we can talk.”
“I’m not going to dinner or anywhere else with you until you tell me what is going on.” Candy was very perceptive if she wasn’t much else.
Hutch sighed and looked around for a more private place for them to talk. He jerked his head at her as he headed to a small café within the airport. Nearly all the tables were empty so he picked one in the corner and pulled a chair out for her. Candy sat down staring at him.
“Would you like something to eat? Drink?” Hutch asked trying to delay what he needed to tell her. He didn’t like breaking up with girls and wasn’t that good at it, most of them got tired of his job, Starsky being around all the time, or both long before he needed to make the break himself.
“You are breaking up with me, aren’t you?” There was that perceptiveness again.
Hutch reached across the table and took her hands that she folded in front of her. “Candy, you are really a great girl but…well…I have met somebody and we really hit it off.”
Candy just sat there looking at him. There it was, he was really breaking up with her, she wasn’t surprised even though she had been hoping for a ring. “I knew I shouldn’t have been gone for so long.”
“It didn’t have anything to do with how long you were gone.” Hutch said still clutching her hands. Slowly she pulled them away from his grasp. “I’m really sorry and I didn’t want to tell you here.”
“There is never a good place to break up with somebody,” Tears were now swimming in her eyes. “You know I love you.”
“You will find somebody else. You don’t want to hang around with this old cop.” Hutch tried to smile. “I do care for you but I’m not in love with you, it’s not fair to either of us.”
“Are you in love with her?”
“Actually yes, I think I am we are a good fit.” Hutch said.
Candy looked down; two big tear drops hit the table. “Fine.”
“Is there somewhere I can drop you?” Hutch asked.
“No, let’s just end it here.” Candy got up from the table; she grabbed her suitcase and walked away. Hutch watched her joined her flight crew, one of the pilots whispered in her ear. Candy laughed, looped her arm though the pilot’s as they wandered off.

It was exactly six months from the day they met that Hutch and Mary finally slept together. They had an evening much like the first one they had, lemonade, cookies and homemade bread but when it had came time for Hutch to leave, Mary took his hand and lead him to the second floor of her home to her bedroom. The next morning he awoke first, he lay there watching Mary who was still sleeping, suddenly her eyes opened and she smiled at him.
“Morning,” She stretched lazily.
“Hi,” Hutch kissed her lips. “Good Morning, beautiful.”
“Oh stop,” she blushed.
“Are you up to hanging with Starsky and Steph tonight?”
“You know I love them both.” Mary moved to the edge of the bed and slipped on her robe. Hutch reached out and grabbed her, pulling her back into the bed. “How about some breakfast?”
“Thought that was what I was about to have.” He grinned evilly.
Mary giggled, “Oh you.” She slipped out of his grasp and headed for the bathroom. Hutch jumped out of bed and followed her.
After a breakfast of bacon and eggs they were heading out the front door when Alex stepped on the porch, he shot a disapproving look at Hutch. “I thought we had an appointment this morning Mary.”
Mary closed her eyes sighing. “I’m sorry Alex, I totally forgot.”
“So I see.” Alex looked at his watch noting that it was early in the morning and that the cop had probably spent the night.
“You go ahead with your brother,” Hutch said, “I’ll see you later.” He headed down the stairs after giving her a quick kiss.
“Hutch,” Mary called after him.
“Let him go, we need to talk.”

Hutch pulled up in front of Starsky’s apartment, it took his partner a while before he answered the door. His hair was tousled and it was clear he had just gotten out of bed. “Sorry buddy, did I wake you?”
“What time is it?”
“Nearly nine.” Hutch responded after checking his watch. “I can go if you want.”
Starsky ran his hand through his curly mop. “Naw, come on in.” He opened the door wider so Hutch could enter.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, Steph was over late.” Starsky explained as he flopped on the couch and closed his eyes.”Where have you been?”
“I just came from Mary’s.”
Starsky’s eyes popped open and he sat up. “Did you ahhh, you know.”
“A gentleman never kisses and tells,” Hutch said but the answer was evident on his face.


                                                                                           Chapter 4




Starsky had heard the sirens from the backyard of Mary’s house. He and Stephanie had arrived before Hutch and Mary had gotten back from the store. Mary had told them to just go around back and make themselves comfortable if they arrived before she and Hutch returned. Starsky was arranging charcoal in the grill when the noise caught his attention.
“What’s wrong?” Steph asked as she was setting the picnic table with the items she had brought.
“I don’t know I just got a bad feeling.” Starsky said wiping the black dust from the charcoal on his pants. “You hear the sirens?”
“There are sirens all the time hon,” She said cocking her head to listen.
Starsky sighed, he knew she was right but something just didn’t jive. Hutch and Mary weren’t back yet; the store was only a few blocks from her house. “You stay put; I’m going to go see what is going on.”
“They should be back any minute and we are going to start cooking, you don’t have the coals ready yet.” Steph thought he was being ridiculous.
“I’ll be right back, I’m sure I’ll see them coming down the sidewalk.” Starsky knew they had walked since both of their cars were out front. He set out on a dead run toward the sound of the sirens. It was growing dark, the lights of the emergency vehicles lit up the sky. He kept hoping he would run into the pair but he hadn’t, as he got closer and closer to the store his bad feeling began to grow.
Starsky flashed his badge so they would let him into the store, two ambulance attendants were lifting a limp form on a gurney, blood covered the floor. When Starsky saw that it was Hutch who was being lifted on the gurney his heart stopped, he looked wildly around for Mary as he called to Hutch. “Hutch!”
“Do you know this man?” One of the attendants asked.
“Yes, he is my partner,” Starsky flashed his badge. “We work for the Bay City Police Department. That is Ken Hutchinson. Did you see a woman with him?”
Both of them shook their heads no, he had been lying alone in a pool of blood when they had arrived, the shooters had already left. “Sorry, Detective.”
Starsky spun around calling Mary’s name over and over. “Excuse me,” An older woman got Starsky’s attention. “I saw the gunmen take her.”
“They took Mary?” Starsky asked in a state of shock.
“Well, I guess they took the woman that was with that young man that got shot.” She said, “It didn’t seem like they were interested in anything but her. They didn’t take any money or look at anybody else, just her.”
“Thank you.” Starsky instructed the woman to tell the officer taking information from bystanders what she had just told him. Starsky returned to Hutch’s side, his partner was unconscious but breathing on his own.
“It’s a pretty serious shoulder wound but we think he will be okay.” One of the attendants informed Starsky.
Starsky nodded, “I have to go down the street and get my car, what hospital are you taking him too?” They told him and Starsky dashed back down the street to get Stephanie and his car.


Hutch awoke with a start; his first thoughts were of Mary. They had been in the grocery store checking out when the plate glass window of the store had shattered and masked men came in, one of them shot him. They had only been there picking up a few things. They were going to meet Starsky and his girlfriend back at Mary’s to grill out, something they had been doing for months now. His forehead furrowed as Hutch tried to remember what happened next, he had been in so much pain, there had been at least three men gunmen, maybe four. Panic began to set in as Hutch remembered two of them pulling Mary from him. She pleaded with them not to hurt him that she would go with them.
Hutch was still trying to put together what had happened when movement caught his attention. “Mary? Starsk?”
The face that loomed over his was neither; it was Alex, Mary’s brother. “You need to lay still.”
“Where is Mary?”
“We are looking for her.” Alex said.
“We?”
“Look Hutch, my name is not Alex and I’m not Mary’s brother, I’m a U.S. Marshall.”
“U.S. Marshall?” Hutch echoed.
He nodded, “My name is Barrett Adams and Mary is the witness protection program.”
Hutch’s head was swimming with the information, “What did she do?”
“If you are asking if she is a criminal the answer is no,” Barrett said. “Mary used to be a nurse in a hospital emergency room back in Chicago. She was in a treatment room with a young man who had a gunshot wound, while she was caring for him a man with a sawed off shot gun walked in and blew him away. Why he didn’t take out Mary nobody knows.”
“I take it she was able to identify him?”
“Yes and the gunman turned out to be a hit man and son of the top mob boss in Chicago. She put him away for life, after she testified she was moved here.” Barrett explained.
“If he is in jail then why do they want Mary?” Hutch asked still trying to process this new information.
“Pure and simple revenge, the family is after her. You don’t put away one of their own and live to tell about it.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?” Hutch wanted to know.
“I wouldn’t let her.”
“I could have been watching out for her,” Anger was written on his face. “I would have been on guard.”
“And would you have been ready for gunmen to storm a neighborhood grocery store?” Barrett was now pacing at the end of the bed. He was just as worried about Mary as Hutch was. With everything that had happened made him realize that he had feelings for Mary and that the reason he hadn’t wanted Hutch around was that he was in love with her himself. But he would never have crossed that line.
“I don’t know, I just don’t know,” Hutch said softly as if he were deep in thought, in reality it was the drugs that doctors had put him on for the pain.
“Don’t blame yourself.”
“I don’t blame myself, I blame you,” Hutch’s temper flared but the anger died quickly. “I’m sorry; I know this has to be hard on you. But my partner and I can help, we know this city inside and out, we have contacts, we can find Mary.”
“Nobody else is to know,” Barrett said.
“What difference does it make now? Her identity is blown.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t make a difference and the U.S. Marshall’s office can use all the help you can give.” Barrett relented.
“Help with what?” Starsky had nudged the room door open with his shoulder, he was carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and in the other was a plastic wrapped pastry he had gotten from a vending machine. “Hutch, you’re awake, how are you feeling buddy?” Starsky moved toward the bed. Then he turned to “Alex”, a bit surprised to see him there. “Has Mary been found?” Then back to Hutch, “I put an APB out on her.” Finally Starsky stopped and looked back and forth between the two men. “What’s going on?”
“If you would take a breath Starsk, I would tell you,” Hutch said shifting in the bed. He made a grimace, Starsky was there instantly to help Hutch and rearrange the pillows for him. “Starsky, this is Barrett Adams with the U.S. Marshall’s office.”
“Mary’s brother is a U.S. Marshall?” Starsky looked impressed.
“He is not Mary’s brother; she is in the witness protection program.”
Starsky’s mouth form an “O” but no sound came out. “I’m sorry I kept you and your partner in the dark, but it is my job to make sure that nobody knows who Mary really is, I’m sure you understand.” Barrett said.
Starsky looked at Hutch and he could tell by the look on his partner’s face that he did not understand. How could he, the love of his life had been taken from him. “I want to hear it all.” Starsky demanded.
“We don’t have time,” Hutch sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“And just where do you think you are going?”Starsky asked as he moved to his partner’s side once again.
“I’m getting out of here we need to find Mary.” Hutch said, “You can either help me or get out of my way.” There was no kidding in his voice or his eyes as he looked at Starsky.
Starsky went to the closet, got his partner’s clothes and helped him get dressed as Barrett watched them. He knew he had made a big mistake by not letting Mary at least tell Hutch.


Huggy was tending bar when the two detectives and the Marshall walked in. He rushed over to them asking how Hutch was doing and why he was already out of the hospital. “Did you find Mary?” He asked searching Hutch’s face and getting the answer before anyone could speak. “I’m sorry man.”
“We need to talk to you.” Hutch said.
After finding a back booth, all four men said sat down and the three officers quickly brought Huggy up to speed. The bartender sat dumbfounded, “I don’t know what I can do, I haven’t heard anything about any talent coming in from Chicago.”
“Poke around Hug, see what you can find out,” Starsky said, “Somebody has to know something.”
“Will do my man.” Huggy got up from the table, then he looked at Barrett, “You really a U.S. Marshall?”
“Yes sir,” Barrett gave Huggy a quick salute.
Huggy just shook his head. “Can I get you all anything?”
“Yeah, that information,” Hutch said gingerly sliding out of the booth.
Back out in the car, Starsky said, “Maybe we can find Skinny Pete.”
“Skinny Pete?” Barrett asked from the backseat. “Don’t you people know anybody with a normal name?”
Both detectives looked at each other and grinned. “Skinny Pete is a wanna be gangster. You will see what we mean when you see him.” Hutch offered.
“Man you are cool,” Barrett said leaning over the seat, “If it were my girlfriend missing I would be a basket case.”
“It won’t get us anywhere for me to lose it now,” Hutch said. “And you are pretty cool yourself. You can’t guard somebody as long as you have been guarding Mary and not have a personal interest.” Something flashed across Barrett’s face, Hutch wasn’t sure what it was but he didn’t liked it one bit.
“There!” Starsky yelled as he screeched the car to a halt. He was out and running toward a tall, thin, dirty man whose clothes had seen better days, before either the Marshall or Hutch could react.
“Crap,” Barrette exclaimed as he jumped out of the car to follow Hutch who had gotten out ahead of him.
“PETE!” Starsky called loudly over the buzz of traffic.
Skinny Pete turned to see the three men running toward him, with panic written on his face he dashed toward a nearby alley. But Starsky was right on his heels and faster that the man with ill fitting shoes, the detective reached out and snagged the back of the man’s dirty sweatshirt.
By the time Hutch and Barrett came around the corner into the alley they found Starsky sitting on top of Skinny Pete, the man was squealing like a pig. “I swear, I didn’t do anything.” Pete whined.
“Then why were you running?” Starsky demanded.
“Because you were chasing me.” Pete puffed; Starsky’s weight was making it hard for him to breath.
Hutch pulled his partner off the thin man. “Get up Pete.” Hutch ordered.
“Thanks Hutch, that partner of yours is crazy.” Pete eyed Starsky. Then he caught sight of Barrett, “Who’s that?”
“A friend.” Hutch said but didn’t elaborate. “We are looking for somebody.”
“I don’t know nothing.” Pete said.
“You don’t even know who we are looking for, so how can you know nothing,” Starsky snarled at him. Pete looked at Hutch for help.
“Don’t look at me, I got him off you once, I won’t do it again.” Hutch looked at Pete. “So I suggest you listen real hard to what we have to say.”
Pete nodded.
“You heard about the shooting at that grocery store last night?” Hutch asked. Pete nodded again.
“Gunmen took a woman from the store; they are hired guns from Chicago. Do you know where they might be?”
At the mention of Chicago, Pete’s ears perked up. “Hit men from Chicago.”
“Yes.” Hutch said knowing that would spur Pete’s interest even more.
“Really?” the man was nearly foaming at the mouth.
“Do you know anything?” Starsky grabbed the man by the front of his shirt.
“N-no but I can see what I can find out.”
“You got a couple of hours Pete; if we haven’t heard from you then we come after you again.” Starsky said.
Pete nodded as he backed away from the officers, when he saw they weren’t going to stop him he took off down the alley.
“You trust him?” Barrett asked watching the man disappear down the alley.
“No, and he won’t tell us anything, that is why we are going to follow him.” Hutch said as they hurried back to Starsky’s car. “If he doesn’t already know where they are he will find them, he is better than any bloodhound.”


                                                                                                 Chapter 5
​

Hunger gnawed at Mary’s stomach and her mouth was dry, she wasn’t sure how long she had been lying in the roadside ditch hidden from the passing traffic? Her head was pounding, her hair matted with blood from the bullet that had grazed her forehead. Mary also had a gunshot to left side of her chest she knew if she hadn’t played dead that she most surely would have been. She almost wished that she had been killed that day in the emergency room but then again she would have never had met Hutch. She knew that he was the one that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with but that wasn’t going to happen now, he was probably dead and she would be soon enough.
Mary wondered if Starsky would take the time to look for her. He would probably be so grief stricken over his partner that he wouldn’t bother, but maybe he would want to find Hutch’s killers. But did she want to go on without Hutch in her life anyway? There were so many thoughts swirling around in her head that it was making her dizzy or maybe it was the wound that was making her feel lightheaded.
“Help!” Mary yelled, hoping against hope that maybe somebody would hear her but the cars sped by so fast she knew there was probably no hope of anybody ever hearing her, she would lie there and die or be eaten by some animal. She held her breath to listen for a moment but there was no sound of even a single car slowing down.

The three officers spent the day following Skinny Pete around, he had gone into every dive in the city but it didn’t seem like he was having any luck finding the out of town talent. As he came out of the last place he had a defeated look on his face.
“What’s the matter Pete?” Hutch called out the car window to the man as he ambled down the sidewalk.
Pete jumped as though he had been shot. “Why you following me?”
“We need to know where those hit men are holding that woman.” Hutch said trying to keep his tone even so that he didn’t betray his feelings.
“How would I know?” Pete whined.
“Because you are always trying to ride somebody’s coat tails.” Starsky said leaning across Hutch from the driver’s side. “We need to find this woman now before they kill her.”
“I’m sure she is already dead.” Pete answered, “I think the hit men have already blown town.”
“What?” Hutch threw open the door and jumped out of the car. He grabbed Pete’s sweatshirt and shook him. “What do you mean they have already left town?”
Barrett climbed out of the back of the Torino and stopped Hutch from lifting Pete from the ground. “How do you know this?”
“It’s all over the street,” Pete said pulling away from Hutch and straightening his worn out sweatshirt. “They blew in and blew back out.”
“When?” Starsky demanded, he was also out of the car and had joined them on the sidewalk.
“I-I don’t know,” Pete stammered, “Sometime early this morning I think.”
“Did they have a woman with them?” Hutch fired the question at him.
Pete shook his head, “I don’t know, he didn’t say.”
“’Who didn’t say?” Barrett asked.
“Rolly.”
“Fat Rolly?” Starsky asked, “What does he have to do with this?”
“I don’t know, I just was asking him about the hit men from Chicago and he said he had talked to them and they had already left.
“Who is Fat Rolly?” Barrett questioned.
“He is a two bit fence; I don’t know why he would be talking to hit men.” Hutch said as he glared at Pete.
“Maybe they needed to fence something.” Pete suggested hoping that if he helped they would let him go. He knew they didn’t have anything to hold him on but that wouldn‘t stop them from at least arresting him.
“Could be they were trying to fence something of Mary’s.” Hutch said.
“But why, I’m sure they don’t need the money.” Starsky asked.
“I don’t know but I’m sure as hell going to find out.” Hutch said. Then he turned to Pete, “You keep it clean or I’ll be back, there is nothing more I would like than to put you in jail.”
“Hey, what did I do?” Pete wanted to know but they were already screeching away from the curb.

Hutch turned and looked into the back seat. “Do you think they would take Mary with them? Or-or…” he couldn’t even say it.
“I don’t know. It’s dangerous to transport her but then again when somebody has revenge on their minds they aren’t always thinking straight, they might be taking her back to Chicago to face the boss.” Barrett said
“What is the big deal about one hit man, they are a dime dozen.” Starsky commented.
“This hit man is a big deal; it’s the boss’ son.” Barrett explained.
“But wouldn’t he be in line for his father’s job?” Hutch asked.
Barrett shrugged, “I don’t understand the ins and outs of all the mob action my only job is to make sure the witnesses are protected.”
Hutch wanted to say that Barrett hadn’t done a very good job but he didn’t, he knew the man was also hurting. “Here we are,” Hutch said as they pulled up to a dirty storefront in a seedy part of town. The words ‘PAWN SHOP’ were stenciled on the plate-glass window and they could see Rolly behind the counter.
The three men moved toward the front door, Hutch pushed the door open and a bell rang to signal a customer. Rolly looked up, the blood rushed from his face and he started moving toward the back.
“Hold it right there!” Starsky commanded.
“I didn’t do anything.” Rolly whined.
“Did we say you did?” Hutch said. “We just need some information.”
“I haven’t taken in hot merchandise in a couple of years.”
“That is not what we are here for,” Hutch said as he reached over the counter and grabbed Rolly by the shirt, the fat man was now sweating profusely.
“Boy, for somebody that didn’t do anything you sure look nervous.” Starsky commented as he leaned on the counter with his back toward Rolly.
“You guys just make me nervous,” Rolly stammered. “Who’s that?” The big man eyed the Marshall.
“He’s a U.S. Marshall,” Hutch growled, “So I suggest you start talking.”
“’Bout what?” Rolly whined as he tried to pull away from Hutch’s grasp but Hutch wasn’t letting him go anywhere, not that the man could out run them.
Starsky turned and reached out to pat Rolly on his cheek, “Rolly, Rolly, you talked to Skinny Pete; we just want you to talk to us now.”
“Skinny Pete?” Rolly was totally confused. He thought for a moment. Pete had been in early that morning trying to pawn a pair of cheap sunglasses he had probably picked up off the street.
Barrett sighed as he looked at the man sweating like a pig. “He said that the hit men from Chicago were in here.”
“Hit men?” Rolly licked his lips.
“Did they pawn anything?” Hutch wanted to know as he pulled Rolly further over the counter.
Rolly shook his head no.
“Then what did they want?” Starsky asked.
Rolly licked his lips again nervously, “A car.”
“A car?” Hutch tightened his grip on the fat man. “Why did they come to you for a car?”
“I don’t know, I guess somebody told them I could get them one without questions.” Rolly’s face was turning red.
“Where were they headed?” Barrett asked, he was growing tired of the man.
“How should I know?” Rolly snapped he knew he had made a mistake even before Hutch nearly jerked him over the glass counter.
“Rolly, if you want to live to fence another day you had better quit stalling and tell us what we want to know. Or we are going to take you downtown and you won’t see the light of day for a long time.” Hutch threatened.
“On what charges?”
“We will make something up.” Starsky grinned an evil grin at the man.
“They were driving back to Chicago. I guess they are going to snuff the bitch on the way.” Rolly finally gave it up; he knew that Starsky and Hutch would do whatever they could to see him sent away if he didn’t tell.
“But why you? You don’t do cars!” Starsky wanted to know.
“I swear to God I don’t know, they just came in said they needed a car. I had one waiting, I got a phone call the day before.”
“Who called?” Barrett stepped forward again.
“Marcello,” Rolly whispered.
“Who?” Barrett asked leaning toward the sweating man.
“Mr. Marcello.”
“Frank Marcello, the mob boss.” Barrett looked incredulous. “Why would he be calling a two bit fence like you?”
Rolly shrugged his shoulders, “His ma and my ma were tight back in the old neighborhood, what can I say.”
Starsky and Hutch looked at each other then at Rolly, “You lived in Chicago?”
“My dad moved us out here when I was little,” Rolly explained. “I guess ma kept in contact with Mrs. Marcello.”
“What kind of car?” Barrett asked.
“I don’t know some beat up piece of crap; they wanted something that would fly under the radar.”
“Make!” Barrett yelled in the man’s face.
“It was a Ford, dark gray, and before you ask I don’t know the license plate numbers, I was instructed to have several different plates, they took them all so I wouldn’t know what plate they put on the car.”

As they were getting back into the car Barrett said “I’ll get the team in Chicago on it.”
Starsky sat silent behind the wheel staring out the windshield. Finally he said, “They dumped her. They aren’t going to chance driving all the way back to Chicago with a woman in the car; they have to know that there will be an APB out on her.”
“You are probably right.” Barrett said, “They might drive to the next city, dump her body and then catch a flight back home.”
“If you are right it’s going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.” Hutch said, “We have no idea which way they took out of town.”
“Why don’t we get a little sleep, I need to call my people.” Barrett suggested. He was beyond tired; he hadn’t slept since Mary had been taken. “You need some rest Hutch.”
Starsky nodded, “We can go back to my place if you want order a little something to eat.”
“Sure,” Hutch sounded defeated. They needed to regroup, figure out a strategy for finding Mary. He racked his brain trying to think of who they could talk to that might know something.

Starsky put Hutch in his room; his partner was asleep before he could pull the sheet up over him. Starsky joined Barrett in the living room; Barrett was just hanging up the phone. “Well the boys are back in Chicago and there wasn’t a woman with them.”
“Where the hell did they dump Mary, it‘s obvious that they didn‘t drive back!” Starsky stormed, he glanced toward the bedroom hoping he hadn’t awakened his partner. In a softer voice, he asked, “Now what?”
“Hey, this is your town, as Hutch told me you know it inside and out, you have contacts.” Barrett looked angry. “Doesn’t seem like a wanna to be mobster and a two bit fence are much in the way of contacts.”
Starsky threw the Marshall a furious look, “You should know it’s not that easy!”
“They definitely flew out of somewhere to get back to Chicago that quickly,” Barrett said as he paced the room. “I can get some pictures of the hit squad; maybe somebody at the airports can identify them.”
“That is going to take some time.” Starsky looked at his closed bedroom door. He felt bad for his partner, he was pretty sure that Mary was dead. “I don’t think we have that kind of time.”
Barrett moved to stand in front of the officer and said in a low voice. “You know that Mary is dead.”
Starsky nodded but he still wanted to hold out hope that maybe some how she was still alive. “This is going to destroy Hutch.” Barrett turned away from Starsky so that he couldn’t see the pained look on his face. Starsky put his hand on his shoulder, “I know this has to be difficult for you too.”
Barrett shrugged, “She was a job.” But the tone of his voice told Starsky differently.



                                                                             Chapter 6


As it grew dark Mary began to lose hope that anybody would find her. She needed her white knight to ride in and pick her up from the dirt but she was sure that her knight was dead; there had been so much blood when Hutch went down. The men had pulled her away so fast she hadn’t really had time to see how badly he was hurt. Her pain was starting to subside and she knew that was bad, when you stopped feeling, you were dying; she had seen it too many times in the emergency room. At least she had been able to testify and put Frank Marcello’s rotten son Frankie Jr. in prison for the rest of his life. Killing her changed nothing, it was pure revenge. She knew that she needed to get out of the ditch she was in and up on the road so somebody could spot her but she hadn’t been able to do so although she had tried many times.
Mary drifted into unconsciousness, her last thought being of the man that she had hoped to have a life with. The next thing she remembered were voices and somebody nudging her foot.
“Do you think she is alive?” a voice whispered
“Stop touching her,” a second voice responded.
“What are you boys doing?” A third voice said loudly.
“Nothing, mom.”
“Walk Sam around so he will go to the bathroom and we can get on the road.”
Mary felt a hot breath on her face near her ear, she cracked open her eyes to see a dog which she assumed was Sam looking at her. It was just beginning to get light, “Help me.” Mary croaked.
“Mom…..MOM.”
“What is it Doug, we have got to get going.” Emma Cahill sighed, she was tired, and they were heading to Las Vegas to meet up with her husband who was a dealer at one of the casinos there. They had left long before daylight so that they could make Vegas for breakfast.
“Mom you need to come here,” the boy’s voice was getting a bit frantic. Doug looked at his little brother Tim, “Make mom come over here.”
“Why don’t you just tell her?” Tim wanted to know.
“Just go get her.”
Tim kicked a rock sending a cloud of desert dust into the air. He drug his feet back to the car, his mom was leaning on the driver’s side door smoking a cigarette even though she had quit weeks ago. “Mom?”
Emma looked down at her youngest son and quickly tossed what was left of her cigarette into the growing light. “Where’s Doug?”
“With the lady.” Tim said looking nervously back over his shoulder. “She looks hurt pretty bad.”
“Lady? What lady?” Emma came to attention now.
“The lady, she’s bleeding.” Tim started to walk back in the direction where his brother was standing with the dog.
“Tim, get in the car.” Emma ordered as she held open the back door.
“AWWW,” The nine year old boy whined reluctantly climbing into the car.
Emma, after making sure her son was safely in the car, gave him a stern look that he knew meant that he had better not get out, made her way to where fourteen old Doug was standing. Emma sucked in her breath when she saw the woman covered with blood lying in the dirt. She quickly stripped off the jacket she was wearing and knelt next to the woman to cover her up. “Doug, get Sam back in the car.”
Doug moved a few feet away but then stood and watched his mother as she began talking to the woman. “What’s your name?”
“Mary.”
“I’m Emma, what happened?”
“I was shot and left for dead.” Mary managed to get out. She was so relieved that she had been found.
Emma got to her feet and looked around fearful that whoever shot Mary might still be lurking around. That was when she spotted her older son. “I told you to go get in the car.”
“But mom…..”
“But nothing, go sit with your brother and lock the doors.”
“Don’t worry they are long gone.” Mary tried to assure her, fearful that the woman might leave.
“Do you think you can walk?” Emma said crouching next to her again.
“I don’t think so.” Mary tried to move but winced in pain.
“Hold on, I’ll back the car up, maybe I can get you into the car.” Emma ran back to her car, she was surprised that Doug had actually listened to her. He was sitting in the back seat with his brother and the dog. “Boy’s, get in the front and take Sam with you.” As the boy’s moved, Emma opened the trunk and pulled out a blanket that they used to picnic on, she laid it in the back seat then hopped in the front seat and carefully backed up the car, getting as close to Mary as she could.
Mary gave her new friend a weak smile. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
Emma waved away the woman’s thanks. “Doug,” She called out. “Help me get Mary into the back seat.”
Doug eagerly got out and came to where the two women where. “Hi,” He said as looked down at Mary.
“Hi,” Mary said back. She wasn’t sure that she could be much help getting herself into the car. She had lost a lot of blood and was pretty weak.
“Be gentle Doug,” Emma instructed as she grabbed Mary under the arms. Mary cried out and Emma stopped, she noticed the blood coming from the wound in her chest. “This isn’t going to work,” She said more to herself than to her son or Mary.
“Just do it,” Mary said, “There is no other way.”
Emma looked doubtful but knew that Mary was right, if she were a man she could just scoop her up. Doug was tall but on the thin side and wouldn’t be able to lift Mary alone. “Are you ready?” Mary took a deep breath and nodded. “Doug you grab her legs.”
After getting Mary into the car Emma had a decision to make, go back to Los Angeles or on to Las Vegas.

It was early morning when the phone rang in Starsky’s apartment; he grumbled and reached for the phone nearly falling off the couch. Barrett who had made a bed on the floor with a blanket and a pillow sat up and looked at the ringing phone. “Yeah,” Starsky said into the phone.
“Starsky, Mary has been found.” Dobey said on the other end of line. “I got a call from the LVPD just a few minutes ago. A woman and her two sons brought her into North Vista Hospital.”
Starsky was now fully awake. “How is she?”
“Mary was rushed into surgery.” Dobey answered. “At least she is alive.”
“Okay we are heading out,” Starsky said and slammed the phone down.
Barrett looked at Starsky hopefully.
“Mary is in surgery that is all I know. She is in North Vista Hospital in Vegas.” Starsky jumped to his feet and went to his bedroom door. He eased the door open; Hutch was sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing his shoulder. He had a bit of blood on his shirt that had seeped through the bandage.
“Did I hear the phone ring?”
Starsky nodded, “Let me look at your shoulder.” Surprisingly Hutch complied and allowed his partner to peel back his blood spotted shirt, then the bandage itself. “Looks like you might have pulled a stitch.” Starsky commented as he got up and went into the bathroom. He returned with a clean bandage which he taped into place. He deliberately didn’t tell Hutch about Mary for he knew that Hutch would never sit still. “You need to get back to the doctor and have that looked at.”
“Who was on the phone?” Hutch asked ignoring Starsky as he pulled his shirt back on. The last place he wanted to be in was a doctor’s office cooling his heels while Mary was missing.
“Mary has been found.” Starsky finally told his partner.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hutch said jumping up. Starsky just hiked his eyebrows and looked at Hutch’s shoulder. “Okay, okay I get it. Where is she? Is she alive?”
“Mary is alive; she is in surgery in Vegas.” Starsky told Hutch.
“What are we waiting for?” Hutch grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair.

A little over four hours later the three officers arrived in Las Vegas. Hutch dashed into the emergency room ahead of Starsky and Barrett. “I’m looking for Mary Mason; she would have been brought in several hours ago.”
The nurse looked at a sheet of paper on a clipboard in front of her. “Yes, she is here, came out of surgery about thirty minutes ago.”
“How is she?”
“I’m sorry sir but I don’t have that information, you will have to speak to her doctor,” the nurse informed him. “Are you family?”
Without hesitation Hutch answered, “Yes, she is my fiancée.”
Both Starsky and Barrett who were standing directly behind Hutch looked shocked. All Hutch would have had to tell the woman was that they were the police. The nurse nodded, “Well if you gentlemen will have a seat in the waiting room I’ll tell the doctor you are here.”
When they entered the waiting room a woman and two boys, who were arguing over the same magazine, were already there. Before Hutch could sit down the woman got up and approached him. “Are you Ken Hutchinson?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Emma Cahill, my son’s found Mary.” Emma extended her hand toward the detective. “She talked about you all the way to the hospital. I knew it was you as soon as you stepped into the room.” She gave him a warm smiled.
Hutch grasped her hand, “Thank you Emma and your boys.”
This got the boy’s attention and they stopped fighting long enough to come over to meet the tall blond man. “This is Doug and Tim. Boys, this is who Mary was talking about, Mr. Hutchinson.”
Doug put his hand out, “Nice to meet you Mr. Hutchinson.”
“Nice to meet you too Doug, please call me Hutch.” He then turned his attention to the younger boy. “Hi Tim, I want to thank you both for finding Mary.”
“Did they tell you anything?” Emma inquired.
Hutch shook his head, “The doctor should be here soon.”
“I sure hope she is going to be okay.” Emma put her arms around her boys. “Now that you are here we should be going. I just wanted to wait until you arrived, I promised Mary.”
“I don’t even know how to begin to thank you,” Hutch said as he impulsively hugged Emma.
“You are welcome.” Emma said, she reached in her purse and pulled out a scrap of paper. “This is my phone number please let me know how she is doing.”
“Will do and thank you again.”
The three men took seats and began the process of waiting. They only had to wait thirty or so minutes before a man in a white coat poked his head into the room, “I’m looking for the family of Mary Mason.”
Hutch jumped to his feet, “She’s my fiancée.”
There was that word again; Starsky and Barrett looked at each other. They joined Hutch to hear what the doctor had to say.
“Ah, Mr. Hutchinson, the white night.” the doctor smiled. Hutch looked at him puzzled, “Mary was pretty out of it by the time she got to the hospital but she kept saying you were her white knight.”
Hutch smiled. “It’s actually Detective Hutchinson, and this is my partner Dave Starsky and U.S. Marshall Barrett Adams.”
“Gentleman.” The doctor nodded at them. “I’m Dr. Rosenburg, I operated on Mary, I removed a bullet from her chest, she was very lucky it was a through and through and didn’t hit anything vital. She had a grazing bullet wound to her head. She has lost a lot of blood, there is some infection setting in from the chest wound but I have put Mary on some heavy duty antibiotics. She was also pretty dehydrated so we have her on IV’s to replace her fluids. Considering what she has been through she is in pretty good shape.”
“Thank you Dr.” Barrett said pumping his hand. “I’m going to put a 24 hour guard on her door until she is released; I hope that won’t be a problem.”
“Of course, not.” The doctor looked concerned and puzzled.
“She was in witness protection, but they found her somehow,” Barrett offered.
“I see, I will notify the staff so they won’t be alarmed.”
“Can I see Mary?” Hutch wanted to know.
“She is still in recovery and it will probably be several hours before she will be conscious.” Dr. Rosenburg said, then he frowned. “Are you hurt detective?” Blood was seeping through Hutch’s jacket.
“Shot by the same men.” Hutch said lifting his jacket to look at his blood soaked shirt.
“Why don’t you come in the exam room and let me look at that.” the doctor offered.
“He has pulled some stitches,” Starsky offered.
“You need to get that taken care of before I have to check you into the hospital.” Dr. Rosenburg said leading the partners out of the waiting room.
“I’m going to go make a call and get the protection detail set up. I’m sure it won’t be long before they realize they didn’t get the job done.” Barrett headed down the hall to find a phone.



                                                                              Chapter 7


By the time Hutch got patched up and made his way to Mary’s room a U.S. Marshall was standing in front of her door. Hutch showed the man his badge, “Where is Marshall Adams?”
“He is in debriefing.” the Marshall answered. “Miss Mason is not in there yet.”
“Must still be in recovery.”
The man nodded, “Another Marshall is standing guard there.”
“Thank you,” Hutch pushed open the door and surveyed the room, it was bright and cheery, he knew Mary was going to like it. Starsky had offered to touch bases with Dobey at the station allowing Hutch to remain at the hospital. Hutch got a chair in the corner and pulled it close to the bed, he wanted to be the first thing she saw when she got to the room.
It was nearly an hour before two orderlies wheeled Mary’s bed into the room, Hutch had been dozing but jumped up as soon as the door opened. Mary had her eyes closed, her head was wrapped in a white bandage and her face was very pale. Hutch stood by patiently while they got Mary settled into her bed, a nurse scurried in to make sure that all her IV’s were running properly.
After everyone had left Hutch moved to Mary’s bedside, he gently took her hand, “Mary,” his voice was barely above a whisper.
Mary’s eyes open and she stared in to Hutch’s face; she reached up and touched him. “Are you real? You aren’t dead?”
Hutch smiled at her, “It takes more than a bunch of hit men to get rid of me.”
“I thought they had killed you,” Tears streamed from Mary’s eyes. “I’m so sorry I got you involved in all this. It wasn’t fair; I knew that somebody was probably after me. I should have listened to Alex.”
“You mean Barrett?” Hutch couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“He told you everything.” It was a statement not a question.
“Yes, he kind of had to after I was shot and you were taken.”
“I can’t believe I let him talk me into not telling you everything,” Mary cried. “You must hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, how could I?” Hutch kissed her forehead. “Marry me.”
“What?” Mary’s eyes widen.
“Marry me,” Hutch gave her a broad smile. “You can’t make me a liar; I have been telling everybody you were my fiancée.”
“Really?” Mary beamed through her tears. “Well I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“So is that a yes?”
Mary nodded, “YES!”
Hutch gently hugged Mary, “As soon as you get out of here we will get married.”
Barrett clearing his throat interrupted them. “Al….Barrett,” Mary held her hand out to him. “I thought I would never hear you yell at me again.” She joked.
Taking her hand he gave her an small smile, he was getting ready to burst her bubble again. “Hi ya, Sarah.”
It had been a long time since she had heard her real name, and it sounded strange to her. “I’ll think I’ll stick with Mary.” Then she looked at Hutch. “That is if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t care what you call yourself, it won’t change the way I feel about you.” Hutch looked at Barrett; he didn’t like what was written on his face.
“Alright then… Mary, you are going to have to go back into witness protection.” Barrett said, his eyes searching her face for a reaction.
“Okay.” Mary shrugged as she tighten her grip on Hutch’s hand as well as Barrett‘s.
It was clear she didn’t understanding, but Hutch knew exactly what Barrett was saying. “I don’t think you understand what Barrett is trying to tell you.”
Mary looked from Hutch to Barrett. “Then tell me.”
Barrett turned loose of her hand and pulled up a chair. “Mary you are going to have to relocate, change your name, start over. You will be assigned to another Marshall.”
Mary’s mouth fell open, as her eyes filled with tears. “You’re telling me I have to leave Hutch? You can’t ask me to do that again. I already lost all my family, my friends, my home. You can’t ask me to do this a second time. I’m finally happy again.”
“Mary you won’t be safe. I have a feeling that Frank Marcello will never stop.” Barrett looked at Hutch hoping that he would help him convince her. But Hutch was strangely quite in his own shock.
“I don’t care!”
There was a knock on the door and Starsky poked his head in. “There’s our girl.” He grinned at her but his grin faded when he saw the look on everybody’s faces. “What’s going on?”
“I have to go back into witness protection.” Mary looked at Starsky for help.
Starsky’s brow furrowed and he glanced at Hutch’s devastated face. “Why can’t you just stay here with Hutch…with us?”
“Starsky you know that those hit men will never stop. You would be looking over your shoulder all the time. If they want her and they do, they will eventually get her.” Barrett said hating himself for having to do this to Mary again.
“What if I refuse?” Mary wanted to know. “I’ll just take my chances because I would rather be dead than to lose everything again.”
“You can’t do that!” Barrett told her.
“Why not? You have gotten what you need from me, that little bastard is in jail.”
“Because it’s my job to keep you safe.”
“But you won’t even be on my case, you just said so yourself.”
“I will know you are safe.”
“I can go with you.” Hutch said impulsively. “That’s possible isn’t it Barrett? Especially if we are married?”
“Yes, we allow people to go into the program with spouses, other reasons too.” Barrett said, “You do realize what you will be giving up don’t you? Your job, friends, everything, just like Mary.”
“Hutch.” Starsky said as worry crossed his face.
“I can’t let you do that Hutch.” Mary said. “I know what it’s like; you would never be able to have contact with anybody again…not even Starsky.”
“But we could be together.” Hutch insisted.
“I can’t ask you do that.”
“You aren’t asking.”
“It would be easier if I just got out of the program.” Mary said.
“And you will be dead; they nearly killed you this time. Next time you won’t be so lucky.” Barrett said.
“Barrett you get that paper work started, how long do I have to wrap up my life here?” Hutch asked avoiding Starsky’s forlorn stare and the tears in Mary‘s eyes.
“The doc said she will be able to be moved in three days.” Barrett answered, “Since we don’t know how Frank Marcello’s men found Mary we need to get her back in the program as quickly as possible.”
Hutch nodded, he bent over and kissed Mary, “I’ll be back in a little while I need to get the ball rolling.” Mary tried to protest but Hutch just kissed her again and walked out the door.
“Starsky,” Mary could see the pain on his face, “Go after him, talk some sense into him.”
Hutch was waiting on the elevator when Starsky caught up with him. “Don’t try to talk me out of this.”
To Hutch’s surprised Starsky shook his head, “I’m here to help you with whatever needs to be done. I should have gone with Rosie, she was the love of my life and I just let her leave.”
“You are a good friend Starsky, I’ll miss you.” Hutch as he clapped his friend on the back.
“Yeah.” Starsky said sadly but he wanted Hutch to be happy.

Three days later Barrett Adams was sitting talking to Mary when there was a knock on the door. A blonde headed woman poked her head in, Barrett got to his feet, “Come in Marshall.”
The woman came in followed by a dark headed man, “Marshall Adams,” She said “I’m Mary Shannon and this is Marshall Mann, we will be escorting Mary to her new placement.”
Barrett shook hands with them, then turned to Mary, “Well hon, I guess this is it. They will take it from here. It’s been nice getting to know you.”
Mary held out her hand, Barrett grabbed it, tears stood in her eyes she pulled him toward her so that she could kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you Barrett, for everything.”
“I’m sorry the way this has turned out.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Barrett gave her hand a last squeeze and left the room.
The two Marshalls, pulled up chairs, “First off let’s give you your new name so we aren’t confused.” Mary opened up a file folder she was holding. “I’m sure you know the drill since you have already been though this once. You will be Anna Potter, at least for a little while.”
Mary, now Anna, looked quizzically at the two Marshall’s. Marshall Mann explained. “Once we have you placed we will do a risk assessment, if we aren’t comfortable then you will be moved again and given another identity.”
“Any questions?” Mary asked.
Mary/Anna shook her head no, like they said she had been though the drill before.
“You ready?” Marshall asked.
“Yes,” Mary/Anna said. “I have a few things in the closet. Hutch had gone to the house she had loved so much and packed her a bag making sure there were no pictures or anything that could connect her old life with her new life.

It was nearly four when Hutch and Starsky entered the hospital, the Marshall’s were scheduled to pick them up at 4. Starsky had promised to finish cleaning out Hutch’s apartment and make things right with his landlord. Hutch had left his friend money to pay the last of his bills and they had said their goodbyes the night before. Now all that was left was for him to start his new life with Mary. He wondered what their new names would be; they planned on getting married as soon as they possibly could.
Hutch pushed open the door to Mary’s room, the bed was empty only Barrett was in the room. Hutch looked around. “Where is Mary?”
Barrett got to his feet, “Hutch, Mary is gone, she left this morning.”
“What!”
“She couldn’t let you leave your life.” Barrett said, “Don’t think she doesn’t love you, she does, that is why she did this.”
“Tell me where she is?” Hutch grabbed Barrett by the collar.
Barrett shook his head, his eyes were sad because he would never see her again either. “I don’t know. Once a witness leaves my custody my job with them is over and for safety reasons I don’t know where the witness is taken.”
“JOB? WITNESS? Is that all Mary is to you?”
“Hutch, it’s not Barrett’s fault.” Starsky reached up to pry Hutch’s grip from the Marshall’s shirt.
“He…he could have given me a heads up.” Hutch said dropping his hands but not backing away from the man.
“Hutch I didn’t know! I was just as surprised as you are when the Marshall’s came in early this morning.”
“Yeah, early this morning, why didn’t you call and tell me she was gone?” Hutch stormed.
Barrett shook his head, “You want to hit me? Will that make you feel better? I think at this point it would make me feel better, so go ahead and hit me.”
Hutch sighed and stepped away from Barrett and collapsed into a chair, “I just don’t understand, we had plans.”
Starsky put his hand on his partners shoulder. “Is there any way that Hutch can make contact with Mary?”
“Sure you can give me a message and I can send it through our office.” Barrett said, “It’s usually only for emergencies, like a death in the family, stuff like that. But if you want to send her a letter I’ll make sure she gets it, you probably won’t hear back though. It’s too dangerous to keep contact like that and I’m starting to wonder if maybe there is a leak some place. , we still haven’t figure out how they found Mary.”
“That isn’t even her name anymore is it?”
Barrett shook his head no. “It’s been changed already, before they even left this room Mary died and her new identity was born. Hutch got up from the chair and without saying anything he left the room.

Several hours later Hutch sat in his car in front of Mary’s home, they had decided this is where they would have lived; they both loved the house with its sweeping front porch and big back yard. He fingered the key that was still in his pocket, he hadn’t had the chance to give it back to her. Mary’s car was still sitting in the driveway and Hutch had to wonder what would happened to the house, its contents and to the car. Would they just move another protected witness into her life?
He slowly got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to the front porch, he stood there for a few minutes drinking in the smell of the flowers that were blooming in pots. Then he entered the house and began going through it room by room. He collected a few picture frames with the two of them together and some other odds and ends that reminded him of the woman he loved so deeply. He wandered in to the kitchen; there was still a loaf of fresh made bread sitting wrapped in plastic on the butcher block table. Mary was always making bread, it was going to be for their BBQ that they never got to have. Everything was as Mary had left it, he expected to see her come in the back door any minute, it was almost as if she had died. He hung his head as he thought of the first time he had been in the kitchen with her, he didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Hutch grabbed the bread before he headed out of the kitchen, the stairs to the second floor beckoned him, he put down the things he was carrying on a small table next to the front door and climbed the stairs. He stood in the doorway of Mary’s bedroom, the bed was neatly made, a sweater was hung over the back of one of the chairs in the room. It was the one she always wore if the evenings were cool. Hutch moved forward taking the sweater; he held it up to his nose taking in the smell of her perfume. He was about to leave the room when a folded piece of paper caught his attention on the bedside table. Hutch sat down on the edge of the bed as he picked up the paper, he unfolded it slowly, in Mary’s flowery hand writing he read:

Dearest Hutch,
I’m not going to try and explain why I’m doing this; I think we both know that you would not be happy for long if you had to leave your partner, job and city you love so much. I will always remember you and the times we had and how much you loved me. Don’t forget how much I loved you too. I will never forget our little romance. -Mary

Hutch sat for a long time reading the note over and over. He wanted to be mad at her for making the decision for him but he couldn’t, he wasn’t sure if she was right or not but Mary had always been very in tuned to what he was thinking and feeling that was what had made their relationship so special. He hadn’t even realized it was growing dark until he heard the screen slam on the front door. His first thought was that Mary had changed her mind.
“Hutch, are you here?” Starsky called, he knew his partner had to be there some place since his car was out front. He noticed the pile of items on the table next to the door; Starsky glanced into the living room, then headed toward the kitchen. He knew that Hutch’s favorite place was the back yard.
Hutch made his way downstairs; he was still holding the letter. “I’m here,” Hutch called from the backdoor, Starsky was standing looking around the yard, Hutch stepped out to join him.
“What have you got there?” Starsky wanted to know.
“A letter from Mary. It was on her bedside table. Barrett knew more than he was letting on,” Hutch was still angry with him.
“Maybe he found it after Mary was gone, left it here knowing that you would come here one last time.” Starsky wanted to give the Marshall the benefit of the doubt.
Shrugging Hutch said, “You know, he was in love with her too.”
“That was pretty obvious.” Starsky answered.
“Do you think Mary knew?”
Starsky shook his head, “She only had eyes for you partner.”
Hutch carefully folded the letter and put it in his pocket. “Let’s get out of here.”

It had been nearly six months since Mary had gone back into witness protection, the pain of losing her dulled a little bit each day for Hutch but he still pulled her letter out and read it from time to time. Her sweater hung in his closet, something that Starsky thought wasn’t very healthy for his partner but he kept his thoughts to himself. He knew when Hutch was ready to let go he would.
Secretly Hutch always held out hope that maybe Mary would come back to him, after all, she wasn’t dead just someplace else. Anytime he was in a crowd of people he would scan for Mary’s face knowing that her hair could be different these days, he never saw her, he knew that she was in a different city with a different name. It was horrible that doing the right thing could ruin your life.
Hutch was so deep in thought about Mary that he didn’t see what Starsky had tossed in front of him on the desk.
“You might want to look at that,” Starsky suggested.
Hutch looked up at Starsky then at what was laying on the desk in front of him. It was a postcard, Hutch didn’t pay much attention to the picture, what captured him was the familiar flowery writing on the back. All it said was, “Our Little Romance” Hutch flipped the card over to study the picture but it was of a landscape that could have been anywhere. Turning it back over to her handwriting he squinted looking at the post mark, it read Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hutch looked up at Starsky as a smile spread over his face. Starsky wanted to tell him not to even think about it, it could be dangerous for both Hutch and Mary but he couldn’t get the words out. He knew that if Hutch decided to go and look for Mary in Albuquerque that he would be right there next to him.


THE END