Smoky Mountain Terror
                                                                                     By
                                                                                                Tooki

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                                                                                          CHAPTER ONE

CAPTAIN Harold Dobey sat at his desk, a steaming cup coffee along with a glazed donut sat on his right, a huge pile of folders on his left. Dobey was plump black man in his late forties. He had short curly hair, a black mustache and black eyes that flashed when his detectives gave him trouble.
He rarely smiled and usually growled his orders. But everyone knew his bark was worse than his bite, unless he was pushed too far. Dobey cared a great deal about his detectives and realized every time he sent one out into the streets they could be killed. It was an awesome responsibility and one he took seriously.
Dobey took the top folder from the stack, he opened it, took a bite of donut and a sip of coffee. Just as he was about to start reading the phone rang. The Captain grunted and grabbed the receiver, "Dobey," he growled into the phone.
"This is Detective Lee Marburg from the S.F.P.D.," said the voice.
"Lee, how are things there?" Dobey ask smiling slightly. Detective Marburg had helped them out more than once.
Lee Marburg was a six foot three, tan, blue eyed, blond haired stud. He looked more like a beach bum than a cop. The woman flocked around him and laughed when he told them what he did for a living. "Not to good Captain, I need to talk to Susan," he said in a serious tone.
"Sorry she's on vacation, won't be back for a couple more days," Dobey told the detective.
"What about Hutch or Starsky?"
"Hutchinson is in the Smokey's with Carlston," the captain informed him, "And I'm not sure where Starsky went."
"Smokeys?"
"Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg Tennessee."
"Oh," Lee said grimly. "We have a big problem, Mel Roffman broke out of prison last night. I believe he may go after Susan again."
Dobey yelled, "What! How the hell could that happen?"
"We really aren't sure yet," Lee said studying a report that lay before him on Roffman's escape. "When the prison had body count this morning he was gone."
Dobey got up from his desk and began to pace, "I'm going to order a guard for Carlston's and Hutchinson's town house. Their two-year-old daughter Jesse and her nanny are there. I'll see if I can track down Starsky too."
Lee nodded into the phone, "I think that is a real good idea Captain. Roffman has contacts all over the world. If he wants Susan he probably already knows where she is."
"You seem certain Roffman is going after Carlston," Dobey said, the reports, coffee and donuts long forgotten.
"Yes I am," Lee stated without hesitation. "She is the reason he was in jail. Look how much trouble he went to last time he went after her. Kidnapping you and Starsky to lure her to San Francisco. He tried to get Hutch too, no one is safe with Roffman on the loose. You keep an eye on your family too, Captain. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants."
"I'll take care of everything," Dobey assured him, "Keep in touch."
"Don't worry I will," Lee said. "Hey, if you need me, you call."
"Sure thing," Dobey hung up the phone. He sat down at his desk. Sighing the captain rubbed his hands over his face. There was a light tap on is office door, "Come in!" he shouted.
The door opened slowly, Officer Libby Standford poked her head in. She had a startled look on her face. Dobey gave her an apologetic smile as he motioned her in.
"Bad day Captain Dobey?" she asked smiling. Libby had an armload of files, which she laid on Dobey's desk. Officer Standford worked at the front desk on the first floor. She also fed the computer information. Libby was tall in her mid twenties with blondish red hair and green eyes. She and Starsky dated off and on and was best friends with Susan.
"Libby have a seat," Dobey said somberly. "Since you were in on it last time I need to talk to you."
"In on what? What's going on?" Libby asked as she sunk down in the chair in front of his desk.
Dobey explained about Roffman's escape. Libby knew the danger her friends were in. The Captain ended by asking the officer, "Do you know where Starsky is?"
"Sure," she exclaimed, "He's at home."
"You mean he never left the city?" Dobey ask rather surprised.
"Starsky said he just wanted to spend some time doing nothing," Libby grinned then blushed. "I just saw him last night. We had dinner at his place."
"Call him, tell Starsky to get his can in here now!" Dobey ordered. "Looks like we are going to have trouble."
Detective Dave Starsky was laying on his couch dozing when the phone rang. He was having a wonderful vacation. Both Hutch and Susan had invited him to come with them to the mountains. But he had just wanted to relax and not do anything.
His blue eyes popped open on the second ring. He didn't make a move to answer it. Starsky was about to roll over ignoring the phone but decided it could be Mrs. Gray, his partner's nanny.
Rubbing his hands through his dark curly hair Starsky sat up grabbing the receiver, "Yeah?"
"Thank God," Libby sighed. "I didn't think you were home."
"What's wrong?" After years of being a cop he knew that tone of voice well.
"Dobey wants you in here," Libby said, holding her breath.
"What!" Starsky exploded. "I've still got two days of vacation left."
"Starsky this is important."
"Well if it's so important just tell me, now," he demanded.
Libby decided there was no sense in beating around the bush, "Roffman escaped from prison," she said in a rush of words.
Starsky jumped to his full height of five eleven, "Does Susan and Hutch know?"
"I don't think Dobey has called them yet but he's putting a guard on their house."
"I'm going over and check on Jesse before I come in. I want to explain things to Mrs. Gray myself."
Starsky arrived at the town house thirty minutes later. He had a stuffed dog under his arm. Starsky nodded to the plainclothes officers sitting out front in an unmarked police car. The detective knocked on the front door, he could hear Jesse squealing from inside.
An exasperated Mrs. Gray answered the door, "Dave," she gasped for air. Her silver hair was hanging in her face. She brushed it back with one hand, "This one is really a hand full."
Starsky bent down scooping up his Goddaughter just before she dashed out the door. Jesse wrapped her little arms around his neck, she yelled, "Starry!" Jesse had called him that from the moment she began talking.
He handed her the stuffed dog. "Here you go trouble." Jesse beamed at him, then wiggled to be let down. Starsky put her down and she dashed off in the direction of the living room hugging the dog.
Mrs. Gray shook her head. In her mid sixties she had been caring for Jesse since her birth. The older woman lead Starsky into the living room. Jesse was playing with her new stuffed toy. She looked like her parents, with Susan's long dark hair and Hutch's blue eyes.
"You spoil her," Mrs. Gray playfully scolded him.
"Isn't that what I'm here for?" he smiled then his face fell serious.
"Is something wrong?" she asked alarmed at his expression. Lowering her voice so Jesse couldn't hear, "Susan and Ken are all right aren't they?"
"As far as I know," Starsky said softly, "You remember Mel Roffman?" She nodded. "Well he broke out of prison last night."
"Oh no! That horrible man that was after Susan before," Mrs. Gray looked at the detective horrified.
"Our Captain is trying to get in touch with them. Just in case Roffman goes after Susan again."
"Do you think he will?"
"Well a detective friend of ours from San Francisco who knows Roffman very well seems to think it's possible," Starsky told her.
"What do you think?" Mrs. Gray asked looking him straight in the eye.
"I think that he went to one hell of a lot of trouble last time. So why would he stop now?"
Mrs. Gray trembled, she looked at Jesse then back to Starsky, "What are you going to do?"
"First off Dobey has put a guard outside," Starsky got up leading the older woman to the front door. He opened it and waved at the two men sitting in the brown nondescript car, they waved back. "They are there for your protection. If you get any strange phone calls, anything that makes you uneasy, you tell them. They will check it out and get in touch with Dobey or me. You got it?"
Mrs. Gray nodded with a solemn look on her face. Jesse who had followed the two adults to the door looked out side, "Bad men?" she asked pointing out the door then looking up at Starsky.
He knelt down next to her, "No honey they are good men," Starsky looked up at Mrs. Gray. "How did she know something was up?"
The woman shrugged, "Children seem to pick up on everything that goes on around them."
"Where is mom and daddy," Jesse frowned at Starsky.
He pulled her into his arms, "In Gatlinburg," he smiled hugging her tightly to him. "They will be home in two days. I'll come by and you can come to the airport with me, OK?"
"OK."
"Now you be a good girl and mind Mrs. Gray OK?"
"OK," she said again as she jumped from Starsky's knee. Jesse flew off down the hall like an airplane.
"Keep her in the house, don't go out unless you have to. Then let the guys out there know, they'll take you anywhere you need to go." Starsky instructed. "If you need me, you know where to call."
"All right," Mrs. Gray said in a tight voice. She looked like she was about to cry.
Starsky put his arm around her, "Everything will be fine, I promise." Starsky just hoped it was a promise he could keep.
Susan Carlston dressed in shorts, tank top and hiking boots, picked up a backpack from the bed. She checked the contents of the pack. There were two lunches, extra socks, a couple of light jackets and a first aid kit. In her late twenties Susan had a beautiful tan from all the hiking she had down in the last two weeks. She felt better than she had in a while. Working the streets of L.A. was a hard job. The killing, the sorrow, the fights, the homeless, she had seen it all in the last seven years on the police force. It was very hard to leave it all behind you at the end of your shift.
Susan was standing looking out the sliding glass doors at the mountains. She pushed open the door and stepped out onto the balcony. She took a deep breath the air was fresh and clean, unlike L. A. where you could almost chew the air.
Ken Hutchinson dressed in clothing similar to Susan's stepped from the bath room. He was six feet tall, blue eyed and blond haired. He towered over his partner who was only five feet four. In his late thirties Hutch as he was better known by was also tan and rested.
"What are you doing?" he asked Susan as he came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Just thinking," she said smiling up at him. "I'm glad you talked me into coming here. The cabin is perfect, the mountains are perfect, you're perfect."
He kissed her on the top of the head, "I almost hate to leave. A few more days in that hot tub and you won't get me home."
Susan turned to face Hutch, "I miss Jesse and Starsky, he should have come."
Hutch laughed, "Starsky hates the woods and you have bought Jesse half of Gatlinburg. We are going to have to buy another suit case just to get all the stuff home."
Susan gave him a sheepish look, then smiled, "Are you ready for that trip up to Laurel Falls."
You bet! Want me to take that?" he asked touching the back pack.
"I'll carry it for now," They both came in shutting the glass door.
They left the cabin arm in arm and climbed into the rented Bronco. About two minutes after they left the phone began to ring.
Dobey slammed down the telephone receiver just as Starsky entered his office. Libby followed him in, they met up again at the station after his visit with Jesse. Starsky flopped down into a chair in front of Dobey's desk, "Something wrong Cap?"
"No answer in the cabin I called the rental office and left a message." Dobey grumbled, "I hope one of them calls soon. I'll feel better when they know what's going on."
"They are due back in two days," Starsky said. "What could happen in two days?"
Dobey hiked his eyebrows at Starsky. A lot could happen in just two days and they both knew it, "I've got a call into Lee Marburg. I wanted to see if there was anything knew."
"He would have called," Starsky said.
"Damn it, I know that," Dobey slammed his fist down on the desk. "But I . . . "
"Just needed to feel like you were doing something," Starsky finished for his captain, Dobey nodded. Starsky was acting calmer than he felt. All he wanted to do was hop a plane to make sure his partners were all right, "Believe me I know how you feel."
Dobey looked at his detective solemnly. The phone rang the captain hurriedly grabbed the receiver. From the one sided conversation Starsky could tell it had nothing to do with Hutch and Susan.
Libby touched Starsky on the shoulder he jumped forgetting she was there. He smiled up at her and took her hand. Dobey hung up the phone.
"Well what should we do?" Starsky ask getting up.
"I guess we sit tight for now unless we either know for sure Roffman is after her or we hear from Susan and Ken."
Starsky smiled to himself. Dobey rarely called his detectives by their first names. He could tell his boss was very worried, "I'll pick them up Saturday morning."
"I just hope they make that flight," Dobey frowned. "Everyone keep trying to get a hold of them. He handed Libby a scrap of paper with the name of the cabin rental place and both numbers.
Libby took the paper, "They'll be fine Captain."
"I sure hope so," Captain Dobey said.
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                                                                                      CHAPTER TWO

HUTCH pulled the Bronco into the parking lot at the start of the trail to Laurel Falls. There were quite a few cars in the lot already. Several people milled around, they were either just starting the trail or getting back. It was early enough in the morning that there was still a chill in the air.
Susan opened the backpack before getting out of the truck. She took out the jackets, tossing Hutch his she got out. Susan slipped on her jacket then put on the pack. She stood next to the truck a few minutes listening to the birds, a near by stream and the happy sounds of other hikers.
A small girl jumped out of a car that pulled into the spot next to them. She began running toward the trail that led to the falls. The girl's mother dashed after her scooping the little girl up in her arms. Susan smiled as she watched them. She couldn't wait to get back to Jesse. It was the first time she had been away from her daughter more than a couple of days.
Hutch had asked her to marry him over a year and a half ago but they hadn't set a date yet. Really it was Susan who wouldn't set a date. Hutch would marry her anytime, any place. He had jokingly said many time, "Give me ten minutes and I will have the whole thing arranged." Much to his dismay the engagement ring he had gotten her for Christmas still sat in its black velvet box in the top dresser drawer. He was surprised that Susan had agreed to move back in with him. But she felt guilty keeping Jesse from him any longer.
They had been living together before, when Susan suddenly left the police force and Hutch. She left without telling anyone where she was going. A couple of days before Susan left town she found out she was pregnant with Hutch's child. She still left, leaving her secret with Starsky and making him promise not to tell their partner.
After spending six months looking for her, and another three trying to get his life back together. Hutch finally quit the police force too. He took a teaching job at a college in the mid west. It just happened to be the same college Susan was going to. They met each other in his class. She realized that she had made a terrible mistake by leaving. Susan never got over Hutch and missed Starsky and L.A. horribly. Hutch and Susan returned to Los Angeles with their daughter and rejoined the police force. Everyone was over joyed to have them back but on one more than Starsky who was lost with out his best friends and partners.
Hutch walked up next to Susan and put his arm around her shoulders, "Ready?"
She nodded, "It's so beautiful here, just look at those pine trees."
He looked up at the tops of the trees, a smoke like mist hung in the air, hence the name Smoky Mountains, "Sure beats smog, doesn't it?"
They started toward the base of the trail. There was a large sign showing the length of the trail and some interesting facts about what they would be seeing.
A black car pulled into the parking lot. The windows were tinted so dark that anyone walking by couldn't see in. The back window on the passenger's side slid down about half way. A distinguished gray headed older man looked out at the two detectives as they started up the trail. He had a bone chilling smile on his lips.
There were two men dressed in black suits sitting in the front seat. Both were very muscular and very mean looking. The older man in the back pushed the button to raise the window. He was certain of the identity of the couple. He then tapped the driver on the shoulder. The car was then put in gear and sped off down the road.
As they hike along Susan and Hutch studied the flowers, plants and trees. She had brought along a book on the plant life in the Smokey's. On their first hike, they went to Clingman's Dome. Hutch had heaved a big sigh when Susan pulled out the book. But by the time they were half way to the top he was caught up in her enthusiasm. It was a side of her he had never seen. There weren't exactly a lot of wild flowers and ferns growing in the streets of L.A. And if there had been there was certainly no time to stop and look at them.
Susan already knew some about plants, rocks and animals. She was delighted when Hutch began showing an interest as she constantly talked. By the time they reached the top of Clingman's Dome he was completely enthralled with his surroundings and Susan.
When they reached the top of the mountain a huge concrete structure greeted them. A walkway wound around until it stood high about the trees. It gave them a breath taking view of the tops of the pines, other mountain tops and the smoky mist that hung in the valleys below. They held hands and looked out over the view that was so beautiful it was hard to put into words.
At this elevation many of the pine trees were dead or dying. Leaving their dead branches standing like an army of skeletons. Susan explained it was an insect causing all the damage. It was sad to see all the once magnificence pines bare and brown.
The detectives spent two days shopping Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Susan brought gifts for everyone back home. They took a trip over the Smokey's to Cherokee, North Carolina. There they had their picture with a real Indian to show Jesse upon their return.
"What?" Susan looked up at Hutch. She was crouched down just off the path examining a wild flower she couldn't find in the book. Hutch had been talking to her but Susan was so engrossed in the book she didn't hear him. He had to finally tap her on the shoulder to get her attention.
"We are never going to get to the falls before dark if you don't come on."
He held out his hand, Susan slipped her hand in his. Hutch pulled her to her feet, "Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes."
Shaking his head and smiling Hutch said, "Where do you want to eat tonight?"
"At the cabin." Their cabin had all the amenities. A hot tub, small kitchen, bedroom and living room. The couple had eaten all their meals out. Susan had protested but Hutch insisted saying that it was vacation.
"The cabin?"
She nodded, "I'm going to drive into town and pick up a few things. You can relax in the hot tub until I get back."
Hutch looked at her doubtfully, "Are you sure? I thought we could try that restaurant we saw the other day."
"I don't want to share you with anyone," Susan hugged him. "Day after tomorrow we will be back in L.A. There will be Jesse, Starsky, work and Cap. Just you and me tonight OK?"
"All right," he smiled at her.
On their left the ground was falling away, on the right was the side of the mountain. Rocks jutted out along the trail, every so often there was a bench to rest. People on the way down encouraged the ones on the way up.
"You are almost there," a man smiled at the two detectives. He had a small girl on his shoulders that looked to be about Jesse's age.
"Is it worth it?" Susan grinned at the little girl.
The child nodded, her brown eyes got very big, "It's kind of scary." Her father laughed as they continued on their way.
Susan turned to watch them go, "Miss Jesse?" Hutch asked.
She nodded, "I can't wait to see her. I'll bet she's grown an inch."
"We have only been gone two weeks," Hutch laughed ruffling her hair.
They went on up the side of the mountain. After a few more stops along the way so Susan could check out another wild flower they reached the falls. The path just suddenly stopped, the waterfall flowed in front of them, there was a small pool where the path stopped. Water fell above them then fell on down the mountain from the pool below them.
The two detectives carefully picked their way across the pool, the rocks were moss covered and slippery. Once on the other side the path continued on up the mountain. They found a quiet spot away from everyone to have lunch.
After they had eaten Hutch stretched out in the late morning sun and instantly fell asleep. Susan watched him smiling then leaned back against a tree to enjoy her surroundings. After about an hour or so she poked her partner in the side. Hutch opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"What time is it?" he asked sitting up looking around.
"Time to head back," she laughed at him.
"Why did you let me sleep so long," he ask getting to his feet.
"Well like you keep telling me, it is vacation." She watched him for a few moments as he brushed dry leaves from his clothes, "You ready?"
She nodded and dashed off toward the falls. By the time Hutch caught up with her Susan had her hiking boots and socks off and was wading in the crisp cool water. He just shook his head grinning at her. Susan tried to talk Hutch into joining her. But he declined instead he sat on a rock watching her. Finally he grabbed her boots and socks. He crossed the pool Susan followed him. She took her boots from him and sat down on a log to put them on.
Hutch pulled up in front of their cabin. Both detectives got out, Susan came around to the drivers side. She slipped in behind the wheel and grinned at Hutch. They had made it down the trail in record time. That is once Hutch had gotten Susan out of the falls. They were both were eager to start the evening.
"You get the hot tub warmed up. I'll be back before you know it," Susan said leaning out the window. "Any thing special you want?"
"Just you."
"Aw," she teased. "That's sweet, but I meant to eat? He just looked at her. "I'll find something."
"You be careful," Hutch warned as she started the truck.
"For heaven sakes Hutch, this isn't L.A.," she laughed
He gave her an uneasy smile, "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?
"Hutch come on," Susan said in an exasperated voice. "I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. Besides it's not even dark yet."
"I guess you're right, just be carefully on the roads."
"We have been on these roads for the last two weeks. I think I can manage." She drove off before he could protest any further.
Hutch stood watching as the Bronco disappeared down the road. Shaking off a feeling of dread, he climbed the steps to the cabin. Just as the detective put the key in the lock he felt a presence behind him. Before Hutch could turn around he was clubbed on the back of the head with the butt of a gun. He crumpled to the porch floor. The assailant pushed open the cabin door and hoisted the detective over his shoulder.
Once in side the thug unceremoniously dumped Hutch's limp body on the couch. The white headed man from the parking lot entered the room.
"Good work," he said with a grin. "She should be back shortly."
"We'll be ready Mr. Roffman," Bo assured him. "Want this one tied up?" He pointed to the unconscious cop.
Roffman nodded. Duke the second bodyguard entered the room. Both men were six feet five and all muscle. They had been with Mel Roffman for years. They weren't much in the brains department but they made up for it with their brawn. Roffman was the brains, he had engineered the plans for escaping prison. Bo and Duke made sure it went as planned. They had spent only a short time in jail for their part in the kidnapping of Starsky and Dobey. Since neither police officer could say for sure it was Bo or Duke who nabbed them. The courts were able to get concealed weapons charges and a couple traffic violations. They were out in only a few months.
Susan found a small grocery store on the out skirts of Gatlinburg. She browsed the aisles slowly searching for the perfect dinner. Finally Susan settled on steaks, she also picked out salad fixings, a couple of potatoes for baking and a pint of cherry ice cream. She pushed her cart toward the front of the store. As Susan checked out she noticed a pay phone on the wall next to the door. She asked the cashier for enough change to make a quick long distance call.
Sitting down her bag of groceries she place the call to the town house. The phone rang several times then the answering machine picked up. Hutch's voice asked the caller to leave a message.
"Hi Jesse," Susan said after the beep. "Daddy and I will be home day after tomorrow so you be good. Mrs. Gray hope everything is fine there. Sorry I missed you we are having a great time. See you soon." Susan hung up the phone, picked up bag and went to the truck.


                                                                                             CHAPTER THREE

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A TALL thin black man dressed in a lavender suit opened the back door to his bar. On the door was stenciled in black letters, 'The Pits', under that it said 'Deliveries Only'. Huggy Bear was the name he used, only his mother knew his real name. He had a worried expression on his face as he opened the door and went in.
Huggy turned on the lights as he went through the bar. The chairs were on top of the tables, he pulled a few off sitting then up right. Then he went behind the bar and picked up the phone.
Dialing he waited for someone to pick up, "Police Department."
"Could I please speak to Detective Starsky?" he said into the phone.
"One moment please," said the voice. A few minutes later the voice was back, "I'm sorry but he is not in."
"Then let me speak to Captain Dobey," Huggy sighed. The officer told him to wait again. But when the officer came back on the line he informed Huggy that Dobey was in a meeting and couldn't be disturbed.
Huggy slammed down the phone, "Something wrong?" asked a female voice from behind him. Huggy spun around startled, Laura his best waitress was standing there smiling at him. She was in her mid twenties, on the short side with short brown hair and eyes. Laura was wearing a white tank top with the words, 'The Pits' in black letters on the front.
"Why is it when you need a cop you can never find one?" he snorted disgusted.
"What?" she exclaimed.
He waved her off, "Never mind let's get this place ready for breakfast."
For the next ten minutes as they readied the bar for the breakfast crowd Huggy mumbled under his breath. Finally he tossed his apron on the bar, "Hold down the fort Laura, I'll be back soon."
Laura stood staring after Huggy as he shoved open the front door almost knocking Angie the cook down, "Where is he going in such a hurry?" Angie asked looking after his boss.
Laura shrugged her shoulders, "He's been acting weird ever since I got here. You better get in the kitchen, looks like it's just you and me."
Angie rolled his eyes, "Oh great!" he stalked into the kitchen slamming the door.
" . . . see you soon," Mrs. Gray came flying out of the bathroom where she had been giving Jesse a bath. She was just wrapping the little girl in a towel when she heard Susan's voice.
The older woman dashed down the hall and grabbed the receiver, "Susan don't hang up." But it was too late. Jesse came running down the hall dropping her towel as she ran. Mrs. Gray chased the naked child into her room.
After dressing Jesse Mrs. Gray placed a call to Captain Dobey. The captain answered the phone in his usual gruff tone, "Dobey here."
"Captain Dobey, this is Mrs. Gray, Susan and Ken's nanny?"
"How may I help you?" he asked kindly. "You're not having any trouble are you?"
"No but Susan just called."
Dobey jumped to his feet, "Did you tell her what is going on? I've been trying to call them all day."
Mrs. Gray sighed, "I didn't talk to her."
Dobey was trying to hold his temper, "I think you had better explain."
"You see I was giving Jesse a bath. When I opened the door I heard Susan talking on the answering machine."
"Oh," Dobey sat down hard in his chair. "Do you think she will call back?"
"It didn't sound like it," Mrs. Gray felt awful. "I'm so sorry, Captain."
"It's not your fault," he said kindly. "I'll keep trying."
Starsky went to visit Jesse taking her to the park, zoo and her favorite hamburger joint. Jesse was delighted to spend so much time with Uncle Starry. Mrs. Gray was glad that Starsky was spending the day with her but she was very worried too.
Dobey had heard from Lee but there wasn't any new information. Lee said that he had a contact he was going to lean hard on. Their calls to the vacationing detectives were still unanswered. The captain had thought about contacting the police in Gatlinburg. But there was no concrete information that Roffman was even there. For all any of them knew he was thousands of miles a way in a different country. Starsky had said the couple had planned some over night camping trips, which would explain why their calls were not answered.
Starsky knocked on Dobey's office door, which was a rarity for him, "Come in," Dobey yelled. Starsky opened the door peering in. The black captain was obviously up set, "Are you coming in or not?" he barked.
Starsky stepped, Dobey picked up the phone and punched in a few numbers. He waited a moment then hung up, "What's up?" Starsky ask.
"Mrs. Gray just called me she got a message from Susan on their machine," Dobey explained.
"I was just over there dropping Jesse off," Starsky said slamming the door angrily. "Call the cabin."
"I just did, there were three rings then the phone went dead."
The detective's face went pale, "Maybe . . . "
There was a loud knock on the office door. Starsky jumped up from the chair he had just sat down in and jerked the door open. A very angry Huggy Bear stood there, "Where the hell is everybody? I've been trying to get a hold of you guys all day!"
"What the hell do you want? We've got . . . "
"Cap," Starsky said then turned to Huggy, "What's going on?
"We don't have time for this," Dobey picked up the phone. "I'm going to call Lee."
"I've got information on Mel Roffman!" Huggy yelled.
Dobey put the phone down, Starsky grabbed the skinny black man pulling him into the room, "What about Roffman."
Starsky closed the office door, Huggy looked at Captain Dobey then at Starsky, "He's going after Susan."
"Where did you hear this?" questioned Starsky.
"It's all over the streets, he escaped prison to kill a female cop," Huggy said in a distressed voice. "Who else could it be?"
"Does he know where she is?" Dobey ask.
Huggy shrugged, "Didn't hear that but you can bet it won't take him long."
"You are right about that," said a voice from the office door. No one had heard Detective Lee Marburg open the door. Lee stepped in, "Roffman left for Tennessee the night he escaped."
"Well we know that Carlston is still all right. She just called her house about an hour ago," Dobey told Lee.
"Does she know what is going on?" Lee asked taking a seat next to Huggy.
Dobey shook his head sadly, he explained how the nanny had heard her on the answering machine.
What about Hutch?" Huggy asked.
"He wasn't on the phone," Dobey answered. "So there is no way of telling.
"Did Susan sound like she was under duress?" Lee asked.
"I haven't heard the tape yet," Dobey picked up the phone again. "I'm going to get Mrs. Gray to bring it down. I'll get the guards to drive her in."
"I'm going to try the rental office again," Starsky said. He left the office to use the phone on his desk
Starsky sat down at his desk and placed the call. "May I help you?" said a female voice.
"I need to check on a couple of your guests," Starsky said into the phone.
"I'm sorry sir but we don't give out information on our guests."
"Listen," Starsky growled. "I'm Detective David Starsky of the L.A.P.D. I have reason to believe two detectives that are staying in one of your cabins may have been kidnapped or worse. Now I can get my captain on the phone to confirm what I just told you. That would waste a lot of time or you can help me."
"Just one moment please," said the voice. Starsky could hear the phone being laid down.
A few minutes later the phone was picked up. "This is Don Bowers, the manger. I understand you are with the Los Angeles police."
"Yes it is a matter of life or death that I get a hold of a couple of your guests. Their names are Ken Hutchinson and Susan Carlston, they are also officers," Starsky was beginning to feel desperate. If this joker didn't help him it might be to late by the time he could get a flight out.
"Hold on," Mr. Bowers said. A few minutes later the man was back on the phone. "I sent my secretary to check on them. We couldn't raise them through the switchboard. This is going to take a little time our cabins are scattered over several miles. I could call you back.
Starsky sighed, "How long."
"Oh I would say about thirty minutes," the manger said. Starsky gave the man Dobey's extension and began the task of waiting.
When Starsky reentered Dobey's office the Captain was still on the phone. "Their nanny is on the way down with the tape," Lee said softly as not to bother Dobey. "Any luck with the cabin?"
Starsky shook his head no, "They are checking on them. Who is Dobey talking to now?"
Lee shrugged, "I hope who ever it is checking is careful," he frowned. Roffman really has nothing to lose.
"Maybe I should have told them to call the police to check it out," Starsky said annoyed at himself for not thinking of it before.
Dobey hung up the phone, "I just booked the three of you on the next flight. You'll be in Gatlinburg late tonight."
"The three of us?" Huggy said rather surprised. He knew Dobey wasn't always his biggest fan.
Dobey gave Huggy a half smile, "I thought they could use the help."
There was a knock on the door. Starsky opened it Jesse flew in grabbing him around the legs.
"Starry!" she squealed. Mrs. Gray followed the child in, giving the men an apologetic look.
She held out the tape to Captain Dobey, "I don't know what you are looking for but here is the tape."
Dobey smiled his thanks. He opened one of his desk drawers producing a small tape recorder. He placed the tape in the machine and depressed the play button. Everyone gathered around to listen.
"Mommy!" said Jesse delighted to hear her mother's voice.
"Sounds normal to me," Starsky said as he bounced Jesse on his knee.
Everyone else nodded in agreement, "So as of a couple of hours ago Carlston was fine," Dobey said pushing the stop button.
Jesse looked up at Starsky with a frown on her little face, "Are Mommy and Daddy OK?"
"Sure they are honey," he just hoped he wasn't lying to her.
"We going to pick them up?" she asked.
"Well we are having a change of plans," Starsky tried to explain to her. "I'm going to see them."
"Can I come?" Jesse smiled.
"No honey, not this time."
"Oh," she stuck out her lip and jumped down from his lap. Jesse went to Mrs. Gray, climbing up into her lap. She laid her head on her nanny's shoulder.
Starsky got up, going over to sit next to Mrs. Gray and Jesse on the couch. Jesse promptly turned her head away from him, "Listen Jess, when we get back we will have a big party, OK?" Starsky thought a little bribery never hurt. Besides he couldn't stand having his God daughter man at him.
She turned and looked at him, "Party?" Her eyes lit up. "With cake and pop and candy and . . . "
"Anything you want," Starsky assured her. "But you have to be a good girl and do what Mrs. Gray tells you to do." Starsky leaned over and whispered in Jesse's ear, "Why don't you go see the Captain."
She gave him a grin and dashed off jumping up in Dobey's lap. The captain grunted as she hit him in the stomach. He shot Starsky a look. But the detective had Mrs. Gray in the corner of the room explaining what was going on out of earshot of Jesse.
The phone rang Dobey grabbed it, "Just one minute," he said into the phone. Then to Starsky, "Timber Winds."
"Come on sweetie," Mrs. Gray said holding her hand out to Jesse. "These men have lots of work to do."
Before Jesse slid from Dobey's lap, she placed a kiss on his chubby cheek, "Take care of my Mommy and Daddy." Then she went to Starsky and hugged and wiggled her fingers at Huggy and Lee.
As soon as they were out the door Starsky grabbed the phone, "Starsky here."
"Detective Starsky, sorry it took so long to get back to," Mr. Bowers apologized. Starsky listened impatiently.
"I'm afraid I have bad news for you."
"Well what!" Starsky yelled.
"Cathee found a body of a man in the cabin."
"What did he look like?" Starsky asked, holding is breath.
"Very tall, muscular, reddish hair, dressed in a black suit," Mr. Bowers described the body. Cathee Fields his secretary was almost in hysterics when she burst into the office. Mr. Bowers started to call the police but decided to call L.A. first, "Are you there Detective Starsky?"
Starsky let out his breath, he had been holding it in. The body wasn't Hutch, "Yes I'm here. There was no sign of Susan and Hutch?"
"I'm afraid not. Should I call the police?" the manger ask.
"Right away, give them as much information as you can," Starsky told him. "We'll be there tonight."
With a shaking hand Starsky hung up the phone, "Well?" Dobey ask.
"There was a body found in the cabin but it wasn't Hutch or Susan. They are missing!"

                                                                                           CHAPTER FOUR

AN hour later Mel Roffman and his thugs were still waiting for Susan to return. When Hutch had began to regain consciousness Duke had plunged a hypodermic needle in his arm. The detective fell unconscious again. The bodyguards paced restlessly while Roffman remained seated in a chair by the window where he could watch the road.
"How can you be so patient?" asked Bo after he looked out the window for the tenth time.
"I have been planning this for the last year and a half. I'm in no hurry, I'm going to enjoy myself," he grinned.
Suddenly there was a noise out side the door. There was the sound of something being dropped and a few choice words. The two hench men got on either side of the door. Roffman didn't move from the chair he had occupied for the last hour.
The sun was setting and the cabin was dim when Susan finally got the door open. She toed in the potatoes one at a time and grabbed the ice cream just before it rolled off the porch. The brown paper bag she had been carrying had split open spilling its contents all over the porch and down the steps.
Susan finally managed to get the rest of the food in the cabin. She kicked the empty bag in the doorway. "Hutch you could have turned on a light," she complained in an irritated voice. No one in the room moved or breathed. "Hutch?" she called. Susan was beginning to get concerned, her police sense was kicking in, something was wrong, very wrong.
Before Susan could call out a third time, Roffman turned on a lamp sitting on a table next to his chair. The detective whirled around, when the light came on, "Roffman!" she gasped in shock.
"Carlston," he nodded casually. "We have been waiting for you."
Susan looked wildly around the room. As her eyes became accustomed to the sudden light she saw Bo and Duke by the door. Then she noticed Hutch laying on the couch, Susan rushed to his side.
"Hutch?" Susan turned to glare at Roffman. "What did you do to him?"
"Just have him a little something to make him sleep," Roffman told her. "He should be coming around soon." As if on cue Hutch began to moan and move around. His hands were tied behind his back and his feet tied together.
"Untie him," Susan demand. Then she leaned over and whispered in his ear, "It's all right, I'm here."
Roffman roared with laughter, "Just what are you going to do lady cop? Your police force isn't behind you now. It's finally just you and me, like it should have been all along. Too bad your boy friend cop was the first to show up. We would have taken you and than would have been the end of it."
"Take me now, leave him," Susan pleaded. "He has nothing to do with what went down between us. I didn't even know him then."
"And leave him around to call your partner? Began a manhunt? Track me down, throw me in jail again? I've been there for the last time," Roffman spit out.
"I thought you were dying," Susan sneered at the old man. "You have got more lives than a cat."
"Maybe the doctors were wrong, maybe I'm just staying alive so I can see you die."
"Then why don't you just do it!" Susan leaped from the couch. She made a grab for Duke's gun he had tucked in his belt. She just wanted it to be over with, it had been torture when Roffman had held Dobey and Starsky hostage. She was afraid what he might do to Hutch.
Bo was quicker, he grabbed Susan holding her arms behind her back. Duke took out his gun, holding it to her head, "This what you want sweet heart?"
"NO!" Hutch cried out, he had been watching helplessly, holding his breath. There was nothing he could do but lay there and watch.
"Turn her loose," Roffman ordered. Duke didn't lower his gun instead he cocked it, "Now!"
Reluctantly Duke lowered the gun, reset the safety and shoved the gun in his belt. Bo roughly shoved Susan toward the couch. She caught the edge of the coffee table with her leg and fell on top of Hutch.
"I hate playing these stupid games," Duke mumbled.
"Fine," Roffman said calmly as he took out his own gun, he aimed it at his complaining body guard. Slowly he pulled the trigger, the noise was deafening in the small cabin. Duke crumpled to the floor with a surprised look on his face. "You got anything to say," Roffman asked pointing the gun at Bo.
"No sir," Bo said in a slightly shaky voice. He looked down at his fellow body guard dying on the floor.
Susan and Hutch stared at Roffman in horror. Roffman glanced at them, he was pleased by their reaction maybe it would keep them in line. "Tie these two up for now then go get the car," Roffman growled.
The phone began ringing, after the third ring Bo pulled the phone line out of the wall. After tying the detectives together Bo left taking the phone with him. Once out side he tossed the phone in the woods as he hiked the half-mile to where the car was stashed. As he walked he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the two top buttons of his shirt.
Bo looked back over his shoulder and seriously thought about just taking off. Roffman was a crazy old man, he couldn't believe he had just shot down Duke. He wondered if he was next, but he knew if he crossed Roffman that he was a dead man.
Roffman stood watching the two detectives who were tied back to back in a couple of chairs. Roffman leaned over until he was almost nose to nose with the female detective, "I'm leaving for a little while. If you try to get away your little daughter is dead!"
Susan's eyes widened with disbelief, "You have Jesse?" she cried.
"I didn't say that," he growled at her. "But one word from me, she will be hunted down and killed along with anyone else that gets in my way."
"We won't try anything, I promise," Susan said. Then she pleaded, "Just don't hurt Jesse."
"Once we leave here, you make any false moves I'll shoot Hutchinson on the spot," Roffman started for the door. "Got it?"
Susan nodded her head numbly. She could feel Hutch press against her back in silent support. After years together, along with Starsky they had a language all their own. With just a glance or a squeeze on the shoulder they knew what each other was thinking or feeling.
Roffman left satisfied that the two cops wouldn't try to escape. Not that it really mattered he wasn't going any further than the porch steps. He liked playing with their minds. Roffman wasn't sure why he felt he needed to play games with Carlston. It would be so easy just to kill her. But he wanted her to suffer like he had in prison. And he was dying his doctor had told him he had a bad heart. If he didn't take it easy it would give out on him. But right now all he could think about was getting even with Carlston even if it killed him in the process.
Inside the cabin, Hutch and Susan sat back to back, "You OK?" Hutch asked softly.
"Yeah, I'm OK," Susan said in a barely audible tone. Trying to hold the tears back. "Why does he keep haunting me? Why can't he just kill me and get it over with?"
"Don't say that." Hutch said sharply. "We will get out of this. Starsky will figure out something is wrong when we don't make that plane."
"If we live that long," Susan said grimly.
"Come on," Hutch said, wishing that he could hold her. "Maybe he'll get worried if he doesn't hear from us."
"I don't think so," Susan said with a sob in her voice. "I called home while I was at the store. I left a message on the machine saying everything was great."
"Oh," Hutch said with disappointment in his voice. "We will just have to sit tight. You know Roffman likes to play games. I don't think he's planning anything right away. Just don't do anything else to provoke him, got me?"
"I got you," she said in a tight voice. "Same goes for you."
Starsky, Lee Marburg and Huggy Bear sat at LAX waiting for their plane to be called. Dobey strolled into the waiting room carrying a cup of coffee. The captain had driven the three men to the airport. He had talked to the Gatlinburg police, filling them in on what was going on. The police had sealed off the cabin and were holding the body until the two detectives could get there.
Dobey sat down next to Starsky, "Listen, you behave yourself, remember it's not L.A."
Starsky gave his Captain a pained look, "I know Cap, don't worry."
Dobey rolled his eyes, "I know you, when things don't go your way you can be a hot head."
"Me?" Starsky said innocently.
Their flight was called before Dobey could respond to his detective. Starsky and Lee got up. Huggy grabbed his flight bag, following the two officers.
"Huggy, remember you are a private citizen," Dobey called after them. "Keep in touch. Oh and Starsky . . . . "
Starsky waved over his shoulder to his captain as they disappeared down the corridor. "He's worse that an old mother hen," Starsky mumbled.
Lee smiled, "So is mine, I never thought I would get out of Frisco."
Huggy remained silent as they boarded the plane. They found their seats and settled in. Starsky pulled out a paper back book from his pocket. Lee glanced at the front of the book.
"Strange and Little Known Facts?" Lee gave his fellow detective a puzzled look.
Starsky shrugged and smiled as he looked at the cover, "Hutch always teases me about reading this book. It was the first thing I grabbed." The smile faded from his face and he looked out the small window onto the runway.
"We'll find them," Lee said with determination in his voice. "Hey, I helped find you didn't I . . . twice."
The smile returned to Starsky's face as he nodded. Then he looked over at Huggy who had just snapped shut the shade over the window, "Something wrong Hug?"
"Don't like flying," he said quickly.
Starsky poked Lee, "Better get the air sick bag."
"I didn't say I got sick man. I said I didn't like to fly," Huggy growled at he tightened his seat belt.
The plane began to taxi down the runway. Huggy grabbed the arms on his seat. Starsky began reading his book and Lee leaned back for a nap.
The cabin door opened suddenly banging against the wall. Both Susan and Hutch jumped. Bo stepped in glanced back out the door then closed it. He came toward the two detectives, gun in hand. Susan flinched away from him as he reached out and began loosening the ropes. The door banged open for a second time. Bo looked up to see Roffman standing there. The bodyguard stood up quickly looking like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"What are you doing Bo?" Roffman demand.
"Uh . . . just checking the ropes to make sure they are still tight," Bo glanced down at Susan who was looking up at him with a puzzled expression.
"We ready to go?" Roffman ask giving Bo a suspicious look.
"Yes Sir!" Bo slowly moved away from the detectives. He had decided that if Roffman pulled a gun on him he would be ready. Bo had realized that his boss had lost some or all of his sanity along the way. He hadn't wanted to do any of this but when Mel Roffman calls you listen or you are dead. No one says no to Roffman and lives.
When Bo had gotten out of jail he went straight, he even had a half way decent job. Then Roffman got in touch with him he was planning a jailbreak. Bo was agreeable until he found out why the old man wanted out of jail. The bodyguard had no great love for cops, but he had always sort of admired Susan Carlston. She was a tough lady.
"Where are you taking us?" Susan asked, not really wanting to know. But she thought the longer she could stall the better chance someone would find them.
"In the mountains, there is a cabin that will suit us just fine for a while," Roffman answered.
"A while?" Hutch asked. "Just how long do you plan on holding us?"
"Until I tire of the game and kill you," he said flatly. "Now let's get out of here."
"Wait!" Susan said desperately. She knew that once they got up into the woods they would be harder to find. "Could we change clothes, it gets really cold at night."
He looked thoughtful for a few minutes, "All right, no since in you freezing to death. that would take all the fun out of it. Watch'em Bo."
Bo went over to Susan and untied her, "Don't try anything," he said with out much conviction.
Susan got up from the chair rubbing her wrist. She went to the dresser, pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt that said L.A.P.D. in big black letters. When Roffman saw the shirt he shook his head.
Reluctantly she tossed it black into the drawer and pulled one out that she had bought during their shopping trip. It had Gatlinburg printed on it.
"This OK?" she snapped and disappeared into the bathroom. Bo watch her go with a small smile on his lips, she sure had guts.
Susan started to close the bathroom door, "Not all the way Bo said, so she left it open a crack.
She stood looking at herself in the mirror for a few seconds wondering why this was happening again. She looked down at the top of the sink her make-up bag caught her eye. Suddenly she had an idea, it was chancy but if she didn't get caught it could help who ever came looking for them.
Susan grabbed a red lipstick from the bag and wrote of the mirror. 'Mel Roffman has us. He is taking us up into the mountains to a cabin.' When she was finished she quickly slipped on her jeans and sweatshirt.
Bo pushed open the door, "What's . . . " he saw the mirror and looked at Susan intently, she held he breath. "What's taking you so long? Get out here!"
Susan slipped passed the guard and started across the room. Bo gave her a look of warning, "Socks and shoes!"
"Just hurry it up," he snapped as he closed the bathroom door. He hoped Roffman didn't feel the call of nature before they left. When Susan had on her shoes, Bo tied her up then let Hutch go. "Make it quick."
Hutch also went to the dresser to retrieve his clothes. As he started toward the bathroom Bo stopped him, "You just change right here."
Hutch looked over at Susan she just barely nodded her head. With out a fight Hutch began changing his clothes. Roffman waited rather impatiently for the detective to finish.
"What do you want me to do with him?" Bo asked indicating Dukes body that was still laying where he fell.
"Leave him there," Roffman said. "Lets go." He went over and untied Susan, "If Hutchinson tries something he's dead in his tracks, if you try something he's dead."
Roffman put his hand on Susan's shoulder as they were walking out the door. Bo and Hutch were bringing up the rear. Susan stopped suddenly almost cause them to bump into her. She jerked away from Roffman, "Don't touch me again," she said between clenched teeth. He removed his had like he had been burnt.
Bo let out a soft chuckle, "You got something to say?" Roffman snapped. He put his hand on the butt of his gun.
"No sir," Bo said and pulled Hutch roughly down the stairs. He opened the rear door of the big black car and shoved Hutch in. Then he shoved Susan in she sat down next to Hutch.
As Roffman got in he motioned at her, "Other side," he sat down next to Hutch, then he pulled out his gun and pointed it at the male detective.
Bo got in behind the wheel and started the car. He looked in the rear view mirror, Susan was looking back at him. He smiled slightly then pulled out of the driveway.
​

                                                                                  CHAPTER FIVE

IT was well after midnight by the time Starsky, Lee and Huggy Bear arrived in Gatlinburg. They had rented a car at the airport and drove straight to the police station. Daniel Marsh, the police Captain was waiting for them. The three men were ushered into his office by a pretty young policewoman. Captain Marsh sat behind a large desk, he was in his late thirties. He had dark bushy hair and an equally bushy beard, hazel eyes and stood six feet four, he looked very bit like a mountain man. Or big foot if you had been reading Starsky's book.
Dan smiled grimly at them as they entered his office. After all introductions had been made he said, "Gentlemen have a seat."
"I take it by your expression my partners haven't been found yet?" Starsky ask.
The Captain shook his head, "Sorry all we have is a dead body. At least from the description that was given to you over the phone, it's not one of your partners. We are trying to identify the body but we are a small police force that mainly deals with robberies and people that party a little to much, not murders."
"Could we take a look at the body?" Lee asked.
"Sure, he's down stairs in the morgue," Marsh said, standing up. "If you will follow me."
When everyone was in the morgue the coroner slide out a drawer that was in the wall. A body covered with a white sheet appeared. The Coroner lifted the top half of the sheet that covered the dead man's face.
"Duke Calhoon," Starsky and Lee said at the same time.
"Who?" Dan asked looking rather surprised that they knew the dead man.
"Duke Calhoon," Starsky repeated. "He's a two bit hood that worked for Roffman. We've had trouble with him before."
Dan looked impressed, "I guess being a cop in a big city is very exciting?"
"It has it's moments," Lee said, then added. "It's also very dangerous."
"Mr. . . . uh Bear," the captain felt a little stupid addressing him like that. But he had only introduced himself as Huggy Bear, which Dan thought was a strange name anyway.
"Huggy is fine," the tall black man said.
Dan blushed slightly he didn't really know what to make of this crew from Los Angeles. He had never been out of Tennessee and only away from Gatlinburg a couple of times. He had been born and raised on the mountain, Dan was happy with his life. He had a wonderful wife, two kids and a dog. He didn't think too much about other places.
Dan's job was pretty simple, there really wasn't much trouble, just a lot of tourists. His police force did more traffic control than crime patrol. Not that they didn't have a robbery here or there, a few fights, some pick pockets. Gatlinburg was a safe place to live and visit.
"Huggy, did you know him?" the captain asked.
"Oh sure, he came into my place a few times," Huggy said peering over Starsky's shoulder at the body. Starsky had pulled back the sheet more to look at the bullet wound. He was asking the coroner some questions about it.
"Your place?" Dan asked puzzled.
"A bar called 'The Pit's'," Huggy told the man. "Service with a smile."
"Then you aren't a cop?" Dan asked.
"God no!" Huggy answered quickly.
"Huggy," Starsky scolded. "Don't make it sound like cops have the plaque or something." He turned to Captain Marsh. "Huggy is just a very good friend or ours. He also helps us out with information on the streets from time to time."
"Oh I see," Dan said, not really sure he saw at all. ""Would you like to see the cabin? One of your partners left a message."
"Message?" Starsky dropped the sheet back over the corpse.
"It's written on the bathroom mirror in lipstick," Dan told them. "Come on, it's about a thirty minute drive. Unless you want to get some rest first."
"Let's go," Starsky said. "I'm not resting until I find my partners."
"That could take awhile. There is a lot of mountain out there," Dan said. "The park rangers along with the police force will start an all out search at first light."
"Morning?" Starsky growled. "What's wrong with right now?"
"Look Detective Starsky, I know you are a hot shot cop from L. A. But those woods out there are dark. There are drop offs, snakes, bears, any number of things that can end a man's life. The mountains are beautiful but they can also be dangerous. Even for trained personnel.
"But Susan and Hutch are wandering around out there," Starsky protested.
"Hopefully this nut that has them is smart enough to hold up some where," Dan said as he lead them from the building. The four men climbed in a truck that said Gatlinburg Police on the side.
The trip took them about thirty minutes just as Dan Marsh had said. Starsky and Lee filled in the captain on Mel Roffman. They told him how Roffman had kidnapped Starsky and Dobey two years ago. Dan was more than amazed at the story. It sounded like some kind of TV cop show. Listening to the two detectives made Dan very glad that he had stayed in Gatlinburg instead of moving to the big city. Now all he wanted to do was find these two missing cops, so he could get back to what he was sure they would consider a boring life.
Dan pulled up in front of the rental office, a man stepped out of the office door, he came down the steps and shook hands with the captain.
"Hey Don," Dan said, then turning to the detectives and Huggy. "This is Don Bowers, I believe you spoke to him on the phone Detective Starsky."
Starsky stepped forward and shook the mangers hand, "Glad to meet you," Starsky said. "Thank you for your help."
Bowers nodded, "I just wish I could have been more."
"They would like to see the cabin," Marsh told the manger.
"Sure thing," they all piled back into the truck. With directions from Bowers they found the cabin. There was a police car sitting out side the cabin and an officer at the door. The cabin was a blaze with lights.
The three from L.A., the manger and Captain climbed the stairs to the porch, "Tommy how's it going?" Marsh asked his man.
The officer shrugged, "All's quiet," Tommy Seeger was totally bored standing out in the dark. He wasn't real sure what he was supposed to be guarding. The body had been removed long ago but his captain had posted there until the L.A. cops showed up. "No one's been around."
"Fine," Dan smiled at him. "Go get some rest, we have a big day tomorrow."
"Thanks boss," Tommy said as he yawned. "See ya in the morning." The officer headed to his cruiser with out waiting to be introduced to the detectives.
Captain Marsh opened the cabin door. Every light in the place was on there was a huge bloodstain in the middle of the floor where Duke had laid. Other than that and some groceries scattered around the room was in order.
Starsky stepped in something he looked down. He was standing in a puddle of melted ice cream. Making a face Starsky stepped over the rest of the mess. "Looks like they were surprised when they came in from the store."
"Hey look at this," Lee was kneeling by the couch. He held up an empty hypodermic needle.
Starsky took it from him, holding it up to the light, Starsky said, "I wonder what was in it?"
Dan came forward holding out a small baggie, "We haven't really gone over the place yet," he apologized.
Huggy held up the rope the two detectives had been tied up with, "Looks like they were tied up.
"Here's the bathroom," Dan called as he opened the door and flipped on the light switch.
Starsky stepped into the bathroom, he stared at the words written on the mirror. Then he looked at his reflection, he already looked tired and needed a shave, "They could be anywhere," he said mournfully not really to anybody.
"You're right about that. They had at least a two or three hour start on us. That was about how long the body had been dead," Marsh said also stepping into the small room.
Starsky looked at Marsh's reflection, "Do you think they will be all right?"
"Depends on how smart this Roffman guy is. Sounds like he may have had this planned out. There are hunting cabins scattered all through these mountains. Maybe he had someone scout one out for him."
"Now what do we do?" Starsky ask.
"We wait for day break," Dan said leaving the bathroom. He knew it was hard to just sit and wait. He also knew how he would feel if it was someone out there that he cared about. But there was nothing he could do about it until daylight. "You guys got any where to stay yet?"
"We came right to the station," Lee answered.
"You look like you could use a meal and some sleep," Dan said. Starsky was still standing in the bathroom staring at the mirror. "Detective Starsky, you hungry?"
He came out of the bathroom, "Yeah I guess," Starsky said distractedly.
It was totally dark by the time Bo stopped the car. He pulled right up to the edge of a steep drop off. The guard got out, went around to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
Inside the car Roffman poked the gun into Hutch's ribs and motioned for him to get out. When Hutch emerged from the car Bo stopped what he was doing. He pulled his gun out of his belt and held it on the detective.
Roffman leaned over and hissed at Susan, "One wrong move and your boy friend is dead."
Susan gave Roffman a steady look then got out of the car. The air was cold,she huddled close to Hutch wishing she had remembered jackets. Hutch put his arm around her Bo came up and handed both of them blankets. He gave them a quick smile then went back to the trunk. The two detectives gave each other puzzled looks. They weren't exactly sure what was going on with Bo. But he seemed to be on their side.
"You want to hurry up back there?" Roffman yelled from inside the car. He had his gun trained on the officers.
Susan and Hutch wrapped the blankets tightly around themselves. He slipped his hand into hers they stood waiting for what Roffman had planned next. Bo came around the car again, this time he was carrying two large backpacks and a heavy coat. He handed one of the packs to Hutch, the coat to Roffman and put the second pack on his own back.
As he put on the pack Hutch thought about telling Susan to run. There would be no way Roffman could find them in the dark and the detective was getting the feeling Bo wasn't exactly with Roffman any more. The only thing that stopped Hutch was the threat he had made against Jesse. Roffman was a powerful man and could carry out the threat with just one phone call.
"Come on," Bo grabbed Hutch's arm. As Susan and Roffman stood off to the side Bo and Hutch went to the back of the car. Softly Bo said, "Roffman is nuts."
"You just figuring that out?" Hutch whispered.
Bo shot him a dirty look, "Do you want my help or not?"
"And how do I know you're not setting me up to get shot?"
"I want out of this just as much as you do. You saw what he did to Duke," There was a slight sound of panic in Bo's voice. "I don't want to go out in those woods, there's bears and . . . "
"Would you to get a move on!" Roffman bellowed. "We have got a long way to go."
"Do you know where this cabin is?" Hutch asked as he started pushing on the car.
"No, I'm not even sure if that crazy old man knows either," Bo grunted as he helped Hutch. Suddenly the car began rolling by it's self. The two men stepped back and watched it crash down the mountainside and disappear into the trees and brush below.
"Let's go," Roffman said. He was standing directly behind them. They both jumped wondering if he had heard them talking.
Bo turned Hutch around and took out three flashlights from the back pack. He snapped one of them on and handed it to Susan then passed on to Hutch. Bo kept one for himself, Roffman slipped one out of his pocket.
Roffman shined the light into the woods, there was a small path between two tall pine trees. He pushed a pine bough aside and motioned the rest to follow. Susan fell in behind the old man, then Hutch but Bo hung back. He was terrified to go into the woods, he was a city boy.
Roffman looked over his shoulder and saw Bo standing on the outskirts of the clearing, "Bo!" he shouted. Reluctantly Bo followed Hutch.
There was a crashing sound in the woods a head of them, Roffman hesitated for a moment then pushed on. Susan stained to see in the darkness, the flash lights didn't give off much light. She could hear things scurrying away from them as the walked. Some thing lit on the side of her face, she gasp then brushed it off.
"You OK?" Hutch asked putting his hand on her shoulder. Susan jumped then gave an uneasy laugh when she realized it was Hutch.
"Just a bug," she answered over her shoulder. About that time her foot caught on a fallen tree branch and she went down hard on both knees.
"Damnit Roffman!" Hutch shouted, as he knelt next to his fallen partner. Susan had come down on a jagged tree stump with her right knee. It had torn her jeans and went into her knee.
Roffman backtracked, he shined his light into Susan's face, "Get up," he ordered.
"She's hurt," snapped Hutch examining her knee. When he pulled out the splinter wood the puncture wound began bleeding profusely.
Susan grimaced in pain, Bo knelt next to the detectives, he slid the backpack from his back. Bo search through it for a moment then produced a small first aid kit. "Is she OK?"
"It looks pretty bad, but I don’t think anything is broken," Hutch told him as he took the first aid kit.
"Get on your feet," Roffman demanded again.
"Listen you crazy . . . " Hutch began.
Bo put his hand on the detectives shoulder. "Mr. Roffman, her knee is pretty bad. Let Hutchinson fix her up," Bo cajole his boss. "She's not going to be able to walk like that."
Roffman grumbled but relented. He walked a few steps away and sat down on a tree stump. Hutch with Bo's help patched up Susan's knee the best they could. The two men helped her to her feet, she was able to walk but limped badly. Her other knee was badly bruised but wasn't cut. Susan wrapped the blanket tightly around herself against the cold.
"From now on watch you step," Roffman growled curtly. "The next one that gets hurt I'm going to shoot."
Susan limped along with Hutch supporting her. It was slow going which infuriated the old man even more. He kept turning around threatening he was going to shoot the female detective.
An hour and a half later they entered a small clearing, it was almost two in the morning. Roffman had slowed down some as they got higher into the mountains, which Susan was thankful for. Her knees were very painful and the injured one was beginning to stiffen up. Everyone was dead tired when they arrived in the clearing. The silhouette of a small cabin appeared in the moonlight.
As they approached the cabin, it was clear it hadn't been used in a very long time. Roffman pushed open the door, it squeaked loudly in protest. The two detectives followed him in while Bo remained out side. He was gathering wood that had been piled against the rickety cabin.
In side the cabin, it was dark, Roffman fumbled around in his pocket and produced a book of matches. Shining his flashlight around, he found a small table with a lantern on it. He picked it up and shook it, there was a soft splash. He smiled then struck a match and lit it.
The lamp bathed the room in a soft light, which revealed two chairs one of which was broken. Against the back wall of the cabin was a fireplace. Bo entered the building with an arm full of wood, which he dumped in the fireplace. He took off his backpack and set to work building a fire. Hutch took off his pack and went to help Bo. As the two men worked silently, Roffman dusted off the only usable chair. He sat down leaving Susan to leaning against the wall. She stood there watching the fire being built finally she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. Hutch instantly went to her side to make sure she was all right.
"I'm fine," she assured him. "Just tired and my knee is killing me."
"Let me look at it," Hutch said softly. He gently pulled her pant leg open.
"Get over there and help with the fire," Roffman ordered.
"I've got it going Mr. Roffman," Bo said as the kindling caught and began to burn. "Why don't you get some rest, I'll watch these two."
Roffman glared at the detectives in the growing light. He wasn't sure he could trust Bo any more but if he didn't get some rest he wouldn't live to see Carlston die. Bo gave his boss a sleeping bag, Roffman spread it out by the fire and climbed in. He was very tired and his chest had been hurting for the last thirty minutes.
Bo handed Hutch the first aid kit then fished around in the pack again. He produced a small bottle of pills, which he took to Roffman along with a bottle of water. Hutch was to busy with Susan's leg to notice but she didn't miss a thing. She intended to find out what Roffman was taking medicine for.
Hutch took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and poured it in the wound, "Ow!" Susan cried out and pulled up her knee, which hurt even more. Bo looked over at them but Roffman didn't move he was all ready sound asleep.
Bo came over to them, he rolled out another sleeping bag next to Susan, "Here you take this," he said. "Roffman would only let me bring two."
"Thanks," she smiled at him gratefully. It was strange for this thug to be helping two cops but she was glad to have him. Susan was sure Roffman would have already killed them if it wasn't for Bo.
"How's the knee?" Bo asked as he shined the flashlight on it so they could get a better look.
The wound was still full of dirt and bits of wood. Hutch cleaned it out the best he could then applied some antibiotic cream, hoping that would hold off any infection.
"What's he taking?" Susan asked nodding toward the sleeping form of Roffman.
Hutch looked up at her puzzled, "Taking?"
"It's his heart," Bo said softly. "This is going to kill him."
"What a shame," Hutch said in a sarcastic voice. "Why don't we just get out of here?"
"Do you know the way out in the dark?" Bo asked. He dug around in the pack and came out with a hand full of candy bars. He passed out the candy.
"It's too dark," Hutch admitted glancing out the window. "Maybe we can get away from him tomorrow. Or maybe he'll do us a favor and drop dead."
Bo grinned at the detective in the darkness, "He's not that easy to get rid of."
"Tell me about it," Susan said as she munched on the candy. "It seems he's been a thorn in my side forever."
Bo looked at them both seriously, "I'm sorry." Then he smiled, "I never thought I would be saying that to a cop. I didn't know what he was up to until I was in to deep. I had a real job, you know I was making it, I was . . . . " he stopped. "We had better get some rest."
Bo took Susan's blanket, wrapped it around himself and sat leaning against the door. He did it more for show than to keep the detectives from escaping.
​

                                                                              CHAPTER SIX

A loud bang jerked Starsky from an uneasy sleep. He grabbed his gun that was lying on the table next to the bed. Then as he got his barring Starsky realized where he was.
Marsh had finally insisted that they check into a motel and get some rest. Starsky lay down his gun and staggered from the bed. On his way to the door the detective stubbed his toe on the cot Huggy Bear was sleeping in. Lee was in the other bed, he sat up looking around.
Starsky opened the door, Dan Marsh stood there looking like he hadn't been to bed, which he hadn't. Marsh had spent the rest of the night getting search parties organized and supplies readied, "'Morning," he said as Starsky rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Is it?" the detective asked groggily.
Marsh nodded, "Any of you know how to ride a horse?"
"Horse?" Starsky asked blinking at the captain.
"I have a group going out on horse back," Marsh explained. "I have a couple of extra animals."
By this time Lee and Huggy joined Starsky in the door way, "I don't think I've ever seen a horse in person," Huggy said rubbing his hand through his short cropped hair. "Well except for the track that is."
Starsky glanced at Huggy over his shoulder, "I think we'll stick to walking."
"Well then how about flying?" Dan asked, "Got a chopper going up in about an hour."
Lee stepped forward, "I'll go up."
"Can you see that much from the air?" Starsky asked curiously.
"It's not easy but there are clearings," the captain explained. If they start a fire you can see the smoke from the air easier."
After a quick breakfast and a call to Captain Dobey the three west coasters were ready to go. Lee went with Officer Tommy Seeger, who they had seen at the cabin a few hours before. Starsky and Huggy Bear went back to the cabin to see if they could pick up Hutch and Susan's trail.
There was a large group of people waiting when they arrived at the cabin. Some were Officers, some were park rangers but most were locals. Starsky was amazed by the turn out, "Who are all these people?"
Marsh smiled, "Just the locals, when everyone heard what was going on they volunteered to help with the man hunt."
"You wouldn't see anything like this in L.A.," Huggy said looking around just as amazed as Starsky.
"We better get moving, they already have a good head start on us," Marsh motioned for them to follow him. "Over here we found some tire tracks. They don't match the Bronco your partners were driving. It maybe the vehicle Roffman was in. The tracks head off this way." He pointed up the mountain ahead.
Starsky bent down to examine the tracks, then he looked up the road, "Do you think they are still in the car?"
"I would doubt it, you can't get to any cabins up there by car," Marsh told him. "You either hike or go by horse back."
The group of about thirty men including Captain Marsh, Starsky and Huggy Bear began the long trek up the curvy mountain road. As the group walked they watched for any signs along the way that would give them a clue.
They had walked almost an hour when they reached the spot where Bo had pulled off the road. The tracks lead to the edge of a steep embankment then disappeared. Starsky stood at the edge of the drop off looking around. Everyone else fanned out checking for signs.
Dan Marsh walked up next to the detective and also looked down. Suddenly he sucked in his breath. Starsky gave him a puzzled looked, "What is it?"
Dan pointed at several tree branches that were freshly broken, "I think that may be where they ditched the car."
"Where?" Starsky ask looking around.
"Down there," Dan pointed down the embankment, "See how everything is broken?"
Starsky looked down the incline again, all he could see were pine trees, bushes and weeds. Dan yelled for someone to bring him a rope. A police car that was patrolling the road pulled in. Dan told him to bring the car to the edge of the embankment. He tied the rope to the car then threw the rest down the mountainside. Slowly hand over hand he climbed down the rope disappearing into the trees.
"I found the car," Marsh shouted up.
"Any sign of anyone?" Starsky yelled back.
"No," came the reply.
Starsky didn't know if he should be relieved or not. At least he figured they were still alive. The officer got in the squad car and radioed for a tow truck.
Just as Dan topped the ridge of the drop off, someone shouted from the woods. Starsky took out on a dead run Huggy followed him. Dan pulled up the rope, coiling it around his shoulder as he went. Once he got it wound up he tossed it on the ground next to the squad car. Dan then started off in the direction the shout had come from. When the captain caught up with them, Starsky was bent over looking at a fallen tree that lay across an almost nonexistent path. There were several pieces of gauze laying around soaked with blood., the detective held up a small piece of demin.
Dan took the piece of fabric from Starsky, "Looks like someone has been hurt."
"It’s either Susan or Hutch," Starsky said shakily, he took back the piece of cloth.
"How can you tell that?" Dan asked puzzled.
"I don’t think Mel Roffman is the blue jean type," Starsky explained. "And I doubt if he would allow his employees to wear it either."
"Even up here?" Marsh was really having a hard time understanding Roffman. He decided the guy must be nuts. The way Starsky description him, Roffman had to be almost seventy and was tromping around in the mountains because a cop had put him in jail. Dan Marsh shook his head.
"What?" Starsky ask him.
"Nothing I just can’t believe what a nut this Roffman is and now you’re telling me he’s wandering around in a three piece suit?" Dan looked at Starsky who just shrugged. He was impressed how much this man cared for his partners. He hoped that he would get a chance to sit down and talk with the three of them at some length. Hopefully they would find Carlston and Hutchinson alive. Not only was he worried about Roffman killing them, but there were the elements to contend with too. It got very cold at night, there were also bears and snakes, they could fall down a mountainside in the dark. There were endless possibilities of ways to get hurt or killed in the mountains. It was clear that someone was already hurt. Dan wondered if Roffman was prepared for life in the mountains or if all he could see was getting his revenge.
Starsky sat down on the same fallen tree Susan had tripped over only hours earlier, he put his head in his hands. A feeling of totally hopelessness had washed over him, the detective was completely out of his element.
Dan put a hand on Starsky’s shoulder, "We’ll find them, there are a lot of us looking. Most of these guys know the mountains well, they were born and raised here."
Huggy came running down the narrow path. He looked very out of place in the woods even thought he had left his loud suits behind in L.A. He opted for jeans and a black turtle neck, but Huggy still didn’t look like the out door type. "Captain Marsh," Huggy called out of breath. He stopped at the tree trying to catch his breath. "It just came over the radio in the squad car. Lee and Officer Seeger spotted a cabin a few miles from here with smoke coming from the chimney."
"It’s them!" Starsky exclaimed as he jumped up and headed down the path.
"Take it easy," Dan called after him. "You go crashing around you are libel to get shot from the way this guy sounds. Or you could get your partners killed." Marsh then called to everybody, "There is a cabin in a clearing a couple of miles a head. The officers we are looking for could be there. Lets spread out move as quietly as you can but quickly we don’t want to lose them. We will surround the cabin, nobody and I mean nobody makes a move with out a sign form me." He looked pointedly at Starsky.
Starsky nodded, there were murmurs from the others, then everyone moved out. It seemed to Starsky that it took forever to get to the clearing. He remembered how much he really hated the woods, it brought back memories of the trip he and Hutch had taken. That had been the last time he had played nature boy. Starsky had swore then that he would never go in the woods again but here he was again. He couldn’t understand why people thought walking around in the woods was so wonderful. All he wanted was a pool, a bunch of beautiful girls, and cool beer and he was happy.
Starsky was trudging alone thinking when he walked into the back of Dan who had stopped on the path in front of him, "Hey!" the detective exclaimed.
The captain suddenly crouched down hauling Starsky with him. Huggy came up behind them and ducked behind a bush. The cabin was about twenty feet in front of them, a small wisp of smoke escaped from the chimney. The entire cabin was surrounded no one moved or made a sound.
Dan Marsh cleared this throat and called out, "This is the police, come out with your hands up."
There was no moment from the cabin everyone held their position. Dan repeated his message still the door didn’t open. He made the signal to move in, slowly the men closed in on the small cabin. Dan and Starsky stepped up on the rickety porch. They each took a side of the door. One high one low, just like he and Hutch always did. Starsky felt a tug at his heart, he was afraid of what he would find. What if he found them dead, his two best friends and poor little Jesse . . .
Dan kicked in the door it opened easily. The force of his kick knocked the door off its hinges. The door landed with a loud bang on the cabin floor sending a cloud of dust into the air. The room was empty, a fire smoked in the small stone fireplace. There were candy wrappers and more bloody gauze on the floor. It was apparent who ever was hurt was still bleeding.
Several men joined the two officers in the cabin, they looked around at the empty room, "Not much to go on," a man that only introduced himself as John said.
Dan shook his head, "Tell the guys to spread out, look around the perimeter of the clearing. Maybe we can find where they reentered the woods."
The man nodded and left. Starsky wandered around the small cabin, he kicked the chair that Roffman had left sitting by the fireplace. The chair crashed to the floor. Starsky heaved a huge sigh, he wasn’t sure if it was relief at not finding them dead or disappointment that they had just missed them.
Dan came up behind Starsky, "They can’t be to far ahead."
There was a shout from out side, both men dashed to the door. A man wearing an orange vest was waving frantically from the edge of the clearing. Dan and Starsky ran to where everyone was gathering. The man pulled up a low hanging branch, there was a piece of white gauze tied to it.
"Your partners," Dan stated, Starsky smiled and nodded. "Well we know they are alive."
"And they are leaving us a trail," Starsky untied the piece of cloth and put it in the pocket of his brown leather jacket. "Let’s go." He went on a head, this time Dan didn’t stop him but instead followed the detective.
About a half a mile later they found another piece of gauze. For the next several hours the search party found torn pieces of gauze hanging from tree branches and bushes. Then suddenly the stripes of gauze stopped. Starsky thought that maybe they had run out but Dan spotted a place on the ground that didn’t look right to him. He stopped the group, Dan dug around in a pile of leaves and produced a roll of gauze.
"My God," Starsky exclaimed looking at Marsh’s hands. "Your hands."
Dan who had just thought his hands were damp from the wet leaves looked down. They were covered with blood, a lot of it. "Spread out, look around!" Dan ordered as he wiped his hands on the back of his jeans.
There were only about fifteen men with them now. Dan had sent the other half a slightly different direction just in case Roffman double back. The men were kicking piles of leaves and looking under fallen trees. It was clear that they were looking for a body.
Starsky looked at Dan stricken, "You think there is a body close by don’t you?"
"There is an awful lot of blood," Dan said. "Looks like maybe Roffman found out what they were doing."
Starsky nodded grimly. After stomping around in the area everyone was relieved not to find a body. "Now what?" Starsky ask. He was holding the roll of half used gauze.
"Well, it will be harder to track them but it can be done." Dan tried to reassure him. "Most of these men are hunters, they track dear and bear. People aren’t much different."
Starsky frowned at Dan, he didn’t like his partners being in the same category as wild animals, "It will be getting dark soon, then what?"
"We’ll have to make camp, it’s just as dangerous for us to wonder around in the dark," Marsh said.
"Camp?" Starsky looked around the woods that were already starting to dim. The last time he had spent the night in the woods a group of Satanist had tried to kill him and Hutch.
Dan had to smile at the expression on his fellow officers face, "Don’t care for the woods?" Starsky shook his head, "We will keep going as long as we can. Maybe they will stop before we do and we’ll gain some time. From the blood we found somebody is hurt pretty bad, that should slow them down a lot."
Starsky just prayed it wasn’t Hutch or Susan that was bleeding that badly. He put the roll of gauze in his pocket for safe keeping and followed Marsh.
​

                                                                                     CHAPTER SEVEN

WHEN Susan awoke the next morning it was dim in the cabin. The fire was moldering in the fireplace and Bo was gone from his post at the door. In fact he wasn’t even in the cabin, Susan wondered if he had just left them. Hutch was still sound asleep next to her. She started to get up but a pain shot through her knee that made her catch her breath.
Susan pulled open her jeans to look at her knee. The night before Hutch had cut it open the leg just past her knee so he could get a better look at it. Her knee was badly bruised and an angry red, it was clearly infected. The knee was also swollen twice it’s normal size. Susan wasn’t even sure she could stand on it much less walk. She flexed the knee a couple of time hoping to relieve some of the stiffness. Then painfully got to her feet, she hobbled over to the dying fire. The detective stuck out her hands for some warmth.
"Cold?" came a voice from the corner.
Startled Susan spun around almost falling. Roffman was sitting in a chair not far from where she was standing. "A little," she admitted. Susan moved closer to her kidnapper, "Roffman," she began, then softer. "Mel, please let us go, this is crazy. You shouldn’t be out here, it’s not good for your heart."
"What do you know about my heart!" Roffman snapped.
"Mel please let us go," she continued softly.
"NO!"
"Then let Hutch go, we have our daughter that needs at least one parent," Susan pleaded, "I don’t want her growing up alone."
"He would be down the mountain and have the whole police force on me," Roffman peered at her in the growing light. Do you think I’m a fool?"
Susan didn’t answer that she was fighting for Hutch’s life, if not her own. "You could tie him up, leave Hutch here in the cabin. We would be long gone before he got loose or someone found him."
The old man looked at her thoughtfully for a few minutes giving Susan a glimmer of hope, "No I can’t do that," he said slowly.
"Don’t you have children?" Susan asked desperately.
Roffman’s face hardened, "I did, when they found out who I was they disowned me. I haven’t seem my son and daughter in over twenty years."
"I’m sorry," Susan said sitting down at Roffman’s feet. "That must be hard for you. What about your wife?"
"She died when the kids were young," he said sadly. "She never agreed with what I did so I kept my business to myself. After she died I sent the kids off to boarding school. When Patrick was twenty-one and Cassy was twenty they found out who I was. They left right then and I have never seen them since. I have kept track of them over the years. Pat is a lawyer and Cassy a doctor."
"Have you tried to contact them?" Susan glanced over at Hutch, who was awake and propped up on one elbow listening.
"No, what’s the point they made their feelings known years ago," he hung his head, Susan could barely hear him.
"People change as they get older. Maybe they would be more understanding now. You could be a grandfather."
"They know where I am," he said painfully. "And as a matter of fact I am a grandfather."
"Mel please, please let us go," Susan pleaded again.
Roffman stood up so suddenly he tipped over the chair he was sitting in, "I said no!" He walked to the cabin door and slung it open, "Bo!" he hollered.
Bo came running around the side of the cabin with an armload of wood, "Yes Mr. Roffman?"
"Let’s get going," Roffman ordered.
"But I was going to get a fire going and have breakfast," Bo said dropping the wood on the porch.
"Forget it, we are getting out of here now," Roffman growled.
Hutch was checking out Susan’s knee when Bo entered the cabin, Roffman remained outside. The detective was in the process of wrapping his partner's knee to try and keep more dirt out. Bo crouched down next to them, "He wants us to get moving."
Hutch nodded and handed him the first aid kit. But before Bo packed the kit away he removed one roll of gauze and slipped it into his pocket.
"Come on," Bo said offering Susan a hand which she took. Hutch grabbed her other arm and they both helped her to her feet. "How’s your leg?"
"Not good, I think it’s getting worse," she grimaced in pain.
"Can you walk?" Hutch asked, she could hear the concern in his voice.
"I think so."
Roffman yelled from outside, "Let’s move IT! I’m sure Duke’s body has been found by now, the cops are probably looking for us."
Hutch picked up the pack he had carried up the mountain and put it on his back. Then he put his arm around Susan’s waist and helped her out the door. Bo brought up the rear. He hung back as Roffman and the detectives disappeared into the woods. Bo took the roll of gauze from his pocket and tore off a small piece. He then tied it to a branch where
they entered the woods. Every so often he would tear off another strip tying it to a branch or bush.
After a few hours Roffman stopped, "What have you got to eat?"
Bo moved past the officers taking of his pack as he went. Roffman sat down on a fallen log Bo knelt next to the old man. He pulled out cans of deviled ham, crackers and bottles of water. He handed a can of meat along with crackers and water to his boss. Then Bo offered Susan and Hutch some food, which they gratefully took. They sat down near Roffman while Bo took his food and sat down against a tree. He took out the roll of gauze and tore off a piece as he ate.
The guard was so engrossed in eating and tying the strip of cloth to a near by branch he didn’t see Roffman get up. The old man crept almost cat like over to where Bo was. Roffman pulled out a gun from the waistband of his slacks. Susan started to say something but Hutch nudged her so she kept silent afraid the old man would turn the gun on them.
The next thing Bo knew he was laying on the ground, his right shoulder burned like hell and Roffman was standing over him with a gun in his hand.
"Mel!" Susan yelled as she tried to jump to her feet. Hutch grabbed her arm trying to keep her down. She jerked away from Hutch, almost knocking herself to the ground. Susan had grown fond of Bo after all he was helping them as much as he could.
Roffman wheeled around aiming the gun at the female detective then at Hutch who was still sitting on the ground, "You stop right there cop," Roffman growled then turned to Bo. "You trader, you have been leaving a trail, haven’t you!"
Bo just moaned Susan’s mouth dropped open and Hutch got to his feet. Susan looked at her partner with pleading eyes. Hutch rolled his eyes and started toward Roffman, "Come on Roffman, put the gun down."
Roffman turned back toward the two detectives again and fired a shot over Hutch’s head, "Do you want to die right now? I can put us all out of our misery, how ‘bout it?"
"Mel please," Susan said, she was clinging to Hutch’s shoulder for support. Then she hobbled to where Bo was laying, Susan knelt next to him, "Are you hurt bad?"
It’s my shoulder," Bo said weakly as he tried to get up.
Susan said, "Don’t move." Then she called to her partner, "Hutch, I need your help."
Hutch sidestepped Roffman going to Susan’s side. He grabbed Bo’s pack and pulled out the first aid kit they had been using on Susan. What do you need me to do?"
Susan unbuttoned Bo’s shirt, the bullet had caught him high in the shoulder. Fortunately the bullet had gone all the way through. Susan pulled out a second roll of gauze from the kit. She rolled off some and folded it up, "Here hold this on the back of his shoulder," she ordered as she rolled off more gauze. Susan placed it where the bullet had entered Bo’s shoulder. Then she ripped off some lengths of tape and taped the gauze in place. "Find something to make a sling with."
Roffman had been standing watching the officers work on Bo. He hadn’t said anything since he had threaten to shoot them. But when Hutch produced a white shirt from the pack and began tearing it up Roffman shouted, "Hey that’s my shirt!"
Hutch leaped to his feet, "You shut up and sit down now!"
The old man opened his mouth but then thought better of it. He went back and sat on the log he had been sitting on. Roffman picked up the can of meat and crackers and went back to eating. He kept a watchful eye on them though.
Susan finished Bo’s shoulder and Hutch handed her the sling he had made from Roffman’s shirt. Hutch then held out a couple of aspirin to Bo, who popped them in his mouth. He chewed them up not waiting for the water Susan was holding out to him.
"Time to go," Roffman said getting up from the log.
"You have got to be kidding," Susan shouted. Hutch put his hand on her shoulder, hoping to stop her but he knew it was to late. Susan was at her boiling point, "You’ve killed Duke, shot Bo, I can’t hardly walk. What are you going to do next sic a bear on us, throw us to the snakes, freeze us to death or is it starvation you are thinking of? I’m sorry you picked the life style you have, I’m sorry it was job to bust you. How much more to you think we can take? How much more can you take?" She was out of breath by the time she was finished. Tears were streaming down her face spent Susan flopped down on a tree stump not even noticing the pain in her knee.
Roffman turned and started down the path as though he hadn’t heard a word she had said, "Just move it!" he said over his shoulder.
Susan stared after him in disbelief. Hutch shook his head, he looked down at Bo, "Can you walk?"
"I think so," Bo said hoarsely. This time it was Susan helping him to his feet along with Hutch.
"Do you know where he’s going?" Hutch whispered.
"No but I know there is at least two more cabins. It’s at the last one he plans to . . . ." Bo left the sentence hanging.
"Kill us?" Susan finished. The guard nodded.
"Probably me too," Bo said resigned to his fate. "I guess it’s coming to me but I don’t want to see you two die." He looked at Susan, "It’s not your fault he had a rotten life."
There was a series of shots they looked up to see Roffman standing on the path in front of them. He had come back to see what was taking them so long. When he saw his guard standing talking to the two cops he wanted to kill them all but he settled on firing several shots in the air over their heads.
Roffman advanced on Bo, he shoved the barrel of the gun in the middle of the wounded man’s chest, "You talk to them like that again or lag behind you are a dead man." Roffman stalked off in the direction he had come.
"I can walk, you guys go on," Bo told them. Susan gave him a doubtful look but followed after Roffman. Hutch picked up his pack along with Bo’s then ran to catch up with Susan.
It was beginning to get dark for the second time since Susan and Hutch had been kidnapped when Roffman grabbed his chest and went down to his knees. Susan started forward but Hutch grabbed her arm and stopped his partner. Bo pushed passed them, he crouched next to his boss who was now laying on the path.
"You OK Mr. Roffman?" Bo motioned to Hutch. "I need the pack." Hutch didn’t move he couldn’t believe Bo was willing to help Roffman. If nothing else Bo still had some loyalty to his boss, "Please."
Susan nudged her partner forward, "We can’t just watch him die."
"Why not," Hutch said through clenched teeth but handed the back to the guard.
Bo took the bag with his good arm, "Thanks."
Hutch nodded and stepped back next to Susan, "Run," he whispered.
"What?" she whispered back. "Like I can run? Besides it’s getting dark."
"Just do it," Hutch ordered. "Start backing off until you are out of sight, go now!"
"Hutch, I don’t want to leave you along with them," she said cocking her hear toward Bo and Roffman.
"I’m not staying, as soon as I’m sure you are away safely, I’ll follow you. We’ll meet at the cabin we stayed at last night," Hutch kissed her on top of the head, "Now go on before it gets any darker." Reluctantly Susan started backing down the path, keeping her eyes on the two men on the ground. She heard Hutch say, "Don’t stop, don’t come back no matter what happens."
Susan nodded, then mouthed, "I love you." Then she was gone.
It was a full five minutes before Bo realized Susan was gone. Roffman was beginning to come around, "Hey where is the lady cop?" Bo looked around frantically. He was glad that she was gone but afraid that now Roffman would kill him.
Hutch was edging down the path when Roffman finally got to his feet, "You get Carslston back here," Roffman ordered rather weakly. Bo didn’t move the old man shoved him, "Now!"
Bo had made his mind up, "No Mr. Roffman, it’s over, let them go."
Mel Roffman pulled out his gun once again and pointed it at Hutch, "Fine, I’ll take care of them myself right now."
"NO!" Bo yelled stepping in front of the detective just as Roffman fired. The bullet hit him in the center of the chest, Bo crumpled to the ground. Roffman grabbed his own chest and toppled over Bo.
Hutch hesitated for only a second then ran to where the two men were laying. The detective checked Roffman for a pulse. It was very faint, he moved the old man off Bo then felt for a pulse on the guard.
Bo opened his eyes and looked up at Hutch, "You . . .go. . . on," he managed to get out. "Please."
"I’ll be back with help," Hutch promised as he grabbed both Roffman’s and Bo’s guns. With one last look at the man who had helped them more than hurt, Hutch dashed down the path that Susan had followed.
Susan was only a short distance away when she heard the gun shot. She froze then started back to where she had left Hutch. Then Susan remembered what he had said to her about not coming back no matter what. Then she thought of Jesse, she turned heading away from Hutch praying that he was all right.
Susan started to run the best she could. But this time she wasn’t even aware of how much pain she was in. All she could think of was getting down the mountainside to get help. She hoped that help was on the way up, because she wasn’t sure she could make it down in time.
The woods around her were almost pitch dark. Susan could hear animals scurrying around her as she lopped along. Suddenly she tripped and went down scrapping her arm on a near by tree. Trying to keep herself from falling on her already damaged knee. Susan managed to protect her knee but banged her other one badly and cut her forehead on a low hanging branch.
Slowly she got up and looked around trying to get her barring. Susan thought she heard something on the path just ahead. Hoping it wasn’t a bear the detective started her hobbled run down the narrow path. Her hair tangled in a branch, Susan twisted her head around to loosen it. As she pulled her hair from the limb, Susan plodded into something in front of her. She slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming just in case Roffman was following her.
Susan looked up into a hair-covered face that towered above her. She thought she had found the legendary Big Foot, this time she did scream.


                                                                               CHAPTER EIGHT

STARSKY’S uneasiness was growing with the dimming light. He was impatient to find his partners and not looking forward to spending the night in the woods. Huggy Bear wasn’t too happy either and almost wished he had gone with Lee in the chopper. Flying had to be better than tromping around in the woods. Huggy couldn’t ever remember being in the woods before and decided that if he ever got home he wasn’t ever leaving the city again.
Dan and the rest of the men were perfectly at home in the mountains and didn’t give a second thought to the darkening sky or the animals lurking in the bushes. Dan slowed down allowing Starsky to catch up with him, "We better start looking for a place to stop for the night, it’s getting to dark."
Starsky groaned, "But what about Hutch and Susan."
"They have most likely stopped for the night too," Dan said, "In just a little bit it will be too dark to move around safely."
Starsky allowed Dan to take the lead once again. The detective followed the captain closely. Suddenly Dan stopped dead still Starsky walked into the back of him, "What is it?" Starsky whispered. He could tell Dan was listening to something by the way he had cocked his head.
"I thought I heard something up a head," Dan said softly. "Deer maybe."
Starsky strained trying to listen but all he heard was the wind blowing the trees around. Dan started forward then stopped again, "Will you stop doing that," Starsky hissed. "It’s spooky enough without you doing that every two steps."
Dan laughed softly and shook his head, "You city boys."
There was a sound of a gun shot that echoed all around them, "I maybe a city boy but I know what that was," He started to run down the path.
Dan grabbed his arm once again to keep him out of trouble, "Wait!" he ordered. "You don’t know what you’re running into. Besides we don’t know how close that was. Shots can echo for miles around here."
Sighing Starsky nodded, and allowed Dan to take the lead once again. There was a loud crash almost in front of them. This time Starsky heard it too, he strained to see down the path. They moved slowly along, the other men spread out in the woods. Huggy was right on Starsky’s heels looking around nervously.
Suddenly something came stumbling down the narrow path and into Dan. The captain took a step backward, then realizing whom had run into him, he put his arms around her.
Everything happened so quickly that it took a few moments for Starsky to register that it was Susan that had just run into the search party. "Oh my God!" he cried. Starsky pulled Susan from Dan’s arms and hugged her to him. She was shaking and sobbing, "Susan," she didn’t respond to him. Starsky slightly shook his partner, "Susan, its Starsky."
Susan looked up into his face, recognition dawned on her, she wrapped her arms around him as tight as she could. "Starsky," she whispered.
"Where is Hutch?" he asked frantically when he realized that their partner wasn’t with her. He pushed her hair out of her face. "Where is Hutch?" he repeated.
"Hutch!" Susan pulled away from Starsky and started back up the path.
"Hold it," Dan called. "Just where do you think you’re going? Starsky, I want you and Huggy to take Detective Carlston back to the cabin we were at. I’ll get a couple of my men to go with you."
"NO!" she screamed trying to run down the path but her injuries prevented her from getting too far.
Dan grabbed Susan’s arm, "Listen to me, you’re hurt, you need medical attention."
"You aren’t going to get her back down this mountain with out Hutch," Starsky informed Dan. He put his arm around Susan’s waist, by this point she could hardly walk but she wasn’t going anywhere without Hutch.
The group had only gone a few steps when Hutch came barreling down the path from the same direction that Susan had come from. Both of his partners were over joyed to see he was unharmed.
Starsky turned loose of Susan and engulfed his partner in a big hug, "You OK buddy?"
"Yeah," Hutch managed to get out as he was trying to get his breath back. "But Roffman and Bo Hartman are back there. I think Roffman is dead and Bo is badly wounded, he could be dead by now."
"What happened to Bo?" Susan said sadly.
Starsky hiked his eyebrows at the concern in her voice. Hutch hugged her tightly to him, "Bo saved my life, Roffman was going to shoot me but Bo stepped between us and took the bullet."
"Is there a clearing up ahead?" Dan asked Hutch.
Hutch shook his head no, "We were on our way to a second cabin but I don’t know how far away we are from it."
"What happened to Roffman?" Starsky ask.
"Heart attach I think, he just barely had a pulse. I was more concerned with Bo," Hutch explained.
"We have to get Bo down," Susan pulled from Hutch’s embrace and once again started up the path.
Dan stared at her in amazement. Everything she had been through and instead of getting out she wanted to help the man who had helped kidnapped her.
"Let’s go," Hutch said and followed his determined partner. He knew there was no since in even trying to talk her out of it.
Both Huggy and Starsky looked at each other and sighed, so much for getting out. As they walked Hutch told them the details of the last twenty-four hours or so. Including how much help Bo had been to them and how he had been the one leaving the trail.
By the time the rescue party reached Roffman and Bo it was totally dark. The old man was dead but Bo was somehow still alive.
"Hi ya Starsky," Bo said softly when the detective leaned over him.
"Hi Bo," Starsky smiled at the injured man. "Thank-you for my partners lives."
Bo just barely nodded, "They came back."
"They wouldn’t leave without you," Starsky said as he covered him with a blanket Hutch handed him. "We are going to get you out of here."
"Just get them down," Bo whispered. Starsky had to lean close to his mouth in order to hear him.
"What did Bo say?" Susan wanted to know.
"He wants you and Hutch to get down the mountain," Starsky relayed what Bo had said.
"We aren’t going anywhere without you," Susan said. With some effort she sat down next to the guard and took his hand. "You are going to be just fine."
Bo gave her a weak smile then passed out. Susan looked at Starsky, "He’s still alive, you stay with him. I’m going to see how Dan plans on getting us out of this mess."
Susan pulled the blanket up around Bo’s chin to ward off the on coming cold. She was beginning to shake too. Someone, Susan wasn’t sure who dropped a blanket around her shoulders.
Dan was sitting on a log with several other men discussing how they were going to get down. It was plainly clear that the detectives weren’t going with out the kidnapper. Starsky joined them Hutch was going through the backpacks and Roffman’s pockets. In the old man’s shirt pocket Hutch found a folded piece of paper.
Hutch joined the group, "Maybe this will help," he handed Dan the paper. It was a map of the mountains with circles around the areas the cabins were to be found.
"Well according to this," Dan said shinning his flashlight on the map. "There should be a cabin about a half mile from here. That’s a lot closer that going back to the other cabin. We can spend the night there then the chopper can pick us up in the morning. We can use blankets as stretchers to carry those two." He indicated Roffman’s body and Bo who Susan was still sitting with. Dan looked at Hutch, "Can she make it or should we make a stretcher for her to."
"I can make it just fine thank you," Susan said. She had been listening to the conversation.
Dan nodded, "OK then, I’ll radio the chopper and let them know what’s going on.
Lee Marburg who was still in the helicopter let out a whoop of joy when he heard the news. The chopper pilot was just getting ready to go in when Marsh radioed. "Looks like your friends are all right," the pilot said to Lee.
As soon as they set down Lee rushed into the station to place a long distance call, "Dobey here," the black captain said in a tired voice. He had stayed in his office not wanting to go home in case there was any news. Edith tried to convince him that someone would call him at home but he refused to leave. Libby had been in and out of Dobey’s office all day, she had also stayed there.
"Captain, its Lee," he was bursting with the news, "I don’t know all the details yet but Susan and Hutch were just found, they are OK,"
Dobey sat back in his chair relieved, "How are you doing?"
"Me?" Lee laughed. "I’m fine, I’ve been riding around in a chopper. Starsky and Huggy were the ones on foot in the mountains."
Dobey chuckled, he knew how much Starsky hated the woods and didn’t imagine Huggy liked them any better, "Where are they?"
"Still up on the mountain. We are flying them out in the morning. Roffman is dead and Bo Hartman is wounded pretty bad," Lee informed the captain. "Somebody will call tomorrow as soon as they are down."
"OK," Dobey said. "Oh and Lee thanks again, seems like you are always coming to the rescue of my detectives."
"Hey I didn’t do anything this time," Lee said modestly.
"You were there and you informed me of Roffman’s escape," Dobey praised. "If you hadn’t done that, who knows what would have happened to them. Roffman could have killed Hutch and Susan before we even knew there was anything wrong."
They would have done the same thing for me," Lee said embarrassed at the captain's words.
"At any rate thanks," Dobey said and hung up before Lee could protest further.
It was around ten p.m. by the time the group made it to the next cabin. Most of the volunteers started back down the mountain as soon as the detectives had been found. A few stayed behind to help carry Roffman and Bo in make sift stretchers.
Susan was so tired she couldn’t take another step, she stopped as they entered the clearing. Suddenly her legs gave out on her and she sat down in a heap on the leaf cover ground. Starsky bent down scooping his partner up in his arms. Susan put her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.
Dan was the first one to the cabin. As he opened the door a skunk came waddling out, Dan jumped out of the way not wanting to get sprayed. But the skunk seemed more interested in getting to the cover of the woods. Once the skunk disappeared into the trees Dan motioned for everyone to join him. It wasn’t much of a cabin but a least it was out of the cold.
The three men that were carrying Roffman’s body wrapped it up tightly and laid him next to the cabin out side. Three other men brought Bo inside and laid him next to the fireplace. After Starsky put Susan down next to Bo, he went out to help Hutch find wood.
Someone found a lamp with a little fuel in it the light cast a soft glow around the room. As soon Starsky and Hutch returned with the wood, Dan set to work making a fire. Susan pulled the blanket away from Bo’s face once the room began to get warm.
There were still a few bottles of water left along with the supplies brought along by the search team. Hutch passed out the water then he went over and handed on to Susan. Then squatted down next to her, "How’s he doing?"
"I’m not sure but not good," she looked at Bo, he moaned softly.
Starsky came over joining his partners, "God Susan," he exclaimed, getting a really good look at her for the first time. Her long hair was wild with twigs and leaves hanging in it. She had a big gash on her forehead, dried blood all down her right arm and both knees were now cut and bleeding, "Are you all right? What happened to you?"
Hutch peered at her in the firelight. He examined her new wounds, then pulled out the first aid kit from one of the backpacks he had been carrying. "Really, what happened, you didn’t look that bad when you left me."
Hutch started cleaning the cut on her forehead, Susan smiled at him then said to Starsky, "Dr. Hutch, I think he missed his calling.
"Just hold still," Hutch ordered. "You going to tell us what happened?"
"It’s a long story," she said stretching out her legs so that Hutch could rebandaged the one knee and looked at the other one.
"We have all night," Starsky said smiling at her.
Some how Bo made it through the night. One of the men produced some beef jerky, which he passed around. Susan fell asleep with her head in Hutch’s lap. He watched over her and Bo all night as Starsky prowled the cabin not wanting to sleep. Everytime he would close his eyes he would see those nuts in black capes coming after him. Huggy sat next to the fire and dozed.
At daybreak the last six volunteers started back down the mountain. About eight a.m. the chopper radioed that they were on the way. Since it was a small helicopter it could only hold a few passengers at a time. The first trip the chopper took Roffman’s body and Bo. Then Hutch and Susan which left Dan, Starsky and Huggy behind. Huggy was now suddenly wanting to walk down, in the light of day the chopper wasn’t looking to good.
By the time Starsky and Huggy met up with Susan and Hutch they had both been checked out by doctors. Susan had her cuts cleaned and bandage. Her knee had to the stitched up but there was no permanent damage. Hutch had been given a clean bill of health. Bo was resting comfortable in a hospital bed. It had been touch and go for a while but the doctors assured the detectives that he would make a full recovery.
Lee showed up at the hospital shortly after Starsky, he had been making arrangements to have Roffman’s body flown back to San Francisco.
After checking on Bo’s condition one more time everyone left for the police station. Dan wanted to meet with them to get all the details for his report. Once the business was out of the way they all sat down to talk. Dan was very interested in their work in L.A. It also made him happy he had a nice quiet job.
The phone rang, Dan picked it up talked for a moment, then held out the receiver to Susan, "There is someone who wants to talk to you."
Susan gave him a puzzled look but took the phone, "Hello?"
"Mommy!" Squealed Jesse as soon as she heard her mother's voice.
"Jesse," Susan smiled over at Hutch. "How are you baby?"
"OK, when are you coming home?" the little girl ask. "Are you bringing me something?"
Susan laughed, "Yes I’m bring you something and we should be home very soon. You want to talk to daddy?"
"OK, bye Mommy," Jesse said.
Susan handed the phone to Hutch then went over to Dan and hugged him, "Thank-you."
He smiled at her slightly embarrassed, "You’re welcome. You guys are the most excitement we have had around in years."
"That figures, we come here to get away from the excitement and we bring it with us." Susan laughed.
"I hope you don’t think bad about us and will some back sometime," Dan put his arm around her shoulder.
"Hey it wasn’t your fault, Roffman has been after me for years," she told him.
"Starsky told me all about Roffman. He wasn’t a very nice person," Dan said.
"That’s putting it mildly," Susan glanced over at Hutch who was just hanging up the phone. "When are we going home?"
"How about now?" Hutch took he hand. "Our plane leaves in a couple of hours."
"I hate leaving Bo," Susan had grown very attached to Bo, he had saved their lives and that counted for a lot. Both she and Hutch planned on talking to the D. A. when they got home. Neither of them wanted to see Bo go to jail. If worse came to worse they would refuse to testify against him. But with the help he had given them Hutch doubted it would get that far.
Starsky had called and talked to Dobey giving him their flight information. The captain was overjoyed to hear from him and planned to pick up the detectives himself.
Before going to the airport the detectives make one last trip to the hospital to see Bo.
Susan pushed open the door to his room, she had an arm load of flowers. Bo was sitting up in bed he smiled when he was them.
"Hi!" he said. "You leaving for home?"
Susan nodded, "The doctor said you would be out in a couple of weeks."
"Yeah then it’s home to face the music," Bo said determined to get his life in order. He had been surprised that he wasn’t under police guard.
"Don’t worry about it, by the time Susan and I get done with the D.A. they won’t have a case against you," Hutch assured him.
Bo’s face lit up, "Really? I promise I won’t waste this chance. I won’t so much as jaywalk."
"We’ll see you back in L.A.," Susan leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I won’t ever forget what you did for us."
Bo blushed and waved at them as the left the room. He was sure he would never forget them either.
It was late afternoon when the landed at LAX. Huggy Bear had had several drinks and wasn’t minding the trip at all this time. Susan was a little groggy, the doctors at the hospital had given her some pain medication. She also had strict instructions to see a doctor when she got home. The doctors had tried to get her on crutches but Susan refused. If she had walked all over the mountain with out them she could surely get on a plane. She was also afraid they might scare Jesse.
Starsky and Hutch talked and joked all the way home. Hutch sat holding Susan’s hand while Starsky pestered the stewardess and Huggy about flying. They all missed Lee but he was taking a later fight so that he could take back the bodies of Roffman and Duke.
Dan Marsh was sorry to see them leave, they had made him promise that he would come visit them one day. But Dan wasn’t sure he wanted to after listening to some of their stories. He had also promised to keep an eye on Bo. There were no charges pressed against the guard so he was free to go where he wanted once he was release from the hospital.
Bo planned to return to L.A. to make sure his name was cleared then start his life over again. He may have saved the detectives lives but they saved him too, in more than one way.
Dobey heaved a huge sigh of relief when he saw them come through the doors into the waiting room. The captain cared for all his detectives but these three were special to him.
Dobey enveloped Susan in a hug , she winced in pain but smiled up at him. He patted Hutch and Starsky on the back. The captain had never been so glad to see anyone in his whole life. Even if they did give him trouble sometimes and didn’t always obey orders.
There was a squeal of delight and a small blur hit Susan’s legs at full speed. Hutch grabbed Susan to steady her. He bent down peeling Jesse from her mother's legs. Jesse put her small arms around both of the parents and beamed at everyone.
"Oh Mommy what happened," Jesse said as she pointed to the white bandage on Susan’s forehead.
"I just bumped my head," Susan said hugging her daughter.
"I’m glad you’re back, did you bring me anything?" Jesse said all in one breath.
Both her parents laughed, "Yes, we brought you something," Susan said shaking her head. "But you have to wait until we get home."
Jesse stuck her lip out for a second then smiled again. Spying Starsky she put her arms out to him, " Uncle Starry did you bring me anything?" she ask.
Starsky took his goddaughter in his arms, "Was I suppose too?"
She nodded gravely, "Always," Jesse assured him. "You went away, now you’re back. When Mommy and Daddy go away they always bring me something."
"Oh," Starsky said looking around for a gift shop. This godparent stuff was still kind on new to him.
"Don’t you listen to her Starsk," Susan said taking he daughter from him. "You Miss Jesse Mae are a greedy little piggy."
Jesse grunted like a pig then wiggled to be let down. She ran to Mrs. Gray who was smiling at her bosses. She was happy to see them all in one piece.
"Don’t forget about the party," Starsky called to Jesse.
Jesse beamed at him, "I won’t forget."
"Party?" Susan and Hutch said at the same time looking from Jesse to Starsky.
"Looks like the three of you could use a vacation," Dobey said eyeing his detectives.
"A vacation!" Susan exclaimed. "Any more vacation time and we’ll be dead. Just give me the streets of L.A. where it’s safe."
Everyone laughed including Jesse who didn’t have a clue what her mother was talking about. She would never know how close she came to losing her parents.
As they started out of the airport Susan was limping badly, Hutch scooped her up in his arms, "Come on lets get out of here."
​
                                                                                         The End