THE JOY RIDE
                                                                                                             BY
                                                                                                                 TOOKI
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                                                                                       Chapter One

"Slide it on over asshole," Hutch looked at the barrel of the gun being stuck under his nose. He had a feeling this day was going from bad to worse.
Hutch had rolled over in bed that morning to find his bedside clock flashing. He sighed and fumbled for his watch lying on the table. It read eight a.m. "Shit." Hutch mumbled under his breath as he leapt from the bed. He should have been at Starsky's fifteen minutes ago. He jumped in the shower, and then as he was dressing he gave his partner a call. He knew that he was never going to hear the end of it because he was late.
The telephone rang several times before Starsky's groggy voice answered it. "Yeah?"
"Starsky aren't you up?" Hutch asked as he buttoned his shirt.
"What time is it?" he mumbled as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes so he could read his clock.
"After eight," Hutch replied. "Did your power go out too?"
Although the numbers on the clock were still fuzzy, Starsky could tell they were flashing. "Yeah I guess so."
"I'll just meet you at work today uh buddy?" Hutch said as he moved toward the kitchen to make his breakfast concoction.
"Sure see ya at work," Starsky said, he fell back into bed after hanging up the phone and was sound to sleep again in a matter of moments.
Hutch hung up the phone as he grabbed a carton of goat’s milk out of the refrigerator. He poured it in the blender that was always sitting on the counter waiting. He added the rest of the ingredients, the names of which always made Starsky cringe. Hutch punched the blend button the second after he realized that he had forgotten the top to the blender. The grayish liquid spun through the room with a large helping landing on Hutch's shirt.
Finally cleaned up Hutch had gone out to start his car, which of course being the morning it was didn't. He jiggled the key in the ignition several times, finally his old heap revved to life.
Now here was some punk with a gun stuck under his nose. "I said move over!" the voice demanded. The passenger side door opened, a young girl with long blond hair peered in. "Get in Mandy what are you waiting for an engraved invitation?"
"This is a cop Joey," Mandy said as she glanced around the car seeing the radio and other items that identified it.
"I don't care if it's the Pope get in the damn car!" He yelled at her. Then he turned his attention back to Hutch. "Move it over I'm not telling you again."
"Hey your girlfriend is right I'm a cop. You don’t want to do this." Hutch said trying to reason with the kid. "How far do you think you are going to get with a cop?" Hutch had been wondering if he would even make it to work.
"Just shut up and move over." Joey yelled as the light went from red to green, the car behind them honked. Desperate he raised the gun he had in his hand and brought it down on the detective's head. Hutch slumped foreword over the steering wheel. Joey shoved him over getting in next to Hutch.
"You didn't have to hit him!" Mandy wailed as blood oozed from a cut on Hutch's head.
"Shut up and shut the door," he ordered. The boy jammed his foot on the accelerator making the car jump to life, the car that had been behind them squealed around them honking as it sped by.
Joey careened around a corner, causing Hutch to slump again Mandy's shoulder. "He sure doesn't look like a cop," she said inspecting the cut.
"Don't look like no cop car either," Joey snapped. What dumb luck, of all the cars on the road and he had to get a cop's car. "Get his gun."
She lifted the sides of Hutch's jacket, Mandy pulled out the gun holding it by the butt. "What do you want me to do with it.”? She asked holding it up in the air.
"For Christ sakes Mandy don't hold it up where everybody can see it." Joey growled at her. He leaned over Hutch's unconscious body to grab the gun from her. He let out a low whistle, "Get a load of this mama." He admired the gun for a moment then put it under his seat for safekeeping.
“What are we going to do now?” Mandy wanted to know. Joey had called her earlier in the day and asked if she wanted to go for a soda, this had not been in her plan. They were both on probation shoplifting, again one of Joey’s brilliant ideas. Her mother had forbid her to see him after the shoplifting incident but it hadn’t stopped Mandy, she was in love.
“I don’t know,” Joey said glancing in the rearview mirror. “Why don’t we just blow town?
“You mean leave L.A.?” Mandy asked looking over at her boyfriend.
“Sure why not? There is no way in hell either of us are going to graduate this year and I’m tried of school.” Joey stopped at a red light.
Mandy looked a little frighten but the idea intrigued her at the same time. After all she would be 18 in two months and the thought of spending either going to summer school or repeating her senior year in the fall didn’t appeal to her either. “But what about him?” She asked indicating the unconscious Hutch.
“We will just dump him some where when we get out of town.” Joey said. “Then we will pick up another car and get rid of this heap.”
Mandy thought about it for a few minutes then slowly nodded. She knew her mother would be happy if she were gone, one less mouth to feed. “Just promise me you won’t hurt him.”
Joey rolled his eyes, “Geez Mandy why would I do that?” he said in a sarcastic tone. Mandy was a pretty girl and a good lay which was the only reason Joey put up with her. She had a knack for whining too much something she came by naturally. Her mother was a whiner, probably the reason she couldn’t hang onto a man any longer than to get her pregnant. Mandy was the beginning of a long line of kids all with different fathers. Several times Joey had thought of dumping her but then he would get a load of her legs and that ass in those tight spandex pants she liked to wear and would decide to give it just one more month. Those one more month had turned into three years now she was just more of a comfortable habit that he couldn’t shake just like his four packs a day. He was sure she would probably kill him before the smokes.
The car radio went off making both of them jump, “Zebra three, zebra three come in please.” The two kids looked at each other. “Zebra three there is a patch through from Captain Dobey.” After a few minutes the radio jumped to life again, “Zebra three are you there.”
Joey reached over and flipped off the radio. “So are we going or what?”
Mandy shrugged, “Sure it’s not like anybody would care.”



Chapter Two


Starsky was late and he knew Dobey was going to be pissed as well as his partner. He hadn’t even stopped to get his normal coffee and donuts; he would have to drink the office sludge. Starsky was surprised when Hutch wasn’t at his desk but was probably in Dobey’s office getting bawled out because he wasn’t there yet. Sighing Starsky tapped on his captain’s door then opened it. He got a jolt when he realized that Hutch wasn’t in the office either.
Dobey looked up from the paper work he was doing. “About damn time Starsky. Why didn’t you and Hutchinson answer my call earlier?”
“Call?” Starsky asked confused.
“Yeah I radioed Hutchinson’s car to tell you two to get your asses in here when I couldn’t raise either of you at home.” Dobey said dropping the pen he was writing with on the desk. “ Today is the day you were using his car for the stake out right?” Dobey looked around, “Where is he?”
“I don’t know Cap,” Starsky said dropping in to one of the chairs into of Dobey’s desk. He explained about their power being out, how Hutch had called him he did leave the part out where he had fallen back to sleep for a full thirty minutes before he had finally gotten up.
Dobey picked up the phone, “I’ll get dispatch to radio him again. Maybe he stopped for breakfast.”
Starsky knew anything was further from the truth. Hutch hated to be late to work and would walk through fire in order to be on time. He felt a tingle of fear in the pit of his stomach. Something was wrong.
When Hutch woke it was pitch dark, at first he though he was at home in bed until he realized he was moving. Shaking the grogginess from his head and getting his bearings Hutch deducted he was in the trunk of a car. And after a few more moments realized that he it was the trunk of his own car, his hands cuffed behind him.
His head was pounding but it all came back to him in a rush. The flashing alarm clock, the blender, the red light, the punk with the gun, what a bitch of a day. He knew there wasn’t anyway out unless he was let out so he lay his throbbing head on his arm and closed his eyes.
Once the pair was out of town they had pulled off on to a dirt road and moved the cop still unconscious body into the trunk. He would be a bit hard to explain if somebody saw him.
“I’m hungry,” Mandy whined. They hadn’t been on the road two hours yet and she was starting.
Joey looked over at her, “You got money?”
Mandy opened her purse and dug around. She came up with a few wadded up dollar bills. “I got five in ones.”
He knew he only had a ten in his wallet it sure wasn’t going to get them very far. “Fifteen lousy bucks what is that going to get us?”
“Lunch,” Mandy grinned at him.
Joey glared at her, “And what about dinner smart ass, and a place to say tonight? What about tomorrow and the day after that?” He hollered at her.
Tears pricked her eyes, “Stopped yelling at me Joey Simons.”
“Well shit you got to think past lunch,” Joey snapped at her.
“So what are we going to do Mr. let’s blow town?”
“Shut up Mandy!”
“Or what? You going to hit me like your old man hit you mom and end up in jail just like him?”
“Listen you bitch if you don’t shut up I’ll dump your sorry ass out here in the middle of no where and you can figure out how to get back.”
Mandy fell silent, not because she was afraid but because she couldn’t think of a good retort at the moment. She wondered why she stayed with Joey, he was such an asshole but he could be sweet and kind to her. He had been her only escape from her mother and her ever-growing population of brothers and sisters. And if it got right down to it she loved him.
Hutch could hear the couple fighting from the trunk and he decided that if they ever let him out his best bet was to get to the girl. Perhaps he could talk her into letting him go or even coming with him. It was clear that it was the boy who was in charge here.
The detective knew that by now Starsky must be missing him and would start searching. He was guessing that the boy had turned off the police radio since he hadn’t heard any broadcast from it. Hutch was hoping that perhaps a passerby might have seen him being taken at gunpoint and called it in but he felt the chances of that were very slim. He would have to bide his time and hopefully get out of this alive.
Back at headquarters’ Starsky beginning to feel a bit frantic, it was now going on two hours and no Hutch. Even if he had been held up some place or his car had broken down he would have called by this time. Starsky opened Dobey’s office door with out knocking which usually sent Dobey into a dissertation about knocking and waiting but today Dobey looked up concern written on his face. He knew also that Hutch was a creature of habit and one of his habits was always being on time.
“I’m going to put an APB out on him.” Dobey said he could tell by the look on Starsky’s face there had been no word from the missing detective.
Starsky nodded in agreement, “I can’t sit here any longer I’m going to go out and look. I’ll stop by Huggy’s maybe he has heard something.”
But Huggy hadn’t heard a word and was as concerned as Starsky. Huggy had offered the detective breakfast but Starsky declined the offer wanting to get out on the streets to look for his partner. He went to Hutch’s apartment; drove the route that he knew his partner took to work but nothing. It was like Hutch had just vanished into thin air.
“Listen Joey,” Mandy was whining. “I’m starving if we don’t eat soon I’m going to be sick.”
Joey sighed gave her an angry look but if the truth be known he was a bit hungry himself. “We got to get some money first.”
“I thought you said we had fifteen bucks,” Mandy said.
“That might buy lunch but I’m trying to think ahead here if you don’t mind.” Joey snapped. “Keep your eyes open for one of those little mom and pop gas stations with no customers uh?”
“FINE,” Mandy stormed folding her arms across her chest. She didn’t know why they couldn’t eat first and knock off some fleabag gas station later.
They drove in silence for a bit then Mandy asked, “Where are we heading?”
“I have always wanted to see the Painted Desert,” Joey said smiling for the first time since they had grabbed the car. He had all but forgotten about the cop they had in the truck.
“Painted Desert?” Mandy questioned.
Joey glanced at her, “You mean to tell me you have never heard of it? God you really need to get out more.”
“Oh like you have been out,” Mandy retorted. “You have hardly been off our block.”
Joey looked as if he might slap her Mandy cringed away from him. “Come on I don’t want to fight with you,” He said more calmly. “Look I’m sorry, I just did a report once on Arizona and I have always wanted to see some of the neat things there especially that desert.”
Mandy wanted to say something smart ass back to him about him never doing a report in his life but she decided for her best interest she had better keep her mouth shut. “I don’t care where we go just as long as we get something to eat.”
Joey rolled his eyes, “Is that all you ever think of?”
Hutch tired of listening to the couple argue banged on the lid of the trunk, “Shut up,” He yelled.
Both of them jumped, “Crap,” Joey said looking startled. “I had almost forgotten about him.”
“What are we going to do with the cop?” Mandy asked looking worried. She knew that Joey had no great love for cops and he would like nothing better than to brag that he offed one of them.
Joey shrugged, “We’ll figure something out.” Then he pointed ahead of them to a small gas station that had seen better days. “We should find a little spending money there.”


Chapter Three

The car pulled off the highway into gravel Hutch could hear it popping under the tires. He had heard something about a gas station but unless they were arguing and raising their voices he couldn’t pick up all they were saying. He knew it had been stupid of him to bang on the trunk like but he couldn’t stand one more minute of the bickering. It had reminded him of trips with his parents when he had been small. They would argue the whole time they were in the car and he hated every moment of it. He dreaded summer when he knew the family vacation was coming up. He had been glad when he had finally gotten old enough to remain at home instead of being forced to ride endless hours with the squabbling.
It was getting very hot in the trunk; Hutch hoped they let him out soon. His head was still pounding from where the kid, Joey had hit him and his arms were starting to ache from being held behind him. The car stopped, the drivers side door opened and then slammed. He heard Joey say, “Get over in the drivers seat and be ready to get out of here.”
“Shit,” thought Hutch. The punk was going to rob what he guessed was a gas station from the bits of the conversation he was picking up before. Hutch lay helplessly in the trunk hoping that the gas station attendant went along and didn’t try to play hero. Hutch had a feeling that Joey wouldn’t think twice about killing anybody.
There was a loud blast the unmistakable sound of his own gun being fired. Hutch kicked the lid of the trunk. “Damnit let me out of here.”
Mandy jumped and looked toward the gas station just in time to see Joey come running out. He ran to the car and yanked opened the passengers side door and jumped in. “MOVE,” he yelled at Mandy. She looked at him blankly; he slapped her across the face. “GO, GO!”
The slap got Mandy to moving and she jammed her foot on the execrator kicking rocks and dust out behind the car. “What did you do?” Mandy screamed at him.
“Bastard wouldn’t give me the money,” Joey answered. A boy not much older than himself had been behind the cash register when he had entered the station. When Joey asked him for the money he had said no and before Joey even had realized what he was doing he had fired the gun. It was like a cannon going off in his hand and the boy slumped to the floor. Joey opened the cash resister and grabbed the money then tossed the gun to the floor and ran out.
“Where’s the gun?” Mandy asked as Joey pulled a hand full of cash from his pocket and begin counting it.
“Back there,” he said jerking his head out the window.
“You left it at the gas station? You idiot!” she yelled at him. “Don’t you know your prints are all over it? And the cops are bound to find out whose gun you used. God you are stupid.”
Joey whacked her across the face again. “Shut up Bitch,” he stormed suddenly realizing his stupid mistake but there wasn’t anything he could do about it now. “We will be out of the state soon and we will get us a different car. They will never find us.”
“And what about the cop in the trunk or did you forget about him again?” She demanded to know.
Joey shrugged, “Could make a good hostage if we are caught.”
Mandy suddenly wished she had stayed behind he was going to get both of them killed yet.
Dobey slammed down the phone the look on his face grim, instead of picking up the phone again he yelled out his open office door, “Starsky get in here.”
Starsky had been using the phone himself trying to call in every favor owed him to find his missing partner. Nobody had seen or heard anything. He had about ruled out a kidnapping or a hit knowing something like that would be on the streets somewhere. He jumped to his feet and dashed into his Captain’s office hoping against hope that he had heard something. “Hutch?” Starsky asked hopefully when he was standing in front of Dobey’s desk.
Dobey nodded, “But you aren’t going to like it.”
Starsky sucked in his breath and dropped into a chair. “Let me have it.”
“Police in a little town called Cadiz said they found a gas station attendant dead…killed by Hutchinson’s gun.” Dobey studied Starsky’s face for a reaction.
“And Hutch?”
Dobey shook his head, “No sign of him. Nobody saw it happen, a couple pulled in for gas and found the attendant behind the counter, he as seventeen.”
“I’m going out there.” Starsky said getting up. “Where the hell is the place?”
Quickly Dobey told his detective where the small town was. “You call me the moment you get there.”
Hutch could tell it was getting dark; they had been on the road from sometime now. Joey had finally stopped and fed Mandy but had left him locked in the trunk with out so much as offering him a drink of water. Hutch’s stomach was rumbling and his throat was hot and dry.
There had been no more fighting between the two so Hutch heard very little of what they had been saying. He felt the car slow, again heard gravel under the tires; he hoped the kid wasn’t planning on robbing another gas station. The ignition went off and one of the doors opened.
“I’ll get us a room,” the boy said and Hutch could hear him crunching away in the gravel. He prayed that they would let him out once they got a room.
After several minutes Joey came back got in the car and drove to the room number stamped on the key. It was a hole in the wall but it looked alright and there as a small diner across the street. There were only a couple other cars in the gravel lot.
“What about him?” it was the voice of the girl.
“What about him?” Joey asked clearly annoyed.
“He has been in there all day.” Mandy persisted.
“Fine,” Joey said. “Go get the room door open.”
Hutch heard the key in the trunk lock, if he hadn’t been folded up in there all day maybe he could have sprung out and surprised him. But with his hands cuffed behind him and his legs cramped up he would be lucky if he could walk. The trunk lid popped opened and a face peered in at him.
“I’ll be damn you are still a live in there,” Joey commented as he pulled his gun from his waistband. “Give me one minute of trouble and I’ll blow your head off.”
“Can you give me a hand?” Hutch said hoarsely.
Joey sighed and roughly yanked Hutch out of the trunk by his arm. “Anything else I can do for you?”
Hutch shook has head and he flexed his legs they had both fallen asleep. He had to sit there for a few moments before he was able to stand. “Where are we?” he asked.
“Get your ass in the room or I’ll toss you back in the trunk where you belong.” Joey snapped.
Mandy was just coming out of the bathroom when the Joey and his hostage entered the small room. It had two beds, a tiny table in between them, a beat up table and two chairs stood next to the window. “Uncuff him,” Mandy said coming toward Hutch. The man looked hot and tired.
“Are you nuts?” Joey growled at her. He backhanded Mandy causing her to land on the bed her lip began to bleed.
“Leave her alone,” Hutch said taking a step toward him.
“And your are going to do what? Joey glared at Hutch then at Mandy.
Mandy looked up, tears stood in her eyes, “I’m okay.”
Joey pushed Hutch toward one of the rickety chairs. “Have a seat and keep your mouth shut.”
Hutch looked at Mandy kindly and wondered how such a nice looking girl ended up with such a punk. He smiled at her then looked up at Joey. “If it’s not too much trouble could I have a glass of water?”
Joey sighed again. “Get the cop some water.”
Mandy went to the bathroom and returned carrying a small plastic cup. “Here,” She said softly holding the cup to his lips. Hutch drank greedily, the water felt cool on his parched throat. When the cup was empty she asked. “More?” But Hutch shook his head just that little bit was already making his stomach cramp. He feared he would throw up anymore.

Chapter Four

When Starsky arrived at the gas station the excitement was over and the local police were pulling out. The detective ran to catch the squad car before it pulled away. “Excuse me,” Starsky called.
“Yeah?” the cop in the drivers seat said. Starsky pulled out his badge and showed it to the officer as he told him his name. “Yeah?” the cop repeated.
“It was my partners gun that was used in the robbery.” Starsky said.
“That so?” the officer turned off the ignition and got out of the car.
Starsky didn’t like the vibes he was getting off the man. “Yes that’s so, my partner has been missing since early this morning. This is the first lead I have gotten on his whereabouts.”
“So your partner is into knocking off gas stations and killing kids? Don’t they pay you well in that big city of yours?”
“Listen,” Starsky growled. “My partner didn’t rob this gas station or kill anyone. I think he is just as much as a victim as the kid.”
“And how do you figure that?” the officer snapped.
“Officer uh…uh.” Starsky began.
“Bradshaw.”
“Officer Bradshaw, I know my partner, he’s not a good cop gone bad,” Starsky said his eyes flashing. “I sincerely think that my partner has been kidnapped or at the very least had his gun stolen. But since he is nowhere to be found I would vote for kidnapping. Apparently by someone that doesn’t value life very much. So if you would be so kind as to give me any information that you have I and my Captain would appreciate it very much.” Starsky stared stonily at the officer waiting for his reply.
Officer Bradshaw sighed and ran his hand through his close-cropped hair. “Listen I’m sorry Detective Starsky, it’s just that the boy that was killed was my wife’s nephew and now I’m going to have to go home and tell her he’s dead.”
Starsky winced at the news, “I’m very sorry.”
The officer nodded then shrugged his shoulders. “Who ever it was cleaned out the cash register either before or after shooting Randy. We aren’t a big fancy police department, we don’t have your crime labs to come in and dust every inch of the station or imprint tire treads. We have one computer that is about on its last leg. This is the first murder we have had here in twenty years. We have no leads, nobody saw it happen.”
“If you were to hazard a guess which way do you think they would be going?” Starsky asked looking out over the dusty parking lot.
“Well logic would tell you if in fact your partner was with shooter or the shooter stole his gun they would have come from L.A. and heading toward Arizona.” Officer Bradshaw said.
Starsky nodded, “Makes sense to me. Thanks for your help.”
“Sorry I gave you such a hard time,” Bradshaw said then added. “I hope you find your partner.”
“Thanks,” Starsky said as he headed toward this car.

Mandy was whining about being hungry again and Joey was getting agitated Hutch was afraid he was going to hit the girl again. “You going to use every dime we have on food?” he snapped.
“Look Joey we have to eat, we have plenty of money for food so quit being such a tight wad.” Mandy stormed, she seemed to pretty much know how far to push stopping just before she would be hit.
“Fine,” he growled. “What do you want?”
“I don’t care,” Mandy said. “You know what I like.”
Joey sighed and handed the gun to her. “If he moves shoot him.”
Mandy took the gun gingerly; Hutch could tell she didn’t like handling it. Maybe this was his out; he could talk her into uncuffing him and possibly coming with him getting away from her abusive boyfriend.
“What would you like?” Mandy asked Hutch.
“I’m not feeding him too,” Joey yelled.
“You can’t starve him to dead,” Mandy retorted. “For God sakes Joey.”
Fearing another fight would start Hutch intervened, “Hey Joey is it? I got some cash in my wallet, credit cards too. Dinner is on me what do you say?”
The angry left Joey’s face, “Steak dinners?”
“Anything you want really. You both look like you could use a good meal and I know I could. Bring plenty to drink too.” Hutch said standing up so that the kid to get to his wallet.
Joey grabbed the wallet and opened it. The wad of cash he found, plus several credit cards delighted him. “You might be worth keeping after all. Now sit your ass down there and make nice for Mandy here. If you don’t I’ll kill you…no make it I’ll kill her when I get back if there has been any funny business.”
Mandy gave her boyfriend a startled look at his words. “Just go get us something to eat I’ll watch him and he won’t try anything. Will you mister?”
Hutch shook his head no. After Joey left Hutch looked at Mandy, the cut on her lip had stopped bleeding. She was making a halfhearted attempt at holding the gun on him, “So what’s your name Mister?”
Hutch smiled at her. “Ken Hutchinson, but you can call me Hutch everybody does.” He answered.
“I’m Mandy, sorry about Joey he’s just got a short temper.” Mandy said trying to explain away her boyfriend’s actions.
“He hit you a lot?” Hutch asked watching her face.
She shrugged, “Not too much.”
“He shouldn’t be hitting you at all.” Mandy shrugged. “Why are you with him?” Hutch asked. “I mean if he hits you and all you are a pretty girl you could have any guy you want.”
Mandy gave him a bitter laugh, “Yeah right, no nice boy wants white trash like me.”
Hutch frowned at her words. “You hardly look like white trash.”
“I come from the wrong side of the tracks. I live in a four-room house with my mother, her boyfriend and five brothers and sisters, she has never been married what does my life sound like to you?”
“Just because your mother lives like that doesn’t mean you have to sweetheart,” Hutch said kindly.
Tears pricked her eyes; she got up and looked out the window to see if Joey was coming. She wished he would hurry she didn’t like talking about her life but she couldn’t seem to help herself with this cop. She turned and looked at him, “You really a cop?”
Hutch nodded, “A detective.”
“Cool,” she went back over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Why are with Joey,” he asked again. “You guys running away?”
She shrugged, “I guess we are just leaving. Joey and I would have been graduating this June but he’s flunking out of half of his class.”
“What about you?” Hutch asked.
“I was doing ok until Joey and I started running around then we got caught shop lifting and put on probation. What was the point after that? I had a record who would hire me to do anything?”
“Shoplifting isn’t that big of a blemish on your record, you could get your life back but you have got to get away from Joey.” Hutch said.
“Why would I want to do that?” Mandy wanted to know. “He’s pretty good to me.”
“Good? You call that split lip good? Where I come from men don’t hit woman.” Hutch said.
“At least I’m not at home.”
“It can’t be that bad,”
Mandy had been staring out the window again and whirled around to face Hutch. “Not that bad uh? You have no idea what you are taking about cop. You don’t have your mother’s boyfriend crawling into your bed every time he gets drunk and having his way with you. You don’t have your mother slapping your face for telling what he had done. She called me a whore…ME,” Tears ran down Mandy’s face.
Hutch closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “Joey isn’t the answer Mandy. Let me help you. I know a lot of people that can get you on the right path. You can start over.”
“It’s too late.”
“Honey its never too late.” Hutch said softly. “Get me out of these cuffs and we will get out of here. Joey will never hurt you again, nobody will I promise you that.”
Mandy looked at Hutch doubtfully. “I don’t know.” It sounded wonderful and she wanted to trust him. She really did hate the way Joey treated her and she figured one day he would get angry enough to kill her.
“Come on,” Hutch coxed.
Mandy lay the gun on the bedside table, “You would really take me with you?”
“Only a monster would leave you with him.” Hutch said. “I have friends at the department that would love to help you.”
Mandy looked toward the door, she had to make up her mind quickly she knew Joey would be back any second. She looked at the kind face in front of her and for once in her life she trusted somebody. “Okay.” Then her face suddenly fell, “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Hutch asked
“Joey has the key to the hand cuffs.” Mandy whaled.
Hutch felt his heart drop he had finally talked her into escaping but she didn’t have the key. “We don’t need a key. Let’s get out of here I can call my partner some place and get help.”
“Your partner?” Mandy said doubtfully.
“He’s a good guy…trust me.” Hutch said
Mandy nodded her head; something in her heart told her to trust this man offering to help her. Leaving the gun laying on the table she went over to help Hutch to his feet. The door flew open Joey stood there holding two large sacks.
He had been tickled with all the money he had gotten from the cop and went straight to the diner to order them all dinner. After putting the order in to go, he walked down the street to a small grocery store where he bought two six packs of beer. The owner, an old man barely looked up from the newspaper he was reading. He just took the money from the kid and bagged the beer. Back at the diner their dinner was sitting on the counter waiting from Joey to pick it up. At first he pulled out cash to pay for it then decided it might be wise to hang on to the cash and handed one of Hutch’s credit cards to the girl at the cash register.
“Just what the hell is going on in here,” Joey yelled tossing the sacks on the table.
“He…he had to go to the bath room.” Mandy stammered.
“What were you going to do hold it for him?” Joey snapped.
“God don’t be so gross Joey,” Mandy snapped back.
“Hey listen I didn’t want to cause any trouble.” Hutch said. “I wanted to wait for you to get back but I really got to go.”
“Then get in there and go,” Joey shoved Hutch toward the bathroom.
“Stop being a jackass and take those damn cuffs off. You have the gun where the hell is he going to go out here in the middle of no where?” Mandy said.
“Fine,” Joey barked. “But if you try anything funny cop, I’ll put a bullet in her head you got that?” Joey pulled the handcuff key from his pocket and removed them from Hutch’s wrists.
Hutch rubbed his arms and stretched, he had been like that for hours and it felt wonderful to be free. He headed to the bathroom, although Mandy had made up the story Hutch actually did have to go.
“I thought I told you to watch him,” Joey said grabbing Mandy roughly by the arm.
“I was.”
“With the gun laying over there?” he asked pointing to the bedside table.
“His hands were cuffed behind him where the hell was he going to go?” Mandy snapped.
“You are getting pretty mouthy lately, you need me to teach you a lesson?” Joey advanced on Mandy.
Hutch stepped out of the bathroom. “You guys ready for some dinner? I hope you got something good.”

Chapter 5
“His credit card turned up where?” Starsky stormed into the phone. “He was silent for a few minutes then said. “Where in the hell is that?” The detective consulted a map that he banked on the small shelf of the phone booth our side a little roadside rest stop. “Arizona? Christ what is this a vacation?”
“Starsky calm down,” Dobey said on the other end of the line. “I’m just telling you what the credit card company told me. Hutch’s credit card was used at some diner there to pay for a carry out dinner for three.”
“Three?” Starsky said the wheels in his mind turning. Starsky looked at the map again a trace a line from Cadiz to Topock Arizona. He thought a moment. I’m about two hours from there.
“Maybe they are hold up there for the night.” Dobey suggested.
“I’m on the road,” Starsky said hanging up the phone and getting into his now dust covered tomato.
“Wake up!” Hutch jerked awake and tried to sit up forgetting he was handcuffed to the bed. Joey kicked the bottom of Hutch’s stocking feet. “We are getting on the road.”
“What time is it?” Hutch asked groggily.
“Does it matter?” Joey snarled as he leaned over to unhand cuff the detective. “Mandy get your ass out of that bathroom we got to get this show on the road.
“You do know that the FBI will be involved now.” Hutch said as he rubbed his sore wrists.
“And why is that?” Joey said almost interested.
“You just took your kidnapped victim over state lines.” Hutch informed him.
“That so? Like that is any worse than kidnapping a cop in the first place?”
“Just leave Mandy here with me. You can have the car, my money, credit cards, you can do what you like with out dragging us around with you.” Hutch tried to reason with him.
“Oh that reminds me,” Joey said then slugged Hutch in the mouth, blood poured from his mouth as his teeth cut into his bottom lip.
“JOEY!” Mandy screamed coming out of the bathroom, she went to Hutch’s side. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Why don’t you ask Mr. take my credit cards here.” Joey snarled at Hutch. “You think I’m really that stupid? They can trace credit cards if they have been stolen. I figure by this time somebody is looking for your sorry ass.”
Mandy looked blankly from her boy friend to the cop. “I don’t get it.”
“I bought dinner with a stolen credit card you stupid bitch,” Joey hurled his words at her.
Mandy’s eyes narrowed, “Doesn’t look like I’m the stupid one here does it.” She cut back.
Hutch knew she had made a horrible mistake the moment the words were out of her mouth. Joey backhanded her across the face sending her to the floor.
Hutch jumped up from the bed starting toward Joey. Joey pulled his gun from his waistband. “Turn around.” Joey ordered. Reluctantly Hutch turned around allowing boy to cuff his hands behind him once again. Then the boy roughly pulled Mandy to her feet. “You want me to just kill you and dump your ass out in the desert some place?”
She shook her head and glanced toward Hutch. She was now sorry that she hadn’t acted faster when he had offered her an escape. Mandy figured now that both she and the cop were dead it would be just a matter of time before Joey killed them. She decided then and there if she got another chance that she would help Hutch escape.
“Out side both of you,” Joey pointed the gun first at Hutch then at Mandy.
Mandy opened the door to the motel room, it was still dark out side and very little traffic was moving on the street. Joey followed them out not even bothering closing the room door. He went around and unlocked the trunk, “Get in,” he commanded Hutch.
Mandy stepped between her boy friend and the open trunk. “You are not going to put him back in that trunk.” She said defiantly.
Joey raised his hand as if he was going to strike her again but then shook his head. “When did you develop balls?”
“Screw you Joey.” Mandy yelled at him. “You are not putting him back in that trunk, he’s going to die in there.”
“Fine,” he turned toward Hutch. “In the back seat but I swear to God if you try anything I’ll blow her head off.”
“Will you stop saying that,” Mandy glared at Joey.
Joey opened the back door and shoved Hutch roughly in. “Don’t you think it would look better if you cuffed my hands in front of me? Just in case someone looked in the car?”
“He has a point Joey.”
“Fine,” he tossed her the key to the handcuffs. “Make it quick uh?”
It had been daylight several hours when Mandy woke and looked out the window. “Where are we?”
“Won’t be long and we will be at the Grand Canyon,” Joey said excitedly.
“I thought you wanted to go to the Painted Desert,” Mandy said with a nasty tone to her voice.
“Crap Mandy don’t start on me.” Joey said the smile fading from his face. “Man I got to piss, there is a rest area up ahead.”
They road in silence until Joey pulled in and parked. “You need to go?” he asked. Mandy shook her head no. “Hey you want some thing out of the machines?”
Mandy looked at him in surprise. She started to make some smart remark about him turning lose of his money but then Mandy smiled. “That would be nice, thanks.”
“How about you?” Joey said looking at Hutch in the back seat.
“Sure, and I need to use the can too,” Hutch said.
“Too bad cop, hold it,” Joey said getting out of the car and slamming the door. Then he leaned back in the window. “Don’t try anything uh?”
“You going to give me your gun to hold on him?” Mandy asked in an innocence voice.
“Yeah right,” he scoffed. He started to walk away then leaned back in the car again and snagged the keys from the ignition.
“Shit,” Mandy swore when Joey was out of earshot. “I was going to get us out of here.”
“Just be cool,” Hutch advised. “He can’t watch us all the time. Have you finally decided to get yourself out of this mess?”
She nodded, “Will I go to jail?”
Hutch smiled at her, “For helping a kidnapped cop? Not in my book.”
Starsky had just finished describing Hutch’s beat up heap to the motel manger, “Yep,” the man said. “They were here.”
“But they are gone now?” Starsky asked as he surveyed the parking lot.
“Do you see it?” the man said sleepily. Starsky had gotten him out of bed. Starsky shook his head. “Then I guess they are gone.”
Starsky sighed, he was tired, hungry and wasn’t in the mood to play games. He had found the diner where Hutch’s credit card had been used and the waitress there had told him she thought the “kid” had come from the motel. Kid, a kid had gotten the drop on his partner? “Could I see the room.”
The man sighed, “Sure just a second.” He stepped back into the office and grabbed a ring full of keys. They walked across the dusty parking lot. “Damn punks,” he stormed when he saw the open door. The manger looked around the room to see if anything was missing.
“How many?” Starsky asked following him into the room.
“How many what?”
“People, punks?” Starsky asked holding his temper.
“Oh couple of kids and a man.”
“Man?”
“Yeah the boy pulled him out of the trunk.” The manger went into the bathroom and made discussed sounds at the mess he found in there.
“You didn’t think that was a bit strange?” Starsky asked. “You didn’t think maybe you should call the police?”
“None of my business,” he said coming out of the bathroom carrying an armload of wet towels.
“None of…” Starsky let the words go, instead he asked, “What did the man look like?”
The manager squinted at Starsky, “Oh a bit taller than you, blonde.”
“Like this?” Starsky pulled a dog-eared photo of him and Hutch from his wallet.
“Yep that’s him, you two kind of…you know funny?” The man let his wrist go limp.
“He is my partner,” Starsky said annoyed getting the man’s meaning. “We are police detectives back in L.A.
“Oh,” the man locked the room up and started back to the office.
“Got any idea where they are headed?”
“Nope,” he said with out even looking back.


Chapter Six

Starsky leaned in the window of Hutch’s dusty heap, he looked around the inside car finding nothing but a few empty pop cans and candy wrappers. He then stood up and looked around the parking lot of the Grand Canyon Inn hoping against hope that he would see his partner walking a cross the parking lot making some crack about Starsky’s pride and joy being as dusty at his rust bucket.
After leaving the dingy motel behind Starsky didn’t know what to do. But his gut told him to keep heading down the road instead of turning toward home and he was rewarded when he had stopped to call Dobey at one of the endless pay phones he seemed to be using. It was much to far out of range to use the radio in his car.
He had been more than a little shocked to find out that Hutch’s car had been found by the local police in the parking lot of an Inn about 30 minutes out side the Grand Canyon. Were these two kids taking a sight seeing tour? The only comforting thing Starsky had to hold on to was that his partner was still live or had been. There was no reason to think differently now.
Joey pulled the car into a motel parking lot, he was excited, and finally long last he was going to get to see the Grand Canyon. But before they continued they had to get out of the cops car. With the credit card mistake he knew that the police had to have some idea what direction they were headed in. He had wanted out of the car long ago but hadn’t much opportunity or choice at vehicles until now.
He got out of the car and surveyed the parking lot for a car that could get them where he wanted to be. He wanted a car that wouldn’t draw much attention and with all of the out of state plates it would be easy to blend in. Finally he spotted a non descript car way down at the end of the row. Joey leaned in the window, “You two stay put I’ll be right back.”
“What is he doing now?” Mandy asked stretching to see where he was going.
“Probably to steal another car,” Hutch said. He was slumped down in the seat his knees pressing on the back of Mandy’s seat. He was angry at the position he was in. He knew he could get away but he had to wait for an opportunity so that he could take the girl with him. If he left Mandy behind Joey would surely kill her. Hutch sudden sat up and leaned over the front seat. “Mandy are you still serious about getting away from him?”
She turned in her seat to look at him and nodded. “Just tell me what to do. I’ll do anything. I guess it takes something like this to make you realize what a mistake you have been making. I just hope it’s not to late to turn my life around.”
“Hutch put his cuffed hands on her shoulder, “It’s never too late.”
Screeching tires broke off their conversation. A dark green sedan pulled up behind Hutch’s car and Joey got out. He came around and pulled open Mandy’s door, “Come on what are you waiting for?”
“Joey I don’t want to go. Just go head, I’ll stay here I won’t tell the police I promise. Neither of us will, will we Hutch?” Mandy said looking up into the face of the boy she once thought she loved.
“Joey I’ll get money out of my account with my bank card, it will be cash no credit cards. Even if they are tracking my usage you will be long gone by the time the police get here.” Hutch said. “Come on buddy what do you say?”
“I say if Mandy here doesn’t get in that damn car I’m going to blow her head off right here and you can watch cop.” Joey said through clenched teeth. He had about had it with the both of them. Did they really think he hadn’t noticed how they practically put their heads together every time he left them alone? Lord the cop was old enough to be her father, he had heard some girls liked that kind of thing maybe with her old man being gone so long that was what she needed but he found it sickening.
“I’m not going with out Hutch,” Mandy proclaimed then crossed her arms across her chest and looked out the windshield. If Joey killed her so be it but she wasn’t going off with him alone nor would she allow him to kill Hutch.
“Shit,” Joey swore under his breath. “Fine.” He opened the back door also. “Now will you please go and get in that other car?”
“Any thing you say dear,” Mandy said with a sarcastic tone. God how sick she was of his pompous aptitude. Mandy got out of the car and Hutch followed behind her. They both got in; Joey jumped in the drivers seat and headed the car to the place he had always dreamt of.
“Anybody reported their car stolen in the last several hours?” Starsky asked the sergeant behind the desk in the local police department.
The man rifled through a stack of papers and shook his head, “Nope, but if what you are saying is true it probably didn’t happen long ago and the owners might not have looked for their car yet. There are several shuttles that run to the Canyon they might not find out it’s been stolen until they return this evening.”
“Great,” Starsky said more to himself than to the sergeant. “What am I suppose to do cool my heels until the owner reports it missing?”
“Give me a description of your partner, I’ll pass it long to all my officers as well as the rangers. Maybe somebody will spot them.” The sergeant suggested.
Quickly Starsky gave him a description of Hutch but all he knew about the kidnappers was that they were a young couple, probably run away teens. The motel manger had been very little help. Starsky knew he could have probably pressed him and gotten more information but he hadn’t wanted to waste the time.
Suddenly Starsky snapped his fingers, “You got a phone I can use?”
“Be my guest,” the officer said shoving the phone on his desk toward the detective.
Quickly Starsky dialed his captains number, the phone only rang once before Dobey snagged it hoping it was news on his missing detective. “Dobey.”
“Cap do me a favor. See if any teens have been reported missing in the last couple of days. A couple, probably boy friend, girl friend type thing.”
“You got something?” Dobey asked.
“No not really but I would at least like to know who I’m dealing with.” Starsky answered. “I’ll check back in a couple of hours.”
“I guess you are thinking it’s about lunch time,” Joey said cutting his eyes at Mandy.
“Did I say anything?” She snapped back. Hutch made a face in the back seat. He wished she would quit baiting him until he could figure out what do to. She was going to say the wrong thing and get them both killed.
“Stop being a bitch I was just asking.”
“It wasn’t what you said but the way you said it,” she snapped again.
“What are you my mother?” he retorted.
“Screw you.”
“Not on your life.”
“God you are so nasty.”
“Hey guys,” Hutch said intervening. “There is an over look up there I bet we can see the Grand Canyon.”
“Cool!” Joey exclaimed sounding twelve instead of eighteen. He pulled off the road and jumped out of the car with out shutting it off.
Mandy looked in the back seat at Hutch then started to slide over. “Not here,” Hutch said in a hushed tone. “But will you stop aggravating him before you get us both killed?”
“I want away from him.” She said sliding toward the driver’s side.
“We need to wait.”
“Why, we can just leave him out here to walk.” Mandy said.
“And he might kidnapped somebody else and possibly kill them because he is angry with us.” Hutch said. “Now get back over here before he sees you.”
“You need to stop thinking like a cop and save your own ass,” Mandy said angry that a perfect opportunity to escape was being passed over.
“Hey you guys,” Joey called gleefully from the stone walled over look. “You got to see this!”
Hutch shook his head, “You go on I’m going to look a bit strange out there with hand cuffs. Just don’t let him get you too close to the edge.” Mandy gave him a fearful look but got out of the car.


Chapter Seven

Mandy came up behind Joey and wrapped her arms around his waist, “I’m sorry I have been such a bitch Jo-Jo,” she said softly.
He turned in her arms and looked down into her smiling face. “And I’m sorry I have been such an ass hole.” Joey said in reply. “This just hasn’t gone how I planned it. I never wanted to kidnap anybody just wanted to get out of that damned town.”
“I know babe,” Mandy said holding him tightly. “Maybe tonight we can lock the cop up in the bathroom uh?” He bent over and kissed her lips she returned the kiss. As the kiss got more passionate Mandy let her hands roam over his back and down his butt until she felt what she was looking for…the key. She had seen him place it in his back pocket. She snaked her hand into his pocket as she thrust her tongue half way down this throat. He responded by pulling her even closer to him.
“I love you, you know that don’t you?” he whispered in her hair. She nodded but didn’t answer.
Hutch watched from the back seat of the car unable to believe his eyes. The girl had just been playing him and she was probably up there telling her boy friend that he was planning on escaping. He shook his head wondering how he could have been so gullible. It was Starsky that always got sucked into the wiles of woman, not him. Hutch promised himself that if he got out of this alive that he would leave this part of the story out.
He glanced up again, Mandy was grinning over Joey’s shoulder and holding some up that he couldn’t make out. Maybe she hadn’t betrayed him after all.
Starsky called Dobey’s office once again to see if he had found out anything about the couple Hutch was with. Dobey was waiting for the call two reports lying side by side on his desk. Joey Donovan and Mandy Porter were missing. Disappeared roughly the same time as Hutch had. They even lived in one of the neighborhoods that Hutch would drive through to get to work. Looked like they had their pair. The teen’s mothers had come into the police station together to report that their children had gone missing. Normally missing reports were not done for 48 hours but with the new laws on missing children the information was taken down immediately, pumped into computers and dispersed countrywide.
Dobey looked at the faces of the two teens, both were nearly 18 if this had been a few months later the reports wouldn’t have gotten the attention. The girl was so young looking and beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes. The boy was a good-looking young man also but you could almost see the roughness about him. He had a look in his eyes that Dobey didn’t like. It was their senior yearbook photos that their mothers had brought in. He couldn’t help but wonder what would drive these young people to kidnap a cop. These kids should be having the time of their lives not joy riding.
When the phone rang Dobey snatched it up, “Dobey.”
“Hey Cap got any information for me?” Starsky asked he wasn’t sure what knowing who he was looking for would do but at least he felt as if he were doing something.
“I think we found our couple.” Dobey said and quickly explained.
Starsky still at the police station asked the officer on duty. “Can I have a couple of photos faxed here?”
“Sure thing,” the officer responded and gave Starsky the number. Minutes later it spit out the photos of the two teens. The officer handed the paper to Starsky. He looked at it then handed it back. “Can you get copies of this to all your officers and surrounding police and rangers?”
The man nodded and went to do what he had been asked.
“I guess that is all we can do for the moment,” Starsky told his captain. “But this time I feel like I’m close or closer than I have been.”
“Just keep me informed.” Dobey said then hung up. He hated having to sit in the office and wait for everything to play out hoping to have a happy ending.
Armed with the photos Starsky got in his car determined to find his partner before another day went by.
Joey was almost beside himself; he couldn’t believe it he was at the Grand Canyon. Hutch almost felt sorry for the boy as he watched the teens face light up when ever he caught site of the canyon. If only things had been different he would have been glad to have brought him here himself. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had helped out a troubled teen.
They found a place called the Phantom Ranch, it was very secluded and the only lodging below the canyon rim. There were hikers and mule riders traveling to the bottom of the Canyon, it was a popular stop over for them.
Joey jumped out of the car and looked around, he took a deep breath and then stretched. “What are you doing?” Mandy asked Joey as she joined him.
“Just enjoying being alive.” He smiled at her. “Isn’t it just beautiful?”
“Yeah, it is, “ she had to agree with him. She had never seen anything like it in all her life.”
“Joey?” Hutch called from the car.
Joey leaned in the window, “Yeah.”
“Why don’t you get us a room here uh?” Hutch suggested. “I bet you have enough cash to get a cabin for at least one night.”
“You mean it?” Joey said excitedly.
Hutch was amazed by the transformation in the kid. It was as if he had forgotten how they had come to be there, that he was carrying around a kidnapped cop in the back seat of a stolen car.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Mandy said. “Go on see if they have any cabins. Maybe we could even get a ride on one of those mules.”
Joey was almost jumping up and down at the prospect of riding a mule to the bottom of the canyon.
The moment Joey disappeared into the office Mandy pulled open the back door of the car and climbed in. “Give me your hands,” She said as she pulled the handcuff key from her pocket. Suddenly it dawn on Hutch what Mandy had been trying to show him back at the over look. The key, she had been doing all that for the key.
“Mandy you are one hell of an actress.” Hutch said admiringly as he rubbed his wrists sore from being cuffed so long.
“Come on lets get the hell out of here,” Mandy said taking his hand.

Chapter Eight

Joey came bounding out of the lodge with a cabin key clutched in his hand he looked like a small boy who had just got his favorite ice cream. At first when he noticed the cop and his girl friend gone he wasn’t concerned thinking maybe they had gone to the bathroom. He surveyed the area for a few minutes, there was no one in sight, then he happened to glance into the back seat and saw the handcuffs.
He felt his heart sink; his knees went weak and he slide down the side of the car until he was sitting on the ground. Joey put his head on his knees and began to cry…he had just lost everything.
“Where are we going?” Mandy asked as Hutch led her down a rocky path.
Hutch glanced behind them to see if Joey had discovered they were gone and was following them. “We can’t get out of here the way we came so we are going to have to find another way out of the canyon. The hikers and mule riders are coming from some place we will just back track.”
“Sure,” Mandy said slowly unsure she wanted to be down in the canyon; it was going to be dark soon.
Starsky was sitting in his car eating a hamburger he had picked up when there was a knock on his window startling him. He jumped and rolled down his window it was the officer he had talked to back at the police station.
“You have something Terry?” Starsky asked hopefully.
“I don’t know for sure Starsky but it sounded strange when the call came in over the radio.” The man said shaking his head still unable to believe what the manger from the Phantom Ranch had told him. “Got a call that a young man was sitting out in the parking lot of the Phantom Ranch crying. The manager tried to talk to him to find out what was wrong but the kid won’t talk to him he just keeps crying.”
“Where is this place?” Starsky asked.
“Follow me I’ll show you,” Office Terry Rich said.
When the two cars pulled into the parking lot they instantly saw the teen. He was sitting next to a car rocking back and forth bawling his eyes out.
Officer Rich touched the boy’s shoulder, “Son are you in trouble?” The man’s touch only made Joey cry harder.
Starsky caught sight of the gun Joey had shoved in his waistband and pointed it out to the officer. Then taking a chance he called to the young man, “Joey?”
Joey’s head jerked up, his face was red and wet from all the tears he had cried. He started to reach for the gun but Rich grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back forcing him to stand as Starsky retrieved the weapon. “Leave me alone man,” Joey shouted as a new wave of tears fell from his eyes.
“Where is Hutch,” Starsky demanded. He was tired of playing games. He had been one step behind for the past two days.
Joey shook his head and mumbled softly, “ They are gone.”
“Who is gone?” Starsky asked a wave of fear washing over him.
“The cop and my girlfriend.” He said in a barely audible tone.
“Where did they go?” Officer Rich asked tightening his grip on the young man’s arms.
“I don’t know,” Joey flared and tired to pull away but the officer held tight.
The officer pulled out his handcuffs and clipped them around Joey’s wrists. “I think you can just sit tight in the back of my car until we find out.”
Starsky watched at Rich shoved the teen in the back of his squad car. When Terry Rich returned Starsky asked, “What do you think he means? They are “gone”? Did they escape, did he…he kill them,” He didn’t even want to say the words.
“No they were fine when he came into the lodge,” it was the manager who had finished with a customer and come to see what was going on. “There was a man and a young girl waiting in the car.”
Starsky breathed a sigh of relief, at least he knew Hutch was alive but was he safe?
It was beginning to get dark and cool as they followed the path. An hour earlier they had crossed paths with two hikers who had told them that North Kaibab Trailhead was fourteen miles from Phantom Ranch. It would be pitch dark long before they could walk that far.
Mandy clutched at Hutch’s hand. “Hutch I’m scared.”
He grasped her hand, “It’s going to be okay. Maybe we can find some place to hold up until it gets light. I don’t think Joey is following us.”
Mandy let out a bitter laugh, “Neither of us are what you would call the outdoor type unless you count sitting on mom’s front porch swing until the mosquitoes almost eat us alive.”
Hutch laughed, “You would get along great with my partner. I’m sure he is just loving this if he has managed following us this far.”
“Not the out door type either, uh? Mandy smiled in the fading light. She felt safe as long as her hand was in Hutch’s and she didn’t plan on turning lose anytime soon. He was the first man that she had met that hadn’t wanted something from her. All he wanted to do was help her. “Do you think he is looking for us?”
“Oh yeah,” Hutch said. “He won’t rest until he finds me. We have been partners and friends for a long time.”
“Must be nice to have somebody you can count on, somebody that cares.”
“It is,” Hutch stopped and looked down at Mandy. “You can count on me. When we get back I’ll help you any way I can, Joey too.”
Mandy was amazed, “Even after what he has done?”
Hutch shrugged, “He needs help.”
They fell silent and walked for a while hearing only the sounds of birds and their grumbling stomachs. Finally Hutch spied a grouping of rocks not far off the path that looked like it would shelter them from the wind and any rain if it fell. “Want to stop?”
Mandy looked at him gratefully and nodded, “I’m beat.” She flopped down on one of the rocks and tried not to think about her stomach. Hutch stepped in-between two of the rocks to have a seat himself and instantly cried out. “What’s wrong?”
“Something bit me,” Hutch said as he moved from behind the rocks and back out onto the patch.
“Here let me look,” Mandy offered. She pulled up his pant leg to reveal two puncture wounds. “Well I’m no expert but I would say a snake bit you.”

Chapter Nine


A long rattle snake crawled from behind the rock where Hutch had been standing and made it’s way off into the growing darkness after being awakened from it’s slumber. Mandy leaped up on the closest rock and watched the snake slither way then she looked at Hutch.
“What do I need to do?” she asked instantly seeing the worried look on his face. “A snake bite is bad isn’t’ it?”
Hutch nodded, “Especially a rattlesnake.”
Mandy could feel the panic rise in her chest as Hutch sat down on one of the rocks. “You okay?”
“Yeah for now but we have to get help quick.” Hutch answered. The bite area was already beginning to swell and bruise. “Help me take off my belt.”
Mandy knelt in front of him and shyly reach for his belt buckle. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to wrap the belt a couple of inches above the bite and hope that slows down the venom. Mandy threaded the belt out of his pants loops and handed it to Hutch. He wrapped the belt around his calf and pulled it tight but not too tight he didn’t want to cut off his blood flow. “I need to elevate my leg but not above my heart.”
Mandy looked around wondering how they were going to do that. Finally together they got Hutch positioned where his leg was slightly up on a rock but still be lower than his heart. “Now what?”
“I guess hope a hiker or mule rider comes by.” Hutch said knowing that wasn’t likely to happened until morning.
Mandy sat down next to him shivering, from fear and the coolness of the night. “You know I’m really sorry all this happened. Joey isn’t really a bad guy, he just wasn’t raised well.”
Hutch looked at her. “That really is no reason, just because you don’t have the greatest home life doesn’t mean you don’t know right from wrong.”
“I know,” She sighed. “I guess it’s time I stop making excuses for Joey…and myself.”
Starsky stood in the parking lot of the Phantom Lodge; Joey after admitting that his girl friend and Hutch must have escaped was taken back to the local police station. Where could they have gone? Officer Rich said that he would send back up and notify the Rangers to help look for the pair. Starsky knew where they had probably gone, down the path not far from the Lodge. A shiver ran up his spine the thought of taking out alone down that darken path did not thrill him.
“Here take this,” said a voice making him jump. It was the manager that had called them. He handed Starsky a flashlight. “If you stay on the path you will be fine, but don’t leave it.” He warned.
“Tell back up where I went,” Starsky said flicking on the flashlight.
“You bet,” the manager said. “I would go with you but I have desk duty.”
“I’ll be fine back up should be here any time now.” Starsky said starting down the path.

Hutch woke Mandy up shivering, she didn’t know how long they had been asleep but the moon was bright overhead and there were a million stars in the sky. Under different circumstances she would have been in awe of her surrounds. “Hutch you all right,” she asked touching him arm he felt clammy.
Hutch opened his eyes but the moonlit landscape swam in front of him. “I’m really dizzy and I feel like I might throw up.”
“Let me check your bit,” Mandy said as she pulled his pant leg. She was thankful for the bright moonlight. “But what she saw didn’t make her feel any better. Hutch’s leg was very swollen. “Does it hurt?”
“Feels kind of numb,” Hutch gasped. “I’m having trouble breathing.” He managed to get out.
Making up her mind Mandy said, “Hutch I have to go for help, you are going to be dead by morning.” She got to her feet first she looked the way they had been heading then back the way they had come. It would be much shorted to go back. Mandy would just have to take the chance and hope that Joey had given up and left them.
“Mandy,” Hutch gasped. You can’t wander around out here by yourself.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said surer than she felt. “I’ll just stay on the path. The moon is bright and the trail is marked.”
Hutch tried to get to his feet to go with her but just didn’t have the strength. A wave of dizziness hit him and he eased himself back to the ground. He knew she was right he would be dead if she didn’t go. “You be careful, “ he whispered.
Mandy started down the path, carefully at first then more confidant as she thought of Hutch and how serious his condition was. He had hung around to protect her when she knew he could have probably escaped several time on his own.
Starsky looked around him uneasily wondering what could be lurking in the darkness. But his worry for his partner made him press on. Both Mandy and Starsky were on the same path heading toward each other on the same mission to save Hutch.
Simultaneous they heard something on the path up ahead of them. Starsky stopped and listened, Mandy did the same. They both held their breath straining to hear in the darkness but all was still save for the cry of crickets.
They started walking again slowly edging closer and closer to each other. Starsky shined the light up ahead of him. “Who’s there,” he called out.
The shout startled Mandy; she froze not knowing what to do. She had no way of knowing if this was friend or foe. It wasn’t Joey she knew that much.
“Who’s there?” Starsky repeated.
Mandy took a deep breath Hutch needed help now, she couldn’t think of her safety now. “I need help.” She called out.
“I’m a police officer.” Starsky said, he could tell by the sound of her voice that she was frightened. “Are you Mandy?” he asked. Who else could be wandering around out there this time of night?
“Y-yes,” she answered surprised. “I am, the cop I was with needs help he’s hurt.”
Forgetting that he might frighten her, Starsky ran down the path. Mandy was standing in the center of the path; he pointed the flashlight at her. Mandy shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness. “I’m Dave Starsky.” He said lowing the light.
“Oh my God,” She said and began to sob. Starsky pulled her into his arms.
“It’s okay now, Joey is in custody.” He assured her. “Where is Hutch and what happened to him?”
“He was bit by a rattlesnake,” Mandy sobbed. “He’s back down the path a ways. We have to hurry he’s not doing so good.”
When Starsky and Mandy reached Hutch he was unconscious. Starsky struggled to pick up the dead weight of his partner. “We have got to get him back quick.”
They had only gone a short distance when they heard voices a head of them. Two Rangers and an officer rounded the path in front of them. Starsky gratefully gave one of the Rangers Hutch’s limp body, his arms had about been to give out on him but there was no way he would have stopped.

Chapter Ten

Mandy stood tall and proud on the stage as the Principle of her school hand her a diploma and shook her hand. Mandy turned to the audience beaming, she held the diploma over her head then waved and blew a kiss to her savior sitting in the second row. She knew with out his help she would not have been standing there. Probably she would have been in jail. Mandy still had a long summer ahead of her as she had to make up classes she had missed but Hutch had some how talked the school into letting her graduate with her class.
Hutch nodded at her and smiled, Starsky poked him in the ribs also smiling. He was just glad that his partner was still with them. When he had gotten to Hutch that night he thought he was a goner but once at the hospital he had been given anti venom and had quickly recovered.
After the ceremony was over Mandy joined her family in a grassy area of the football field near the bleachers. She caught sight of two men striding toward her. Instantly she smiled and ran toward them. Hutch caught the girl up in his arms and spun her around. Mandy giggled as she held on tightly to him. “Thank you so much Hutch,” Mandy said tears in her voice. She looked over at Starsky, “You to Starsky. You both have saved my life.”
Hutch smiled at her, “We only got you headed down the right road now you have to make sure you stay on it.”
“Oh I will believe me.” Mandy promised as she hugged Starsky.
Hutch handed her a wrapped package, “We got you a little something for your graduation.”
Mandy beamed at them and took the package. “You didn’t have to do this. You have already given me the greatest gift I have ever gotten.” She tore the paper of the gift to reveal small box she took the lid off inside that was a necklace with a small diamond. “I-I don’t know what to say,” She stammered.
Hutch took the necklace out of the box and placed it around her neck. “Just think of this as second chances.”
Mandy touched the diamond hanging at her throat, the tears that were standing in her eyes ran down her face. “Thank you so much.” She said as she hugged both of them again.
“You just make us proud uh?” Hutch whispered her in ear. Little did Mandy know that Hutch had also pulled a few more strings and gotten her a full scholarship to the community college. “We got to get back to work.”
Mandy nodded thankful that they had been able to come. “Thanks again.”
As the partners turned to leave Hutch snapped his fingers and pulled a white envelope from his pocket. “I almost for got to give you this,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Oh Hutch, no more,” Mandy blushed. He handed her the envelope. She opened the flap and pulled out a letter. She scanned the words typed on the paper and her eyes flew open wide. “Is this a joke?”
Hutch smiled at her as he shook his head. “If you work hard this summer you have a place in college this fall.”
“Now I really don’t know what to say.” Mandy cried.
“Mandy all you needed was somebody to believe in you. I think you are a very special person with a lot of potential.” Hutch said kissing the top of her head. A group of her classmates were waving at Mandy to join them. “You go on we’ll talk later.”
With a finally hug to both of them she ran to be with her friends. Starsky put his arm around Hutch’s shoulders. “You did a mighty fine thing there partner.”
Hutch shrugged, “Like I told her she just needed some body to believe in her.”
“It’s a shame she got tangled up with Joey,” Starsky said.
“At least he is where he can get some help,” Hutch said.
Joey had a complete breakdown at the police station while he was in the cell and had to be taken to the same hospital where Hutch had been treated. In the end Joey had been committed to a mental hospital where he would spend several years before he would even be tried for Hutch’s kidnapping and the killing of the gas station attendant.
Hutch looked back over his shoulder at Mandy who was happily showing all her friends her necklace. She looked up to see Hutch looking her way and she gave one final wave before heading off with her friends.
The End