UNDERCOVER ANGEL
                                                                                                           
                                                                                            ​BY
                                                                                             TOOKI


            

                                                                                    CHAPTER ONE

Her fingers flew over the keyboard; the only light in the room was that of the computer monitor. A password box flicked on to the screen, she had been expecting this. Fumbling in her pocket she pulled out a small notebook and flipped it open. Several words were scrawled on the first page. She input the first word, an invalid code flashed on the screen. She worked quickly trying every word with the same result. Finally she was to the last word, holding her breath she slowed typed in the last word. Valid password popped up on the screen and the file she had been trying to get into opened.
That was when she heard somebody at the office door and saw a figure through the narrow windows on either side of the door. She slipped a zip disc from her pocket and started to jam it into the zip drive. But before she could get it in the door opened. She dropped the disc into her purse that was sitting on the floor beside her and slipped the notebook back into her pocket.
The light flipped on making her squint in the sudden light. She brushed her blonde hair back with one hand and tried to look casual. "Miss Marks what are you doing here at this hour?" Asked the man that had turned on the light.
"Oh Mr. Gordon, you scared me." She said putting her hand over her pounding heart. "I'm so sorry."
"OK you are sorry now what are you doing here?" he asked again as he looked around the outer office. He then crossed the room to his office and tried the knob it was still locked.
She glanced at the computer screen the file was still sitting there. "Shit," she thought to herself. She reached for the mouse to close the screen. "I...uh was just checking my mail sir." Miss Marks stammered. "My computer was down at home and I was expecting an important e-mail from my boyfriend." She tried to smile, "you know how it is."
Just as he started around the desk she hit the X closing the screen. She breathed a sigh of relief, and ran a hand over her blonde hair. "I would rather next time you wait until morning." He said looking at her as he viewed the screen.
"I was just finishing up." She smiled at him and grabbed her purse.
"Good I'll walk you out then," Mr. Gordon said holding his hand toward the door.
"Thank you," she said smiling at him again this time more relaxed. "I hate going out in that dark parking lot alone."
"So what did he have to say?" Mr. Gordon asked once they were out of the office and waiting for the elevator.
"Who?" she asked puzzled.
"Your boyfriend, isn't that who you said you were expecting a letter from?"
"Oh yeah, there wasn't one," Miss Marks said, the palms of her hands were beginning to sweat. She hoped he wouldn't shake hands with her when they left. "Guess he was too busy."
"Ah men," Mr. Gordon said with a touch of humor in his voice. "You know how we are."
"Well here we are," She said as they arrived at her car. "I guess I'll see you in the morning sir."
"Yes, but if I catch you in the office unauthorized again I will have no choice but to fire you."
"Oh yes sir, it won't happen again," she said as her heart pounded so heard she thought it was going to burst from her chest.
She dug in her purse for her car keys, as she was opening the door he said, "Remember what I said."
"Yes sir." She answered as she slipped behind the wheel. Her boss walked across the parking lot to his own car. He waited until she started hers and drove off; he wanted to make sure she was really leaving. Once she was gone he got back out of the car and went back into the building.
The security guard opened the front door for him. "Forget something Mr. Gordon?"
"Max, if Miss Marks ever comes here after hours again you let me know."
"Yes sir, should I stop her?" Max asked
He shook his head, "No just give me a call."
"Yes sir." He said eager to please. "Have a good evening sir."
Mr. Gordon slipped a twenty in the man's hand and slipped out the door before Max could even thank him.
After she was a mile or so from the office building she check her rear view mirror. Nobody was behind her, she felt like every nerve ending in her body was about to explode. At a stoplight she reached up and pulled the blond wig from her head and tossed it in the passenger seat. Then pulled several bobby pins from her hair allowing her long dark hair to fall down her back. She rubbed her fingers through her hair glad to have the wig off.
The light turned green and she proceed through the intersection. She was just about through it when a red flashing light came on behind her. Miss Marks glanced in her mirror again. It was a red car with a white stripe running down the sides of it, not your everyday police car. The light that was one the top was one of those magnetic jobs that they only used when they needed to get some where fast.
She pulled over and rolled down her window. Two men one blonde the other dark came up on either sides of her car. The blonde knocked on the passenger side window and motioned her to open the door. As she leaned over to do so the dark headed cop leaned on the edge of the window on the driver's side. When she unlocked it he opened up the door, scooped up the wig and sat next to her.
"Get anything?" he asked.
"Shit Hutch," she exclaimed. "Gordon almost caught me with the file on the screen."
"Gordon showed up?" Starsky asked.
Detective Susan Carlston nodded her head. "I don't know who tipped him off that I was in the office but he sure showed up."
"Let's get this heap back to the station and go home." Hutch said as he shut the door. He leaned across his wife. "I'll ride with Susan. Why don't you go on home Starsk and get some shuteye? We'll see you in the morning."
"You sure?" Starsky asked he was eager to get home to his new bride.
"Yeah go on home," Susan grinned at him. "Tell Libby hi."
Starsky didn't need to be asked again as he all but sprinted back to the car. Yanked the still spinning red light off the top of the car and drove off with a honk.
When their partner had left, Hutch turned in his seat to look at Susan. "You OK Hon?"
She rubbed her hands over her face and took a deep breath. "Yeah I'm fine. I was just scared he was going to fire me or worse if he had seen that file. I didn't get to down load it. I guess I'll have to try during working hours."
"Maybe we should pull you out," Hutch suggested as she started to pull away from the curb.
Susan jammed on the breaks and turned to stare at her husband, "Don't start this crap with me again. I am in, it has taken me over month to get that job, get in the computers and learn what is going on there. And now you want to pull me out and start from scratch?"
"Calm down," Hutch said frowning at her. "I was just…."
"I know what you were just doing!" Susan stormed. She took a deep breath and looked at Hutch. His handsome face with creased with worry. Susan said but this time softly. "Honey I know you are worried about me."
Hutch looked back at her and shook his head grinning. "We are both so stubborn."
"Hey that's what keeps us alive," she teased as she shifted the car back into gear glad the tension between them was gone.
Susan didn't like being in the employment of Thomas Gordon any more that Hutch did. In the last six months three secretaries had turned up dead from his office. All of them had their throats slit and left to bleed to death on some deserted back road. Then suddenly Gordon's partner disappeared, Gordon had claimed that his partner Bradley Sumner had gone on vacation. Some vacation Sumner's body washed on Malibu a week after his claim. It was hard to tell what had killed the man; the fishes had gotten to him too badly. Gordon played the role of stricken boss well, compensated all the victims families well. But there were just to many unanswered questions. Too many deaths. Had the victims stumbled upon something they shouldn't have? That seemed the most likely answer and that had been when the trio had been call in to go undercover.
It hadn't been hard for Susan to get the job. Mr. Gordon didn't have a long list of applicants as word had gotten around it was unhealthy to work in his office. He had interview her twice then hired her stressing that is was important to do the work assigned to her and no more no less. In other words don't go prying. He always kept his office door lock unless he was behind his desk. Several file cabinets in the outer office were also locked and Susan dared not tamper with them just yet.
She had Libby teach her how to break into the computer system, figuring that would be the safest way to go but that had almost got her caught this evening. Hutch had been talking next to her but she had been so deep in thought she hadn't noticed.
"Susan?" Hutch asked as she stopped at a red light.
"Yeah," she said clearly distracted.
"What are you thinking about, I have been talking to you for blocks and you ran three red lights." Hutch said trying to keep a straight face.
"What? I did?" she said looking over her shoulder. Then up at the light she was now stopped at. "Oh I did not!"
Hutch laughed, "Well at least I got your attention."
"Sorry, "She smiled at him. "I was just thinking about what I saw on the monitor before I was so rudely interrupted."
When she didn't elaborate Hutch went, "Well?"
She shook her head as if trying to clear it. "It was just columns of numbers, didn't make much sense to me."
"That's why you have to get it on that zip so that we can get somebody to look at it," Hutch said.
"It could be nothing, just figures for his import/export business." Susan said doubtfully, but she knew better, she could feel it.
After dropping off the car at the station and picking up a bag of burgers the couple pulled into their driveway. They were surprised to find Starsky sitting on their steps. He had his elbows propped on his knees and his head in his hands.
"What's wrong Starsk?" Hutch asked as he got out of the car.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do," he exclaimed.


                                                                                        CHAPTER TWO
​

Susan looked toward their partner's house next door. Starsky and Libby had bought it six month ago right after they had gotten married. Libby had a long recuperation from being shot in a shooting at the police station but she was doing fine now with only a small limp. "Is Libby all right," she questioned.
"It's me."
"Are you OK?" Susan said bending over to get a better look at her partner's face in the dim light for the porch light. He looked almost green, she put her hand on his forehead but he felt cool. "No fever."
"Starsk you are scaring us so just spill it uh?" Hutch said stepping around him to opened the front door. As Starsky got up and followed Hutch into the house he mumbled something. Hutch turned to face his partner. "What did you say?"
"I said that Libby is pregnant!" Starsky almost hollered.
"Starsky that is wonderful, " Hutch said throwing his arms around his friend.
"Really?" Susan squealed as she tossed the sack of food at Hutch and took out across the lawn to see Libby.
Susan knocked on her friend's front door but there was no answer. Slowly she opened the door and entered the house it was dark. "Libby?" the detective called out.
"In here," came a soft reply.
Susan squinted in the darkness toward the living room where the voice had come from. She turned on a light as she entered the room. "What in the world are you doing sitting here in the dark?" Susan asked. Once her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness she saw Libby sitting on the floor leaning against the couch she could tell her friend had been crying. "Sweetie was is it?"
Libby shook her head and blew her nose, "Well I guess since you are here you have talked to Starsky." Susan nodded. "He doesn't want the baby!" Libby whaled as fresh tears coursed down her face.
"Don't be silly Libs," Susan said joining her on the floor. "What makes you think that?"
"When I told him he got really pale and took off with out a word," she said wiping her eyes.
Susan hugged her and laughed. "I think he is in total shock. He was positively green when we found him sitting on our steps. Just give him time for it to sink in uh? Don't count him out."
"You think?"
"Yes I think I have known Starsky a long time. Hutch will talk to him." Susan assured her. "I know he wants kids that's all he ever talked about. That he couldn’t wait to have kids like Jesse and Davy. I think you just scared him."
Libby finally smiled, "Well to tell you the truth I was rather startled my self. I went in for a check up this morning and the next thing I knew the doctor was telling me I was pregnant.
They heard the front door open and Starsky and Hutch appeared in the doorway. Libby wiped her eyes quickly with the back of her hand and got to her feet. Starsky stood rooted in the doorway not sure of what to say.
"Starsk I…
"Oh Libby..."
They both laughed. "I'm so sorry I took off on you like that," he said finally coming across the room and taking his wife in his arms.
"It's OK," Libby smiled as she buried her face in his shoulder. "Kind of spooked me too."
"Spooked? Who said I was spooked?" Starsky asked holding her at arms length.
"I say," Said Hutch. "You were about to pass out."
"I was NOT." Starsky said indignantly. Susan shot him a look and Starsky shrugged. "OK maybe a little spooked."
"It's OK," Libby said hugging him. "We can be spooked together. We have a while to get use to it. I'm only about four weeks along. And besides we have the best coaches right next door."
Susan rolled her eyes, "Well I don't know about that. We have had our ups and downs with the kids."
Hutch glanced at his watch, "We better get home it's almost midnight and we have to be in the office bright and early."
Susan made a face, "and I have to do to work for that murdering bastard."
"Now Susan…" Hutch began.
"Hutch, that last secretary of his was 22 years old just out of college, his partner had two young sons give me a break." She said crossly. She was hoping they could wrap this case up quickly.
"Hey don't like this any better than you do." Hutch said. "But don't let this get too personal."
"Fine," She said crossly, then to Starsky and Libby, "See you guys in the morning. I'm so happy for you both." She hugged them both then left leaving Hutch standing in the living room.
Hutch just shrugged, "What she said." Hutch said with a wink as he left.
​

                                                                                               CHAPTER THREE


Thomas Gordon sat with he feet propped up on his leather footstool in his office. A cup of hot tea steamed next to him and next to that was a small plate with a sandwich on it. He was studying a paper that he had taken from a manila folder that was lying on his lap. Miss Marks had been at her desk when he had arrived that morning, they had spoken their pleasantries and he had gone into his office and shut the door. Now as he sat there eating the lunch she had gotten for him he had to wonder about her. She had seemed sincere the night before when he had caught her in the office. She was one of the best secretaries he had ever had. His files had never been so organized before. There was no way she could have known anything about his real business, he kept it under lock and key and he was the only one with that key. Not even his wife knew what he really did.
The cover he had come up with exporting and importing goods from foreign companies was a good cover he could go freely from country to country with out many questions. He had thought he was pretty slick getting Bradley Sumner to be his unsuspecting partner until he stuck his nose into deep. If Bradley had just minded his own business that night when Thomas had gone to the docks to pick up the special delivery everything would have been fine. But just as the one of the crew members of the ship was handing him over a package Bradley had stepped out of the shadows.
Thomas had tried to explain that it was some valuable crystal gobbles but Bradley didn’t buy that then Thomas told him the truth it was cocaine smuggled into the country by a crewman he had paid handsomely to risk everything to conceal the dope. Bradley had been appalled, ranted at his partner that he was turning him in. It had been easy for Thomas to put a bullet in Bradley’s chest then to pay the crewman even more money to dump the body once they were out to sea. But apparently they hadn’t been far enough out to sea. Thomas had been in a bit of a panic when the morning news reported that a man’s body had washed up on the beach in Malibu and it had turned out to be Bradley Sumner. But his body had been so eaten by the fishes that it was hard for anyone to determine the cause of death.
Then there had been the three secretaries, Marcie had been Bradley’s, if Bradley had suspected him for a while, possibly telling Marcie things so he killed her and destroyed all of Bradley’s files. The other two well, had just plan been too nosy for their own good. Both girls had asked a million and one questions, he had just fired Linda but she screamed discrimination so he killed her to shut her up. The last thing he needed was to have anybody looking into his business. The next girl he just took care of to avoid any messy law suites. Now he had this new girl who seemed to be working out fine. That was until he had caught her in the office last night.
Starsky and Hutch sat in Starsky’s red and white Torino out side a local pawnshop. They had gotten a tip that a couple of punks were going to try and sell off jewelry that had been stolen in a string of robberies in an up scale neighborhood. This stake out should have belonged to the robbery division until the last robbery ended ugly in the killing of a couple who had come home from a dinner party at the wrong time.
Starsky sighed as he fanned himself with a napkin from the chilidog he had eaten earlier. "Why it is we always get these stakeouts in the middle of a heat wave?"
Hutch shrugged, "Just luck I guess. Hey it could be worse?"
"How’s that?" Starsky asked looking over at his partner who appeared to be unaffected by the heat.
Hutch shrugged, "I don’t know but something could happen to always make things worse."
"You are just one of those the glass half-full kind of guys aren’t you," Starsky scoffed as he looked out through the glare of the sun beating down on the windshield.
"It’s better than being a sour puss," Hutch said grinning knowing he was getting to his partner. He looked out the window so Starsky couldn’t see his smile. "Besides you should be walking on cloud nine right now…Daddy."
"Oh man," Starsky said wadding up the napkin and tossing it in the back seat. "Don’t remind me."
Hutch turned to look at his partner. "David Starsky, all you have ever talked about is wanting kids with Libby."
"I know but look at what we are bring them into. Just look at this," Starsky said waving his hand out the window at their surroundings.
Hutch put his hand on his partner’s shoulder. "Hey buddy that is what we are doing sitting here in this hot car. Making the world a better place for our kids."
"Well when you put it that way," Starsky gave Hutch a sheepish grin. "I guess Libby is right I am a bit spooked by all this. You know taking Jesse to the zoo or Davy to a ball game is one thing but full time."
"It’s a piece of cake," Hutch lied remembering how bowled over he had been when he had found out Susan was pregnant. Even if the situation had been a lot different it had still be overwhelming.
"Don’t kid a kidder uh buddy? I know better." Starsky said smiling at Hutch. He caught sight of one of the suspects that they had been given the rap sheets on that morning before leaving the station. "Don’t look now but I think old Donny here is about to fence a few sparkly things."
"Wonder where his partner is?"
"Probably laying low with the rest of the loot just in case Donny gets caught." Starsky suggested.
"You want to wait a few minutes to see if…" Hutch took the rap sheets from Starsky to look at the second suspect. "…Gram Williams shows?"
"Sure why not," Starsky said as he picked grabbed a radio. A squad car was stationed round the corner. "Hey Tony."
"Yeah Starsky, got some action out there?" Tony Gruber asked. His partner Carter Jackson was out side the car leaning on the hood.
"Got one suspect inside, Hutch and I are going to wait to see if the second shows before moving in. You might want to cover the back."
"Will do," Tony said.
After waiting a few more minutes the detectives decided that the second suspect wasn’t going to show so they proceeded into the pawnshop. They strolled in as if they were customers, Donny was busy haggling with the proprietor of the shop, Fat Rolly. Rolly saw them the moment they opened the door, Starsky had put his fingers to his lips and moved toward the back of the store with Hutch following.
"Come on kid," Rolly said nervously he pulled out a stained dirty bandanna and wiped the sweat from his face. "Take what I’m offering or take it some place else."
"But man you are trying to rip me off." The kid whined.
"I’m trying to save your ass," Rolly whispered.
"What?"
"Nothing," Rolly snapped if the kid was going to be so stupid he deserved to get caught but Rolly sure didn’t want to go down with him. "Why don’t you just take this shit and get out of here." If no sale was made they had nothing on him. He could say he knew it was hot and refused to by it. "I’m not into hot rocks."
"Since when?" Donny asked.
"Don’t get smart with me punk," Rolly growled. "Take this shit and go."
"Man," Donny sighed. "And they said you were cool."
"Naw he’s not cool but we are," Hutch said, he had kept moving around until he stood next to Donny.
Donny looked to his right startled, then started to bolt but Starsky was standing at his left. "Where do you think you are going?"
The blood drained from the kid’s face and he looked at Fat Rolly for help. But Rolly was already headed toward the back room. "Hey Rolly," called Hutch. "Where you going buddy?
"Not far," Answered Tony who came in the back door as Rolly was trying to leave. He shoved him back into the main part of the store.
"Hey I didn’t do anything wrong. I told him I didn’t buy hot merchandise. You heard me right Starsky? Hutch?" Rolly pleaded.
"Oh come on Rolly what would the story have been if we hadn’t come through the door. This kid would be out of here with a wad of dough big enough to choke a horse." Hutch said.
"No way," Rolly shook his head back and forth. "I’m clean have been since I got out of jail."
"Rolly if you want us to believe that then you need to find another line of work." Starsky said the turning his attention back to the kid he and his partner had trapped between them. "Where is Gram?"
"Who?"
"Oh come on," Starsky snapped, "You aren’t smart enough to pull this off yourself."
"Sure I am." Donny said indignantly.
"You sure didn’t pick up on the signals Rolly here was trying to give you." Hutch said pulling out his handcuffs. "We could see them from the back of the store."
What happened next caught all of them off guard, the door of the store flew open and the room was sprayed with bullets. "Get your ass out here Donny," yelled a voice. Rolly dove behind the counter pulling Tony with him. Hutch hit the floor as he shoved Donny down in front of him and Starsky spun into a display of old coats.
Carter who had dodged out of sight just before the bullets flew now stepped into the door way of the store room and shot Gram Williams in the chest sending him sprawling on the side walk in front of the store.
Before Williams had ever hit the pavement Hutch was already crawling toward his partner. "Starsky?" He tossed several coats off him, there was a cut over his eye and blood was running down his face. Starsky’s eyes were closed but Hutch could see he was breathing. "Starsky." Hutch said again as he shook him.
Starsky’s eyes fluttered open and he tried to sit up but a white-hot pain in his left arm kept him from doing so. "What the hell happened?"
"Looks like the other suspect showed up," Hutch said running his hands over Starsky’s upper body looking for a bullet wound. "Where you hurt buddy?"
"Arm hurts like hell," Starsky said.
"Here set up a bit," Hutch said as he helped his partner sit up. Hutch inspected his arm, he found blood seeping though his cotton jacket at the top of his shoulder. He gently peeled the jacket back. "Looks like you just got grazed. We better get you to the hospital."
Tony had pulled Donny to his feet and had him cuffed. Rolly was still down behind the counter afraid to show his face. "Come on up out of there." Carter commanded. "You are coming downtown too."
"B-but I didn’t do anything," Rolly sputtered.
"How about you give us a good statement about what went down here and we’ll let all this go." Carter looked over at the detectives. Hutch nodded in agreement more worried about his partner than if Rolly went to jail for a few years.


                                                                                  CHAPTER FOUR


Libby was in the front yard watering their wilting flowers when the Torino pulled into the driveway. Libby was immediately worried since Hutch was driving, she dropped the hose and ran toward the car. Starsky was leaning back in the seat half asleep, the pain pills they had given him was making him drowsy. Hutch had been right that Starsky’s shoulder had only been gazed by the bullet but he had strict orders from Dobey to go home and not come back for a few days.
"What happened," Libby cried as she ran around to the passenger side door.
"Take it easy Libby don’t get all worked up," Hutch said getting out and joining her. "He’s going to be fine. Just to a little flesh wound this morning." Hutch opened the car door and helped his partner out. "Come on buddy lets get you in the house."
Starsky woke enough to sling his good arm around Hutch’s neck and they moved toward the house with Libby following close behind. "What happened?" She asked again.
After getting Starsky into the house and on the couch Hutch explained what had gone down. He was anxious to get to Susan to let her know what had happened before she found out some other way.
"Are you sure he’s going to be all right?" Libby asked watching her sleeping husband.
"Don’t worry, just make sure he takes these," Hutch handed her two bottles of pills. "One is for the pain the other in for infection. He’ll be as good as new in a few days."
Libby threw her arms around Hutch’s neck, "He’s always okay when he’s with you Hutch."
He kissed her cheek, "You call if either of you need anything."
Susan sat at her desk typing out a letter that Gordon had given her earlier. She had the urge to call Hutch, something just didn’t feel right and she had this nagging feeling all morning that something was wrong. But she hadn’t been able to get away from her desk. The only time was when she went to the cafeteria to fetch her boss lunch, there was a pay phone there but after the night before she didn’t dare use it. Susan hoped that she could some how get out of the building but it didn’t look like that would happen until quitting time. She played it cool, doing only what she was told, not prying into areas where she didn’t belong. Susan hadn’t even brought the zip disc to copy the secret file she had found while searching the records and files from the office. The thing that had attracted her attention to it was the file name Bsumner. It had to be something that belonged to Gordon’s dead partner.
Susan was afraid to open it in the office, afraid she would get caught. She had to get the file copied to the disc so that they could look at it away from the office. For now though she was going to bide her time. They had waited this long to nail this bastard they could wait a few more days. She wanted to make sure he wasn’t suspicious of her, then she would tuck the zip back into her purse and try again when he was out of his office.
Finally at it neared four o’clock Susan couldn’t stand the nagging feeling any longer. She went to Gordon’s closed office door and knocked softly.
"Yes?" Gordon said.
Susan opened the door quietly and slipped into the room. "Mr. Gordon I was wondering." She began.
"Did you get that letter done it’s very important it goes out in today’s mail."
"Yes sir it went out a couple of hours ago." Susan said.
"Good I don’t like overtime." Gordon said as he got up from his desk. "I like to leave promptly at five."
"Well that is what I wanted to talk to you about." Susan said meekly. She hated being so subservient to this pig of a man. "I…uh…I."
"Just ask will you?" Gordon sighed. "I don’t bite."
Naw just kill Susan thought to her self. "Well I was just wondering if you would mind if I went home early."
"Early?" Gordon repeated as if struck by the thought. "I don’t go home early."
"I understand sir," Susan said and turned to head for the door.
"But if you have your work done for the day you may go Miss Marks," Gordon said. He wanted to make it clear he wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon just in case she had it in her head she might just come back for more computer time with her boy friend. "Now don’t make this a habit but it has been a slow day."
"Thank you Mr. Gordon and I won’t its just that…" Susan stammered not really knowing what to say.
He waved away her explanation. "Like I said just don’t make it a habit."
Susan turned on her heel and left the office closing the door behind her. Now all she was interested in was getting her things and getting out of there. She had been feeling increasingly uneasy around the man and then after last night Susan had almost expected to be fired when she had come in that morning. That would mean starting over from scratch with a new undercover policewoman, something she didn’t want to have happen.
Instead of going to the office as she usually did to write up a report of what had transpired during the day and get her own car she went straight home. The nagging feeling she had all day hadn’t subsided only gotten worse. Susan had tried to dismiss the feeling as just nerves from being caught the night before but even after she had left the office building far behind the feeling hadn’t gone away. She had thought of stopping and calling on the way home but that would only delay her arrival.
When Susan pulled into their driveway she saw Starsky’s car, then she knew something had happened. They weren’t due to be off for another two hours. Susan jumped out of her car and dashed toward her friend’s house. She knocked twice then let her self in. "Libby," Susan called out.
"In here," Libby called from the kitchen.
"What’s wrong?" Susan asked as she stepped into the kitchen. Libby was busy putting food on a tray.
"What are you doing here? It’s not five yet is it?" Libby asked glancing at the clock.
"Is everybody all right?" Susan asked, knowing it must be for Libby was too calm. Libby took a deep breath and turned her back to her friend. Her shoulders began shaking. Susan spun her around, tears were coursing down Libby’s face. "What happened?"
Libby tried to get control of her emotions, finally she whispered, "Starsky was shot this morning."
The color drained from Susan’s face, "What? Where is he? Is he okay?"
Libby nodded, "I was so scared."
"What hospital is he in?" Susan asked wondering why Libby wasn’t there with him.
Libby shook her head, "He’s on the couch sleeping."
Susan confused ran into the living room where she found her partner sound to sleep on the couch. His left arm was in a white sling and he had a small bandage on his forehead. Susan knelt on the floor next to him and put her hand on his chest just to make sure.
"He’s okay really," Libby said sniffing back her tears. She had held in her emotions all day long but when she had seen Susan they had all come pouring out. "It was just a flesh wound. Hutch brought him home after he got patched up at the hospital. Hutch was going to try and get in touch with you, guess he didn’t."
Starsky stirred and opened his eyes, "Hi ya partner." He said smiling sleepily.
"Hi your self, you get in a shoot out today?" Susan smiled back at him.
"Yeah something like that. You’ll have to get the details from Hutch," Starsky said drifting back off.
Susan looked up at Libby, "you know it was so weird all day long I just had a feeling something had happened."
The front door opened and Hutch came in, "What is that car doing in the drive way? Are you nuts?" The car that Susan was using was one from the impound lot she left it in the garage at the station each night and drove her own car home. So that by some chance Gordon or somebody she worked with wouldn’t see it where it wasn’t suppose to be.
"Shit," Susan said, "I’ll get it out of here it’s just that…"
"You got that feeling," Hutch stated. It wasn’t the first time that one of them had sensed something was wrong with one of the others. "Come on I’ll go with you."
Susan shook her head, "I don’t think that’s a good idea. Somebody might see you with me."
"So you are riding around with your boyfriend." Hutch said taking the keys from her.
"My boyfriend is out of town. I used that last night on Gordon." Susan explained taking the keys from her husband. "I won’t be long."
Before Susan left she ran into their house to check on Jesse and Davy. She found Mrs. Gray in the kitchen just starting dinner. She looked at Susan in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"Long story," Susan smiled affectionately at their housekeeper and friend. "I have got to run back to the station, Hutch is next door with Libby and Starsk. He’ll be over soon."
"The kids are in the back yard," Mrs. Gray said with a smile.
Susan peeked out the kitchen window; Jesse was pushing her brother in the baby swing that had been attached to the swing set. "I’ll be back."
When Susan backed down their driveway she didn’t see the black car sitting at the end of the block nor did she notice it following her. By the time Susan switched cars at the station and headed home Thomas Gordon had all the information that he needed.


                                                                                           CHAPTER FIVE
​

The next morning when Susan arrived at work Gordon wasn’t there yet which she found strange. He was always there before her and rarely left the office while she was there. Quickly she sat down at the computer, then fumbled in her purse for the zip disc. It wasn’t there she had either forgotten to put it in or the disc had fallen out. She pulled up the office email and quickly typed in Starsky’s email address then searched the files until she found the one that she was looking for. After attaching it to the email she hit send then went in and erased any traces that she had sent a letter. It would take a computer expert to recover the email she had sent.
Just as she had finished the office door opened and Thomas Gordon stepped in. "Good morning Miss…Marks," he said.
Something about the way he had said her name unnerved Susan, his demeanor was different than other mornings he seemed cool and calculated. Gordon was usually very charming, if Susan hadn’t suspected that he had murdered his partner and employee’s she would have found him very captivating.
"Could I see you in my office?" he asked slipping off his suit jacket. "Bring coffee please."
"Sure thing Mr. Gordon." Susan answered. After he went into his office and closed the door she thought about giving Hutch a quick call, things just didn’t feel right, something was wrong...very wrong. But instead she poured coffee into Gordon’s favorite coffee mug and tapped lightly on his door before entering.
Gordon was on the phone as she crossed the room and sat the mug on his desk. He held up one finger indicating to give him a moment. Quickly he finished his called and hung up the phone. "Have a seat please."
"Have I don’t something wrong Mr. Gordon?" Susan asked as she perched on the edge of the chair. She had no gun with her, any way of protecting her self if things went bad.
"Why don’t you tell me Miss…what did you say your name was?" He asked coyly.
"Marks, Miss Marks," Susan said feeling more uneasy by the moment. He knew some how he had found out that she was a cop.
"Come now, why don’t you tell me your real name and why you are here?" Gordon came around the desk to stand in front of her.
"I don’t know what you mean." Susan said innocently. "You hired me that’s what I’m doing here."
"No other jobs," he asked his eyes boring into her.
"If this is about me leaving early yesterday it won’t happen again sir," Susan said starting to get up.
"Sit down," he commanded. "All right I’m tired of the game. Are you a cop? I followed you yesterday from here to where? Your own home perhaps? Then to the police station you traded cars. I didn’t follow you any further I got all I needed to know. Are you going to deny what I saw?"
"No," This time Susan got to her feet. "You are being investigated in the deaths of your partner and three secretaries."
"And where is the evidence?" He threw his head back and laughed. "You have nothing on me."
"You sure about that?" Susan asked.
"Sure? No not one hundred percent sure," he said coolly. "I’m sure you could have come up with something I missed in the files or in the computer I don’t think so though I pretty much went through everything."
"So are you admitting to the murders?" Susan asked wishing she were wearing a wire.
"Sure why not?" Gordon said shrugging. "You aren’t going to live long enough to tell anybody."
"We’ll see about that, you don’t really think I’m here alone do you? I have partners." Susan said backing toward the door.
Gordon lunged at the detective but Susan stepped out of the way expecting that he would try something. She gave him a shove, ran out of the office slamming the door behind her. Susan knew there was no way she would get out of the building, Gordon would have every security guard on alert. With no ID on her she couldn’t prove she was an officer.
Susan got to the computer and pulled up the email again and typed in Starsky’s email address. As she started to type the door flew open and Gordon came into the outer office brandishing a gun. Susan hit the send button even though her message wasn’t unfinished. Now her only hope was that someone in the Starsky household would check their mail.
"Get away from that computer," he snarled roughly shoving her way from the screen so he could see what she had been doing. "Who did you email?"
"The police," Susan snapped.
Gordon cocked the gun but didn’t pull the trigger he knew a sound like that would bring everybody out of their offices. "Get your crap."
"No I’m not going any place with you," Susan said standing her ground. "If you are going to shoot me the you will have to do it here!"
Gordon’s face went almost purple with rage she had him. It would be impossible to get her body out of the building even if he was able to get away with shooting her right there. Suddenly an evil grin spread across his face. "Alright fine, then I’ll just get your family. I know where they live remember? I’ll just gag you and leave you here. Then I’ll go and kill every last member of your family. When I get back I might be nice and kill you too or maybe I’ll just let you go so you can live with the fact that it was your fault that your loved ones died."
"You Bastard, you leave my family out of this." Susan cried. "OK, OK I’ll go with you, just leave them alone."
"Get your stuff, NOW," Gordon pushed her toward the coat rack where her purse and jacket were hanging. "Now put a smile on your pretty little face and we’ll walk out of here. Nice boss taking his hard working secretary to an early lunch."
"Okay," Susan said taking a deep breath. She was in big trouble. Even the email she sent didn’t say much only that her cover had been blown. There was no way to know where he was going to take her.
Once out in the hall they ran into several people, Gordon would greet them as he poked the gun into her back. Gordon stopped at the front desk and spoke to the receptionist. "We’ll be out of the office for a few hours," he lied. "I’m taking Miss Marks to lunch. Can you take any calls here?"
"Sure thing Mr. Gordon. Have a nice lunch," the receptionist replied as she made a note to take his calls.
Once out of the building Gordon dropped his act and shoved Susan toward her car. "Get your keys out," he growled in her ear. "You are driving."
Susan opened her purse and fished for her keys, why didn’t she have a gun or even some pepper spray in her purse. Seem every woman carried pepper spray these days. Finding them she opened the passenger side door. Gordon shoved her in then got in next to her. "Where are we going?"
"Don’t worry about it, just start the car and drive I’ll tell you where to turn." Gordon said. "Don’t try anything if you want your family to live."
It was well past six when Hutch pulled into their driveway. He hated the fact that he was out of touch with Susan all day but it wasn’t safe for either of them to make calls to each other just in case Gordon might me monitoring her calls.
At first Hutch wasn’t alarmed that his wife’s car wasn’t in the driveway. He went over to see how Starsky was feeling. He thought if his partner was up to it they would get the kids and eat out. He found Starsky propped up on the couch with several pillows the TV remote lying next to him and a beer in his hand.
"You living it up there buddy?" Hutch asked shaking his head.
Starsky grinned at his partner, "Heck Libby won’t let me lift a finger so I guess I might as well enjoy it."
"Should you be drinking beer with those pain pills?" Hutch asked picking up the medicine bottle sitting on the table.
"Don’t worry I’m not taking them. Pains not bad today," Starsky said lifting his arm to show Hutch, he grimaced a bit.
"No pain uh?" Hutch said sitting down on the end of the couch.
"It’s just a little sore," Starsky admitted. "I’m going back to work tomorrow."
"I thought Dobey said to take a few days off."
"Please if I stay at home any longer Libby is going to drive me nuts. I can’t even go to the bathroom by myself." Starsky grinned.
"Honey?" Libby called from up stairs. "You need anything? Another pillow? How about another beer?"
"I’m fine," Starsky called loud enough for her to hear then he lowered his voice. "See what I mean."
Hutch chuckled. "Hey you feel up to going out to eat. I thought when Susan got home that we could get the kids and go to that pizza joint you like."
"Susan’s not home yet?" Starsky glanced at the clock it read seven o’clock.
"She has to drop the car and make a report. Dobey has a fit if she doesn’t do a report every night. I guess she got held up." Hutch said. "It is getting late she should have been here by now." Suddenly he was worried. "I’m going to give Dobey a call and see what the hold up is."
Dobey was just getting ready to leave when the phone rang, he grabbed the receiver and barked into the phone, "Dobey."
"Hey Cap, Susan still there?" Hutch asked.
"Maybe if you came in before heading home you would know she never showed. What the hell is going on?" Dobey bellowed.
"You mean she never brought the car back?" Hutch asked. He went to the window and looked out to make sure she hadn’t brought it home again.
"I have no idea what is in the garage I just know she never came in to make her report." Dobey sat heavily in his chair. He was beginning to get heat because the undercover job was getting them no where.
"Then where the hell is she?" Hutch asked.
"Maybe she had to stay late," Dobey suggested more calmly.
"And how would I find that out, we can’t call her and she’s not suppose to call us." Hutch asked perplexed. "I don’t care I’m going to call over there. I’ll just pretend to be this out of town boy friend she keeps talking about.
"Fine," Dobey agreed. "Just give me a call back when you find out uh Hutchinson?"
"Sure thing Cap," Hutch said and depressed the button cutting them off.
"What’s going on?" Starsky asked from the couch.
"Susan never showed up at the office." Hutch answered him as he pulled a slip of paper from his wallet with Susan’s office number on it. He dialed the number, the phone rang several times then an young woman answer it. "I’m looking for Miss Marks? She works for Thomas Gordon."
"I’m sorry sir but they went out for lunch." The woman replied.
"Lunch? But that was hours ago."
"I’m sorry sir all I can tell you is what was written on the note that Mr. Gordon left. He wanted all his calls answered at the reception desk that he was taking his secretary out to lunch." She said. "I guess they took a really long lunch or it’s possible that they came back and neither of them check in. Let me ring his office just a moment.
Hutch was put on hold. He looked over at Starsky, "I don’t like this. Doesn’t appear they are there. Receptionist says that he took her to lunch."
Starsky got up from the couch and joined his partner at the phone just as the woman came back on the line. "I’m sorry sir nobody is answering in the office. I guess they never came back."
"Thank you," Hutch hung up. "I’m going over there."
"Wait for me I’m going with you." Starsky said grabbing his jacket from the back of a chair.
Just as they were heading out the door Libby was came down the stairs. "Just where do you think you are going Starsky?" She asked.
"Uh…just out for a little ride with Hutch," Starsky said, he didn’t want to tell her they had no idea where Susan was. "We’ll pick up a pizza for dinner how’s that?"
"I think you need to rest," she said coming to his side. "You still look a bit pale."
"I’m fine honey," Starsky said.
"I’ll keep an eye on him," Hutch promised as they went out the door before she could protest any further.
The two detectives pulled into the office building parking lot, it was mostly deserted as everyone had gone home for the evening. They got out and walked toward the building. There was a security guard sitting in the lobby. Hutch rapped on the glass door.
The guard looked up at the two men then pointed to his watch. It was after hours and the building was close to everyone but employees who all had key cards to get in.
"Damn it," Hutch mumbled trying to decide what to do. It was clear that the car Susan was using wasn’t there. He knocked again but the guard just waved him away. "Lazy…"
"Hell with it," Starsky said pulling his wallet from his back pocket and opening it. He knocked on the glass and held up his badge. "OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"
Max jumped from the stool he was sitting on and hurried to the door. "I’m sorry officers I didn’t realize. I have been instructed not to answer the door to unauthorized people after hours."
"What floor is Thomas Gordon’s office on," Hutch asked not interested in the guard’s explanation.
"I’m sorry officer but I can’t allow you up there," Max said blocking their way. "That is unless you have a warrant."
"Listen pal this could be life or death here." Starsky said.
"I’m not losing my job sorry," Max said standing his ground. "If you want in that office come back with Mr. Gordon or a warrant."
"Come on Starsk," Hutch said pulling on the back of his partners jacket.
Once back out in the parking lot Starsky said, "Now what?"
"Gordon’s apartment." He said as he got in the car.


                                                                                      CHAPTER SIX


Libby set the table in anticipation of the pizza arriving, she had called Mrs. Gray to have her come over with the kids. She was buzzing around getting everything ready when the front door banged open and Jesse bounded it with Mrs. Gray in tow carrying Davy. "Hey Aunt Libby!" Jesse said the moment she entered.
"In here honey," Libby called as she placed forks at each place. Then she pulled up a high chair that she kept just for Davy in the corner. She smiled to herself as she though it wouldn’t be long until they would be using it everyday.
"Can I use the computer?" Jesse chirped.
Libby shook her head and smiled at her Goddaughter. "Sure silly."
Jesse disappeared into the den just as Mrs. Gray came into the dining room. Libby took the baby from her and hugged him tightly then sat him in the high chair. "Now lets see I have some blocks around her some place." She opened the bottom of the china cabinet and pulled out a shoebox full of blocks, which she sat on the tray of the highchair. Davy immediately plunged in sending several to the floor.
"So where is everybody?" Edna asked looking around.
"I’m not sure to tell you the truth." Libby said pulling out one of the dining chairs and sitting down. Edna joined her. "Susan isn’t home yet and the guys took out of here like something was wrong. They tried to say they were going for a drive and get pizza but I think there is more to it than that."
"Hey Aunt Libby," Jesse called from the den."
"What"?
"You got mail," Jesse giggled.
"You are goofy, now don’t you be doing things on there you aren’t allowed." Libby warned.
"Oh I won’t, aren’t you going to read your mail?" Jesse wanted to know.
"It’s probably for Starsky." Libby answered as she got up to make drinks.
Jesse stared at the computer monitor. She was dying to know what the mail was especially the one that said ‘Help’. She wondered who could need help. The letter before it was from the same address and just said ‘file’ on it. She started to click on it but then changed her mind it wasn’t her mail. Reluctantly she closed the mailbox and went in search of her favorite web site.
After two hours had past both Libby and Mrs. Gray were legitimately worried. "I can’t stand it anymore," Libby proclaimed. "I’m calling the station.
"Aunt Libby," Jesse called from the den.
"What is it Jesse I’m getting ready to make a phone call." Libby said as she picked up the phone.
"Aren’t you going to pick up your mail, it looks really interesting," Jesse hollered.
"I have to make a phone call," Libby told her again. "When I’m done okay?"
"Yeah okay, when are we going to eat I’m starved." Jesse said.
‘We’ll take care of it after I make this call." Libby dialed Dobey’s office she figured if anybody knew where they were it would be him.
"Dobey," the captain said gruffly into the phone when he answered.
"Captain Dobey? This is Libby," She said relieved that the captain was still in the office.
"Did Hutchinson find her?" Dobey asked.
"Find who? What are you taking about sir?" Libby asked a finger of fear creeping up her spine.
"Carlston." Dobey answered. "Hutch called over two hours ago looking for her. She never came in to turn in the car or make a report."
"Susan is missing?" Libby said trying to remain calm, first Starsky getting shot and now this.
"I take it you didn’t know?" Dobey asked blowing out his breath he had just assumed that she knew. "Can I talk to Starsky?"
"Sorry he’s not here, he and Hutch took out of here I guess after talking to you." Libby shot a worried glance at Mrs. Gray who then walked across the room to stand by her.
"What is Starsky doing running around?" Dobey huffed but he was glad that Hutch had him with him.
Jesse could no longer stand it. She wanted to know what the help message was. She figured it was just some kind of come on to get you to open your mail and sell you something. But still it was intriguing. Jesse looked around to see if Libby or Mrs. Gray was coming but she could still hear Libby on the phone. She wrestled with her good and bad side a few moments longer then clicked on the letter and opened it.
At first she wasn’t sure of what she was seeing then her eyes opened wide and she could feel her heart thumping in her chest. She had been around police work long enough to know the terms that were used and what she read on the screen frightened her.
"AUNT LIBBY!" Jesse screamed. "YOU HAVE TO COME NOW!"
"I’ll go," Mrs. Gray offered. Libby nodded as she continued to speak to the captain.
"Jess what is it," Mrs. Gray said appearing in the doorway.
Tears were streaming down her face, "I think Mommy might be in trouble." She said pointing at the computer screen.
Mrs. Gray peered over Jesse’s shoulder at the screen, "Dear God," she said under her breath. "Go get your aunt."
Jesse ran into the living room where Libby was just hanging up the phone. She grabbed her hand pulling Libby toward the den. "You have to come now, Mommy is in trouble." Jesse wailed.
Libby allowed herself to be pulled along by the frantic little girl. Jesse just pointed at the monitor when they arrived in the den. What Libby saw written in the email made her blood run cold. The message was short but clear. ‘Cover has been blown hel-’ it was apparent the message had been sent unfinished. Everything was falling into place for Libby, Susan not coming home from work the guys taking off with out telling her what was going on. Thomas Gordon had Susan and there was nothing or nobody who could stop him from killing her.
"You stay here with the kids Mrs. Gray," Libby said in a determined voice. Then she turned and went up stairs to the bedroom she shared with Starsky. Libby opened the closet door and pulled several boxes from the top shelf until she found what she was looking for, a shoebox that was push into the back corner of the closet. Grabbing it Libby sat down on the bed and opened it pulling out her service revolver. She had never turned it in when she left the force instead she has just stashed it away with out even knowing why. There was also a box of bullets in the box which she pulled out and loaded the gun.
Tucking the gun into the waistband of her jeans and grabbing a jacket from the closet Libby ran down stairs. She had been working with Susan not only on teaching her computer skills but all so reading the files on all the dead girls and she knew that all the girls had been found in roughly the same deserted area. It was clear from the coroner’s reports that the girls had been killed where they were found by the amount of blood on the ground.
Mrs. Gray was standing at the bottom of the stairs when Libby came down. "Where are you going?"
"To find Susan," Libby said brushing past the older woman.
"Ken and Dave will find her," Edna said worriedly. "You shouldn’t be running around out there."
"Listen, if they call or come home you tell them I went looking for her. They haven’t been living and breathing these files like I have. I know what this bastard is thinking. I’m going after Susan before it’s too late if it’s not already."
Both women turned at the sound of a small cry from the den doorway. Jesse was standing there with huge tears running down her face. Libby knelt down by the little girl. "Honey I’m going to find your Mommy don’t you worry. She’s going to be fine." Libby grabbed her purse from a table near the door and left without any further words.
Mrs. Gray picked up Jesse and held her close as they both watched Libby jump her car and speed away. Then Mrs. Gray went to the phone and picked up the receiver.




                                                                                 CHAPTER SEVEN

Starsky and Hutch were out side Gordon’s apartment door and as always one went high the other low. Starsky hit the door with the butt of his gun and they both listened for any sound form inside. All was silent, they looked at each other, they could break down the door even though they didn’t have any solid proof that Gordon had done anything wrong. So far they couldn’t connect him to any of the murders, it was just a gut feeling they all had. Also they had no proof that he had Susan, they had gone out to lunch period.
"Screw it," Hutch said as he kicked the door in. It was clear from the moment they stepped in there was no one home. They both knew that he would be too smart not to keep anything incriminating in his apartment. The place was almost sterile it was all done in black, white and chrome. It looked more like a showroom that a place someone actually lived.
Starsky inspected the bedroom and found the same décor, he opened the closet just to see if Gordon actually lived there. The closet was full of neatly hung suits. Hutch appeared in the doorway. "I thought he had a wife?" Hutch said looking around; the place was void of a woman’s touch.
Starsky shrugged, "Maybe this where he stays during the week has a house out someplace where."
"Man this isn’t getting us anywhere." Hutch said. "Where the hell is she?"
"Let’s call home maybe Susan showed up." Starsky said. "There might have been a good shoe sale some place." His attempt at humor didn’t help to lighten the mood.
"Gordon has her I know it, I can feel." Hutch said as they went out into the hall closing the apartment door behind them.
Once out in the car Starsky placed a call to his home. Mrs. Gray answered the phone. "Thank heavens," Mrs. Gray said the moment she heard his voice.
"What’s wrong?" Starsky asked anxiously.
"Libby has gone looking for Susan," the woman said. "There was an email message from Susan from the office it said that her cover was blown. There is also some kind of file from the same address. I guess it must be something else she sent before she got caught."
"What do you mean Libby went looking for Susan?" Starsky looked over at Hutch. "It’s going to be dark very soon."
"She said she might know where he had taken her." Mrs. Gray said. "She has a gun with her."
"Shit," Starsky said under his breath. "Do you have any idea where she went."
"I’m sorry Dave I don’t". I know she has been going over those reports with Susan trying to figure this all out."
"If you hear from either of them you get in touch all right?" Starsky hung up, then to Hutch, "Can you believe this? Libby is pregnant and out there hunting for Susan."
"And you are shot and out here," Hutch said giving him a crooked smile. "You are starting to sound like me. Now you know how I feel."
"I have always known how you feel." Starsky said grimly. "So what do those two know that we don’t? I thought Libby was just working on the computer with Susan."
Hutch laughed, "Once a cop always a cop you know. You know Libby has been reading everything to do with this case."
"You are probably right Libby knows it better than we do." Starsky said. They hadn’t been on the case in a couple of months when Susan went undercover Dobey took them off when nothing turned up quickly. It had been a while since they had studied the case.
Hutch shook his head, "Let’s get back to the office and dig up the files maybe they will give us a lead on where he might have taken Susan."

"Get out of the car," Gordon commanded waving the gun under her nose.
"My partners are going to be looking for me," Susan said with out moving.
"You will be dead and I’ll be long gone by the time they find you." Gordon said. "Now get out."
Slowly Susan opened the door and got out. She looked around but there was nothing for miles except trees, brush and hills. She also knew it would be hours before anybody realized that she was missing. "Listen Gordon, you are going to get caught don’t make it worse by killing a cop."
"I’ll be out of the country before anybody finds you." He said coming around the end of the car. "I was planning on leaving next month anyway. I’ll just step up my plans."
Susan turned to confront him as he came around the car. "Give me the gun turn your self in."
Gordon threw his head back and laughed. He snatched the blond wig from her head and tossed it in the back seat. Then he spun her around and shoved her off the side of the road. The bushes and weeds grabbed at Susan’s legs leaving cuts and scratches as they ripped through her hose. She stumbled in her high heels several times. Finally Gordon said, "Take them off."
"You expect me to walk around out here with out any shoes?"
"It’s not going to matter in just a bit anyway." He said poking her in the back with the gun.
Susan slipped her shoes off and tossed them toward the road as she glared at Gordon. Then they continued on. "Just how long are you going to make me walk like this? If you are going to kill me just do it here and get it over with."
Gordon grinned at her, "I find this all rather amusing. Just keep walking until I tell you to stop."
Susan put her bare heel down on a rock and fell to the ground, "Shit," she mumbled under her breath. She rubbed her foot and glared up at her captor. "This is bull shit. I’m not taking one more step." Gordon was looking around as if he was taking in the view and didn’t answer her. Susan also looked around that was when she notice a ravine not too far in front of them. Maybe if she could get to it she could escape. Slowly she got her feet and began walking toward the ravine hoping it was large enough to lose her self in.
As they approached the drop off Susan looked back at Gordon he was walking along as if they were out on a stroll. She assumed that he was just that cocky, thinking he had the upper hand. Susan suddenly took off running for the edge of the ravine hoping to catch him off guard, which she did. The detective had disappeared over the edge of the drop off before Gordon realized what had happened.
Susan plunged down the steep bank, limps tearing at her cloths and body, she didn’t even notice that her feet were cut and bleeding. All she could think about was finding a place to hide out. Once it was dark it would be easier to get away from him for he was not equipped to be out there in the dark anymore than she was. It would put them more on an equal ground he couldn’t shot what he couldn’t see.
She could hear him yelling above her and hear rocks falling behind as he started down the embankment himself. Susan looked over her shoulder to see if she could see him coming that was when she stepped in a hole some animal had left behind and fell twisting her ankle. She cried out in pain but pulled her self to her feet and ran the best she could on the throbbing ankle.
"You can run but you can’t hide." Gordon called out in a sing songy voice. The tone of his voice unnerved her; he sounded as if he were coming a bit unhinged.
Susan tried to pick her way quietly through the underbrush. She headed in a direction, which she hoped would lead to civilization. She had noticed a few houses on their drive, if she could just find one of them and call for help.
Gordon slipped and dropped his gun in the weeds; it took him a few moments to locate it. Then he stopped and listened but he could hear no sound, the last he had heard from her was a cry as if she had been hurt. He held his breath, listening he could hear the wind rustling the grass and leaves or was that her? "Where did you go?" he shouted as if the detective would be stupid enough to answer.
Susan heard his call it was behind her and to he left, she was moving away from him. She glanced up at the sky it was nearing noon the sun was almost over head now. Sweat was running down the sides of her face leaving clean lines on her dirt-covered face. Her ankle was throbbing painfully but she didn’t dare stop he could sneak up on her any second. She had to keep moving at all costs, Susan looked down at her ankle that was quickly swelling. She ripped the sleeve from her blouse and wrapped her ankle tightly hoping it would be better to walk on. Tentatively she put weight on her ankle, the wrap did help a bit and she continued her hobbled run for freedom.


                                                                                  CHAPTER EIGHT

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It was almost dark when Libby found the dirt road. So far Thomas Gordon had been a creature of habit, killing all his victims along the same road. The bodies had each been found either by kids or hikers. She prayed this was where he had taken her friend and that she would be in time to save her. Libby knew it had been hours since Susan and Gordon had left the office but she also knew her friend would stay alive at all costs.
Libby drove along the road in the fading light hoping against hope that somehow Susan had gotten away from him. She scanned the area as she slowly drove down the road. Libby even honked the horn several times thinking that maybe Susan would hear it. She had already decided that if Gordon showed his face she was going to shoot him.
After driving the road several miles Libby was beginning to fear that he had taken her some place else and she had just been grasping at straws desperate to find Susan. She decided one more mile then she would turn around, it would be pitch dark by then. Libby drove with the window down listening, watching and it was this that gave her the first clue that she had made a correct guess as to where Gordon had taken Susan.
Something caught Libby’s eye on the side of the road, a splash of color that didn’t look quite natural out there. She slammed on the breaks and leaped out of the car bring the gun she had laying in the seat next to her. She walked across the road and bent over to inspect the item. Libby picked up a red high heel, there was a second one laying only a foot or two from the first. She closed her eyes and prayed that she wasn’t too late.
In the growing darkness she could see where the weeds and been walked though away from the road. She looked toward the setting sun; it was sitting right on the horizon. Libby kicked herself for not calling the boys and telling them where she was going. She knew that they would figure it out in time but Libby didn’t feel time was on their side.
She got back into the car and drove a bit further up the road to see if there was a car any place but found nothing. She drove back to where she found the shoes it was clear that they had walked that way. Libby wondered if Gordon had finished the job and left. She shook the thought from her head. Then wondered what she should do. There was no way she could cover the ground that needed to be covered alone.
Hating to do it Libby got back in the car and headed for the first place she could find a phone. Maybe the guys would have figured it out by now would head her way.

At the station Starsky and Hutch along with Dobey frantically searched through the files, looking for any clues as to where Gordon had taken Susan. They had to be there Libby had found them. They laid the four reports of the dead out on the desk and looked at them closely, Bradley Sumner, Denise Whitly, Sandra Masters and Kathryn Daily.
"Sumner was washed up on the beach." Starsky said looking at one of the reports.
Hutch held two of the girls up, "These two girls were found in the brush…" Hutch begin then stopped. "Where was Daily found?"
Dobey looked at the report, "In the brush on a dirt road off State Route 74."
"Bingo! So were these two girls. I’m betting that is where Libby headed. Hutch said excitedly.
"But which dirt road?" Starsky asked.
Hutch help up a piece of paper with a crude map drawn on it, "Directions."
"But how would Libby remember where this dirt road is?" Dobey asked.
"It’s a woman thing," Starsky said with a half smile. "Let’s get out there. If it looks good Cap we will radio for back up. If we need a search party we will need all the help we can get."
Dobey nodded. "I’ll get a chopper on stand by."
The drive to the dirt road was madding. Both men worried about the women in their lives. The only comfort that Starsky had was the fact that Libby had at least taken a gun with her. He knew that Gordon would have no qualms about killing her also.
It was fully dark by the time the detectives reached the dirt road. Starsky slowed and turned on to the road, "Damn it’s dark out here," commented Starsky as he hit his high beams. "We will never find either of them out here."
"We have no choice we’ll find them." Hutch said sternly. Then he added. "We have too."
Libby had only driven a short way when she stopped the car and back up to where she had found the shoes. She couldn’t just leave Susan out there alone. She might be hurt or…or she wouldn’t even think of that. Libby got out of the car and opened the trunk where she pulled out a flashlight and a small first aid kit.
Libby flicked on the flashlight then headed into the grass where she had found the path. She could hear the grass rustling ahead of her as if small animals were scurrying around. She hadn’t thought of the wild animals that could be in the area, she patted the gun that she had tucked in her waistband.
She walked along shinning the beam of light ahead of her, every once in a while she would call out to Susan but noting greeted her ears but the call of the crickets. Libby realized she was at the edge of the ravine just before she stepped off the side and caught her self. She shinned the light down the embankment wondering if they had gone down. Libby swung the light left then right, nothing looked disturbed so she careful made her way down the steep side. For a moment she smiled thinking of the fit Starsky would be having if he knew what she was doing.

Susan opened her eyes and looked around, it was pitch dark. She lay there for a moment taking inventory. Her ankle still hurt and now her head was throbbing but other than that she seemed fine. She tried to remember what happened.
Susan had finally lost Gordon or he had just plan given up and decided to save his skin and beat it out of town. Once she was sure he was no longer following her she slowed down but was ever wary that he might at anytime jump out of a hiding place and grab her. Once a startled bird flew up out of the tall weeds making her heart feel like it was going to burst from her chest.
She felt like she had been walking forever and had finally decided to sit down. The shadows were beginning to elongate as the afternoon was turning into early evening. Susan would have given anything for a drink and her stomach was growling. Suddenly she realized it wasn’t only her stomach growling. She turned and looked behind her a coyote was standing only a few feet from her. His lips were pulled back in a snarl, he took a step toward her then stopped.
"Listen I didn’t get away from Gordon just to be eaten by you," Susan yelled at the coyote and grabbed a rock that was lying by her feet and chucked it at the coyote. She missed but it landed close enough to frighten the animal away. She got up and started making her way through the rough terrain wishing she had shoes. Susan knew there was no way she was going to get out of there by dark so she begin to look for a place that she might be able to hold up for the night.
Susan saw a tree in the distance that looked like she might be able to get up into. Then she would be out of the way of the coyotes and if Gordon came back looking for her she would see his light coming first. Making her way to the tree she inspected it looking to see the best way up. She saw once that she got up into the tree there was a nice V in the branches that she could settle in. Susan grabbed one of the lower branches and hoisted herself up but as she did she struck her injured foot on the trunk of the tree. A blinding pain shot up her leg causing her to lose her grip. Susan fell striking her head on a large rock that lay at the base of the tree.
Now that she remembered the events she felt the back of her head. Her hair was crusted with blood and she could feel a gash through her hair. Susan tried to get up but a bout of dizziness made her drop to her knees. All she could think was that she had a concussion and now needed to stay awake.
Susan moved around and positioned her self against the tree. For the first time she allowed her self to think of Hutch and the children. She knew that her partners had to be looking for her by this time. If she could just fight the dizziness she would get up and perhaps move toward the road. If they were looking for her it would be easier if she were along the road. She shivered as the night got deeper a chill grew in the air. Susan looked at her wrist to see what time it was. That was when she noticed that sometime or another it had fallen off.
Waves to tiredness washed over her. All Susan wanted to do was close her eyes and wake up in her own bed in the morning. But she knew that if she indeed had a concussion and went to sleep she could fall into a coma. Susan hummed to herself, talked to the trees but finally lost the battle with sleep and fell into an uneasy slumber.



                                                                                          CHAPTER NINE

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Starsky’s headlights caught a car sitting in the road ahead of them. He slowed and stopped several feet behind the car. They both got out with the guns drawn and crept toward the car. Suddenly Starsky stood up as he recognized the car. "It’s Libby’s, she is here some place." Starsky headed back to the car to get a flashlight and radio to headquarters what they had found.
Just as Libby had done they looked for signs of a path in the long grass; it was much harder for them since it had grown dark with only a small slice of a moon to help them. "Here," Hutch called as he picked up the same pair of shoes that Libby had found. She had the forethought to leave them as a marker. "These are Susan’s."
"I bet Libby found them too." Starsky said as he pushed his away through the grass. "I’m not waiting for back up. I don’t see another car I wonder where Gordon is?"
Hutch didn’t even want to think about that. The answer was just too hard to swallow. They quickly found the ravine and followed the path that Susan and then Libby had traveled before them.
The whack of chopper blades startled Susan awake. Her head pounded painfully and her ankle was now numb. She looked around, in the distance she could see the search light of a helicopter sweeping the area. But it was too far way to signal even if she had anything to signal with.
Moments later Susan thought she heard her name being called. Then she could hear the sound of the brush snapping as something approached the spot where she was. Susan took a deep breath and called, "I’m over here."
"Susan?"
"I’m here by this big tree," Susan called again, the pain in her head was almost blinding.
Libby suddenly stepped from the bushes into the small clearing around the tree. "Susan thank god." She exclaimed as she rushed to her friend’s side. "Are you all right?"
"Well I’m still alive if that’s what you mean," Susan joked as tears of happiness ran down her face.
"Gordon didn’t hurt you?" Libby asked shining the light on her friend. She winced for Susan was covered with blood from the scratches, then she noticed that the back of her blouse was soaked in blood. "Where are you hurt?"
"Gordon gave up and left, I twisted my ankle then fell out of this damn tree and hit my head." Susan explained.
Libby giggled then started laughing. Just the way Susan had said it struck her as funny. Plus she was so relieved to find her still alive after all this time. Susan joined in laughing with her friend. "It looks like help is on the way." Libby said catching her breath.
"You mean you didn’t bring them?" Susan asked.
Libby shook her head, "Guess the guys figured it out and came with the troops.
"You came after me alone?" Susan said holding her hand out to Libby.
She just shrugged, "I want you around, I have no idea what to do with this baby," she joked. "You think you can stand? We can make our way back save a little time."
"I don’t know, I can try."
After a few moments and a wave of dizziness with the help of Libby Susan was able to walk. "Are you all right?" Libby asked concerned for her friend. Susan nodded slightly but even that sent pains shooting through her head.
Starsky and Hutch felt like cheering when they heard the helicopter, it was the only way that Susan and Libby could be found quickly in the darkness. The blinding light from the chopper washed over the two detectives. They waved the pilot in the direction that they thought the girls were in. It took off heading away from them searching.
"We got to find them," Starsky said forcing him self not to run. "Libby has no business out here in her condition."
Hutch shook his had at Starsky, "Buddy, she is pregnant not sick. Remember how bull headed Susan was when she was pregnant scared me to death."
"I know," Starsky said, "But if anything happens to her I will never forgive my self. We should have been more up on this case."
"Starsky we had no way of knowing it was going to go bad. How do you think I feel putting Susan in there knowing Gordon had killed three other secretaries?" Hutch said as he trudged along. "Dobey couldn’t spare all three of us on this case when it was going no where."
Starsky stopped and looked at his partner. "You sure are calm."
"Only on the out side man only on the out side." Hutch said. Starsky could see the worry in his eyes.
Starsky nodded and yelled, "Libby! Susan!"

"Did you hear that?" Libby asked.
Susan nodded, "I think it’s the guys."
"We are here," Libby screamed back. The noise of the chopper all but drowned her out. "They are never going to hear us with that helicopter.
"Sounded like they are coming toward us though, lets keep moving." Susan said tiredly. She knew that she couldn’t go much further.
Suddenly the two women were awash in the light from the chopper. They waved their arms above their hears, the chopper tilted to let them know that they had been seen then hovered over the top of them to help the search parties find them.
Only moments later Starsky and Hutch were rushing toward them. They caught their wives up in their arms. "Are you two all right?" Hutch asked kissing Susan.
Susan just nodded as tears coursed down her face. "I’m fine." Libby answered. "But Susan is pretty banged up."
The helicopter followed the couples as they made their way back to the road then the pilot set down a little ways down the road as not to fill the air with dirt around them.
"You are going back in the chopper," Hutch told his wife. "You need to get to a hospital." Then he stopped and asked, "Was it Gordon?"
"Yeah," Susan answered. "I think he is going to try and leave the country if he isn’t already gone."
Hutch scooped her up in his arms and walked to the chopper. Starsky and Libby followed. "You are going too," Starsky told his wife.
"Starsk I’m fine I can drive home." Libby protested.
"Get in the chopper, it’s bad enough you came out in the dark tromping around with God knows what kind of animals running around and that crazy…"
Libby interrupted him, "Okay already I’ll go if you just stop." She laughed at him then kissed his lips. Libby got in next to Susan, "Men, was Hutch like this when you were pregnant?"
Susan grinned and nodded. "Just wait it gets worse."
"We’ll meet you at the hospital," Hutch yelled over the sound of the helicopter starting up.

Early the next morning the two couples walked in from the hospital to find Mrs. Gray and the children asleep on the couch in the Starsky’s living room.
Susan’s ankle was wrapped in a white bandage and she was on crutches. She did have a mild concussion but the doctor allowed her to go home as long as she promised she would rest. Hutch assured the doctor that he would make sure that she did.
Jesse was the first one to wake up. "Mommy, Daddy," She squealed waking Mrs. Gray and her brother. She threw her self into her father’s arms. Hutch lifted her up and hugged her then allowed her to hug Susan.
"Gentle now," he warned.
Little Davy tottered over to his parents with his small arms held up. Libby reached down and picked him up. Starsky ruffled his hair and smiled at his wife.
Mrs. Gray smiled at the two families. "It’s good to see you all in one piece."
"It’s good to be in one piece," Susan said going over to sit down and get off her foot. "I just about became an undercover angel."
The phone rang Starsky went to answer it. He came back in the room grinning. "Guess who was just caught at the airport trying to board a plan for Greece."
"Let me guess Thomas Gordon," Susan said hopefully.
"You got it," Then Starsky sighed. "Only thing all they have on him is kidnapping and trying to kill an officer. Can’t pin the deaths of the other four on him no evidence."
"Shit," Hutch replied. "At least he will be off the streets for very long time with the kidnapping and attempted murder charges."
"What about the evidence on the computer," Piped up Jesse.
"What evidence?" Starsky asked. "Dobey said he destroyed everything in the office. "I guess when he couldn’t fine Susan he went back and took care of everything."
"No on your computer," Jesse said pulling Starsky toward the den.
They all followed the little girl, Jesse sat down at the computer pulled up the email and clicked on the message that said ‘file’. They all stood there opened mouthed as all the evidence they needed came up on the screen.
"You are going to make one heck of a detective one of these days little one," Hutch said with pride. Libby had also told them that she had been the one who found Susan’s cry for help.
"What do you mean going to make," Jesse pouted. "I thought I was doing a pretty good job."
Starsky picked her up, "You did a great job sweetie."
"So what is the next case?" Jesse asked. "Maybe I can help you with that one too."
They all laughed at the serious expression on her face. "How about if we recover from this one first kiddo," Hutch said.
"Okay," she answered reluctantly.
"I’ll tell you what I could use about now." Starsky said.
"What’s that," Libby asked.
"That pizza we were going to have last night." Starsky answered.
Hutch rolled his eyes. "Starsk that stuff is bad enough for you with out eating it for breakfast. Besides what pizza place is open this time of morning?"
"It’s better than that stuff you drink." Starsky stormed back.
"Here we go," Susan sighed.
"I’m for some eggs," Libby said. "How about you?" Susan agreed and they headed toward the kitchen leaving their husbands to argue about their eating habits.
~THE END~
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