Hello Starsky & Hutch FanFiction Fans:

Hope you're enjoying The Messenger!

Thanks for reading!

Reviews are greatly appreciated and precious to me!

Thank You Prolixius5, my esteemed Beta Reader!

THE MESSENGER

By: SFSK8rGrrl

Chapter 2

Detective Kenneth Hutchinson stood in his kitchen and finished off his usual blended breakfast concoction.

Maybe a dash more black-strap molasses next time... he thought to himself.

He rinsed out the blender and the glass and then placed them in the dish rack to dry. He glanced at his watch and then turned to the morning newspaper on the table and unfolded it. He began scanning the bold headlines on the front page, but then thought better of it...

On second thought, I think I'll start the day off without reading the bad news from around the world, he tells himself.

He turned a few pages until he reached the section that focused only on the news from around California.

As he glanced over the various articles, one headline alone drew all of his attention:

Simon Marcus To Serve Nine Consecutive Life Terms... Authorities Seek Help On Possible Tenth.

Great... Hutch shook his head. ...Now what?

Just below the headline was a small black-and-white photo of the man, Simon Marcus, whom detectives Starsky and Hutchinson had arrested, brought to face Justice and whom both men knew better than they would like. Simon Marcus was the deranged and dangerous cult leader who - with the help of a loyal group of his followers - was behind Starsky's kidnapping, assault and attempted murder a few months earlier.

The article went on to briefly describe the history of Marcus' case, the nine first-degree murder charges brought against him, his trial and conviction. Starsky, Hutch and Captain Dobey had been present at his sentencing hearing. The closed hearing should have been the death knell for Marcus' reign of terror.

Instead, it turned out to be the beginning of a terrifying, life-and-death race against time for the two detectives.

In the middle of that hearing, the wheels of Justice had been brought to a grinding halt when a group of Marcus' followers - seen outside the Bay City courthouse harmlessly chanting - pulled off the stunning daytime abduction of Detective David Michael Starsky from the courthouse men's room. There were no witnesses and no one was the wiser... until the bailiff delivered a folded-up note to Hutch that simply asked:

"WHERE IS STARSKY?"

When Hutch looked up after reading the note, his gaze intersected with that of Simon Marcus. Despite Judge Yaeger being in the middle of giving Marcus a verbal dressing-down from the bench, the madman had made it a point to turn around, just so that he could see Hutch's face after reading the note and smile at him.

Hutch rubbed his eyes and shook his head. It was all still all too fresh in his mind.

Shortly after dropping the unconscious detective in the back of their van and then calmly driving away from the courthouse, Starsky's abductors had called Hutch and given him 24 hours to get Simon Marcus released. Their next words occasionally still echo in the back of Hutch's mind, "Sentence Simon Marcus and you sentence Starsky... to death.". The nightmare scenario put Hutch in an utterly impossible position. They might as well have demanded delivery of The Moon. Hutch knew that there wasn't a snowball's chance in Hell of Marcus being released from custody. As for Marcus' sentencing, the judge could only postpone the hearing until the next morning - his concern being that Marcus' defense attorney would move for a mistrial if the delay were extended.

The kicker was that the only potential source for leads on Starsky's whereabouts was the puppet-master himself, Simon Marcus, the very same man who was behind Starsky's abduction... an irony that wasn't lost on Hutch. In the interrogation room, Simon Marcus sat at the table with the calmness and serenity one might expect from a Buddhist monk - but not from a man who was known to have butchered nine people... at least. Marcus' wild eyes sparkled as he waxed poetic and wove his words into riddles - only agitating Hutch further. Marcus knew exactly where Starsky was, but he only would only speak of his dreams about Hutch's death, as well as Starsky's and that Starsky was "...already dying.", the last was spoken in the most casual, matter-of-fact tone.

Then, the one clue that Marcus offered, "Begin at the end.", sent Hutch on a wild goose chase.

When Hutch sought help from the owner of a farm where Marcus and his "family" had stayed in the past, the man scoffed at him, saying he didn't want to end up like Hutch's partner. The man then walked into a barn and was promptly killed by a bomb the "family" had planted. By now it was obvious that Marcus didn't want Hutch to find his partner.

This nightmare was Marcus' idea of payback. Starsky and Hutch were instrumental in sending him to prison... to Hell. So, Marcus sent Starsky to Hell... knowing full well that it would put Hutch through his own Hell in the process.

In fact, all of the cult members knew from the very beginning that the authorities would never release Simon. And, they had no intention of releasing Starsky... not alive anyway. It was all part of their game.

Towards the end of the 24 hours Hutch had been given to find Starsky before he was executed, the driven detective finally caught a break. With the assistance of Captain Dobey - and particularly that of Huggy Bear - the three men had finally deciphered enough of Marcus' cryptic ramblings and riddles to figure out where Starsky was being held.

The old City Zoo.

The sun was just coming up when Hutch arrived on the scene and saw his drugged, battered and burned partner hanging by his wrists - his feet barely touching the ground - in the old zoo's aviary. And he wasn't alone. The devoted cult members were standing in a circle around Starsky and they were chanting - they were always chanting - their twisted leader's name, "Simone... Simone... Simone...".

Each of them was holding an item that could only serve one purpose and intention... to cause excruciating pain and grievous bodily injury to Detective Starsky. Hutch saw a meat cleaver, a baseball bat, a length of heavy chain... and they were waiting for some signal to begin their carnage.

The cult's neophyte member, Gail, was dressed in a white gown. She stood in front of Starsky, holding a very large knife. She was in near hysterics - alternating between crying, chanting Simon's name and quoting the Bible, "Thou Shalt Not Kill...". Apparently, Simon had relayed to his followers his prophetic dream of how Starsky would die... in a ritual killing. And, Gail's role was vital to the ceremony. She was being urged by the groups ringleader to sink the knife into Starsky... to make the first cut... to draw first blood. That first cut would be the signal for the others would join in on the bloodbath.

Thankfully, for Starsky and Hutch, Providence came to the desperate scene in two forms that morning.

Standing face-to-face with Gail, Starsky had been trying to talk her down... to connect with the lost, scared and confused girl whom had, apparently, been kidnapped by the cult and was being drugged and brainwashed. Starsky kept calling Gail back from the brink of completely falling victim to the cult and of instigating his murder. To the awe and astonishment of all present, Starsky succeeded in reaching Gail, and in the last few seconds - instead of plunging the knife into him - she cut him free.

Then, with Starsky and Gail holding the circle's complete attention and thanks, in part, to the obstruction created by the hoods the cult members wore over their heads - Hutch had made the most of the element of surprise being on his side. He ambushed group and fought them all off - like a man possessed - using only his fists and agility and saved Starsky's life.

Hutch rubs his knuckles, unconsciously, as he looks further down the article to another small photo - this one is of a girl.

There was no name below the photo. The girl looked to be in her twenties. Her body language indicated that she didn't like to be photographed. And, even though the girl wasn't looking directly into the camera, Hutch knew by looking at that photo that she had been tortured.

Tortured. Robbed of all control. Brutalized. She has been at the mercy of the merciless...

And, it wasn't just the tell-tale discoloration of layered bruises on her face that told him. It wasn't the dark color that stained what was supposed to be the white part of one eye. It wasn't the stitches that shadowed her hairline. It wasn't even the slender, horizontal slice on her throat...

It was the look in her eyes. There was something about it that stopped Hutch - cold. And the moment that he saw it... he knew.

She looks utterly... haunted... like something's lost and broken inside her.

Of course, Hutch had immediately recognized the look. How could he not? After all, he'd seen it up close and personally recently.

That gut-wrenching, soul-deep expression of pain that he recognized in the girl's eyes...

Was the same one that he'd seen in his partner's eyes, on more than one occasion, in the days that followed his last-minute rescue.

Sure, Starsky had repeatedly insisted, to everyone who asked, that he was okay. That man was an expert when it came to keeping up the appearance of being, "... just fine, thank you.". To this last - when it was Hutch who was doing the asking - Starsky often added, "Now... leave it alone, would'ya Hutch? Please, just drop it, already.".

But, Hutch knew better than anyone how skilled his partner and best friend was at maintaining that "impenetrable, tough cop" exterior and he'd told him as much...

"Fine. You win. I'll drop it for right now. But, you know what, Starsk... You can fool most of the people - the bad guys, the public, fellow officers, even Captain Dobey - most of the time."

"But, you can't fool me, buddy. I know you. I see through all the... stuff. I see the real you."

"I'm just saying, if you reach the point... No, scratch that. When you reach the point where you have to talk about it..."

Hutch didn't have to say another word.

Starsky had held up his hand to interject and - locking blue eyes onto blue eyes - he smiled and said, "I'll know where to find ya'."

That had been the end of the conversation, until Hutch was about to leave.

Starsky was skilled at using humor to deal with serious challenges. Not only that, he was also driven to be the one to get the last word in... So, as Hutch was pulling out of his parking spot and head back home, Starsky yelled out to him, "But, don't hold your breath!", and then closed his door.

Continuing to read the article, Hutch found out that that shared expression wasn't just a coincidence, either.

Not unlike Hutch's partner, the girl had also been kidnapped, assaulted and nearly killed by some cult members outside of Los Angeles. She'd ended up in the ICU of an L.A. hospital, listed as a "Jane Doe". Unfortunately, she had disappeared from the hospital before the L.A.P.D. had been able to identify her. The police weren't saying whether they had any proof of further foul play involving the cult. Yet, there was a growing concern that the cult members may have taken her back - perhaps to keep her from talking with the police about them. The authorities were fresh out of leads and were enlisting the public's help in finding her. They couldn't say whether they thought she was still alive or not. But, if she is found dead and they find evidence connecting her death to Marcus, they would love to slap another first-degree murder charge to the nine for which Marcus had already been convicted.

Hutch looked at the girl's photo again.

Damn it! I hope that she's okay. That monster, Marcus, did get around didn't he?

Well, hopefully, the rest of us can sleep a little better, now, knowing that he's going to be in prison for the rest of his wretched life.

Two quick honks from Starsky's car horn outside prevented Hutch from reading the rest of the article.

He glanced at his watch and raised his eyebrows - surprised at the time.

Speaking of sleeping better...

Hutch slipped into his shoulder holster and then pulled his jacket on and walks to the front door.

He paused before opening the door.

I better read the rest of that article...

He turned, returned to the table and carefully ripped the article out of the paper,. He folded it up and then put it in his jacket pocket as he headed out the front door... just as his impatient - and early - partner tapped on the horn again.

Hutch closed his front door and turned. He smiled and waved at Starsky and then jogged down the stairs to his partner and the "Striped Tomato".

When he reached the car, he stopped in front of Starsky's window, leaned down to get a good look at him and gave him a somewhat puzzled look before continuing on to the passenger side door, thinking to himself,

Bright, blue eyes; curly brown mop - He certainly looks like my partner.

And this sure looks like his 'Tomato'.

But, Starsky... My Starsk... Early for work?... Again?...

"Good morning, Starsk!"

As he sat down in the car, Hutch considered making a joke referencing Starsky's sudden change of character and the old black-and-white horror movie, "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers", that he and Starsky had seen on TV a few nights ago. He was about to deliver the joke when he glanced up at Starsky. His some-what pale partner was just finishing another yawn and was rubbing his eyes.

Hm-mm... Maybe I'll save the 'Body Snatchers' joke for another time. Then, recalling Marcus, thought, "Or, perhaps we'll just forget that one."

Starsky looked like he had a rough night... again.

Aww, Babe... Looks like you're still not sleeping.

Hutch pondered asking his partner the question aloud, but he decided to keep it to himself.

After all, he didn't want to (s)mother his partner with too much TLC...

Yeah, well... okay... maybe he did.

But, Hutch knew all too well that Starsky wouldn't appreciate it. He'd already mentioned to Hutch that he tends to go overboard with the mothering thing.

Hutch could already hear Starsky's response, in his head...

"Trouble sleeping? Yeah, sometimes... But... Wait a minute... Hutch, listen, I already got a Mom... You know that, right? I know ya do. 'Cause I was in the room on several occasions when you were talking to her on the phone. So, do us both a favor and don't quit your day job, O.K. partner? Stick with the detective work."

Hutch smiled and then reached for and tousled Starsky's mop of brown curls

Starsky pulled away, gently and looked at Hutch, "You okay, there, Hutch?", Starsky asked.

Yeah, Starsk. I'm here. You're here. We're here, together. And, right now, all is right with the world. He thought...

But, what Hutch actually said to Starsky was...

"Yeah, partner. Terrific! We're terrific! How 'bout we stop for a cup of coffee on the way in? Where's your favorite place to get a cup of that internal organ-dissolving rocket fuel, anyway? I'm buying."

Upon hearing this, Detective David Michael Starsky's face lit up.

"It's about five blocks away...", he says, "Hold on ta something."

And, just like that, Starsky pulled out of the parking place they'd been in and maneuvered into the flow of morning traffic.

(*T.B.C.)