CHAPTER 11

Starsky

I tried to wriggle my way out of the ropes, desperately worried about what was going to happen to Hutch, but all I was doing was causing myself pain. The thought of what Forest's goons might have planned for my partner made me feel ill. He'd barely survived his previous run-in with Forest, for the son of a bitch had shot him up with heroin and left him strung out. It had been a long haul back to health, and even now he was very jumpy around drugs.

I never worried about him being tempted into using again, for I knew my partner as no one else did. He had strength of character and will that even he wasn't aware of at times. My faith in him never faltered, even though I knew it wasn't always easy for him. However, I knew he'd be freaked out at the thought of being in Forest's hands again, even though Forest was dead. Obviously, revenge was on their minds and I couldn't help but believe they'd want to hurt him in the worst possible way. At the memory of my sweat soaked, frightened partner, my anger grew, giving me increased energy to fight my ropes. The bastards weren't going to hurt him ever again if I could help it. At last I felt the ropes loosening, just a little.

Desperation gave me the edge I so badly needed and I soon found the ropes binding my wrists were loose enough to remove. I quickly threw off the blindfold and gag, and untied my ankles. I stood up, trying to get my bearings. It was a small, dark room and I made my way to the door. I didn't get far, as the door opened and I found myself staring into the barrel of a gun.

"Where do you think you're going?" The man talking to me didn't seem surprised that I was trying to escape.

"I should think that was obvious! I'm not about to let my partner be killed..."

"Your partner deserves to die. Now you get back in the room." I recognized the voice. It had been the voice of the man who hadn't wanted them to kill me. I allowed a flicker of hope to rise.

"I heard you talking before. You're not a killer. Please help me!" I pleaded.

"Hutchinson got in the way of Forest and he deserves to die. I don't think you deserve to be killed just 'cause you're unfortunate enough to be his partner. NOW MOVE!" He pushed me back and I stumbled, falling to the ground. He pushed me onto my stomach and started rebinding my wrists.

"Please, Hutch initially just tried to help, a woman he loved. But Forest was a crime boss and..."

"He loved? That's not what I heard." I hesitated and wondered who this man was.

He spoke again, obviously thinking about what I'd just told him. "I heard he seduced her away from Mr. Forest and then dumped her."

"No, that's not what happened at all," I gasped as the ropes tightened. "He loved her. Who are you? Have you ever asked?"

"No. She went to live in New York, but she's my sister..."Her brother! I allowed myself further hope.

"Listen to me. Hutch loved and she loved him. She wouldn't want you to kill him. Please" I gasped again as the ropes cut into my wrists, but then suddenly they were loose again.

"I might be crazy but I do believe you. You didn't know who I was. I can't release you outright or I'd be signing my own death warrant. But I can make it easy for you to escape." I sighed as I was pulled into a sitting position, the ropes quite loose again.

"Are they gonna bring Hutch back here? You gotta tell me, please." I needed to find out what they were going to do to Hutch. I knew he'd come after me as soon as he found out I was missing.

"I think so. They want him to know who's gonna kill him and why. They like games like that." I jumped a little as I felt the gag and blindfold being replaced. "Gotta make it look like you're secure. Sorry. You might need this, too." I felt something being placed in my hands behind my back. Something cold and hard. I sighed with relief as I felt the familiar outline of a gun.

"Don't blow this, Starsky. If you do, we'll all die!" I shook my head, I wasn't going to blow this. My partner's life was on the line. I had no doubts I could handle this, not when the stakes were so high.

Hutch

I woke up to find my hands cuffed behind my back. I was in a moving car, lying along a seat, but aside from a headache and the discomfort of the cuffs, I had no other injuries. At first, I had wondered what happened and then the memories came flooding back. Starsky was dead! No, he couldn't be. I'd know if he was dead, I would feel it. I tried to hold back the black despair I was feeling. I wriggled experimentally, but there was no way I could get out of the cuffs.

"Keep still, Hutchinson. You're not going anywhere."

"What the hell is going on?" I asked. Starsky can't be dead, he can't be. I had to hold on to that thought or I'd lose the will to fight.

"We're taking you to view the body of your friend. Then you'll be joining him, courtesy of Ben Forest."

FOREST! I went cold. Oh, God, no, I couldn't face him again. Is he going to shoot me up again? I couldn't handle that, not without Starsky. STARSK! I was despondent as the car drew to a halt. NO, STARSK WASN'T DEAD. I was hauled out of the car and led into an old building, confused and trying hard to maintain my cool.

"Hello, Detective Hutchinson. Welcome. Are you ready to go on another trip? Perhaps you won't fight so hard when we tell you that Starsky didn't handle the ride as well as you did and..."

"NO!" I screamed as I jumped forward. Starsky! Please, no! I was pushed back and hauled over to a chair.

"I'm afraid so .Now just relax, Hutchinson, while we get you ready for your last trip. Oh, and don't forget to think about your partner and how he died because of you. We wouldn't have touched him if it hadn't been for you." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, still everything in me was denying that Starsky was dead. That Starsky would have suffered the horror of heroin. It couldn't have happened. I fought back the panic and despair that was increasing.

---

Starsky

I'd heard the arrival and guessed that Hutch had been caught. Oh, Hutch! Did you walk into the trap because of me? I'll get you out of here, babe, they're not gonna hurt you again. I worked the ropes loose and grabbed the gun. I got up and walked carefully to the door. 's brother was outside, but just nodded very gently toward another door and then turned away from me.

I could hear voices and when I realized what they were saying, I went cold. They were going to shoot him up again. Over my dead body and I barged in, holding the gun high. The sight of my partner in the chair, looking so defeated and terrified, angered me beyond belief, as did the sight of the needle about to be injected into his arm. I had no choice, I had to stop that needle going into his arm at all costs. I shouted a warning and then fired.

----

Hutch

I looked in horrified wonder at the sight of the needle. I'd developed a real phobia for needles since my last run-in with Forest and I couldn't believe I was about to be shot up again. Starsky, I need you Starsky! Starsky can't be dead.

I looked up at the sound of the door being pushed in and couldn't believe my eyes. It was my partner, looking a little battered but all in one piece. He shouted something but I was beyond hearing what he said. The gun fired and the thug who had my arm released it and dropped to the floor. That was my partner, one of the best shots in the department.

However, the others had circled him and were not going to be deterred by the gun. I watched in horror as someone else came into the room behind him, knocking the gun out of his hand. He had no chance, for he was simply outnumbered.

"STARSK!" I screamed the warning as I was hauling myself up out of the seat, wanting to help him, despite the cuffs, not sure how I was going to manage. Every instinct I possessed demanded that I help him, but before I could even move, I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun.

"This ends now!" I heard a man shouting and a gunshot. The last thing I was aware of was a searing pain in my side and Starsky's anguished cry to me.