Ok, this should answer some lingering questions. It is by no means the end, though…
Chapter 9
"SIR a car fitting the description has been found in Kern County. Sheriff Martin is on the line to give you more details."
"About time." Dobey muttered. "Put him on."
HUTCH felt an uncontrollable flood of anger surge through him as he looked a Rob for the first time in years. He started forward in a red haze but stopped abruptly when he heard a warning shot fly by his left ear. He could do his partner no good dead. With difficulty, Hutch struggled to control his rage.
"Don't move again, or the next shot will go through your heart." Rob stood up from where he had been hiding; quiet effectively, behind a boulder. His clothing was chosen to blend with the surroundings and it worked well.
"Let's get rid of that gun, shall we? First, remove the bullets." Robert said with deadly authority.
Hutch looked down at his gun, reluctant to give up his weapon. His mind working at a furious pace, he realized he would have to do what he was told. Carefully he removed each cartridge and held them in his left hand. His right hand held the now empty and useless .357 Magnum.
"Throw the bullets behind you."
Hutch obeyed.
"Now toss the gun over the ledge." It was not close by, but with some effort, most people could send it over the edge.
Hutch looked towards the ledge and with much regret, he threw the handgun towards it. The gun clattered along the ground and stopped short of falling over the cliff by mere inches.
Rob tisked Hutches poor throw, but without the bullets, the gun was useless. Rob stood and took a careful step towards his prey.
"Finally. You are mine once again. Only this time I intend to finish the job."
"Why do you want him?" Hutch motioned to his struggling partner. "He's nothing to you. Let him go."
"You're right. He's nothing to me, but I suspect he is everything to you. He has a purpose here, and I intend to keep him to the bitter end." Rob glanced at the man on the ground, now actively fighting his bonds and occasionally crying out. "He's coming down. You know what that is like, don't you? Do you miss it Hutchinson?"
"No." Hutch's eyes burned in anger and belied the calmness of his voice. While the euphoria of the drug was seductive, the addiction and withdraw was something he never wanted to experience again in his lifetime. No, he had no desire for that poison. He hated to see his friend struggle against its control.
"I remember when you begged me for another hit. You wanted a little help." Rob grinned evilly and spared a glance at Starsky, his face reflecting his perverse pride as Starsky thrashed about on the ground. "Your partner feels the same way. I bet you want to help him, don't you. Or maybe you want some for yourself." Rob sneered at Hutch.
Another figure came towards Rob from behind. Hutch strained to make out who it was.
Julie joined her cohort, her face smug and arrogant. Hutch fought the urge to slap it. She laughed and added, "Maybe we can accommodate them both, darling."
"Soon enough." Rob spared a quick glance in her direction. She was holding a length of rope in her hands in anticipation of what he would want. He liked that. He was ready for a little walk down memory lane.
"Hold your hands out Hutchinson. One wrong move and I will kill you now. I would hate to miss my fun, but I don't care how you die."
Hutch paused a moment before holding his hands out in front of him. He remembered Starsky's gun in his belt, and hoped these lunatics would forget to look. Granted, he would have some trouble reaching it with his hands bound in front, but he would have better aim than if his hands were behind him. Julie smiled at him as she walked towards him. She took great pleasure in securing his wrists tightly to each other.
"Now let's take a little walk. Over there." Rob motioned with his rifle where he wanted Hutch to go.
"What about my partner?" Hutch asked, concerned for the welfare of his friend.
"I'll take care of him soon enough." Hutch found no comfort in the double meaning of Rob's answer. With one last look at his beleaguered friend, he started walking towards the shelter that Rob had indicated.
"Rob, wait!" The voice came from behind him. Michele! That traitorous little…
"So there you are. You didn't run after all." Rob smiled pervertedly. "Join him." He indicated with his rifle that she should join Hutch.
Slowly Michele walked up behind the man she had led up here. She was terrified, but she felt that this was the last thing she could do to help. The only thing she could do to end this nightmare. She had observed the gun tucked into Hutch's waistband earlier that day, and hoped she could use it.
Seeing her cooperate, and knowing Hutch was firmly bound, Rob finally dropped his rifle from Hutch's heart and turned slightly to talk to Julie. He was thrilled by the turn of events.
A shot rang out and Rob's right elbow exploded under the impact. The rifle fell to the ground. He turned his murderous eyes on his assailant. Michele screamed and took aim again, fervently hoping this time she could get the gun she had removed from Hutch's belt to send its bullet where she needed it to go. She squeezed the trigger again. This time red blossomed on Rob's chest. He pawed at his chest with his good arm, anger and rage blazing. He took a deep breath and started to move towards Michele. She screamed in terror as his eyes fixed on her. Suddenly he stopped, his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell to the ground. Dead.
Julie looked at her sister, shocked and angered at the betrayal. "You killed him! You little bitch! You killed him!"
Michele shook with the unexpected adrenaline rush. The stench of cordite stung her nostrils. Eyes dilated, her voice broke as she told her sister not to move. She did not want to kill her, but Julie had abandoned her to the cruelty of her "boyfriend" knowing what he would do with her. The betrayal struck her to the core, and any fantasies she mighthave held for a good relationship with her estranged sister died at that moment.
"Give me the gun." Hutch calmly instructed his unexpected savior. Michele stood shaking for a moment. His words finally getting through, she slowly handed him the gun. She did nothing to remove the ropes that bound his hands together. "Get the cuffs." Michele nodded and retrieved the handcuffs from the pocket where earlier she had watched him place them when he had released her. Without instruction she walked over to Julie.
"You, walk over to that tree and put your hands behind you." Hutch calmly instructed. Julie stood her ground for a moment, dismay and anger playing over her features. She looked down at Rob where he lay facedown. Anger distorted her face.
"If you want to join him, just try it. Otherwise, do what I told you to do. Walk over to the tree and put your hands behind your back.
Julie shuddered in her anger and defeat, but she turned and walked over to the tree. It was one of the few remaining trees on the plateau and while it looked sickly it was still strong enough to hold her in place.
"Put your hands behind you. Michele, 'cuff her to the tree. I want no surprises."
Numbly, she nodded and walked over to her sister. She did not look at her while she closed the handcuffs around Julie's wrists. Her knuckles scrapped on the rough bark of the tree. She made sure the handcuffs were secured tightly.
"Got your revenge, huh, little sister. You never loved me. You never cared."
"Yes, Julie. I did. I don't now."
Michele walked over to where Hutch stood. "I am so sorry." She tried to untie the ropes around his wrists, but could not. She began to cry as she struggled.
"Michele. You will be all right. We will get you home." She nodded and tried to stop crying, but the remaining adrenaline made that difficult. Hutch was familiar with the feeling, and tried to assert a calm, instructive presence for her.
"We will need something to cut the ropes with…"
"I'll see if there is a knife over there." She said, pointing in the direction of the shelter. Michele seemed to ask the statement and looked at Hutch for direction.
"Go. I'll wait here with Starsky."
Michele nodded and made her way towards the small building, wiping tears away as she walked. Her shoulders shook, and Hutch could see that she was still crying.
Putting Michele out of his mind for the moment, Hutch turned his attention towards his partner. Starsky still struggled against his bonds as he fought against demons only he saw.
"Starsk." Hutch said softly, compassionately. "Starsk, it's ok, it will be ok. I'm here. Help is on the way." Hutch continued to murmur reassurances to his partner, and on some level he knew that he had gotten through. Starsky began to relax, though he still did not open his eyes. His breathing was rapid, his body drenched in sweat. Hutch was relieved to see that he could still produce sweat, but knew his partner was facing dehydration as well.
Michele returned with a wicked looking Bowie knife. Her hands shook as she tried to cut the ropes off of Hutch's wrists. When the ropes finally fell, they were tinged red with Hutch's blood. Michele saw it and began crying again. "I'm sorry, so sorry!" Hutch replaced the gun behind his back, then gently took the knife from her hand and replied in the same comforting voice he had used with Starsky, "It's all right. Everything will be all right."
"There are all sorts of guns and knives in there." Michele looked back at the small shelter. "It's horrible."
"Ok. We are going to get out of here. Now." He took a moment and established eye contact. "You did the right thing." Michele nodded, and became distant. The last of her tears left a saline trail on her cheek and by her nose.
Hutch turned and began cutting the ropes off of his friend. Starsky no longer struggled, but his body vibrated with fine tremors and his breathing remained rapid. He opened his eyes and with a sob he said "Hutch."
"It's me buddy. I'm going to get you out of here."
Starsky nodded and struggled to stand. As soon as he gained his knees though, he immediately began to vomit. Dry and empty, his body's efforts produced nothing as it heaved. Hutch held his friends head until the spasms subsided.
"Wait here, just a moment." With a nod at Michele, he walked over to where he had thrown his gun. It had lodged on a rock right at the edge. He picked it up and replaced it in its holster. He did not bother with the cartridges. It would take too long, and he wanted to get out of here immediately.
He took his friend's arm and placed it around his neck, and then scooped him up by his legs. Starsky's breathing remained fast and Hutch could feel the tremors that assaulted his friend's body.
"Did you see any water or food when you went in." he asked of Michele. She shook her head numbly and replied "I wasn't looking, I mean, I didn't see, I mean…"
"It's ok. Let's check again, and then lets get out of here."
"What about her?"
"She's fine for now. I will send someone up to retrieve her and the body."
Michele shuddered, but held her head high and walked into the shelter again.
"I found some water, and some candy bars" She said as she came out a minute later. She had opened one of the candy bars and was eating it.
Hutch gently sat his friend down on the ground. He took the milk jug of water from her and took a brief drink. It was stale, but not foul. He bent down to give Starsky some water as well. Starsky took it like a hungry baby to a bottle. Hutch had to hold him back from drinking too much too fast, or he knew none of it would remain in his system long enough to do any good.
Capping the jug, he handed it back to Michele and helped Starsky to stand. Starsky was unsteady on his feet, but was able to walk with Hutch's assistance. Hutch looked at Michele and stated, "Alright, let's go."
"Don't leave me here!" Julie cried angrily behind him. Hutch ignored her, his concentration riveted on the path ahead of him and the difficult load he carried. Starsky may have been walking, but most of the burden of his weight remained on Hutch. He would send someone back as quickly as possible, but he was not going to risk takingJulie with them when his hold on his friend was so tenuous.
Michele led the way without a backwards glance. The path was littered with stones and gravel, and it took all of Hutch's strength to keep upright and moving. The trip down was awful. He was exhausted, but he kept walking. It felt like they had been walking for days when he heard a voice.
"Hutchinson!" Dobey's voice boomed from the path below. He and two other officers made their way up the path, relief evident on his face.
"What's his condition?" Dobey panted as he approached.
"There is a girl cuffed to a tree up there," Hutch said, ignoring his captain's question. "and a body. They are responsible for this. Arrest her. I'll file the charges later." Dobey motioned the two officers up the trail, but remained with his men.
"He's been shot up with something, cap. I think it was heroin." Hutch said in a low voice after the other officers had left. Starsky looked wildly around, but did not say anything.
"Ok. Do you want to take him to the hospital?"
Hutch looked at his friend, and remembered their previous conversations. "Cap, if it is all the same to you, I think he would prefer this was dealt with away from a hospital."
"Mumm." Dobey grunted, understanding the implications. "Your car is still down there. That's how we found you, from the note you left. The other group followed a path that ended rather abruptly."
"I know the one you are talking about." Hutch replied coldly.
"I'll go with you and will take care of the rest. You take Starsky back home. Report in to me tomorrow by phone. Keep me updated. I will place you both on sick leave until this is resolved." Dobey instructed as he assisted Hutch down the path with Starsky's other arm draped over his shoulder. Between the two of them,the load was easier to bear. "Tell me what happened and I will file the charges for you."
As they negotiated the path, Hutch related the entire series of events. When he told of Michele's earlier actions, Dobey eyed her with concern, but shortly it became clear that she was as much a victim, and as well a hero, in the whole sordid situation. They reached the road about 80 yards down from where Hutch had left his car. Three marked cruisers, and Dobey's personal vehicle were parked nearby. One officer remained with the vehicles, a large radio in his hand.
"They found the girl," he reported, "and Officers Wilkinson and Baker are making their way around to help out. They reported that someone has used explosive to destroy the path they were following."
Hutch nodded grimly.
"Get your partner in your car, and get him to where he needs to go. Take the water with you. He's going to need it." Dobey told Hutch gruffly. "Michele, I will make sure you get home safely, but I need some information from you first." Michele nodded in understanding. She had not spoken since they had met up with Dobey, but she seemed calmer than she had been.
Gently Hutch placed Starsky in the front seat. His partner moaned, "I'm going to be sick" and promptly followed suit. Again, Hutch held his head as what little water he had consumed came back and his body was wracked with dry heaves. When they finally subsided, Starsky relaxed against the seat rest.
Hutch pushed onthe door, trying to close it softly, but the cantankerous hinges required more effort and he wound up slamming it instead. Starsky flinched, and muttered, "Get a new car, you idiot!"
Hutch smiled as he came around the car. Michele was there, and Hutch paused a moment. "Thank you." He said sincerely.
"I don't deserve it. I'm the one who lead you into this whole mess. I am so sorry."
Hutch sensed she would not forgive herself until she heard the words from him. Gently he told her, "You are forgiven. It is over. I understand why you did it, and I understand that you saved our lives. I will not forget. Thank you."
Michele quietly started crying again.
"You need to go to the hospital. I know he hurt you and you are going to need medical attention." Hutch deliberately avoided using the word rape, but he was certain it had happened.
Michele shuddered, and nodded as she cried.
"Captain. I am leaving now." Hutch walked over to where his superior was working with the remaining officer, coordinating the retrieval efforts. Dobey turned his attention on him again. In a lower voice, Hutch added, "I believe she was raped, she needs treatment. The woman up there is her sister. Get Michele out of here before she comes down. "
Dobey's eyes softened in understanding for a moment, before his gruff demeanor returned. "I'll see to her, you take care of that partner of yours." Dobey went over to Michele and directed her towards his car.
Hutch returned to his beat up LTD and got in behind the steering wheel. Starsky groaned and shivered in misery. The drug in his system was calling out for more, and the fight was excruciating. Hutch fought his own pain as he put the car and gear and started for home.