What can I say? The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming and I have been outdoors indulging my tired, over wintered body with the warmth of the soil. Now that I have some good flowers growing, it is time to address the boys.
Chapter 13
THEREare few things in life more miserable than not being able to get a full night sleep. Two nights in a row of no sleep, plus not being able to take a shower qualifies as true misery. True, unadulterated, utter misery. Hutch could just imagine what Starsky felt like.
Starsky had awakened a couple times through the night, sometimes fighting unseen ghosts (or maybe pink elephants), and another time just fighting Hutch when he came across the couch that blocked the doorway. Hutch had a hard time talking him down, and he did not want to hurt him. Somewhere inside, Starsky felt the same way, but he fought harder than Hutch did.
Come morning, Starsky had finally settled down into a less restless sleep. Hutch took the time to call Dobey to find out the progress on finding the Bouldin girl and to see how Michele was faring. He was less than thrilled to find out that even though they had scoured the hills looking for Julie, the officers searching came up empty handed. She simply vanished. Michele had been delivered to the safe house, but had "freaked out" with the officers there and had been taken to the hospital instead. She was admitted and it was discovered that she had required surgery for the injuries she sustained while in Rob's clutches. Dobey related that after she recovered, she was scheduled to participate in an experimental rape recovery program.
"Also, I need for you to come in and sign the reports sometime soon. How's your partner getting along?"
"Recovering. He is going to need at least 48 hours just to get his bearings back. The doctor you referred me to came over last night and helped Starsky out." Curious as to how Dobey knew Dr. Anthony he added, "He seemed like a good guy, what do you think of him?"
"I wouldn't have referred you to him if I didn't think he was a decent physician!" Dobey's tone almost, but not quite made bellowing decibels. He continued in a softer tone, "You need some help? I could ask Edith to bring you some supplies, maybe spell you long enough to come in and sign these reports. I'd come, but I am up to my eyeballs here."
With another two of my detectives down. Hutch mentally added. He would have liked Edith's help, but he did not know how Starsky would react when he awoke, and since his last interaction got a little physical, he did not want to leave Edith dealing with Starsky alone, even if for the few minutes it would take to get a shower. But not wanting to offend his superior he said, "Cap, we're fine for the moment. Maybe tomorrow?"
"Humph. Ok." Switching the conversation, "Check in from time to time. If I hear anything on the Bouldin girl I'll let you know. If you hear anything you let me know. UNDERSTOOD?"
Hutch understood. Hanging up the phone, he turned to face his now awake partner who was standing in the doorway looking at the couch.
"How ya doing, Starsk?" Starsky looked up from his contemplations, a wry smile crossing his face.
"Now I understand your crack about there being such thing as a mercy killing." Hutch thought a second and then snorted in response to the backdoor joke.
"Yeah? Well, what comes around goes around, buddy. You think you can take a shower?" Hutch sincerely hoped the answer was yes. They both were rather ripe, and Starsky's was rather repulsive. He wondered how the good doctor could stand the stench last night. Forget the wash. The clothes needed to be burned. Hutch was not sure about the jackets, but to be salvaged, they definitely needed professional help.
"I think I can shower, but…"
"But?"
Starsky paused for a moment, thinking about something, and then replied, "Never mind. It's nothing."
"There are some extra towels…"
"I know! You wanna move the couch, or shall I take a running jump?"
He is in an ugly mood…Hutch thought as he walked over and pushed the couch over enough to clear a pathway out.
"There is coffee…"
That got Starsky's attention. "There is?"
With a slight smile Hutch turned and got a mug from the kitchen. "Fresh, hot and a hell of a lot better than the crap down at the station." He said while pouring a fresh cup and handing the cup to his partner.
"I'd take anything right about now…ooohhh, that's good!"
"You up to eating?"
"Ummm, got any pizza?"
"I can order in," Hutch looked at the clock, "in about 3 more hours. How about scrambled eggs?"
Starsky made an unhappy face. "I think I will go take a shower." Starsky slowly and cautiously walked off with the steaming coffee in both hands, his gait still a bit wobbly. Recovery was underway.
JULIE combated the boredom of her forced confinement by exercising and planning her revenge. She knew patience would be necessary for it to be as sweet as she intended. As she methodically worked and strengthened her muscles in the dank, silent cave, mentally, she worked on each and every detail. Rob had always been the one to devise a plan; Julie would be the one to tweak it. Now she was the one doing both the planning and the executing. She wasn't sure she liked it. She missed Rob terribly. She pushed herself harder, pumping the weights in her hands like they were feathers, trying hard to forget the ache in her heart. It was horrible having to walk away from him without saying goodbye, but some things were more important. Survival and revenge were definitely more important than goodbyes.
In order for her to get close enough, she would need to change how she looked and it needed to go beyond her hair color and style. Her arms were rock hard and her legs shapely. An addition of ten or fifteen pounds should change her figure some, but not affect her strength. She was by nature average and thin, pale with dark hair. She was lucky her eyes were your simple average bluish green. Nothing very spectacular. Depending on what she wore they could be more blue or more green. Her basic black was out. No, from now on she would wear colors to soften her and change her figure. She would need to add a little something in the chest area to build it up, and wear flats to de-emphasis her height. She had been wearing 3-inch heels when the dynamic duo had showed up to take her to the cabin. A change in height would do wonders in the non-recognition department. She hated flats though. The sex appeal of flats was right up there with muumuus.
Early on, she had learned how to blend in with the people around her when she wanted to and to stand out in the crowd when the need arose. She needed those skills in order to survive and prosper in the underworld of drugs and money. She loved the challenges of refining the skills needed to exist in that seedy world, but she thrived on the chase of the prey that Rob had introduced her to. She was alive and powerful during those times. She felt like a conduit to thousands of volts of energy, the feelings were so intense, so totally consuming when they finally brought down their target. That is how she had felt up until her darling little sister had betrayed her. Julie had been on top of the world, flying and then, suddenly shattered.
Julie focused on the details and forgot the emotions. Rob was gone, and now she would be combining the skills of both worlds on her own to define her own strategy. Sweat gathered on her brow and spilled down her back as she pushed herself harder in her workout. A hard smile and feral eyes reflected her deep passion. Her plan was taking shape, and though it would take awhile to put together, it was going to be well worth the effort.