Thank you for your kind reviews and messages. I'm having some computer difficulties right now but hopefully it will let me keep going!
CHAPTER Four
Hutch
I left the prison, cursing and swearing bitterly under my breath. I had learned nothing about Starsky's whereabouts and had quite probably wasted precious moments of his life. I couldn't ever remember feeling so frustrated or worried. Marcus' followers were the worst type of nuts I'd ever come across and certainly the most brutal.
I climbed into the Torino and started to drive, deciding to radio into Dobey at the same time.
"Zebra Three calling Central Dispatch. Zebra Three call... Hold it!"
Damn, the Torino lurched, stopped and lurched ahead with a roar. I struggled to gain control with difficulty.
"Damn temperamental half-wit bucket of spit!... Not you, Central... I want to get a message to Captain Dobey." How Starsky loved this tomato of a car. I sighed as I thought of his face as I cursed his damn car. He would not be pleased and I'd doubtless earn a lecture from him about not appreciating cars…how I wish I could hear that lecture right now. I couldn't contemplate not hearing that lecture, or that I wouldn't get him back – it seemed highly unlikely he'd be completely unscathed but I'd accept him in anyway that I could.
After a few moments, I made up my mind about where to go next. Marcus' old hang out which was an abandoned church.
"Message for Captain Dobey. Tell him I'm going to start where Starsky and I busted Marcus... the abandoned church on Hauser Street."
Flooring the gas pedal, I pushed the Torino hard. I prayed again that I'd have to apologize to Starsky about mistreating his car.
I drew up outside the church and walked inside warily. I knew I was at the right place as the chanting of "Si- mon, Si-mon" greeted me. It was a frightening sound, monotonous and continuous, never changing a beat. It was horrifying to me that a freak like Marcus had such a following. But I didn't have time to ponder this or to wonder why they did. I just had to get some answers and to try to appeal to their consciences.
I looked in horror at the dispirited followers just listlessly chanting and ignoring my presence. They hadn't even looked up as I entered. I walked up to the piano and smashed the keys, anything to gain their attention and finally the chanting stopped.
"We're going to talk." I was firm and determined, determined not to show fear or desperation but intent on showing them I meant business.
However, after an interruption of barely a second, the chanting started again, and it was clear they were almost oblivious to my presence. I threw aside the chair that was in my way and I grabbed the first person I could by the robe, pulling him to his feet.
The chanting continued. "I said talk, junkie!"
"Simon dreamed this, man! He dreamed you'd come to us." The words were slurred slightly, indicating the freak was definitely on something. But he was not telling me what I wanted to hear and he barely seemed to react to my presence even as I shook him.
"If that's all he dreamed he woke up too soon! He should have dreamed ten to twenty years for accessory to kidnapping, or life if Starsky doesn't make it, because that's what each of you is looking at!" I stepped back, trying to appeal to at least one of them. I wasn't too proud to beg for Starsky. I'd do anything I could to save his life. "I need answers! If you help me, I'll help you! You can be free of Simon Marcus and become human beings again!" Despite my begging, no one responded. "Your leader's done for! What's going to happen to you while he rots in the slammer?"
"Simon's coming back, man! He dreamed it and we're waiting for him." The chanting continued and I had to back away. It was scaring me in a way I had never been frightened before but I was furious and desperate as I picked up the piano stool and threw it into a wall. "He's never coming back, you fools! Forget him and help yourselves!"
"There's only us and Simon! S-mon, Si-mon, Si-mon..." I had to leave then, knowing I had no chance of getting through to them and time was ticking by too fast. I had no time to waste, as I had wasted enough. I stumbled out of the church, trying to regain control of my emotions. I walked up to the Torino but received a shock when I saw a box sitting on the seat. I leapt back, throwing my arms over my face, expecting an explosion. There was a mild pop only, so I approached again, seeing to my horror a jack-n-the-box head on a coil spring. Fastened to the head was Starsky's ID folder with badge and picture. I felt my world crumble as I noticed the blood on it.
Starsky
I had tried to wriggle away from the chanting which was really getting to me by now. It was worse than the beatings, and quite relentless, as the sound moved closer. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I found myself grinding my forehead into the dirt ground as if I could bury myself but all I achieved was I was scratching my forehead. The voices continued and increased in volume.
"Si-mon, Si-mon…" With much difficulty, and pain, I tried to roll away but something was preventing me from moving further away. I soon realized it was a wall and I was stuck as the bodies moved in. Flickering candles made the scene even more surreal and eerie as the black robes surrounded me.
"Hutch….Hutch…." I started yelling back, both wanting and needing to react and defend myself. "Hutch is gonna find me and you're gonna be sorry, you sick bunch of lunatics…" But my voice was much weaker than I wanted and I was painfully aware I was fighting a losing battle. The chanting continued despite my yelling back and I fought back my increasing desperation. With a sudden burst of strength, I rolled away from the wall, and found myself hitting the legs standing around me but they made no effort to touch or prevent me from moving further at first. I tried to get onto my knees but the bodies were so close and the sense of claustrophobia was intense. The incense, the chanting and the heat from the candles increased my terror and horror. Without warning one of the legs kicked my shoulder and I was lying on my back staring up at the strange figures. The chanting was growing louder and I would have given anything to shut them up. Almost without conscious decision, I started screaming as loudly as I could. "HUUUUUUUUUTCH! YOU'RE GONNA FIND ME, I KNOWYOU ARE! HUUUUUUUUUUTCH."
I continued to scream for Hutch as I watched the figures circling me, leaning down with their candles and then standing up, confusing me as the images became blurred. The candles were giving off a strong and unpleasant incense and as they came too close to my face I started to feel very nauseous. I closed my eyes, not wanting to watch the vulture-like creatures circling over but I continued to scream out for my partner. I hated myself for losing control but it helped drown out the vile chanting. I would scream for as long as it took.