Chapter eight

Hands caressed his hair. They ran up and down his back. Starsky stirred in his sleep and the hands stopped. When his breathing became even again, the hands continued their journey from the back to Starsky's chest. Trembling in anticipation, they opened one more button and touched the dark chest hair.

When they moved to the waistband of his jeans and started to unbuckle the belt, Starsky turned on his back and opened his eyes slowly.

Looking at Jules, who hovered over him and kept his hands at the zipper of Starsky's jeans, Starsky panicked and started flailing with his arms.

"So you want me to tie your hands again? As you wish."

Roughly, his arms were drawn behind his back, and Starsky felt the helplessness of his situation.

"Now be a nice guy and play along with me. I had a hard day…"

Jules made Starsky sit up and pulled the shirt out of Starsky's jeans. Eying it lustfully, his hands palmed the broad chest. Starsky was fully awake now. He had to stay calm thinking of strategies to keep this creep off him.

He took a deep breath and forced a smile on his face. "Yeah, I understand you. It's the same with me. With my hands and feet tied I can't touch you the way I like, and for you it would be much more exciting too. So untie me and you'll see we can have a lot of fun together, like you had with Brian. What kind of guy was he?"

Slowly, Jules untied Starsky's hands.

"I met Brian when I was working in the office of our winery. He applied for a job as an accountant. He had been recommended by a friend of my father, and soon he took care of the finances in the business. He was very good at his job."

Jules removed the ropes round Starsky's ankles letting his hand linger there. The other hand took the gun, pointing it at Starsky.

Misty eyed he said: "The way he kept looking at me showed me that he had feelings for me. One day we met at a private club – and I couldn't resist him any longer."

Jules paused, lost in memories.

"And then?" Starsky asked, thinking hard if he could find something to overwhelm Jules with.

Jules sighed.

"We had a terrific time. The only problem was my father. When he found out about our relationship, he went nuts. He fired me and forced me to work in the camp, but Brian and I continued to meet secretly. We had our places, this one for example." Jules looked around seemingly remembering the time with Brian.

"That sounds quite good," Starsky said.

"Did your father notice your meetings then?"

"Don't think so," Jules mumbled, "my father was more interested in making money. Brian had great ideas to support the camp and raise money for more camps like ours."

"And so?" Starsky asked, wondering if he would be able to get the gun out of Jules' hand this time.

"Brian promised me to take me with him when he planned a vacation to Great Britain, where some of his family lives. I was looking forward to it. You see, I was waiting for him here, but he didn't come. I waited all night. Then I went to see my father and found him in such a rage. Brian had disappeared. A lot of money was missing, and my father promised to kill Brian whenever he found him."

"That's why he looked at me in a strange way when Hutch and I arrived here on Tuesday," Starsky said pensively.

"I saw you with your friend, too, and I had the idea to kill you before my father could do it. You know, I'm very good at shooting and you wouldn't have a chance to flee this time. I watched you being together with that guy, and I thought you brought your new lover here. Don't know why I didn't shoot you the first evening when you two walked side by side along the path by the hotel. I just couldn't do it."

Jules reached out his hand to run it through Starsky's hair. Starsky flinched, then he took hold of Jules' wrist.

"Jules, listen to me. I'm very tired and I'm not in a condition to give you what you want right now. Besides, I stink and feel very uncomfortable. We should wait till we're out of this place. Don't you think I could talk to you father and explain that I'm not the one he's looking for? After that, we could take our time to get to know each other a little better."

Jules put some distance between them and Starsky already hoped that the worst was over.

"I won't let you go. This time you stay with me. There's only one thing I have to do."

Jules pointed the gun at Starsky. Starsky froze. Was this the close call that would mean the end for him? He would never see Hutch again, wouldn't be able to tell him how much he cared about him.

"Tonight I'm going to surprise my father by taking from him the most important thing he owns. It will give us the chance to live without any financial trouble wherever we want to go."

Jules looked deeply into Starsky's eyes. "Where would you like to go with me?"

Starsky swallowed and said: "Bolivia?"

If Hutch could hear him… They had joked about robbing banks in Bolivia when he was shot in the Italian restaurant. Always looking at the bright side of life – that's how they handled dangerous situations. Now he needed Hutch desperately and knew at the same time that Hutch probably had no idea where he was and what had happened to him.

"Bolivia? We'll have enough money to go there. There's a little problem though. Harry died this afternoon. I didn't want him to die; I only gave him a higher dose of his medication. I was afraid he would tell your lov... your friend about us. Wanted to keep him quiet for a while. Now I have to get it done alone."

"What're you talking about?" Starsky asked shifting back against the wall behind him.

"Your friend Hutchinson was going to ask Harry about you when Harry had a seizure. That's all."

Starsky nodded. Then Harry had been the big guy assaulting him from behind and carrying him to the car and later into the arch.

"Have some errands to do. Need to tie your hands again. Can't wait till you're mine," Jules smiled and touched Starsky's thigh lingering there. "You're beautiful, you know that?"

Starsky cleared his throat to say something appropriate, but the pain of his wrists bound together again, made him yelp in pain.

"Sorry, love, I'll be back tonight to take you with me. Be patient."

Then Jules was gone and Starsky cried out in frustration.

"Damn! Hutch where are you? I can't stand being alone here! Need you..."

Starsky curled into a ball and fell into an exhausted sleep.

Hutch awoke from a sunray that had found its way to his face, and he covered his eyes with his left arm. Disturbing and wonderful thoughts were mixing in his head. He hadn't been alone last night, and he remembered being together with Marie as a wonderful sensation. Reaching over with his right arm and finding the other side of the bed empty made him frown.

Marie had left him… and my God, Starsky was still missing!

Hutch got out of the bed. He had to call Dobey at once, then the police in Sonoma.

The routine started. Policemen asked him about when he had seen Starsky the last time. Hutch gave them the map for fingerprints and showed them the place where he had found it. Hours passed, and there was no trace of his partner. Again hospitals were called to ask if someone matching Starsky's description. The police hadn't found a corpse either and Hutch didn't want to give up hope to find his partner alive.

He decided to ask Jules DuPont again.

"Mr DuPont has been here this morning. Now he's left to do some errands," Mr. Hanson explained. He remembered Starsky very well but hadn't seen him the last two days.

"Mr. Hutchinson, have you heard about Mr. Starsky?" George DuPont got out of his car and joined the two men. Hutch shook his head. George turned to Hanson.

"Hanson, I have to talk to Jules. Tonight I need him to help with the guests. I told him before. This is just a reminder. Would you tell him to come over to my office right away?" George DuPont left and Hutch followed him.

"Mr. DuPont, I'm not sure if I can attend the party tonight. Your daughter invited me to show me how you raise money for the camps, but I'm not in the mood for it. My partner is still missing and I'll be busy looking for him."

"Marie has invited you?" DuPont looked astounded. Then he smiled.

"You're right. We have to find Mr. Starsky." He accentuated the name and looked grim.

Hutch drove back to the hotel, parked the car in the garage, and decided to take a walk like he had done with Starsky two days before. He was just heading in the direction to the golf course when he heard a voice calling his name.

"Hutch!"

"Marie!" She ran toward him and he opened his arms to pull her close.

"I've missed you this morning," Hutch said softly, holding her tight.

"I had a lot to do for tonight and didn't want to wake you up. It's good to see you. Everything okay with you? – No, how silly I am. Your friend is still missing. I've tried several times to talk to my brother, but it seems he's quite busy too. You know what?"

She linked arms with him and said; "We've checked so many places to find your friend and it was all in vain. There's one family my father was arguing with once. They have never talked again since and I'm sure my father hasn't called them concerning your friend. We could drive to their place and have a talk with them. Maybe they are willing to help us. If someone has taken your friend, he must hide him somewhere here. It's just an idea." She smiled insecurely at Hutch.

"Yeah, you're right. At least we should give it a try."

Half an hour later they turned into the driveway of the Smitter winery. Marie kept quiet about her liaison with John Smitter. It was her own business and she only hoped that he wasn't at home to open the door.

"Marie?" What're you doing here?"

"John… May I introduce Mr. Hutchinson to you? He's here on vacation with his friend who have been missing since Wednesday. We've looked for him at so many places. Do you have an idea where he could have been taken? We believe that he has been kidnapped."

John Smitter scratched his head and paused.

"I have no idea, Marie. In the vineyards, there isn't any chance to hide someone. The arches are locked every night and I check them personally. Believe me, if there had been a stranger, I would have realized it."

"You were our last hope. Sorry for the inconvenience then," Marie said, while Hutch tried to hide his disappointment.

"See you some time?" John called out behind her and Marie nodded absent mindedly.

Hutch felt as if a rug had been pulled out from under him. Marie's hands were around his waist to give him support, but for the first time he wasn't sure that they would find Starsky.

Hutch had to call Dobey again to check the cases Starsky had worked on the last year once more. There had to be someone who was after Starsky to look for revenge or something like that.

"Ken, the party is going to start in half an hour. I have to take care of the guests, so get some rest. Let's meet about 9 o'clock. Then the tombola takes place. It's interesting to see how the donations are made. It'll be a distraction to you too. You're coming, aren't you?" Marie asked him, leaning into him. He cupped her cheek and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Marie, you're the best that has happened to me in a long time. I only wish Starsky could be here with us. This vacation was especially for him. He has had such a hard year and it was my idea to go on this trip to give him the chance to get some rest. I don't know what to do now."

"I'd like to get to know him," Marie said. "Do you have a picture of him? I don't think I've seen him."

Hutch said pensively; "I must have a photo somewhere here…" He pulled out his wallet and had to smile when he saw the crinkled picture inside. It had been taken during Dobey's birthday party two years ago. Starsky and Hutch had sung "Happy birthday" to their superior, and Edith had fixed this moment when they sang out loud.

"Here you are."

"Brian! That's Brian, Jules friend!" Marie was dumbfounded.

"If this is your friend, he looks exactly like Brian, the guy Jules fell in love with. After he had left, my brother Jules had a hard time."

"Really?" Confused, Hutch stared at the picture. If Starsky resembled this guy who Jules had fallen in love with and had been left behind, then it could be possible that Jules… Hutch shuddered, thinking of such a possibility.

"Marie, I have to talk to Jules at once!" Hutch said with determination.

"No problem. He is supposed to help with the guests tonight. You seem to be upset."

Marie looked at Hutch and suddenly she understood.

"Hutch, that can't be true! You think Jules has kidnapped your friend because he resembles his former lover?"

"We'll find out if we ask him," Hutch said, and walked toward the Blue room where the charity guests were already gathering.

Marie was looking for her brother.

"He hasn't arrived yet," she said, a little concerned. When George DuPont entered the room, the murmuring died and all were concentrating expectantly on the owner of the Whitehall Lane Winery.

He welcomed the guests and explained shortly what a success the foundation had been so far. With the raised money they had established a home for young people who needed a new chance in life. He said he hoped that this evening they would raise even more money than in the years before.

"The buffet is open, good appetite!" The guests acknowledged him with applause and walked over to the large buffet.

"Where's your mom?" Hutch asked Marie when they queued to get some food.

"Oh, that's a sad story. She's mentally ill, had a nervous breakdown some years ago, and is just spending some time in a sanitarium. I wish you could meet her. She's a great mom. I miss her," Marie sighed.

"Marie, have you seen Jules?" Mr. DuPont approached them.

"Dad, I haven't seen him. Mr. Hutchinson wanted to have a word with him. Maybe he's late again."

Marie smiled apologetically at her father. He looked at Hutch.

"Mr. Hutchinson, I hope you enjoy our party. I'm so sorry that we haven't found your friend. Please tell me if I can do something for you." He smiled encouragingly.

"Thanks, Mr. DuPont. When you see your son, you can tell him that I'd like to talk to him," Hutch said, and noticed the frown on George DuPont's face.

"Sure. He should have arrived by now. See you." George DuPont addressed himself to the other guests again.

Hutch walked around with Marie, and she introduced him to some neighbors who owned wineries themselves. They all praised the good deeds George DuPont had done with his camp.

Applause set in, and when the little band appeared and started to play, soon some couples were dancing. Marie tugged on Hutch's sleeve and he couldn't refuse her request. He tried to enjoy the dance but Starsky's disappearance was nagging inside him. Awkwardly, he stepped on Marie's toes and she gave a little yelp.

"Sorry, I'm such a klutz," Hutch said embarrassed.

At this moment, a penetrating sound was heard. Puzzled, the dancers slowed down. The band went on playing till Mr. Hanson rushed through the room.

"It's our alarm system." Marie tensed.

Before all had realized what was going on, a shot was heard, coming from the adjoining room.

TBC

8