Chapter 16

Starsky sang as he walked down the hill, feeling the sun on his back. His voice wasn't as smooth as his partners, but he could carry a tune, and even strum a guitar if needs must. The grass seemed a little greener and the flowers a little more beautiful. He was going to find about where this wonderful woman lived. He owed her so much; her straight forward manner; her guileless approach had completely disarmed him. And as for the……..well, he'd never had such an earth shattering orgasm from just a few minutes touching. What was it with her? He'd bottle it, if he could!

He swung his way round to the garden gate and saw Hutch on his crutches making his way into the garden to sit on the lounger. The blond was all set for a day in the sun, bare chested and with his shorts on, the muscles in his chest rippled as he leaned heavily on the crutches the District Nurse had left the previous night. Hutch looked up as his partner came round the corner of the cottage and caught his breath. What the hell had happened? Gone was the defeated and destroyed man of a few days ago. He looked in wonder as he saw that famous strut back in the walk and spring in the step. Whatever it was, his heart sung for the smaller man. Was this the end of his battle? He sure hoped so.

'Well good morning' he called, balancing on one leg.

'Good morning to you too' the brunette responded, smiling a big broad Starsky smile. He quickened his step and helped Hutch to sit down on the lounger.

'Enjoy the walk?' the blond asked, trying to fathom what had happened to precipitate this change.

'Indeed I did. Me and the dog found it very…….bracing this morning, partner. And how's Peg Leg Pete? Ya wanna parrot and eye patch to go with the crutch, Long John Silver?'

'Starsk, have you been on the elderflower wine again?' Hutch asked, amusement in his voice.

At that moment Sam came out into the garden, carrying a tea tray. She came over and paced it down on the table by the lounger and she and Starsky sat down on the grass. She looked the brunette up and down.

'Did you take Bobby for a walk this morning?' she asked.

Starsky nodded.

'You went up to the lake, did you?'

'Ah, yeah, why?'

'Nothing, just wondering' she said vaguely. 'You seem better?'

'I think I am' he said. Something made him stop before he mentioned the woman, not ready yet to share that little snippet with anyone. Hell, he didn't even now her name!

'Anybody else up there?' she asked casually.

'Erm………no. No, just me and Bobby. It's so beautiful up there. Hutch, maybe you'll get up there before we go home?' his voice cracked a little, realising he really didn't want to think about home at the moment.

Sam sensed the subtle change in the brunette and changed the subject.

'We got the lab. works back on the underlining on the murder message' she said. 'It was horse's blood. But there's been another body discovered this morning, early on. This is getting way too close. The last serial killer we had round here was the Black Panther, but he targeted post offices. This guy's obsessed with Buddhists! The body this morning was another member of the temple. And there was another Bible page by the side.Numbers 35:25
The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled.

Its almost like this guys on some sort of personal vendetta, like he thinks he's doing something good!'.

Hutch asked 'was there still underlining on the script?'

'Hm? Oh, yes, the same red. It's a given that its blood again, but forensics are checking its from the same source'.

'Have you checked out local vets?' Hutch asked. 'Maybe someone has reported their animals having unusual wounds. This flakes got to have gotten the blood from somewhere'.

Sam smiled 'Way ahead of you there, Mr hotshot American policeman! Our boys are checking all the vets in the area. Should have news this afternoon. I'll let you know what goes on'.

'Did you say there was a lady at one of the churches under suspicion?' Starsky asked, feeling himself getting absorbed into the case.

'Yes, but we've checked her out. She's been in a wheelchair for six months and the only Bible we could find in the house was whole – no pages torn out. We've drawn a blank on that one'. She sighed. 'I hate these cases – murder victims who've done absolutely nothing wrong, only have a different faith to someone else'. She pulled herself together.

'Looks like the sun will keep on shining today, but enjoy! It's forecast thunder and heavy rain tomorrow'. She got up and cleared the tea tray away. 'I'm going back to the station, but I'll be back for supper. See you later boys'.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

After Sam had driven away, Hutch and Starsky sat back in the garden enjoying the peace and quiet. Hutch was still amazed at the change in his partner. Starsky was humming tunelessly under his breath, something he only did when he was ether concentrating or happy. Hutch decided it was now or never to ask.

'You feelin' better, buddy?' he braced himself for whatever answer he got.

Starsky stopped humming a moment, looked over to the blond and smiled. 'Ya know, I am. I feel terrific actually'.

'Not that I'm overwhelmed for you Gordo, but what's brought this on. Two days ago, if we'd still been home, I'd have locked your gun away in case ya did something stupid. And now you're walking the dog and humming and you're my Starsk all over again'.

'Dunno Hutch. Maybe its being away from Bay City. Ya know, everything was too familiar back home and every place held a memory'. He chuckled. 'Sam said this house was special. Maybe it's the house that got me under it's spell. Whatever it is, for the first time since Terry got shot, I don't feel like everything is my fault'. He stopped to consider telling Hutch about the woman, deciding that he may as well spill the beans now, whilst they were alone.

'I met a woman up at the lake. She was amazing! Like some marriage counseller, psychiatrist woman but with a real human side to her. I can't describe her properly. She just made me want to talk'.

Hutch heard an edge of wonder in his partner's voice. 'What was she like?' he asked, glad the smaller man was opening up.

'She's so pretty. Long dark brown hair and the brightest green eyes you've ever seen. She's so tiny too, but she has this way with her, like I'd do anything she says'.

'Glad she took you in hand partner', Hutch said as the brunette sprayed his drink across the lawn. 'What? Was it something I said?'

'Yeah……….well she did that alright' Starsky laughed out loud.

The sound was infectious and within a minute, both men were laughing so hard it brought on a fit of coughs. As Starsky cradled his sore ribs, Hutch held on to his bruised head until both the pains and the laughing subsided.

Quietly, Hutch reached over to his partner and rubbed his hand up the brunette's arm. 'Glad to have you back Starsk' he whispered.

Starsky took hold of the hand and squeezed it, 'Glad to be back, Blondie. It's been a long, dark road. I knew I was being an absolute bastard, but I just couldn't bring myself out of it' he replied.

'No matter' his partner replied. 'I got ya back now'.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Both men were still sitting in the garden, enjoying the last warmth from the sun when Sam returned. She waved as she got out of the car and carried the Chinese takeaway towards them.

As they sat eating, she filled them in on the case. The blood was an exact match on both murder notes and the net was closing in on the murderer. One of the vets in Accrington, the next big town to Oswaldtwistle had been called to suture a horse's neck, but the wound was a clean incision, not the sort of wound a horse would get from, say, a barbed wire fence. The horse belonged to Red Walls Farm, on the other side of the hill from The James House, and police would be staking out the farm that night, hoping the murderer would be going back to get fresh supplies.

It seemed a satisfactory situation and the conversation went on to other things – careers, families.

'You both got girls at home?' Sam asked.

Hutch tensed, waiting for Starsky to cop out of this one, but he was surprised.

'Nah, not much luck with women' the brunette was saying. 'had a wonderful girl called Terry, but she was killed a while back. She was gorgeous, brown hair, blue eyes. You remind me of her sometimes. I wanted to marry her. She was just so right' he smiled fondly at the memory. 'Then I hit a string of loosers and ended up with a woman I thought I loved. But after she'd done all this' he raised his arms and displayed the lines of fading bruises and the wound on his neck, 'I realised I was probably better off without'.

Hutch gazed at his partner. How was it that suddenly he could recite this horrendous history so calmly? It had screwed him up so badly. He put a supporting hand on his partner's shoulder and patted gently.

Starsky was continuing. 'I never thought I'd be able to live through it', he lowered his eyes. 'I never thought I'd be able to talk about it an' I gave Blondie here such a bad time. An' then we came here an……'

Sam looked him in his big indigo blue eyes. 'You've met Hannah'.