Chapter 17

'Do you know her - Hannah?' Starsky asked, eager finally to have the low down on this fascinating woman. Even her name was beautiful.

'Did she help you, then?' Sam asked, answering his question with one of her own.

'She sure did. She's amazing. She's caring and beautiful and she has this ability……..I don't know how to describe it. She just blows my mind. Tell me about her. Where does she live? Is she married?' His questions came thick and fast.

'Tell me, can you describe her?' Sam asked quietly.

'Yeah. She's about 5' tall, very slim, with very long dark brown hair. And her eyes. Oh God, her eyes! You could drown in them. So green, like there's a fire in there'.

Hutch listened. This must be one awesome gal, he thought. He'd never heard the usually laconic brunette wax so lyrical about anything – even his beloved Torino.

'Describe what she was wearing', Sam said

'She wore ah….it was…….That's weird. I can't remember what she as wearing. Shit, I'm a cop. I'm supposed to notice things like that, but I just can't remember. Guess I was so wrapped up in her eyes', he smiled at the memory.

The phone rang, and Sam got up to go and answer it. Starsky shouted after her.

'Hey, don't leave me in suspense! Who is she?'

'Later', Sam shouted as she went into the house.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sam dashed from the house. 'Got to go. There's been a development with the "Bible case". All detectives needed. Don't wait up, I'll be back when I'm back' she called as she ran to her car.

The two American detectives nodded, knowing the score, they'd been there before themselves, private life came second to work. The sun was beginning to hide behind clouds now and the air was taking on a chill, the warm breeze which had blown since they'd arrived being replaced by a cooler wind. Hutch got stiffly to his feet and limped heavily into the house, but without the aid of his crutches. Starsky followed behind, carrying the said crutches and making sure that Bobby was ready for his tea.

As they sat in the big kitchen in front of the range, Hutch asked Starsky again about the woman.

'Sam said her name was Hannah. How did you meet her?'

Starsky cast his mind back to that moment. 'Ya know, it was really odd. One minute I'd got up the hill and was having a rest by a little lake up there. I really wanted to be alone, coz there were so many things crowding my head. You needed time an' I was crowding you, an' I couldn't cope on my own. And then there she was, like she'd appeared from nowhere'.

'Ya know when ya go to the park an' ya sit down an' someone comes an' sits too near?' ya get up an' move? Well, she came right up to me an' she sat down, an' I didn't feel like that. It was like the most natural thing in the world. She started asking me questions an' I just had to answer her'. Starsky stopped a moment, evaluating his feelings. Was he making sense, or would Hutch think he'd lost it completely?

The blond waited for his partner to carry on. 'What did she say?' he asked quietly, not wanting to break the spell this woman – Hannah – had over the brunette.

'It wasn't really what she said, it was the way she said it. I can't describe it. Like I was the only guy in the world an' she wanted to hear only me. I just spilled everthin'. An' as I was telling her she was kinda strokin' my arm. I'm tellin' ya, buddy, if just a stroke can do that, sex would be mind blowin'!'

'I saw her that first day – yesterday – an' I felt so much better when she'd gone'.

'Where did she go?' Hutch asked.

Starsky shrugged his shoulders. 'Dunno. I thought I'd fallen asleep, coz, one minute she was there, an' then she wasn't. I came back here, but I couldn't get her outa my head. I thought I heard her in the middle of the night an' I got up to check, but I couldn't see her. This morning, I just wanted to go see her again'.

'So that's why you wanted the walk', the blond said, chuckling. 'an' I thought it was a fitness craze!'

'Well I went back up there, an' I swear there was no-one there when I arrived. I sat down an' waited, then there she was again'.

'What, she followed you up the hill?'

'No….I don't think…….no, I'm sure there was no one followin' me. She was just there! She came over, and she…..ah…'he suddenly felt shy telling his partner.

'Well go on, don't leave me in suspense!' the blond urged.

Starsky cleared his throat. 'Well she…ah……she came and asked some more questions an' then she started stroking me again. Started on my legs and made her way upwards, then back south again'.

'What, you mean you gave her a quick introduction to little Davey? Starsk?'

'I couldn't help it!' the brunette squeeked. 'You've never felt fingers like hers Blintz. It was like little electric shocks goin' right through me, an' I just didn't want her to stop. And then she took hold of me. God, I've never felt anything like it! Her fingers were hot and cold all at the same time. An' what she did with 'em! I felt like the top of my head would blow off. And the finale…what can I say! It was literally mind blowin'. Those girls at The Pink Angel could learn a few things!'

'Well you dark horse' Hutch said quietly. 'Who'd have thought? I'm jealous, ya know?'

'I just need to find her, Hutch. Just to say thank you. She's…….' he stopped, lost for words.

The two men sat in silence, each with their own thoughts, companiable and comfortable.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

By the time they were ready for bed, Sam still hadn't arrived home. Starsky helped his partner get ready and settled, then got into bed himself. He felt happy for the first time in a long time. His mind was clear. He hadn't killed Terry. If it hadn't been Terry it would have been someone else close to him. There were evil men out there and it was his job as a cop to stop them. He wasn't responsible for Ross. She had been sick, and she needed help. That she had chosen not to take it was also not his fault. He felt warm and relaxed, his skin glowing from the days out in the sun.

He closed his eyes and drifted into an easy, natural sleep, dreaming of Hannah and her magic hands. Even in sleep, his body responded to her ministrations and he moaned quietly into his pillow.

It must have been past midnight when he heard the first clap of thunder in the distance, although he wasn't sure whether it was the noise or the bright flash of lightening which lit up the small room. It was much darker tonight and there was no moon to light the room, but he was sure he saw a familiar figure in the shadows.

Sitting up in bed, Starsky reached for the bedside light and clicked the switch. Nothing. The storm must have knocked out the generator. He got out of bed, peering into the gloom but couldn't see anything clearly. He waited as another flash of lightening lit the room again. There she was – Hannah. What was she doing in his room? And how had she got there? Had Sam come home and let her in?

'Hannah?' he said, quietly, unsure of himself.

Straining to hear over the noise of the thunder, he thought he heard her call his name, 'David, you have to go up the hill'.

'Hannah, is that you? He asked a little louder. I can't go out. Its pouring with rain and there's the storm'.

But with the next flash of lightening, he knew for certain there was no one in the room. OK Davey. You're goin' crazy now. But there was a feeling there. He felt pulled to go out. No, this is madness! He looked out of the window at the driving rain laying the flowers in the garden flat against the soil. He lay back down on his bed and put his arm over his eyes, trying to shut out what he thought he'd seen, but the feeling was more palpable now, urging him to go outside and up to the lake. It clawed at him, shutting out all thoughts but that one. I must go up the hill.

Slowly, Starsky got up again and walked to his partner's room. Unsure if he was going to make any sense, he opened the door and walked in, bending down over the big blond. He gently shook his shoulder.

'Hutch? Wake up blondie. Hutch?'

The blond muttered and his eyes fluttered open. 'Starsk? You OK? It's the middle of the night buddy'.

'I…I think I've just seen Hannah. She wants me to go up to the lake, an' I feel like I have to. I can't describe it, I just have to'. His voice held a pleading note which Hutch caught immediately.

He sat up in bed, rubbing his face with his hands. 'You sure, Gordo? What was she doing in your room? How'd she get in? Are ya going? Its raining pretty heavy out there', he looked out of the window, pulling the curtain back.

'I know you think I must be mad, but yeah, I'm goin'. Can you watch my back? If I'm not back in an hour, tell Sam? Hannah is special, Hutch. I don't know if I really saw her, but I just have this pull that says she needs me'. He put his head on one side, seeking approval from the big blond.

Hutch was confused, but his partner had done dumb things before, and probably would do again. He knew Starsky was so pig headed that he'd go whether Hutch agreed or not.

'OK' he said wearily. 'If you're not back in an hour I'll get Sam to come lookin'. Be careful' he said, and wondered why he'd said it. They were in England on vacation. What could go wrong?

Starsky went back to his room and pulled on his jeans, a tee shirt and a sweater and is tennis shoes. He made his way downstairs and opened the door, staring out into the black night, wondering what the hell he was doing.