Feedback: Always shamefully solicited, but please remember, none of us are professionals so when critiquing, be lenient.
Disclaimer: I own no one, and nothing. The OC's are ours and the idea is loosely based on a movie called 'The hitcher', no infringement on the copyright is intended. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, namely, me!
Author's Note: This story is being written with the help of a couple of very important people to me. Thank you Eli for your contributions and encouragement, also written with the constant help of Brook, (she is, and always will be my sounding board.)
Red
Chapter Six
Hutch walked up to the counter at the hospital, the cold white floors and walls blending into one solid surface. Helen stayed several steps behind the tall blond, his long legs allowing him to cover twice the distance in half the time. The attractive admitting nurse looked up top greet them.
"May I help you?" She asked professionally.
"Late last night, a young boy was brought in here," Hutch started to explain as he retrieved his badge from his pocket and flashed it at the nurse. "He's the witness to a crime that occurred at Mel's gas station, not far from here."
"Well yes sir, I know who you're talking about," she checked her log as she looked up briefly when Helen joined the detective. "He's been moved to a private room, but doctors' orders are no visitors."
"Well you see, that presents a little problem," Hutch explained, "see my partner here and I," he waved his hand at Helen causing her to give him a curious glance, "are in the middle of a very important investigation and time is of the essence." He looked at the nurse, furrowing his brow and expressing to her a sense of urgency. "Someone's life depends on it."
"But it's against doctor's orders." She protested. "No visitors and I'm afraid that includes you officer."
"All I need is 5 minutes, that's it. I promise I won't traumatize him in any way, I just need to ask him a couple of questions…it's imperative that I get that chance…"
"Do you have any idea what that poor child has been through?" The nurse started to explain. "The police at the scene said that they think that poor man that was killed was the kid's father…and that he witnessed the whole thing…the poor boy hasn't said a word since he was brought in, they've sedated him and now he's resting…They have located an Aunt and Uncle that live about an hour away, their in route as we speak."
The look he gave the woman in charge of the desk seemed to do the trick. The nurse sighed heavily as she weighed the consequences.
"Please…I need your help." Hutch begged as he did his best to emit as much of the Hutchinson charm as possible.
"Okay…" She caved in, "…but 5 minutes, that's all you get. He's right down the hall, room 198, but so help me, if you upset him in anyway…" She threatened.
Hutch looked at Helen who's eyes lit up and was smiling as she turned to walk in the direction they had just been given. The tall blond man looked back at the attractive woman behind the desk. "I promise, I won't upset him…Thank you." He winked and then hurried to catch up with Helen.
"The names Tommy, Tommy Jenkins." She yelled out at them as Hutch waived his hand indicating that he had heard her.
The room was dark; the fluorescent light over the boy's bed was the only thing illuminating the room. They door creaked as it was slowly pushed open, Hutch and Helen entered the room quietly as the walked up to the right side of his bed.
Little Tommy Jenkins lay there sleeping peacefully as Hutch and Helen both felt a sudden sadness for this young man that was probably about to grow up way before his time. No child deserved what this boy was going to have to go through. Helen looked up at Hutch, who was already sharing an understanding, sympathetic gaze. The child couldn't be more than twelve or thirteen years of age. Helen moved around to the left side of the bed, she raised her hand and tenderly brushed Tommy's unruly sandy blond hair away from his forehead. Hutch watched how gently she touched the boy and the pure affection that shown across her face. He felt a twinge tug at his heart as he thought about what a great mother she was going to be, he only wished, and still had hope, that once they found Starsky, the two would be able to work things out.
Tommy stirred, moaning softly as Hutch leaned forward, towards him. He didn't want to startle the boy, he wanted to guide him gently back into consciousness.
"Tommy…" He whispered. "It's ok Tommy." He eased the boy awake as Tommy blinked a couple of times trying to clear his blurry vision. "Don't be frightened…we're not gonna hurt you…I'm a police officer, and so is the lady to your left." He explained as now it was Helen's turn to watch how delicately the tall blond handled this situation. "We wanna help you…"
Tommy's eyes were now open. His gaze darted between both Helen and Hutch, glancing back and forth, obviously concerned and frightened, but still he didn't speak. Helen reached out and grabbed Tommy's cool hand in hers. He started to pull away, but she held strong, stroking it with her thumb. "It's okay Tommy, you're safe," her whispering tones matching Hutch's.
His breathing increased slightly, and then seemed to subside again, Hutch continued. "Tommy, we know about what happened tonight, and you have to believe me when I say that we are both so sorry…but we need your help, we need to get the man that hurt you dad…can you help us?" He spoke methodically.
At first Tommy shook his head no, and then he looked back at Helen, the tears welling in her eyes, he saw the pain she was in without her saying a word. The teenager looked back at Hutch nodding up and down, agreeing to help if he could, but still not saying a word.
"Tommy, I need to know how many people there were." Hutch asked, but got no response.
Helen and Hutch exchanged glances again.
"Tommy, can you answer Detective Hutchinson?" Helen tried to encourage the boy, but he still said nothing.
Hutch sighed heavily and then decided to try a different approach.
"Okay, let's try it this way…I just want to ask you yes or no answers…okay?" Hutch explained as Tommy nodded yes.
"Did you see more than one person that hurt your dad?"
Tommy shook his head no…
"Was there anyone else with him?"
Yes…
Hutch looked at Helen who quickly took a photo from her purse and handed it to Hutch who flashed it in front of the teenager.
"Was this the guy that with him?"
Yes…he nodded.
XXXX
Kevin came back grabbed him by the collar and drug Starsky roughly out of the car, he let out an involuntary moan as he tried to support himself on his right leg. He pulled him away from the car and tossed his captive onto the ground, under a large pine tree. Starsky hit the ground with both knees and his right shoulder, grunting as a puff of dirt rose around him from the impact.
Kevin let out a laugh that indicated to the seasoned detective that the man was not only deranged, but by the sound of it, he was inebriated as well.
Starsky laid were he had landed his face in the cold dirt as he looked around scanning his surroundings. His chest hurt with every inhale and exhales, his body ached and shook as the chills fought to consume him. He coughed as it felt like his lungs were trying to turn themselves inside out.
He noticed a cabin about 50 yards away, the area was covered with trees and shrubbery. They were in Starsky's favorite vacation spot, the one spot he and Hutch would always go and the brunet looked forward to their yearly expedition, they were in the woods…
"T'rrific." Starsky mumbled as he tried to push himself back up on his knees, struggling through the pain that shot through his right leg. "Look, I really gotta take a piss, would ya' mind uncuffing me for a few minutes while I take care of business?"
Kevin smiled knowingly at his captor. "You really think I am that stupid pig?"
Starsky looked backed at Kevin frowning, a pleading look washing over his face. "Really kid, I gotta go."
"Okay, get up." Kevin walked over to the detective, hooking him under his arm and helping him to his feet.
Starsky winced with any pressure that he applied to his injured leg. It throbbed in unison with his heartbeat, keeping perfect tempo. For a brief moment, Starsky thought about trying to make his move when Kevin unlocked his restraints, he had only hoped that he had enough strength to overtake the younger, healthier, uninjured man.
The brunet's eyes shot up in surprise as he felt Kevin's hands on his zipper, "What the hell are you doing?" Starsky asked, jerking his body away.
"I'm helping you take a piss, what does it look like I'm doing?" Kevin replied, quickly noting how uncomfortable the detective became. "Whatsa matter? You never had a man's hand on your dick before?" Kevin laughed as he grabbed Starsky's waistband and continued to unzip his jeans.
Starsky looked towards the sky, trying to remove himself from this scene. This was something he had never even allowed Hutch to do, but the truth was, he had to go, and his only other option was to soil himself, and this was a little less humiliating. But just a little.
Before Starsky knew it, he was fully exposed to the wonders of nature.
"Go." Kevin commanded and walked away allow the brunet the slightest bit if privacy.
After giving the detective the time he needed to relieve himself, Kevin moved back over to the brunet and began to put him back together. Starsky again looked to the sky, avoiding eye contact. This would not be a good time to look the man who held his manly hood in his hand, in the eye. God forbid Kevin took a look the wrong way, Starsky could be left childless for the rest of his life, and he definitely wanted children, he and Helen had even discussed it before. He shook his head, trying to get Helen's image from his mind.
"Whatsa matter David? You like that?" Kevin asked as he finished zipping the detective.
"Fuck you, you sick bastard." Starsky spat out before being able to stop the words from flowing from his lips.
The comment earned him another crack to the back of his head with the butt of the gun, dropping him to his knees instantly. He shouted out in pain as he hit the dirt.
"Son of a bitch! Would you stop doing that?" He seethed as he gasped between breaths, his hands still restrained behind him and he was bent forward.
Kevin laughed and went to the trunk of the car to see what the previous owner kept stored in there. After popping the trunk and rummaging around he looked back at Starsky who was still on his knees. He grabbed a large red metal can from the trunk and shook it, happy to find it almost full. He walked over to Starsky who still had his head pointed to the ground.
"You're boring me." He stated matter of factly as he opened the two gallon container in front of him. "I wanna play." He said childishly.
Starsky felt the cold fluid being poured over his back, feeling it run up his neck and into his hair. Several streams of the liquid ran onto his face as he sat up quickly recognizing the smell of the fumes.
"Jesus, that's gasoline!" He shouted as he struggled to turn and face Kevin. "What in the hell are you doing?"
Kevin threw the empty container behind Starsky has the brunet felt the cool gas as it soaked trough his jeans and shirt. His body shivered, with chill and fear as he looked into the red head's eyes. They were fiery, evil with excitement. "I told you I was bored," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a book of matches. "A bored Kevin is never a good thing." He said as he struck the first match.
"Dear God, please don't do this!" Starsky pled for his life as he swallowed the golf ball sized lump in his throat.
XXXX
From a series of yes and no questions Hutch and Helen were able to determine that Starsky was with the murderer, but not by his own accord, they had taken the father's red thunderbird and headed south on the rural highway, and that there was a distinct possibility that Starsky was injured, but they weren't sure how bad. Other than that they still had very little to go on. They both thanked the boy for the help he gave them and promised to catch his father's killer before leaving his room.
They left the hospital and climbed back into Hutch's car, calling to check in with Dobey. Their Captain had told them that Starsky's credit card had been used at a hotel about an hour and a half away and after contacting the manager there; Dobey had been informed that there had been an altercation with him at the bar. Hutch thanked his superior and headed in that direction, wanting to interview those witnesses personally, trusting this investigation to no one.
The rode in silence for several minutes before Helen finally spoke. "Ken?"
He could hear her emotions through her weary voice; they were tired, drained and emotionally exhausted. "Yeah, what is it?"
"I'm sorry." She said as she lowered her head and began to sob quietly. "This is all my fault."
A tiny piece of Hutch's heart broke for her; the guilt she was carrying was something he could definitely relate to.
"Don't do this to yourself Helen. It's as much my fault as yours. I never should have let him go off on his own like that, what kind of a friend am I to let him leave when he was so upset?" Hutch stated, his voice lowering in self pity and guilt as well. "He had his guard down and it was my job to watch out for him. He's my partner."
"Yeah? Well up until day before yesterday, I thought he was our partner." She sobbed as she fought to regain control of her emotions. "I never meant for anything like this to happen…God even knows what he's feeling right now, we know he may be hurt, but we have no idea how bad."
"Dammit Helen! Stop it, you talking like this isn't helping. You walked away from him, it was my job to pick up the pieces an' I failed him!" He spewed as he hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand in frustration. "Just drop it okay, we're not helping him by playing the blame game."
The silence in the car was thick and uncomfortable. Hutch drug his hand down the entire length of his face as he sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I'm just upset." He tried to explain.
"Yeah? Well, so am I." She snapped back as the silence once again won over and they continued on their mission, finding someone very important to both of them.
XXXX
Kevin enjoyed watching the look of horror that emanated across the brunet's face. He was scared and Kevin got off on that, it made him feel strong; being in control of another human being's feelings and emotions was his true purpose in life. No longer would he be afraid, he would always be the one to create the fear, to decide someone's fate, to truly play God. The thought of that made him feel alive.
The first match that Kevin had struck had been blown out by a small puff of wind that gave Starsky a brief reprieve.
"Kevin...li…listen to me…" Starsky stuttered, not sure what to say, afraid that what was going to come out of his mouth would enrage the boy. "You don't haveta do this…please listen to me…I can help you…"
Kevin lit another match, enjoying the sick game he had created. "Tell me pig, just how in the hell do you think you can help me…huh?" He smiled as he threw the lit match in Starsky's direction.
"Son of a bitch!" Starsky closed his eyes, immediately wondering what it was going to feel like to be burned alive. At what point his body would give up, how much pain would he feel, and how long would it last. Someone once told him that burning to death was one of the most painful deaths imaginable.
With his eyes closed, the detective didn't see that the match had gone out in mid-air. The flammable liquid did not ignite, there by sparing his life, at least for now. Starsky opened one eye slowly, to find Kevin lighting yet another match. He was panting heavily, his adrenalin flowing through his veins and out his pores.
"P…p…please Kevin, I swear…I'll do what ever you want…just don't do this…" Starsky felt his emotions swelling inside of him, rising to the surface, he thought about never seeing Hutch again, he even thought about Helen, he was afraid that Helen would blame herself for this.
"Back the fuck up." Kevin commanded as he motioned to the large tree just behind the brunet.
Moving on his knees slowly, Starsky scooted himself closer and closer to the large pine tree. He grunted every time he had to distribute most of his weight to his right side. "Okay…okay…whatever you say…please just don't light that match."
"This match?" Kevin chuckled as he struck the red flint against the rough strip, causing the stick to flare up.
Starsky fell with his back against the tree, he was exhausted, his body ached, his leg throbbed. He briefly thought about what would be so bad if it all ended here…The pain would be over, his fear would end. He had a good life so far, had helped many people throughout his career, and had the best friend a man could ever hope for.
Kevin approached Starsky slowly, the gleam in his eye softening. He leaned forward, waving the match in Starsky's face, before he dramatically blew the flame out. Starsky sighed in relief as he closed his eyes briefly, saying a silent prayer. He wasn't ready to die, not yet.
"I bet that gasoline on your leg hurts real fucking bad, now don't it?" Kevin seethed through his teeth as he reached down and grab Starsky's injured thigh roughly, squeezing hard. "But you know what? Pain is weakness leaving the body!" He spat as he let go just as fast as he had grabbed on.
Kevin stood up and struggled with Starsky as he placed his back against the tree. He ran back to the car and returned carrying a chain and some rope. He worked at a fevered pace as he tied Starsky to the mighty pine. He cinched the ropes tightly, causing the air to escape Starsky's lungs as he continued to rant at the wounded detective.
"You know something? I ain't sat and watched someone die since I watched the life get sucked outta my folks when I was just a kid…you got any idea what it was like to sit there an' watch my old man die…no one comin' to help us…My mom on the other hand, she died real quick, the accident just broke her neck." He snapped his fingers together, "just like that…but my ol' man, it took him at least a good three hours to die…yeah…" He sat back on his rear on the ground next to Starsky. "That was the only time I ever saw him cry…he was always so strong, not afraid of nuttin'…'cept dyin' I guess…I was so scared, all I could do was sit there an' watch…" His voice trailed of as Starsky heard a hint of remorse.
He jumped up, snapping out of his memory with a sudden exuberance, "You know what I'm gonna do?"
Starsky looked up at him silently, afraid to speak, to move.
"I'm gonna go back to that burger joint. I bet that little girl from the drive thru is just about gettin' off." Starsky's eyes opened wide in fear of what he was hearing Kevin say. "Speakin' of gettin' off…I'm about over due." He said as he rubbed his hand over the front of his pants and let out a loud whoop. He fished in his pocket for the keys, looking back at his victim. "Make yourself at home now, ya' hear. And feel free to yell all you want, there ain't no one around for miles…"
"Kevin…no…" Starsky managed to speak. "Don't go back there." He pled, worrying about the girl's safety.
"Don't you worry, I'll make sure an' tell her you said hi." He winked at Stasky as he headed for the car.
"Kevin! Don't!" Starsky shouted with everything he had in him. "Leave her alone!" He struggled against his restraints. "So help me God Kevin, you can't hurt her!" He argued as Kevin let out a wicked laugh and got in the car, squealing the tires as he pulled away.
To Be Continued…