THE EDGE OF DARKNESS
CHAPTER 6
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Starsky waved to his partner as he came back out of the john and headed toward the kitchen. Once there, he stopped to chat with the cook. Eddie made a great burger and Starsky was hungry. The two men chatted for a few minutes until one of the waitresses stopped beside Starsky to put in a new order.
"Hey there good lookin'!" Betty did an impromptu bump with her hip. Starsky smiled and put his arm around her as he copied the action.
"Right back at ya babe! Where've you been all night?"
Starsky squeezed her butt as he placed a quick kiss on her cheek. He released her but kept talking. The dark haired man flirted and teased with her as he walked with his back toward the outside door.
Starsky heard the squeak as the door opened.
"Exuse me Betty but save those luscious lips for later!"
He didn't turn around, opting to wink at Betty instead. Once the door swung shut, Starsky spoke again, expecting Huggy to be standing inside the door when he turned around. The smoky, half lided eyes the girl flashed at Starsky, changed to round, large black saucers.
"What's so scary about..."
His tease was cut off as a firm hand clamped around his mouth. He felt the butt of a gun in his side so any thoughts of struggling died away. The smell of food cooking mixed with a different smell as Starsky tried to twist away from the hand over his mouth.
"Just cool it cop. If you just relax, all these people can go. Nod your head if you understand."
Starsky's head was held fast against the man behind him. He recognized the voice as Stone Crawford. He nodded slowly. He briefly thought about fighting back, but there were too many innocent people. Starsky played it safe and did as he was told. With his eyes, he pleaded silently with those people around him to do what the man wanted. He tried kicking backward but Stone tightened his hold around Starsky's mouth and pushed the gun harder against the restrained man's back.
Stone lowered his voice, remained calm and smiled as he spoke.
"Just get out of here. Your friend outside probably could use some help. Just get the hell out of here... MOVE!"
Before she could get past Stone, the man blocked Betty's escape.
"Do me a favor darlin'. Reach in his shirt and grab the gun. Nice and slow honey." Betty looked to Starsky for help. He winked at her to try and reassure her that it would be okay. The woman's hand shook as she grabbed the gun.
"Fine. Now, set it down on the counter here, then get out!" Stone watched as Betty did what she was told. She looked again at Starsky. She opened her mouth to say something but the hard look in Stone's eyes made her change her mind. Silently, she ran out the door.
Stone lowered his mouth against Starsky's ear. The dark haired man smelled body odor and adrenaline in the man holding the gun up against him.
In a low voice, Stone spoke. "Now, move forward. One wise assed attempt at being a hero and I'll bite your ear off!" Stone forced Starsky out in front of him and they moved into the bar area. Besides Hutch, two other tables were occupied. Hutch stood up and moved toward the two men.
"Stop right there, pretty boy!" Keeping his eyes on Hutch, Stone spoke directly to the other people in the room.
"Everyone of ya, get out!" Crawford inclined his head to the man as they tried to escape. "You, go check to see if anybody's in either john. GO!" He shouted, all the while keeping the gun stuck in Starsky's ribs and his hand over the cop's mouth. Hutch kept his blue eyes steady on Starsky's sapphire ones.
When the man came back out of the ladies room alone, Stone ordered the man to pull Hutch's gun out of his jacket and bring it back to him. Once that gun was beside Stone, he bellowed another harsh warning for them all to get out. Soon, it was just the three of them.
"Hutchinson, go lock all the doors. Don't do one thing to make me shoot your friend."
"Look Stone, you don't have to do this. If you give up right now, what's the worst that can happen? You're already on death row. But give it up now, cooperate, maybe we can get that sentence reduced. Maybe to life in prison." Hutch spoke directly to Stone but kept his eyes riveted on his friend. He moved slowly toward his partner but stopped as Crawford forced Starsky in between himself and Hutchinson.
Hutch raised his hands with the promise of staying where he was. Starsky tried to bite at Stone's hand but the gunman just shoved the gun further into his captive's side.
Starsky moaned and shut his eyes against the pain and the meaning of the action. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. Stone didn't look that strong, but surprise and the fear of hurting Hutch kept him quiet again. Stone had the upper hand. Starsky couldn't risk Hutch's life with a wrong move.
Hutch watched, the gun tight up against the dark haired man's back. The blond watched the frown deepen on Stone's face. Something was going through the convicts mind, some sort of decision. The detective doubted that the conclusion would be in their favor.
Stone remembered that he'd left Starsky's gun back in the kitchen. It wouldn't do for Hutch to have a weapon, at least not yet. But Stone had plans that were forming all the time and now he realized he needed to switch gears in order to keep these men at his mercy.
"Wait cop, you both need to be occupied for a few minutes. I'll go lock the doors while you entertain each other!"
Stone released his hand over Starsky's mouth and instead, grabbed at the dark, curly head of hair. He forced Starsky's head back as he pushed him away. Hutch was confused by the sudden movement and before he had a chance to even react, the gun in Stone's hand went off and Starsky fell in a heap to the floor.
"Starsky!" Hutch cried out and moved toward his friend on the ground. He watched as the beige shirt turned a darker color. He knelt in front of Starsky, not wanting to touch him, but afraid not to. Again he looked up at the crazed convict as the blond spat out angry words.
"There was no reason to do that! You crazy bastard!"
Hutch bent lower over the silent body, touching the face, checking for a pulse.
Stone laughed. Satisfied that neither man was going to fight back, Stone picked up the gun on the table and moved back to the kitchen to retrieve Starsky's gun. He glanced outside and didn't see the black man he'd left on the ground or any of the people from inside the restaurant. Satisfied that his plan was working, he bolted the lock on the door. He went back out to the front of the bar and locked and bolted that door as well. He came back to the bar area and stood, watching as Hutch struggled wtih Starsky.
Satisfied that both men were indeed occupied, Stone went behind the bar,checked underneath and came up with a bat that Huggy kept in case of trouble. Stone felt it's weight and satisfied with it, chose a seat at the bar and swiveled the stool to the center of the room.
He watched as Hutch wrestled with Starsky's jacket. He heard small groans from the bleeding man. The blond grabbed nearby towels and applied pressure to a wound at Starsky's side.
"We could have made some sort of comprimise. You didn't have to shoot him. He didn't even have a gun!" Hutch worked frantically, trying to stop the bleeding. Hutch spoke but never stopped his ministrations to his friend. Stone didn't answer. He just sat and watched and waited.
Hutch looked up to see Stone calmly sitting there. He didn't understand any of this. But he finally decided to just concentrate on Starsky. It wouldn't do either one of them any good to try to reason with this man.
"Starsky, I'm right here" Hutch cradled the pale face in his hands. The normal olive toned skin was already pallid, sweaty. Small puffs of air escaped Starsky's lips but his eyes remained closed. His pulse was there, but Hutch had a hard time finding it.
Hutch raised his head and glared at Stone. The man casually sat on the bar stool, as if he were waiting to play a game of pool.
"What was the purpose in shooting him? Neither one of us had a gun, you made sure of that. What's to be gained?" Hutch rubbed Starsky's stomach, as much for his own comfort as for his still unconscious partner.
"All will be revealed in good time. Now just tend to your business and shut the hell up!" Stone rubbed his temple as he thought about what was to come. His ears hurt with the pounding of the voice in his brain. He felt confused briefly, unsure of his next step. But he realized that anything now was just gravy--- He would win in the end.
Starsky began to stir, making small gagging noises. Hutch turned him on his side, anticipating trouble breathing or retching. Noisy breathing and loud intake of breath followed which frightened the blond man. Keeping Starsky on his side, Hutch rubbed the sweaty back and spoke close to the dark haired man's ear.
"Starsky, try not to move. Can you talk?" Hutch brushed his hand over the furrowed forehead, noting how sweaty the dark hair felt.
"Mmmm... Hutchhhh... what..." Starsky tried to speak but the words ended up drowning in a whimper. He tried to catch his breath but a spasm of pain took over.
Starsky moaned as he reached out, searching for Hutch. The blond squeezed the trembling hand that seeked comfort. He wanted to promise Starsky that he'd be okay, but he didn't have that kind of courage.
"What happened?" Starsky tried speaking again but felt the sting of vomit rise in his throat. He gulped for air and squeezed Hutch's hand harder.
Starsky continued speaking in between the twitches of pain that cut through his chest. His voice was low and Hutch bent closer to catch what his friend tried to say.
"It hurts! I think I'm gonna be sick. I..." Starsky began to choke on the contents his stomach insisted on expelling. Hutch turned him more to the side as Starsky twitched and bucked against it all.
Once the paroxysm of pain settled , Starsky began mumbling Hutch's name. He begged for release. He needed the pain and nausea to stop. He couldn't think past the ring of fire that over took him.
Hutch continued to soothe his friend the best he could. The bleeding slowed down but Hutch wasn't sure if this was good or bad. He needed to turn Starsky again so he could look closer at the wound.
Starsky continued mumbling. He was coherent enough to want a report of his condition but he was still worried about Huggy.
"Hutch, where's Huggy? I've gotta go find him!" The dark haired man reached for Hutch in confusion. His attempt to sit up only resulted in more pain. Hutch gently guided his agitated friend back to the floor. The blond desperately tried to think of some way to get them out of this situation. He kept a comforting hand on Starsky but he let himself observe the man who had both detectives at a terrible disadvantage.
Stone was a tall, rail thin man. His black hair was stringy, sparse. It trailed well past his shoulders. His eyes were green with flecks of yellow. He didn't look dangerous physically but mentally, there was no question that this man meant to harm and even kill without provocation. He'd shown that he had no conscience in the way he had killed before, which terrified Hutch. Crawford seemed like such a quiet type, never showing violence until recently. The burgleries and drug posessions were only a prelude to the present situation.
Stone sat at the bar, his palm pressing against his forehead. He shook his head once and twisted his head side to side. He looked around as if wanting to make sure that Starsky and Hutch were still on the floor.
Hutch tried to be calm. He watched Stone for any signs that the man could be reasoned with. Hutch wanted to find a way to end all of this without more violence. The blond felt the hair on the back of his neck stiffen as the reality of the situation and the possible outcome caught up to him.
Stone sat at the far end of the bar with the baseball bat he'd found earlier, cradled in his arms. He sat, staring into space. He didn't really seem to be concerned with what Starsky or Hutch were doing or what they were talking about. He just sat and smiled to himself.
Hutch turned back to Starsky and continued trying to keep him safe. That was his main concern. Hutch was afraid that if the dark haired man moved too much, the bullet would shift and cause more damage.
Hutch wanted Stone to talk. He wanted to know what the bastard was planning next.
Hutch cleared his throat as he rested his hand on Starsky's shoulder. The dark haired man was quiet even though his body shook with pain.
"So what the hell is this all about? You realize that those people you let go will go straight to the police? You aren't gonna gain anything once reinforcements show up." Hutch kept his voice level. He tried to hide his hatred for the man but his voice rose in pitch as he finished the sentence.
"No matter. Besides, I want cops, negotiators. Hell, even the FBI would be a blast! Everybody's welcome to my party!"
The convict lifted the bat off the bar and weighed it in both hands. He looked again at the two men on the floor.
Starsky groaned with agitation. "Hutch,it hurts like hell! Hutch...!"
"Easy, buddy. Listen, you gotta stay quiet. I think Huggy and the other people in the bar got away. That's the one decent thing this freak did, was to let everyone out. I guess we're the only ones he's interested in." Hutch kept his voice low. He watched Stone for a minute before turning his attention back to Starsky.
Starsky continued to moan. His eyes closed tight against the pain in his side. Hutch tried to offer comfort but he was unsure about what else to do. He got up to reach for a bar towel and just ignored the man at the end of the bar. Hutch tried to be positive and trust that Captain Dobey and the police force would find a way to end all of this safely. But right now it was hard to imagine anything but bloodshed.
Coming back to Starsky, Hutch realized that his partner had been speaking, unaware that his blond friend had left him. The dark haired man seemed to drift in and out of consciousness and at times was disoriented.
"I'm here buddy. Just don't move, you've gotta stay quiet." Once he'd snagged the towel, Hutch wrung it out in cool water and now he wiped Starsky's face with it. He wondered if his friend would be able to drink from a glass. Maybe a sip of water would help. But before he had a chance to get up again, he leaned closer to hear what Starsky was saying.
"...always trouble." Starsky drifted off again but Hutch wanted the man to stay focused so he tried getting his partner to repeat what he'd missed.
"What's that? You in trouble?.. Hey c'mon, stick with me, talk to me!"
"Hutch? Maybe I..." Another round of shivers consumed Starsky and he closed his mouth. But ever the fighter, the wounded man battled back the sensations in order to find something to straighten out the worry lines he saw in Hutch's face.
"I said, I always... seem to get in trouble..." Again the pain attacked and Starsky sucked in his breath. "Should give up goin' to public restrooms"
With that last attempt at humor, he couldn't continue ignoring the pain. His face broke out in heavy sweating. Hutch gently swiped the moist towel over the curly head. No more words came out of the slack mouth, the eyes remained closed and the breathing came slower. Hutch searched for the pulse and was relieved to find it. But he couldn't be sure how much longer his friend could battle the pain or how much longer Stone would ignore the two of them.
"Hutch? You here?" Starsky's voice sounded funny to him and his throat hurt. He lifted his arm, seeking an answer. It surprised him when his arm flopped back down to the floor. It landed with a soft thud and immediately sent a sharp pain up the right side of his body. He couldn't stop the cry of pain but was rewarded with a warm hand on his limp, cold one.
"I'm right here pal. Take it easy." Hutch leaned into his friend. He tried to keep him positioned on his side but Starsky had rolled over on his back. The wound was not large but it looked deep and painful. The sudden change in position started another round of shuddering and shallow breathing for his injured partner.
"Hutch, god it hurts. You okay?" Hutch smiled and patted Starsky on the head. No matter Starsky's condition, he always wanted to make sure Hutch was okay. He was always watching his partner's back.
"Yeah for now Gordo. But I think our best bet is to wait for reinforcements. I can't risk your safety. I don't want to risk getting Stone agitated."
The twitching continued even though Starsky tried to ignore it. The pain was sharp, like a knife in his back. He couldn't really tell where it started from but he needed to keep awake and aware.
"Hutch, I got shot, right? Is Huggy okay?" The last image he recalled was seeing his friend head out the door to feed a dog. Starsky tried to sit up but between the pain and Hutch's hand on his chest, he flopped back to the floor. He tried to push Hutch away so he could go help Huggy. The warm hand on his chest comforted him but he still had to know. The burning that clutched at his back receded into a throbbing ache. He had somehow found a position that didn't cause more pain.
"Starsky, I'm sorry about this. I can't risk any more harm to you by trying to subdue Stone. I just don't trust him."
'It's okay blondie, not your fault." Starsky stopped, concentrating for the moment on breathing. His chest felt heavy which scared him. He was sure Hutch would pick up on any sort of change in his condition, but maybe his partner would be too occupied with a plan to take notice of this new development.
Hutch cocked his head toward Starsky, listening to the sounds his friend made. The grunts of pain and fear at times slowed but now he was sure he heard labored breathing. Instead of talking, Hutch just continued to sit with Starsky. The blond occasionally offered sips of water to the injured man. The moisture felt good on his dry lips but the dark haired man couldn't manage to take in much of the water. The cold liquid felt good in his throat but once it hit his stomach, nausea returned.