The Obsessed One
By TLR
Plot: An obsessed fan stalks her favorite soap opera star.
:::::::::
Regina watched him from the shadows of some bushes across the street as he arrived home from a late walk, surprised he had moved to this particular neighborhood, which was okay, but not quite extravagant enough, at least in her mind, for a star of Pete Graham's caliber. Which house was it? He could afford, and definitely deserved, a celebrity mansion. But, in the end, she was glad he lived in a modest, average neighborhood, because it would enable her to have easier access to the one she adored.
Her letters, over one thousand in all, spoke of a deep love and connection she felt for him the moment she saw him on the small screen in her now-favorite soap opera, Life is Love. Well, that's what she was doing, following his advice. Pete's character, Grant, a charming therapist, was always telling people to go out and live a good life, go after their dream, and don't give up. She took his words to heart.
Pete was an actor's actor. The kind that put his all into a role, a scene, a line; who took chances and mastered the craft. It was more than a gig to him. It was his life's work, his creative outlet, his reason to get up in the morning. His fans numbered in the millions, but he met very few of them in person. He shied away from the limelight, preferring to live a quiet, simple life with his two cats and home library of books. Even though acting was often seen as one of the most narcissistic things a person could do for a living, he was one of the least narcissistic in the business. He was happy doing soaps, but film was what he really longed to do. In the meantime, he would just have to play his parts well and work his way up to his goal.
When he did venture out during the day, he usually wore a baseball cap and sunglasses, which made him less recognizable. Sometimes a clerk or shopper recognized him anyway, and he was always polite, but reserved, even when signing an autograph, smiling and nodding for an occasional picture, but never divulging too much personal information. He relished his late night walks, however. It was time he had to himself, to meditate, relax, and enjoy.
He had an assistant named Lois, an older woman who took him under her wing and mothered him, taking care of his business appointments, phone messages, errands, and fan mail, essentially doubling as president of his fan club. Lois lived a few streets over from his.
Lois told Pete about Regina's obsessive letters, warning him that they were becoming disturbing and threatening. The most recent ones demanded that the two meet so he could explain why he was ignoring her and not returning her devotion. Regina insisted that he fire Lois and hire her (Regina) instead, saying that she deserved to work by his side since she knew him better than anyone else.
"Ah," he joked as he brushed it off in his dressing room. "The life of a superstar."
She patted his handsome face. "You could call the police, you know."
He shrugged. "Who wants the hassle? I can't go to the police every time a fan goes a little overboard."
::
It was about 11 pm when Starsky arrived home from his late night walk. He and Erin, who lived down the street, decided to take one together, and parted ways when it was over, as she had nursing finals to study for, and he had a late Eastwood movie to catch with Hutch.
His sidewalk was quiet, the neighbors inside doing whatever. Maybe reading, maybe fighting, Maybe toking or snorting. Maybe sleeping or loving.
He started singing a Chuck Berry song under his breath, but stopped when he saw the red hearts spray-painted on his garage doors, and heard a female voice behind him say, "Pete?"
Starsky turned, unaware that he had an uncanny resemblance to the actor Pete Graham. The woman was small and seemingly fragile, but he could see fire burning in her eyes as she pushed her knife into his side and hissed, "For the love you never returned."
Confused, in pain, and dazed, he stumbled back, realizing the woman had mistaken him for someone else, but before he could open his mouth to say something, she had fled away on foot into the darkness.
"Huh-"
His panicked mind tried to speak his partner's name, call for help, but he couldn't. He turned and groped for the Torino, fumbling keys from his pocket and unlocking the driver's door, collapsing inside to use the police radio.
'Huh-"
His vision blurred as he fumbled for the radio, his side screaming in pain, his free hand trying to press into the wound to stop the bleeding. As dark silence closed in around him, he tried to call for help but passed out before he could even activate the radio.
::
Hutch stood in his apartment, listening to Starsky's phone ringing in his ear.
"Come on, Starsk," he said under his breath. "What are you doing?"
As soon as he hung up after the tenth ring, he buckled on his shoulder holster, slipped into his jacket, and ran out the door.
::
As Hutch pulled up and parked behind the Torino, he could see the smear of blood on the open car door and the red hearts on the garage doors. Heart sledgehammering in his chest, he jumped from his car with gun drawn and ran toward his partner, who lay unconscious and bleeding from his side across the front seat of his car, radio mike still lightly grasped in his hand.
Hutch meant to shout his name, but it came out a whisper as he glanced around to assess the immediate area, then holstered his gun.
"Starsk?" he asked with a shaky breath as he leaned into the front seat, reaching to feel for a pulse-God, I should never have to feel for the pulse of my best friend-and then taking the mike from his hand and using it to radio for an ambulance, Captain Dobey, backup, and a crime lab.
A soft moan escaped Starsky's lips, eyelashes fluttering lazily.
"Huh...Hutch..."
Hutch clasped his hand. "Hey. It'll be okay. Just lie still."
"Knife."
"Kind of figured that. Neighbors would have called in the sound of a gunshot."
"Pete," Starsky murmured. "I'm not Pete."
Thinking Starsky was talking out of his head, Hutch couldn't help the small smile that formed on his lips, and patted his hand.
"I know. Just rest, huh? Help's on the way."
"Lady," Starsky breathed. "Some lady."
Hutch leaned down a little closer to him. "That stabbed you? A lady?"
"Little woman. Big knife."
Eyes scanning out the windshield and windows of the Torino and around Starsky's house, Hutch swallowed a sob. His partner had almost been taken out by a small knife-wielding woman in front of his own home.
Sirens sounded in the distance as rescue approached.
"Help's here, Starsk. We'll get her, don't worry."
But the search ended here. The small woman with the knife bearing Starsky's blood lunged from between the two Fords and ran at Hutch with the blade arced high, eyes glazed with tears and madness.
Hutch heard the click of her heeled shoes as he turned his gun on her and fired.
She collapsed backward into the street in front of the arriving ambulance, skull shattered, body lifeless, blood spattering across the pavement.
Captain Dobey arrived in his vehicle and stepped out with drawn weapon.
"What the-Hutch! Are you and Starsky all right?"
"We are now," Hutch said putting his gun away.
Dobey did a visual sweep of the area. Neighbors and onlookers gathered.
Hutch moved out of the Torino's front seat to make room for the medics, but not before giving Starsky a "Right here, Starsk. I'll ride with you."
"Who was she?" Hutch asked Dobey as they looked toward the lifeless body.
"Some crazed fan of Pete Graham."
"Who's Pete Graham?"
"An actor. Lives near Starsky, actually."
"Life is Love," Starsky mumbled as the medics wheeled him toward the back of the ambulance, Hutch accompanying. "Minnie says…I look like him."
"What?"
Dobey grunted and looked at the other officers on the scene.
"Marsetti, Stevens, you're on this."
Both officers nodded.
Dobey looked at Hutch. "Starsky isn't her only victim. Graham's assistant was knifed too. She's in better shape than Starsky, though. Treated and released about forty minutes ago."
"Busy lady," Hutch said spitefully as he looked over at Regina's corpse.
::
Once in the recovery room and assured by the doctors that the knife avoided hitting anything vital, Hutch lowered himself exhaustedly into a chair, allowing his body to release fear and anxiety like air from an inner tube.
"Oh man," he said weakly as he tilted his head back in the chair. "That was close."
From his hospital bed, Starsky gave him a groggy smile and closed his eyes. "Night, partner. See you in the morning."
But only Hutch's heavy breathing answered.
::
In the morning, however, it was a different story. Hutch was awakened by the sound of Starsky chatting with a nurse.
"There he is," Starsky laughed gently as he watched Hutch straighten from his sleeping position. "Want some coffee? Nurse Angela was just telling me about Pete's storyline in Life is Love."
"Oh," Hutch said rubbing the back of his own neck. "Right."
"Yeah. See, according to Angela, Nya got lost in a blizzard, and his character Grant has to go find her. He's been lookin' for days. She may not make it. Or he may not make it. Who knows? But the audience knows that she found shelter in a cave. But he has no idea."
Hutch smiled and shook his head. "I thought you didn't like soapy scenes?"
"Huh?"
"Forget it."
As if on cue, a knock came at the door and the actor Pete Graham stepped in, escorting an older woman whose hand was bandaged.
"Oh yeah," Hutch said looking up at the handsome actor with intense blue eyes and a head of dark curls. "I can see how the slasher nut job could mistake you for him, Starsk." Rising to his feet, he offered Pete his hand. "Nice to meet you." And he was careful to squeeze Lois's good hand. "Even under the circumstances."
"I'm..." Pete seemed lost for words. "Terribly sorry, Detective Starsky. That knife was meant for me. If I'd reported her sooner like Lois suggested…"
"Don't I know it. But no sweat. We deal with crazies all the time. Right, Hutch?"
"Every day," Hutch said. "But we don't often have cases of mistaken identity."
"We'll let you rest," Pete said as he and Lois turned to leave, "but hopefully, when you're up to it, the four of us can have dinner somewhere. On me."
Starsky smiled at his partner. "Hear that, Hutch?"
"I do," Hutch said. "I do. But oh-" He snapped his fingers at Pete. "Could you tell us...I mean for my partner's sake...does your character find Nya in the cave?"
"Can't tell you," Pete said with a wink. "Just have to watch."
The End