Chapter 6

Rosie awoke to the sound and smell of bacon sizzling in a pan. Her tummy rumbled as she pushed back the thin blanket that had been draped over her.

The scary man had his back to her and was whistling softly as he poked the food in the pan. Rosie wondered if she could tiptoe to the door and get away while he wasn't looking. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she realised she had no shoes on. Carefully she sank down onto her knees to try and find her sneakers.

Milton turned around with a broad smile. "Just in time for breakfast. I thought I was gonna have to wake you up."

Rosie returned his smile with a small one of her own. "Can I use the bathroom?" she asked.

"Hurry up then. I don't want this to get cold."

Rosie trotted to the bathroom and then sat at the table before he lost patience with her. She had no desire to anger him again.

Milton put a plate of bacon and another of bread on the table. He pushed a can of soda towards Rosie and poured himself some coffee.

Both ate in silence, then Milton put on the TV and searched for a suitable channel for Rosie to watch.

"I gotta go out for a while, Emily," he said. "You stay here and don't try to leave. I will know if you try anything and then you'll be sorry."

Rosie shrank back fearfully in her chair but Milton turned away, snatched up his windcheater and left the apartment, locking the door behind him.

Rosie crept to the window, afraid he would return and catch her. She watched through the dirty glass as Milton got into his car and drove away. Once again she prowled the room but could find no means of escape. She sat in front of the TV and began to cry.

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Starsky's head jerked up as someone pushed his feet off the chair on which they rested.

"Time to take your partner home, Starsky," said Lieutenant Thomas.

Starsky looked across the desk to see Hutch slumped in his chair, fast asleep.

"You've both worked twelve hours without a break and Hutch should still be in the hospital. You are going home to get some sleep."

Starsky opened his mouth to protest but the lieutenant stopped him. "You're no good to me or to Rosie like this. I need both of you alert or you're going to miss something important. Now get outa here."

Starsky could see the logic in this, having already caught himself re-reading passages and making no sense of them.

"Yeah, okay, Lieutenant. Jus' for a couple of hours."

He looked across to Hutch and shook his head. "How on earth can he sleep pretzelled in a chair like that?" he thought.

"Hey, Hutch! C'mon, partner. Let's go to mine, grab something to eat and a bit of shut eye."

He shook Hutch's arm until his eyes opened and an involuntary groan of discomfort greeted him. Hutch stretched and looked around as though unaware of his surroundings.

"I need a break," said Starsky, knowing Hutch would never admit to needing a break himself. "I'm sure these reports are written in Klingon or some such. Ollie says we should take a couple of hours away and I agree with him. I'm not gonna argue with ya 'bout this, Hutch," he continued, seeing Hutch's mouth begin to open. "We either take a break or Ollie's sending ya back to the hospital."

Starsky pushed back his chair. At the door he paused and looked back at his partner who hadn't moved. Returning to Hutch's side, he bent over and said quietly, "C'mon, buddy. Let's go."

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Milton trotted down the stairs to his car in high spirits. He had Emily back again. It felt so good to have a family once more.

He drove across town to the Dobey's street, unable to resist the pull of revisiting the house his 'sister' had lived in. There was a black and white police car parked outside with an officer sitting behind the wheel. Another officer stood beside the door.

Milton drove past the house and was able to pull into a space a little further down the road. Twisting in his seat, he observed the house for several minutes. But nothing happened.

A second patrol car cruised past and stopped outside the Dobey's house. One of the officers got out and approached the front door which immediately opened. He went inside and emerged about five minutes later with Edith Dobey. He ushered her into the car and they drove away.

Milton waited a few more minutes but the original police officers stayed on guard so he drove away, vowing to return when things had quietened down.

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When Starsky and Hutch returned to headquarters, they found the conference room being readied for a press briefing. As they walked down the corridor towards the squad room, they saw Captain Dobey and his wife come out of his office with Lt Thomas. Starsky felt Hutch freeze beside him but neither of the Dobeys acknowledged them as they went past, the captain's arm around his wife's shoulders.

Starsky let out a breath as he turned to watch the trio make their way towards the elevator. He caught Lt Thomas's eye but the lieutenant shook his head and looked pointedly at the squad room. Starsky gave a curt nod and took Hutch's arm to guide him into the squad room. Hutch jumped at Starsky's touch then gave him a sheepish smile. He headed straight to the coffee pot and after checking the cleanliness of the mugs, he poured two cups and carried them to the desk he and Starsky shared.

Starsky was relieved to see Hutch behaving more normally. A depressed, morose, guilty Hutch was a difficult animal to deal with but their enforced absence had definitely done him some good. He had fallen asleep in Starsky's car, awoken to enter Starsky's apartment and have a quick meal, only to fall asleep again. Another dose of painkillers and, while not a new man, Hutch was ready to face the files again.

Starsky had not allowed himself to sleep, preferring to keep watch over his partner, but he felt more refreshed than he had earlier. The change of scene and having something to eat had revived him somewhat and he felt ready to take on the world again.

He and Hutch hadn't spoken on the drive in, both lost in their own thoughts. Starsky was getting his mind clear in readiness for the task ahead and he hoped Hutch was doing the same and not wallowing in guilt. He gave himself a mental shake. Hutch was a good cop...of course he was up to the job.

They both reached for a file. They had started with the most recent and were working their way backwards. As the perpetrator was quite young, it seemed reasonable to suppose the crime would relate to one of Dobey's last cases on the streets. With a start, Starsky realised he was now looking at a file from Dobey's time as a detective sergeant when he was partnered with Elmo Jackson.

"I can't believe how far back we've gone and not found anything," he said.

Hutch looked up. "I know. I'm beginning to think we've missed something."

The same thought had occurred to Starsky but he shook his head with what he hoped was confidence. "Nah. We just haven't found it yet."

"I wish Huggy would call."

"Yeah. Normally a case involving a child puts us all on the same side. Even low-life scum draw the line at hurting a child but this time..." Starsky's voice trailed away.

"Hey, something will turn. It's got to." So saying, Hutch snagged another file and opened it.

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Rosie was staring vacantly at the TV when the door suddenly opened, making her jump. Milton's windcheater smelled damp and she wrinkled her nose. His hair glistened with raindrops and he shook his head like a wet dog, showering her with a fine spray. He set down a flat pizza box on the table.

"Treat for ya, Emily, for bein' a good girl."

Rosie jumped down from her chair and approached the table.

"I couldn't remember what you like, so I got loads of toppings," Milton said, pushing a can of soda towards Rosie and opening the box.

"Thank you," she whispered, surveying the pizza which appeared to have every conceivable topping you could think of. She realised she was hungry and tore off a slice.

Milton watched her for a few seconds then said, "You've been really good, Emily. What would ya like? I'll get ya some books or puzzles or somethin'. Ya can't watch TV all day."

What Rosie really wanted, of course, was to go home but she didn't dare say that, certain it would make him angry again.

"Um, colouring books and pencils, please," she said, politely.

"I'll go later. My favourite show's on soon."

"Can I go with you and choose my own?" Rosie asked, pleased at her cleverness. She hoped she would have a chance to escape or shout for help.

"No. You stay here. I don't want anyone seeing you."

Rosie sat back, disappointed, and nibbled the crust of her pizza.

Milton made quick work of his share of the pizza, then flicked through the channels until he found the game show he was looking for.

Having nothing else to do, Rosie settled back in her chair to watch the show. A man in a glittering jacket was talking excitedly. He spoke to the camera and smiled insincerely, showing perfect, white teeth. "I don't like him," Rosie thought to herself.

There was a noisy audience in the TV studio and three contestants answering questions to win money and prizes. Milton sat with his coffee at his side, shouting out the answers he knew.

"I should go on here," he said. "Win loads of money."

Rosie nodded, sipping her soda as the commercials came on. A sombre voice drew her attention back to the TV.

"We interrupt our programmes to take you to a press conference, live at Bay City Police Headquarters."

A photograph of the exterior of the building was replaced by a shot of a long table containing a forest of microphones, behind which sat four people.

Rosie couldn't believe her eyes...her mommy and daddy were on TV! A man she didn't recognise was sitting in between her parents and on her mother's other side sat Auntie Minnie from daddy's work. A card in front of the man read 'Lieutenant Oliver Thomas' and it was he who spoke first.

"Good afternoon. We are asking for the public's help to find a little girl who was abducted yesterday from Haney's Department Store in downtown Bay City."

A photo of Rosie appeared on the screen. She heard Milton growl a naughty word and quickly glanced at him before turning her attention back to the screen.

"...wearing blue jeans, a white tee shirt with multi-coloured flowers, a red coat and white sneakers."

The TV showed clothes just like the ones she was wearing. Rosie looked down at herself as though seeing the clothes for the first time.

"If anyone has seen Rosemary, known as Rosie to her family and friends, please call the number on the screen.

The man holding Rosie is armed and thought to be dangerous. For your own safety do not approach him. Call the number on the screen."

"Ha!" Milton barked a laugh. "Dangerous! Am I dangerous, Emily?"

Rosie looked at him, her eyes swimming with tears.

"Oh for goodness sake, Emily. Stop that snivelling."

Rosie gulped in a breath and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, though she knew her mommy wouldn't like it if she could see her. Then she heard her daddy's voice and spun back to the TV.

"To the man who has my daughter, give yourself up. Give yourself up, return Rosie unharmed and things will go easier for you. But if you harm so much as one hair on her head, we will hunt you down like the vermin you are and..."

Rosie saw Lt Thomas put a hand on daddy's arm then the camera swung to her mommy. She stared into her mother's tear-filled eyes.

"I hope you can see this, Rosie, my darling girl. Daddy, Cal and I are waiting for you to come home. Uncle Ken, Uncle Dave and all the other policemen are looking for you. Be brave, sweetheart, and they'll find you very soon. I love you Rosie-tosie...we all love you and miss you.

Please, sir, whoever you are, please let my baby go. She's only a little girl and never hurt anyone. Please, just let her go."

Rosie watched as the tears began to roll down her mommy's face, and Auntie Minnie put a comforting arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear.

The camera turned back to Lt Thomas who cleared his throat before speaking.

"Please help us," he said. "Rosie Dobey needs to be returned to her family and they need her back.

If you were in or near Haney's yesterday, please try to remember. Did you see Rosie? Did you see her shopping with these two men, friends of the family?" A picture of Starsky and Hutch flashed up on the screen. "Did you see a young girl being dragged or carried away from the store? Please call us now. We have officers waiting to take your call. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Please, please help us reunite this little girl with her family and capture the man who has done this, before he takes another child. Thank you."

The TV focused on the phone number superimposed on Rosie's photo before the station logo came on and the presenter announced a return to the scheduled programme.