Thank you, everyone, for sticking with me and my story. I hope you enjoy this update.

Chapter 7

Annie Lorden let herself into her small, neat house and locked the door behind her. She had had forty-eight happy years here with her late husband and now lived alone with her two calico cats. She missed him every day. And every night...especially the lonely nights when she lay awake until the early hours. They had raised two sons here, who now had families of their own. She missed them too, although they were good boys who called as often as they could.

She set down her bag of shopping on the kitchen table and put some water on for a cup of tea. While she waited for it to boil, she put away the few bits and pieces she had bought for herself, some little treats for Christmas. She carried her drink through to the living room, switched on the TV and sank into her easy chair with a hefty sigh. She closed her eyes, letting the quiet tones of the newsreader wash over her.

"Oh, I'm so tired," she thought, yawning widely.

She almost wished Christmas was over and done with...so much to do, so little time and not enough money. But she was looking forward to seeing her grandchildren. She had been buying little things for them throughout the year and had bought even more yesterday, probably spending more than she should have. But grandchildren were for spoiling and what better time than Christmas to do it.

"Finally, we return to our main story," the newsreader announced. "The abduction of a little girl from Haney's Department Store, yesterday afternoon.

A police officer was stabbed when Rosemary Dobey was forcibly taken from his care while shopping for Christmas presents for her family. He was not seriously injured and is back on duty, assisting his colleagues in the search.

This is Lt Oliver Thomas, who is heading the investigation, speaking at a press conference earlier today."

The picture shifted from the newsreader to film of the press conference.

"If you were in or near Haney's yesterday, please try to remember. Did you see Rosie? 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 report finished with Rosie's photograph and the newsreader saying, "Please, folks. Take a good look at this photo of little Rosie and let's see if we can get her home for Christmas."

"Poor little mite," Annie thought, as the commercials came on. "And her poor family. I hope they find her soon."

Her eyes widened. "Haney's? I was there yesterday. What about that little girl who was crying outside? That man who was carrying her? There was something about him I didn't like. Oh my goodness, I wish I'd said something now. All kiddies throw a tantrum when they can't get what they want but..."

The more Annie thought about it, the more she convinced herself that the crying child she had seen was Rosie. She pushed herself out of her chair to get a piece of paper and a pen in readiness for the next newscast, so she could write down the phone number.

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Starsky and Hutch continued to work their way through the diminishing heap of files, becoming increasingly demoralised at their lack of success in finding a connection between any of Captain Dobey's old cases and Rosie's disappearance.

A shadow fell across their shared desk and both detectives looked up.

"Angelica!" Starsky exclaimed, jumping up. "Hutch, this is the lovely lady who helped you in Haney's."

Hutch rose a little more slowly and took Angelica's hand, raising it to his lips. "Thank you," he said softly, gazing into her eyes and making her blush.

Starsky watched with a smile on his face.

"Have a seat, Angel," he said, ushering her into his chair and perching on the corner of the desk beside Hutch, who had returned to his seat. "What can we do for you?"

"I just wanted to see how you are," she said, looking at Hutch. "I couldn't believe it when I heard you were back at work."

Hutch looked down briefly, then glanced up at Starsky before looking at Angelica. "I've got to be here," he said quietly. "I can't sit at home and do nothing while Rosie is missing."

Angelica reached across the desk to touch his arm. "I'm sure you will find her. I was asked to come in and look at photographs to see if I recognised the man who did this. But I didn't really see his face...so I wasn't much help," she finished, shaking her head sadly.

"You've been a great help, Angel," Starsky said. "You helped my partner when no one else did and that means a lot to me."

He smiled warmly at her, making her blush once more.

"Even though you didn't pick him out of the books, you'll have helped to eliminate some of the possible suspects and so narrowed our search down a little more," Hutch put in. "We'll get him, it's just taking longer than we'd hoped."

"And I'm keeping you from your work," said Angelica, rising from Starsky's chair. Both detectives stood as well.

"Thank you," Hutch said once more. "I really appreciate you dropping by."

"And keep in touch," Starsky said, showing her to the door.

Angelica paused by the door and smiled at them both. "I will," she said.

"Quite a lady," Starsky said, as he by-passed the desk and headed for the water cooler.

"Yeah," Hutch agreed, still looking towards the door.

"Time for more pain killers, I think," said Starsky, glancing at his watch and putting a cup of water in front of Hutch.

Hutch chuffed a laugh. "Thanks, mom. What would I do without you?"

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Milton perched on the stool behind the counter of the print shop, staring out the window, seeing nothing. He couldn't quite believe the police had put Emily's picture on TV. And all that rubbish about her being abducted! She should be here with him, her family. Maybe he should think about moving? Then they wouldn't be able to find her.

He would have to do something about those people she'd been living with, then they would all forget about her and she could stay with Milton where she belonged.

A fire!

The idea came to him out of nowhere. He hadn't set any fires since leaving Cabrillo State Mental Hospital. Maybe he had been cured? But now, the more he thought about it, the more the desire came upon him. His fingers itched with the thought of it. He would have to take his time and plan carefully, but this had to be his best ever.

His attention was drawn to the door as it opened and two police officers came in.

Milton's heart began to race. Surely they hadn't tracked Emily down so quickly? With a start, he realised that one of the officers was speaking to him.

"Uh, sorry. What was that?" he said, hoping he would appear dumb and not guilty.

"We're trying to find out where these leaflets were printed," the officer repeated. "Please would you take a look and see if you recognise them."

His partner showed Milton a copy of his own leaflets.

"Has anyone asked you to print these?"

Milton pretended to look at them while his mind whirled.

"No, sorry. I've never printed anything like that," he said, hoping they wouldn't know he was lying.

"Would you have another look, sir. Just to be certain."

Milton looked again, his heart still thumping loudly, as though it would leap right out of his chest.

"No," he said. "I've never seen them before."

The two officers exchanged a glance and one of them sighed heavily. "Another one crossed off the list. Thank you, Mr...?

"Crosby. Milton Crosby."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr Crosby."

Milton let out a shaky breath as the police officers left as unhurriedly as they'd arrived.

"I told them my name," he berated himself. "Why didn't I make something up? Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

He picked up a small display stand of business cards and threw it across the shop.

"STUPID!" he screamed, as cards spun around him like snowflakes in a blizzard.