Chapter Three

The Grand Motel on the corner of Fifth and Tuckett was located in the seediest part of Bay City. Deserted buildings and run-down houses were plentiful along with businesses with barely even customers. Trash cans were everywhere as well, filled to the brim and overflowing. Sal had a room on the third floor reserved for his own personal reasons, none of which were legal. Jerry at the front desk was well paid for his ability to keep his mouth shut, but being extra cautious, Sal and Joe carried the unconscious Ken up the stairs from the back part of the hotel.

Joe was still uneasy about the whole situation, and as Sal lowered Ken onto the one bed in the room, Joe burst out, "Look, Sal, this kid is clean-cut and well-dressed, he's not like a homeless kid or junkie that won't be missed. Someone is probably looking for him right now and may already have called the police."

Sal, caressing the pretty face, scowled. "If you ain't got the stomach, Joe, just get out now. I refuse to be rushed. He is the prettiest kid I've ever seen."

"How young are you gonna go?" Joe sneered.

"Relax, he ain't jailbait. Just leave. You're startin' to get on my nerves." Sal took off his jacket and tie and removed Ken's jacket and shirt, gasping as he did. "Look at his chest! Hairless and so smooth!"

Joe did not want to be a witness to anything further, so he left, shutting the door behind him firmly. He walked out the back and pulled out a cigarette. He wanted to leave but thought he might have to help dump the kid somewhere after Sal was through with him. Sal would not kill the kid, but Joe did not want any chance of the big boss finding out what Sal had done because then Sal would take Joe down with him. Joe puffed angrily on the cigarette, hoping Sal would be quick.

Joe muttered multiple curses as he dragged angrily on his cigarette. He groaned as he saw a curly-headed man stroll towards him. "Can this day get worse?" he said to himself, stopping out the cigarette spitefully.

"Joe," Starsky greeted. "Boss wants to see Sal."

Joe blew a big circle of smoke from another cigarette, trying to act casual. "Why does he want Sal now?"

Starsky's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you call him and ask him; I'm sure he would be happy to explain."

Joe flinched; he avoided Moreno as much as possible.

"I ran into your friend Bertie and he told me Sal has a room here. Moreno wants Sal to meet him at his office now; unless you want to explain to Moreno why you're keepin' me from delivering his message. . ." Starsky trailed off menacingly.

Joe's eyes narrowed; he couldn't afford trouble with the Boss. "Room 301, don't tell him I told you, I'm against what he's doin' and I'm getting out of here now."

Joe fled, leaving Starsky bewildered as to what could be going on. He marched up the stairs, flung open the door, and cursed at the scene before him. "What is going on here?" He grabbed Sal up from the bed and flung him against the wall.

Sal did not know Starsky well enough to guess what he was thinking. "Look, I picked up this kid off the street, he needs money and so he'll get it from me. You never picked up a hooker?" Sal fumbled, clad only in his red boxers.

Starsky was staring at Sal with contempt before he turned his attention to Ken. He saw a tall, slender blond, eyes closed and unmoving, clad only in his boxers. He was laying on his back with hickeys around his neck, lips swollen slightly. There also were small bite marks around his nipples. Starsky moved the kid's head from side-to-side and peered into his eyes. "You sayin' he consented to this? He's seems drugged and I don't see any evidence he knows what's going on!" Starsky drug a hand over his face, trying to calm down. "Boss wants you now."

"Just give me a few minutes, and I'll owe you big time," Sal pleaded, unwilling to leave before he completed his fantasy.

"Get the rest of your clothes on and get out or I'll call Moreno and explain exactly what is keeping you and why you aren't responding to him immediately. I'm sure he'll be understanding," Starsky spit out, sickened by Sal and his apparent perversions.

Throwing Starsky a look of pure hate, then gazing at the drugged kid lustfully, Sal snatched up his jeans, shirt, socks, and shoes and left the room, banging the door shut behind him.

Starsky blew out a deep breath and sat in the chair. "Well, Kid, you should be glad I came in when I did." He stood up and threw the sheet over Ken and sat back down.

"Now what do I do with you? Can't leave you here, Sal might come back, and this isn't what you call a nice neighborhood. Someone could try to finish what he started."

Starsky decided to move his car to the back of the hotel. He struggled to get Ken's clothes on and then with a grunt, slung him over his back. He made it to the car and placing Ken in the back and covering him with a blanket, cautiously pulled out of the parking lot. He drove for several minutes and pulled up beside a cabin by a lake. "Good thing Dobey said I could use this," he muttered. "Still out?" he questioned his passenger. Not receiving an answer, he sighed. "I'm getting my exercise today," he quipped as he once again slung Ken over his back and carried him into the cabin, depositing him as gently as he could on the bed. He went to the phone and called Dobey's private number, giving Dobey the run-down of his situation.

"I don't know, I'm not a doc!" was Starsky's annoyed response to Dobey asking him if the kid needed a doctor. "He's breathing okay, it's like he's been drugged or something. If you send someone here, send Otter. Otter can check him over for medical problems. He's discreet and I trust him. Yeah, I'll let you know what happens."

Starsky reentered the small bedroom. "Man, didn't plan on being a hero today."

At that moment, eyes the color of the blue sky opened as Ken moved his head, moaning and bringing his right arm up to his head as he tried to figure out where he was. His eyes met Starsky's and he yelped, pulling the covers up to his face as he sat up in the bed, trying to scoot back as far as he could from Starsky.

"You – you keep away from me! I don't know why you kidnapped me, but you better let me go or I'll call the cops!" Ken yelled, trying to sound brave.

Starsky sighed. "Well, Kid, it looks like you and I need to have a talk."

TBC