CHAPTER 7

 

 

   “Are you sure about this?” Starsky asked Hutch has they walked up the sidewalk to the house that Hutch had shared with Susan.

  “I have got to do it sometime.” Hutch said. They had just come from the doctor, Hutch now had a walking cast on this leg and it was much easier for him to get around.  He had hopes that the cast would come off his arm but he was informed he would have to keep that several more weeks. 

  “Are you going to look for a new place?” Starsky wanted to know.

  Hutch shrugged, “This place is too big for just me but I just don’t have the heart to put it on the market yet.

  Hutch keyed open the door and stepped into the house for the first time since his wife had died.  There was musty, unlived in smell to the house already.  He went over and opened the curtains and stood looking out onto the front yard.  It had been just over a week since they had had their last breakfast together.  He took a deep breath and turned to survey the rest of the room. Nothing had change, except for one thing; Susan would never be there with him again.

  Starsky put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder.  “Are you really ready for this? You know nobody would blame you if you waited.”

  “I’m okay Starsk.”  Hutch tried to smile at his partner but it was hard in coming. “If you don’t mind would you go get a few thing to put in the fridge? I’m sure what ever is in there isn’t good anymore.”  Hutch didn’t really care about the food; he just wanted a few moments alone in their home.

  “Sure buddy,” Starsky looked at Hutch’s face trying to read what was going on inside his head.  But the face was blank, unreadable.  “I won’t be long.”

  After Starsky had left Hutch limped around the down stairs looking at all the things they had collected over the years. The walls and tops of tables were filled with photos mostly of them and Starsky, along with a few friends.  Susan had been big on surrounding her self with the people she loved most.  A film of dust had form on top of everything.  Hutch ran his finger over the top of their dinning room table.  Susan would have a fit, he thought to himself.  She wasn’t anal about cleanness but she didn’t like the dust that settled on things.

  Sighing Hutch headed for the kitchen almost afraid of what he would find in the refrigerator as he entered the kitchen and flipped on the light he thought he heard something.  Footsteps. He spun around almost expecting to find Susan standing behind him but there was nothing.  “Starsky?” Hutch called thinking that perhaps he had returned already, there was no answer.

  Hutch turned his attention back to the refrigerator he knew it could really wait but it was better than facing upstairs and their bedroom.  He started pulling out things and tossing them in the trash with out even checking to see if they were good or not.

  Hutch

  A shiver went up Hutch’s spine, this time he had heard his name and it was unmistakably Susan’s voice.  He froze, a half a gallon of curdled milk in his hand.  He sat it in the sink and went to the kitchen door.  Was he going crazy? Had he finally lost it?

  Hutch

  He heard it again; slowly he crossed through the living room and looked up the stairs leading to their bedroom. He wished that Starsky would hurry back now.

  Hutch

Hutch blew a big breath of air out and put his hand on the railing.  The sound was so soft, even less than a whispered but Hutch could hear it and he knew it was her. She was calling him she needed him.  Hutch started up the stairs thankful that he had gotten his walking cast or it would have been impossible for him to navigate the stairs with out help.

  Finally he made it to the top and looked around.  Their bedroom door was open a crack, he pushed the door open half expecting to see Susan standing there brushing her hair getting ready for work. Maybe this had all been a bad dream.  But the room was empty; her hairbrush lay on the dresser never to be used again. 

   Help her

   Hutch spun around almost falling, “Help who?” He said, “Susan?”

  “Hutch?”

  He jumped, and then realized it was Starsky calling him from downstairs, “Up here Starsk.”  Hutch flopped down on the bed his legs unable to hold him any longer.

  Starsky took the steps two at a time. He hadn’t like they way Hutch’s voice had sounded.  When he entered the bedroom he found Hutch sitting on the bed his face pale.  Starsky sat down next to him and put his hand on his leg. “Hutch you are shaking. I knew it was too soon for this.”

  Hutch shook his head, then looked up at Starsky, “Do you believe in ghosts?”

  If Hutch hadn’t had such a serious look on his face Starsky would have laughed.  “I think you are pushing yourself too hard.”

  “Just answer me, do you?’

  “I have never really thought about it before. At least not since I was ten.”

  “I’m not talking Halloween I’m talking about somebody coming back from the dead,” Hutch said he grabbed Starsky’s hand and whispered, “Susan called me up here.”

  “Come on Hutch I think it’s time to go.  You can stay with me a while longer. I can’t leave you here.” Starsky stood up but Hutch pulled him back down next to him.

  “I’m not nuts Starsk, she called my name a few times while I was down stairs but when I came up here she said help her.”  Hutch sounded convincing.

  Starsky shook the thought from his head.  “You are under a lot of stress buddy. You want her to be here, you want to hear her voice again. That’s it.”

  “You weren’t here.”

  “And you think I would have heard this voice if I had been?” Starsky was becoming more concerned.

  “It wasn’t just a voice it was Susan’s voice, I should know what she sounds like.”  Hutch was beginning to get angry.  “I know what I heard I’m not crazy.”  

  “I’m not saying that you are crazy, I’m just saying that…”

  “Forget,” Hutch got up from the bed.  “I’m staying here tonight.”

  “Hutch I don’t think that is such a good idea.”

  “Susan is trying to tell me something,” Hutch vehemently said then his voice softened, “Humor me Starsky, you can stay with me.”

  “Fine,” Starsky looked around a little unnerved.  He didn’t believe in ghosts but Hutch was just so sure it was a little spooky. “Now we are ghost busters.” He mumbled to himself.

  The rest of the day went with out incident the two detectives aired out the house and Hutch carefully dusted all the photos on the tabletops.  It was nearly dinnertime before they stopped.   Starsky was about to suggest getting pizza for dinner when a sound stopped him dead in his tracks.

   Starsky

 

 

CHAPTER 8

 

 

   Julie snuggled up against the woman she felt so safe and warm with her. She knew that it was only a matter of time before somebody came to find her the woman had told her so.  Julie drifted off to sleep as the woman hummed softly to her.

 

  The ringing phone snapped Starsky out of his shock at the sound of his name being called; he knew it wasn’t Hutch because he recognized the voice.  Starsky jumped and grabbed the phone, “Starsky.”

  “I was hoping you would be there Starsky,” It was Captain Dobey on the other end.  “We have a break in the Sammon’s case.”

  “Cap I don’t think I can leave Hutch right now.  What’s going on?” Starsky asked looking around the room half expecting to see Susan standing there.

  “There was a man by the name of Don Cook killed in a car accident last night, he matches the description of the man we have composite drawings of from all the kidnappings.”

  “Was Julie with him?” Starsky asked concerned.

  “That is the twist, she wasn’t anywhere in the car.” Dobey said.  “We have no idea where she is.  He could have killed her or she could be stashed some place waiting for him to come back.”

  “Christ!” Starsky exclaimed. “And you are sure that this guy was the kidnapper?”

  “No, we aren’t a hundred percent sure but he has a record a mile long, and he was in jail in Michigan for kidnapping and was release just before they started here.”

  “Let me talk to Hutch, I want to make sure he will be ok with me leaving.  He’s pretty shaky being home for the first time.” Starsky said he wasn’t about to tell their captain that they were both hearing voices.

  “Do what you need to do Starsky.”

  Starsky hung up the phone and went to find Hutch; he was in the kitchen cleaning out the refrigerator. “Hutch that was Dobey on the phone they think they found Julie Sammon’s kidnapper.” 

   Quickly Starsky told his partner what Dobey had told him.  “You have to go,” Hutch said.  “We need to find that little girl for Susan.”

  “Will you be alright here while I’m gone?”

  Hutch nodded, “Yeah sure get out of here.” 

  “Call me if you need me,” Starsky yelled over his shoulder as he dashed out the door.

  Hutch looked longingly after his partner wishing that he could be out there helping; anything was better than sitting around waiting to heal.

 

  When Starsky got to the station a couple dozen officers in and out of uniform were milling around waiting for the orders.  They were to there to search for Julie Sammons.  “Who is in charge?” Starsky asked going up to the front desk.

 “You are Sgt. Starsky.”

 Starsky hiked up his eyebrows. “I guess Dobey was sure I would be coming in. I need more information before I can put a search grid together.”

  “Dobey sent this down for you,” The desk sergeant handed Starsky a thick file.

   He quickly scanned the accident report to see where the accident was and decided that a mile search in each direction would be the best place to start.  Grabbing a map he started handing out to pairs of officers sections to search.  “I want every building no matter how small or who owns it to be completely searched.  We have to find this little girl.”

 

   Hutch exhausted made his way up stairs, he hadn’t heard from Starsky all day long and figured that they must be searching every square inch of the city.  He had thought about calling him but then decided against it not wanting to alarm his friend.  After having a dinner of Cheerios with the milk Starsky had picked up he had decided to just go to bed. The day had tired him out both physically and mentally.

  At first he started to go into the guest room he wasn’t sure he could handle sleeping in their bed alone.  But as he lay down on their bed he suddenly felt at peace, he closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.  It was nearly midnight when Hutch woke with a start. After glancing at the clock he wondered if Starsky was back yet. 

  Hutch slowly got and started to the bedroom door he wanted to see if Starsky was in the guest bedroom or perhaps on the couch down stairs.

  Hutch

  This time Hutch answered the voice he didn’t care if he sounded stupid or crazy.  “I’m here Susan what is it?”  He didn’t move, just held his breath to see if she would answer, maybe he was crazy.

  She needs your help

  “Who needs my help?” Was he hearing things, was he actually talking to his dead wife?

  Julie

  His hair stood up on the back of his neck and he turned around to see if Susan was standing there but he saw nothing.  Julie, that was the missing girl.  His jaw dropped Susan knew where Julie was and she was trying to tell him.

  “Susan where is Julie?” he called in the air.  “I will go and get her tell me where she is.”  But the only sound that met his ears was the wind blowing out side causing a tree branch to rub on the window.  “I can’t help her unless you tell me.”

 

  Julie was crying, “Where are you?”

  “I’m right here sweetie. I had to go do something.”

  “I really want to go home, can’t you please untie me?” Julie begged.

  “I wish I could but I can’t. There are people looking for you right now. It’s only a matter of time before they find you. I promise.”

  “I’m hungry that man never came back. He was going to get us dinner.” She had never been that hungry in her whole life. She wished that she at least had her doll.

  “It will be fine. I bet your mommy will be so glad you have you back that she will give you anything you want.”

  Julie giggled, “I bet she will. Maybe my little brother won’t break my toys.”

  “Just be glad you have a little brother, you can replace your toys.”

 

  “Starsky we need to knock off until morning, the guys are tired,” Dan Thomas informed Starsky.

  The detective looked at his watch. “Yeah you’re right, sorry man I didn’t realize how late it was.  We will pick up first thing in the morning.” Starsky said slapping him on the back.  Starsky wondered how Hutch was they had been so busy he hadn’t even had time to call him.  He was tempted to call now but it was late and he didn’t want to wake Hutch if he had managed to fall asleep. They both hadn’t been sleeping very well.

  When Starsky arrived back at Hutch’s the whole house was a blaze with light.  He dashed to the door fearing something horrible had happened. He pounded on the door. Hutch immediately opened it, “Get in here.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Sit!” Hutch commanded as he led Starsky into the living room.  Once Starsky was sitting Hutch continued, “You are going to have to have an open mind for this one buddy.”

  “Will you just spill it you are scaring me to death.”

  “Susan is with Julie, she knows where she is.”

  “Oh come on Hutch,” Starsky said getting up he had more than forgotten hearing her call his name that morning. “I’m tired and I need to get some sleep so I can get back out on the streets to look for Julie.”

  “Damn it Starsk listen to me.  Susan said she needed my help when I asked her with what she said Julie.”

  “Was she wearing a white sheet at the time?” Starsky snapped he was beyond tired. 

  “You won’t even consider the fact that she might be trying to contact me?”  Hutch yelled at Starsky. “You can believe in Santa but you can’t believe that Susan is trying to help us find that girl?”

  Starsky just looked at him. The last thing he wanted to do was fight with his friend.  “Look let’s talk about this in the morning uh?”

  “Fine,” Hutch stalked into the kitchen. He would have jumped in his car and gone looking himself if he could have driven.  After he cooled down he started feeling badly about yelling at Starsky, it was hard to swallow and if the situation was reversed he wasn’t sure he would believe Starsky.

  Hutch hobbled into the living room to apologize to his friend but Starsky was sound to sleep on the couch with his arm over his face.  Hutch grabbed an afghan from the back of the chair and covered Starsky up.  Sighing he headed toward the stairs and back to bed himself, maybe in the morning when they were both more rested he could convince Starsky to listen to him.

 

 

CHAPTER 9

 

 

   Starsky tossed on the couch, he had been dead to the world for a while but then the dreams started creeping into his sleep.  He was in the abandoned store again but this time instead of the horrible scene he had actually witnessed he saw a little girl. She was laughing and talking with somebody but they were out of sight.  He tried to call out to the little girl and ask her what her name was but she didn’t hear him.  The girl just kept on playing dodging behind the columns in the store as if she were playing hide and go seek.

  “Here I am,” she called, “Your turn to hide.”

  “Ok close your eyes,” said a voice that Starsky knew.  Then the little girl’s playmate stepped into Starsky’s view. It was Susan; he felt his breath catch in his throat. 

  Starsky tossed more in his sleep, he called out to Susan hoping she could hear him but they just went on playing their game.  He tried to walk toward them but it was as if his feet were glued to the floor.  He watched as the little girl closed her eyes and he saw Susan run toward the back of the store and disappear into a doorway.  The little girl opened her eyes and looked around then took off in the direction Susan had gone; she disappeared in the same door. 

  He woke with a start when his butt hit the living room floor. He had been trying to run after them to see where they had gone too. “Susan,” he whispered into the night. Maybe Hutch was right; maybe she was trying to contact them. He was almost sure that the little girl was Julie.

  Up stairs Hutch was having the identical dream.  He was tossing and turning just as Starsky was and they both woke up at the same moment.  Being more agile Starsky was off the floor and up stairs before Hutch could make it to the bedroom door.  They met there in the doorway staring at each other.

  “I had a dream,” They both announced at the same time.

  “What was it?” Starsky asked.

  “It was back at that store…”

  “…and there was a little girl…”

  “…and Susan was with her.”

  They stared at each other again, “They both went into the backroom of the store.”  Starsky said.

  “Yes!” Hutch exclaimed.

  “You don’t think that…” Starsky left the sentence hanging.

  “I tried to tell you that Susan was trying to tell me where Julie was and I think she just did.”

  “But Hutch she was there, remember her doll was found there.” Starsky reminded him.

  “Yeah but what if the guy decided to go back because it had already been searched?” Hutch said.  “Was the building ever rechecked?”

  “After the initial investigation no I don’t think so.” Starsky answered.

  “Did the men searching today look there?”

  “No we were several miles away. We spread out covering a mile radius from where the accident was.”  Starsky explained.

  “I think it’s worth a look what could it hurt?”  Hutch said going into the bedroom in search of a shirt.

  “Now?”

  “You still aren’t sure are you Starsk?” Hutch asked slipping the sleeve of his shirt over his cast.  “What does Susan have to do to get your attention?”

  “She said my name this morning?” Starsky mumbled.

  Hutch stopping and looked at his friend incredulously, “Why didn’t you say something? You were acting like I was nuts when I told you.”

  “I didn’t want to believe it,” Starsky said.  “It makes it real, she will be truly gone then.”

  “Don’t you see she isn’t gone she is guiding us, helping us find Julie before it’s too late.  Are you going to let Susan down? Anything could happen to Julie in that building. A bum could find her and do god knows what to her or more of the building could collapse. There are rats…”

  “Ok, Ok,” Starsky said holding up his hands as if to hold off Hutch’s words that were being tossed at him.

  It was nearing dawn by the time the two detectives entered the old store. Hutch stopped as they stepped inside, he could see the gapping hole in the ceiling where he had fallen through.  A huge red stain was on the floor it hadn’t really been cleaned up just the blood rinsed away there had been no need for further cleaning as now the building was scheduled to be demolished.

  Hutch took a deep breath and stepped closer, he hadn’t seen all this before since he had been unconscious when he had been carried out.

  “Don’t,” Starsky said putting his arm around his partners shoulder.

  “It was bad wasn’t it?” Hutch asked looking at Starsky tears in his eyes.

  Starsky just nodded unable to speak.

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “Let’s find Julie,” Starsky said as he guided Hutch around the edge of the room and away from the stained floor.

  Starsky held the flashlight high as they looked around the room; it was just as it had been in both of their dreams.  The beam of light fell on a doorway the door hung off its hinges.  They stood silently listening; neither was sure what they were expecting to hear a little girl’s cry or perhaps a familiar voice.

  Carefully they stepped in the back storeroom of the building, “Julie?” Hutch called out tentatively. “It’s ok we are here to help you.”

  “Don’t be afraid honey we are the police.”

  “Hello?  The voice sounded so small to their ears.

  “Julie?” Hutch said again.

  “I’m here.”

  Starsky found a window along the back wall and pulled the dusty shade up allowing some dim light to fill the room.  Sitting on the floor several feet from them was a little girl, she was dirty, her hair uncombed but she didn’t look hurt.

  “Don’t be afraid,” Starsky said as he knelt next to her.

  “I’m not afraid of you Starsky she said you would come from me, you and Hutch.” Julie smiled at him.

  “What?”
  “Yep she kept telling me that help would come and here you are.” Julie told Starsky as he untied her. 

  Julie got her feet and hugged Starsky, “Thank you.”

  Then she walked over to Hutch and held up her arms to him.  He leaned over and she put her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.  “She told me to give you a hug when I saw you.”

  “Who?” Hutch asked but he thought he already knew the answer but he wanted to hear her say it.

  “Why Susan,” She has been with me for a couple of days now since right before that man disappeared. 

  The two detectives looked at each other, there was no doubt in their minds anymore.  “Let’s get you out of here and back to your mommy.” Starsky said. 

  Instead of trying to navigate the dangerous sales floor they opened the back door into the alley.  Hutch turned to take one last look at the room before he closed the door and what he saw there made his heart nearly stop.  Through the filtered light and the swirling dust he could see the out line of a person standing there.  Starsky stopped to see what was taking Hutch so long he saw the figure too.  He dropped the little girl’s hand in amazement. 

  Julie also stepped back into the room; she smiled and waved, “Bye Susan.” Hutch and Starsky could have sworn that the figure smiled and waved back. “She loves you both you know.”  Julie told them as she stepped out into the alley and freedom.

 

 

CHAPTER 10

 

 

   Hutch stood looking at the gravestone that adorned where Susan had been buried.  It had been two months since her death; the stone had only been placed the day before.  It was real now no pretending that she was out shopping or off to the gym she was gone.  A single tear slid down Hutch’s face as he place a dozen white roses against the marble stone.  It was hard going but he was slowly accepting the fact that she was gone.

  “Our angel,” Starsky said softly as he came up behind Hutch. He had wanted to give his partner a few moments alone before he intruded. 

  Hutch nodded, “I think she will be watching over us.”

  “I know she will,” Starsky confirmed.  He put his arm around Hutch’s shoulders as the turned to walk back to the car.  “Did the house sell?”

  “Yeah a nice family, a couple of kids, a …” the words caught in his throat everything that he would never have with Susan.  Hutch cleared his throat, “I guess I can let you have your space back man.  I found an apartment.”

  “You know you are welcome as long as you want to stay.”

  “Thanks but I think I need to make it on my own. I can’t use you as my crutch the rest of my life.” Hutch said as he looked over his shoulder at the gravesite.

  Starsky hated to admit that he didn’t want Hutch to leave, his partner kept his mind occupied so he didn’t think of what he had lost.  He would not look forward to going home and not having Hutch there, he hadn’t dated since Susan’s death.  He wondered how long it would take Hutch before he would be able to go out with a woman, Susan had been his whole world, she had been both of their worlds. 

  As they reached the car another pulled up along side Starsky’s Torino.  Rachael Sammon’s, Julie’s mother got out followed by Julie.  She was clutching a new doll.  Hutch rounded the car and greeted mother and daughter, as did Starsky. 

  Rachael gave both men a sympatric smile.  “I’m a sorry detective we didn’t mean to intrude.” 

  “You didn’t,” Hutch said then squatted down to talk to Julie. “How ya doing Kiddo?”

  “Great,” Julie smiled at him.  “I’m sorry about Susan.”

  “I’m just glad that she was there for you.” Hutch looked up at Rachael, he wondered how the child’s mother had explained what had taken place.  How do you tell somebody that the person that had been with them was dead, a ghost, an angel.

  “Me too, I wasn’t so scared.” Julie flashed her smile at him again.  “I brought something for Susan.”

  “That is nice of you,” Starsky said.

  “I didn’t want her to be alone.” Then she looked up at Hutch and asked. “Would you go with me?”

  “Julie, Detective Hutchinson was just leaving.” Rachael said embarrassed at being obtrusive.

  Hutch put his hand on the mother’s shoulder, Hutch said, “I would be honored to go with you Julie.”

  Julie put her little hand in Hutch’s big one and she clutch the doll with her other hand. As they walked toward Susan’s grave, Starsky looked at Rachael. “She is a sweet kid.”

  “Thank you, she is amazing accepting.” Rachael said leaning against her car watching her daughter and the detective walk across the green grass.  “It’s funny I didn’t believe this whole story about Susan when I was first told. It was like how could this be?  But you know what Julie knew and her belief changed the way I thought.”

  “You mean that Julie knew that Susan wasn’t alive?” Starsky asked in amazement. He would have been terrified if he had thought a ghost was talking to him when he was that age. He had barely been able to accept it now; it was just all too hard to process.

 “I’m not sure if her thought process was that in tune but she knew that Susan was different.” Rachael answered tears welling up in her eyes.  “If she hadn’t taken care of my daughter I don’t think she would have been found in time or if ever.  I understand that building is scheduled to be torn down.

  Starsky nodded, “Next month.”

  “Julie wouldn’t have lived that long.”

  Julie and Hutch stood looking down a Susan’s gravestone.  “I’m sorry.” Julie said once again.

  “Me too,” Hutch said.

  Julie knelt down on the ground and placed the doll she had in her hand next to the white roses Hutch had put there only minutes before.  “This is Suzy the second.” Julie said to the gravestone. 

  “You are leaving your doll?” Hutch asked surprised.

  “My mommy bought it for me because I lost my other doll,” Julie said looking up at Hutch with her big blue eyes.  “But I think Susan needs her more than me. I have my family she won’t have anybody.”

  “I think she will be busy though,” Hutch smiled through his tears.

  “Doing what?”

  “Watching over us,” Hutch said grabbing Julie’s hand and pulling her to her feet.  Then he picked her up in his arms and hugged her.  Julie waved over his shoulder as he carried her back to where her mother and Starsky were waiting.  None of the adults saw the transparent figure wave back at the little girl.

 

And there’s not enough room

in this world for my pain

signals cross and love gets lost

and time passed makes it plain

of all my demon spirits

I need you the most

I’m in love with your ghost

I’m in love with your ghost

 

 

The end