Comments about this story can be sent to: Katha250@aol.com

The Interrogation

By

Katherine

   David Starsky’s dark blue eyes glittered coldly as he leaned toward the suspect, his face only inches from hers. "I only have one question for you. Just one."

   The female perp looked a little flustered, staring into his eyes with a "deer caught in the headlights" expression on her face. For some reason, as he moved closer, she waved her hand in front of her face as if she were fanning. "Uh…what’s that, Detective?" she finally croaked.

   "Why? Why did you do those things to Hutch?" What has he done to you?" His voice was cold with the rage he was trying hard to control. "Why?" He asked again, more loudly this time.

   "Because…because he’s so cute, and sweet and he has those gorgeous sea-blue eyes and that silky blond hair and that adorable cleft between his eyebrows…" Her voice trailed away at the look in his eyes.

   "You do these things because you LIKE him?" He couldn’t believe his ears.

   She smiled eagerly. "Oh yes. He’s gor…I mean…um…well, I…uh. Yeah. I like him."

   She smiled weakly at him.

   "Now, listen Ms… uh…Author is it? Ms Author?"

   She batted her eyelashes and smiled sweetly. "Please, call me Fan."

   "Uh…all right…uh…Fan." He shook his head. "I don’t understand. Why do you want to hurt him if you like him?"

   She shook her head. "It’s really not me. It’s her," she said, pointing to a corner.

   Starsky turned, but there was no one there. He turned back, glaring at the suspect.

   "She does that, you know." She pointed again and shook her head sadly. "She’ll come and drive me crazy with an idea. She won’t let up, won’t let me sleep or relax, or anything until I start writing. Then, just when I think things will work out, she disappears. And I can’t get her back. She just leaves me there to struggle and I can’t write, I can’t think. I’ve tried to get her to come back. I have!" Her voice rose. She seemed near total hysteria. "I’ve tried chocolate and ice cream and… She waits until I’m going out of my mind, and she comes back and…."

   Starsky moved around the table and patted her back awkwardly. "Take it easy, lady," he soothed. "Uh…who does these things?"

   At his touch, she started breathing heavily. He leaned over her. Her breathing quickened and he thought for a moment she was going to hyperventilate.

   "It’s the…the Muse…" She finally whispered.

   "The Mews? A cat? Are you talking about a cat?" He looked around the small, bare room. It was empty except for the two of them, two chairs and a small, scarred table. "Lady, there’s no cat in here." But as he talked, he continued to pat her shoulder, gently.

   She looked up at him and sighed. "See?"

   He looked around again. "See what?"

   "That’s part of the reason. Because you’re so good at that; comforting people, I mean." She nodded, as if that explained everything.

   He shook his head. "Look, Lady. I think you need help. If you plead insanity, I’ll drop the charges and let you sign yourself into a good place…"

   She smiled at him craftily. "Oh no. I’m not takin’ this fall alone. I can give you names. Names of people who are a lot worse than me. I just write stories. Short stories. Stories with happy endings. There are people who write long stories and novellas, even novels. Some people have put out complete ‘zines." She leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. "Some of those people are really mean."

   "Zines?" Starsky was puzzled by the word, but he let it go. This loony has gone way around the bend. I’m not gonna get any sense out of her. But he had to try. He needed to know who else might be trying to harm his partner. "Okay, there are others? Can you give me some names?"

   "Oh sure. Which list should I start with?"

   "There’s a list?" Starsky sat down, paling a little.

   "Lists. Lots of lists…" she said, with a very big evil grin. "Where do you want me to start?"

   Starsky tried to keep from showing the shock he felt. "There are lists of people who want to hurt Hutch?"

   "Oh yes," she nodded. "And you too, of course."

   "Me?" he yelped.

   "Oh sure. People love to hurt you, and then Hutch gets to comfort you." Her eyes shone. "And he’s so good at that, too." She leaned forward, again. "Some people can’t make up their minds, which one of you they’d rather hurt. Sometimes they hurt both of you, and then you get to comfort each other in spite of you own pain." She smiled. "Isn’t that great?"

   He stood up and started to the door. "Sure, Lady." Calm. Just keep her calm.

   "Sometimes we…uh they, even hurt Huggy."

   "Huggy?" Starsky croaked. "They want to hurt Huggy, too?"

   "Oh sure. Or the captain. Sometimes we…uh…they involve him…"

   "No." Starsky was going into shock. "And the captain, too? Isn’t anyone safe?" he muttered. "Who else are you after, Lady?"

   "Fan. Remember?" She batted her eyelashes again, but he didn’t see. He was busily trying to get the door open. His movements became almost frantic, but he finally managed.

   "Minnie! Minnie!"

   Minnie poked her head in the door. "What is it, Starsky honey?"

   "Miss…uh Fan is ready to go. See that she’s taken care of." He stalked out the door and down the hall.

   "Where are you going, Sugar?" Minnie called after him.

   "Someplace safe," he called, hurrying down the hall, suddenly needing to see his partner, needing to know that the tall blond was safe at his desk in the squad room.

   Behind him he could hear the suspect call, "Wait! The poetry! I didn’t tell you about the poetry!"

THE END