© by Elsa
“We’re going to start by something to eat,” Starsky announced.
“Don’t mind my partner. His stomach has a genetic defect. His mind also, by the way.”
“Ha ha. That’s Hutch, Miss Kowalski. Very funny man.”
“Actually, Starsky here’s a miracle in the flesh – the man’s a walking genetic defect, come to think of it.”
Nancy Kowalski laughed. “Call me Nancy. Are you hungry?”
“Always,” Starsky nodded, “but that’s not the reason. We’re starting by openly showing Vaughn you’re in the company of friends. It might ring a bell, but then again it might not. If we get to see him, we’ll make it clear that he has to stop.”
Hutch asked if Nancy had a photo of him. She shook her head. “No. But I know his address – I’ve filled out all his personal information when he subscribed. It’s all in the library data bank.”
“Can you get in now?”
“Yes. I’ve got a key and the code to the security system.”
“Great. We’ll get that info when we’re done eating. Is that okay?”
“Sure.”
“Where do you want to go for dinner, Starsk?”
“How about Harmon Place?” the dark haired man suggested after some thought. “It’s got some pretty niches where we can sit and keep an eye on the place at the same time.”
“Good thinking. Let’s go.”
As they drove through the darkening evening to Harmon Place, Hutch asked Nancy to take good notice of what was going on around her. If she so much as thought she saw Vaughn, she was to warn them. Until they were seated at a nice table at the restaurant, she was tense and clearly uneasy to be outside. Hutch eyed her closely – he saw the lines around her lips, the nervous moves of her hands and noticed the slightly more audible breath. She was scared. He put his hand on her arm.
“Don’t worry, Nancy. You’re perfectly safe, nothing can happen.”
“What if he comes after me when you’re off duty? When you’re home, when you’re not here?”
“Let’s take one step at the time, alright? Starsky and me need to see him, and we want to know what we’re up against. Don’t worry, we won’t lose you out of our sight.” He smiled, trying to reassure her. “I promise.”
“Scout’s honour,” Starsky said and tapped his temple with two fingers.
“Other hand, dumbo,” Hutch said and rolled his eyes. The quip broke the tensed atmosphere as by miracle.
Dinner passed pleasantly. Vaughn didn’t show up in the restaurant and Nancy visibly relaxed. The officers soon discovered that despite her plain looks, Nancy Kowalski was a witty, intelligent and charming woman with a lovely laugh. She had a way of talking that made the men want to listen and she could fantastically tell stories. It wasn’t very hard to imagine why anyone would fall for her.
“He didn’t come,” Starsky concluded as he drove the Torino back to Nancy’s place.
“Thank God he hasn’t,” Nancy sighed from the bottom of heart. “On the other hand – it would have been a good opportunity to catch him if he’d been there.” She rummaged through her purse and took a business card from it, which she handed to Hutch. “This is my extension at the library. Normally calls come in through the operator, but I have a direct line outside. Not many people have this number. The operator blocks calls from Vaugh, she’s come to recognise his voice and keeps him off. He hasn’t got this number.”
“I’ll be careful with it,” Hutch promised and put it away.