Candy Hearts

Who’s the secret admirer leaving Hutch a trail of treats?

The first one appeared on his chair when he came in one morning. A plain white envelope, nothing written on it. When Hutch tore it open, a single valentine candy heart tumbled out, reading “Hot Stuff.”

“Whatcha got Hutch?” Starsky asked, taking off his jacket to hang it on the chair.

“Just this candy heart,” Hutch replied. “It was in this plain envelope on my chair.”

“Whazit say?”

“Hot Stuff.”

“Well, well, well,” Starsky smiled. “Looks like someone’s got a secret admirer.”

“Yeah, right.” Hutch went to put the candy into his mouth.

“Wait!” Starsky cautioned him. “What if that’s evidence, Hutch?”

“Evidence of what? Someone can appreciate me?”

“Well … you don’t know what’s on that candy or where it came from or anythin’. I eat a lotta stuff but I don’t think I’d eat that,” Starsky said.

“Maybe you’re right,” Hutch replied. He placed the candy on his desk, in front of the piggy bank. “Where’s the McIver’s file, Starsk?”

“Right where you left it Hot Stuff. Still down in RandI.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had driven separately so after calling it a day, Hutch found the next one under his windshield wiper. Another plain white envelope.

“Hey Starsk,” Hutch called across the parking lot to his partner. “Check this out.”

“What?” Starsky asked, walking back over to Hutch’s car. “What’s that?”

Hutch lifted the envelope by a corner and held it up to the fading sunlight. “It looks like the other one.”

“What other one?”

“You know, the Hot Stuff other one upstairs. You think it’s something to worry about?”

“Guess that depends on what this one says.” Starsky nudged him. “Go on, open it up. Let’s see it. I don’t think they sell candy hearts that say Kill You.”

“Funny.” Hutch opened the envelope, poured the candy into his hand and held it up. “Oh Baby.”

“Oh baby, oh baby! Somebody’s warm for your form, Blondie!” Starsky patted his partner on the back. “See you tomorrow. I’ll be looking forward to hearing who you think it is!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, Hutch thought about who might be sending him the hearts but other than maybe Minnie as a joke, he didn’t recall any female officers who had indicated they’d be interested in getting together. Wary, but trying to stay in the spirit of it, he decided to wait and see if any more candies appeared before mentioning it to anyone else and went to bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day at the station, another envelope was waiting for him, this time in his coffee cup, sitting on his desk. Starsky was already in, coming through the door carrying a bunch of files.

“Mornin’ Hutch. Where ya been?”

“Need a new carburetor, I guess.” He gestured at his cup. “Look Starsk.” He turned to his partner. “Is all this your doing?”

“Hey not me! I’m just coming back from the morgue.” Starsky looked affronted. “By the way, what didn’t I do?”

“There’s another envelope.”

“Well open it! I wanna see the next installment in the Diabetic Chronicles.”

Hutch shook the envelope, and then held it up to the light. Once again, it revealed a single candy heart. He tore the end of the envelope off and extracted the candy.

“Well, what’s this one say?” Starsky peered over his shoulder. ““Be Mine.” Hmmmmm.”

“Be whose?” Hutch asked.

“Well tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day so maybe you’ll find out then,” Starsky offered. “Come on, let’s get this paperwork finished. I’m tired of staying in this office all day.”

Hutch pulled the Oh Baby heart from his coat pocket and set the two candies next to the one on his desk from the day before. He figured putting them out where someone could see them would be a good way to indicate to whoever was sending them that he was interested.

But they worked the rest of the day and no more envelopes appeared. At five o’clock, Starsky shoved his chair under the desk and slipped on his jacket.

“You comin’ over tomorrow, Hutch?” They had the next two days off.

“How am I supposed to find out who my admirer is if I’m not here on Valentine’s Day?” Hutch said.

“Well, if you’re coming in just to get a candy heart, I’ll buy you a whole bag big boy, but I am not setting foot in here for two days!”

“That’s true. I’m tired of looking at these four walls,” Hutch agreed. “Well, maybe there will be one waiting for me again downstairs.” He slipped his jacket on and pushed in the chair. “Let’s go home.”

But there was no envelope on his car this time.

Starsky folded his arms and rocked back on his heel. “Yup, the old Hutchinson charm gets ‘em every time. You mean to anyone today, Hutch? Scare that candy heart right down your admirer’s throat?”

“No, I was my usual pleasant self all day today,” Hutch said with a touch of disappointment. “Maybe she found out I’m not working tomorrow and wants to save the reveal for when she can see me open it.”

“You hold onto that hope, Hutch.” Starsky turned to go. “See you tomorrow ‘bout noon? You gonna stop and pick up the sandwich stuff tonight?” They were going have lunch and then try to fix Starsky’s leaky shower the next day.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“I’ll wear somethin’ red for you Hot Stuff. You won’t have to spend Valentine’s Day alone this year!”

Hutch shook his head and smiled. Unlocking the car, he slipped in for the drive to the store.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Hutch got to the top of the steps at Venice Place, he couldn’t help but see the white envelope taped to the door. Reaching for the key, he discovered it missing.

With memories of Diana and several other unwelcomed visitors, he drew his gun, set down the bag of groceries and opened the door slowly.

The apartment looked unexpectedly clean, except for a trail of candy hearts across the floor.

Holstering the gun, he tore the envelope off the door and opened it. A candy heart proclaiming “Love You” rolled out into his hand.

Looking in, he saw the candy trail leading to the greenhouse.

Well Hutchinson, you’re about to find out who’s your Valentine this year, he thought. Probably another one and done, he thought, knowing his real heart’s desire would never be had.

Entering the apartment, he set the groceries on the kitchen table and his coat on the chair. Going back to the beginning of the candy heart trail, he read “U R the 1,” “Hugs,” “XOXO,” “Baby Baby,” and other interesting messages leading him to a pile of candy at the greenhouse screen door. In a silver candy bowl sat dozens of colored candy hearts, all proclaiming “Kiss Me.”

Plastering on a smile and preparing for a night of who knew what, he pushed open the door.

Inside on the floor on a giant red pillow sat his true heart’s desire … in his red long johns.

“Hi babe,” Starsky whispered. “Surprised … for the good I hope?”

Hutch felt his fake smile split into an enthusiastic grin. “My secret admirer?” he asked.

Starsky gracefully rose to his feet and handed his love a single candy heart.

It read “Yours.”

Fin