By
Pat L.
“Look, I said no, and that’s final!”
Ben Stone sat back and gazed at Ken Hutchinson. “Hutch, I need Starsky on the stand. He’s the one that was shot.”
“I’m the one who caught Gunther. I found the connection between him and Kathy Brown, and that slimy lawyer of hers. Put ME on the stand. I was there through the whole thing.”
“I know that. But Starsky was the victim. I need his
testimony.”
“We didn’t even know who Gunther was when he was shot. Starsky doesn’t have first hand knowledge of any of this. He was too busy fighting for his life. He only found out about Gunther after he woke up. Look, Ben, I‘m the one who put this whole thing together. I made the connections and I arrested Gunther. I‘m the one that should be testifying, not Starsky.”
“Why are you fighting me on this?”
Hutch looked out the window for a moment, then turned back
to the D.A.
“Starsky almost died, Ben. Hell, he did die. If you put him on the stand, he’ll have to go without any medication. He can’t do that. It’s too soon. He’s still hurting too bad.”
Ben Stone looked at the blonde detective and thought Starsky wasn’t the only one who was still hurting.
“OK, I’ll talk to Adam.”
Ben went straight to Adam’s office, and knocked once.
“We’ve got a problem, Adam. Hutch doesn’t want Starsky on
the stand.”
“Why not?”
“If we put Starsky on the stand, he’ll have to stop taking his medication. Otherwise, the defense attorney will have his testimony thrown out. Hutch says Starsky’s not strong enough to do that yet.”
“Hutch says that. What does Starsky’s doctor say?”
“I’ll ask him.”
The doctor agreed to meet him on the hospital’s grounds that
afternoon.
“Has something happened, Mr. Stone? Will you still be needing my testimony?”
“Yes, doctor. That’s not why I’m here. Detective Hutchinson is objecting strongly to Detective Starsky testifying at the trial. I was hoping you could answer some questions for me.”
The doctor smiled knowingly. “So you ran up against Hutch. You’re a brave man, Mr. Stone. Have you ever seen a grizzly bear protecting her cubs?”
“No, I can’t say that I have. Why do you ask?”
“I did, Mr. Stone, in Starsky’s hospital room. Hutch was there the whole time, fighting anyone that interfered with Starsky’s recovery. What seems to be the problem?”
“If Starsky testifies, he will have to discontinue his pain medication. Hutch insists that it’s too soon. He thinks it will endanger Starsky’s recovery. Is he right?”
“I understand why you’d want Starsky on the stand, Mr. Stone, but Hutch is right on this. Starsky is a long way from being completely recovered. If he had to go a day, or days, without any medication at all, it would be a severe strain on him. That medication is vital to his recovery at this stage.”
“How long do you think it will be before he IS strong
enough?”
“A lot longer than the trial will probably last. Mr. Stone, Starsky was gravely injured. He sustained major damage to several internal organs. His recovery will be long and painful. If there is any way possible, don’t insist that he testify.”
“All right, doctor. I’ll go along with that.”
The doctor smiled again. “I wouldn’t worry too much, Mr. Stone. I’m sure Hutch will do everything possible to put James Gunther away. After all, he did commit the ultimate sin.”
“What was that, sir?”
“He ordered his men to kill Detective Starsky. To Hutch, that IS the ultimate sin.”