On the ride to the Bay City morgue, Starsky held the two babies tightly against his chest, as if the heavy beating of his heart could, would, resuscitate them. He buried his head between theirs and rocked and hummed, trying desperately to comfort and console that which was no longer able to be comforted or consoled. It was so cold and dark there. Only the warmth from his partner's hand and the stab of the flag pin reminded him that he had not joined the twins.

Hutchinson was loath to break contact with Starsky and the baby, with life and death, when he pulled into a parking space reserved for police department vehicles near the morgue's entrance. To not touch them, he feared, would cause him to tumble into the turquoise abyss that his utter sadness had conjured, that now seemed to surround him like a castle's moat. So, he kept the Torino in gear and his foot on the brake pedal and watched his partner clutch the swaddled babies to his chest.

A full two minutes passed before Starsky raised his head and spoke. "Guess we better take them in now, huh?" He tried to be strong for the babies and for Hutch, but his trembling voice betrayed his absolute sorrow and regret. He turned his head to look at his partner.

Hutchinson snapped his eyes shut a millisecond after Starsky's met his. The pain, the pleading for explanations, the guilt in them readily overwhelmed him. He teetered at the abyss's edge.

The darker detective admonished himself when he realized how selfish he was to even think about asking Hutch for answers and absolution. He searched for the strength and found it in his immutable need to obtain justice for the desecrated family. "Come on, buddy, let's go. We've got to get goin'." His voice was firm and soothing.

Eyes still clenched tight, Hutch nodded twice and withdrew his hand from Starsky's arm and the baby wrapped in white. Gratefully surprised when he didn't plunge into the void, he opened the car door and slid out. A second later, he was blinded by lights so strong and hot that they overcame the sun. He sheltered his eyes with an arm and squinted. I don't fucking believe this! he thought in a peak of anger. Not caring what anyone else might think, he bowed his head slightly, put both arms out in front of him, and charged the TV cameras. "Get the hell out of here! Now, Goddammit, NOW!" he ranted as his hand found a lens to cover.

"The public has a right -"

Hutchinson instantly recognized the voice of that greasy reporter he had banished from the scene behind the apartment complex. "Fuck the public's right, Hickman! What about the victims' right not to be trotted out for the sick curiosity of the public? What if the vics were your family, huh?"

That was enough for Hickman and his counterpart from KZAM to halt the filming. Hutchinson took advantage of what he knew would be a short lull. In seconds, he had Starsky and the twins out of the Torino and headed for the morgue. Starsky kept repeating in a strained voice, "'S okay, 's okay." When Hutchinson heard the cameras start up, he lagged behind Starsky to block the view the best he could and without hesitation, extended the middle finger of his right hand. Try to show this on TV, you vultures!

The automatic doors at the morgue's entrance swished open. Starsky, still muttering, headed straight for the receptionist's desk. "Lila, where to?"

The white pre-med student's heart sank when she saw the despondent, dark blue eyes rimmed in red and the face that was stripped like a zebra. "Doc Raul's waiting for you in One," she forced out of her constricted throat.

The dark curls nodded once and headed for the autopsy room indicated.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson barked for the security officer. He was pleased to see Kingman Washington sprint toward him. King, as everyone called him, was an imposing six-foot-five-inch tower of lean, hard muscles under dark brown skin. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner, Hutchinson. Had to secure the entrance to the hospital. Already talked to Cap'n Dobey," he said in an accent that told of his south Chicago roots. "Don't worry. I'll keep the press out, and any and all other unauthorized persons."

"Good man. Call me if you need me." Hutch clapped Washington on his arm several times before jogging off after Starsky. He caught up with his partner at the door to Autopsy One. Hutch held one of the swinging doors open, allowing Starsky to push the other one open with his hip. They stepped into the frigid room together.

The activity in Autopsy Room One rivaled that of a pressure cooker nearing blowout. Two of the four tables were empty, but four men in scrub suits were hosing them down and setting up for the new arrivals. Around the other tables were more people garbed in heavy cloth gowns, performing the postmortem examinations. At the ready were forensic photographers and other technicians.

Raul Contreras, who was standing at the back counter writing notes in the personal log that he would use in court, turned to face the doors when he felt the change in air pressure. "Ah! Detectives! So you bring us the little ones." His dark brown eyes showed somber fatigue. "Please. These two tables. Place them here once Freddie has finished drying them off." He returned to his task.

Hutchinson guided a hesitant Starsky to the closest table. He felt his partner shudder at seeing the sterile and gleaming stainless steel surface and tighten his hold on the infants. Damn. Probably will have to pry them out of Starsk's arms, Hutch thought.

Freddie, having just finished, faced the detectives. His eyes were sunken and empty, his complexion ashen. "Man, this job really sucks," he stated in a tone free of affect. He sighed before shuffling away.

As if on cue, the room dropped into an uneasy stillness as virtually everyone centered attention on Starsky and Hutchinson.

Hutch was uncomfortably aware of the eyes on them, but Starsky only felt the cold stiffness in his arms. I failed you. I'm so sorry.

Contreras walked over to stand by the partners. He clicked his tongue before breaking the silence. "Detective Starsky?" When there was no response, he asked again, this time more forcefully.

Hutchinson cleared his throat. He gave the chief medical examiner an I'll-try look. So quietly that even Contreras couldn't hear, he said as he tugged gently but firmly on the baby in his bowling shirt, "Hey, partner, I'll take care of this one now. You take care of the other one. Okay?"

Without acknowledging Hutch in any way, the darker man pressed his lips lightly against the head covered by the slick green fabric. He opened the arm slowly, allowing Hutch to take the baby from him.

Holding the baby once again, the blond man's face turned almost as light as his hair. He could hear the infant shrieking in his head. The others joined in. Hutch faltered to the autopsy table.

"It's okay, Hutch." The voice was strong, despite its coarseness.

On hearing Starsky's calming reassurance, Hutch was able to exercise some control over the voices from the blood. He steadied himself, took the last two steps to the table, and laid the swaddled baby on the hard, unforgiving surface. Not yet ready to back away, he kept a hand on the small body.

Starsky sighed shakily. He gave the child wrapped in his jacket a light kiss as well before placing her on the table. Now his arms felt desolate. That desolation expanded, and a pit of blue-blackness, an extension of the darkness revisiting him, colder than empty space, yawned open within. It was so familiar, but he drew no comfort from that fact. So many faces faded in and out within its confines. So many dead faces. He longed for a bottle of tequila, or scotch, or rum, big enough for him to crawl into and remain forever.

Contreras started to put a hand on Starsky's arm, but thought better of it. "Detective, why don't you and your partner go with Dr. Etzioni, all right? She will fill you in on what we have accomplished so far. She has much to show you. All right?"

Wordlessly, Starsky nodded and took the few steps to stand by his partner. As he began to wrap his right arm around Hutch's back at the waist, his fingers jammed into the Colt's holster and brought to full awareness the damage the flag pin had inflicted on his hand. Wincing, his hand found its way to Hutch's right side. He pulled Hutch away from the table. "Time to go, buddy. We can't catch the bad guys in here." Holding onto Hutch, some of the emptiness in Starsky shrunk.

Hutchinson laughed faintly through his nose. He smiled his appreciation as he stroked his friend's curly hair several times. Once they headed for the doors, Starsky with his arm still firmly at Hutch's waist, Hutch's arm draped over Starsky's shoulders, the morgue personnel got back to doing their part in catching the perpetrators. One of them, a tall woman with brown hair in a thick bun, followed them.

*****

Once in Autopsy Two, Dr. Elizabeth Etzioni threw aside the dingy white sheets covering the bodies laid out on the four tables. Without preamble, she started, "With the help of a forensics guy specializing in this sort of thing out of San Diego, we feel pretty confident that we have … uh, re-assembled each person correctly."

Starsky and Hutchinson, who had been lingering at the doors, walked deeper into the steel room to get a closer look at the bodies. Pieces not quite connecting but nevertheless bringing to mind that Dem Bones ditty, they looked like deconstructed marionettes awaiting burial in the puppet cemetery.

But they weren't puppets. Seeing the body parts put together to make something closer to whole human beings amplified the brutal reality of their horrid deaths for the detectives. Starsky flashed back to a Viet Cong village his squad had to check out after it had been shredded to pieces by American bombs. He began to breathe faster to compensate for the vise tightening around his chest. He broke out in a clammy sweat despite the chill of the room.

Hutchinson stopped breathing all together. For two minutes, he watched the room's edges turn darker while its center spun like a warped top, until his brain forced him to inhale deeply the cool, chemical-and-doom-scented air. He coughed and sputtered. His dizziness quickly resolved. Then he was aware of Starsky's rapid breathing. He grabbed his partner's right hand and squeezed. "C'mon, Starsk, buddy, slow it down. Take it easy."

The squeeze elicited a short stab of pain, but, along with Hutch's encouragement, worked to bring him back. The dark-haired man consciously slowed his breathing, and the vise seemed to loosen somewhat. A very minute part of him had hoped this was all a terrible nightmare, but this sight forced him to acknowledge completely the reality of the last twenty-odd hours. But in obliterating this hope, the assembled bodies pumped up his determination to make the perpetrators answer for their crimes. "Those mutherfuckers are gonna pay," he rasped out to no one in particular.

Etzioni, who had been watching the detectives' reactions closely, nodded in agreement and with enthusiasm. "I do know how you feel. The door to one of the stalls in the women's room is no longer attached." Her thin laugh was tinged with pain and sorrow. "Amazing what powers adrenaline can bestow on one, hunh?" One side of her mouth curved up. "Come on, I got lots more to show you." She waved them over to her. In a moment, Starsky was next to her and Hutch was on the opposite side of the table.

The assistant medical examiner coughed and began. "This one is Jeffrey Matthew Fox, of the Bay City Buccaneers football team. ID'd by dental records about four hours ago. That was one pissed-off dentist, too. Spoiled his holiday." Under her breath, she muttered, "Damn prick."

"Whadja say?" asked Starsky.

Etzioni blushed. "Oh, nothing relevant to the case." She smiled her apology. "I'll talk you through his wounds." She began at with the decapitated, nearly skinned head and worked her way down each hacked and chopped limb. She returned to the trunk, rolling it onto its side first to show those injuries on the back. "Now, for the really interesting part," she stated with excitement as she gently returned the torso to the supine position.

The ME pointed to mid-chest region. "Look at this one, guys." Ignoring the numerous other injuries, she traced one wound's outline in the air above it. "We've ascertained this is a very deliberate, careful cut consisting of two parts. Looks like a small 't' or a cross, depending on your point of view, with the cross bar almost exactly in the same line as the nipples - if he still had nipples." She paused to gauge the reactions of the detectives. Seeing nothing change, she went on. "The females, by the way, had their breasts amputated, and we haven't found them."

On hearing this, both men blanched and traded glances without moving their heads. Hutchinson cleared his throat. "Go on," he said blandly.

"This was most likely done with an ordinary carving knife. And near-perfect copies of this wound appear in the same place, same shape - at least as best as we can tell so far - on the other four I'll show you. We were working on that same confirmation on the two next door when you guys came in." She sighed. "It was through this 'incision' that the heart was removed. Whoever did this has had lots of practice. The cuts are remarkably alike. You know, I don't even want to think about how this could be." Her whole body twitched in a hard shudder.

"You okay, Liz?"

Etzioni grinned at Starsky's use of her nickname. Neither he nor Hutchinson had ever called her by that in the three years she had been at BC's morgue. They'd always addressed her as "Lady Doc" or something to that effect. On occasion, Starsky would use her last name, pronouncing it exactly like a wop Brooklynite would. Finally, she knew she had been accepted into the boys' club of law enforcement. At least as far as Starsky was concerned. "As okay as can be expected, Starsky. You know, my mama never told me there'd be days like this."

The three spent the next half-hour going over the findings of the postmortems. Liz told them of object rape. Of penile rape of vaginas, rectums, mouths. Of decapitation by saw or by machete or by sword. Of missing great toes and genitals. Of Linda Anne Singer Fox, and their ten-year-old foster child. Of another young girl, about eight years old, as yet unidentified and both girls - their autopsies still in progress - receiving the lion's share of the sexual assault. Of another adult female and male and an older adult male. Of sick, perverted, ritualistic slaughter of seven - no, now nine, she corrected herself - innocents.

They were leaving Autopsy Four after viewing the older male's body when Liz shrugged and rubbed her hands together. "That's it, for now. We'll call when the final four posts are complete. Your captain, I understand, is trying to track down family." She blinked her eyes a number of times to clear the tears that seemed to show up regularly and without warning. Now that she could see the officers better, she was taken aback by their undue pallor, strikingly similar to the bodies they had just seen, and the gray-blue that painted their edges. What disturbed her, though, were their eyes; normally two different shades of the same color, they were now the same shade of brooding, vengeful blue.

"Hey, you two, you're not used to how cold we keep this place. Come on, let's get you out of here and warmed up before frostbite sets in," she said with a lightness she didn't feel. "I'll ask Lila to get you some hot coffee and a couple of scrub jackets."

"No, that's okay, Liz," said Hutch quietly. "Starsky and I have work to do. Thanks." He gave her a weak but genuine smile.

"Don't screw anything up, Liz," Starsky commanded.

Etzioni let the tone and the implication slide right off. "Don't worry, Starsky. I want these bastards, too. We all do."

Starsky stared at the female medical examiner. After a few seconds, he turned and began the walk down the long hallway to the morgue's main doors, with Hutchinson beside him. He stopped at Autopsy One. "I feel like I'm desertin' 'em, Hutch." His voice betrayed his guilt as well.

"No, you're not. Neither am I. Now, let's go. This place is driving me nuts." Should I tell him how pissed I am at him that he talked to the doc that way? Ummm ... later. Hutch jerked his head toward the exit.

They hadn't gone three feet when the police commissioner stormed in. "Goddammit! Where the hell is -" Cecil Hayes, who could pass for Buster Keaton's fat brother, stopped his screaming when he spied who he was searching for. "So, this is where you two hotdoggers are hiding out! Why the hell aren't you on the streets, looking for those lunatics who killed these people? And just how hard is it to keep the damned cameras away from crime scenes? You two and those babies are all over the television, and now the city is in a panic! What the hell is wrong with you two?" Two blood vessels in his neck bulged and throbbed.

Starsky, now with blue flame for eyes, strode toward the commissioner, leaving Hutch to paw the suddenly empty space beside him. "Lookit, Hayes, we -"

"Who do you think you're talking to, De-tec-tive? One of your street snitches? You are dangerously close to an insubordination charge!" Hayes had advanced to meet Starsky's challenge, and now they stood within millimeters of each other.

Hutchinson tried to pull Starsky away but the darker man wasn't budging. So, I guess I try a little diplomacy. "Uh, Commissioner Hayes, sir, my partner Sergeant Starsky and I are doing the best we can under the circumstances. Sorry about the press. We thought we had that handled." He hoped the tone of jovial contriteness he had adopted would help smooth things over.

Hayes swiveled his head to address Hutch. "Well, you didn't, Hutchinson, and now we've got millions of hysterical citizens on our hands! The only thing that'll save your rank and your hotheaded partner's job is the arrest and conviction of the perps! And very soon! Is that clear?" The last three words were spoken with threatening deliberateness.

"Yes, sir, perfectly clear. Sergeant Starsky and I were just headed back to the station, sir."

The commissioner made a show of sniffing the air and snarled. "I suggest you make it a priority to shower, detectives. I have never smelled anything so utterly disgusting. What have you been doing?"

It wasn't difficult for Hutch to figure out that Starsky was on the verge of telling the commissioner that the source of the pungent aroma was his own upper lip. Again, he stepped in to protect his partner's career. "Searching everywhere for the missing infants, sir. We'll clean up as soon as we hit the station."

"And where are your jackets? Those weapons are supposed to be concealed."

I don't believe this dickhead! Bent outta shape because of that stupid rule?! "We used 'em to cover the babies, sir," came Starsky's angry, snappish reply. "Or would you have preferred we left them exposed, sir?"

At first, Hutchinson had been tempted to try to get Starsky to shut up, or at least lighten up. But he felt the same way, that this time that regulation had to be broken. Now he adopted a defiant attitude as well. They waited for an answer.

Damned cowboys, thought Hayes as he regarded the two men before him. He lived by the rulebook; such a stance had won him the top-cop job in Bay City. He hated it when someone bent or broke the rules, because that led to anarchy. But he was also a politician. He couldn't ignore the small audience that had gathered to observe this exchange. He squared his shoulders and clasped his hands behind his back. "Considering the circumstances, detectives, I am willing to overlook this infraction. But know that I expect you to follow the department's policies and procedures. Those exist for a reason, you know."

"Yes, sir, they do exist for a reason. But when you're out on the streets, sometimes that reason doesn't make a helluva lot of sense. Sometimes, you have to do what's decent and caring and human, even if it means breaking the rules." Hutchinson paused before ending his confidently delivered fact of life with a vaguely sarcastic "Sir." He turned his back to Hayes and said to Starsky, "Let's check on Dr. Contreras's progress, then head for the precinct."

If he hadn't been so pissed at Hayes for jumping on their backs for no good reason, Starsky would have been grinning ear to ear. Instead, he raised his eyebrows and thought, Couldn'a said it better myself, buddy. Without speaking to the commissioner again, Starsky followed the blond man into Autopsy One, but not before he saw their superior officer chew his lower lip vigorously and turn a hot crimson.

"Hutchinson, Starsky, I trust Dr. Etzioni showed you what we have. Now, we must keep your, um, jacket and shirt to check for evidence. But I have a question. Can either one of you explain the fresh blood on the green shirt and on this pin fashioned like a flag?"

Hutchinson whipped his head around to shoot a questioning glare at his partner.

Starsky paid no attention to the look. Once he stood next to Hutch, he said, "It's my blood. Guess the pin stuck me."

Contreras cut off Hutchinson before he could speak. "Please, Starsky, we need a sample of your blood for verification. You understand?"

"Sure, Doc, whatever you need." Starsky could feel his friend's eyes boring into him. Don't know how I'm gonna explain this one. Not sure I understand it myself. He resisted the pull Hutch had on him.

"Dr. Etzioni will draw the sample." Contreras nodded his head in the direction of the woman who had come in unnoticed by the detectives. "Yes, Doctor?" he asked when he saw the look on her face. Starsky and Hutchinson shifted their gazes to her.

"Excuse the interruption, Doctor. Sorry, detectives, but I neglected to show you this earlier." Liz held up a clear evidence bag. Inside was a small piece of highly discolored wood. One end was jagged, except for a small area in the center that appeared to be rounded. The other end was smoothly flat with each side rounded. One side was flat and noticeably cleaner and less worn than all the other surfaces. "Found this little piece of evidence in Linda's vagina. It most likely comes from the butt of a knife handle. The style of handle indicates that the knife steel extends the entire length, and the handle is actually in two parts, each part bolted or fastened in some way to the non-business end." Her intelligent eyes told them what didn't need to be said: find the knife this piece belongs to, and you've hit the jackpot.

"And one more thing, gentlemen. We have tentatively placed time of death of the babies between ten last night and two this morning."

The implication of Contreras's statement took several seconds to sink in. Starsky grabbed his partner's forearm and squeezed hard enough to make Hutch moan. The darker man's heart and vocal cords turned to stones of ice.

Finally, Hutchinson asked in a croaky whisper, "Are you absolutely sure? Is there any way you could be wrong?"

"Yes, there is always a chance we are incorrect. But it is unlikely. We say 'tentative' because we want to take in as many factors …" Contreras continued, but Hutchinson heard nothing more. Starsky's lock on his arm tightened further until Hutch whistled in pain.

Unaware of what he had been doing to his partner, Starsky started at the sound and released Hutch's arm. Guilt-ridden, he watched Hutch massage the limb. "Meet you in the hall, partner," he said quietly. His eyes conveyed his apology.

Hutch gave a short nod then watched Starsky and Etzioni leave Autopsy One together. He turned back to Contreras. "I don't think you need the pin as evidence. I'd like to take it with me. And anything in the jacket pockets, too."

Contreras mulled over the request for a moment. "I think I can get by with taking a sample of blood from the pin. Miles, get the necessary equipment, please."

Hutchinson tilted his head in thanks while he watched the four teams go about the business of examination and evidence collection. From the jacket pockets, he removed Starsky's badge case and sunglasses. Soon, the bedlam of noise in the room was overridden by the bloody voices that crescendoed once more in the detective's head.

*****

Liz Etzioni expertly drew enough blood from a vein in the crook of Starsky's elbow to fill two glass tubes. Neither had spoken since leaving the autopsy room, but the quiet was comfortable, almost companionable. As she applied a length of paper tape over the folded gauze Starsky had been holding in place, she broke the silence. "Let me have a look at your hand."

Starsky graced her with an are-you-nuts? stare. He stood to leave.

"Hey, I am a physician, you know. I can treat you. Come on, let me see." She placed a hand on his.

With superstitious reluctance, he flipped his right hand over to expose the palm. "See, it's nothin'."

Liz saw a puncture wound, not very deep, but obviously dirty under the dried blood. "Go wash your hands really well, and come back here. I'll put something on it and dress it. And you're going to need some antibiotics to prevent infection. Definitely don't want one of those in your hand. When was your last tetanus shot?"

"Last time I got shot. About six months ago." Inwardly he winced at the memory. Though his left shoulder had hurt miserably, it was nothing compared to the agony the tetanus shot put him through. He licked his lips and gulped. Trembling, he asked, "You're not gonna use embalming fluid or somethin' like that on me, are you?"

Etzioni laughed, emitting a warm sound suggestive of alto wind chimes. When she saw the hurt expression on the man's face, she bubbled, "Oh, Starsky, I'm not laughing at you! It's just, well, the misconception people have of medical examiners!" She laughed some more, then shooed him out to wash his hands. She gathered some supplies from the well-stocked first aid kit the morgue kept, then called the hospital pharmacy to arrange for some oral antibiotics for the detective.

*****

Hutchinson was sitting at a spare desk in the tiny reception cubicle, talking on the telephone with Captain Dobey and filling him in on the postmortem results, when the coroner's wagon backed up to the morgue's doors.

"That would be the body they found in the other dumpster, Hutch," said Lila flatly. After today, I think I'm going into psychiatry. Or research. In a lab.

"Gotta go, Cap." Hutchinson slammed the receiver down before he could hear Dobey's reply. He double-timed it to the hall. Through the windows in the morgue's entry doors, he watched the police commissioner and King Washington work to keep the cameras and reporters as far away as possible. A minute later, two attendants rolled in the bagged body.

Hutchinson showed them his shield as he said, "Hold it." They stopped as ordered. Hutch tented the black plastic and slowly unzipped it completely. He was not surprised to see a nude white male who had no hair anywhere, except for eyelashes, on his body. Nor was he surprised to see a tattoo of an inverted cross on the dead chest or the slit throat. He halted his perusal when he heard Starsky say on approach, "The second dumpster?"

"Yeah, and this tattoo links him to Marcus and to the Fox murders."

Starsky stood opposite Hutch. "Shit. Body as bald as a cue ball. This has gotta be the guy Willie told us about."

Etzioni, now standing at the head, cleared her throat to draw the detectives' attention. "Hate to burst your balloon, fellas, but the wounds on the victims are upright crosses or ts."

Starsky and Hutchinson exchanged worried glances. They saw doubt about Marcus as perpetrator creep into the other's expression.

"Yeah, well, doesn't mean they aren't connected," Starsky blustered with little conviction.

"It is still early in the investigation. We'll make the connection." And if we don't? If we're wrong about that band of lunatics? It's some other psychos? How are we ever going to find them?

"Damn right we will." Starsky's determination quashed the doubt they shared. If it isn't Marcus's cult, it's some another group, and we will find 'em. I promise.

Hutchinson nodded curtly in agreement. He handed Starsky the items he had retrieved from the confiscated jacket. "Promise."

While Starsky zipped up the bag, Hutchinson asked the assistant medical examiner to check the hairless man's prints against those found at the farmhouse and to compare his neck wound with all those of the family's. She promised to do that and more.

*****

The sun was nearing its zenith in the hazy, pale blue sky when the partners left the morgue, passing Commissioner Hayes as he re-entered the facility. The camera lights pointed in their direction augmented the ample heat already generated by the star. Instantly, sweat beads popped out all over their bodies and microphones popped into their faces.

With his bandaged hand, Starsky shoved the reporters, whose ranks had now swollen to five, away while his other hand went for the sunglasses he had hooked on the collar of his baseball jersey. He slid the shades on. "No comment," he replied evenly to the tangle of questions that bombarded them.

Hutchinson strode to the Torino, watching his feet take each step, saying nothing, batting away hands that grabbed at him and mikes that seemed to obstruct his ability to see and breathe. He claimed his customary position in the car, slammed the door, retracted the light, and rolled up the window against the persistent newsmongers. He turned so his back was against the door. Then it occurred to him that he still had the car keys. In a few seconds, the Torino's loud engine drowned out the reporters.

Starsky was almost at the driver's door when he felt a pull on his weapon. On pure cop instinct, the dark-haired detective whirled to his right, toward the tug, elbow contacting something hard that expelled a "Wompf!" and left hand almost clearing the gun of its holster.

Megan Churchill, a reporter as aggressive as she was petite, found herself on her butt next to the red-and-white car. She dabbed at the blood that was streaming from her upper lip. Before she knew it, the cameras were trained on her. Dammit! It's not supposed to happen like this! Then a curly head blocked the lights. She felt a strong hand encircle her left arm. She knew exactly who it was, though his face was mostly within shadows.

"Don't you know better than to touch a cop's gun?" Starsky growled through gritted teeth. "Don't you ever do that again." With ease, he had the small woman back on her feet. "I'll walk you to the emergency room. And I'm sor -"

"No, no," Megan interrupted. "I'z my faul', entire'y. An' my cam'raman'r he'p 'e." She jumped when a handkerchief dangled in front of her face. She grabbed it and pressed it firmly to her lip.

Starsky asked, "You sure?" To answer, she waved him off.

The incident happened so fast that Hutchinson had been unable to do anything except open the door for his partner. "Well, that's gonna look real good."

Starsky let his head fall back after he rolled up his window. "All I knew was that somebody went for my gun, Hutch. What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to react? Huh?" He closed his eyes to hide his humiliation at what he had done - and almost done - to that reporter.

The blond man rubbed the thighs of his filthy beige trousers. "Oh hell, Starsky, I would've done the same thing. And it would've been the right thing to do." He sighed before continuing in a softer, less strident tone. "But the cameras didn't catch her touching your weapon. From their point of view, it does look like an unprovoked attack."

Starsky hissed in a breath before issuing a heartfelt "Fuck!" He jerked the transmission into reverse and honked the horn several times before backing out of the parking space. The TV crews were slow to move, and continued filming as the striped car left the lot.

*****

Neither detective was in the mood to talk. Both were drowning in the blood and horror and misery and missed opportunity of the last twenty or so hours. They were dirty, thirsty, and fresh out of ideas. And fresh out of hope.

In the silence of the car, the voices intruded once more, and Hutchinson thought he might play a song in his head instead of using the noisemaker. But when he tried to choose a song, his mind went blank. No melody, no lyrics, to any song. Not even those he had written himself surfaced. His sense of loss grew. An essential piece of who he was had dissolved. The music in his being had been replaced by the agonized howls of the dead. The abyss, like quicksand, sucked him in.

Automatically, Starsky was scanning the area when he saw a young man arguing with a middle-aged woman, and then pushed her to the cement sidewalk. He inhaled deeply and shouted, voice quivering with adrenaline, "Call it in!" The man then climbed into a running car and took off. Starsky hit the siren and floored the accelerator.

The blond detective absorbed the details instantly. "Dispatch, this is Zebra 3. We are in pursuit of a stolen white Buick Skylark …" He paused as Starsky slowed the Torino and heard the woman call out, "I'm okay! He's got my baby! My baby's in that car!" before she started sobbing. Starsky turned a chalky white and floored the pedal again, throwing Hutch back into the seat. "… California plates Xray Yellow Alpha 556. Request black-and-white for victim at Ralph's Market on Camden. Out." Several seconds later, the mac light was on the roof.

The thief, pushing the stolen Skylark as fast as it would go, started cursing when he saw how rapidly the Torino was closing in on him. Finally it dawned on him that there was no way his car could outrun such a monster on the straight-of-way. Without slowing, he cut the wheel sharply to the left to head west just before passing through an intersection. To keep from rolling over, he pumped the brakes and turned to the right. But it didn't work and he wound up doing a 270-degree turn.

Starsky had anticipated the turn and had slowed somewhat. To his dismay, he spotted to his left a Ford Edsel in mint condition pulling out of the corner parking lot, intent on making a left turn. Hutchinson needlessly pointed to it, and braced for a sudden stop. Starsky double-footed the brakes and cut sharply to the right. The driver-side rear end of the Torino whammed the front bumper of the Edsel's passenger side. The Edsel's bumper became the proud owner of a new dent. The Torino suffered a scratch.

Hutchinson peered out the rear window at the Edsel's driver. He could barely see the balding head above the steering wheel. He wondered if the person could possibly be sitting up high enough to see to drive. "Go!" he shouted to his partner.

That one word told Starsky, who had been watching the Skylark, that the Edsel's driver was okay and that he could continue pursuit. He accelerated a bit more slowly, not wanting to fishtail and cause more damage to either vehicle. He drove toward the stolen vehicle, intending to block its front end.

The robber had other ideas. He rammed the gearshift into reverse and stomped on the gas. He thought he heard a yelp from the back seat, but he didn't have the time to investigate it. He drove backwards for about half a block, until he saw the alley. Shifting into drive, he piloted the Skylark into the narrow, trash-filled back street.

Again anticipating this action, Starsky stayed with the Skylark. The alley was a particularly tight fit for the Torino. He had to concentrate to keep the car from scraping the sides of buildings, fences, and trash receptacles, while dodging the garbage the Skylark was stirring up. The two vehicles continued this way through several blocks of alleys, the Torino having fallen behind slightly, each barely avoiding collisions with other cars when they bounced across the main streets.

The young thief in the Buick cursed again. Nothing was shaking the cops off his tail. I ain't goin' to jail! he vowed to himself as he twirled the wheel to the right when he got to the next cross street. Before he could react, he rear-ended a parked VW Bug, which in turn rear-ended a Mercedes.

Both detectives heard the crunch and groan of twisting metal over the blare of the siren. Hutchinson braced himself once more. Starsky applied the brakes, maintaining near-perfect control over the Torino. The car came to a rocking stop perpendicular and behind the Skylark.

Starsky was out in a flash and almost floated over the hood. Hutchinson had trouble squeezing out because Starsky had parked so close to the Buick. Silently he prayed that his hotheaded partner wouldn't pull the driver out and beat the crap out of him.

The dark-haired detective couldn't if he tried. The door was jammed shut, and the driver was obviously unconscious and bloody from his head meeting the windshield. Starsky checked out the back seat, but saw nothing but a brown blanket, a chewed-up spongy ball, and an equally tattered Raggedy Andy doll. Where the hell is the kid? he thought, feeling his heart threaten to burst from his chest. He started to run back to his car for a crowbar when he heard a sound. A sound he didn't expect.

Hutchinson was now on the other side of the car. He first made sure the robber was breathing, then he, too, began the visual search for the baby. He heard the sound as well. He strained to find the source.

A second later, a small furry head poked out from under the front passenger seat. Big brown eyes quickly found Hutch's blue ones. Another second, the furry creature was at the window that separated it and the blond man. It barked joyously while it danced and jumped on its short hind legs.

"It's a dog … a goddamn dog, Starsk," Hutchinson said in a tone that started with incredulity but ended in anger.

"What?!" Starsky asked with challenging fury. "Her baby is a, a … dog?"

Hutchinson stood to look at Starsky over the Skylark's roof. He nodded his head in amazement. "Not just any dog. A Corgi."

Starsky threw his hands up in a gesture of disgust and felt his adrenaline level plummet. Wobbling, he made it to the Torino to sit on its blisteringly hot hood in time to avoid collapsing on the street.

The bigger man balleted over the bumpers of the Skylark and Torino to stand by his friend. He gave the darker man's drenched shoulder a quick squeeze as he said, "I'll call for an ambulance and the fire department."

Starsky frowned and nodded. After the danger they had put themselves and others in for a dog, he welcomed the images of real, human babies that came to him - even though those images were of babies that no longer breathed. Sometimes, I really hate this job.

*****

Cooper and Milton relieved the detectives so they could continue onto Metro where their presence was in high demand. Knowing what the detectives were working on and from reading the exhaustion and frustration on their faces, the uniformed officers thought it the better part of discretion not to mention their extraordinarily disheveled and stench-laden condition. Cooper, the senior partner, recognized that both detectives were still wearing the clothes they had on at roll call the previous morning. Can't pay me enough to be a detective, he thought as he directed the traffic that inevitably slowed to slug speed when fire trucks, cop cars, and ambulances were in the neighborhood.

The rest of the journey to the station passed in bitter quiet, neither willing to talk about how the autopsy findings had cast doubt - albeit small, but doubt nonetheless - on their assumptions about Marcus and his crew. Without consulting or informing his partner, Starsky made one unscheduled stop at the convenience store three blocks from Metro. They each purchased several large bottles of Gatorade. Each polished off a bottle even before returning to the car.

Starsky parked the Torino in the garage behind the stationhouse. Still several yards from the back entrance, he stopped and put a cold bottle of the pale green liquid against Hutch's chest to halt him. Refusing to turn toward him and make eye contact, Starsky said in a hushed voice, "I blew it, Hutch. Those babies died 'cuz-a me. My fault. They were alive when we first went to Marcus. If I had just searched …" He choked on a sob.

Hutchinson knew this was coming, ever since Contreras told them time of death. He was too ashamed to bring it up. Too ashamed that he hadn't followed his gut instinct. Too ashamed of his complicity in the deaths of the Fox twins. Too ashamed that he had chosen that moment to follow the letter of the law. Now he would use the law to rationalize away his culpability. "We didn't have probable cause, Starsky. We can't conduct searches based on our intuition." He waited for some reaction from his partner. All he got was a body yielding to harsher tearless sobs. "Besides, there is some question now. About Marcus's guilt."

Starsky felt himself slip into the pit and scud down its scummy walls. The lump of charcoal in his heart grew to boulder size, and hastened his descent. "I didn't even ask to take a look around," he murmured, tone radiating misery and self-condemnation. He returned his arm to his side; it had gotten far too heavy to hold up. He had no clue as to what kept him standing at all.

There he goes, shouldering all the blame. Hutchinson kicked around a few pebbles while he gathered his thoughts and his courage. He stepped around to face Starsky. "Look at me."

Starsky kept his head and eyes cast downwards. All he could muster was a weak shake of his curly head.

"Dammit, Starsk!" Hutch exclaimed through clenched teeth.

Slowly, the dark head raised until Hutch could see the blue lagoons that were Starsky's eyes. Hutch averted his gaze briefly, unable to bear witnessing the unimaginably huge volume of agony and guilt. "Oh, bbbuddy," he stuttered, "I-I-I didn't ask, either." He swallowed audibly. "If anything, I'm the one to blame. I was in too much of a hurry to get you out of there before you -"

There he goes, twisting things so I can feel better. "Aw, Hutch," Starsky interrupted, "don't do this." He tried to see through the blond's hooded eyes. "Don't take this on -" He stopped when he caught the sly look that appeared around those azure eyes he knew so well. "What?"

"Can we agree to place the blame where it really belongs - on the killers?"

"Deal." A wave of stifling nausea rose from deep within. But Starsky was willing to pay that price for lying to his best friend.

Hutchinson nodded, playing along with the lie. He knew Starsky would always consider himself at fault for the Fox twins' deaths and would adamantly contest any hint of blame for him.

Starsky ran an arm across his moist eyes in an effort to clear them. "We better get up to Dobey's office before he busts like Krakatootie."

The big blond couldn't resist letting go a soft chuckle. "Krakatoa."

"What?"

"It's Krakatoa."

"Krakatootie, toa, you get the picture." Getting his partner to laugh helped Starsky slow his slide into the blue blackness.

*****

Harold Dobey stared out the window in his office, his bulk warmed to the point of heavy perspiration. He felt so empty, deceived, suckered. He had believed for most of his life that there was a God, and a benevolent one at that. And now to finally realize he had been wrong all those years left him as dead inside as the Fox family. How could something so manifestly evil been allowed to even exist, much less operate, anywhere in creation? he questioned. He didn't expect an answer.

He shuddered, realizing for the first time in his conscious mind, that he was truly alone. That what he had esteemed as truth for decades was really a gullible man's pathetic attempt not to be lonely.

How am I gonna tell Edith? Hell, what am I gonna tell her?

He smelled them before he heard them knock on the hall door to his office. "Come in, you two."

The door swung open slowly. Both detectives stood in the doorway, each waiting for the other to enter first.

Dobey inspected his men: hair matted and rigid, faces with light and dark streaks of brown-gray, T-shirts (with the exception of the oddly mostly clean white sleeves of Starsky's baseball shirt) and pants grimy beyond description. Their stench was outrageously abominable, being a combination of sweat, anger, decay, death, and dejection. Dobey, unsuccessful at hiding his gagging, had to breathe short and shallow through his mouth. "Hit the showers so you won't be mistaken for street bums or get arrested for violating pollution laws. Then back here without any stops along the way."

They nodded in unison before heading for the locker rooms. Though their awful odor had permeated the entire building by this time, there were no complaints or smart remarks once their fellow officers knew the source was Starsky and Hutchinson.

*****

Hutchinson emptied his pockets and placed the items - wallet, shield case, noisemaker, flag pin, some coins, small notepad, keys - on the top shelf of his locker that also contained a full set of clean, old clothes, kept for just such occasions. Listlessly, he hung his holstered Colt on one hook and his handcuffs on another. He stripped, letting his sweat-starched and filth-encrusted clothes fall to an angular heap on his brown shoes. With shampoo and soap in hand, he closed the gray metal door. His eyes found Starsky.

The smaller man, dressed only in his holiday boxers, sat on the bench and studied the open locker in front of him. "This is - was my favorite pair of shorts, Hutch. I don't think I can ever wear 'em again." He plucked at the waistband several times.

"Well, buddy, look at it this way. As you've pointed out, the Bicentennial Fourth is a one-time event. Maybe that means you shouldn't wear 'em any more."

"Like maybe these murders are a one-time-only crime." He paused before looking up at his partner. "Shit, Hutch, wudn't it enough to maim and kill 'em? Did they have to molest those kids, too?"

Hutch shrugged his drooping shoulders. "I'm asking myself the same questions, Starsk. I don't understand this at all. And I hope to God I never do."

A shadowy-blue chill ran down Starsky's spine when it occurred to him that he did have a kind of comprehension of this unbelievable carnage. That understanding of evil, he speculated, started with his father's death. "Yeah, I hope so, too," he responded as he removed the bandage from his right hand.

"Come on, Starsk, let's hit the showers. You're rather ripe and it's offending my sensitive nose," Hutch joked feebly.

"And you ain't ready for pickin'?" retorted Starsky. The shorts quickly topped the pile of his heavily soiled clothes. Armed with his own soap and shampoo, he entered the shower room only a few paces behind his partner. Uncharacteristically, he chose a nozzle several removed from the one Hutch had just started up. He figured he just needed a little space for what he was about to do. He turned the water on full blast, with a heat that came close to scalding. But it still didn't rid him of the frigid darkness that befogged his soul.

*****

Simon Marcus sat in his vinyl chair on the makeshift altar. The epitome of serenity, his long-fingered hands rested lightly on his thighs, the corners of his lips barely curled upwards, and his brown eyes crossed slightly. He was dreaming, and he dreamed his best with his acolytes kneeling and chanting before him, as about twenty of them were doing now. For a few seconds, he focussed his eyes on the threesome copulating just a few feet away. His lips moved into a closed-mouth smile as he pondered which of the two men and one woman he would favor with his sexual largesse. He quickly made his decision.

Before he joined them, he recalled the footage of the two detectives he had seen on television. The light one, Hutchinson, lifting the infants out of the dumpster, giving one to the dark one and one to the black man. How, like a sheepdog, he herded them to the car and later into the morgue. The dark one hitting the female reporter in the mouth, though, thrilled him beyond expression. The dark one would be his, one way or another. His smile opened, exposing lime-colored teeth.

Luke came around the back panels and headed directly for his leader. "He is here, Simσn."

The cult leader nodded once, but didn't move until one of the men climaxed. He stood and led Luke to his private room.

Waiting for him was Sidney Lassiter. He was still attired in his BCPD uniform. "Simσn, I came as soon as I could. Luke tells me you have a few questions?"

"Yes, I do. These two detectives. Starsky and Hutchinson. What are they like?"

Lassiter cast his eyes downward. "From what I know of them, and heard about them, they are notorious for their pushiness, but Starsky a bit more so than Hutchinson. It's pretty much a given that Starsky would've been thrown off the force years ago if it wasn't for Hutchinson. But nobody would've been able to work with Hutchinson if Starsky hadn't gotten him to open up and get off his high horse." Lassiter paused to watch his master's expression take on a sinister edge. "They take any murder as a personal affront; they do not see the path to power and greatness that it is." He cleared his throat. "And they are relentless in solving crimes," he warned.

"Is there any way Detective Starsky could be convinced to join us?"

"Both Detective Starsky and his partner are strictly straight cops. They've been tempted with money, expensive gifts, narcotics, women, but they resist. So, my answer to your question is 'no.'" The cop started to sweat, because nobody wanted or liked to say "no" to their idol.

Marcus was silent for several moments as he planned. "I dream of one bier surrounded by dry seas of blue and brass. I dream of a second one if there is defiance or resistance. Sidney, you have brought me much valuable information. I dream you will join us in our next ceremony. But I dream of a reward now. Kneel." He smiled smugly in anticipation.

Both Luke and Lassiter knew what that meant. The two men began chanting, "Simσn, Simσn." Quivering with excitement, Lassiter knelt before Marcus and opened his mouth to receive his prize.

*****

Already dressed and with weapon in place, Starsky downed the last of his Gatorade. He stared at his rank holiday clothes, recalling the excitement he had felt when he had put them on the previous morning. Now, he could hardly stand to acknowledge they were his. "Hutch, let's put this crap in the trunk, okay?"

The blond man, whose fair skin was now a beet red from the intense scrubbing he had given it, wiggled into a pale blue T-shirt. "Yeah, guess we shouldn't leave all this here. We'd get kicked off the force."

Right now, that doesn't sound like a bad idea, Starsky thought as he picked up his clothing. Careful not to hold the items close, he climbed the stairs that led directly to the garage. He pressed the crashbar with his foot and entered the concrete heat. He heard the whoosh of the station's incinerator off to his right. Without conscious awareness, he headed for the huge furnace. The closer he got to it, the more it reminded him of the boiling air of Southeast Asia. Funny how I can go for months without thinkin' about that time and place, then it's all I seem to think about. He disregarded the warning that cautioned against opening the door to the incinerator when it was active and reached for the handle.

Hutchinson, still without gun and jacket, came out of the building and beelined for the Torino. But some movement in his outer vision caught his attention. He watched, in terror and disbelief, his partner open the door to the operating incinerator. "STARSKY!" he cried out in high panic. He dropped his bundle of dirty clothes and broke into a sprint, hoping he could get there in time to douse the flames he was certain would engulf his friend.

Starsky stumbled backwards forcefully when the heat surged out. The flames reached for him, like an abusive mother for her victim-child, but stopped inches short of their goal. The dark-haired man was disappointed that even this fire couldn't burn off the cold fog that clung around and in him. Next thing he knew, he was being jerked away. He snapped his head around to see a frenzied Hutch as the owner of the hands on his arm.

Breathless from running and fear, Hutch slurped in several rapid breaths. "Are you crazy? What the fuck do you think you're doin'?" he asked, concerned anger painting his words.

Starsky had to think a moment before he could answer. "I, uh, thought it'd be better if I burned this stuff." He paused. "It'll never get clean enough, and I don't …" He let the sentence fall away.

For several heartbeats, Hutch peered into the dark blue eyes that held his. Then he understood completely. "I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, the fire raged larger as it devoured its new fuel. It took both detectives to shut the door on the voracious, burning beast.

*****

Dobey paced in his office, growing angrier with each passing minute. There was no way a shower should have taken thirty minutes, and now he had something new but not unexpected to deal with. His stomach frothed with acid. He considered taking yet another dose of Mylanta.

The hall door to his office swung in, narrowly missing slamming him broadside. "Were you two raised in a barn?" he barked at Starsky and Hutchinson. "And where the hell have you been? I said to shower, not to lounge around in a damn bubble bath!"

"Sorry, Cap," apologized Starsky dully.

A closer look at his best team of detectives brought Dobey's self-pity to a screeching halt. The emotional and physical exhaustion was stamped all over them, as was their torment and anguish. Dammit, I could lose them, too, over this case, he realized. He couldn't afford to let that happen. "Yeah, well," he began, this time in a gentler tone, "guess I'm just a bit on edge. Just got handed these." He thrust the papers he carried into Hutch's chest. Once the blond man gained control over them, Dobey released his hold and returned to his chair. Following his lead, Starsky headed for the farther chair so Hutch could have the one closest to the door. Dobey exhaled heavily through his nose and said, "Sanders and Miller's resignations."

Starsky bowed his head and ran both hands through his damp hair while he crossed his knees. Damn - he's murdered nine people, and now he's killing cops' careers, he thought bitterly.

Hutchinson tripped as he looked from Dobey to the papers and back to Dobey. He fell into the chair, aggravating his twisted back some. "I don't believe this. Sanders was scheduled to take the next detective's exam."

"I know, and that's why I told 'em to take a few days' leave, to think about it." Dobey pointed to the papers that Hutch was placing on his desk. "I told 'em I'd hold off processing their request until next Monday." He cleared his throat to signal a change in subject. "You two have enough to keep you busy, so I assigned O'Bannion and Hillerman to investigate the body in the other dumpster, along with a meat cleaver found under him. They're to report to you. I've got two teams checking out past murders and major assaults with knives and those of a ritualistic nature. With the evidence processed so far, how's this Marcus turkey figuring in? He still a suspect?"

The partners cast sidelong glances at each other. With his eyes, Starsky asked Hutch to field this question.

"Yes, he is. He's the best we've got. Hell, he's all we got."

"Frankly, Hutchinson, I'm surprised you've got anything at all at this stage."

Starsky shifted to lean forward. "We got enough for a warrant, Cap." Hutch tried to mask his astonishment at the statement.

Dobey's eyebrows headed north. "What? You know somethin' I don't know?"

"Cap'n, it's all circumstantial, but it's enough for a warrant."

"Okay, Starsky, you'll get your chance to plead your case to the prosecutor. Jonathon Moore's been assigned the case, and I'm expecting him here soon. You convince us, he'll take it to a judge."

Hutchinson was delighted with that news; Moore was a particularly effective prosecutor when it came to big cases like this one. "Shouldn't be hard finding a sympathetic judge for this one."

"Wrong, Hutchinson," Dobey snarled. "This has got to go by the numbers, no room for doubt or mistakes. We can't afford to have any warrant contested and overturned on this one." He patted the stack of two bulging buff-colored manila envelopes, on top of which was a small white bag. "All this was just messengered over from the morgue and the crime scene unit. Photographs, some other stuff. And something for you, Starsky," Dobey said, pointing to the bag with a chubby finger. "That lady coroner called and asked me to make sure you take your medicine. All of it."

Hutchinson glared at his partner, who looked slightly embarrassed, then at his right hand. "What medicine, partner? You never told me anything about any medicine."

"Gosh, Hutch, I didn't think it was important. It's not infected, and doesn't really even hurt. She wants me to take antibiotics to prevent infection. No big deal." His tone reflected his non-concern about the matter.

The big blond stood carefully. He grabbed the bag and tossed it over his shoulder to its proper owner. Starsky, not expecting such a move, grimaced when the bag beaned him before falling to the floor. Hutch grinned a little wickedly. Picking up the two large envelopes, Hutchinson said, "Come on, Starsky. And let's hope you can catch the bad guys better than you can catch a little bottle of pills."

Starsky stood and began following his partner to the squad room until Dobey said, "Hold on. There's one more thing."

They turned and looked at him expectantly.

"You realize, Starsky, that both the commissioner and Chief Ryan want your badge after that thing with the reporter. But they're going to go along with whatever IA says. Go see Fargo now. Alone."

The curly-haired detective placed his hands on his hips and exhaled through his mouth, lips fluttering audibly. His eyes found the all-too-familiar ceiling. Time for my weekly check-in with my IA parole officers, he thought with dreary resignation. He shot the captain a quick thank-you look, knowing that Dobey was responsible for him still having his shield.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson's complexion went from pink to crimson in two seconds. "That stinks, Cap, and you know it!" he said emphatically. "Starsky did what any cop would have, hell, should have done in those same circumstances. And now, in the middle of a major -"

"Hutch," Starsky said conversationally.

"Shut up, Starsky, I'm talking. Now, Cap'n, as I was saying, we're in the middle of a mass murder -"

"Hutch!" Starsky repeated, but louder and with some amusement at being treated like a third-grader and at Hutch's choice of this as a battle to wage.

Hutchinson rolled his eyes, perturbed at another interruption. "What is it?"

The smaller man half-smiled at his well-meaning and outraged partner. "Hey, I really appreciate you standin' up for me, ya know," he said earnestly, tapping Hutch's chest with the flats of his left fingers in rhythm with his words. "But I want to get this over with. Okay?"

Hutchinson visibly calmed and his coloring began the trip back to normal. "Okay. But if Fargo gives you any sh-"

"He won't," Starsky interrupted again. "The lieutenant is all right." He turned his head to look at Dobey, who was hiding a tiny smile behind his thick hands. "Hey, Cap, where's Simonetti and Dryden?"

Dobey ahemed. "They've got the day off."

Starsky turned back to look at Hutch. "See, Hutch? It'll be fine. No Laverne and Shirley."

"Lucy and Ethel."

"Tweedledee and Tweedledum."

"Mutt and Jeff."

"Fric and Frac."

"Tom and Jerry."

"Enough!" yipped Dobey. "Get outta here, and I don't wanna see or hear either one of you until Moore gets here!"

"Yes, sir!" they answered simultaneously. Starsky, using his torso, pushed Hutch to the door. "Ralph and Norton," he continued in a stage whisper.

The pouches nearly escaped Hutchinson's grasp when he opened the door into Starsky. "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern."

Starsky pushed against the door and stepped behind Hutch, where he supposed it would be safer. "Who?"

"Hamlet's buddies from college, dummy." Hutch performed a partial deep knee bend to catch the once-more wayward envelopes.

This time, Starsky pushed his partner into the squad room. "'Out, out, damned spot,'" he declared dramatically.

Dobey leaned back in his chair and studied the closed door. He thought of that brief "game" they had just played, and marveled at their ability to keep their heads above the proverbial waters when things were tough. He began to think there was a chance he wouldn't lose them because of this case. Wonder who else might quit because of this? He scratched his head with the eraser end of a new pencil. Suddenly, in his mind's eye, he could see himself handing Chief Ryan a single sheet of paper along with his badge and weapon. A moment later, the eye closed, and the scene blinked away. Even so, the captain of detectives became increasingly uneasy.

*****

Starsky had taken off for the IA office as soon as they had entered the squad room, leaving Hutchinson alone to cope with the quiet, somber atmosphere that filled the room. He had no idea who or where the assisting four detectives were. But he had to have some sort of sound other than the shrieking voices jamming in his ears. Referring back to the file Minnie Kaplan had assembled the previous day, he decided to call the sheriff of Lexington County in Oregon. Talking to him would help drown out the voices and keep his mind off what was happening to his partner. He phoned dispatch and asked for the telephone number.

Three minutes later, the blond detective was speaking with Sheriff Howell. Hutchinson consciously had to concentrate on what the man was telling him about the family of four that had been hacked to death and the missing-but-presumed-dead infant in his jurisdiction just a little over three months ago. He jotted down the details in his personal shorthand. He rarely had to stop the sheriff, who was proving to be very thorough and professional. One part of his mind began analyzing the information; he could already see some impressive similarities with the Fox case. He also realized that other details decreased the probability they were looking for the same perpetrators.

"Is there a reason you didn't call in the FBI or your state bureau for assistance?" Hutchinson asked. Just then, Starsky, face and body unreadable, entered the squad room. Hutch waved him over.

"I did call the state, since like I said, Lex County's current coroner isn't a real doc. They couldn't spare one of their medical examiners for about three days, and the bodies were already pretty decomposed by the time we found 'em." Hutchinson heard a sigh of regret from the sheriff just before Starsky's phone rang. "I'm afraid that delay in discovering the scene ruined our chances for decent forensics. But I'm not lettin' it drop. No, sirree."

The darker detective let the phone ring twice before answering, "Detective Starsky." He listened and became increasingly spirited as the one-sided conversation continued. Unable to find a blank sheet of paper and a pencil on his desk that was still junked from yesterday's trashing, he filched the pencil from Hutch's hand and wrote some notes in the margins of a stained Pedro's Take-Away Mexican Heaven menu.

Hutchinson finished up with Howell after the sheriff promised to send copies of the crime scene and postmortem photos and reports. He leaned back in his chair to enjoy watching Starsky hunch the phone to his left ear and write with his left hand while he stood and twitched his butt in a fair imitation of an aroused bobtailed dog. Hutch found himself getting caught up in the excitement his partner was broadcasting.

"Okay, got it. Thanks, Lieutenant. Tell 'em we'll contact 'em later tonight." As he returned the receiver to its resting place, Starsky grinned at Hutch. "That was Jaffe at CHP. Seems that a couple of his officers rousted Marcus and his band of merry mentals from some ranch a couple of months back. They were slaughtering his cows. Anyways, these two officers are working second shift today. Thought we'd meet 'em somewhere for a bite to eat." Starsky felt some hope for justice breeze into his heart, but it didn't blow away the darkness that had a tight hold on him.

"That's great! Now, maybe we can make a stronger case for that warrant with just this information."

Starsky began pacing, now that he had his fourth or fifth wind. "We're getting closer, Hutch. I can feel it."

Hutchinson showed his caution with a quick rise and fall of his eyebrows and puckered lips. "Maybe, buddy, just maybe. We still have to talk to them."

"Anybody ever tell you you're a regular shaft of sunlight?"

Hutch smiled sadly at the memory that question brought back. And the stress and worry. "Yeah, I seem to recall someone telling me that. Now, slow down and tell me what happened with Fargo."

"Oh, that." Starsky poofed out a breath and gave a dismissive wave. "He'd already talked with that reporter. She told him what she'd done. He said she insisted it was all her fault. Only thing he told me was not to hit so hard the next time. And to wear a jacket." He cocked his head to one side and smiled crookedly.

Hutchinson shook his head in stupefaction. "Better be glad Fargo caught your case. If it had been Dryden or Simonetti …" He knew he didn't have to say more.

"Don't remind me. Hey, who were you talking to?" Starsky stopped pacing, but drummed the pencil on the desk.

"The sheriff in Oregon." Starsky oh'ed his mouth. "Seems that the four victims were cut up into pieces, like our vics, including decapitation and scalping. Their eyes and all their toes went missing. They can't say for sure there were any wounds that could pass for crosses, either right side up or down. Plus, they had a couple of problems. One is that the bodies were pretty badly decomposed when they were found." He paused, and turned his head to one side, almost positive that he was hearing new voices in his head.

Starsky grew impatient rapidly. "And number two?" he finally asked to break the silence, hoping his irritation didn't show. The drumming sped up.

"Hunh?" Hutch turned back to look at his partner. His face seemed to hold nothing but confusion.

Damn, Hutch is skippin' a groove. Nah. Maybe he's making a connection, analyzing a clue, just thinking. "The other problem, buddy. You said the Oregon case had a coupla problems."

"Oh, right." He shifted in his chair to give himself time to regroup. "Yeah, the other problem was that the coroner wasn't a physician but a guy who has a Ph.D. in anatomy and physiology."

Before Starsky could reply, Adriana, one of the high school students who volunteered in the department during the summers, strolled into the squad room. She headed straight for Hutchinson. Blatantly flirting with the blond detective - twirling her long, straight, light brown hair around one finger, batting her eyelashes, tilting her head, and smacking her gum - she handed him a piece of white paper. "A message came in for you while you were on the phones." Her outrageous attempt at making her voice seductively husky evoked a titter from Starsky.

Hutchinson blushed. When he took the note, his fingers accidentally touched hers. Adriana cooed and moved closer to the uncomfortable detective.

He leaned away from her, intent on maintaining the proper distance from this modern-day Lolita. "Uh, thanks. For the note." He cleared his throat and gestured for her to leave. "You can go now."

Adriana popped her gum several times. "Okay. But call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Sure will." Hutch gave her a broad, uncomfortable smile. "Well, my partner and I have work to do."

The teenager finally took the hint. She almost pulled off the runway-model walk.

Hutchinson stared after her, appreciative of that he couldn't touch. He faced Starsky when he heard his name.

Starsky held the telephone out to Hutch. "It's for you. Adriana's mother. She says Adriana can't come out to play until she grows up in four or five years." The pencil sharpener hurled at him missed by inches.

The two teams Dobey had working on records review - Simmons and Babcock, and Pirelli and Beauchamps - returned to the squad room, arms filled with folders. Minnie Kaplan and Charlie Collins were with them, and each of them pushed a cart brimming with more records.

"Hey, what's goin' on here? Did a computer search turn up alla these?" Starsky felt his newly refreshed hope turn sour and doubt about Marcus's guilt climb a rung. Shit! There can't be this many possibles!

"Starsky, Hutch," Collins said in greeting. "That damned computer broke down in the middle of this, so it's back to the old-fashioned way."

"Well, fix the fuckin' thing!" Starsky yelled in mounting anger as he brandished the telephone like a potential weapon.

Hutch stood, leaned across their desks, and found the arm with the phone. He pushed downwards gently. Starsky didn't seem to notice but didn't resist.

"Look, Starsky, I'm doing the best I can! We all are!" Collins reddened with his own anger and frustration.

Starsky backed down. "You're right. We're all doin' the best we can." Contrite and subdued, he returned the telephone to his desktop. "Let's just hope it's good enough," he murmured loud enough for only Hutchinson to hear.

The door to Dobey's office swung open and the captain stepped partially through. The tension in the room was thick enough to smother him. He glared at everyone, stopping with Starsky and Hutchinson. "My office, now."

Hutchinson shot Starsky a look that ordered him to stay cool. He rounded the desk and took his partner by the elbow. A quick squeeze of reassurance, and Hutch piloted him into Dobey's office.

Jonathon Moore was waiting patiently for them. Though he was a rather stocky five-and-a-half-foot-tall white man with thick, wavy, dishwater brown hair and a pock-marked face, he projected such a self-assured presence that it left no question about his abilities. He rose from his leaning position at the front of Dobey's desk and extended his hand enthusiastically to the detectives.

Hutchinson shook the district attorney's hand first. He appreciated the respect Moore consistently showed the police, partially evidenced by this action of handshaking. Moore was the only district attorney or assistant DA who did this.

As Starsky pressed the man's flesh, he thought gleefully, Terrific! No plea bargain or insanity defense for this case.

"Sergeants, good to see you again," Moore said, his pleasure showing in his tone. "Am I glad you two are spearheading this investigation. I know you'll make my job much easier. Now, what can I do to return the favor?" Moore was careful not to show his apprehension at the fatigued and haggard appearances of the detectives.

The four men remained standing. Hutchinson and Starsky exchanged quick glances to confirm they were on the same page. They were. They slid into their tag-team style of presenting the data in a rapid-fire, convincing delivery, one picking up from the other when it seemed that he was running out of gas. It was a variation on an interrogation technique they used at times that kept the suspect just off-kilter and unable to think before responding. Between the two of them, they told Moore of the tip from Wailin' Willie and their decision to check out the storefront in question. They told him of the meetings with Marcus and the cult, of Marcus's "dreams" and how their interpretation of the dreams led them to search for the missing twins in dumpsters and piles of trash. They told him of the cross scar on Marcus's chest, of what they had witnessed of the cross-cutting and burning ceremony, and of the wounds shaped like crosses in the victims. Hutchinson had the last word, and underscored his certainty with closing the physical distance between him and Moore and maintaining eye contact.

Moore held Hutch's eyes for a few moments before looking into Starsky's equally earnest ones. Damn! Hope neither one of these men ever sits at the other table in a courtroom. I hate to lose. He bowed his head and rubbed the left side of his face - a nervous habit that helped him think. About ten seconds later, his head popped up. The three police officers unconsciously held their breath as they waited for the decision they knew he had made.

"I hate to tell you this, but I don't think we have enough to take to a judge. For a case like this one, what you have is pretty thin at this juncture. I'm sure Captain Dobey has told you we need to be perfect with this. Now, I appreciate your hunches, which have an excellent track record. But I can't take the chance of having one piece of evidence excluded because of a premature search warrant." He paused as he watched the detectives' hope take a pounding on the rocks of the Constitution. "Get me a little more, and I can make it happen."

"Don't worry, Moore, we'll get whatever it takes."

Moore flinched inwardly at the furious, dark resolve in Starsky's tone. "Call me when you do, Starsky. But don't bend the rules too far. Got it?" He got a nod from the curly head, then looked to the blond one, where a nod was forthcoming as well. He shook hands once more with the detectives before he took Dobey's hand. "Captain, we still on for lunch Wednesday?"

"So far."

"Good. I'll call you that morning before I head into court. We'll set up a restaurant then."

Dobey, who had been standing in front of the hall door, stepped aside so the attorney could leave. The three were silent for several moments after the door had closed behind him.

The captain harrumphed. "Don't you have work to do?"

Disappointment and frustration weighed their bodies down, so it took longer than usual to leave the office. Starsky opened the door and stood against it to let Hutch pass through first. Before Hutch could cross the threshold, he stopped when Dobey said, "Hey."

The captain shivered when he read the dejection in their faces. "When was the last time you two had any sleep or anything to eat or drink?" He got two indifferent shrugs for an answer. "Get something to eat then go home and get some sleep. That's an order."

"We aren't hungry, Cap."

"Make yourself, Hutchinson. I can't afford to have you two passing out or getting sick. The twins have been found. You can take a few hours off now."

"Yeah, the twins have been found," Starsky piped up. "But we don't know if there are any more victims. Or how long before they hit a second family. You know in your gut they won't stop."

Dobey read between the lines. "Hell, Starsky, I can't have everybody workin' this case."

"Why not." The statement dared and accused.

Hutchinson arched his eyebrows in agreement before returning to the squad room. Starsky gently closed the door.

The huge man stomped to his chair and forcefully sat, the chair quaking beneath the weight. With his elbows on the desk, he brought his head down so he could run his fingers through his nappy hair. His first thought was for a prayer, but a second thought quickly followed - there was no one or no thing to pray to.

The ringing of the telephone rescued him from further thoughts. "What, Charisse?" he answered calmly.

"Captain, we've located Jeffrey Fox's brother Thomas. He's on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico."

He sighed. "Get me the number of the nearest Coast Guard station, please. And see if there's any way I can talk to Fox before he leaves that platform." The only thing good he could imagine coming out of that conversation would be the confirmation or discovery of the identities of the other victims. He hung up and rested his head in his hands.

*****

On their return, the detectives noted that Minnie had left but the other five had stayed and were pouring over records. Watching Pirelli leaf through a particularly thick file jogged Starsky's memory. "Hey, Pirelli, I thought you and Beau had the day off."

Without looking up from his reading material, Pirelli said, "Yeah, but neither of us could sleep much. So we called Dobey and he put us to work."

"Thanks, Pirelli. We owe you guys one."

"Forget it, Starsky." This was from Beauchamps. "You and Hutchie don't owe us nothin'. We do this for ourselves and them. Just get the bastards. Soon, or you be answerin' to my 300-pound mama."

Starsky snorted a little laugh. He turned to Hutch, who had just hung up the telephone. "What's up?"

"Minnie's gonna find what she can on Marcus Simons and his current alias. And this note from Adriana?" He held it up between two fingers. "Message from Huggy. He wants to meet at the Grand Palace Movie House at 4:30."

"Since when does Huggy want to meet in a theater that doesn't show X-rated movies?"

"Beats me, partner. But I suggest we leave now, or we may miss the feature presentation."

*****

The partners stopped at the concession stand for large lemonades. Even though the smell of freshly popped popcorn was tantalizing, it failed to stimulate their appetites. In fact, they only drank because not doing so was not an option if they wanted to continue investigating the Fox murders.

They had no trouble spotting the familiar snap-brim hat atop the more familiar head in the sparsely populated theater. Hutchinson beat Starsky to the aisle seat closest to Huggy Bear, forcing Starsky to slide into the row behind them and hop over the back of the chair on the other side of the black man. He bounced in his seat several times before asking, "Change of pace for ya, ain't it, Huggy?"

"Just expanding my horizons, my bro. Besides, I wouldn't miss a flick with so many black brothers in it. Richard Pryor and Ivan Dixon, for starters."

"Ivan Dixon. Wudn't he in Hogan's Heroes?"

"Give the white man a cigar." Huggy took a bite out of his Paul Bunyan-sized Nestlι Crunch bar.

"Hey, there's Professor Irwin Corey!" Hutch whispered excitedly.

"Who's this Professor Irvin Corey?" Starsky asked as he leaned forward across Huggy, who promptly rolled his eyes.

"It's Irwin and he's the world's foremost authority."

"On what?"

"That's it."

"How can that be it? You hafta be an authority on somethin' if you're gonna be foremost about it."

Annoyed and angry shushes came from several quadrants of the theater, including the two seats beside him. "Well?" the dark-haired detective asked, this time in a softer whisper.

Hutch groped for the words that would shut his insistent partner up. "He's the authority on the obvious."

"Well, that's stupid." He took a deep breath as a prelude to continued conversation in this area. Huggy stopped him with a stern "Shuddup, Starsky."

The curly-haired detective sat back in his seat, but not before tossing his two companions a what's-your-problem? look.

"What ya got, Huggy?" questioned Hutchinson.

"Well, it seems that this Marcus dude and his creepy groupies moved into Myrtle's old place about seven weeks ago. They pretty much keep to themselves, but some of their closer neighbors have heard some weird sounds driftin' out."

"Weird sounds?"

"Yeah, like in the throes of sadomasochistic passion." Huggy shuddered at the thought. "Plus, it seems that lately the Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood have had to get their meat through legitimate channels and the dogcatcher ain't needed no mo'."

Starsky's stomach somersaulted at what Huggy was suggesting. "You don't mean …"

"God's creatures of the feline and canine persuasions have gotten mighty scarce in the 'hood since Marcus's invasion."

Hutchinson massaged his forehead with his fingertips. "Cattle to cats to kids," he muttered. A bit louder, he asked, "Anything else?"

"Nada. Hell, you wouldn't believe what it took to get this. Everybody's really petrified of that bizarre-o dude and his entourage. They're certainly too scared to go to the fuzz. Nobody wants to get on the worse side of these devil dudes. They only got two sides - bad and worse. Ain't no good side to 'em, ya dig?"

"Yeah, we dig. All too well. Thanks, Hug."

"Hey, you two slept any in the past day or so? Y'all look like shit."

"Sleep is highly overrated, Hug," opined Starsky. "Besides, it's in to look like shit. Just take a gander at the professor up there."

The trio watched the movie in silence for several minutes. Hutchinson stared at the flickering screen, unseeing, but attuned to the dialogue. Starsky, on the other hand, found it to be an agreeable and unexpected respite from the kaleidoscope of dead faces that now constantly seemed to be in the background of his entire visual field.

Starsky slurped up the last of his lemonade and belched. "So, does all the action take place in this car wash?"

"Pretty much. Third time I seen this fine flick."

"Good music."

Hutchinson turned a sickly white at Starsky's comment. He realized then that none of the soundtrack had registered in his ears. His tired eyes moistened. "Let's go, Starsk," he whispered hoarsely. He bolted up the aisle, not waiting for his partner, frantic to get out of the theater.

Starsky gave Huggy a questioning look, to which the black man merely shrugged. "Later, Hug," Starsky said as he lumbered over his companion's long legs and chased after his partner.

Starsky found Hutch a few feet from the Torino. The blond man had his hands clamped over his ears, pacing, dripping sweat and unintelligible whispers.

The darker detective's heart and stomach traveled in tandem to his throat. Hutch's odd behavior was disturbing and unsettling. Starsky had no clue as to what had spurred this reaction, and felt impotent and helpless. He couldn't let this go on, so he did the first thing that came into his head. He jogged the few steps to his partner, grabbed Hutch's wrists, and pulled. "What is it, Hutch? Tell me what it is, and maybe I can do somethin', okay?"

Hutchinson wrested himself from Starsky's firm grip. "Just … just leave me the hell alone, would you? Nothing's wrong, okay? It's nothing."

Starsky watched, spellbound, as a stark hollowness began to consume those warm, compassionate, intelligent sky-blue eyes he loved. Even without touching him, Starsky could feel Hutch's muscles go slack. "Oh God, Hutch, please tell me what's goin' on," Starsky pleaded, voice crackling with fear and terrified worry. He chanced a touch.

Hutchinson stared blankly at the hand resting lightly on his forearm. The touch was comforting, though tentative. But it wasn't restorative. No, he decided, this won't bring the music -me - back. Before he could pull away, he was rushed by pain so intense that he had to fight to remain upright.

Starsky was on the verge of tears as he watched his partner turn a light blue-gray and teeter toward the car. Unhesitatingly grasping Hutchinson under both wet armpits, Starsky hauled him the rest of the short distance to the car. He used it to shore his partner up while he opened the passenger door. He eased the ragdoll-limp bigger man onto the seat, but not before butting their heads together.

This gave Hutchinson a focus for the global, very real pain of loss he was experiencing. It jarred him back to the external, and put the skids on the plunge into the deeper part of his abyss. With tremendous effort, he swung his own legs into the car and kept his upper body from completely toppling over onto the seat.

Starsky carefully closed the door, rubbed his head, and sprinted to the driver's side. Once inside, he sat facing his partner. With his left hand, he turned Hutch's head to face him. "What is it, Hutch? You dehydrated again? You havin' a heart attack? Talk to me, buddy." Seeing the growing desert in those pale blue eyes, Starsky couldn't prevent a tiny sob from escaping his throat.

Hutchinson read the trust, affection, and concern displayed all over his friend's countenance. But he couldn't trust himself to tell Starsky what was happening, because that would make it real, would confirm he was crazy. It would acknowledge the demise of a major component of his being at the hands of the mass murderers, though his body might take years to catch up.

The silence from his partner both irked and worried Starsky. He made a decision that he hoped would stimulate Hutch to spill his guts. "Okay then, I'm takin' you to the hospital. I think you're havin' a heart attack." Before he could turn the ignition key, Hutch's hand was on his arm.

"No, Starsk, I'm not having a heart attack." Hutch gave his partner a lame smile. Got to have a heart to have an attack. "It just got kinda close in the theater. And, ummm, just didn't seem right to be watching a comedy right now, you know?" I'm falling for this bullshit. Question is, will he?

Starsky studied Hutch closely. This is a big load-a crap. He better have a good reason for not bein' straight with me, for not trusting me. "Terrific. Howz about we head back to the office, since it's too early for those highway patrol cops to have dinner."

Hutchinson gave a reluctant nod and settled back to watch but not see the life beyond his window.

*****

When the detectives returned to the squad room, they were pleased to see their associates on this case still hard at work reviewing files. There was one small pile, only about three inches deep, that sat apart from the others. They correctly assumed that it was the strongest probables.

After exchanging guttural acknowledgements, Hutchinson and Starsky began the gruesome task of analyzing the crime scene, autopsy photographs, and physical evidence. Starsky beat Hutch to the envelope labeled "Autopsy." The blond, concerned that his partner might not be ready to view the shots of the twins, had wanted that group of photos first. He scolded himself for not being faster.

Methodically, they studied the photographs. Only with the most intense concentration and the steady drumming of an eraser head on his desk could Starsky see beyond the ghostly faces in his mind. He set off to one side a picture of each victim's torso that showed just enough of the detached head for orientation purposes. When he got to the twins' images, his hand tremored noticeably and his vision tunneled in on them. The many faces became one. What's his name? Tran? Yeah, that's it. How could I possibly forget the name of the baby I killed. The fog inside got thicker and darker.

Hutchinson poured over the crime scene pictures. With each successive shot he examined, the voices got louder. They got louder still when he used the magnifying glass. He thought his eardrums would rupture if the screams grew any more intense. About halfway through the stack, he had to stop. Panting quietly to cope with the pain the massacre had inflicted on him, he looked up at his partner across from him.

The dark-haired detective had laid out the photos of the nine victims in three rows of three, with the tail end of the torsos pointing toward him. Now he stood at the desk and played with his lips, pinching and releasing them erratically. When he realized he was still too close to see all the pictures clearly, he stood on his chair.

"Starsk, what are you doing?" Hutch asked tiredly.

"Unh?" A distant grunt.

"Starsky, why are you standing on your chair?"

"Unh? Oh, I dunno. Just got a feelin' th'answer's right there, but we just can't see it."

Hutchinson crossed his forearms on the desk and leaned up and over them to get a better look at the photos. "And you think your point of view from up there will help you see it? Starsky, you -" A spark of realization lit up Hutch's eyes. "THAT'S IT!" he shouted.

Six pairs of eyes darted to the blond. Startled, Starsky half-fell off the chair. "Okay, Hutch, don't keep me waitin'," he said with cautious excitement. One by one, their colleagues came to surround them.

Hutchinson stood to get a better view. "You said it, Starsky." Hutch grinned when he saw the question in his partner's eyes. "It's in the point of view. Suppose, just suppose, the cutter was at the vic's -"

"Head," Starsky completed. As Hutchinson's hypothesis traveled through his cerebral cortex, he felt his own grin appear. "Upside-down crosses, Hutch," he whispered, hope brimming in the words.

Captain Dobey had entered the squad room silently soon after hearing Hutchinson's exclamation. Now he approached the smaller detective's desk so he, too, could view the pictures.

"Now, the cutter would most likely make the cut by pulling the knife toward himself," Hutch said. He got unanimous nods from seven heads.

"And where a knife first breaks the skin is usually the shallowest part, right?" Starsky asked, carrying on Hutch's train of thought. Seven more nods.

"Well," growled Dobey, "what are you waiting for?" He patted the detective on his back.

Starsky grinned broadly before picking up the telephone receiver while the captain and the other detectives meandered back to their work. He began dialing, but Hutch reached over to finger down the cradle switch. Starsky glared at him for the interruption.

"Don't you think it would be a good idea to apologize to Dr. Etzioni for how you talked to her this morning?"

"What?" Starsky asked with genuine puzzlement. Then he remembered. "Oh, yeah, sure," embarrassment evident in his tone. He began dialing again as soon as Hutch released the button.

Hutchinson went back to examining and marking up the nine photographs but listened to Starsky's side of the conversation. "Robbie? Detective Starsky. Lemme speak to Contreras" - Hutchinson raised his eyes from the pictures to shame his partner, who shifted guiltily in his chair - "no, better make that Etzioni, okay?" Hutch returned his eyes to his work. After a brief wait, Starsky began speaking again. "Hey, Liz, it's Starsky. Hutch and me just had a brainstorm. Did you measure the depth of the cross wounds at all four ends? . . . How long will it take? . . . Call as soon as you got 'em, okay? . . . Oh, you got that meat cleaver that's part of the hairless guy case? . . . How about doin' me a favor and see if it matches up with the wounds on that tourist, uhhh, Pierce Hamilton." This time, Hutch raised his entire head and smiled his agreement. Starsky smiled in return, then cast a wary glance at his partner as he turned away from him and lowered his voice.

Shut out from the remainder of the conversation, even though he knew the gist of what Starsky would be saying, Hutch shook his head and began scribbling notes on their most recent train of thought. A minute later, Starsky broke his concentration when he clumsily replaced the receiver. "Does she forgive you, Starsk?"

"Yeah. Said I didn't really need to apologize, either. She's all right, even if she's a doc to the dead." For a few moments, he slowly drummed his fingers on the phone and stared pensively at his shabby Adidas running shoes. "Think it's time to meet with the highway patrol cops. They oughta be hungry and ready for a break by now."

Five minutes later, they were headed for Alex's Burgerville Drive-in for the meet with the two CHP officers.

*****

The California Highway Patrol officers, Torricelli and Byers, pulled into Alex's right behind the Torino they knew to be Detective Starsky's. They followed the big red and white car to the furthermost parking slots. They watched as both men exited the car simultaneously. The CHP officers parked their motorcycles in the space to the left of the Torino and dismounted. Torricelli removed his helmet and gloves and left both on the seat, while Byers stowed his items under his left arm.

The darker of the two detectives was the first to extend his hand in greeting. "Hi, I'm Dave Starsky, and this" - he indicated with a jerk of his head the somewhat taller blond man who was nearing them - "is my partner, Ken Hutchinson. Thanks for meeting us, guys."

Torricelli shook the offered hand while he instantly sized up the two detectives from BC. Their reputations had preceded them, and he, like anyone else, had a preconceived notion of what they would look like. He had figured they would dress down, but this was way beyond casual. Their clothes - oddly enough, all in varying shades of blue - matched their owners: worn and frayed at the edges, both having seen much better days. The one called Starsky had an impressive beard stubble that gave his entire face a bluish shadow. His partner probably hadn't shaved for a while either, but it was harder to detect. Jesus Christ, these boys have been through the wringer. That crime scene must've been worse than what rumor has it. "Any time. Hope we can be of some help. By the way, I'm Mike Torricelli."

"And I'm Hank Byers," said the younger officer. He shook Hutch's hand.

"Hope you don't mind if we get right down to business, gents," said the swarthy Torricelli. "Highway traffic is already bad and will get worse as the evening wears on, and we have to get back out there."

"No problem," said Hutchinson. Just then, they were interrupted by a tired, testy, female voice coming over one of the nearby squawk boxes.

"You cops gonna order anything, or just chew your cud and take up space?"

All four men laughed. Hutchinson asked, "Got time to eat a little something? Our treat."

"Since you put it that way, Hutchinson." Louder, Byers continued. "Two dogs, mustard, onion, and relish, and an iced tea."

"Make mine two dogs, mustard only, and iced tea," added Torricelli. "No relish for me," he said impishly to the detectives as he patted his slight paunch. "Watchin' my girlish figure."

Without consulting Hutch, Starsky ordered two lemonades and two iced teas for them.

"You want anything to go with those drinks?"

"Yeah, a couple of empty cups, if it's no trouble."

They heard the impatient sigh loud and clear. "I mean, you want somethin' to eat."

"No, thanks, just the drinks, ma'am."

"Okay, big spender. But don't come crawlin' back here in an hour complainin' about your empty stomach. I warned you."

It was a number of seconds before they stopped laughing enough to talk. Torricelli, who was the senior of the two patrolmen, jumped right into their encounter with Simon Marcus and his recruits. "About two months ago, we get a call from this rancher not far from here. One R. J. Crowe. Owns and runs the Pinyon Pine Ranch."

"Any idea why he didn't call the sheriff?" asked Hutchinson.

"He said we were closer, and he didn't want to wait until somebody from the sheriff's department got there. Things were slow for us, so we had no problem taking the call. When Hank and I got there, Crowe had a rifle in his arms. It pointed down, but I could tell he was ready to use it, and fast. There were thirty-one people, some dressed in black robes, others in ordinary clothes, just wandering about, except for four men." Torricelli stopped when their waitress, a mousy young woman with brilliant white teeth she showed when she recognized the uniformed officers. Hutchinson gave her a ten-dollar bill and told her to keep the change, to which she said, "Hey, almost a three-buck tip! You're okay, blondie."

Torricelli wolfed down his first hot dog while he observed Starsky carefully mixing half of one lemonade with half of one iced tea in the extra cups. "Where was I? Oh, right, the four men. These guys, one of who we found out to be this Marcus character, were certainly doing their best to physically intimidate Crowe. But he's a tough old bird - no pun intended. Anyway, once we got up to the little group, they backed off some and Crowe started telling us about how they paid him back for letting them stay on his property by slaughtering his livestock. Well, he couldn't prove they had actually done it. Hadn't seen 'em. The only thing we could do was cite 'em for trespassing and escort 'em off the property." He took a long gulp of his iced tea.

Byers, who had finished both of his franks, picked up where his partner left off. "We went back to talk with Crowe. He showed us the photographs he had taken of his cattle and a couple of horses. Pretty gruesome stuff. Made me want to puke."

Starsky, excited to hear there were photographs, spewed a partial mouthful of his beverage mix, some of it sprinkling the CHP officers' pants and boots. They took the light shower in stride, since the darker detective was giving them a great show with his animated gesturing. "What did it look like? You know where the pictures are? Where's this ranch? Do you know if he's home?" The questions tumbled so fast out of his mouth that they didn't have a chance to reply until Hutchinson's hand on his arm shut him up.

Torricelli described the slaughter, calling it ritualistic in nature. Each animal had had its throat cut and upper chest opened with a two-part wound that looked like a t. They had had their rear hooves amputated. "There were a couple of other things, but something Crowe said really stuck with me." He hesitated, face darkening as he recalled the words and pictures.

"Yeah?" prompted Starsky.

"Well," he said, finding it necessary to clear his throat before going on, "he said he thought some of the guys might've had sex with his animals." Torricelli whispered the last few words with a disgusted, incredulous tone. Byers had stepped away a few paces and now looked like he was going to lose his supper.

Both detectives turned green. Hutchinson found and picked up a small stone, and, wishing all the while he could wrap his knowledge about Marcus and his cult around it, threw it as hard as he could. Starsky uttered several curses and swallowed back the bile that rose to his throat. "Anything else you think we oughta know about these perverts now?" he asked quietly.

"Naw, but if we think of something, we'll call you. We'll send you a copy of our notes and reports as soon as we can."

"Thanks, Mike," Hutchinson said. He handed one of his cards to the CHP officer. "So, how do we get to this Pinyon Pine Ranch from here?"

Byers, self-consciously running his fingers along the top of his crewcut, rejoined the other three officers. He gave detailed directions and wished them luck with the ill-tempered rancher. "And thanks for dinner. Maybe next time we're in your neck of the woods, we'll look you up and you can take us somewhere decent."

"Look forward to it. Well, we gotta go." Starsky hurriedly bade them good-bye and set his almost empty drink cups on the ground. He had the Torino started and in gear before Torricelli and Byers could affix their helmets' chin straps. "Come on, Hutch. I want to get there before dark. Don't want him thinkin' we're revenuers." Or worse - like Marcus comin' back.

Hutchinson dashed off one last smile and thanks before running to the passenger side. Before he could close the heavy door, Starsky backed out of the parking space and headed for the exit.

Their doubt about Simon Marcus's guilt had shriveled to the size of an atom.

*****

En route to Pinyon Pine Ranch, Hutchinson radioed in to inform Captain Dobey of their destination. Dobey had information for them as well. He had spoken to Tom Fox, Jeff's younger brother. Tom had told the captain who was supposed to have been at the farmhouse.

As Dobey recited the names, Starsky had to pull off to the shoulder of the county road. To hide his trembling hands, he sat on them. He noticed but said nothing when Hutch maximized the radio's volume. Staring blankly straight ahead, the faces now dominating his vision - they had names. Soon, he couldn't hear Dobey or Hutch, as he scooted further down into his pit.

After he ten-foured, Hutchinson was able to assign which voices, which cries, belonged to which name. The voices became more distinct and separate, and a few seemed to try speaking to him. Stop it! Just stop it! he hollered silently at them. I didn't kill you! To his surprise, the voices quieted down. He took advantage of the relative peace to meditate for a few minutes.

Once out of the respite, Hutchinson called his partner by name several times, each time louder than the previous because of no response. Finally, he had to shake the darker man vigorously several times to rouse him from his stupor.

Slowly, Starsky turned his head to the right. He knew he was looking at Hutch, but his face was a blob of fair hair and skin with two pinpoints of blue. "What?" he asked with near-lifelessness.

Hutch felt the knot that had replaced his heart tighten. He could see he was losing his friend, and he'd be damned if let Marcus kill his eleventh victim. He choked back his fear and summoned that small part of himself that Marcus hadn't managed to slaughter. "Starsky, they're not your family. And you're a cop. Sworn to bring justice to those you cannot save or protect. Time to do your job."

In the blink of an eye, Hutch's face sharpened to normal and the immense rage Starsky had been holding in check broke the surface of his pit. His fist struck the seat between them with his fist. "Damn you, Hutch! They are my family! And now I know their names. And I … I fucked up!"

"Well, if you did, then so did I! Let it go, dammit!" Hutch rocked back and forth for a few seconds to dissipate some of the anger he felt at his partner. "I knew you'd still be blaming yourself. You are the most obstinate creature on God's green earth, do you know that?" He huffed heavily. "Okay, okay," he said resignedly, "so you see them as your family. Fine. Don't let it get in the way of your job, buddy."

"I suggest you take your own damn advice."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Hutch tried to sound pissed, but knew his tone rang of defensiveness instead.

"That crap at the movie theater. I didn't fall for your excuses, pal." Starsky cleared his throat. "You may not see 'em as family, but there is something there, Hutch, something really different about them for you, too. Different than any other homicide we've dealt with. I ain't deaf, dumb, and blind."

Several heartbeats passed before Hutch broke the uneasy silence. "It's almost sunset."

"Yeah." Starsky eased the car back onto the road. "I think we're just about a mile from the ranch."

*****

R. J. Crowe saw and heard the Torino coming up the sun-baked road to the ranchhouse, giving him plenty of time to arm himself with a double-barreled shotgun. He raised the bottom sash of the front window just enough for the shotgun to pass through, and lowered the top sash so he could see and talk unhindered. For the last two months, he assumed every visitor was one of Marcus's crowd, and he wasn't about to stop now, just because the flashy car was not typical of that wild bunch.

The lanky, graying-at-the-temples rancher watched from the shadows of his home as the big car stopped in the center of the rough quadrangle the house, barn, corrals and fencing, and stable made. A tall blond man stepped out first, followed by the dark-haired driver. Both took their time looking around without moving far from the Ford.

Crowe grew impatient and pulled the hammers of both barrels back, knowing his mute visitors would hear it. They stopped dead in their tracks, both sets of eyes centering on the source of potential harm. The dark one reached inside his worn denim jacket with his left hand and left it there. The fair one put his hands up in a friendly, I-surrender gesture.

"Mr. Crowe," the blond man said in a loud, amiable voice, "we're from the Bay City Police, and we'd like to talk with you about Simon Marcus."

"I wanna see your ID. And you with the crazy hair. I wanna see both hands." Crowe could see the latter arch one eyebrow and twist his lips, but he did bring both hands into view. The other slowly reached into his left back pocket. A second later, Crowe saw the picture and the shield.

"Mr. Crowe, I'm Detective Sergeant Ken Hutchinson and this is my partner, Detective Sergeant Dave Starsky. I know it's late, but could we speak with you for a few minutes? It's very important, sir."

Crowe treated them to a full minute of silence as he contemplated the request. "It's about those murders at the farmhouse, ain't it? You're not here about my livestock."

The astonishment on their faces was genuine. "Huh, how did you know about that, sir?"

"Local news had it on at six o'clock. Even had some pictures. It's a crying shame. Wondered how long it'd be before somebody showed some interest in my problem." He returned the hammers to the non-lethal position and pulled the shotgun in. He propped the weapon against the wall before going outside to see the two looking at each other. It seemed to him that they were talking without saying anything. "You cops can't keep shit like that quiet forever."

Starsky, arms crossed over his chest, leaned against the car. Hutchinson took several steps toward Crowe, his badge wallet still in his hand. "Well, we have reason to believe that Simon Marcus and his followers may be involved in those murders. There are … similarities between what happened to those people and your livestock."

"You don't say," Crowe snapped sarcastically. "Look, you don't know those hoods. Keep me out of it."

Hutchinson decided to try another line of questioning. "Why did you let them stay on your property?"

Crowe eyed him suspiciously. "They came through here, asked if they could camp out near the creek. Some of the girls were real lookers, even if they seemed, well, crazy. Figured I could get some 'free love.' Shit, love ain't free any more. It just about cost me my ranch. And those girls - well, too damn kinky for me."

"Is there anything else about Marcus or any of his people you can tell us?"

"Everything I had to say I said to those highway patrolmen. I got nothin' more."

Hutchinson was alarmed by the undertone of bitterness in Crowe's voice. "But, sir -"

"Don't 'but sir' me, Detective. I don't have proof those lunatics butchered my herd, so I can't take 'em to court. And what I'll get from the insurance company will barely replace half my losses. I can't afford for those snakes to come back here, looking for my head because I talked to the cops." By the time he was finished, Crowe was flushed with anger.

Hutchinson allowed his frustration to show. "Does this mean -"

"It means, Detective," the equally frustrated man interrupted, "that I will not answer any more questions or testify in court. No way, no how. I'd rather go to jail. End of story."

Starsky prevented Hutchinson from continued pleading with the recalcitrant rancher when he noisily cleared his throat. Right off, he began speaking with mesmerizing intensity. "Mr. Crowe. I can sympathize with your financial hardships. And your … concerns about this freak coming back at you. But can you live with the possibility that without your help, we may not be able to put away the murderers of Jeff and Linda Fox? They just had twins a few months back. Denis and Darla. And they had a ten-year-old foster daughter named Nahani. And Alicia and Marcia, Linda's sister and niece. Jeff's dad, Jeff Senior, was there, too. So was Jeff's college roommate, name of Clark. What happened to your cows is nothin' compared to what happened to these nine people. And it wasn't just getting slashed and stabbed, Mr. Crowe. All of 'em were molested." He paused so he could hold his raging pain in check. "Nahani and Marcia got the worst of that. They were just little girls. And the babies." His voice cracked in a thousand pieces on the last word.

Crowe breathed in deeply through his nose and studied the warped flooring of the porch while he weighed all the factors. It took him less than a minute. "You said it yourself, Detective. Yes, I can 'live with the possibility.' Now, that's all she wrote." He turned on his heel and banged the front door shut.

In the swiftly gathering dusk, the rancher watched the blond one slowly walk over to the dark one, who still leaned against the gaudy car. Once the blond was next to his partner and facing in the opposite direction, he saw a hand appear on the dark man's shoulder for a few seconds. The fair one resumed walking around the car's rear end and eventually got in.

But the dark one had started staring at him standing at the front window of his unlit house. He stared until day was night. With all due deliberateness, he straightened, got into his car, and drove the two of them away.

Rancher Crowe slept poorly that night.

*****

Hutchinson had called in a quick report and a request for a stakeout on the cult's storefront. Dobey hadn't been thrilled with either the news or the request, but had agreed to start the surveillance without any grousing. This had struck Hutchinson as curious, since the captain had always made it a point to enumerate how much such observation cost the department in man-hours, cops off their normal beats, and more. He had found himself wondering about his superior officer's state of mind but stopped the analysis when Starsky had finally resumed his position behind the wheel.

The drive back to Metro obeying the speed limit took forty-five minutes, during which the detectives didn't speak. They were running on empty, and not speaking, or even thinking, served to conserve what little energy they had left. Since Starsky had to stop to gas up the Torino, it was almost 11 p.m. before he parked in the busy, change-of-shift police garage.

Before they could leave the car's immediate vicinity, Captain Dobey barreled through the door. The huge man spotted them instantly. "Starsky! Hutchinson!" he yelled above the noise. He began picking his way through the uniformed officers arriving for roll call and those returning to base.

Starsky sighed when he observed the captain's blustery approach. "What bee's in his bonnet?" he mumbled to his partner.

"That's more of a fedora he's wearing, so technically you should be asking, 'what fly's in his fedora'." Hutch sniggered at his minor-league joke. Starsky simply rolled his eyes. "Come on."

Seconds later, Dobey was in their faces. "Listen, you two. I wasn't kidding when I told you to go home and get some sleep. You do it now, and I don't want to see or hear you until 9 tomorrow morning. That is an order, and I expect you to carry this one out. And Starsky, don't forget to shave."

They could tell Dobey meant business. But neither wanted to go to sleep. They knew what waited for them if they did.

"Okay, Cap, okay," said Starsky in the best placating manner he could deliver under the circumstances.

"Okay then. I'll talk with Moore in the morning, to see what options we might have in dealing with that rancher. And I have surveillance on that dump Marcus and his gang call home. Everything else can wait until tomorrow."

"Great, Cap'n. Starsky and I'll just go in to log out." The detectives tried to side-run him, but the much bigger man, who knew them better than he let on, expertly blocked both.

"Offensive lineman at Grambling." Dobey smirked, not hiding his satisfaction with the moment. "Log out from the car radio. Now." First grabbing Starsky's arm, then Hutchinson's, the captain herded them to the Torino. He stayed with them until Hutch had called in and the car left the lot. As he watched the taillights dissolve in the distance, he knew it was unlikely they would actually get any sleep. Then he headed home for his second consecutive night of insomnia.

*****

"Well, your place or mine? Or should we head for Huggy's?" asked Starsky after a few minutes of driving the streets of their division aimlessly.

"Starsk, could you drop me off at Abby's?" The question was tentative, as if Hutch were afraid of offending or hurting his friend.

"Sure." Inwardly, Starsky trembled at the idea that he would be separated from his partner. They hadn't been apart for more than fifteen minutes at a time since the previous morning, and he wasn't sure he could handle hours without him. But obviously, Abby had what Hutch needed right now, whatever that was. Starsky was not about to deny Hutch anything, even if it meant the pit might swallow him whole with the blond man not there as a life buoy.

A few minutes of silence followed before Hutch spoke again. "You okay with this, buddy?"

"Absolutely, Hutch. Even you must be sick of my sparkling personality and astounding wit by now. Lord knows I'm sick-a your ugly mug."

Hutch chuckled quietly at his partner's feeble but genuine reassurance. He pushed away the worry about Starsky being alone for eight or so hours. He's a big boy. Strong. He can take care of himself. But he couldn't deny the unexpected premonition, almost an instinct, that popped into his brain and swirled around like sharp blackness, that maybe Starsky would need him before morning.

Before Hutch could voice his concern, the Torino was stopped in the parking lot of Abby's apartment complex. "Here ya go, buddy. Give my love to Abb, okay? Pick you up here about 8:30?"

Hutchinson regarded the darker man, face eerily illuminated by the dashboard lights, beside him. There was an abiding, cavernous sadness around and in that face, which Hutch couldn't explain or account for. Impulsively, his left hand covered Starsky's right one that rested on his thigh and tightened his hold. "Why don't we go to my place?"

Starsky's mouth curled up slightly at the edges. "I've made plans for the rest of the night, pal, and they don't include you. Get your caboose in there before Abby comes out and kicks mine."

You are so full of crap, Starsk! "Oh yeah? What are these plans of yours? Didn't have any a few minutes ago."

"Somethin' just came to me. If it works out, I'll tell you all about it tomorra." Starsky grinned enough to show some tooth enamel. "Take it easy. See ya in the mornin'." Casually, he slipped his hand away from Hutch's grasp. "Go on before I get caveman on you."

Hutchinson smiled his gratitude. "Tuesdays Abby has to be at work at 7. I'll have her drop me off at my place, so pick me up there." He exited the car, but leaned back in through the open window. "I'm only a phone call away, buddy."

Starsky almost gasped when he saw Hutch's face in the low light of the street lamps. It was as though he needed this lighting to see the new flatness, the one-dimensionality, which was now his partner. He blinked several times, but the image didn't change. He attributed Hutch's appearance to distortion by the constant backdrop of the faces from the blood. "I know. Later." He watched until Hutch was safely within Abby's building before he headed for the morgue.

*****

The smallish man with dark blond hair parted in the middle knocked on the door to his leader's inner sanctum. He had to wait a few moments before he heard Simσn say, "Enter."

He opened the door and allowed his gaze first to fall upon the attractive, strawberry-blond, young woman sitting on the floor at Simσn's bare feet. She had been with them for several months now, and was one of those chosen to work and live among the non-believers. The cult members had to eat, and this girl had a good job in the fairly new field of computers. Then he met the charismatic eyes of Simσn. "The police are still watching us. Should I have Peter take care of the light detective's car? I am sure I'd be followed."

The guru removed his hands from the tangles of the woman's hair. He leaned back in his chair and laced his elegant fingers together. "Yes, call Peter. Did William get safely away?"

"Yes, Simσn. He reported in ten minutes ago. No sign of the dark one at his apartment yet. But he'll be ready for him whenever he shows up."

"I dream we will be one stronger tomorrow." He smiled with deep and cunning satisfaction. "Matthew, I regret you will be unable to be the one to bring about the light one's death as originally dreamed. After you call Peter, return. I'll be through with her by then, and you may have her."

Matthew's spirits brightened considerably at the honor his leader had just given him. She was one of Simσn's special women. No one could touch her without his permission. He smiled his understanding, and heard Simσn say as he closed the door, "Now, Gail, resume. Bring my dream to completion."

*****

Not wanting to wake Abby, Hutchinson used the key she had given him soon after they had become lovers. The perfume of fresh-cut flowers tickled his nose and evoked a smile. Swiftly, he stripped down to his boxers. He tiptoed to the closed bedroom door. With deliberate slowness, he opened it without a sound.

The nightlight was strong enough for him to see that Abby was wearing very sheer beige baby-doll pajamas. He unconsciously held his breath until he was sure her chest moved rhythmically in sleep. It was a necessary joy to see a live woman all in one piece. He watched her for five minutes or so before he joined her in bed.

She roused slightly when she felt his weight and heat. She recognized his scent beneath the sweat of the day. "Hutch."

He heard the drowsy but happy smile in his name. He kissed her earlobe lightly and she turned on her side, away from him. He spooned into her body, draping an arm over her and thrilling at the touch of warm female flesh. He listened to her breathing and to the tiny rustle of her thick yellow hair on the pillow, amazed and thankful the voices would let him. When he tried to hear the music within, it was crypt-quiet. In the music's place was now the pain that had appeared earlier in the day. It mocked him as settled in for the duration. He sank further into the abyss, though he couldn't sink into slumber.

*****

Jeremy Lawhead, a graduate student in medieval history who moonlighted as a security guard two nights a week, had been warned that reporters and any number of other people might try to gain admittance since the full story had leaked to the press. Lawhead had been threatened with the loss of his job if there were any slip-ups, and he needed this job. He didn't know the dark, rumpled, cheerless man at the morgue's main entrance. Through the locked doors, he yelled, "I need to see some ID, mister, and state your business."

Starsky wearily hauled out the shield case and flashed his badge. "I'm Detective Starsky. I need to check on a couple-a things now."

Lawhead compared the photo face with the real thing several times before he keyed open the doors. He introduced himself to the detective. "Sorry I didn't recognize you, sir. You don't look much like you did on the TV news earlier today."

"Tha's okay, Jeremy. Better to be safe than sorry. You know what vault room the Fox family is in?"

"They're in Two. But it's locked. I'll have to let you in." The guard secured the front doors and led the detective to the room in question.

The coolness of the morgue had a mild resuscitative effect on the detective. His gait was less plodding, and his posture straightened. As soon as Jeremy opened Vault Two's double doors, Starsky felt an unexpected and disconcerting sense of being home. He shivered, but not from the cold.

Lawhead scratched his kinky dark red hair. "You going to be here long?" he asked, uneasy suspicion coating his words.

Starsky gave the guard a wry smile. "Only till about six or seven. I won't be in your way, will I?"

The guard blushed at the tease. "No. Guess it'll be okay." As he left, Jeremy cast a sidelong glance at the detective, hoping he could detect some sort of clue as to why the cop would do such a thing. But there had been no change in the officer's expression. He promised himself he'd peek in on this room more often during his rounds tonight.

Starsky found a chair tucked away in one of the corners. He straddled it backwards, then placed his forearms across the chair's back. "Don't care what my partner says, I'm your family. At least for now," he said, without realizing he had spoken out loud. His chin soon rested on his hands.

*****

Peter was positive he had gone unnoticed in the quiet, early-to-bed neighborhood where the fair-haired detective resided. Now that his work was done here, the cultist brushed away his footprints as he backed out of the pig's driveway. On the street, he removed the latex gloves, the hairnet, and the full-length yellow rainslicker. Once these items were bundled up and stuffed under an arm, he walked the three blocks to his parked car, not seeing or hearing any human. He tossed his bundle into the back seat, ran his hands through his damp, wavy brown hair, and tried to figure out if there was some safe way he could watch the blond pig suffer.

*****

Liz Etzioni checked her watch. She couldn't believe it was already after midnight. She was more tired now, after 36 hours awake, than she had ever been in her entire life. And that included the horrendous 48-hour shift she had to pull during her residency that had her responding to six cardiac arrests, admitting fourteen patients - all with complex problems and histories - and presenting a patient in the weekly Mortality & Morbidity conference.

Now, this horrible and appalling stretch was done. Freshly showered and dressed in her street clothes, she left the locker room to head for home. As she passed Vault Two, something out of place in her peripheral vision caused her to stop. She peered into the room through the windows and was surprised to see a live human being in there. Cautiously she pushed open one of the doors. "Can I hel…" She stopped short when she saw the alarm and protective fury in the man's eyes and the left hand hidden inside the jacket. Her throat clenched when she realized how close she was to getting shot. Recovering quickly, she said amiably, "Oh, Detective Starsky. I wasn't expecting to see you in here. Or anyone else, for that matter."

Starsky, having never seen Etzioni in anything but scrubs, required a few moments to identify her. He had no idea the six-foot-tall-in-bare-feet lady medical examiner had an hourglass figure, waist-length brown hair with red highlights, and cat-green eyes. She wore a halter-top dress - the halter was blue with white stars and the knee-length skirt was red and white stripes - and white platform sandals. He mumbled, "Sorry, Liz, I didn't recognize you with clothes on," as he stood to face her. Then he colored crimson from his embarrassment. "Oh, I mean," he said, gesturing wildly with both hands, "uh, you look different in clothes. Real clothes." Enjoying his self-inflicted and entirely unnecessary discomfort, she hid her amusement. "Uh, ha ha ha." He grinned with the same ingratiating air as his half-hearted laugh. "Anyway ... so, I couldn't sleep, so I thought … I thought I'd come here. You know, make sure they … everything's okay."

"Well, everything's okay for now. Raul sent us all home about an hour ago. We were starting to get very, um, inefficient."

"Why're you still here?"

Etzioni smiled gently. "Because of you, Starsky." The knitted eyebrows above the dark blue eyes silently asked her what she meant. "I was doing the finishing touches on the meat cleaver and the tourist." She shushed him when he perked up. "It can wait until the morning."

He grinned sheepishly in understanding. "Oh. Well, sorry to keep you here so long, Liz. Can I, uh, give you a lift home or somethin'?" he asked in hopes of repaying her in some small way.

"You can walk me home. I just live about three blocks away."

Two minutes later, Starsky and Etzioni hit the still, warm night. Neither broke the easy silence between them until the second block.

"Starsky," Liz began, "did you know the Fox family? Were you close to them?"

"Not really. Jeff and me, we went to the same high school. I was a couple of years ahead of him."

"Then why - no, never mind. None of my business." Though it's not hard to figure out why you were in the vault with them. She inhaled deeply. "The smog must be down. I can almost smell the ocean."

A few quiet minutes later, they stood in the sheltered doorway of her row house. "Thanks, Starsky."

The detective smiled faintly and said, "'S okay. Any time." My God, she's a beautiful woman. How come I never noticed it before? "See you in the morning?"

"Just a minute, mister. How's that hand of yours? Let me see. Don't think I didn't notice the lack of a bandage."

Smiling at her memory and her concern, he yielded his right hand for inspection. "It's okay. I'm okay." The first two words were filled with confidence; the second two quaked with uncertainty.

Liz feigned examining the wound while she really studied Starsky's eyes. Blue as midnight, they proclaimed bottomless sorrow and grief, angry powerlessness and failure, naked fear and pain. She could tell he was awake and upright only by sheer force of will and dread of sleep and the dreams that would inevitably come with it. Impulsively, she kissed the palm of his hand near the puncture site, then held it to her cheek. She let her guard down - something she rarely did outside her circle of close friends - so he could understand he was not alone.

Starsky unknowingly held his breath when he saw Liz's own agony and wretchedness and exhaustion play across her face. Finally exhaling thickly, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. "It's gonna be okay," he said in a ragged whisper. Without thinking, he pulled her toward him. Since she had a good three inches on him, he had to tiptoe to softly kiss her lips.

With his words and kiss, he had captured her emotional center. Liz shuddered with the kiss and the almost hidden but seemingly unflagging optimism of the man before her. She returned his kiss, with needy yet giving desire.

Less than a heartbeat later, they found themselves involved in increasingly heavier kissing and petting. Liz felt the raw and primal need for life and its affirmation in him, though he exhibited nothing but eager gentleness. He, in turn, felt the uninhibited passion for warm intimacy she craved. Neither was concerned that they still stood outside her front door.

Fearless, Liz fumbled with his belt for a moment until she had it unbuckled. A second later she had his jeans unbuttoned and unzipped. Her hand instantly found the flap of his boxer shorts and she liberated and stroked his engorged penis.

Starsky's eyebrows shot to the sky. Between heated pants, he asked, "Are … you … sure?"

"Never more so." She moaned erotically in his ear when he ran his hands up her skirt to her panties. When he began to slide them off, she stopped him just long enough to say, "Tear 'em off, Starsky!"

The curly-haired man grinned through a neck kiss as he followed her command. The delicate underwear ripped easily. He moved her so her back was completely supported by the door. His hand caressed her between her legs until she was ready to cry out with pleasure. Reading her response to his touch perfectly, he stopped abruptly, causing her to whine as she unwillingly backed away from impending rapture.

To her delight, he entered her tenderly, almost shyly. But her extra height hampered their complete indulgence. While matching each of his thrusts, she managed to slip the straps of her sandals down her heels by using the door behind her. She flipped off one sandal, then the other. Her height shrank three inches, allowing him to fully plunge into her physical center. The deep penetration sent her gushing over the top in an electrifying climax.

He shook from head to toe, her release, her "little death," signaling to him in its own way that life went on. Several more grinding thrusts, and he came in effervescent waves, wordlessly telling her he agreed.

For several moments, they listened to the living in their calming sighs while they clung to each other, he still hard within her. Finally, Liz ventured one word: "Stay?"

Starsky grinned widely and kissed first her left eyelid, then her right. "Absolutely."

*****

Harold Dobey managed three hours of uninterrupted sleep before he bolted upright in bed, wide awake. He was chilled far beyond what he should have been in his air-conditioned home. Then he acknowledged the memory that had awakened him.

A twenty-year-old boy in Truman's newly integrated armed forces. A member of the 1st Marine Division on the frozen Chosin Reservoir in Korea. Days of vicious fighting in a hell of subzero temperatures. Hell is cold, not hot.

His wife stirred, but rapidly settled back into sleep. He eased out of bed and headed for his study. He decided to read to fill in the time before the rest of his family awakened. He purposely skipped the family Bible and chose a Raymond Chandler novel.

*****

It had taken a few hours, but the couple had finally reached the bedroom. Now, Starsky was in the bathroom "taking care of business" as he called it, and Etzioni lounged, naked, on the lavender sheets. She thought about the salty sweetness she tasted on his skin - and everything else she had touched and heard and smelled and saw - and willed those sensations to live forever in her memory. She grinned with delight when he strolled, utterly comfortable with his nudity in front of her, back into the bedroom. "My turn," she said, springing out of bed before he could jump back in.

Starsky swatted her derriere with playful affection before he hit the sheets. His head found a pillow, and before he could stop them, his eyes closed and he was asleep. Almost immediately, he fell into a dream.

Then he was awake, soaked in sweat, grunting for air, sitting up in an unfamiliar bed. Momentarily disoriented, he buzzed through his teeth while he searched frantically for that demonic guru. All he found was a beautiful woman with vivid green eyes petting his cheek and whispering, "It's only a dream, Starsky, it's okay." He relaxed and fell back onto the bed.

Liz crawled back in and nestled her head on his shoulder. It took several minutes before his breathing returned to normal. Once he hugged her closely, she figured he was ready to talk. "You okay now, Starsky?"

"Yeah," he said, chagrined. "Hey, hope I didn't scare you. Hadn't had a dream like that in years." Then he thought she might get the wrong idea, that she was the cause, so he sputtered out quickly, "I mean, it's not because I'm here with you. I mean, it's not your fau-"

She laughed to interrupt him. "I know that, Starsky. What we've been through - especially you and Hutchinson - this last day or so is bound to cause major nightmares." She moved so she could lean on her elbow to better view Starsky's face. So good to see that terror gone, and the sparkle back. With her free hand, she lightly massaged his muscular, hairy chest. "Thanks for keeping mine on hold. And for not giving me whisker burn."

He smiled to his eyes and chuckled. His hand found its way deep into the tangles of her hair and he pulled her back to him. He kissed her deeply, his tongue inviting her to frolic yet again.

Liz teasingly broke the kiss and slid her lips and tongue slowly down his chest and belly and further. In seconds, her mouth had him fully aroused once more.

*****

Harold didn't hear his wife enter the study. From her position just beyond the reach of the table lamp's light, she scrutinized every square inch of that handsome visage she adored. To her, his face was an open book, and she was worried at what she was reading.

"Harold," she said quietly as she moved to him, "why are you up?"

Startled, Dobey slammed the book shut. "Edith! I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't. Your absence in our bed did. And you haven't answered my question."

"Couldn't sleep, that's all," he grumbled, avoiding eye contact. He knew that if he did, he'd spill everything. He also knew he'd hurt this woman deeply, whose unshakable faith had helped her to endure her fiancι's service during war and her husband's tenure as a police officer, if he told her he had lost his.

Without another word, Edith took the novel from her spouse's hand and placed it on the table. Next, she situated herself on his lap, wrapped her arms around his stumpy neck, and rested her head on his. Soon, his arms encircled her waist and he rocked them both gently.

*****

Hutchinson had left Abby's bed after only an hour. He had sat on the stool to her vanity and watched her breathe for most of the night. Now he watched her in the first rays of dawn. She looked so innocent in sleep, and so free.

He forced himself away from his vigil and into the kitchen. Her alarm would be going off soon, and he wanted to serve her breakfast in bed. Fifteen minutes later, he carried a bed tray loaded with coffee, orange juice, blueberry pancakes, and real maple syrup into her bedroom.

Abby was still sleeping. Hutch placed the tray safely on the floor and proceeded to nuzzle her neck and nibble on an earlobe. She giggled awake, pleased that the first thing she saw was her lover. She kissed him and wished him a good morning.

"And a good morning to you, Ms. Crabtree. May I serve the lady a wonderful repast to start her busy day?"

"Yes, you may, sir."

Hutch fed them both and kept up a constant patter of superficial, silly conversation. He wiped her mouth clean after the last of the pancakes. She couldn't help but notice he had only three or four bites along with coffee and juice.

"Hutch," Abby began warily, "what's going on? You seem, I don't know, kind of not yourself."

The blond man began stacking the empty plates, cups, and glasses. Neither missed the fact that his hands betrayed a fine tremor. "I don't know what you mean, Abby. I'm the same old Hutch," he said, trying to sound light and carefree.

"Oh, sure, Hutch. Hey" - she placed a hand on one of his arms to stop his fumbling with the dishes - "I saw the news last night. I know a little bit what you and Starsky have been doing."

"No, you don't," he snapped angrily. "You don't know anything, Abby." The dishes rattled as he jerked the tray away and returned it to the floor. He huffed, paced, and drummed his fingers on his forehead. "And it's best if you keep it that way, okay?"

"But -"

"I don't want to talk about it!" He rolled his head in a big circle to help him calm down. "Abby, I'm sorry. I haven't slept much, and the heat is getting to me, and this case is … I'm empty, I mean, I'm running on empty, and …" He stopped suddenly, not wanting to burden her with his "problem." He sighed and ran his fingers through his dirty hair. "I, uh, did some laundry," he said, pointing out the towel wrapped around his waist. "And your plants are already watered for the day." He hurried out of the bedroom before she could speak again.

Abigail climbed out of bed and slowly disrobed. I know this case must be really scary, honey, she thought, but it's even scarier to see what it's doing to you. She carried the tray to the kitchen. She heard the shower in use. Remembering his invitation from a couple of days ago, she decided she'd take him up on it.

He was in the midst of shampooing his hair when she joined him. "Hey, got some for me, handsome?" she asked with a mixture of coyness and ingenuousness.

Hutch's brilliant smile served as his gracious welcome. He rinsed his hair, and they traded places under the nozzle. He began lathering up her blonde locks. "Hutch, you'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"

He paused, ever so briefly in his ministrations, but not so briefly that Abby didn't notice. "Of course I would, sweetheart." Well, I'm one fine human being, he thought sarcastically. First, I lie to my best friend, and now I'm lying to my girlfriend. "It's just that this is a particularly tough case. Starsky and I seem to get one step ahead, but then we get pushed back two steps. It's … just out of reach."

Abby was quiet as she rinsed her hair. She reached for the soap, then for Hutch. As she scrubbed his smooth, lightly muscled chest, she said, "I'm not out of reach right now, and neither are you." Her frothy hands moved to his buttocks. She pulled him close and began kissing his chest. Her breathing pattern indicated an intensifying level of sexual excitement.

Hutch's own breathing became faster and deeper. He held her face between his artist's hands. "Oh God, Abby, you're so …" He wanted to say "alive," but thought she might not understand. Instead, he kissed her with such an elegant touch that she tingled from her hairline to her toes. Though his caresses for the next few minutes barely made contact with her skin, they had the same effect as his kisses.

"Hutch, don't stop whatever you're doing!" she said huskily. She felt him harden against her leg. She was ready for him, but detected hesitation on his part. "Hutch, please! I'm not a china doll - I won't break!"

He hid his face in her wet hair for a few moments. He finally admitted to himself that she was right; he was afraid he'd hurt her with even the gentlest touch, and he couldn't stand the thought. He wanted his lovemaking to be as far away from the harsh agony of sexual assault that the nine victims had suffered. He let the running water wash away the few tears he shed before he gathered up the courage to answer Abby's plea. Very slowly, he penetrated her. They hummed in unison. More moments passed as they moved together, languidly at first. He caressed her waist, hips, and buttocks; she massaged his back. Then she picked up the speed, he matching her pace, but then he taking control and twisting just a bit with each successively faster thrust. When her breathing and the flick of her head told him she was close, he leaned his torso back just enough so the cooling water could run unimpeded over her mound.

That was enough to send her over the edge into a roller-coaster orgasm. Seconds later, he experienced his own teeth-chattering satisfaction, made all the better when he realized Abby didn't break.

They continued to hold each other in the now-cold water until Abby reminded him that she had to get to work.

*****

After guzzling a quart of orange juice, Starsky took a shower. On his return to the bedroom, he found Etzioni fast asleep and knew it was time to take his leave. He kissed her hair lightly, found pen and paper, and scribbled a note that read simply, "L'CHAIM."

A few minutes later, he was back at the morgue entrance. He contemplated going back to Vault Two, but decided against it. He wanted to - had to - keep his tenuous and greedy hold on life for a while longer. Guilt washed over him, threatening to tear him loose. But he wouldn't let it win. His time with Liz had rejuvenated him, renewed his hunger for justice for the Fox family. He let guilt come along for the ride.

The detective arrived at his apartment building just as the sun began its daily climb into the sky. Once more, the sunrise was several shades of pink and red. "Just my luck," he muttered aloud as he started up the stairs.

It wasn't until he opened the door and focussed on the etc. plaque that he realized how tired he was. Being home, he felt the tenseness in his muscles and his heart melt away.

But something wasn't right. He could hear something coming from the kitchenette. Straining, he finally identified the sound source as his radio. Hell, I know I haven't been here for almost two whole days, but I could swear I turned that damn thing off. Then, slowly, it dawned on him that his blinking stoplight wasn't. He trudged over to stand in front of it. Crap! This contraption better not be broke. He grasped the novelty item with his left hand and shook it. Until he sensed a gray presence behind him.

He wheeled about, his hand taking far too much time in pulling out the Smith & Wesson. His attempt at drawing his pistol stopped when he saw the dull shine from a Ka-Bar knife a mere three inches from his chest. Then he attended to the all-too-familiar blackness wielding the blade. It was a hooded blackness, with two inverted red crosses on it for a dash of ominous color.

Starsky's fear pinballed heavily in his skull, chest, and abdomen. His mouth suddenly seemed like the dust bowl of the American Midwest during the thirties. He did manage to rasp out with some contempt, "Marcus?"

"No." The syllable rang hollowly in the apartment. "I know you are his. You will be my gift to him. For Simσn gives us much but asks for nothing in return." The hooded head jerked to indicate the front door. "Come with me."

Starsky swallowed nonexistent saliva. There ain't no way in hell I'm goin' anywheres near Marcus, not without Hutch! "If that sonuvabitch wants me, he can come and get me." Defiance in his tone masked the panic that was mounting in him. "You any good with that thing, buddy boy?"

"Disobey me, and you will find out."

"Disobey you?" the detective asked, ridicule in his voice. "Naw, fuck you," he spat. "You're too damn dumb, you sissy! You come here in a dress, for chrissakes, and you bring a knife to a gunfight?" The face was too well concealed under the hood to give him a clue as to whether the harangue tactic was working. It was time to find out. As fast as he could, he had his pistol out.

But his exhausted state slowed Starsky down enough that he couldn't flick the safety off before the trespasser's blade sliced into the underside of his forearm. He loosed a small, wounded cry, and his gun fell to the floor. He bent over, fighting the natural urge to clutch his bleeding but numb arm. Instead, he balled his right hand into a fist and swung backhanded at the intruder's head as he stood upright again. Caught off-guard and on the side of his cranium, the cultist spun to his left, but managed not to fall.

Starsky dove for his gun. He cursed himself for wasting valuable time by trying to pick it up with his poorly functioning left hand. Just as his right hand folded around the grip, he suffered a blow to his right ribcage. He woofed out painfully and found himself on his back, sans gun, close to blacking out for a moment. He had no time to roll away from the hooded man, who pounced on him, knife poised to sink into his throat. The stainless steel moved in.

Starsky couldn't contain the terrified squawk that had risen from his belly. He grabbed the intruder's wrist with both of his hands. Gritting his teeth, he pushed with all his might, but the forty-eight hours without rest or sufficient food and with heavy emotional and physical activity had robbed him of his full strength. The blade came closer.

The cult member poured all his weight onto his arm. His bloodhungry eyes, now visible beneath the hood, widened with perverted joy as the tip of the knife pierced the denim jacket of his victim, and very soon, traveled deeper.

The detective felt the knife's pressure in his upper right shoulder. In an unconscious effort to muster what little leverage he had left, he screamed, "AAAAAUUUUURRRR!" as he twisted his body to one side. A nanosecond later, he viciously kneed his assailant in a kidney.

The attacker groaned in surprised pain, and fell away from Starsky. The latter, puffing rapidly and trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline, rolled in the opposite direction. He crawled over to his pistol and grasped the butt as if the fate of civilization depended on it. Standing took him a few moments. As he turned to level the gun at the trespasser, he slipped on a puddle of his own blood.

On his way back to the floor, the edge of the divider between the kitchen and living room jabbed him sharply near his seven-month-old, left shoulder gunshot wound. He grimaced and fizzed through his teeth for several moments. Tears of agony clouded his vision. He was on the verge of passing out again until he felt the bite of the cultist's blade along the outside of his left lower leg. Sucking in a breath and his lips, Starsky immediately lashed out with his right foot toward what he hoped would be intruder-occupied space.

He had guessed accurately. He panted a "Gotcha!" when his foot connected with something soft and his ears were treated to a grunt and a thud. He blinked numerous times to clear his sight, but to no avail. Frustrated, he rubbed his eyes vigorously with his hand and his vision opened marginally.

He took quick stock of his physical predicament. Both his arm and his left shoulder throbbed like an abscessed tooth. His right chest only hurt when he inhaled. He had no pain at all from the right shoulder or left leg, but that didn't stop him from worrying about unknown damage. Short of killing his attacker, he knew he wasn't in any shape to control him, much less actually take him into custody. He reckoned that his only chance for survival was to get out of his apartment as fast as possible and call for assistance from the Torino's police radio.

To buy himself more time, Starsky kicked at what appeared to be the robed man's head. He was rewarded with a full cry of pain from his attacker. Starsky permitted himself a swift grin of incomplete triumph as he shoved the 59 in his waistband. He hands-and-knees'd it to the door.

What should have been accomplished in ten seconds took the dark-haired detective nearly two minutes. He pulled himself laboriously to a left-listing standing position. He opened the door and stumbled out onto the landing. Before he could take his first step down, he spied a rapidly approaching blackness to his right.

Reflexively, forgetting his mission, Starsky turned to confront the threat head-on. He backed into the railing. He had less than a second to respond to the Ka-Bar aimed at his abdomen. Having no time to pull out his gun, he chose once more to try controlling the knife as best he could. He leaned forward, crouched, sucked his gut back to his spine, and grabbed the attacker's wrist. He shoved downwards, and the knife tip slit his T-shirt, belt, and jeans before it sank into his right upper thigh.

Starsky screamed more with anger than with pain. The wound and the force of his own shove smashed him to his knees. Better'n gettin' gut-stuck, he reasoned in a perverse attempt to find something redeeming about this situation.

For some reason, the assailant had released his grip on the weapon. He stared for a heartbeat at the dark brown head beneath him. He so wanted to please Simσn by bringing this pig to him alive, but he was resisting more than they had anticipated. Simσn would have to be happy with his death. He inhaled deeply and snatched a handful of curly hair in his hand and wrenched the cop's head back. "You will be his in death, pig," he seethed. His other hand closed around Starsky's neck, thumb crushing the detective's larynx.

Starsky gagged. He thought he saw death, and it looked like Marcus. The image spurred him into action. He pulled the Ka-Bar from his thigh, shifted his grip on it, and stabbed the cultist in mid-chest, burying the knife to the hilt.

The attacker's face expressed shock, pain, and failure. His hand left Starsky's neck. Starsky gasped in huge drafts of air. The attacker moved his other hand from the dark curls to the handle of the knife. Starsky collapsed to his right in total exhaustion. The assailant pulled the knife out, sending blood pumping out to stain both Starsky and the landing. The fingers that moments ago were squeezing the life out of the detective found a new home around his left wrist. The vise-like grip and the pinching of his own watchband elicited a deep cry from the detective. "You are his, dark one. You are Simσn's," the cultist wheezed before toppling off the landing and down the stairs, dragging Starsky with him.

The pair tumbled to the street. Though the cultist was dead before they reached bottom, he had not broken his hold on the detective's arm. Starsky landed on top of him. He hurriedly scrambled off the dead man and hyperventilated while he blindly worked to free himself. He had to break the deceased's fingers, and cringed at the snapping, grating sounds that made.

His chest heaving and his left arm and right leg bleeding liberally, Starsky had no option but to lay there next to Simσn's enforcer for a couple of minutes while he recovered enough to move again. He swiped his right arm across his eyes to clear them of the assailant's blood. He thought about calling out for help, but it wasn't even six o'clock yet, and his neighbors wouldn't be up. Maybe the paperboy's runnin' late today. He snickered, knowing that seeing all this would send the ten-year-old Marty bicycling as far away and as fast as he could.

Then it struck him. HUTCH! If they came after me, they'll go after him, too. Gotta warn him, see if he's okay. His thinking too muddled to remember the nearest tool for communication - his car's radio - he crawled up the stairs to his apartment. He yelped through clenched teeth as he hoisted himself up with just his right hand and arm on the kitchen counter. He unhooked the receiver and let it fall to the countertop. Painstakingly he dialed his partner's number, all the while cursing the slow awkwardness of his right hand and his blood-smeared sight, though in actuality it only added a second to dialing time. He picked up the receiver and counted the rings. Ten … twenty … thirty. "Come on, Hutch, answer!" he bellowed hoarsely through swollen and painful vocal cords.

He imagined the worst: his best friend, dead on the floor, alone, his chest filleted open in a cross, heart gone. "Oh God, no!" Invisible hands in the pit yanked him deeper into its recesses. He whimpered and bit his lower lip almost to the point of bleeding. Then the image retreated as quickly as it had emerged.

Weak and shaky, he hung up. He leaned harder into the counter and cabinet, trying to figure out what to do next. It didn't occur to him that his friend might still be at Abby's, or that he could call Metro from here. All he could think about in this fuzzy, single-minded state was getting to Hutch.

A song on the radio stole into his foggy brain.

*****

The first thing Hutchinson did once Abby dropped him off at his little cottage at about 6:30 was draw his weapon before opening the front door. He did a careful and thorough search of his abode. Finally, he was satisfied there was nothing amiss. He holstered the Colt and strode to the refrigerator in search of fruit juice.

He had just placed his hand on the appliance's handle when he stopped. He scowled as he asked out loud, "Why the hell did I just do all that?" But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the unusually hardy sense of paranoia that had invaded his sensibility.

Hutchinson chose the white grape juice. As he sipped from the glass bottle, he scanned his home one more time. His eyes stopped when they came to his guitar.

In the past, virtually every time he had looked at his guitar, a song played in his head. And usually, he felt driven to play it. But now, there was no song - no melody, no lyric. No urge to strum and pick. He couldn't stand to look at the instrument any longer, so he retrieved its case from under his bed. He roughly packed the guitar away and kicked the case back to its resting place. "Damn you!" he shouted.

He had lost his desire for drink, so he returned the leftover juice to the fridge. He checked his wall clock - almost two hours to waste before Starsky would pick him up. He considered calling his partner and even picked up the phone, but at the last moment decided against it, just in case Starsky had actually gone to sleep.

Well, I've got some time to kill, he thought. And speaking of killing, I better water my plants before they die. Lovingly, he watered and chatted with each one, almost excited that in a month or two, he'd have his dream greenhouse.

That activity had only eaten a half-hour. He cast about for something to do. It eventually occurred to him that he could try to start his car. That ought to take some time. In moments, his precious flag pin lay in his jewelry box, and he had shed his shabby teal-blue shirt, gun, and holster, and acquired an ancient terry cloth towel.

The hood to his LTD wasn't quite closed. Funny, I don't remember checking under here … He flipped the latch open and raised the hood. Nothing overt was wrong, but he tightened connections, inspected the hoses, and checked the battery. Leaving the hood up, he headed for the car's cabin.

He was about to sit when he noticed the driver's seat looked different - bumpy. He twisted around until he hovered over the seat. Slowly and cautiously, he squatted until his curious but wary blue eyes were close enough to examine the irregularities.

Hutch counted eight small protrusions. He didn't spot a pattern in their arrangement. Each bump looked sharp rather than rounded, leading him to assume that the seat's springs were not the culprit. He tentatively reached out to one of the spiky bulges. His long, supple fingers lightly palpated the surrounding area. Satisfied there was nothing hiding close by, he touched the covered tip.

Damn, that's really sharp, he exclaimed to himself. Beads of perspiration rapidly coated his lined forehead. Using only a few pounds of pressure, he pressed the seat's fabric down around the object. The faux leather split easily to reveal the familiar shaft of a letter opener. Its tip had been whittled to an even finer point.

Hutch swallowed hard. He instantly realized that this particular "bump" would have pierced his genitals had he sat down. His testicles raced northward, and his anal sphincter clamped down tightly. His sweat glands shifted into overdrive. He stood, too fast and too straight. He hit his head on the edge of the LTD's roof. It dazed him enough that he flashed blue-black for a millisecond and fell to the right, his arm contacting the seat back.

Full conscious awareness zoomed back when he felt three distinct punctures along his right arm. The surprise kept his fear at bay for the moment. He held his breath, and with deliberate speed, pulled his arm straight out to the left in hopes of minimizing damage. The warm stickiness that streamed down his arm and dripped off his fingers onto the seat's upholstery seemed not to be a part of him until he started breathing again.

A second later found him sitting on the dirt-and-gravel driveway next to his rigged car. He inspected his arm. There were two wounds to the upper part, one to the forearm. The entire arm seemed frozen internally compared to the surface heat he perceived. It lay across his lap, not obeying his verbal and nonverbal commands to move.

The blond man sat there for a minute longer while he pondered a course of action. Radioing for help was out of the question - he was not about to go back into his car, even from the other side. Yodeling was a possibility, since it was about seven o'clock and his neighbors would be up and preparing for the day ahead. But he was a little too isolated to be heard from behind closed windows and churning air conditioners. He had no choice but to use the phone in his bungalow.

Clasping his injured arm to his chest with his left hand, the detective twisted and turned until he had his legs beneath him. He rocked to his knees, then pushed against the heavy door to get to his feet. He staggered back to the cottage and collapsed in the chair at his desk. Head spinning from the rap it took and breathing hard from the exertion, he sat there until something approaching functionality returned. His right arm flopped onto his leg when he reached for the phone. His fingers had just curled around it when it rang. Jerking it to his ear before the first ring finished, he said weakly, "Tttalk."

"Hutchinson? That you?" half-barked, half-pleaded Captain Dobey.

The blond detective perked up when he heard the tone in his superior's voice. Something's wrong with Starsky! He felt the not-so-subtle beginnings of a roaring headache and consuming nausea. "Is he okay?" he forced out of his dry mouth and soul, dreading the answer but having to know it.

Dobey rolled his eyes in astonishment. Either I need to work on my poker voice, or these two are twins separated at birth. "Your partner's okay. Best as we can tell, he was attacked at his place about an hour ago. It's nothin' a few stitches won't take care of. I'm heading for County General now."

Hutchinson let the tears roll down his face. This wouldn't have happened, buddy, if we'd stayed together. I should've been there for you. You asked me, but I went to Abby for my own selfish needs.

"Hutchinson, you still there?" Dobey asked tentatively.

"Yeah, Cap." Dobey had to strain to hear Hutch speak. "I'll take a cab - car's spiked with letter openers. Payback … bank robber … stabbed."

"What?! What do you mean, letter openers, payback? Ken, are you all right?"

"No." The receiver slipped from Hutch's hand. He rested his head on the desk and tried to rid himself of the vision of his partner spouting blood like a fountain. He could see Starsky's mouth moving, but heard nothing.

An eon later, he felt the vibrations of two sets of sirens rapidly bearing down on him.

*****

The next hour was a polluted haze for Hutchinson. He remembered officers Bertram Jones and Ernesto Diaz storming into his house. Then a blood pressure cuff. Lots of white. Tsunami-strength nausea. "…breathing funny…" Stinking plastic over his nose and mouth. Vibrations from the sirens even stronger, rattling his teeth. Vinegary smell of hospital disinfectant. Retching grape juice that now tasted second-hand. The seven dwarfs mining in his head. Cold running up his left arm and into his heart. Breaths coming in fits, timed to hard-hearted spasms in his legs and arms. More white, with mouths that moved but made no sound. Excruciating pain in his right arm. But no more Starsky.

He wondered why the pain in his arm and soul had begun to fade. First, he tasted the answer, then felt the morphine - different, yet the same as heroin - charmingly snake its way to every nook and cranny of his body and brain and soul. He welcomed the insensibility that closed in around him like a kind-hearted death. The drug even seduced him into welcoming a reprieve from his worry about his best friend.

*****

His hearing was the first sense to return. It was a male voice, yelling angrily. Something about a cat who could scan, or something that could scan for cats, being down. Maybe alla this's a bad dream. Then the pain - frank, throbbing, evil - delivered the message loud and clear that this was real. He grimaced and crooned his agony.

"Ray! We may not need that scan. He's coming around." A no-nonsense female voice this time. He felt two smooth fingers work their way inside his loose fist. Not Hutch, he whined to himself. "Officer Starsky" - this time the female voice was soothing, cajoling - "come on now and wake up. You're in County General ER. I'm Gwen, your nurse. Open your eyes and squeeze my fingers, okay?"

I can't be in a fuckin' hospital! I gotta tell Hutch to be careful … gotta get that freakin' sonuvabitch Marcus!

"Come on, I know you can do it," the nurse voice encouraged.

Now he was aware of something plastic that cradled his chin and sprayed cool mist into his nose and mouth and of something cold on the front of his neck. He opened his sticky eyes and squeezed her fingers. The voice was a middle-aged woman with brick-red hair and a prominent nose and concerned hazel eyes. He allowed himself to relax a little.

"Tell me where it hurts, Officer Starsky."

He rolled his eyes and wondered why she couldn't see for herself. "Iz Dave," he forced through his larynx and teeth. "Everywhere."

Gwen, who had seen the beginnings of bruises over much of his entire body when they had cut him out of his sweaty and blood-soaked clothes, knew that was the truth. "You got that right, suge. Guess I should've asked where you hurt worst."

Starsky felt the lure of oblivion again, but bucked its incursion. Gotta get word to Hutch. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, provoking an extraordinarily painful cough through his raw throat. It was several long moments before he could rasp, "Throa'. Lef' shoulder, arm. Righ' leg. Worse."

"Good, that's what we were hoping, Dave. We need to check out a few things first, but I think it's safe to say you're talking too good to have a fractured voice box. And you'll get something for pain real soon, I promise."

"No!" he said in a pathetic imitation of a shout. "My par'ner. In danger. Gotta tell him."

Gwen's eyes left her agitated patient to look for the attending physician. "Hey, Ray, better do that left upper extremity exam quick. Got a feeling we may need to sedate him, too."

"No, please," Starsky pleaded. "Other cops here now?"

Gwen caught his implied meaning. "Yeah. Two detectives want to talk with you about what happened. I'll get them now." She gave his hand a light, reassuring pat before she left his side.

"Officer Starsky, I'm Doctor Spivak. I'm going to check out how good your left hand is functioning. By the way, your nurse gave some cortisone through your IV that should help with the swelling in your throat." Starsky endured the pricking of his skin, the deep prodding of the doctor's fingers, all the different things he had to make his hand do. Anything to get word to Hutch.

The two detectives assigned to investigate the assault on Starsky appeared gurney-side. "Hey, Starsky. Dobey put us on your case. Can you answer a couple of questions now?" asked Stuart Caldwell, a cop showing his advancing age in his hair and eyes, even his sport coat. His partner, Clive Bennett, a tall, trim man dressed in an outrageous Hawaiian shirt and ivory pants, stood behind and to the right of Caldwell.

"Warn Hutch!" Starsky swallowed cotton, but kept on. "He's in danger!"

"Hey, who's in charge right now? Bennett and I have our work to do first. Now, what happened?"

Dammit! Okay, I'll answer your stupid questions. "Simon Marcus. Rather, his goon. Tried to kidnap me." He coughed, and was thrilled it didn't hurt his throat as much, though now he was more aware of the ache in his right ribcage. "I wouldn't go, so we fought." He paused as he replayed the struggle - and the interminable wait for anyone, no one, to pick up Hutch's ringing telephone. "Can arrest Marcus now."

Caldwell shifted his stance uncomfortably. "What did he say, exactly, Starsky."

The curly-haired detective closed his eyes and tried to recall the exact words. "Said I was Marcus's. A gift. Take me to him."

"Did he actually say that Marcus had sent him?" Caldwell gently prodded.

Starsky's insides froze - he knew the implied meaning behind the question. He hesitated, considering whether to lie outright or just color the truth.

Bennett cleared his throat to indicate his readiness to join in the questioning. "While you try to remember what the perpetrator truly said, Sergeant Starsky," he began in his proper British accent, "I thought you would like to know that my partner and I spoke with Captain Dobey in some detail before coming here. He mentioned something about, uh, how should I put it, not even bending the rules?" He smiled. "As if we needed such a directive. Wouldn't you agree?"

Starsky felt the flush of shame paint his face. He didn't know Bennett, who had been in the States only a few months, very well yet, but appreciated his two-pronged stealth attack. Calling him by his rank in a non-threatening, even tone was inspired. And that remark about bending the rules served well to remind him that for once, adherence to procedure had to be flawless, unquestionable. Maybe this guy oughta be IA. He looked Caldwell straight in the eyes. "Naw, he didn't." Spivak's unannounced tug on his shoulder sent Starsky's brain into a spin.

Caldwell blanched at the injured man's obvious pain. "I guess that's all we need for now. Sorry, but we don't have enough for an arrest warrant. But we are gonna question this Marcus turkey now."

Spivak's continued examination of his shoulder brought tears to Starsky's eyes. "Hutch. After him, too. Get him in protec' custody." Sorry, buddy, but that's best, since I'm not there to watch your back. He squeaked in pain again and snapped his eyes shut as Spivak performed a particularly tortuous maneuver on his shoulder. He missed both the quick, guilt-ridden look between Bennett and Caldwell and Gwen injecting something into his IV.

Caldwell fought to keep his last three meals down. "That's enough for now, Starsky. Dobey'll take care of the Hutchinson … thing. Back atcha later." He couldn't leave the treatment room fast enough. Bennett nodded a goodbye and strolled leisurely to the door.

Starsky now hovered in the gray zone between wakefulness and unconsciousness, the clanging pain and worry and powerful need to bring Marcus down pulling him one way, the exhaustion and blood loss and guilt pushing him the other. He heard Spivak say, "Gwen, give him some more morphine, oh, five milligrams, and some diazepam. Start with two."

"Time iz it?" he asked, tongue suddenly too limp and thick to work properly.

"About 7:30, Dave. Now, relax. We're going to sew you up. Please try to be still."

"Hutch, Gwen, howz Hutch?" He stayed in the gray zone, continually trying to get up to look for Hutch, or call him. After a half-hour of trying to keep him still, even Gwen was losing her patience. And I thought only kids were perpetual motion machines, she chuckled wryly to herself.

*****

By nine a.m., Captain Dobey had reports on both of his officers. Hutchinson had suffered three knife wounds for a total of eleven stitches, but fortunately they didn't involve bone, major nerves or arteries, or tendons. Nevertheless, he had significant unexplained muscle spasms in his extremities, chills, sweats, headache, and nausea. Starsky had sustained a left forearm laceration needing fourteen stitches and a deep right thigh stab wound - miraculously involving only flesh - necessitating layered closure. Though his left shoulder hadn't been dislocated, the ligaments and tendons exhibited a fair amount of strain. The cut on his left leg was minor and would be healed in a few days. Neither required blood transfusions, but would have to take iron tablets for a couple of weeks. When Gwen had handed Dobey Starsky's belongings, she purposely did not have the gun and holster in a bag. She had had a twinkle in her eye when she held the holster in front of his face and stuck a finger through a new slit in the leather. "He doesn't even have a nick where this thing was, but I'm afraid helping it is beyond our expertise." Dobey had laughed through his nose, appreciative of the injection of humor.

Now, the captain paced in the quiet corridor, even though it didn't help with him coming to terms with what he had to do. Their injuries weren't very severe, though Hutchinson's mysterious symptoms were certainly worrisome and he would probably have to be admitted. Starsky was likely to be discharged in a few hours at most. However, probably neither would be cleared for duty for about a week. He knew he should reassign the Fox case to another team, but he knew that doing so would cause the case to falter and provoke both detectives into tendering their resignations. He also knew his job, if not his career, was on the line, again, when he made the decision to keep them on it.

Instead of going to see Starsky or Hutchinson, Dobey headed to the cafeteria for coffee and a quick breakfast. On the way, he passed the chapel. For the first time ever, he did not go in, as was his habit when any of the officers under his command was hospitalized. He felt cold again and shivered.

*****

An hour later found Dobey in Starsky's room. Gwen and Allison, a candy striper, had cleaned all the blood off the detective, including shampooing it out of his crusted hair, before dressing him in ceil-blue scrubs and thin foam slippers. He was sitting on the side of the stretcher getting fitted with a sling when Dobey entered.

Before his superior could speak, Starsky could tell something wasn't right. He blurted out, "Where's Hutch? He okay? In custody?" He knew what the answer was going to be.

"Hutchinson's here, a couple of doors down." Dobey watched his words banish what little hope Starsky had in his eyes. He pressed on, filling in the detective on his partner's status. The information did nothing to alleviate his worry. "His car's been towed to the crime lab, and they're going over it now."

"I gotta see him. Now, Cap."

"Seems to me that's up to your nurse, Starsky."

Gwen cocked an eyebrow at her patient. "You can go on one condition. No, better make that two."

Starsky was already working his way off the gurney. "He's my partner. Somebody just tried to kill him. I don't need your damn permission!"

"Starsky!" bellowed Dobey angrily.

"As if nobody just tried to kill you? Allison, help me with him." Gwen and the volunteer easily stopped the near-debilitated detective. "Your captain understands I'm the boss here. You don't go nowhere until I say you go somewhere."

Why is everybody puttin' up so many obstacles between me an' Hutch? Maybe he's worse than they're tellin' me! "Okay, let's get on with it."

Four minutes later, after meeting the condition of taking two pain pills and a muscle relaxant, Starsky was on his way by Dobey-operated wheelchair to Hutch's room, even though he never met the second condition of a shave.

*****

Caldwell and Bennett stood outside the rundown storefront where Simon Marcus held court, saying nothing to the other as they both tried to rid themselves of the discomfiting feelings being in there gave them. Bennett was grateful for the dry sunshine after the humid darkness of the hovel. Caldwell, on the other hand, was grateful that Starsky and Hutchinson had the Fox investigation, not he and Bennett.

"That Marcus character really has a way about him, don't he?" said Caldwell.

"Yes, I would agree. It's as if he can see into, or directly through, a person. And that he knows something no one else does. Secrets, if you will." Bennett guessed that his partner did not envy the primary detectives on the mass murder case. He, though, thought it would be fascinating to try to outsmart the man. "Of course he would deny instructing anyone to kidnap Detective Starsky. What do you propose we do next?"

Caldwell gave his partner a sidelong glance. "Get the hell away from here," he said, speaking slowly and enunciating each word clearly.

*****

Once Starsky was through the door to Hutch's ER room, he waved for Dobey to go faster. The captain situated the wheelchair's right to the left of Hutch's gurney. Locking the wheels, he grumbled in Starsky's ear, "You try to move this yourself, or get out of it, I'm gonna tell your nurse." He looked for an acknowledgement, but found none. Starsky's eyes were glued to his friend. Dobey moved as far away as he could in an effort to give them some privacy.

The head of Hutchinson's gurney was elevated about thirty degrees. He had an oxygen mask on, but it couldn't hide his pale complexion and the dark smudges under his eyes. Hutch's eyes were closed, but it wasn't apparent whether he was sleeping or not.

It was the constant tremors from the chills and the muscle spasms that got Starsky's sore Adam's apple bobbing. He could imagine how miserable this was for Hutch. He touched Hutch's left hand gingerly and said softly, "I'm here, buddy. Everything's gonna be okay. Just take it easy. Try doin' some of that meditation stuff you do. I got your back now." He began counting each breath Hutch took, and the time between each one. He wanted change places with him. He sniffed back tears of futility that cropped up uninvited. The pit drug him in deeper.

Without warning, an idea, a possible explanation, born out of his own experience, zipped to the front of his consciousness. He gestured for Dobey to join them. "Hutch's been poisoned, Cap. There was something on those knives, I'm tellin' ya!"

"You're a cop, Starsky. What makes you think you know more about this medical stuff than doctors do?"

"'Cuz it's happened ta me, too. He's just been poisoned with somethin' else."

"Starsky, that's nuts! Anything could be causing this!"

"Yeah, you're right, Cap'n. But I gotta hunch. Please, just humor me and call the crime team and ask 'em to check it out - in a hurry."

Dammit, Starsky, you're always so sure of yourself. Hutch, too. "Okay, but don't expect any miracle answers."

Starsky smiled his thanks. "Thanks, Cap. I owe you one."

"Detective Starsky," Dobey said with authority as he headed for the nurses' station, "if I kept track of all the ones you owed me, it would take you to the next century to pay me back." Though Dobey didn't see the look of respectful affection the curly-haired man tossed at his back, he did feel it.

"Pay back what?"

Starsky snapped his head back to the sound of his partner's muffled voice. "Hutch," he said with relieved wonder in his hoarse voice, "you can talk! You're awake! You okay?" Starsky squirmed and leaned forward in his chair.

Hutch's lips tilted up at the corners. "Been better. You look terrible." His respiratory rate picked up after just speaking those few words.

Starsky noticed the change. "Don't talk any more. Just take it easy, 'kay?" Hutch nodded once. "Anyway, you look in the mirror lately? So one-uh Marcus's wiseguys came after me. Wanted to take me to him. I didn't want to go, so now he's dead. Got a coupla cuts." Hutch's azure eyes expressed his alarm. "They aren't bad, Hutch. 'Cept one of 'em came awful close to the family jewels. Thought I might have to go shoppin' for a pair of really big rhinestones." He wiggled his eyebrows. The distress in his friend's eyes eased with a small laugh.

"Ssssling?" the pained blond stuttered through a particularly hard chill.

"Oh, this ol' thing?" Starsky said flippantly. "That turkey tried to do Percy one better. Strained, or sprained, or stained, sumpin' like that. No big deal."

He rolled his head slowly from side to side. You prattle on like that, Starsk, don't really tell anything, I know it's worse. Hear your voice, see bruise on your throat. His mind was smoggy from fatigue, headache, nausea, and the drug he received to treat it. The morphine, which they gave him in small, frequent doses, was wearing off and his appetite for it grew again. Reality backed off so wondrously with the narcotic. Even his guilt for not being there for his partner and for suspending his worry about him drifted away. Then he despised himself, and his nausea swelled. He turned toward Starsky and began puking the nothing he had in his stomach and most of his being.

Starsky cried out for a nurse and stood, stepping over the foot rests of his wheelchair. "Easy, okay? Easy," he whispered, slight vibration to his voice, as he stroked the blond waves of his friend's hair. "Help's comin', I promise." When the heaving continued unabated, Starsky screamed even louder for help.

Hutch's nurse Belle and an orderly stampeded into the treatment room. Belle, a petite woman with black skin, a broad nose, and confident hands, assessed the situation immediately and sent the orderly for some towels. She walked briskly to the right of Hutchinson and helped him stay on his side. "You must be Detective Starsky," she said to the frightened, violet eyes of the darker man. "We've given him something for the nausea and vomiting already, and it's too soon to give him more. But I've got other things I can try that should help."

"Hurry, please," Starsky croaked painfully. He wanted to hold Hutch's back, but his left shoulder wouldn't let him. "Easy, easy." Damn, Hutch, is this how you felt - hopeless, helpless - when I just kept barfin' after I got poisoned? His hand slid effortlessly along the perspiration-saturated, blond hair.

It took several minutes for Hutchinson's dry heaves to recede, assisted by cool, damp washcloths to his forehead and the back of his neck and the removal of some of his top covers. He quieted down further with the injection of morphine. Not enough, not enough … guess it'll have to do, he thought as reality dissolved but didn't completely disappear into the background.

Reluctantly but out of necessity, Starsky flopped down in the wheelchair. He couldn't remember ever being this tired or worried. He held onto Hutch's left shoulder. He rested his head on his arm so he could watch his best friend's chest rise and fall. And waited for a miracle answer from Dobey and the crime lab team.

*****

Twenty-five minutes later, Liz Etzioni entered Hutchinson's treatment room. Immediately, the blond man's appearance hit a chord in her memory that she couldn't quite hear. Then there was Starsky - oblivious to everything but his partner. She smiled through her envy of them and sadness at her lack of such closeness with another human being. A few steps later, she stood opposite the sitting Starsky.

"Hey, Starsky," she whispered. "Heard you two were here when I called the station. Can we talk?" She flicked her head toward the door to indicate they should do this in the hallway.

He allowed his eyes to leave Hutch for a moment as he looked up at the assistant medical examiner. The dark head signaled No.

Etzioni identified an opioid glaze to Starsky's turbulent cobalt eyes, but he still seemed with it. She let her eyes tell him how glad she was to see him and that he was okay. "I've got some news, but I don't want to wake Hutchinson."

"Go on," came a mumble from the oxygen mask.

Starsky sat up at this. "Hutch? You sure?"

"Yeah. What you got, Lizzzz?" Hutchinson kept his eyes closed.

"A couple of things. First, the results of measuring the cross cuts. It was only definitive in three, because of other slashes. But in those three, the bottom of the vertical cut was definitely not as deep as the top. Second, when we were doing those measurements, I found something we had missed before. Two fibers in the upper chest of Jeff Fox. They've got 'em at the crime lab now. And they're comparing them to the robe of that John Doe who came after you, Starsky."

Hutch's mask moved with his mostly hidden smile. He smiled wider when he felt Starsky squeeze his shoulder tighter.

"Thanks, Liz."

Something in the way Starsky said those two words caused Hutch to pop open his eyes. Too tired to move his head, his eyes went to him first, then her.

"You're welcome, Starsky. You know, I almost didn't recognize you with your clothes on." At the expression on her face and at her words, Hutch's eyebrows arched. "I mean, I didn't recognize you in those scrubs," she said with a bold mix of guilelessness and … familiarity, Hutch decided.

Hutch's eyes shot back to Starsky to await his reply. He saw something akin to enchantment on that blue-bearded face, and felt a swell of energy through the hand that still touched him. "Well, these aren't my real clothes," he heard Starsky say with a whiff of intimacy.

Hey, what's going on here?! Hutch thought. Then it occurred to him that she and he had probably been together … He grinned to himself. Don't have to be a detective to figure this one out.

"Before I forget … Hutchinson, do you have any other symptoms besides what's in your chart?"

"Don' know. Bad headache?"

"Mind if I take a look at your wounds?" To answer, he shook his head. With a penlight she extracted from her lab coat pocket in one hand, she carefully lifted the middle dressing on his arm with the other. She peered underneath it while shining the light on the sutured wound. It looked more edematous than it should have been. "I got an idea. I'll check it out with the crime lab boys. Oh, and I don't want to see either one of you come across my table" - Starsky tossed her a hurt look that she answered with a wink - "in the morgue, ever." She patted Hutch's clammy hand and blew Starsky a kiss before she left.

Hutch cleared his throat and took several deep breaths. "Is there something you want to tell me about, partner?" he asked teasingly before lethargy forced him to silence.

Starsky, staring after the vanished medical examiner, wore a Cheshire cat grin. It was still present when he looked back at his friend. "Someday, when you're old and gray - naw, when you're old and bald, maybe I'll tell ya a story. If there's a story to tell."

"Starsky …" Hutch warned in a low voice.

"Shuddup and breathe, partner."

Hutchinson enthusiastically crawled back into the light narcotic daze.

*****

Over the next hour, Hutchinson had several more bouts of unproductive retching, keeping his partner busy refreshing the washcloths that helped take the edge off the nausea. The sweats and the chills continued to plague him as well. Belle hid her worry each time she checked on him, which was every fifteen minutes. She knew he couldn't take much more of this before he just gave out, unless something drastic happened. She was just finishing taking his vital signs when his doctor, Don Meyer, barged into the room.

"Officer Hutchinson, we have an answer, and a treatment! Just got off the phone with Dr. Etzioni. She followed a hunch, and had the crime people check the knives that got you for spider venom. And they did find venom from the black widow spider! Are you allergic to horses?"

"Don' thin' so," he said feebly. Starsky squeezed his shoulder so hard that he winced.

"Well, I'm not taking any chances. I'm going to test you for horse allergy. If it's negative, you'll get an antihistamine, just to be on the safe side, and then the antivenin. A steroid if you need it. Belle, let's move it!"

Starsky removed his hand from Hutch's shoulder and replaced it with his bowed head. "See, I told ya it'd be okay." Starsky choked back the chunk of relief that surfaced in his throat. He sighed when he felt Hutch's cheek come to rest on his head.

*****

The next three hours proved to be busy. Hutchinson received the antivenin and Belle continued to closely monitor his vital signs and symptoms and administer small doses of morphine. Gwen, who had checked on Starsky hourly since leaving his treatment room, injected him with gamma globulin because of his exposure to John Doe's blood. Hutch was feeling good enough to tease his partner while he got the shot in a butt check. Then she officially discharged him with all the appropriate instructions. During that time, the detectives had no contact with any other police officers, including Captain Dobey.

Hutchinson's symptoms were just beginning to subside when Officer Minnie Kaplan sauntered into the room. Neither man noticed her. Starsky was busy wiping the perspiration once again from his partner's face, arms, and legs. Hutchinson, eyes closed, lounged in his narcotic limbo.

"Well, well, well," Minnie said, causing them both to jump a little, "if it ain't the two cops who moonlight as pin cushions." She crossed her arms over her chest and tsk-tsked them.

"Damn, Minnie, you scared me half to death! Hey, what are you doin' here? Dobey catches you out of the precinct house while on duty, he'll have your badge," Starsky warned the small woman.

"Hey, why should you guys be the only ones to walk on the wild side? Besides, I just dropped off somethin' at the crime lab that's very important to your investigation. Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I'd see how you were." Pointedly turning to the man in bed, she asked solicitously, "So, how ya doin', honey?"

"Better, thanks, Minnie," Hutchinson slurred.

"What ya got, Minnie?"

Minnie rolled her eyes at Starsky's impatience. "Starsky, baby, life ain't all business, you know." He favored her with a glare. "Okay, okay, business it is," she said, peeved but raising her hands in surrender. "This Simon Marcus cat used to be at Cabrillo State before he changed his name. I was just there to pick up a copy of his fingerprints, to kinda speed things along. And they had a photo to go along with the prints."

"I knew that flake was certifiable," said Starsky. "Minnie, I owe you a big dinner at the diner of your choice."

"But since when did they fingerprint patients at Cabrillo?" asked Hutchinson.

Minnie snorted. "I never said he was a patient there, now did I? Get this - Marcus Simons, AKA Simon Marcus, was employed there, as an orderly, right after he graduated from high school." She grinned at their flabbergasted expressions.

"I'll be damned," Starsky finally responded. "If that ain't the pot callin' the kettle black."

Hutchinson snorted a tiny laugh. "More like the inmates guarding the prison, or the blind leading the blind. So, the crime lab's working on matching his prints now."

"Yeah, honey, but it'll take a while. There's a lot to go through. You know the perps weren't exactly careful." The policewoman sighed. "Well, guess I better get back to the stationhouse. Charlie can cover for me for just so long. He can't lie as good as you two." Minnie winked at both of them. "Take it easy, fellas," she said as she sashayed out of the treatment room.

"I can see the noose tightenin' around that turkey's neck, Hutch," Starsky said as he applied freshened washcloths to his friend's forehead and neck.

"Yeah, Starsk, so can I, buddy." Hutchinson relaxed into his partner's ministrations and into what was left of the opiate high.

*****

Captain Dobey finally made his appearance a half-hour after Minnie had departed. For the first few minutes, the partners filled him in on their conditions, and Dobey fussed about the media's "unholy obsession" with the massacre, the lack of enough good evidence to go after Marcus, and the pressure Ryan and Hayes were putting on him to make an arrest. He conveniently forgot to mention that they wanted Starsky and Hutchinson off the case since they were injured.

"Now, this order is straight from the top," Dobey continued. "You two are not to make any comments to the press if they get to you. Don't even say, 'No comment'."

"Sure, Cap. No problem. Hutch and me know how to handle the press." Starsky smiled a little wickedly. "Anything on the hit on Hutch?"

"Yeah. The instruments used were a combination of letter openers and paring knives. Brands you can find just about anywhere. None of them were really long enough to pierce anything vital, but they still would've killed you, Hutchinson. The knives in the seat back had spider venom, and those in the seat had rattlesnake venom. If you had sat down, enough of that poison would've found its way into your bloodstream to eventually take you out - permanently." Dobey watched both men turn as white as the sheets Hutchinson lay on. "So, you wanna tell me what you meant by 'payback'?"

The blond man gulped saliva-turned-sand. "The letter openers, Cap. Remember how I disabled the lead robber of the Payday* Gang?" Unconsciously, both Starsky and Dobey cupped their respective genitals protectively and scowled. "I thought - think - this is some sort of revenge. One of those letter openers was aimed right where I stuck him."

"Damn, Hutch, why didn't you tell me this earlier?" scolded Starsky.

"Sorry, partner, but it just didn't seem important at the time."

"Well, it doesn't change my mind. Cap'n, I don't think this was revenge. Since the first I heard about it, I thought Marcus had somethin' to do with it."

Dobey harrumphed. "And you arrived at that conclusion how?"

"Too much of a coincidence, Cap. Look at the timin'. And I don't think anybody related to that thief would go to the trouble of poisonin' Hutch. Nah, somethin' this sick and depraved could only have come out of Marcus."

"Well, Starsk, my gut feeling says it's payback for what I did."

"But it's not up to either of you to solve this one. Baker and Carew are on it. They'll be here to take your statement, Hutchinson, as soon as they finish up with a 2-11 they responded to." Dobey pawed at his graying sideburns. "Listen up, you two. I'm keeping you on this case against department policy. But I need to know if you can handle it." He watched the partners study each other. "Well?"

Hutchinson gestured for Starsky to speak for them. "Cap, we can do it." Even if it means we gotta crawl.

Dobey grinned to himself - he had known what the answer would be before he had even asked the question. "All right. I've got your weapons at the station. And stay at a hotel tonight. Get yourself some toiletries. Don't forget the receipts - the department will pay for all of it. Call me, any time, when you've got something."

The detectives nodded solemnly. "Day or night, Captain," Hutchinson said.

*****

It was just after 5 p.m. when Jonathon Moore received a phone call from Harold Dobey. "Tell me some good news, Harold. Starsky and Hutchinson are okay?"

"They're fine, and should be back on the investigation in a couple of hours. Just talked with the fibers specialist in the crime lab." The large black man smiled smugly while he paused for effect. "The fibers found in Jeff Fox's body and the robe of Starsky's attacker are virtually identical. That gives us enough for at least a search warrant, Jonathon."

Moore, now wearing his first real smile in 48 hours, leaned back in his chair. "I'll be damned if their hunches didn't pay off in doubles. I'll get Faye to type up both a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Marcus. Let's see … it's after quitting time, so that means it's Judge James Binder for warrants."

Dobey ran a hand over his face. "Is he the only one?"

"'Fraid so. What with this being a holiday week, only a few on-going cases are in court, and most of the judges are on vacation."

The police captain sighed. "Just wish we had a victims' judge."

Moore closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. "I know, but what we've got now is strong enough that even he will sign." He laughed weakly. "And if he doesn't, will you come see me in jail when he cites me for contempt of court?"

Dobey enjoyed a chuckle. "I'll even bring you cigarettes." He considered suggesting that if Binder wouldn't sign, that he break protocol and get another judge. But doing so would be close to career hara-kiri for Moore. And he was too good to lose.

"Once I get it signed, I'll call you to find out where Starsky and Hutchinson are. I'll deliver it to them myself. Hell, I'll even go along with 'em when they serve it." Moore hung up and immediately hit the intercom button.

"Yes, Mr. Moore?" came the familiar Irish brogue.

"Faye, don't go anywhere. We got work to do. And it's got to be perfect."

*****

"What do you mean by interrupting my dinner, Mr. Moore?" growled Judge Binder.

Moore looked up at the white-haired, jowly, gap-toothed judge that had twelve inches on him. "Your honor, if this matter wasn't of the utmost importance, I would not be here. I have two warrants needing your signature, sir."

"Oh?" the judge said in his most intimidating tone.

The district attorney was not one to be scared off. "Both warrants relate to the Fox massacre, sir. One is a search warrant, and the other is for the arrest of Simon Marcus, AKA Marcus Simons." He proceeded to quickly outline the evidence.

Binder paused momentarily before he said, "No."

"But, your honor -"

"You have my answer. The only really decent evidence you have is the fibers. But we know nothing about how common the fabric is. Assure me that it's not from black material found in every sewing store in the county, and I'll sign." He peered down haughtily at Moore.

"But with the assault on Detective Starsky and everything else -"

"Tut-tut, Mr. Moore. I don't want to be the one responsible for the alleged perpetrator walking on a technicality."

The DA knew it was politically prudent to accept the judge's decision. It would serve no one if Binder, a particularly powerful figure on the bench, developed a dislike for Moore or anyone else in the DA's office. "Yes, sir, I understand. Sorry to have bothered you and your family at dinner." He decided he'd go lick his wounds, face Dobey's justifiably angry disbelief, and be glad he hadn't told the lead detectives about seeking warrants. He knew there would have been fireworks from those two to rival those displayed all over the city just two days ago. He also knew that Judge Yager, who took over for warrants at seven the next morning, would sign both in a heartbeat.

Inside the large, spacious, Spanish-style home, James Binder returned to his place at the table. "Lynn, right after dinner, I'm calling Simσn. Those fibers have pretty much sealed his fate. You stay here, and I'll go use the phone at the convenience store."

"Well, dear," the stick-thin, blue-haired woman said, "you did warn Simσn not to go after those detectives, that something would go wrong. Now, they're not dead and the attempt is leading right to the ritual. Oh, my. But at least you bought Simσn some time, dear." She smiled lovingly at her husband, hiding her despondency that her guru/lover would not be summoning her for a long time.

*****

Doctor Meyer had wanted to admit Hutchinson overnight for observation, but the detective had adamantly refused. He was feeling functional, and there were more important things to do. Meyer had caved when his patient began demanding to sign out against medical advice. Belle had commandeered a set of scrubs and slippers for him, since his clothes were evidence and already at the crime lab.

It was an hour before sunset when the partners, well hydrated and pain-controlled and somewhat rested after catnapping, stood at the entrance to the emergency room. They were pleasantly astonished that the media was nowhere to be seen or heard.

"So, Starsky, how do you propose we get home?"

"You shoulda asked Baker and Carew to stick around to give us a lift."

"Why didn't you ask 'em?"

"I wasn't there, remember? They came while I was on the phone with Adamo. He and the rest of the guys in the crime lab are goin' blind lookin' at all those prints." Starsky shook his head in frustration. "Shit, Hutch, that morphine's got you addled."

As soon as Starsky said the word "morphine," Hutchinson was reminded of its soothing effect. Now he was back in reality, with only Tylenol for the physical pain, and nothing for all the other pains. Nothing, he thought, acknowledging the irony. That pretty much sums up my life. He sighed away the thought. "Starsky, it's been awhile since I had any of that. I just forgot, okay? You got any money?"

"Naw. My stuff's at the crime lab. Adamo said I could come get everything whenever I want. Hey, why don't we walk over there? We can verify that picture is the same Marcus. Maybe you can get your stuff back, too."

"Good idea, partner. Anything to get us out of these scrubs. We look like rejected extras from some hospital soap opera."

"Speak for yourself, buddy. I think I make a pretty good looking doctor."

"Yeah. You inspire a lot of confidence with your arm in a sling." Hutch snickered. "I'll call Abby and see if she can pick us up. I'm not really up to taking a cab or a bus."

Starsky assessed his partner. To him, it was blatantly obvious that Hutch still had an achy head and a queasy stomach. Starsky wanted nothing more than to put him to bed for a day. But he knew Hutch would have none of that. "Hey, why don't you call Abby from the nurses' station, and I'll sign our stuff out of the crime lab? You wait for me here."

Hutchinson bobbed his blond head up and down briefly, grateful he didn't have to take the long walk to the lab. He watched Starsky limp away, the sight provoking a surge of guilt. The voices, which had maintained a distant hum in his ears, swelled to upbraid him, as if they sensed his need to punish himself for his failure to safeguard his partner. He didn't try to silence them.

A few minutes later, Starsky had passed from Hutch's vision. The big blond man, feeling small, re-entered the emergency room to find a telephone.

*****

Yellow police tape stopped the partners several feet away from the base of the stairs leading up to Starsky's apartment. Starsky shuddered as he recalled the ordeal with Marcus's no-name minion. The memory seemed to make his sore and bruised muscles ache even more. He also recalled the fear he felt: the fear that he might die alone, without the chance to tell Hutch goodbye and that he loved him; the fear that Hutch would die if he couldn't get word to him; the fear that there was something so vile, so malignant in him that a beast like Simon Marcus wanted to own him; the fear that ultimately saved his life. Leaving his memory, he turned to discover Hutch staring, open-mouthed, at the stairs. There's so much blood here, Hutchinson thought. It disgusted him that Starsky's blood was mixed with that of the assailant, that the two men were blood brothers of a sort. It reminded him yet again that this didn't have to happen - if he had stayed with Starsky. He thought he heard the abyss sniggle as he sank deeper into it.

Starsky nudged his partner, who slowly broke his gaze from the stairs. "Hey, you okay, buddy?" Starsky asked quietly.

"Oh, yeah. You know, Starsk, it didn't - it shouldn't have gone down like this. I should've been -"

"Hutch," the darker detective interrupted, "this wasn't your fault. We ain't Siamese twins, you know. And how were we supposed to know that Marcus would be so stupid to come after us, huh?"

"Hell, he's crazy, but he only came after you, Starsky. At the least I should've known that creep would come after you, what with all that crap about you belonging to him." Pained guilt turned his eyes to blue ice.

"Lookit, Hutch, I don't blame you for what happened here. It was Marcus and his goon. I'm okay, and he's not." He tucked his chin down and looked up at Hutch. Let it go, buddy, he thought. "Now, I'm goin' up the back way and put on some real clothes. Why don't you wait for me in the car?"

Hutchinson smiled and plodded to the Torino. When he realized that the windows were down and the car was unlocked, his paranoid voice told him to check for bombs, knives, anything that could harm them. He had just finished a thorough inspection by the time Starsky, dressed in a sky-blue buttoned shirt, a safari jacket, sling, torn blue jeans, and boots, rejoined him.

The smaller man handed him the keys and said, "Okay, Dr. Kildare. Your place."

*****

Hutchinson had chosen to wear a white T-shirt, a medium blue long-sleeve shirt to cover his dressings, light brown jeans, and boots. After putting on his holster, he had made sure he could comfortably and quickly draw the Colt. He had found his belt holster for Starsky to use. Fortunately, his southpaw partner was almost as effective using his right hand. The ride to the stationhouse had passed in silence.

Hutchinson pulled the Torino into an empty space in front of Metro. When he reached out to help Starsky climb the stairs, the weary, dark blue eyes flared at him. "Okay, okay," he mumbled. Then he found he could take the stairs no faster than Starsky.

Minutes later, they were at Dobey's office. Hutchinson knocked, using his right hand, and instantly regretted it. Time for more Tylenol, he thought. He could tell Starsky needed some as well. A grouchy "Come in!" caused Hutch to open the door with his left hand.

The dark brown eyes, glittering with exasperation and frustration and peeking out from above the chubby cheeks of the police captain, drew their attention immediately. Instinctively, they prepared themselves for what they knew would be bad news.

Hutchinson trudged to the farther chair so Starsky wouldn't have to walk so far, and sat down heavily. However, the latter chose to stand, not willing to bear the increased pain he knew would come from his leg wound and butt.

"Out with it, Captain," Hutch said tiredly.

Dobey cleared his throat and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk. Looking at them - wounded in more ways than one, with sunken eyes and fatigue in every muscle and joint - he began to doubt his decision to keep them on the case. "The fibers were a match, so Moore took two warrants for signing. Binder refused -"

"Refused?" exploded Starsky vehemently, interrupting his superior and taking a step closer to him. "How could that shithead who calls himself a judge refuse?!" Hutchinson merely lowered his head to rest on his fingertips, unbelieving that this had happened.

"How the hell am I supposed to know that, Starsky?" Dobey snapped back. "I can't read the man's mind, but you know he has a rep as a defendant's judge."

"Well, what about another judge?" Starsky demanded.

As Dobey explained the situation to them, Starsky's fury and Hutch's cynicism escalated. When the captain finished, his office was as silent as a tomb for several long moments.

"Fuck the Bicentennial," muttered Starsky through gritted teeth. "Hell, just fuck all holidays," he said as he waved his right arm in a flourish. "And fuck that asshole ju-"

"That's enough, Detective."

"I agree with Starsky, Captain. Justice can't take a back seat because it's some stupid holiday, or because of politics. Now, just suppose someone else, some other family, gets whacked tonight because Marcus is not in custody, huh?"

"That's not going to happen, Hutchinson. Marcus and his cult have been under tight surveillance for over 24 hours."

"Oh, yeah? One of 'em got to my partner less than 24 hours ago," Hutch said matter-of-factly.

Dobey scratched his head and looked away from the blond's intense, penetrating, azure gaze. "Look, I have no doubt Yager will sign both warrants first thing in the morning. I told Moore you'd meet him at his office at 7 so the three of you can go together to the judge's chambers. Now, go home and get some sleep."

"We'll be there," promised Starsky with angry certainty. He turned and began limping toward the corridor door.

Hutchinson hauled himself out of the chair. He placed his hand lightly on his partner's back, to shepherd and reassure him. Under his hand he felt cramped muscles flinch at the touch. He let his hand drop to his side.

"Oh, Starsky, here's your gun. I had Spitz clean and oil it for you." As if this will make up for what happened to him today, or for the asinine system we have to work with sometimes. If there was a God, Marcus would be behind bars right now. Dobey held out the S & W in its harness.

Starsky didn't turn or even stop. Hutchinson took the proffered weapon and followed his partner.

Hutch found him at the stairs, leaning against the banister. He pulled the 59 from its home and noticed for the first time the breach in the leather. He blanched for a moment when he realized that the strap had saved Starsky from further injury. I wonder how much more you're not telling me, buddy. He walked around him and stopped when he faced the dark curls on the bowed head. Without a word, he slid the handgun into the holster at Starsky's left hip. He worked the belt around to the right a few inches so the gun butt would be easier for Starsky to reach. "Okay, cop, you're ready for the streets," he said as brightly and charmingly as he could.

Starsky finally looked up and met his eyes. They glistened with unshed tears of bitter disappointment, of miserable failure. "Hutch …" he said with a throaty quiver.

The blond detective sighed. "I know, Gordo, I know. Come on, let's raid the machines in the cafeteria. I believe I still owe you a drink or two from our game of 'fourth,' and I don't think I can swallow these pain pills dry."

Starsky nodded once and ran his hand over his exhausted eyes. A few minutes later, he had finished a pint of apple juice, taken three Tylenol, and sizzed his pain through bared, gritted teeth as his friend worked out the knots in his back.

*****

"I really don't think this is a good idea, Starsky," Hutchinson warned in his most sympathetic voice.

"You don't want to come in, then you just stay in the car." Starsky's rage bubbled just beneath the surface of the glassy evenness of his tone.

"But -"

"Look, Hutch, I can't sleep knowin' that scraggly freak-murderer-rapist-child molester is free. I'm thinkin' maybe I can get him talkin' and maybe he'll slip up." Starsky pulled in behind a familiar Chevy Impala. "Wonder how Lewis and Horton are liking this stakeout. It still must be 90 degrees." He shut the engine off and swiveled in his seat to face his partner. "So, you comin' with me or not?" Oh God, Hutch, please come with me.

Hutchinson rubbed his face several times. There is no way I'd let you be alone with Marcus. "All right, I'll go with you. How can I let my partner go into that den of predators by himself when he can't even open the car door on his own?" He sighed when he saw Starsky's white teeth. "Partner, you better be careful in there. Watch your mouth. And your temper."

"What temper?" he asked innocently and sweetly.

Hutchinson rolled his eyes before firing his partner a perturbed warning glance. Slowly, he extricated himself from the Torino. He walked between it and the Chevy, bending over slightly to wave to their fellow zebra detectives. Then he had the driver's door open. Watching Starsky struggle to get out churned up his still-queasy stomach. He was almost overjoyed when Starsky finally stopped and looked up to him, his pathetic and ashamed face asking for assistance. Carefully, Hutch helped the smaller detective swing his legs around until they were out of the car. Next, his left hand gripped Starsky's right upper arm. A second later, Starsky was out of the car.

"Thanks, buddy," Starsky panted quietly and painfully. He was regretting in part his decision to drive. His right leg wound throbbed heavily despite the analgesic he had taken. But if he hadn't driven, they wouldn't be in front of Marcus's lair now. He wiped his forehead free of the sweat beads of exertion and anticipatory fear that had popped up. "Help me outta this sling, wouldja? Can't have that spitball see me like this."

Patiently, Hutchinson did as he was asked. "This goes right back on after our little chat with Simon."

Starsky nodded through a grimace. He gingerly put his left hand in his jacket pocket as a needed substitute. Movement and sound to one side caught their attention. The stakeout detectives were leaving their car.

"Lewis, Horton," Hutchinson said as they approached. "Anything happening over there?"

Ben Lewis and Madeleine Horton were the first "mixed" zebra detective team in the BCPD. Together for three years, they had quickly perfected their frequent undercover identities as a colorless husband and wife that everyone - including their fellow officers - thought they really were a married couple. But Ben was a devoted husband to another woman and father of four, and Mad was a staunch bachelorette. "Pretty quiet, Hutchinson," said Ben. "Wheeler and Staats have the alley. Quiet there, too." Ben joined his partner in scrutinizing the lead team on the case. "Here to put the screws to the bastard?"

Hutchinson frowned at Lewis. "Not exactly. We've just got some more questions for him."

"That's cool. Mad 'n' I'll be right here if you need us."

Hutchinson and Starsky both nodded their thanks. Lewis and Horton watched them as they crossed the street, noting the blond's tired gait and the brunet's marked limp.

"Jesus Christ, Mad, I can't believe Dobey's letting 'em stay on this case. They look like they're ready for the grave."

Horton arched her eyebrows. "Do you really think Dobey taking them off the case would stop 'em? This way, Cap has some sort of control over 'em. Let's stay out of the car until they come out. Now, finish telling me about Roy's reaction to the tooth fairy."

*****

Starsky and Hutchinson stopped in front of the shabby storefront. Both partook in deep, energizing, steadying breaths, marshalling their reserves for what they knew would be a battle of wits with Simon Marcus.

Hutch saw Lewis and Horton watching them as they leaned against the blue Impala. "Hey, Starsk, you ever think about working with a female partner?"

"Hunh?" Puzzled at that question, considering what they were preparing themselves for, Starsky had to follow Hutch's gaze. "Oh. Why, you thinkin' about a sex change operation?"

"Hmmm. Not a bad idea. I already have the legs for it."

"Yeah, I seen your legs, and you better hope those midi-dresses come back in style. So you'd be willin' to give up Moe, Curly, and Hairy?"

"What?" Then Hutch remembered when Starsky had first called "the package" by those names. He had been high on narcotic painkillers while he was recovering from his appendectomy when Hutch told him about how he had disabled the Payday Gang leader. They had argued for hours about whether Curly was the left or the right one. "No, I guess not." He grinned. "Guess I better not go out shopping for a new wardrobe. But it wouldn't hurt you -"

"There you go, harpin' on my clothes again. They're not crummy; they're just … broken in good."

"Sure. Then explain why whenever we go by a soup kitchen, you get invited in."

"My sparkling dinner conversation, of course."

"Starsk, the only thing sparkling about you is your teeth. But speaking of conversation, you ready?"

Starsky took one final deep breath before answering, "Let's do it."

Hutchinson entered the storefront's foyer just ahead of his partner. He could hear the soul-deadened chants of "Simσn, Simσn." He silently begged the voices to return, but they stayed in the background, whimpering in terror.

Crossing the threshold into the foyer, Starsky experienced an incredible rush of adrenaline. He sensed the same thing occurring in his partner. The chanting momentarily unnerved him, but he was determined not to allow it to suffocate him as it had previously. With maximum effort, he brought himself back to a relatively even keel.

Hutchinson walked into the main room. His stomach roiled at the sight of at least forty robed and kneeling bodies packed like sardines. He felt Starsky move to his side. On the platform, he saw Simon Marcus alone, sitting on his fractured recliner, holding a red delicious apple in one hand and …

Goddammit! He's got a fuckin' knife! the dark detective swore to himself. His heart cartwheeled and his lungs throttled frantically. Seeing Marcus with the inverted-cross wound etched in his forehead and in that robe stimulated him to anger and murderous fear.

Hutchinson detected his friend's more rapid breathing, as well as tenser muscles that indicated his readiness to fight. I better watch him real close, he thought as he sneaked a quick calming squeeze to Starsky's hand. His eyes stayed on Marcus.

"Ah, Detectives Starsky and Hutchinson," said Marcus in his self-complacent, hypnotic voice. "I dreamed you would visit me tonight." He waved them forward with the knife.

The detectives intentionally waited through several rounds of chants before they slowly made their way along the narrow path that seemed to magically open for them through the center of the acolytes. They stopped at the platform. It put them eye-to-eye with the cult leader, but that wasn't acceptable. They had to have the advantage of dominant position. Hutchinson stepped onto the stacked pallets first. Starsky, clumsily and painfully, followed suit.

Marcus gave them a close-mouthed smile. He began to methodically peel the apple with the knife - a carving knife, Hutch noted - he held, never taking his narrowed eyes from Starsky's midnight blue ones. The more white flesh of the fruit that was exposed, the more Simon's mouth opened. "What lies beneath the skin can be … unexpected. Wouldn't you agree, Starsky?"

Hutchinson spoke before Starsky could answer. "My partner Detective Starsky and I are not here to discuss fruit. We're here to find out what you know about the attack on him. Among other things."

"Ah, Detective Hutchinson. On the surface you appear to be cynical, tough, even distant. But I peel the thin skin" - Marcus wielded the knife in the air in an elaborate, stylized choreography - "to reveal whiteness, like this apple. You are the White Knight - gentle, giving, idealistic, sympathetic, protective."

Hutchinson trembled, trying to hide his consternation and amazement at Simon's remarkably astute "analysis" of him. He forced himself to breathe evenly, and squared his shoulders. In one portion of his brain, he began his own chant, for the first time consciously realizing that he did this automatically to help him control himself and the situation and … protect my partner.

Starsky, too, was astonished at Marcus's perceptive observation of his partner. Yeah, Hutch is kinda like a white knight. His snitches, Kiko … me. His "good" cop - make the scaredest vic feel safe and the toughest perp trust him to protect him from … me. How does Marcus know…

Marcus smirked. "I can tell this makes you … uncomfortable. But you know what I say is true. I know it is because I dreamed it." He paused, dropped his bearded chin to his chest, and looked up at Hutch. "Tell me, do you feel the sting of your partner's wounds that he received because you preferred to wallow carnally rather than protect him? This was not the first time, and I dream it will not be the last."

"Why, you son of a bitch," the blond detective said in an impassioned but controlled whisper. He clenched his fists at his side until they were white.

"Don't let the bastard get to you, buddy," Starsky muttered through his teeth. "I'd've been dead a long time ago without you."

To Hutchinson, Starsky's actual words were unintelligible but the meaning came through in the inflection. He let the calm take over. The normal color returned to his hands.

Marcus pressed on. "Your skin, your armor, Starsky, is humor, idiocy, childlike and childish behaviors. I release you from your shell" - the one-piece coil of apple peel dropped to the floor - "to find the Dark Warrior, the first to jump into danger, to answer a threat with violence, to make justice happen, to make leaps in logic. And your memory cuts you deeply because you defend others at a high cost to yourself. Or do you really defend others? Aren't you really a policeman because the darkness governs you?" He shot the now ashen, smaller detective an arrogant smile. "Your core is like that of a pomegranate's center. That is why you are mine. I dreamed it, and everything I dream is true."

Marcus's dissection of Starsky troubled Hutchinson. How could he possibly know that Starsk is usually the first to break cover and charge into the middle of a firefight, and can scare the hell and a confession out of the most close-mouthed suspect? And the way he thinks, even…

There was complete silence in the room. Moments later, Starsky advanced on Marcus and the chanting resumed simultaneously. Hutch's hand shot out to stop him from getting too close to the cult leader.

"You don't know me or Hutchinson, you psycho," Starsky began, speaking rapidly and self-assuredly. "You're just tryin' to mind-fuck us, but it won't work. But we know who you are, Simon. You're just some ignorant, impotent, sadistic loser who can only get his jollies by torturin' people and molesting kids. And you still need help with that, so you … exploit lost souls like these … creatures who've forgotten how to think for themselves, or believe in themselves." He stopped, spent, out of breath, shaking with defiance.

Marcus pointedly stared for a few moments at the hand that still held Starsky back before fixing his placid, possessive gaze on the dark-haired police officer again. "You have just proved me correct."

Self-consciously, Hutchinson let go of Starsky's arm. Surprisingly, the latter stayed put. "Enough of this bullshit, Simon. Tell me what you know about the attack on my partner." He tried to sound reasonable, even respectful. The effort made him much more nauseous.

"I wasn't there. I know nothing. Simσn never lies."

With a tired, impatient sigh, Hutchinson alternately rubbed and squeezed his forehead with his thumb and index finger. "Simon, we're not stupid. We know he was your man. He was wearing one of your goddamned silly robes. He even used your name."

"Contrary to what you may think or believe, my people do function independently."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Simon smiled and took a bite of the apple. He chewed lazily and deliberately while he studied the detectives as they waited patiently for the next move in this game. He swallowed. "Bible scholars agree that Eve did not specifically give Adam an apple. Did you know that, detectives?"

"What, we gonna talk about little known facts of the Bible?" snipped Starsky. He swiftly circled his face with his hand once. "Okay, how about another question. Why'd you maim and murder those nine innocent people in the farmhouse in the early morning hours of Sunday, July fourth?"

Shit, Starsk, nobody can ever accuse you of beating around the bush or giving up, thought Hutch.

"Aren't you forgetting about the sexual assaults? Why didn't you ask me that again, too, Detective Starsky?"

"Maybe I consider rape a type of murder, Simon."

Marcus contemplated this for a moment. "Do you agree with your partner, Hutchinson?" he asked without leaving Starsky's frosty, contemptuous glare.

"Rape kills the spirit, but I guess you wouldn't know about spirit." Inwardly, Hutchinson screamed as he realized that he had been raped figuratively as Marcus's tenth victim. Outwardly, nothing changed in his tough, unruffled demeanor.

Except to Starsky. He sensed a profound pain that he hadn't noticed before that troubled him greatly. He felt compelled to veer away from this topic to ease his partner's suffering. Tremendous rage toward the painmaker spiked in him, and it rampaged across his face before settling in his muscles and throat. "Okay, Marcus, here's how it's gonna work. Admit you killed those people, you can have me."

Hutchinson, who had been observing the suspect, opened his eyes widely in alarm and terrified surprise. He stared at his friend. A tight, tiny whine squeaked through his vocal cords. Starsk, have you gone mad? Why'd you say such an idiotic thing?

Feigning unawareness of Hutch's reaction, Starsky continued. "It's easy. You want me, you confess, tell the whole truth. But you won't do it, because you're a chickenshit, a coward. So I'll never be yours."

The expression on Marcus's face told both detectives that he was seriously considering Starsky's proposal. They also watched, awe-struck, the evolution from ownership to obsession in the gaze directed at the darker detective.

The fear that sharpened his reflexes, heightened his senses, and powered his mind and will propelled Starsky forward. His body, a bit more compact than Marcus's, seemed to expand. He hovered over the grisly, dirty man with the oddly well-manicured fingernails. Hutchinson, tense with worry, internally cursed his risk-taking partner and readied himself should Marcus pick up the gauntlet.

The silence among the three was much louder than the relentless litany of the two-syllable mantra. It stretched to several minutes when, for a brief second, Marcus opened his mouth. Hutchinson was positive his brain would shut down, paralyzing him. Starsky felt as if he were falling, with the cultist at the bottom to catch him. But when nothing issued from Simon's mouth, Hutch purposely took a step to his right to make sure he could move. Starsky landed on a symbolic ledge far above the guru.

After another minute passed, Starsky proclaimed, "Time's up, turkey. Offer's withdrawn. Now you're mine. How do you like them apples, huh?" Hutchinson permitted relief to tame his worry.

Marcus toed the apple skin with the tip of his Earth sandal. "I don't have to give up anything to have you, Starsky." He began twirling the carving knife like a cheerleader's baton. Hutchinson spied the wooden handle, noting that a small chunk of it was missing.

"Fuck off, you freak!" the curly-haired man exploded. His heart castanetted in his chest, certain and ashamed that everyone within a three-mile radius could hear the clatter.

"The babies, Starsky. The children." The five words from Simon's mouth swam in malevolent accusation.

Hutchinson saw it coming, but he couldn't move fast enough to prevent his friend from slapping Marcus's face. "Starsky!" he said with an edge of command to it.

Starsky did an about-face, flushed in anger at himself for losing control and at Marcus on general principles, and hung his head. I can't believe I hit him again! God, Starsky, you are a major putz.

Hutchinson had to give Marcus credit for knowing exactly which buttons of Starsky's to push. He wedged himself between the two. "Funny," he said conversationally, "I thought I heard something, but I didn't see a thing. Did you, Simon?"

Marcus, maintaining his composure, said softly, "Earlier today I dreamed of screams, spasms, spilled blood, and sickness. What did you dream, Hutchinson?"

The tall blond staggered back a few millimeters in shock when he understood what Simon was really saying and when he read the envy in the brown eyes. It wasn't payback after all …

Starsky interpreted it the same way. He one-eightied again, avoiding bumping into Hutch, and unholstered his pistol with his right hand. He rammed the barrel into Marcus's crotch, unexpectedly hitting something hard. He wanted to puke but suppressed the urge. With fervent menace, he said, "You come after my partner again, I'll make sure your piss has ta drain in a bag the rest of your worthless life, motherfucker. Oh, yeah, you won't be able to that again, either."

Simon showed no reaction. But he found himself craving the darkness in the man, like an addict craves his chosen substance of use, misuse, and abuse.

Starsky eased the gun away from Marcus at Hutch's stabilizing touch on his lower back and re-holstered the S & W without breaking his glacial stare. He finally turned away and walked to the edge of the platform. He looked out over the motionless sea of white faces under black hoods, and was again confronted with the urge to retch. This whole thing - just like dιjΰ vu all over again.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson raised his index finger and tightened his lips in that cautionary, intimidating way he had. In that gesture were the unspoken words: Don't mess with my partner, or else...

"Would you care to stay for a late supper, detectives?

Hutchinson couldn't believe his ears. Simon Marcus could have passed as a maitre d' at an exclusive French restaurant. "You better enjoy it, Simon, because it'll be your last supper as a free man."

Two strides later, Hutchinson stood beside his partner. "Time to make like a rug and beat it, Starsk."

"I can't get down off-a this thing, Hutch," he said in a quiet panic.

The blond stole a swift glance at the terminally smug guru. He knew it was important, if not vital, for his partner to show no hint of weakness. In part, it was because of the game; it was also because of his pride. He had to come up with a solution, and fast. "Jump?"

The bushy-haired man raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. "Better'n standin' here, I guess."

"Yeah. If you stay much longer, you'll have to file a change-of-address," Hutch teased.

Starsky half-frowned at him. He jumped, in tandem with Hutch, and managed not to falter. He concealed his limp for most of the seemingly endless walk to the real world outside the filthy, gamy hovel.

*****

Horton had her back to the storefront while she poured herself another cup of strong coffee from a thermos. When she heard Lewis mutter, "Damn!" she turned to see Hutchinson firmly supporting his partner with an arm around his waist. Starsky was hopping on one leg and his face was screwed up in pain. She cleared her throat commandingly as Lewis started to cross Kensington. "Leave 'em be, Ben. Remember who they are."

Lewis stopped in mid-stride. Yeah, Hutch'll shoot me the evil eye, and Starsky'll just shoot me. He took the one and a half steps back to the Chevy. "Do you mind if we give 'em a couple of our sodas, Mad?"

"Good idea, Ben."

Lewis flipped the front seat forward. He rummaged around in the cooler in the back seat until he had one of Horton's Dr. Peppers and one of his RCs. By the time he was out of the car, Hutchinson and Starsky were a few steps away from the Torino. He watched silently as the blond man labored to get Starsky seated on the hood.

Horton strolled over to them, Lewis a step behind her. "Lewis thought you two might like something to drink." At that, he handed his fellow detectives - breathless, perspiring, scowling, introspective - the two cans. Hutchinson nodded his thanks and promptly rolled the RC along his forehead and neck. Starsky grunted and immediately applied the can to his right upper thigh.

"Get anywhere with him, guys?" asked Lewis after a minute of silence.

"'Fraid not, Ben," replied Hutchinson. "Hey, thanks for the drinks. Well, we have to be going. Early morning, you know." He popped the top off his soda, and drank the contents in two long gulps. "Come on, Starsk."

The dark-haired detective pouted. He didn't want to move yet; the cold from the can had finally reached the stab wound. Reluctantly, he slid cautiously to the road, placing all his weight on his left leg. He hopped toward the driver's door.

"I'm driving," stated Hutchinson as he held a hand out for the keys.

Starsky glared at the hand, then at Hutch's determined face. "No." Unequivocal. Definite.

The larger man threw his hands up. "Fine. I'm too tired to argue with you. And I don't want to hear you gripe about the pain, okay?"

"'Kay." Without assistance, Starsky managed with great difficulty to get in and situate himself behind the wheel. He needed and took several deep breaths before he stuck his head out the window to address Lewis and Horton. "Call in if there's even a twitch out of 'em. Oh yeah, and thanks for the ice pack."

Horton studied the blue-stubbled face. "Why didn't they give you a cane or crutches to use?"

"They did." Starsky kept his dark blue eyes on her while Hutchinson slammed the passenger door. He turned the key and the big engine caught instantly. "See ya," he said over the roar. Horton and Lewis returned to stand beside the Chevy and watched as the Torino pulled away in subtle fits and jerks.

"Something happened in there, Mad. Something … weird. I'd love to read the report on this one."

"You got that right, partner."

*****

"Why are we sitting in your car in Seal Park, Starsky? Aren't we supposed to spending the night in some motel?"

Starsky sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back on the seat. "I thought it might be a better idea if you screamed at me here. Or tell me I better turn in my badge first thing in the mornin'. God knows, Hutch, I don't deserve to carry one. Not after beltin' Marcus once, much less twice." I certainly don't deserve to be a cop after lettin' those babies die.

Hutchinson rubbed his face vigorously several times, his palms scratched by his beard bristles. "Look, Gordo, I'm not excusing what you did. It was wrong. Went way beyond roughing him up. But it's understandable. And you're human. He doesn't want to press charges, and I can live with that." He paused, not anxious to tell his friend what needed to be said next. "But you ever slug a non-resisting suspect like that again, I swear, Starsk, I will take you down myself."

Even though Starsky didn't have, or deserve, Hutchinson's forgiveness, he did have his support and understanding. Starsky pushed the idea of resignation to the back burner but kept low heat under it. He smiled lopsidedly. "Wouldn't want it any other way, partner." He opened his eyes and turned his head toward Hutch. "I got somethin' I got to do. Where do you want me to drop you?"

"Starsky, you need sleep. So do I. It's been almost three days since -"

"We slept a little in the ER," interrupted the darker man.

"Yeah, well, that doesn't count."

Starsky sighed once more. "I'm not sleepy." I can't sleep. Old nightmares, and some new ones prob'ly. I won't sleep.

Hutch knew why. Nightmares. I don't want to sleep either. Total, absolute silence. Might wake up and it'd be permanent - not just the music gone forever. Hell, I'm turning superstitious, too. "What do you have to do?"

"I … I just wanna check on a few … things. By myself."

Hutchinson considered this for a moment. Then something occurred to him - something he had to do, too. If that scum knows me so well, then he knows about everyone I care about. "To borrow a phrase from Huggy, I can dig it. Take me home, buddy, and don't spare the horsepower."

*****

It was after midnight. Hutchinson watched the taillights of the Torino disappear down the street. He shoved his left hand into his pants pocket and tucked his right one near the butt of the Python. A little precautionary paranoia never hurt anyone, he thought. A few minutes later he had walked the five blocks to the Ramos home. He was relieved to see the light on in the living room. Quietly he rapped on the door and called out softly, "Mrs. Ramos, it's Ken Hutchinson. May I come in?"

The short, roundish woman checked the peephole in the door. She gasped in surprise, but unhooked the chain and opened the door to let the tall blond man in. "What are you doing here at this hour, Hutch? Kiko's asleep, and so will I be as soon as I finish Señora Ludlow's dress," she whispered animatedly, her Mexican accent more obvious than usual.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Ramos," said Hutchinson bashfully, "but I just wanted to make sure you and Kiko were all right."

Mrs. Ramos scrutinized the man before her. His eyes, so blue, exhausted, fearful, and sad, told her everything she needed to know. "Sit down. I fix you something for your upset stomach. You have upset stomach, Hutch, don'tchu?"

Hutchinson smiled appreciatively. "Just a little. Thanks, Mrs. Ramos. Kiko is lucky to have such a perceptive mother."

"You sit down, and I be right back. You stay here tonight," she said as half-statement, half-question.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I'll just stay here, if you don't mind," the lean blond said as he patted the sofa back. "May I use the phone?"

Mrs. Ramos had to admit to herself she was glad her son's "big brother" had shown up. She was terrified about being attacked and killed by the same people who murdered the family on Independence Day. Now she felt a measure of security. "Sure. Sit. I make your stomach feel better." After carefully draping the dress over the back of her chair, she hurried into the kitchen.

Hutch dialed. Four rings, and Abby picked up. "Hello," she said in a sleep-gruff voice.

Unconsciously, Hutchinson breathed a sigh of relief. "Abby, do as I say, and I'll explain later. Sleep over at Lois's tonight."

"But, Hutch, I don't think she's home. I think she's on an overnighter to Mexi-"

"You have her key," he interrupted. "Use it. She won't mind. Abby, just do this."

The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled at the urgency in her lover's tone. "Okay, on my way."

"Love you, Abby." He thumbed down the button to break the connection. A breath later, he dialed a second number, determined not to let Marcus take anything or anyone else from him.

"The Pits. And I ain't talkin' about the food or drink."

"Huggy, Hutch. I'll explain later, but don't go home tonight. Sleep somewhere else, okay?"

The thin man winced at Hutchinson's insistence. "You got it, my man. Was thinkin' that Carlotta would jump for joy if I showed up on her doorstep."

"Later, Hug."

Then there was dial tone before Huggy Bear could speak again. That's weird, he thought. First Starsky, and now Hutch. Well, they don't have to tell this man three times. He checked his little black book for the lovely and insatiable Carlotta's phone number.

*****

Unable to sleep primarily because of the impending arrest of the suspect in the Fox family massacre, Harold Dobey was sitting in his favorite chair in his study when he heard the well-known growl of a particular car's engine. What the hell are they doin', coming here this time of night? He headed for the front door, hoping to get there before the doorbell could chime and wake the whole family.

The large man opened the door in time to see Starsky toiling to get out the passenger side of the Torino. He took off running to help his injured detective. "What is this, Starsky? Where is Hutch? Why aren't you in a motel? Do you think I give orders just to hear myself talk?" he grumbled as he assisted the smaller man to a standing position.

Starsky needed several breaths before he could answer. "It seemed … silly, Cap. 'Sides, I hadn't seen Rosie and Cal and Edith in a long time." He winced when his shoulder muscles spasmed.

In the darkness, Dobey searched Starsky's face for the truth. He didn't see as much as feel his deep-seated need to be with them right now. Mentally, Dobey shook his head and speculated if it were possible that David Starsky knew he had been a serious contender for the role of Rosie's godfather. Some day, he'd tell him. Just like he'd tell Hutchinson he would've been considered for the same "job" with Cal. "Come on in, Starsky. You can bunk here tonight. On one condition."

"What's that, Cap?"

"You shave in the morning."

"But Cap, I've got such a good start on a beard."

"Beards are against regs for undercover detectives, Sergeant."

"Moustaches aren't."

"Clean-shaven, Starsky. That's final." He half-carried his limping detective to the house and to the open arms of Edith, who stood waiting for them in the doorway.

Five minutes later, after exchanging pleasantries with Edith and accepting juice and Tylenol and convincing Dobey to let him keep his gun, Starsky hobbled to Cal's room. The young teenager was sound asleep. Starsky adjusted the bed covers unnecessarily before he left the room.

Then he entered Rosie's room. The little girl, wearing pink ballerina pajamas, was sprawled out in her bed of white sheets. Starsky put the leg that stuck out over the side back onto the mattress. He covered her and petted her hair lightly. He backed away, but discovered he couldn't bear to leave the room. He just knew if he did, something horrible - something Marcus - would happen to her. He trudged over to the huge rocking chair and eased himself down into it without crashing too hard. Moments later, he was in a light doze.

About an hour later, Rosie woke up. At first she was scared, but she soon recognized her Uncle Starsky underneath the whiskers and in the glow of her nightlight. Forcefully she pushed her bed linen off her and padded over to him. "Uncle Starsky?" She tugged on his left jacket sleeve.

He awoke with a start, left hand automatically moving to reach for the weapon that wasn't in its customary place. The pain in his left shoulder and Rosie's harmless and curious countenance stopped him from further searching for a gun. "Oh sweetheart, did I wake you? I'm sorry."

"No, you didn't. Why are you here? Where's Uncle Hutch?"

"He's at his house. I missed you, so I came to visit. But I didn't want to wake you up, so I sat down 'cuz your reading chair is so comfortable."

"You look funny, Uncle Starsky."

"How do you mean, sweetie?"

She crinkled her face. "Like you're really sad and worried and scared."

Instantly, Starsky's eyes filled with tears. He didn't know what to say to this amazing little girl. He prayed Marcus or his fools would never find out about her, because he was certain they'd come after her, and Cal and Edith, too.

"I'll make you feel better." Rosie clambered onto Starsky's lap, completely unaware of the pain she inadvertently inflicted on his right leg wound. He endured it for the hug she gave him around his neck. "You're scratchy," she said sourly in his ear.

He laughed from deep within where his sense of innocence was buried under the morass of the last few days. "You are your father's daughter, Rosie Dobey. I'll take care of it in the morning."

She settled in on his lap and laid her head against his right chest. He rocked them until they were asleep seconds later.

Edith and Harold had been observing from the dark of the hall. She gestured for him to follow her into their bedroom. In that privacy, she finally spoke, gently and nonjudgmental. "How can you deny the existence of God after that? After seeing Him in your daughter's actions? After seeing Him in David tonight?"

"How did you know?"

"Harold dear, you once wrote to me that there were no atheists in foxholes. But when you were recovering from your battle wounds in the VA hospital, I knew you had doubts then. And I sensed it again just a couple of days ago. The presence of evil doesn't negate the presence of good. They co-exist, and we have to choose which one we want to live in and to fight for. You made your choice when you became a policeman. And I am so proud of you, Harold."

The captain of detectives wrapped his wife in his meaty, grateful arms.

*****

The morning of July 7th dawned to soupy, humid air, a flurry of activity in the Ramos and Dobey households, and two detectives who had made it through their night terrors without disrupting anyone. Cal and Rosie crowded into the bathroom to watch their mother scrape away Starsky's substantial three-day beard and moustache. The kids teased Starsky mercilessly about his inability to do this simple task himself. Hutchinson shaved himself, with minimal pain to his wounded right arm, and gave Kiko his first instruction in this manly art. Both men sponged-bathed, and were treated to breakfasts of eggs, toast, bacon, and gallons of hot, strong coffee. Both forced down their first solid food in days. Both felt the butterflies of the impending arrest of Simon Marcus. Cal helped Starsky into his sling, and Rosie and Edith kissed him goodbye. Kiko initiated an uncharacteristic long hug with his "big brother," who promised to take him to see the new Tatum O'Neal baseball movie on his next weekend off as he closed the front door.

They felt almost human. And ready for anything Simon Marcus and his stooges could throw at them.

*****

Faye Riley was relieved when the two detectives and her boss finally left the office. Quickly she dialed a telephone number she had memorized. "Armand? They're on their way to Yager's office. He's sure to sign the warrants."

"Great, Faye! What's the address on Kensington?"

She gave him the number. "When will I get my money?"

"I'll have it delivered to the usual place."

"Remember, Armand, 'tis a grand this time."

You get what you pay for, Hickman, he gloated to himself. And this could mean a local Emmy. Great return on my investment. "I remember."

*****

Judge Milton Yager was a thin, balding, elderly dynamo who scoffed at criticisms that he ignored the Constitution when it came to the rights of the accused. He was satisfied with the fact that every warrant he had ever signed, as well as every courtroom decision he had rendered, had successfully held up on appeal. He also had no patience for politics.

"Jonathon," Yager began after reading the warrants for the arrest of Simon Marcus and for the search of the storefront, "I know you and these detectives could have come to a judge long before this, and ordinarily I would be censuring you for waiting so long. That's a madman out there. However, I do appreciate the need to make sure neither warrant could be overturned." He signed and dated both enthusiastically. "Excellent work, detectives. My compliments to the medical examiners and the forensics people. I wish I could be with you three when you arrest him."

Bailiff supervisor Archie Carter, who had been standing outside the judge's chambers during the entire meeting, murmured an expletive. He slipped away before the three visitors could leave. He went to the bailiffs' lounge to wait. He paced for a few minutes in the empty room until he figured the three had left the building. Then he headed for the pay phone in the lobby.

*****

While Starsky, Hutchinson, and Moore were dealing with Yager, Captain Dobey was coordinating the arrest and search teams. Starsky and Hutchinson would be in charge of the arrest, assisted by uniformed officers Burke, Miller, Ferguson, and Aguilar. Babcock and Simmons would work with the crime lab on the search. He dictated that all officers and crime lab people would go in wearing bulletproof vests. He denied Officer Minnie Kaplan's request to come along, but he promised that she could book him.

They were ready when Hutchinson called in. Dobey, accompanied in his car by Chief Ryan, led the way to the Kensington address on the warrants. The caravan of unmarked and black-and-white police cars and two crime lab vans traveled with lights only.

*****

Hutchinson was helping his partner with his vest when he saw the KBCC van equipped for live broadcast pull up at the edge of the sea of vehicles. "Dammit! How did they find out about this?"

Starsky turned and swore. "It shouldn't be hard to find the leak, and when I do, I'll plug it - permanently." He grimaced briefly when Hutch let the full weight of the vest fall on his shoulders. "Damn. Didn't realize these things were this heavy."

Hutchinson grinned at the sight of Dobey reading Armand Hickman and his cameraman the riot act. It was soon apparent, however, that they would be permitted to film from a distance. "Well, Starsk, remember to smile. We're gonna be on TV."

"That's just bee-yoo-tee-ful. And me without makeup, too," he said sarcastically.

"You know, every time I see Hickman, I wish a gale force wind would come along and screw up that laughable hair of his."

"I wanna see if those leisure suits he wears burn quick or slow." Starsky adjusted the vest to his satisfaction. "Okay, partner, how do you want to play this?" He leaned against his car to give his leg some relief.

Hutch waved over the two sets of uniformed partners who would back them up in serving the warrants. The six gathered in a rough circle on the street side of the parked Torino. Moore, Dobey, and Ryan joined them, but stayed on the perimeter of the makeshift huddle. Dobey was pleased to see the detectives revved up with blue fire for eyes. He knew this would make for few mistakes when it came down to business. Ryan was struck with their intensity and resolve. He could feel the adrenaline in all six officers, and he even pumped some of his own. Moore watched and listened, fascinated with this aspect of law enforcement that he rarely got to experience.

The tall blond detective cleared his throat. "Okay, here's how it will go down. Starsky and I will go in first, then Fergie and Aguilar, then Burke and Miller. Weapons drawn, but on safety." He proceeded to describe the layout of the hovel, warning them specifically of the danger of tripping on the mattresses. "Starsky will take the left wall along all those crates and boxes. I'll go a sharp right along the back wall. Aguilar, you follow Starsky, but stay to his right, and Fergie, you follow me but hang to my left. Burke, Miller, uh, you pretty much go up the center. Starsk, you wanna add anything?"

"Simon Marcus is one sick perp, and I don't think he'd have any problems in killing us or having some of his airheads do it. And they like to use knives. Don't get too close to any one of 'em until you're sure they're disarmed. You cannot be alert enough in this situation."

"Any questions?" Four heads indicated the negative. "Good. Starsky will serve the warrants. When we leave with Marcus and anyone who happens to obstruct us, the crime lab team comes in. Marcus will ride to Metro in a black-and-white. It's a bit more secure than the Torino. Any volunteers?" Ferguson and Aguilar, who had had their fill of Marcus's murderous ways when they discovered the bodies in the dumpsters, declined immediately. "Guess that leaves Burke and Miller. Starsk and I will be the lead car, and Fergie will bring up the rear." He paused for several heartbeats. "Everybody ready?" Four heads indicated the affirmative.

"Okay, let's get this scum off the streets," Starsky said with icy-hot conviction.

A minute later, the six officers marched into the storefront. All had their handguns drawn, but Hutchinson and Starsky had flicked their safeties off.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, the detectives felt a different atmosphere to the lair. It had a stygian taste and was even more stifling, arctic, depraved, and hopelessly corrupt than before. Starsky felt the walls close in on him, and he began to hyperventilate. Hutchinson found himself holding his breath, afraid of inhaling the almost palpable evil. They snatched quick looks at each other, and that was enough to return them to a more stable level of functioning.

Starsky rounded the corner into the main room just ahead of his partner. Instantly, he had the lay of the land - there were three hooded and robed figures swaying and standing in no particular pattern on the mattresses, facing them and not the platform, and chanting "Simσn" just above perception. Marcus sat on his tattered "throne," alone on the altar.

Just as Hutchinson came around the corner, Starsky sensed unexpected movement at the back wall. He turned his head and brought his weapon along with it. There was a black-robed figure with an ax poised overhead. The ax was descending, perfectly timed to cleave Hutchinson's head in half. Starsky shouted, "Hutch!" in a way that told his partner to stop, and squeezed off two shots in rapid succession. The robed body flew backward, but the ax continued on its course. The blade skidded down the front of Hutch's vest before embedding itself in the floor between his feet and cutting off the tip of one of his boots.

Starsky's eyes lingered on his partner for a millisecond. Surprised to see Hutch raise his weapon and the Colt buck and smoke, he was even more surprised to feel a hefty thud to his right chest. His eyes widened, and he grunted and went down. He hit his head hard enough to see stars.

Hutchinson watched helplessly as his partner fell. Dammit! Too late! he cried to himself. Just as he bent over to make sure he was clear of the ax, he heard a cry of pain coming from Starsky's direction. Before he could move again, his ears roared from a gun being fired over his head. Now deafened, he didn't hear the mattress-softened thump or Burke's shout of "Freeze! Police!" He felt Burke breeze past him.

Still bent at nearly a 90-degree angle, Hutch stumbled the few feet to Starsky. His stomach knotted in twelve different ways when he saw the hatchet sticking in Starsky's chest. He tried to position himself between his partner and further threats. He looked into the dazed, dark blue eyes that cleared a few blinks later. They told him their owner was all right. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aguilar on his knees, clutching his right arm around the buried shaft of a throwing knife with a magnificently ornate handle. Then he observed Starsky's mouth open and felt a sharp jab in his side that pitched him aside.

Starsky had been able to see the last robed figure before Marcus drive a chef's knife into the top of Burke's left shoulder near his neck despite Hutch's hovering. He yelled a brusque "NO!" Now that his knee had punched Hutch away, he aimed the gun still in his right hand at the one that had withdrawn the blade. In horror, he watched the assailant readying to plunge it again into the sagging but not-yet-fallen officer. As he pulled the trigger, he prayed his aim would be true.

It was. Burke's attacker issued a bloodcurdling shriek as the bullet ripped through his wrist and the knife tumbled away, now harmless. Burke finally dropped to his knees and Miller fired his gun, drowning out the cult member's scream. The cultist crashed to the floor, life seeping out of his chest. Miller, shaking hard, stumbled forward to his partner.

Dobey, Ryan, Simmons, and Babcock ran for the storefront entrance immediately upon hearing the first two shots. By the time Dobey - his heart clogging his throat more and more as he heard one shot after another - arrived mere seconds later, he took in an incredible sight. With raised gun, Ferguson was cautiously approaching a man whom Dobey assumed was Simon Marcus. Aguilar was sitting near Starsky's head, cursing fluently in Spanish, and holding his arm. Miller was frantically applying pressure to a heavily bleeding wound at Burke's neck and telling him to hang on. There were four motionless bodies in black. But most incredible of all, Hutchinson was laughing with a hint of hysteria and seesawing something that looked like a tomahawk out of Starsky's chest. And Starsky's legs were a flail of frenzied movement as he pleaded, "Hutch, get it outta me - now, Hutch, now!"

Dobey turned to Babcock and ordered him to call in several ambulances, two coroner's wagons, and several more units. When he turned back, Starsky and Hutchinson were on their feet. Ryan had come around the big captain in time to hear Hutchinson giggle loudly, "We have a warrant to serve, partner."

"Whattsa matter wit' you, Hutch? You're talkin' too loud. Oh shit my ribs hurt! Am I bleedin'? Oh hell, let's go put that dim bulb with a loose screw under arrest, huh?"

Hutchinson grinned when he realized he could hear Starsky, although he sounded far away and under water. "What are we waitin' for, partner?"

The detectives weaved their way through the black and red nightmare at their feet toward a statue-like Marcus. They paused once they reached Miller and Burke. Hutchinson gave Miller a quick pat of reassurance while Starsky offered some encouraging words.

Ferguson had stopped about a foot back from the edge of the platform and had his pistol trained on Marcus's chest. He trembled slightly, now that he was face to face with the man at the root of so much suffering and agony and death. He desperately wanted to take him out, and save the taxpayers a lot of money and the remaining Fox family more misery. Then he felt one calm, conquering presence behind him. Starsky-and-Hutch, he thought, and his desire for quick vengeance melted away. He felt the single and singular presence move to his right.

Starsky stared cobalt daggers at the cult leader, who had done nothing but breathe since the officers had entered his "church." "Simon Marcus, also known as Marcus Simons," the dark-haired detective began, "you are under arrest for the murders of …" He paused, voice faltering. With not a little effort, he managed to keep his gun aimed at Marcus. Then he continued, resolute and strong, reciting the victims' full names by memory. Next, he detailed Marcus's rights as a suspect. When he asked the guru if he understood his rights, the latter, with a feral twist to his lips, simply gazed tranquilly and obsessively at the dark warrior before him.

Hutchinson, finding energy he didn't know he had, sprang onto the platform but kept a safe distance from the cult leader. "Stand up," he said quietly.

The dark, arrogant eyes shifted to Hutchinson. "As you wish."

Hutchinson's headache grew logarithmically when he perceived the antipathy and jealousy directed at him. "Off with the robe, Simon, and take it slow. No sudden moves."

Marcus bowed his head and looked at Hutchinson from hooded eyes. "I get the feeling you don't trust me. That's not like the White Knight at all. Very well." His quiet, singsong inflection, haughty tone, and referral to Hutch by that "title" sparked an angry shiver in Starsky. Hutchinson's ringing ears saved him from hearing most of what Marcus had said.

With theatrical aplomb, Simon Marcus loosened the belt that held his dark robe closed, eased the garment off his shoulders, and let it drop around his ankles. He was stark naked. The low ambient light seemed to dance along the inverted cross-scar on his chest. Slowly, he lifted his arms up until they were parallel to the floor. The message was not lost on anyone who was watching.

Starsky took a surreptitious deep breath to calm his incensed nerves. "Fergie, get that dress and check it real good for anything that could be used as a weapon, okay? I'll keep him covered."

Once Ferguson had possession of the robe, Hutchinson ordered Marcus to turn around. He didn't see anything at all attached to the suspect. "Fergie, done with that thing yet?" he asked, never taking his eyes off the man.

"Almost, Hutchinson." A few seconds passed before Ferguson pushed the robe back to Marcus.

"Pick it up and put it on, Simon."

Marcus managed a smile that was simultaneously wicked and angelic. In seconds he was clothed again. Hutchinson signaled for Starsky to join them on the dais.

Starsky half-turned his head to the back. "Hey, Cap! You still coverin' Simon here?"

"Yeah, Starsky."

"Okay then." He re-holstered his S & W with some trouble since he had to fight the lower edge of the vest. "Fergie, help me out, wouldja?" The uniformed cop helped Starsky to the stage.

Several limping steps brought Starsky head-to-head with Simon Marcus. The detective removed the warrants from his hip pocket and smashed the documents into Marcus's chest. "Read 'em and weep, you worthless fucker. You're mine now." Plain and simple. He let go, and the papers fluttered to the boards.

Hutchinson snorted. He grabbed Marcus by one wrist and snapped on one cuff. He twirled the cultist around until he had the other wrist, and finished the job. Marcus was now sandwiched between the detectives. Hutchinson leaned into Simon's ear and pronounced, "What my partner said? Goes double for me. This is one time I wish the state still had the death penalty." He looked at Starsky, whose face was a smorgasbord of emotions. "We did our job, partner. It's over, all downhill from here."

"Yeah." Hutchinson's impaired hearing didn't permit him to hear the nuance of doubt in the word.

Out of the blue, Simon Marcus spoke. "I dream white and dark face that which is dreaded and welcomed at the same time. I dream the dusk walks with it at his side and inside. I dream the dawn rides to keep it at bay. I dream it will win."

Starsky rolled his eyes. "Shuddup, Simon."

"I suggest you exercise your constitutional right to remain silent, Simon."

Dobey had worked his way to the front of the room and was ready to receive Simon Marcus with Ferguson's help when the detectives pushed him off the stage. Starsky and Hutchinson noticed for the first time the large crimson upended cross on the back of the robe. For a brief moment, they paused before stepping down themselves. "What do you suppose he means by that riddle, Starsk?"

The darker detective shrugged his right shoulder. "I don't have a clue. And I don't care."

Hutchinson's translation of the subtleties of his friend's body language provoked a thick shudder in him. He jumped down and provided the support Starsky needed to do the same. Dobey and Ferguson yielded their hold on the mass murderer to the arresting detectives, who then escorted their charge out of a little piece of hell on earth.

*****

The detectives and their prisoner walked into a three-ring circus. Several print journalists and two other broadcast reporters and their attendant camera people had joined Hickman. All the excitement had drawn a considerable crowd of onlookers as well. Dobey and Ryan jogged ahead of the trio to keep the path to the Torino open.

Hutchinson thrust Marcus into the back seat, not caring that the man bumped his head and tripped on his robe and wound up reclining on his side. Hutch turned to Starsky and held out his hand, palm up.

Without argument, the dark-haired detective relinquished the car keys. Everything hurt, but his right leg and chest, left shoulder, and head were agony incarnate. He fell into the passenger seat.

Hutchinson helped him get situated more appropriately, though actual comfort was an impossibility. He nodded at his captain and Ryan before he jogged around to the driver's side. As he cranked the robust engine, he thought, For the first time, it's not loud and obnoxious. He saw Starsky rotate just enough to look at Marcus. He couldn't hear the threat.

"I hear just one word, Simon, even a peep, I swear I'll blow your head off right here and now," he fervently promised in a taut whisper. "Naw, that's wrong. First I'll blow your balls away, and then your head, after you've suffered a while." He wanted to vomit when he saw what appeared to be adoration in Marcus's shit-brown eyes. He eased himself back to facing forward.

It took several minutes for the road to clear of vehicles and people. Hutchinson pulled in behind Wheeler and Staats, the uniformed officers who had been on surveillance last night but had been instructed to stay until after the arrest. He studied the throng of people, looking for threats as they drove away. Starsky was content to watch the red, white, and blue stars that hung from the rearview mirror dance to the Torino's rhythm.

*****

The media were waiting for them at Metro. Hutchinson cursed. "Which way do you want to go in, Starsk?"

He stared straight ahead. Clearing his throat, he finally responded, "The front?"

Hutch was about to agree, but he thought of the steps they - Starsky - would have to climb. "The back I think, buddy, might be better this time."

"'Kay, then. The back it is." I just wanna get this skanky psycho-monster outta my car.

Hutchinson gestured to Staats to head for the rear of the building. The crush of reporters slowed them down enough that it took nearly three minutes to travel the short distance to the parking garage. Hutch was able to park a few feet from the door. Getting Starsky out of the Torino proved to be difficult; near collapse, he wasn't much help at all. It took both Wheeler and Staats to get him to the locker room.

The big blond showed no tenderness when he wrestled Simon Marcus out of the car and into the station. He dragged the cult leader to intake and booking. Minnie Kaplan, dwarfed by the two men, had a cat-eating-canary grin plastered all over her face. Hutch aggressively jerked Marcus's hands toward him to unlock the manacles. "He's all yours, Minnie. You know the charges. All the others we'll add later." Ignoring the hunched, compliant perpetrator, he nodded to the three male officers who were with Minnie and headed for the shift sergeant's desk to report in and to get a few Tylenol for him and his partner.

*****

After a quick stop in the cafeteria to snag a bottle of Coke, Hutchinson was in the locker room. The uniforms had Starsky laid out on one of the benches. The brunet detective was restless and breathed erratically. Hutchinson recognized the signs of pain in his partner. He thanked the two men and told them to go home. Then he turned his attention to Starsky.

Too exhausted and in too much pain to cooperate, Starsky presented a challenge. But Hutch's persistence paid off, and he got him to take three Tylenol and about half of the soda. He took the remaining two tablets and finished the Coke in two lengthy swallows. He sat on the floor between a row of lockers and the bench. Propping his torso against the lockers nearest Starsky's head, Hutch stretched his long legs out.

He began to process all that had happened in the past couple of hours. Taking Marcus into custody hadn't given him the expected sense of closure or satisfaction. His psychic pain and loss hadn't retreated one iota. He was just as empty - dead - as he had been for days. No change at all. He didn't even mind the seriously diminished hearing, and hoped that it would be permanent. At least then he would have a legitimate reason for not hearing the external music. Maybe this'll make it easier to handle missing the internal music. But he knew he was deluding himself.

And something was gnawing relentlessly at his best friend. Starsky could be downright mute, and Hutch feared this was one of those times. Starsky had shut him out early on. He intuited that he still felt guilty about the twins' death, and that Marcus's obsession with him had unhinged him to the point of … He dared not finish the thought. He prayed that his dearest friend would find the strength he needed to resolve whatever it was, especially since he knew he was worthless to help him now.

He noted that the voices in the blood had left completely now. Their constant soul-battering shriek-and-hum was gone. He was sequestered now, in his own desert world of virtual deafness. He was thinking of Beethoven when he drifted off to sleep.

*****

Huggy could hear the final bars of Stevie Wonder's Living for the City* from Starsky's stereo. He knocked in the pause between cuts, but was dismayed that the same song started over from the beginning. Oh man, Starsky's in his rewind mode. Wonder how many times in a row he's played this one. When there was no response to his knock, he yelled, "Hey, Starsky, it's the Bear. Let me in. Got a cold burger and a hot lemonade with your nombre on it."

"Go 'way. Ain't hungry and sure not thirsty."

"Okay, so you don't want any of my cuisine or libations. How about one of the last bags of the M&Ms on the planet that have the red ones? From my private, personal stash. I know those're your favorites."

A breath of a pause. "Go away."

"So, I guess I can't bribe you with endangered candy. Care to partake of news of your partner?"

A few seconds later, Starsky opened the door, gun drawn and at his side. He looked and smelled no better than his blond half. Except he wore his emotions on his sleeve and his preferred path to getting totally blitzed was distilled spirits. Huggy saw too many empty tequila and scotch bottles on the kitchen counter. Ain't this a pisser. Haven't seen him hit this crap this hard for … for ten years? "Hey, Starsk, what's with the pistola? I'm friend, not foe."

"Unh? Oh, sorry, Hug." He waved his long-time friend in with the gun before he slid it back into its holster at his waist. "Tell me about Hutch."

"I ain't sayin' nothin' until you clean up." Huggy shivered when he saw the tortured guilt and remorse, torment and lethargy in every pore.

The dark-haired detective shrugged and began to undress. "Talk, Hug."

"Jesus Christ, Starsky, you ain't gonna get naked in front of me, are you? You know I hate that."

One side of his mouth went up minutely. "Just down to my shorts, okay? How's Hutch?" He continued to take off the clothes he'd had on since Tuesday evening.

"Man, I ain't ever seen Blondie like this. He's just kinda … blank, but I could tell he's in a world of hurt, you know, like you said they said in the 'Nam." And so are you, my friend. He bowed and shook his head. "He hardly said more than three words, his place was carpeted with beer bottles, and those stab wounds were infected."

The song on the record player ended, and Huggy's longer legs and sober status easily allowed him to beat Starsky to the turntable. He took the tone arm off the album and placed it on its holder. "You know how Hutch can be, with the blues and all, but this goes way beyond that." Starsky was down to shorts, socks, some tape, and two ratty bandages and had his hands on his hips. "You hear what I'm sayin'?" Huggy couldn't believe the extent of bruising on his friend's body. He had only read the newspaper account of the incident, and knew there had been a fight and a tumble down the stairs. But to see this … no wonder Hutch didn't want to bother Starsky. "Why don't you hit the shower, my man. I'll heat up the food and cool down the beverage."

"Take this tape off? My shoulder won't quite let me yet."

"After the shower. It'll loosen it up and I'll be able to tolerate gettin' that close to you." Huggy noted that Starsky didn't respond to his affectionate jibe.

Starsky whimpered in pain as he shaved. Why can't I do this right-handed? He thanked the stars that he had a shower stall and not a tub edge to climb over. Limiting his activities to bending his elbow in order to get good and stewed when he wasn't driving to the nearest liquor store had made him stiff.

While Starsky was cleaning up, Huggy disassembled the burger. The patty and the fries went on the same baking sheet and into the oven. He recalled that day almost ten years ago he got a phone call from Starsky. The boy was in Okinawa, on the next to the last leg back home from a lifetime in the 'Nam. He called to ask Huggy to pick him up at the air force base airport near Bay City. He sounded so happy and excited. Huggy laughed so hard when he saw this crazy-wild white boy with a chest full of ribbons and staff sergeant stripes on his sleeves bounce down the stairs from the plane. But on his jaunty walk from the plane to where Huggy waited for him, Starsky was assaulted by protestors who had stormed the barriers and proceeded to spit on him and the other returning GIs and to scream "Baby killer!" at them repeatedly. By the time Starsky made it to Huggy, he looked as if he had been through a rainstorm. His eyes then looked like they did now. He had gone on a weeklong bender, drinking gallons of tequila and scotch. It looked like he was repeating that. Something specific had brought him down, something that elicited in him the same reaction as he had to the protestors. He had been silent then, and Huggy knew he'd be silent now.

Hearing the bathroom door open roused Huggy from his musing. "Almost ready. But don't come in here without some clothes on." He was pleased to note Starsky wore a fresh pair of pink boxers. "Let me guess. You washed your red shirts with your underwear." He made for the tape on his friend's right chest.

"Just this one pair." He winced as the tape and more than few hairs came off. "Only one I could find quick enough so I wouldn't shock you, ya prude."

"You heathen. Now, sit. I'll have your meal right to you."

Before long, the detective had eaten part of the burger and all of the fries while sipping on a Virgin Starsky he had defiled with tequila. He thanked Huggy and asked him to leave because he wanted to sleep.

Reluctantly, Huggy Bear left as requested, but not before he identified another cut on the album. As he placed the needle in the proper place on the vinyl, he said, "Listen to this one a few hundred times, okay?" He sauntered out of the apartment while Higher Ground played.

Starsky wanted to call Hutch, but just didn't have the energy. If he did call, he was afraid he'd be a drain on his partner who could ill afford that. If he did call, then he couldn't drink, or drive to get more to drink. And a deep drunk was all that allowed him to exist and to sleep a couple of hours at a time before the nightmares came. He knocked back a fair amount of tequila quickly. He let the record play to the end, and he headed for the bed again. He sat on the edge. Sighing, he opened his nightstand drawer and took out his father's service revolver for the umpteenth time that day. He lightly caressed the cold, blue steel until he passed out.

*****

Saturday slithered into Sunday when Hutchinson, now at his most sober in days but still ass-kicking drunk, finally knew what he needed. Wanted.

It's taken me long enough to figure this out. Befuddled from the booze and the song-forsaken soul. Where, and how much?

Pacing, brain synapses firing unpredictably. Minutes passed before … Mickey? Pipeline to Starsk. Can't risk it.

A piece of the shroud, lifting even more minutes later … Slate. Tell him I'm working a case. He'll gimme Cobb.

Checking the police department directory, print blurring into single blob. Finally, the name he needed coming into focus. Repeating the phone number ten, eleven times until committed to memory. Another name, opposite page, toward the bottom, clear, distinct, Starsky. Biting lower lip so he could dial.

Slate reaming him a new one for waking him up. Giving Cobb's address. "You owe me one, Hutchinson!" Yeah, yeah, just try to collect … damn, have I decided?

Panicking when he can't find his car. Eventually remembering what happened to it. Returning to phone, calling a cab company. Chugging a beer while he waited, thinking it will give him strength he needs.

The quicksand in his abyss had sucked him to the bottom.

*****

Marcellus Cobb entered the lobby of the mangy Carolinas Hotel for Men just shy of 3 a.m. He was tired from a long day of washing dishes for a few days of Chinese food and a bit of cash to feed his habit. Now that he'd finally made a connection, he would call Cheryl and they'd get high together and fuck until one or the other nodded off. Life is good when it's simple, the lean, handsome black man with a neatly trimmed short 'fro thought as he climbed the stairs to his third-floor flat.

"What the -" he said when he saw someone with yellow-gold hair sitting on the floor with long legs splayed out in front of him, right next to the door of his apartment. The head slowly rose until desperate, tornadic blue eyes met his. He had seen that look before, in rehabbed junkies who ached for the sweet euphoria. "Shit, man, I know you. You're a cop, right?"

The blond cop, pale and smudged around the edges, tried to but couldn't open his mouth. He shook with not-completely-formed sobs.

"Hey, man, spill it. I haven't got all night. I can't speak for you, but I have plans." Marcellus watched as the cop tried to speak again, this time aided by pathetic, mime-ish gestures.

When Marcellus raised his shoulders as a physical question mark, the cop drew his lanky legs to his chest and trembled. Then he hugged his legs closer to his chest and rested his head on his knees.

The light bulb in Cobb's head finally lit up. "You're … Hutcheson, no, Hutchinson, right? You hang some with Huggy Bear, right? You partner with -"

"Starsky," Hutchinson finished for him. Even though muffled, Cobb could hear that it was more of a plaintive call for the man than a mere statement.

Ain't no way this cop's a hype. Cobb's hand scrambled around in the pocket of his olive drab army jacket until he nabbed a few coins. "Okay, cop, I can't figure out what you want. I'll call Huggy and maybe he'll know, or least help me out. Stay there." He headed straight for the pay phone at the other end of the hall. He knew Huggy's number by heart, since on occasion he'd work an hour or two for the brother whenever he had a taste for one of those sumptuous burgers.

*****

Huggy Bear rolled his eyes when the ringing started. "Carlotta, please, I gotta get the phone. It could be important."

"Are you saying finishing what you started isn't important?"

"Sweet, hungry Carlotta baby, we're already in Round Three. Don't be greedy."

The reddish-skinned woman sighed her disappointment. "Okay. Answer the damn thing."

Huggy smiled and answered the phone without breaking contact with her. "This better be good." For the next few moments, he just listened to what Cobb had to say. "Thanks for callin', brother. Don't let him outta your sight, ya dig? And whatever you do, don't give him anything but a glass of water, no matter what he says or does. I'll be there - where?" Cobb told him. "There as soon as I can. I owe you. We'll talk payment later. And thanks again." He hung up the phone.

"You better not be leaving me to go to another woman, Huggy. I'll send a war party after you."

He laughed through his nose. "Not to worry, my personal Pocahontas. One of my paleface friends is in heap big trouble. Huggy Bear to the rescue." Regretfully, he withdrew from her and sat on the side of the bed.

She sat up behind him and rubbed his back with her generous breasts as he dialed the phone. She giggled at the hesitant tremor in his hand. "If you were an Indian, your name would be Huggy Big Bear," she cooed.

"Oh, Blondie, I wish you knew the sacrifice I'm makin' here … Come on, Starsky, pick up." When the detective didn't after fifteen rings, Huggy broke the connection. In seconds he was dressed in bright red bikini briefs, a heavily studded denim jumpsuit, and his everyday platform shoes. "Gotta run." He kissed his lover's full lips and was gone.

*****

Huggy banged on Starsky's front door four times. "Hey, Starsk, I'm back like a bad nickel. Open up." Nothing, even after waiting for several heartbeats. "Okay, I'm usin' my key. Better cover up you and your lady. You know how I feel about seeing naked white folks up close and personal." He let himself in, silently thanking Starsky for forgetting to use the door chain.

Starsky was silhouetted in the soft light coming from the lamp on the sofa table. He gave no indication that he was aware of Huggy's presence. He just stood there, hands on hips, wearing only his pink boxers, and staring at the revolver lying on the table. His foot scraped the barbed floor of his pit.

Huggy felt his heart leave for Africa the hard way - through the center of the earth. With trepidation and caution, he slowly walked to his friend. "Starsky," he whispered when he was within a few inches of the shorter man. He touched his shoulder. "What's goin' on?"

"Just thinkin'."

Huggy thought he sounded normal enough. "'Bout what."

"'Bout everything. My father. How much I miss him. All my buddies who died 'cause of the war." He paused. "Other things."

Huggy had a hard time moving air past the huge boulder in his throat. "What other things?" Huggy felt the shoulder under his thin fingers shudder.

"Like, the glass is half-empty. Like, it wasn't his fault - it was his mama's, wudn't it?"

"Starsk, I'm not followin' here. Who? Whose mama?"

The detective sucked back to clear his suddenly full nose. "And it's Marcus's fault, right, that Darla and Denis died, and not mine, right?"

Huggy had only a clue as to what Starsky was talking about. But he had to come up with something to snap his friend out of this. "Hey, bro, you're one of the good guys, remember? The only thing that's your fault is your poor taste in threads. Now, get dressed. Hutch needs you, like now, and time's a-wastin'."

This caught his full attention. "Hutch?"

"Yeah. Got a call from Marcellus Cobb. Hutch is at his place, but hasn't said a thing. I can think of only one reason why he's there."

"Gimme one minute." Starsky was in blue jeans in seconds, but had to have Huggy's help to get his left arm in a white-and-red stripped jersey. He slid his bare feet into an abused pair of Adidas running shoes. He was buckling on the waist holster on the way to the door.

"Don't you need a jacket?" Huggy asked.

"Screw the jacket."

"Okay, but you do know the Fourth of July was a week ago."

"Screw you, Huggy," he said half-angrily, half-playfully. He charged down the stairs and began the long crawl out of the pit.

*****

The night clerk at the Carolinas grumbled and opened one red-veined brown eye to catch a glimpse at who had interrupted his sleep. A damn nee-gra pimp on his night off, and a gimpy guinea with a gun - must be his muscle. He settled back into his snooze and laughed at the New York accent that complained about the busted elevator.

Huggy kept pace with the slower Starsky as they took the stairs. He thought that maybe he should get there first and scope out things, but knew Starsky would not have that.

The darker detective's knees, rubbery from the climb, the alcohol, the lack of decent food and rest, verged on collapse when he saw his best friend huddled in a tight, sitting fetal position in a squalid hallway lit with only a 40-watt bare bulb. Even over his own panting, he could hear the tenor whine from behind Hutch's knees. "Aw, Hutch," Starsky cracked out. In a flicker of time, he was on the floor next to him. "Whaddya doin' here, huh? Couldn't ya sleep, buddy?" He tried to make his words sound funny and teasing. He petted his partner's corn silk hair a few times.

Hutchinson finally looked up but was too ashamed to look his friend straight in the eye. Through more stillborn sobs, he hiccuped out, "Didn't know wwwhat else … to do… tenth v-v-vic … MMMarcus stole … killed me, ttttoo, you know? Hurts, SSSSStars … too quiet now … thought I-I-I could … ease pu-pu-pain … maybe … fu-fu-finish … what he st-st-st-started … pu-lay hhhhorse."

At once everything Hutchinson was trying to tell him clicked in Starsky's brain. He embraced his partner. He whispered, hoping Hutch could hear him, "I can hear it in your voice, and see it in your eyes. It's not gone; it's just hidin' out."

Hutch shook violently now. Starsky held on tighter and rocked him harder than he shook. You can hear good again! "It's easy to die, babe," he uttered through tight vocal cords. It seemed as if his own woundedness acted as a source of strength to help both him and Hutch. "And neither one of us has ever done anything easy, have we." I can't believe I thought about it for even a second.

Hutchinson's shaking began to subside. He sniffed back and swallowed a number of times. Starsky quit rocking them and slowly loosened his hold. "No, we haven't, partner," said Hutch with a small degree of confidence. He chanced eye contact with Starsky. In those indigo eyes, he saw understanding, acceptance, unconditional love. He couldn't find one speck of pity, or disgust, or contempt. His desert abyss did have an oasis. He unfolded himself and enveloped his partner.

"It's a-live!" Starsky intoned, sounding exactly like the mad doctor Frankenstein. That made Hutch feel the first stirrings of laughter deep within. "C'mon, ya big galoot, you're smotherin' me," Starsky complained. "Huggy, help me, wouldja?"

Huggy, who had cornered Cobb on his arrival and ushered him a few yards down the hall, came to Starsky's aid. "Come on, you White Warrior. You're crushing Starsky."

Hutchinson let the alcohol take control and tittered. "You got it wrong, Huggy. I'm the White Knight. Starsk is the Dark Warrior."

"Jesus H Christ. From morose to merry in minutes. You two wear me out," Huggy groused as he pulled the blond one up. "No wonder El Capitan has a terminal case of the grumps. You still highly inebriated, ain't you, Blondie." Huggy had one arm around the larger man's waist and fanned the air between their faces with the other.

Starsky struggled to his feet, dizzy from alcohol-induced dehydration and from alcohol, relatively mild spasms of pain in his leg and shoulder, freedom from most worry about his friend. He limped the yards to face Marcellus. "You never saw him, or me, or Huggy tonight. None of us were ever here. This never happened, none of it. Right?" He stuck out his right fist, thumb up, at waist-height.

Marcellus laughed casually and knocked the top of Starsky's fist with the bottom of his as he said, "You got it."

Starsky smiled his gratitude as he returned the fist knock. He knew they understood each other on more than one level. He turned his head back to see Hutch trying to kiss Huggy and Huggy batting him away. "Hey, Huggy, if you can break away from your lovebird, I need to borrow some money." He indicated for Cobb to follow him back to the pair. "Got a c-note?"

"Does a dog have fleas? Right hip pocket. And no funny stuff. Aw, come on, Hutch, quit slobberin' all over me. I think I like you better as a surly drunk."

Starsky found the wallet and extracted a 100-dollar bill. "Thanks, man."

Cobb folded the bill several times and stowed it in an inside pocket. "You know where you can find me if you ever want anyone to have memory problems." He watched the three men descend the stairs, Huggy steadying the blond visitor and Starsky depending on the rickety rail for assistance.

By the time the friends hit the lobby, Hutch was singing at the top of his voice, "Oh, you got to have hearrrrrrrt!"

*****

It was minutes before dawn when the trio piled into Huggy's Cadillac. Once in the back seat with Starsky, Hutchinson turned gloomy and melancholic. He clasped his arms around his partner's neck and said repeatedly, "I'm sorry, buddy, I'm sorry."

It didn't take much to figure out what he was sorry about. Starsky let Hutch carry on for a couple of minutes before he spoke, thinking it might serve as a kind of meditation thing for his friend. "It's okay, Hutch. You thought it would help, but deep down you knew it wouldn't. That's why you never asked Cobb for that shit. You really didn't want it. You never did. Ever." At that moment, Starsky flashed more loathing for Forrest than he had for Marcus. Forrest had made it personal for Starsky in a way Marcus hadn't.

Starsky's words rang true in Hutch's ears. He dropped his front arm down his friend's chest to his lap, and his head followed it but stopped at his chest. He scrunched his face into a knot and finally cried - for the Foxes, his partner's thousand miseries, for his own joy at having the music back, for the end of Simon Marcus's dreams.

"Starsky, may I suggest you two bunk at my place? I can keep a better eye on you there."

The curly-haired man laughed gently. "Yeah, good idea. Thanks, Hug." He settled his chin on the top of his partner's head and an arm on his back for the rest of the drive back to Huggy's crib. He kept a tight rein on the alcohol still cruising his body. One labile sponge was enough.

*****

Huggy quickly covered Carlotta's naked body as he woke her. "Sorry, baby, but my paleface amigos need to stay here. Get dressed and I'll take you home."

She snorted her displeasure at having her sleep interrupted and having to leave without finishing Round Three. She watched with great curiosity as two white guys with their arms around each other's waist stumbled into Huggy's apartment. The golden one was singing that stupid song about bottles of beer on the wall. She gathered the silk sheets closer to her chin and asked Huggy furtively, "Are they like, you know, queer?"

Huggy chuckled. "Odd, maybe, but definitely not queer."

She looked at the white guys again. They looked cute, even if they reeked of firewater and seemed a little rough around the edges. "Think they'd be interested in a foursome?"

Huggy's eyebrows took off for the moon. "I am assuming you ain't askin' about their availability for golf or bridge. Get dressed, baby, and I promise you and me'll get together real soon. You know I love me a woman with a big appetite." He grinned lasciviously.

Carlotta gave the palefaces a coquettish look and trotted off to the bathroom to dress, making sure the sheet didn't block their view of her bare backside.

*****

They quickly fell into a pattern. That first day, Sunday, Starsky would wake about every two hours, sweating from a nightmare. He would thrash so vigorously that he'd fall off the sofa. After the second time that happened, Huggy ordered him to take the bed. Hutch used an old recliner he dragged out of a storage closet. It was never far from wherever Starsky slept. He would dream crazy, disjointed dreams, but never quite terrors. After a few cycles, Hutch had timed his internal clock to wake him up just before Starsky was expected to screech awake. He would be ready with a freshly dampened washcloth, a few soothing words, and an empty bucket within arm's reach. Huggy would force fluids and food on them whenever they were awake. They would talk while they ate and drank. Easy, light conversation. Sports, women, politics, Minnesota versus New York winters, books, movies. Studious avoidance of the mass murder, Marcus, the incident at the Carolinas. They would stretch, and Starsky would lift the few weights Huggy had while Hutch meditated and yoga'd. They detoxed fairly rapidly, and Starsky's nightmares showed up at longer and longer intervals. By Tuesday night, he was confident he could get a solid eight hours in - alone.

Late Sunday afternoon, Huggy's phone rang. Hutch answered it.

"Who is this?" asked the suspicious, well-known voice at the other end. "Is this Hutchinson?"

"Well, hi there. It is." He covered the mouthpiece and mouthed to Starsky who it was. The darker detective promptly hid his face in his hands.

Dobey began his rapid-fire scolding. "Have you been there the entire weekend? Is that why you haven't answered your phone for almost two days? Is Starsky there?"

Huggy walked into the room with a tray of soups, bread, butter, tomato juice, and the next doses of their antibiotics. Hutch thrust the receiver in his direction. "It's for you." After Huggy finally calmed down the captain of detectives and hung up, he promised the two guffawing men they would pay, and pay dearly.

When Dobey came by that evening, he walked into Huggy's flat to find them sitting on the couch. Hutch was on the left with his ears covered, Huggy Bear in the middle with hands over his eyes, and Starsky on the right with his hands over his mouth. Dobey gave them two more days off.

*****

After he had dropped off the detectives at their respective apartments Tuesday afternoon, Huggy still wasn't entirely happy with their "recovery." He knew it was safe for them to be alone now, but they were too - quiet.

When he got back to The Pits, he checked the calendar to see who was waitressing that night. The next day's date - the fourteenth - ignited an idea. He called Edith Dobey first, then Abigail Crabtree.

*****

Starsky had no trouble finding a parking spot for the Torino at The Pits. Usually by six every evening, the parking lot and the street would be jammed with cars. Now it was almost seven, and unnaturally deserted. "Hey, Hutch, did Hug say anything more about this when he called?" he asked before they got out.

Hutchinson opened the door. "No, he just said to come over about seven. That was it. Hey, there's Abby's car. He didn't say anything about her being here. Something's up."

"You never cease to amaze me with your skills as a detective, Holmes," teased Starsky. "Well, we know it's not your birthday, or mine, or his. Abby's?"

"If it is, I'm in big trouble."

"Don't worry. If she skedaddles, I got some girlie magazines you can borrow if you want."

Hutch backhanded Starsky's chest. They both started laughing as they exited the car. Just before they headed down the steps to the bar and grille, they heard heavy breathing behind them. One left hand and one right hand slid under jackets to touch gun butts. They turned their heads simultaneously to look behind them.

Hutchinson was the first to recover. "Captain!" he exclaimed with genuine surprise.

"Who did you think it was, Hutchinson? Tinkerbelle?"

"Uh, no, Cap. Just didn't expect to see you here."

"Well, it's not by choice, Hutchinson. Got a call from Edith, and she said I should meet her and the kids here at seven. Should've known you two would be in on this conspiracy to keep me out the comfort of my own home."

"Cap, me and Hutch are just as much out in the cold as you are."

"We're not gonna get to the bottom of this mystery until we get in, so go on," Dobey said gruffly.

On the front door of the restaurant was a sign with fancy script that read: Bastille Day - Closed for Private Party. The three police officers shared puzzled looks. Starsky tried the door. "Locked." He huffed impatiently and hammered on the door. "Hey, Huggy, open up! It's us! We're hungry!"

A few seconds later, Huggy responded from the behind the closed door. "This is a private par-tay. What's the secret password?"

Dobey ran a frustrated hand over his face while Starsky and Hutchinson shared a chuckle. This was Huggy's way of paying them back. "Password? We don't need no stinkin' password," Starsky said in a fair imitation of a bandito. "If you don't let us in, we'll bust our way in."

There was a click and the door opened. "Threats of destruction of property work just as good as passwords on most days, my fine friends. Welcome to 1789 France, or at least the best I could do on short notice." It was dark in the foyer, but not dark enough that they couldn't see Huggy Bear decked out in a white powdered wig, a thigh-length gold brocade coat with ruffles peeking out of each sleeve, matching knickers, white stockings, and black platform shoes.

Before the three dumbstruck men knew what was happening, Huggy had herded them through red, white, and blue crepe paper streamers that hung from the archway into the bar area. They inhaled deeply of the heavenly mix of aromas wafting from the kitchen. They could hear Van Morrison's Blue Money coming from the jukebox.

Most of the tables and chairs had been moved into one corner, leaving a large open space in the center of the eating area. More crepe paper was strung all around, and there were two French flags, one at each end of the bar. In the middle of the open area stood Edith Dobey and her two children and Abby. Seconds later, they joined the new arrivals near the bar for hugs and kisses and handshakes.

"Hey, what's that you're wearin'?" asked Starsky of Edith as he kissed her on the cheek. "Hey, you all got one."

"Oh that?" The attractive black woman fingered a cloisonnι pin of three - one red, one white, and one blue - leaves bound together near the base that she wore on her dress collar. "That's a fleur-de-lis. Huggy tells me it used to go on the armor of the former royal family of France. Very nice, isn't it?"

Huggy gave each of the police officers their own pins. "If you wanna stay at this party, you gotta wear the pin. Or get dressed up like me. I have some stunning costumes in the back." They hurriedly fastened the pins to their shirts. "Okay then. Gendarmes, welcome to The Pits' first celebration of Bastille Day, the French Independence holiday." Huggy bowed deeply at the waist. "Since the three of you had to work on the Fourth, I thought that this would be an acceptable substitute. After all, the French did help us gain our independence." He clasped his hands behind his back. "So?"

"Who are you dressed up as?" barked Dobey.

"The King of France, Louie the Sixteenth. Have to be true to the royal blood I am sure must run in my roots." The thin black man stretched his neck, looked down his nose, and grasped his coat's lapels in both hands.

"You do know he was beheaded, don't you?" retorted Dobey.

The neck shrunk. "You don't have to be a party pooper, Captain," Huggy sniffed.

"Hate to break up your witty repartee, but this is a party and I'm hungry!" shouted Starsky. He rubbed his hands together. "Well, what's for dinner? French fries? French toast?"

Hutch, who had just put Rosie down after she leapt into his arms, picked up without losing a beat. "French dressing? French bread?" He reached for Abby. "French lady?" He grinned at her.

"No!" shouted Rosie with a girlish giggle. "Pot roast and poo-na casserole!"

"Rosie dear, it's tuna casserole," gently corrected her mother.

"Oh, yeah, that's right. Miss C'abtree says she got it from people who don't hurt Flipper when they fish. She says it's your favorist thing to eat, Uncle Hutch. Neat-o, huh?" Now in her father's arms, she squealed with delight. "Daddy, lemme go to Uncle Starsky now, okay?"

"Hey, Huggy," asked Hutch, "why didn't you tell me this was a costume party? You told Starsky, I see. He came as a peasant. Right, Starsk?" His eyes gleamed wickedly.

Starsky threw him a you-better-watch-out glare while he settled Rosie in on his right hip. "Well, pot roast is my favorite. Let's dig in."

Inez, a skinny, white college student who was one of Huggy's best waitresses, served the rowdy party, and joined them on their insistence - "in the spirit of Bastille Day," said Hutch, as he gave empty plates to King Huggy to take back to the kitchen.

After dessert of crêpes Suzette, Huggy called the party to attention. "A brief history lesson, if you please, before some announcements." He cleared his throat melodramatically. "On July 14th, angry citizens stormed the fortress prison known as the Bastille. This prison was a symbol of the French aristocracy's oppression of the people of Paris. Freeing the prisoners within that stronghold signaled the end of Louie's reign as King. A toast!" Huggy held up his flute of sparkling apple juice. "May we all be free of our prisons." He sneaked a peak at Starsky and Hutch. He saw shadows flit across their eyes, but they joined in the "Here, here!"

"Now, for the announcements," continued the bar owner. "When I opened this bar and grille a few months ago, I thought this place might have potential for something more. Tonight, I ask your kind assistance to see if the floor is satisfactory for trippin' the light fantastic. I want to know if The Pits can be more than just the culinary Mecca of Bay City." With a flourish of his hand, he said with regal snobbishness, "Inez! Time to boogie!"

Inez hurriedly set up the portable record player on the bar. "Sorry, folks, can't take requests! I only have a few 45s here." She cranked the volume up and dropped the first record. "Okay, here goes nothin'!"

From the tinny speakers came Play that Funky Music. The beat even had Dobey tapping his toes. Cal, knowing Hutch didn't really like dancing, asked Abby to dance. Huggy offered his arm to Edith, who accepted. Rosie tugged on Starsky's hand, but he wouldn't budge. Halfway through the record, Dobey lightly punched the dark-haired detective's arm. "My daughter wants to dance." There was a vague threat behind the words.

With reluctance he hoped Rosie couldn't perceive, Starsky moved to the dance floor. At first, he was stiff - "like a white boy," Huggy teased - and unable to find the heart of the music. He felt that dancing, one of his most favorite activities, was somehow inappropriate, a slap in the face of those so recently and horribly murdered. He closed his eyes and shuffled his feet around. Then something made him open one eye, and he looked directly into Hutch's incandescent blue eyes. They told him it was okay to dance, that not to dance would be an insult to the life within and without.

By the time Inez started You Should be Dancing, Starsky was ready. He cut loose and didn't stop except to take his jacket and shoulder harness with gun off and give them to Dobey to hold. Rosie wore out after the third record - Kung Fu Fighting - so Starsky danced with and around the other two couples for Land of 1000 Dances.

Huggy halted things for a few minutes to let everyone catch their breath, though Starsky continued to bounce around, ready for more action. "I think we have time for one more. This is a contest. The winner gets a poster. Okay, Inez, you know which one."

The waitress smiled, showing her crooked teeth. "This is one of my favorite dance tunes. Starsky, would you like a partner?"

"Terrific! Come on, Inez, see if you can keep up with me."

She joined him before the first bar of Get Down Tonight sounded. All three couples threw their hearts into it, and Inez did keep up with the detective. When the record ended, Huggy asked Rosie to be the judge. She couldn't pick one, so she chose "Uncle Starsky and Miss Inez!"

Huggy Bear unrolled a poster depicting Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty out on a dance floor, shaking their respective groove thangs, over the caption, "I WANT YOU … to get down, get down, get down, get down tonight."* Starsky asked if Inez could keep it for them. She agreed, glad to have something to brighten up her shabby basement apartment.

The bar owner then announced the second possibility for his place. "To help determine if The Pits has the acoustics adequate for live music, I humbly beseech Kenneth Hutchinson, the detective minstrel, to sing us a few melodious tunes." Everyone, except Rosie who was sound asleep in her father's lap, clapped enthusiastically, but Hutch blushed and began to beg off.

Until he caught Starsky's eyes. They were shiny cobalt now, and told him it was time to let the music come out of hiding, that it was safe now, that he was safe now.

Hutch wasn't convinced the music was back, much less strong enough to share. An emptiness still lingered, though it was small and lurked around his perimeter. As Abby brought him his guitar from behind the bar where she had hidden it, he remembered what Starsky had said a few days back. That he could hear it. And Starsky would never lie to him about something that important.

Bashfully, he took his instrument from his lover's hands and situated it on his legs. "Well, what do you want to hear?" he asked, voice cracking with stage fright.

"Anything you want, buddy. Whatever it is, I know it'll be good," said Starsky.

Seeing Hutch reach for his pick reminded Huggy of something. "Hey, hold up, Blondie. Got you a little something for the American holiday. Hadn't had chance to give it to you until now." From the depths of his coat pocket, the lean black man dug out two pearlized picks. One was flag blue with tiny white stars and the other was red on one side, white on the other.

"Thanks, Huggy. They're great."

"Now, use 'em, or I'm gonna be an Indian giver. Oh, nobody tell Carlotta that, okay?"

Hutchinson grinned and searched his repertoire for just the right song. Suddenly, he had it. Shaky at first, but with increasing self-confidence, his crystal tenor rendered a heartfelt Fire and Rain. The applause was as deafening as that small group could produce. Starsky called for more.

Hutch treated the tiny audience to Teach Your Children and You've Got a Friend. They couldn't seem to clap enough for him. When he tried to put up the guitar after the third song, Starsky asked for one more. Hutch knew exactly how to end this impromptu concert.

When the blond singer struck the first chord, Starsky knew the song. He knew some of it was for Abby, but he knew the chorus was for him.

Hutch had the three women near tears by the end. They clapped heartily, but self-consciously avoided direct eye contact. When he looked at Starsky, he could see that those baby blues glistened.

Edith brushed her eyes with the back of her hand quickly. "I hate to break up this wonderful party, but we must leaving, Huggy Bear. The children's bedtime is almost upon them." While she, Cal, and Abby helped Huggy and Inez clean up, Dobey studied his detectives.

"Hey, Starsk, hand me that half-empty glass, would ya?"

"Hutch, it's half-full.

"Half-empty."

"Half-full."

Hutch grinned mischievously. "Yeah, I know."

In the privacy of his full heart, Harold Dobey prayed his thanks that his boys were fine.

Story completed 22 August 2001

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