David jolted out of his reverie in time to see Hutchinson coming around the bend of the jogging path. He quickly made up his mind that today, in this park, he was going to speak to this man and dispel his wistful fantasies of the other day in the gym. He figured that when he talked with the man and found out he really was a stuck up snob, he could forget the illusions of strength and healing he had seen in those eyes. He could go on with his life, become a cop, and keep things as simple as possible. That was the way he liked things - simple and uncomplicated. Somehow, however, the thought made him sad and left him feeling strangely empty inside.
By this time, the blonde had started in on his next lap, so David decided to wait until the next round. So he waited. And waited. And then he waited some more. But the man did not reappear. Waiting had never been one of David’s strong suits, so he started to go the other way on the path to see what was taking Hutchinson so long. Something deep in the pit of his stomach told him there must be something wrong, and the feeling caught him by surprise. Sure, he had had feelings like this before, but they were always connected to someone he was close to. Hutchinson was a stranger to him, an unknown entity. He tried to explain away the growing sense of unease, yet he couldn’t deny the feeling that was taking control over his body, and he involuntarily stepped up the pace. Within seconds, he realized he was running at full speed, camera slamming against his chest with every step.
David flew around the bend in the path but stopped dead in his tracks at the scene that was playing out about twenty yards ahead of him. His first impression was one of confusion. A young girl, about 18 or 19 years old and dressed in the timeless costume of the common streetwalker was half-lying, half-sitting on the ground with her hand pressed to her bleeding lip. Not three feet away, Hutchinson had a man pinned up against a tree, his right arm against the man’s windpipe, his left tangled in the man’s greasy black hair.
David could not hear what was being said, but one look at the blonde’s face told him all he needed to know. He had never seen such barely controlled rage on a person’s face and was immediately grateful all of the anger was not directed at him. Cold blue fire shot from Hutchinson’s eyes as he stared unblinking into the eyes of the other man. His arms were steel bands of righteous indignation, and the tendons in his hands stood out in stark relief against skin that was stretched tautly over finely toned muscles. As David watched, fascinated by the strength and power that seemed to ooze from the pores of the blonde cadet, Hutchinson released the stranger and gave him a vicious shove away from the young girl. He stood immobile, hands on hips, until he was sure that the man would not return and then turned to help the young girl.
David could not believe his eyes. He watched mesmerized as the blonde reached down and helped the girl to her feet, gently wiping away the tears from her eyes. Those same hands that had been so powerful and menacing toward the greasy stranger had magically been transformed into tender, nurturing instruments of healing. One touch from those hands, and David could see the fear and tension begin to leave the stricken girl’s face. Hutchinson handled the girl with such care, his fingers gently caressing her jawline as he cupped her chin in his palm. His simple touch seemed to rejuvenate the girl, and as David walked closer to the pair, he saw gratitude and hope replace the fear and mistrust that had been etched in the girl’s features just moments before.
Suddenly, the girl began to smile through her tears. “I don’t know how to thank you, mister,” she said hesitantly. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.”
“No problem,” Hutchinson smiled. “Who was that guy and why did he want to hurt you?”
“Oh, he was just some trick I know. I used to feel sorry for him and give him a freebie now and then, but then he got all weird and possessive on me - thought he owned me or somethin’. Anyhow, he wanted me to go off with him but I’m a working girl, and I need to make some money tonight. A girl’s gotta eat, ya know!”
“So, when was the last time you had a decent meal?”
“Uhm...well...I get by ok. I don’t have a pimp, ya know, so I have to fend for myself. But I’m a lot better off on my own. Don’t worry about me, I’ll manage.”
At that point, to David’s utter astonishment, Hutchinson reached into his back pocket, pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and pressed it into the girl’s hand. “Here,” he said, his eyes glowing with compassion. “Your next hot meal’s on me!”
The girl stared silently at the money in her hand. She looked puzzled, almost as if she didn’t know how to react. “So, what do ya want from me, mister? Am I supposed to work off this twenty with ya?”
“Oh...no!” said Hutchinson emphatically, his face beginning to redden. “That’s a gift, from me to you. Who knows? One day I may need your help and you can repay the favor.”
“How could someone like me ever hope to help someone like you? I don’t even know your name!”
“My name is Hutchinson, Kenneth Hutchinson. And you are....?”
“Alice. Sweet Alice. At least that’s what all my customers call me. You can call me that, too, if ya want.”
Kenneth smiled down at the girl once again. For a brief moment their eyes met, then Alice looked away when a movement beside them caught her attention. Kenneth followed her line of sight and saw David Starsky standing not five feet away from them.
“Well,” said Alice. “I guess I’d better get going so I can get somethin’ to eat. I’ll never forget ya for this, mister!”
David watched the subtle play of emotions on Hutchinson’s face as he watched the girl sashay down the path. He saw compassion mixed with what appeared to be a tinge of sadness etched into the other man’s features. As he reflected on what he saw there, the blonde cadet turned suddenly and David found himself face-to-face with the man from the gym.