Chapter 7

 

Hutch took a sip from his beer and checked his watch again—5:30.  Leave it to Starsky to be late again.  Hutch was already tired of waiting.  He’d gone home and changed into jeans and a more comfortable shirt, and drove over to Dr. Johnson’s office.  He waited less than fifteen minutes to be fitted with his glasses and then he headed directly to Huggy’s.  That was an hour ago.

 

“Hey, man!”

 

At the sound of Huggy’s voice, Hutch looked up.  Turning slightly, he swung his leg up comfortably on the bench next to him.  “Hi, Hug.  Where you been?”

 

“Walkin’ to the bank.  Not safe to leave much in the register, ya dig?  What you doin’ sitting here lookin’ so forlorn?”

 

“Waiting for Starsky, like usual.”

 

“Didn’t Diane give you the message?”

 

“What message?”

 

“Well, Starsky called just after four o’clock and said he was headed to Marty’s apartment to check something out.”

 

“Who’s Marty?”

 

Huggy shrugged  “Don’t you know?  Maybe one of his snitches?”

 

Hutch shook his head.  He knew all of Starsky’s snitches, and Marty wasn’t one of them.  Concern growing, he quickly scooted out of the booth.  “Thanks, Huggy.”

 

Watching him leave, Huggy shook his head, “Anytime, pal.  Anytime.”

 

š      ›

 

Starsky pulled up in front of Park View Apartments, wondering where the park was.  There was nothing but buildings and cement in sight.  He studied the apartment building a moment and the thought crossed his mind that maybe he should have waited for Hutch.  He debated whether he should call in some back-up, but his back-up was Hutch and he wasn’t available.  Besides, this was only a hunch.  Marty liked peppermint candies, so what?  Millions of people probably liked peppermint candies.   

 

Taking the steps to the third floor, Starsky turned to the left, looking for Apartment 305.  Realizing he’d made a mistake, Starsky turned around and headed in the opposite direction.  Reaching Apartment 305, he listened at the door for any sounds.  Hearing a TV on, he knocked on the door and pulled out his badge.

 

The door opened only as far as the chain would allow.  A burly man, about Starsky’s height, peered through the crack.  “Whatcha’ want?”

 

“I’m Detective Starsky and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

 

“Questions about what?  I ain’t done nothin’.”

 

“Nobody said you did.  You work at the library and it’s possible you might have known Rose Williams.”  Receiving no response, Starsky tried again, ready to push the door open if needed.  “Can I come in?”

 

The door closed slightly as the chain was removed.  Marty, slowly opening it, stood to the side, and allowed Starsky to enter.  Glancing around the cheap apartment, Starsky walked near the window and, moving the curtain, looked down the fire escape.  Turning back toward Marty, he observed him nervously walking toward the kitchen area and taking a bottle of beer out of the refrigerator.

 

“I understand you work at the library.”

 

“Yeah, part-time.  It’s a nice place.  Why?”

 

“Well, I wondered if you knew Rose Williams.”

 

“Yeah, nice lady.”  Marty took a swig of beer and wiped his mouth with his shirtsleeve.  “Too bad she died.”

 

“I’m trying to get some background info.  Find out what her friends can tell me about her.”  At the word “friends,” Marty’s face clouded over, and Starsky was beginning to suspect his hunch might be right.

 

Turning toward the bed and nightstand, Starsky noticed a bowl of candy sitting on it.  Nonchalantly walking over to get a better look at its contents, Starsky sensed rather than saw Marty moving toward him.  Reaching for his gun, he turned as Marty brought the beer bottle down on his head.  Starsky was out before he hit the floor.

 

š      ›

 

Hutch pulled up in front of the library and ran up the walk and steps.  Searching frantically, he saw Tanya on the phone in her office.  Rushing up to her, he interrupted her conversation.  “Has Detective Starsky been here tonight?”

 

“Well, yes,” she answered startled, her hand covering the mouthpiece.  “He was in a little while ago.”

 

“Did he say where he was going?”

 

“No, but he seemed really excited about the candy and an employee—Marty Skidmore.”

 

Not caring about the candy, but recognizing the name, Hutch asked, “Do you know where Marty lives?”

 

Tanya reached for her employee card file and searched through it.  “Of course, Detective Starsky ran out of here so quickly that I didn’t get a chance to give it to him.”  As she pulled the index card, Hutch grabbed it from her hand and, yelling, “Thanks,” was back out the door.