Chapter Eight
Instead of going straight to Dobey's office, Hutch decided it was best
to give Starsky the time to take in what he had been told.
"How about we go and see Huggy" Hutch suggested to his annoyed partner.
"Yeah okay, although I would like to know where my car is" Starsky hated
being driven around, he much preferred to drive
himself and he was missing his striped tomato having to ride in Hutch's
car instead.
"Don't worry Starsk, Merl is looking after your car. He said he would have it as good as new in a few weeks"
"A few weeks, what the hell am I going to do without my car for a few
weeks?" Starsky was saddened to hear his car would
take so long to repair.
"Well look at it this way, for the next few weeks you have me to drive
you around" Hutch smiled, happy at the thought that
there would be no more fast driving, squealing tires for a while.
They arrived at Huggy's as the lunch crowd was leaving. Huggy was dressed
as usual in his bright colored clothes. "Hey, my
friends, good to see you again, and congratulations here to Father
Starsky."
Starsky looked at his partner. Hutch had only told a few of their closest
friends that all was well after the accident the previous
day.
"Thanks Huggy, say what's the news?" Starsky asked wondering if Huggy
could throw any light on what the Federal Agents
had been telling Hutch and Dobey.
"No news is good news my friends" Huggy poured both partners a glass
of beer. "Now what could I get you to eat?" Starsky's
stomach was making very loud ramblings.
"A burger would go down nicely thanks Hug" replied Starsky who was just thinking back to when he had last eaten with all that
had been happening and came to the conclusion the last meal was breakfast the previous day.
"Salad for me thanks Hug" Hutch smiled at their friend and informant.
The three friends were soon happily sitting together filling
in Huggy of the events of the previous day and night.
The truck was coming close to the Arizona town of Kingman in the middle
of the afternoon. During the journey the team had
taken turns at dozing on the mattress or sitting behind the main cab
of the truck playing cards. Slowly the truck eased to a stop
on a backroad on the outskirts of Kingman. Parked on the side of the
road was a large RV with a car attached to the rear.
"Time to move men" Harris spoke to the trio. Matwick was quickly putting
together a few supplies. The interior of the truck
had been getting hotter as the day progressed and they were all glad
to move into the air conditioned coolness of the RV. The
truck pulled away from where it had stopped to deliver the cattle to
another ranch. A new load had been arranged to be
collected the next day. After a few minutes the RV rejoined Route 66
and headed towards Los Angeles, the driver estimated
they would be on the outskirts of LA by midnight.
Dobey could hear his detectives coming before they knocked on his door. "Come in" he shouted.
Entering the office Starsky was still muttering his thoughts about the Federal Agents.
"Starsky, good to see you on your feet again. How are Allison and Sarah?"
Dobey was happy to see his injured detective was
around walking. Starsky had indeed been lucky to have escaped with
only concussion and bruising from the accident.
"Fine Captain, they are both doing fine" Starsky beamed a smile thinking
once again how lucky he was to be settled down with
a family.
"Capt, I've tried to tell Starsk about the Federal Agents yesterday" explained Hutch
"Yeah, I want to know what the hell is going on" Starsky started to
raise his voice slightly again. He had calmed down since
leaving the hospital but was still furious at the thought of extra
security being forced upon them.
"Sorry Starsky, the orders came from way above me" Dobey apologized.
"I don't like this anymore than you do, the FBI
reckons the pair of you are in grave danger from Miller. There is nothing
I can do to stop them providing extra security."
"Capt, do the Feds know where Miller has gone to" asked Hutch who was
still feeling uneasy about the whole deal, something
was just not right but he still could not pinpoint what it was.
"They're still checking all his connections here in California, he seems
to have gone to ground. They do, however, know that
Miller had his sources inquire into the daily routine of you two. The
Feds think the sources have supplied Miller with your
addresses and that is why they want to have the extra security in place
just in case the information is correct" Dobey wished he
had better news to tell them.
"Oh that's just great" Starsky started pacing up and down Dobey's office
"So until the weasel is located we have to put up with
the Feds around us."
"Calm down Starsky"
"Calm down! Capt I can't sit back and wait for that weasel to appear. What about Allison and Sarah?"
They're coming home in a few days, I don't want Allison to be worried, it's the last thing we all need at the moment."
"I've already discussed this with Edith and we have plenty of room for
Allison and Sarah if you don't want them to return home
with you. We're more than happy to have them stay with us" Dobey looked
at Hutch. "That goes for Sonya as well Hutch, if
you're not comfortable having her caught up in this mess she is most
welcome to move in with us too." Starsky was relieved at
the offer to have his family safely away from the house until the whole
mess blew over. All he had to do now was convince
Allison it was the best thing to do.
"Thanks Capt" Starsky stopped pacing and sat down.
"Capt, thanks for the offer for Sonya to move in, but I think with her schedules and us living so close to the airport that she may
not want to take up the offer" Hutch smiled slightly at the thought of another night together with his fiancée.
Chapter Nine
Both partners where grateful for the offer of safe accommodation. The lack of sleep over the past 24 hours was starting to take
its toll on Starsky as he started to fall asleep listening to Dobey and Hutch talk.
"Come on Starsk, time I think we started heading home" Hutch helped his half asleep partner to his feet.
"Get a good nights sleep boys" Dobey smiled at his two detectives as they left his office.
Hutch drove his partner back to the hospital to see Allison and Sarah.
Both of them where wide awake. Starsky looked down
at Sarah and smiled happily at the gorgeous little bundle. Allison
passed Sarah to her husband. Starsky carefully held his
daughter. "Allison she is just beautiful"
"So, everything sorted out now?" Allison asked the partners
"Yes, all sorted out" Hutch replied making faces at little Sarah. A
little smile beamed from Sarah at her uncle Hutch. Starsky
realized that little smile was not just because of the faces Hutch
was making, he felt the dampness on his hand.
"Honey, where's a diaper?" Starsky was looking around everywhere but
couldn't see any diapers to grab to change the wet
mess.
"Under the bassinet there is a supply" Allison was wondering if her
husband knew how to change a diaper. Starsky carefully
placed Sarah on her mother's bed and quickly found a diaper. The wet
mess was easily removed but now Starsky was trying to
figure out how the diaper fitted.
"Here Dave, let me show you how you place the diaper on Sarah" Allison
quickly placed the new diaper on Sarah showing
both partners how to properly place the diaper.
"Oh that's how its done" Starsky smiled, happy to hold his daughter
once again now there was no dampness on his hand. As
Hutch talked with Allison, Starsky fell asleep with Sarah in his arms.
"Look at them both, sleeping like angels" Allison smiled looking at her husband sound asleep holding his daughter.
"Well I guess I better get the big sleeping angel off home" Hutch moved to his partner to wake him. Lifting Sarah out of his arms
soon woke him up.
"Uh, what, what's happening"
"Time we went home partner" Hutch gave Sarah back to Allison and then
helped his partner to his feet. Starsky bent over and
gave Allison and Sarah a kiss goodbye.
"I'll see you tomorrow" he smiled as they left.
The RV arrived in LA just after midnight and stopped just inside the
city boundary. The four men quickly unhooked the sedan
and set on their way. Matwick placed his supplies in the trunk, only
Harris knew where they were going and he had arranged to
meet his informant at the address they were heading too.
Hutch drove Starsky home. Hutch saw a familiar car in the driveway;
Agent Claremont was sitting in the driver's seat. "Starsk
wait here" Hutch walked over to the car.
"You take the short straw?" Hutch asked glaring at the Agent; he did not like the idea of the Feds babysitting them.
"I'm only here as a precaution"
"Yeah right, I told you before we don't need looking after, we can take
care of ourselves" Hutch felt like taking a swing at the
Federal Agent but knew that would not change the situation.
"Come on Hutch" Starsky stepped between his partner and the car. He
was too damn tired to be listening to an argument. "Let
the guy do his job."
Reluctantly Hutch backed off and followed Starsky inside. Hutch was
relieved to see there was no mess from the installation of
the security system.
"Starsk, there is something just not right. I don't know what it is but something is just not right with this whole set up."
Chapter Ten
The sedan pulled into the driveway and stopped next to the Agent's
car, the team were wondering whom it was that Harris had
arranged to meet. Agent Claremont moved over to the car and spoke to
Harris. "He is alone, his partner left an hour ago."
"Good, you have the key to get in?" Harris did not want to have to force their way into the house making a noise.
"Have the key right here."
The team moved quietly to the front door. Matwick had his supplies with
him. Agent Claremont unlocked the door for them
and in the darkness led the team to where Starsky was sleeping. Starsky
never heard his attackers approach him, the first he
knew was when the blue sheet was pulled back and the light switched
on.
"What the ......" before Starsky had time to try and defend himself
he was quickly placed on his stomach and his hands cuffed
behind his back. As quickly as he was turned over onto his stomach
he was now turned back over to lie on his back, his arms
aching underneath him. He was still held down, Agent Claremont held
Starsky's head and all Starsky could do was look up at
the mirrored ceiling. He could also see the men responsible for holding
him down.
"What the hell do you want?" he asked still trying his best to move.
Matwick entered the bedroom carrying his supplies. "Detective, you would
be best to lay perfectly still and not struggle with us
while I prepare you for the journey" he started to empty his supplies
onto the bed.
"What journey........, get the fuck away from me" Starsky tried again
to move only to be held tighter by the men. His shorts
were lowered a few inches to allow Matwick to get his job done.
"Get the hell away from me with that" Starsky could only watch in terror
as Matwick approached him with the catheter. "Get
away from me" but Matwick only proceeded to do his job. Starsky tried
his best to break free from everyone's hold but could
only watch as the catheter was inserted, the burning pain shot through
him causing his stomach to turn and soon he was
vomiting. Quickly he was moved over onto his side so he didn't choke
on his vomit, the pain he felt inside him was searing and
the room started to spin.
When the vomiting stopped a rag was stuffed into his mouth to stop him
from calling for help. The team pulled him to his feet; a
small trickle of blood came down the tube as he was walked out to the
car. The warm early morning air helped the nausea and
the world stopped spinning for a few seconds. Everyone stopped in their
tracks as Harris pulled out his gun and shot Agent
Claremont. The agent dropped in his tracks. Starsky thought to himself
that at least there was one down, now he just had to
worry about the four who were still with him. He was shoved onto the
floor of the back of the car. Harris was still driving with
Sloane in the front of the car. Starsky was held down on the floor
by Pardee and Matwick.
As the car headed across town towards the outskirts of the city, Starsky
started to vomit again and was choking as the rag had
not been removed. Matwick pulled the rag out and placed it under Starsky's
head.
"Matwick can't you do something to control that vomiting" Harris shouted, "The smell is terrible."
"He wouldn't be this way if he hadn't struggled, he's bleeding slightly."
Matwick looked down at the small pool of blood that
was collecting in the bag at the end of the tube. "I told you he had
to be restrained and held perfectly still." Starsky didn't need
to hear that he was bleeding the pain was still throbbing inside of
him. The car slowly came to a halt behind the RV. Pardee and
Matwick moved out of the back of the car and with the help of Harris and Sloane pulled Starsky out from the floor of the car.
Starsky tried one last time to break free; he lashed out with his feet
managing to knock Sloane down and slightly unbalanced
Harris. That only caused more pain from the tube inside of him and
he blacked out as he was moved from the car. Quickly the
team carried him into the RV leaving him on the floor while they attached
the sedan to the back of the RV and headed back
towards Kingman.
Chapter Eleven
Hutch arrived home and noticed there was no Fed car outside his apartment. Strange he thought, something is not right. Getting
inside he saw that there was no mess inside his apartment in fact no
sign of any security system having been installed. Knowing
that Sonya was home he heard her from the bedroom.
"Be, right their hon."
Quickly he phoned Starsky hoping that his partner would answer the phone
but deep down he knew that Starsky would most
likely sleep through the call. Sonya was wondering why Hutch was not
coming to bed and so wrapped a sheet around herself
and walked into the living room. Walking over to him she unwrapped
the sheet and wrapped it around both of them.
"How about coming to bed" she smiled up at him. Hutch could fell her body against his and wanted to make love to her but was
still worried about his partner. Holding onto the sheet with one hand
Sonya slowly started to unbutton her fiancé's shirt. Hutch
could feel her hands running down his chest and then undoing his belt.
His trousers fell to the floor as the zipper was lowered.
The heat was increasing between them and stepping out of his trousers
he swept Sonya off her feet and carried her back into
the bedroom. The sheet slipped away from between them as Hutch lowered
Sonya onto the bed quickly removing his shorts he
moved in beside her.
Hutch rolled over on top of Sonya kissing her, she could feel Hutch
penetrate her and moved with him as he moved further in.
They continued kissing each other until they were both exhausted and
lay next to each other.
"Ken, what is troubling you?" Sonya could tell something was really troubling her fiancé, their togetherness was not as intense as
other times.
"I just have a feeling something is not right that's all" Hutch didn't
want to worry Sonya with what the Federal Agents had said
and he still had the horrible feeling something was not right. He knew
he was not going to get any sleep unless he did something.
"Hon, I'll be back shortly. I'm just going to check on Starsky" He started to get dressed.
"But I thought you phoned him?" Sonya was trying to figure out what was happening.
"He didn't answer the phone. I've got to check to make sure he is okay."
"Ken, he is probably sound asleep and just slept through the call."
"I've got to go" Hutch moved back over to the bed and quickly kissed
Sonya. "If anyone comes to the door or if the phone
rings don't answer it" he warned her. "If I ring you, I'll ring for
two rings then hang up and ring again and you'll know it is me."
"Ken, what's wrong, tell me please" Sonya was getting concerned now
that something was seriously wrong and Hutch was not
telling her.
"Not now, just do as I say and stay here until I get back" Hutch left
the apartment making sure the door was secure behind him
and ran to his car and made his way to Starsky's home.
Starsky came too shortly after the RV entered Route 66 heading back
towards Kingman. Looking around him he was relieved
that he had room to move and was no longer stuck on a car floor underneath
feet. The floor of the RV however was not more
comfortable but at least he could stretch out. His wrists and arms
ached from the cuffs securing him; at least now that he was
not moved the pain inside of him had subsided slightly. He was trying
to remember where he had seen the men before. The
doctor he realized straight away, he could never forget the close call
he had when that doctor had tried to kill him during one of
the cases the partners had worked on 4 years ago. Once again he found
himself restrained and wondering what lay ahead of
him. "Where are you bastards taking me?"
"That is none of your concern Detective" Pardee moved over to him. Getting a closer look at him, Starsky remembered back to
where he had seen him. "We've got a lot of time to spend together while
your friend starts to look for you." Pardee pulled
Starsky to his feet, the pain once again starting to grip him. Pardee
wasted no time getting his revenge back on Starsky. He
pushed the detective backwards, Starsky feel back landing heavily against
the table. His lower back taking most of the force of
the impact. Trying to stay conscious Starsky gripped the table with
his hands to maintain his balance as the RV turned a corner.
"My partner will find me sooner than you think."
"I wouldn't be so sure, we have a long way to go yet" The next blow from Pardee hit Starsky in his stomach. Doubling up in the
pain, Starsky fell to the floor unconscious.