Another Ex Lover of Mine
                                                                                                      By
                                                                                                    Tooki


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                                                                                               Chapter 1
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Starsky was just sticking one leg into his favorite pair of faded Levi's when there was a knock at the front door. "Shit," he mumbled under his breath. Couldn't Hutch be late just once in his life? The detective glanced at the lump in his bed that hadn't move at the sound of the knocking, then jammed his other leg into his jeans. He grabbed a rumpled T-shirt from a chair in the corner of the bedroom and yanked it over his curly head. On the way to answer the door he grabbed his shoulder holster and was slipping it on as he opened the door.
Hutch was leaning in the doorframe waiting for his partner to open the door. He had two steaming cups of coffee, one in each hand. He knew he should have picked up Starsky a donut to save time but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "'Bout time old man," Hutch said holding out the white Styrofoam cup to his partner.
Starsky slipped quickly slamming the door behind him. Then he snapped his fingers and said, "I forgot my jacket." He slipped back into his apartment grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch. Starsky glance at his bed room door. She was standing there wearing one of his shirts and nothing else. The pretty blonde wiggled her fingers at him, Starsky stopped dead still, all he wanted to do was to tell Hutch to go away and jump back into bed with her. Signing he rushed over gave her a full kiss on the lips, then back to the door, opened it a crack and slipped out.
"What is up with you this morning?" Hutch asked craning his neck trying to get a look inside before Starsky slammed the door.
"Nothing why?" Starsky asked Hutch talking the coffee cup this time.
"You are acting mighty strange, you got a woman in there I shouldn't know about," Hutch teased. He knew everybody that Starsky dated. But he didn't know he had hit the nail right on the head.
Starsky jumped a bit at his words wondering if somehow Hutch had found out. Susan was usually a bit more tuned into him; it was hard keeping secrets from her but it had been almost a month and still neither of them knew.
They got into Hutch's brown heap this morning Starsky's red Torino was at Earl's getting some work done on his front seat. They had been in a little gun battle two shots had gone in his windshield and imbedded in the front seat. The windshield had been fixed right away but he wanted to wait until Earl had the time to repair the seats right. Since the damage had occurred while being on duty the police department paid the bill.
"Hey where's Susan?" Starsky asked hoping to change the subject.
"Doctor, she will be in later," Hutch said starting the car.
"She's not…?" Starsky asked leaving the question unfinished.
Hutch laughed, "No, well not that I know of. It's Jesse she has to go to the dentist. She won't go with anyone but Susan."
"Oh," Starsky said taking a sip of coffee and settling back. "We need to go over the check list?"
"Nope already done, thought I was save us some time today." Hutch pulled out into traffic then asked. "Donut stop?"
"Naw."
Hutch looked sharply at his partner, "No donut? No even one with the powdered death on it?"
"NO! Didn't I just say I didn’t want a donut this morning?" Starsky stormed.
"Ah I see got your sugar before you left." Hutch wasn't about to relent this morning. It wasn't often that just the two of them got to cruise the streets alone, it would be like old times.
"Will you just shut up and drive?" the curly headed detective grouched. Well maybe not after all. Starsky was usually the cheerful one.
Hutch finally gave up, he could clearly see that his partner was getting more pissed with each comment he made. So he radioed in to let dispatch know they were on the streets. They lunched at The Pits to catch up with Huggy. He was totally recovered and back to his old self. It had been almost six months since a mob bosses goons had slit this throat leaving him for dead. It had taken the barkeeper a while to stop jumping at shadows but he had been joking and laughing when the two detectives had entered the bar.
"Hey if it isn't my two favorite cops, " he joked as they sat down at the bar. "Hey Starsky my man I haven't seen you in a while. Where you been keeping yourself of late?"
Usually after their shift was over the trio would stop by Huggy's to get quick drink and unwind a bit before going home. But for the last month the moment they were off duty Starsky was in his red car and gone. Leaving Hutch and Susan to themselves, which they didn’t really mind all though they were beginning to wonder about their partner.
"Just busy," Starsky commented distractedly, then wondered over to the candy machine.
"What's up with curly?" Huggy asked watching Starsky mull over the candy.
Hutch shrugged, "Got me, he gets moodier as the day goes on."
"Woman trouble?"
"Not trouble just a woman. He wouldn’t even let me into the apartment this morning." Hutch said trying to decide what he wanted for lunch. "This one must be really special if he's keeping her away from us."
"Doesn't want you to scare her off," Huggy laughed as he went to draw a beer for another customer.
Starsky sat back down chewing on a chocolate bar. "Starsky that crap is…" Hutch began.
"I know, I know, rot my insides right?" He said taking another big bit.
Hutch just rolled his eyes, "What are you up for today?" he asked holding up a menu that they knew inside and out.
"Not hungry," Starsky said as he stuffed the last piece of chocolate in his mouth.
"I wonder why?" Hutch mumbled. Then to Huggy, "I'll have the club today."
Huggy saluted him and went to the kitchen to place the order. Hutch sat in silence watching his partner. Suddenly Starsky jumped up dug around in his pocket, he pulled out a dime, two pennies and a lint ball.
"You got a quarter pal," Starsky asked eyeing the telephone back by the bathrooms.
Hutch stuck his hand in his pocket and held out a palm full of change, "Take what ya need."
Starsky plucked a quarter from Hutch's hand and headed toward the phone calling back over his shoulder, "Thanks.
When they got back to the office after lunch Susan sat at her desk drinking a soft drink and waiting on them.
"How goes the dentist?" Hutch asked smiling at her.
"No cavities and no braces, well at least not yet anyway." Susan said returning his smile. "I took her to DQ on the way home."
"Trying to help those cavities for next time uh?" Hutch said picking up a file lying on his desk. His mood that had been good when he had picked up Starsky that morning was slowly changing for the worse, mostly due to his partners actions.
"What is with you?" Susan said watching Starsky come in the squad room doors. "Heck forget you what is wrong with him?"
Hutch turned to look in the direction his wife was, "My bad mood," he huffed and went to get a cup of coffee.
Starsky plopped down in his desk chair. "You two fighting?" Susan asked.
"Who?" Starsky asked distantly.
"You and Hutch," she said wondering just what was going on.
"No, why?"
Susan just shrugged her shoulders. "You and Libby going out tonight?" Libby was Starsky's on and off girlfriend for the last several years all though it had seemed more off than on lately. Libby who worked in the computer room and sometimes the front desk had just asked Susan that day when she had come in what Starsky was up too.
"No," he said shortly as he got up fished around in his pocket. Then he remembered he had forgotten that he didn't have any. "Got a quarter?"
Susan got up dug in her pocket and handed him the silver coin. Now she was beginning to see what Hutch was talking about. Starsky was acting strangely. He usually would talk your arm off if given half a chance. It wasn't often you saw him moody.
She followed him to a bank of phones out side the squad room and leaned up against the one he had just plunked the quarter in. "Do you mind?" he snapped.
"As a matter of fact yes I do," she said hitting the coin return. The quarter hit the return slot with a clink. She reached in and retrieved her quarter. "If you want this then you talk to me."
"About what," he said clearly annoyed.
"Starsky listen to yourself," Susan said. "What is going on with you? We hardly see you any more, Jesse asked me just to day when you were coming over. She misses you."
The anger fled his face and he looked at Susan sheepishly, "I'm really sorry, I just have things going on right now."
"What things, we can help you know."
"It's not bad things, it's just…" Starsky searched for the right wording.
"We need to mind our own business until you are ready to tell uh?" she smiled at him, he nodded. She flipped him the quarter as she turned to go back into the squad room. "Hey," he called after her. "Thanks."
"For what?" she asked. He held up the quarter then slipped it into the slot again. Susan shook her head and went back to her desk.
When their shift was over it was Susan that took Starsky to Earl's so that he could pick up his car. He crawled all over the front seat making sure that Earl had gotten every spot. When Starsky was satisfied he handed the departments check over to Earl and took off toward home. He made one stop to pick up a pizza, he couldn't hardly wait to get home.
Starsky keyed open the door, the living room was empty. He sat the pizza on the kitchen table and went into the bedroom. The shower was running, he shoved open the door softly. He stood there waiting for her to finish holding a towel for her. Finally the water shut off and a hand came from behind the shower curtain she knew she had placed on the towel rod.
He let her feel around for a few moments then handed her the fluffy towel. She let out a small squeal as she grabbed the towel wrapping it around her. "Dave you scared me to death." She smiled. "You should have just gotten in."
"It was tempting but I got a pizza, it'll get cold."
"Since when has cold pizza stopped you from eating it." She said reaching up to hug him. He hugged her briefly then looked at her. "What's up?"
"We got to tell Susan and Hutch about us," he said leaving the bathroom. She followed drying as she went.
"We should have done that along time ago. I don’t understand why we have to keep us such a secret?" She asked slipping on a pair of shorts and a tank top. Her long blond hair hung wetly down her back.
"I'm just not sure how Hutch is going to take this," Starsky said watching her towel dry and then brush her hair.
"Dave, Hutch and I were along time ago. It's over done with; he's married has a terrific kid and a great wife, why would he care?" She asked as she went to hang up the towel.
"You have to asked?" He said as he lay down on the bed that was still unmade. "You two have a lot of history."
She came out of the bathroom again. "That's just what it is too ancient history. So why don't we just take that pizza of yours pick up a couple of more and drop by for dinner?"
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                                                                                            Chapter 2
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Hutch and Susan were sitting in the living room discussing what to have for dinner. Their nanny slash housekeeper was out for the evening; she had met a gentleman at the frozen foods in the grocery a few weeks ago. Mrs. Edna Gray who was in her early sixties was as giggly as a schoolgirl when Gregory had come to pick her up. Jesse who was almost nine sat on the floor at her parent's feet listening to the discussion and trying to talk them into pizza.
"Well Uncle Starry would have pizza if he was here," she huffed almost sounding a little too teenage for her parents.
"Jess we just had pizza two nights ago, give me a break," Susan sighed not sure if she could stand one more evening of attitude.
Jesse got up swinging her long dark hair over her shoulder, her blue eyes sparked as she snapped. "He has it everyday." Jesse was tall for her age, which made her look older than her almost nine years. It had unnerved Susan the last time they went to the mall and a whole group of boys were ogling her daughter. For heaven sakes she had thought they were only children.
"He does not and I think it's time for you to go to your room until you can learn to speak to your mother," Hutch chided.
"Well that's just great, sent to bed with out dinner," Jesse stomped her foot.
"Oh don't be so dramatic as soon as we decide we'll let you know," Susan said trying not to smile. Most of the time she didn't know if she wanted to hug Jesse or slap her.
Jesse turned on her heels and was headed up stairs when the doorbell rang. She made a detour to the front door and pulled it open. Starsky stood there holding four white card board boxes and there was a pretty blond woman standing behind him with a case of Pepsi. The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw her favorite person. Susan had come to see who was at the door.
At first all she saw was Starsky holding the pizza. "Are you and my daughter incahoots?"
Starsky looked puzzled, "Oh," he laughed the pizza, he knew that it was Jesse's favorite as well as his. "Nope just felt like dinner with my best friends."
"Well come on in just don't stand…" Susan stopped talking when she saw who was with Starsky. "Maddie? Maddie is that you?" Susan took the case of pop out of her hands and hugged her tightly. "When did you get back into town? Where are you staying? Why didn't you call us?"
Maddie laughed at all her friend's questions. "Why don't we eat and I'll tell you."
By this time Hutch had arrived at the door to see what all the commotion was about. He was more than a little shocked to see his ex fiancée standing at his front door. It had been six months since they had seen each other. Madison Callaway's mob boss boyfriend had kidnapped him Susan and Jesse to get to Maddie. Susan had helped her disappear from site, little did the female detective know that a year later Frank Agiesti would come to terrorize them.
Hutch took one look at the expression on Starsky's face and knew she was the reason for his partner's strange behavior. He pulled Starsky into the house then propelled him toward the kitchen saying over his shoulder. "We'll get things ready in the kitchen."
Starsky placed the boxes on the table. "I think we should eat out on the patio."
The kitchen door opened and Jesse entered wanting to see Starsky. "OUT," Hutch commanded with any explanation. Jesse made a face but backed out of the room.
"What is with you?" Starsky asked looking at his partner. Hutch never spoke that way to Jesse.
"What are you doing with Maddie?" Hutch asked leaning on the edge of the counter. "Are you out of your mind?"
"I knew it," Starsky said angrily picking up the boxes again and heading out the sliding glass doors to the patio.
Hutch followed, "She is my ex fiancée."
"Remember the ex part Hutch buddy," Starsky said turning to confront his angry partner.
"You know what she did to me," Hutch said, not really sure if he was angry or more hurt.
"Hutch," Starsky said softly. "That was a long long time ago."
Just as Hutch was going to reply the two women along with Jesse came outside carrying plates, napkins and glass for the drinks. Bear the families dog who had been sleeping up stairs bounded along behind them. Both Susan and Maddie looked at Hutch then Starsky, Jesse had told them that her dad had chase her out of the kitchen.
"Everything OK out here," Susan asked setting the things she was carrying on the table.
"Yeah just great," Hutch said glancing at Starsky but his partner was to busy watching Maddie to even notice.
They sat down to the pizza but it was a quiet meal. The two men didn't speak, Jesse was afraid to say a word. Susan and Maddie were the only ones who spoke occasionally. Both Susan and Hutch were surprised to find out that Maddie had been in town just a little over a month, Hutch glared at Starsky.
After dinner was thankfully over Susan suggested that the guys go watch something on TV, then she sent Jesse off to take her bath leaving just her and Maddie in the back yard. "So," Susan said as she picked up two of the empty pizza boxes.
"So," Maddie repeated, she had been looking down but lifted her eyes toward Susan. Maddie's eyes had huge tears in them. "This…this thing with Dave and I is going to be a problem for Hutch isn't it?"
Susan put a comforting arm around the woman's shoulders. "Just let him get use to the idea, uh? I think it was a bit of a shock."
"I can understand that. I told Dave from the very beginning that we should tell you guys. I wanted to call you so badly but he wanted to wait for awhile." She smiled through her tears. "I guess to see if we were going to work out before he got Hutch upset."
"Oh don't worry about it," Susan said but the words were barely out of her mouth when they heard shouts from in side.
The sliding glass door banged open and Starsky barreled out. He grabbed Maddie by the hand, "We are leaving," he said then pecked Susan on the cheek, "I'll talk to you later." He didn't even bother going back through the house but instead went around the side of the house to the driveway. Susan heard the Torino roar to life and screech away.
She was still standing holding the pizza boxes when Hutch came to the doorway, "What in the hell was that all about," she questioned.
"How dare he date her, how could he! You want to tell me that?" Hutch stormed. "And don't you stand there and tell me it's OK! It's not!" He slammed the door shut and disappeared back into the house.
A few seconds later Jesse slid open the door. She was dressed in clean shorts and a top her long hair wet from the shower she had just taken. She had gotten redressed in hopes of seeing Starsky again. "What is wrong with Daddy?"
Susan shook her head, tossed the boxes on the table and sat down. "He's just upset," Susan sighed not sure what to do.
"About Maddie?" Jesse asked, she didn't miss a thing that went on much to her parents dismay. She paid way to much attention to their police affairs too. And had at one time even tried to set herself up as a kidnap victim.
Susan looked at her daughter who had joined her at the table. At first she wasn't going to tell her but then realized that she wasn't such a little girl anymore. "Maddie was your Daddy's fiancée many many years ago. Before they got married Maddie disappeared went to New York and begin to model."
"I'm glad," Jesse stated.
"Why?"
"Because if they would have gotten married then you would have never gotten married and then there wouldn't have been me." Jesse snuggled next her mother.
Susan shook her head, bright kid. "I’m glad they didn't get married either. But I think it upsets dad a bit even still. It was very hard on him, she just left with out saying goodbye. He searched for her for a time and then finally gave up."
"Poor Daddy," Jesse said sadly.
"Why don't you go up stairs to our room and watch TV for a bit," Susan suggested. "I want to talk to Daddy." She got up and began the process of cleaning up again.
"I'll do this for you Mom, you go talk to Daddy," Jesse said picking up the white boxes her mother had set down on the table.
"Thank you sweetie," Susan smiled proudly at her daughter.
She found Hutch brooding front on the TV, a baseball game was on but it was clear that he wasn't watching it. She turned off the set and then sat down on his feet that were propped up on a footstool.
"I don’t want to talk about it," Hutch said. He tried to get up but Susan won't move.
"Are you going to destroy your friendship with Starsk over this?" she asked.
"I would say that is totally up to him." Hutch snapped. "Get off me. I know you think this is just all fine but it's not. You have no idea what I went through."
"Yes I do and so does Starsky," Susan said softly but still didn't move she scooted up his legs until she was sitting in his lap. "I know it was hard. But Starsky must really love her to do this knowing how you would feel." She put her arms around his neck. "You don't have to worry you have me."
Hutch's face softened and he kissed her. "I know, I don't want to make you feel bad."
"You aren't, I can understand how you feel. And you are worried about Starsk but after all these years don't you think she has changed?"
"I hope so," Hutch sighed. "And I am more worried about him than it bothers me with her being around."
Jesse tiptoed through the living room toward the stairs, she smiled as she watch her parents talking. They were resting their foreheads together and talking so softly that she couldn't hear what they were saying. But they were both smiling, she knew that was a good sign. Instead of going to her parents bedroom like her mother suggested she went into her own room and closed the door.
"Let's go to bed," Hutch winked at Susan.
"Jess is in there watching TV,"
"Well we will just chase her out," Hutch scooped her off her feet and headed up the stairs.


                                                                                 Chapter Three

The next morning when Susan and Hutch arrived at work Starsky was already behind his desk. The couple stood and stared unable to believe their eyes, their partner was never early. He had his usual bag of donuts and a cup of coffee on his desk and he was stuffing the contents of the bag in his mouth as he read a file.
"Guess Maddie is pretty good for ya uh buddy?" Hutch said.
Starsky almost choked on his donut, he eyed Hutch to see if he was being sarcastic or if he really meant it. But Hutch was smiling at him and Susan winked at Starsky behind her husband's back. "She makes me get up." He grinned.
"Well good for her, about time somebody does," Hutch teased. "Uh…Starsk about last night, I’m really sorry I was such a shit."
Starsky waved his apology way, "Maddie was right we should have told you a long time ago."
"I'm amazed you kept it quiet this long we all know what a big mouth you have," Susan spoke up.
"You watch it sister," Starsky said tossing the file he was reading at her. Papers flutter everywhere.
"And I guess you expect me to pick all that up right?" Susan said.
"What is all this mess?" Boomed an angry voice behind the female detective. Susan spun around to see Captain Dobey standing directly behind her. She bent down and began picking up the mess of papers. "You planning on working today?"
"Our shift just started Cap," Hutch said grinning at Starsky.
"I know that." Dobey stormed. "Why don't you get out on the streets and stop playing games."
"Geez Cap bad night?" Susan asked wondering why their captain was in a rotten mood so early.
Dobey sighed, "Sorry guys, I just didn't sleep well last night wasn't feeling well."
"Don't worry about it," Starsky said then winked at Hutch all forgiven, "I guess anybody is entitled to a bad night once in a while.
Once Dobey had gone into his office and shut the door Hutch said, "Hey how about if we all go to that fair that just started up."
"I'll call Edna and see if she and her new beau would like to go with us," Susan said picking up the phone. "And Jesse can bring Cassie with her."
"Sounds good to me," Starsky grinned at his partners.
Edna Gray was delighted at the idea but Jesse was upset because everybody would have a "boyfriend" except her. Susan finally put her foot down and said either Cassie or no body.
The day went by quickly with out much activity, it didn't happen often but once in a while the detectives decided that the criminals took a day off. Actually they would have preferred a busy day the time went faster and they were all looking forward to that evening. They spent as much time as they could away from the office and Dobey's bad mood. An extra long lunch at the Pits made the day go a bit faster.
Finally their shift was over, Starsky went home to get Maddie. When Susan and Hutch pulled up in front of their house, Jesse was waiting in the front yard for them dressed in a very short crop top and short shorts. Susan rolled her eyes as she passed Jesse, "You are not wearing that."
"But Cassie is," Jess whined.
"I don't think so," Susan answered as she started to open the door. But the knob was jerked out of her hand by Cassie who was standing in there dressed identical to Jesse.
"Oh sorry, " Cassie exclaimed as she dashed out grabbing Jesse by the hand. "I got to go get some money we'll be right back."
"I give up," the female detective muttered as she entered her home. She was half expecting to see Edna dressed in short shorts too. But the nanny was sitting on the couch with a lovely looking gentleman next to her.
"Susan," Edna said getting up. "This is Gregory."
Susan extended her hand, "Gregory, I'll glad you could join us. And this is my husband, Ken Hutchinson." She said as Hutch came up behind her.
Hutch shook the man's hand then pulled Susan away. "Did you see what Cassie and Jesse had on?" he said almost under his breath. Susan nodded. "They are only eight for heaven sakes."
"Then you do something about it," Susan answered. And went back to talk to Mrs. Gray and her guest.
The front door opened and slammed shut as Jesse and Cassie tore past the detective. "Hey Jesse," Hutch called after his daughter who was half way up the stairs. "Don't you think you should change your clothes before we go?"
"OH Daddy," Jesse said, both girls giggled and continued on up the stairs. Hutch was about to go up and have a talk with the girls when the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Starsky and Maddie standing there.
"Come on in guys. My daughter and I have to have a chat about her attire," he said leaving them standing at the front door.
Thirty minutes later they were leaving, Edna and Gregory were going in Hutch's car while the girls were riding with Starsky and Maddie. Susan called up to the girls, they came running down still in the same outfits. Susan shot a look at her husband who just shrugged his shoulders.
It was just beginning to get dark when they arrived at the fairgrounds, the mid way was lit up, the smells of cotton candy, corn dogs and farm animals mixed bringing the fair to life for Susan who was from the mid west. Jesse and Cassie wanted to ride the rides so Hutch handed out money and the girls went off to buy their tickets. Edna and Gregory wondered off in search of some of the exhibits leaving the two couples together. They stood letting the atmosphere sink in. Since no of them had eaten since lunch that was the first order of the evening.
Hutch searched in vain for something healthy to eat. Fried potatoes, hamburgers, onion rings, large links of sausage with peppers and onions all in a bun. Susan shook her head at him, "Why don't you and Maddie go find us a place to sit," she indicating several picnic tables under some trees. "Starsky and I will bring you some real food."
Susan and Starsky started off in search for the perfect dinner while Hutch and Maddie tried to pick out a clean table. It was an almost impossible job but finally they found one that wasn't quite as dirty as the rest.
Once they had sat down, Hutch said, "I'm sorry about last night Mads."
She placed her hand over his, "It's OK I know it must have come as a shock. I got back a month and half ago. New York just wasn't where I wanted to be anymore. And the only other place that I new was L.A. so here I am. I just happened to run into Dave one day by accident, he asked me out to dinner and then we started dating."
He looked at her intently, "Don't hurt him."
"Is that what this is all about, you are afraid I would do the same thing to him uh?" Maddie said taking her hand from Hutch's. "I was so young then, I didn't really know what I wanted. I think I would have been better of if I would have stayed here with you."
"And you would have been miserable and you know it." Hutch smiled at her, over the years he had come to understand that what she had done was for the best. "We would have never been happy and you would have ended up hating me."
"I could never hate you Ken Hutchinson, " she said placing her hand on his cheek. "I think you were truly my first love."
Hutch looked down not knowing what to say. "Hey what's the solemn faces for? We are going to have a blast." Susan said as she sat a box of greasy onion rings and corn dogs down on the table.
Starsky sat down four large cups of soda and a huge order of French fries. "Everything OK?" he asked looking at Maddie, wondering if Hutch had something unkind to her.
"Everything is just fine," Maddie said taking one of the hot corn dogs. "We were just talking old times."
Hutch looked over the food spread on the table and made a face. Starsky picked up each cup and opened the lids until he found one that he was looking for. "Here buddy, the closest thing we could find to healthy.
Hutch took the drink and took a sip and nodded in approval. "Good what is it?" he asked.
"It's a fruit freeze, orange juice base, strawberries, bananas and ice," Susan told him as she handed him his corn dog. "So you can have one of these now."
After they finished eating they walked the midway, finally the foursome decided on the roller coaster. Maddie looked perfectly green by the time the ride ended so Starsky took her to play some of the games the barkers were soliciting while Susan and Hutch road more rides. First Starsky tried his hand at the ring toss but lost every time. Then he tried knocking down milk bottles with no luck, finally he tried darts with not so much as a small stuffed animal.
Maddie told him didn't matter but he wanted to win something for his lady. At the very last stand was a shooting game. "This is my kind of game," Starsky beamed at her. "You start picking what you want." He had to pick off all of the bad guys that held targets in front of them. Piece of cake he thought. One by one he picked each one off, if he kept going he could keep trading the prizes in until he had the biggest one they had. Maddie giggled after each time he won telling him he could stopped but Starsky wanted the biggest and best for her. Once he took a break and patted the small square box that was in his pocket.
By the time Starsky was on his last round of the game a huge crowd had gathered to watch they cheered him on each time he took down one of the targets. No body noticed the man that had come up closely behind the pretty blond woman. Or that he also had a gun in his hand that he was screwing at silencer on.
"One more Hon," he said to Maddie, he kissed her quickly. He aimed and fired the target went down, a huge cheer went up from the crowd. But Maddie was crumpling next to him Starsky caught her just before she hit the ground.
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                                                                                     Chapter Four
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Maddie was so touched by Starsky's actions that she like the crowd didn't noticed the older man directly behind her. If she had been paying attention to him instead of her date she might have felt him before she felt his hot breath on her neck and his words in her ear.
"This is for Frank," came a whisper from seemingly no where and then there was a pain in her chest that quickly spread though out her whole body. Madison Callaway was dead before she hit the ground. Her assailant moved away undetected, he slipped the gun in his waist band allowing his jacket to cover it then faded into the crowd.
"Maddie?" Starsky said startled. He thought she had just passed out, he knew she wasn't feeling well from the roller coaster ride. "Hon?" He held her in his arms, as he tried to get a better grip on her lifeless body he noticed that his hand was covered with blood. He looked more closely at her shirt a red spot was slowly widening on the white fabric. "GET A DOCTOR, SHE'S BEEN SHOT."
Hearing those words, the crowd began moving away several women screamed at the site of the blood that was beginning to drip on the pavement. Starsky guided Maddie's limp body to the ground, he felt for a pulse but couldn't find one. Tears were streaming down his face as he cried out for help.
Susan and Hutch were just coming to the games after riding the coaster a few more times, the tilt-a-whirl, even the merry-go-round. They saw Cassie and Jesse once the girls were having the time of their lives. Hutch told the girls to meet them at the front gate at ten. That was the time the fair had their nightly fireworks show.
People were running, several were screaming the two detectives looked at each other. Instinctively Hutch reached for his gun but none of them usually carried their weapons off duty. "What the hell is going on?" Hutch said catching Susan's hand as they ran through the mob of people trying to escape the area.
When the crowd finally thinned out what greeted their eyes was truly a sad site. Starsky sat on his knees he held Maddie's body as he rocked back and forth. Her arms hung limped from her sides, both of them were soaked with blood.
Susan released Hutch's hand and fell to their side. "Starsky what happened?"
He shook his head as he squeezed his eyes shut to keep the tears back, "Somebody shot her." Susan picked up one of Maddie's wrists and felt for a pulse then looked up at Hutch and shook her head. Maddie was dead. She wasn't sure if Starsky was aware of it or not.
In the distance they could hear a siren, Starsky kept rocking the dead woman and talking to her softly. Finally an ambulance and a police car pulled up next to the booths. Two uniformed officers jumped out. "Alright stand back," the taller of the two officers commanded. When the two detectives didn't move he repeated himself.
"Look Officer…." Hutch began.
"Burkly."
"Office Burkly, I'm Detective Hutchinson, this is Detective Carlston, we are from the Bay City division. That is our partner Detective Starsky," Hutch said. "It is his girl friend who has been shot."
"That is all well and good but you are in our division now so if you don't mind stepping back." The officer said
Two paramedics crouched next to Starsky and Maddie, but he wouldn't let them look at her. He knew with out even being told that she was dead, he didn't want to let go of her just yet. Starsky knew he would never see her again except in a cold casket.
Susan knelt next to her partner again. "Come on sweetie let them take Maddie. You come with Hutch and I." Starsky shook his head. She took his face in her hands and made him look at her. "Starsky you have to come with us."
He nodded his head like he was in a dream and allowed the paramedics to take his beloved Maddie from him. His shirt was soaked in blood as he fell into Susan's arms sobbing.
Hutch was having a few heated words with the officer that had told them to move. But when he saw Susan with their partner he walked away from the officer to join them. "It's going to be OK Starsk," Hutch tried to soothe his friend but he knew that at this point it was only empty words. "I'm going to see if I can find the girls and Mrs. Gray.
Susan was leading Starsky toward his car as the ambulance containing Maddie's body passed them. He gave it a mournful look and his knees about gave out under him. "Come on we are almost to the car." Susan encouraged.
Hutch was not having much luck finding the girls, they could be any where. But he finally spotted Mrs. Gray and her friend. He explained quickly what had happened and asked them to meet the girls at the front gate at ten. "I'll be back to pick you all up then."
But Gregory shook his head, "We'll get a cab, don't worry about us." Edna nodded her head in agreement.
When Hutch got to the parking lot Susan had Starsky in the passenger's side of his car. She looked up at her husband with eyes brimming with tears. "Take him home, he needs to get changed. Then I guess we had better get to the station and take a statement from him."
"I think he needs to come with me now," Said a voice behind them. Officer Burkly was standing there glaring.
"Listen Officer Burkly," Susan said. "Our partner just lost the woman he loved, he is covered with blood and needs to shower and change. Then we are taking him to our station you are more than welcome to meet us there."
Hutch shut the door of the Torino then got in the drivers side. "You heard the lady."
Officer Burkly was going to argue but there was no one left to argue with. The female detective had gotten in a beat up brown heap and driven off followed by the red and white car.
Hutch got Starsky home and into his bedroom he helped a dazed Starsky shed the bloody clothes. He toss them toward the trash can in the corner of the room. Suddenly Starsky came alive and went to the pile of clothes. He searched through them until he found the small box he had been hiding all evening.
"What you got there buddy," Hutch asked as he watch his friend careful hold the box.
After a few moments he handed Hutch the small square box. Hutch knew what it was before he even opened it. Slowly he popped the top on the box; a beautiful engagement ring sparkled in the light. "You know I was going to ask her to marry me this evening. I was going to get her on top of the Ferris wheel and I was going to ask her right there. I made up my mind this morning when you told me it was OK with you...you know her and I. I've had the ring for a few days but I couldn't give it to her until you guys knew. I…I…" his voice broke.
Hutch closed the box then place his hand on his partners shoulder, they stood that way for several minutes then Hutch said, "You need to get cleaned up so we can get to the station. We need to find out who did this to her." Starsky nodded and went into the bathroom closing the door.
When Susan arrived at the station it was in chaos. Libby was standing by the front door her face was pinched looking as she stared out the front door. "Libby what is going on?" Susan asked.
"Oh man you don't know," Libby said and hugged her tightly. "Dobey had a heart attack about an hour ago."
"My God," Susan said, she began to sob, it was just too much, first Maddie then Dobey.
"Honey he's going to be OK we think." Libby said. "The doctors said it was a mild one."
"Maddie's dead," Susan blurted out.
"What?" Libby pushed her away and looked into her eyes. "What happened to her?"
Quickly Susan explained to her what had happen. Libby was stunned, and a bit hurt, she hadn't known that Starsky was dating someone else. Susan realized that Libby didn't know about Maddie, "I’m sorry," she said.
"Never mind," she said quickly. "So do you know who shot her?"
"No, the guys should be in here soon. And now I’m going to have to tell them about Dobey too." Susan shook her head. "There is also this pain in the ass cop Burkly, we need to find out who his captain is and get this thing settled. We are handling this case."
"We will have to see who is going to be filling in for Dobey." Libby said. "No one has been contacted to replace him yet."
"Man what a bitch of an evening," Susan said trying to pull herself together. "Buzz me when they get here and don't tell them about Dobey until we are together." Libby nodded and watched Susan as she got on the elevator.
​

                                                                                       Chapter Five
​

Almost an hour passed before Starsky and Hutch arrived at the station. Libby buzzed Susan as she was asked to do then went with the two detectives to the squad room. Starsky sat down at his desk, his face was pale, dark circles were already forming under his eyes. Susan dreaded telling them that their Captain was in the hospital. Libby went and stood behind Susan placing her hand on her shoulder.
"What?" Hutch asked looking at their grim faces. He had a feeling it was more than Maddie.
Susan took a deep breath then grabbed Starsky's hand, he was still shaking. "Dobey was taken to the hospital about two hours ago, he had a heart attack."
Hutch just stared at her speechless; Starsky's hand went limp in hers. She looked down at him his eyes were close. Finally Hutch asked, "How bad."
Libby spoke up, "They think it was a mild one but won't know for a few hours yet."
Dobey had still been in his office that evening, he wasn't feeling any better in fact a lot worse. The long days he was putting in were killing him. Edith was begging him to take some time off but there was just no one to fill in for him. They had a shortage of police officers and a lot of them were working twelve-hour shifts to keep the streets safe.
Dobey was just thinking about packing it in when the phone rang. "Dobey here," he barked into the phone. His chest felt like someone was sitting on it and his right arm was going numb. Suddenly a sharp pain went through his chest like he had been stabbed. It was so bad that it took his breath. "I…I…" Dobey stammered then slumped forward on his desk. The phone receiver hit the floor with a thud. The party on the end of the line called to the captain several times then called the main desk for help. By the time he was found Dobey was unconscious.
"Man," Hutch finally got his voice back. "I can't believe all this. What are we going to do without a captain? He knew that with the shortage it would be unlikely that anyone would talk over for Dobey at least not right away. And they had this thing with Officer Burkly.
As if he knew he was being thought of Officer Burkly walked into the squad room. He was one of these know-it-all cops that went by the book never deviating from it. "Where is your Captain," he demanded with out even a hello first.
"He isn't here right now," Susan spoke up.
"From what I hear he won't be for a while now will he," Burkly said smugly.
"What the hell is your problem," Hutch shouted at the man. "I have had just about enough of you."
"On your feet Starsky you are coming with me. We need to get the paper work done on this murder." He said stepping forward to take Starsky's arm.
Hutch stepped in between them, "My partner is not going any where. You can take your statement right here."
"Get out of my way or I will arrest you of obstruction of justice." Burkly growled and tried to push Hutch out of the way but Hutch held his ground.
"What in the blazing hell is going on in here, " Boomed a loud voice.
Startled they all turned to see Commissioner William Eldridge standing in the doorway of the squad room. He was an older distinguished looking man with gray hair and a three-piece suit.
"Commissioner Eldridge," Susan exclaimed.
"Detective Carlston," he nodded her direction. "Now would somebody like to tell me what this shouting match is all about?"
Quickly they explained what had happened with Maddie. The commissioner nodded as he listened then said. "I know this is highly unusual but Detective Hutchinson I am making you temporary Captain until Dobey is able to return to work. With the shortage there is on one to fill in for him and we need a Captain. I think that you will be a good choice please don't disappoint me."
"Yes sir," Hutch said glancing at Susan but she had a worried look on her face.
"Something wrong Detective Carlston?" Eldridge asked also noticing the look on her face.
"Well sir, if Hutch is the Captain he'll have to be here in the office correct?" she asked. He nodded, "We have a case here that I’m going to need help on."
"You do not HAVE a case, it is my case," Burkly announced.
Eldridge glared at Officer Burkly. "Divisions are suppose to work together not against each other Officer. And I think this is a special case don't you?"
"But…but," he sputtered.
"I think you should help out these detectives all you can in this matter," Elridge looked sternly at the office. "Is that understood? These are three of my best detectives and you and your division with help them in anyway you can."
"Yes sir," Officer Burkly said softly the wind had been knocked from his sails.
"And to answer your question Detective Carlston, yes Hutchinson will have to be here at the office." He told her. "But you will have Starsky and Burkly here to help you with the investigation right?" Eldridge look directly at Burkly.
"Yes of course," the officer, said civilly.
Tony Burkly was not a bad cop in fact he was a very good one. He had been an officer for the last ten years and had gotten many accommodations for his work. But his by the book attitude sometimes got in the way. He came off a lot of times as uncaring when he cared very much about the victims of crimes. Tony just didn't want to miss anything. And he was afraid they were missing out on catching the shooter of the Detectives girlfriend. He hoped that his partner was getting all the details at the fair ground along with any evidence that could be there. He knew that these three detectives had a rather unorthodox way of handing things at times and had gotten themselves in trouble a time or two. He didn't want anything to stand in his way of making Detective himself. But on the other hand if the case turned out well he might just get the leg up he was hoping for.
Eldridge looked at Hutch, "Now I don't expect you to spend every moment behind that desk."
"Got ya," Hutch smiled at him.
"Captain Hutch," Said Starsky after Eldridge left. His partners were surprised by his words they weren't even sure he had heard what was going on in the room.
"Yeah how about that buddy," Hutch said patting him on the back. "The one job I never wanted. As he headed toward Dobey's office he pressed something in Susan's hand and whispered, "Take care of this."
She looked at the small box he had handed her. Then slipped it in her pocket she knew what it was with out even looking. Susan took a moment to collect herself then pulled up a chair next to Starsky. "You ready to make a statement?"
Tony Burkly looked around for some where to sit. He started toward Hutch's desk then stopped and asked, "This ok?"
"Yeah," she smiled at him. "You'll find police report forms in the top draw, you can type it up if you want." He nodded as he found the right form and adjusted it the typewriter. "OK Hon," She then said to Starsky. "Tell us what happened."
Starsky shook his head sadly. "I don't know. I was doing great shooting the targets. I wanted to win her the biggest stuff animal there. A crowd started building up watching me, the next thing I knew I had won and Maddie was falling. I thought at first she had just passed out. But then all that blood…" he stopped unable to go on.
"Did you hear the gun shot?" Burkly asked.
Starsky thought for a moment, "No, I think I would have noticed that. It would have sounded a lot different from the gun I was using in the game."
"Well that tells us something, a silencer was used." Burkly tapped the typewriter.
"A silencer?" Susan's eyes widened. "No, no it couldn't be."
Starsky looked at her, "You don't think."
"What?" Burkly asked not understanding.
"Well Officer Burkly," Susan began.
The man stopped her, "Look call me Tony, looks like we are going to be working together so we might as well as make the best of it."
"Thanks, I'm Susan," the female detective said. Then explained to the officer the details of Madison Calaway.
"So you think this could be a mob hit?" Tony asked.
"How many two bit hoods to you know have silencers?" Susan asked. "And there was no motive. Nothing was taken, who every it was just disappeared into the crowd."
"Shit," Starsky said suddenly his eyes coming alive.
"What?"
"You don’t think who ever it is might just come after you?" He asked his partner. "After all you two were the only ones that survived that storm on yacht. I think we need to go in and talk to Hutch."
"Let's worry about Maddie right now. And Hutch has his hands full with trying to take over for Dobey." Susan said fearfully if Hutch thought the same thing he might pull her off the streets and they needed all the help they could get.
"Listen," Starsky said sternly, "I have already lost one lady I love I'm not losing two."
Libby had stood back taking everything in. "I can help out, I know paper work and I can work the streets too. So where ever I will be the most help just let me know, I'm sure my boss with have no problem with it."
"Thanks Libs," Starsky said giving her a small smile. He started toward her but she backed away.
She hated to say this now with everything that had happened to Starsky but if she didn't, she never would. "I'll be your friend Starsk but nothing more. I can't always be second choice here. Whenever something happens with another lady you always come back to me. I care about you and it was fine for a while but it's not anymore. I thought after the Joan business we had something going, it lasted for a while and then you were off again." Tears were standing in her eyes when she finished speaking.
"I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you." He said sadly.
"I know you didn't."
The office door opened and Hutch stepped into the room. "I hate it," he grumbled. "I should be out in the streets not trapped behind a desk."
"Cap needs you to do this," Susan said trying to comfort him.
"I know. I just called the hospital; he is in good condition. I thought we could drop by in the morning to see how he is." Hutch told them.
"I'm going to give my partner a call, see what he's come up with," Tony said picking up the phone. Starsky and Susan told their hit man theory to Hutch, who had to agree with them. They decided it best if they all went home and started fresh in the morning. Tony's partner had secured the area and had their crime lab go over it. Starsky wanted Maddie's results brought to Sam Walters, the head of their crime lab he was the best in the city. This time Burkly made no argument.
By the time the three detectives got back to the townhouse, Mrs. Gray and Jesse were there. Gregory and Cassie had long since left. Jesse was in her nightie but Edna couldn't make her go to bed until her parents came home. She had found out what had happened at the fair, everybody was talking about it. At first she didn't realize who they were talking about until she over heard someone say something about a cops girl friend. And then when she saw Mrs. Gray's face she knew for sure.
As soon as they opened the door Jesse fell into her mothers arms sobbing. Susan steered her toward the stairs, Starsky had his own grief to deal with. Once up stairs she tried her best to explain to her upset daughter what had happened. But she wasn't even sure she knew, and left out the hit man part especially since Agiesti had kidnapped Jesse along with her and Hutch.
​

                                                                                            Chapter 6
​

The next morning the three detectives went to the hospital to visit their Captain before their shift started. Dobey was sitting propped up in his hospital bed when they entered the room. He was doing well he had been moved from intensive care very early that morning to a regular room.
"Morning Cap," Starsky said, he still had dark rings under his eyes from the lack of sleep. No matter how he tried to sleep the image of Maddie lying in his arms kept coming back to him. The one time he did fall asleep he dreamt that he had been the one who had shot her. Starsky woke up dripping with sweat and didn't even try to go back to sleep after that.
Dobey gave them a small grin, "Guess I'm going to be around a bit longer to make your lives miserable."
"Don't say that," Susan said as she leaned over to hug him.
"And I hear that you are taking my place Hutchinson," Dobey said eyeing the blond detective. Hutch just shrugged. "Just don't get to comfortable behind my desk."
"Don't worry I won't," Hutch sighed.
"Oh and tell that friend of yours thank you for the beautiful arrangement," Dobey said pointing to a huge display of mini sunflowers.
"Friend? You mean Huggy?" Starsky asked.
"No, you know your friend that went back New York…Maddie?" Dobey said. "How did she know I was here?"
Starsky just stared at Dobey then the flowers. "WHAT?" he exclaimed and reached for the card in the flowers. He yanked the white card from its envelope, sure enough it was signed Maddie Calaway. Tears filled the detectives eyes and he leaned against the wall heavily.
Susan took the card from his hand and read it then handed it to Hutch. "What is going on?" Dobey questioned.
"Cap, Maddie was murdered last night while we were at the fair," she said softly.
"What? Then who…" Dobey began.
"I think we need to find out who. Let's get to this florist maybe they will remember something," Hutch said checking the name of the florist on the back of the card.
"Ah Hutchinson I think you have a squad room to run." Dobey said knowing it was going to his detective not to be in the middle of the investigation.
"Think we should call Burkly?" Susan asked her partners.
"Naw lets check this out we can fill him in later." Starsky said taking the card from Hutch.
"Who?" Dobey asked. Quickly Susan filled him in all the details that they knew which wasn't much. "You keep me informed you hear me?"
"You rest Cap," Hutch said.
"Keep me informed," Dobey repeated.
After dropping Hutch off at the station Starsky and Susan went to the florist printed on the card. It had just opened when they got there. A young woman was arranging some flowers at the counter. Starsky showed her his badge, "I'm Detective Starsky and this is my partner Detective Carlston."
"What can I do for you detectives?" she asked as she put the finishing touches on the arrangement and placed it in a cooler behind her.
"A huge arrangement of sunflowers came from here yesterday." Susan told her. "We need to find out who sent them."
"Oh goodness I remember those, two dozen mini sunflowers." She said her eyes widening at the thought of collecting all those flowers. "I had to call in a few favors to get them all. We don't usually keep that much in stock. That arrangement set the gentleman back two hundred dollars."
"Gentleman?" Starsky asked. "What did he look like?"
"Oh he was older I would say maybe late sixties maybe a little younger. Dress very nice, sport coat pull over shirt, silver gray hair. A little taller than you Detective Starsky." She said, fortunately for the detectives the woman was a bit of a people watcher.
"Did he give you an address?" Susan asked.
The woman shook her head, "No he paid cash for the flowers."
"What time was all this?" Starsky fired at her.
"It was closing time, about nine I was here until almost ten getting it ready. He said that it had to go out right then. I even took it to the hospital myself." She said.
"Thank you," Susan said, "You have been a lot of help."
The detectives got back to Starsky's car but didn’t get in, instead they leaned on it. "Do you realize if it was the killer that he had to leave the fair grounds and come directly here?" Susan said. "We need to find out what some of the witnesses saw."
The two detectives met Tony Burkly and his partner Brad Thomas at the Pits. Officer Thomas handed them a thick file of statements he had taken the night before. Starsky told them about the flowers and going to the florist as Susan skimmed the reports. She was about half way through them when she spotted a description from a teenage girl of an older man standing directly behind Maddie. She looked at the top of the paper for her name and address, then placed that report a side. By the time Susan got done with all the statements she had four that had described the same gentleman.
Hutch was sitting behind Dobey's desk talking on the phone when his partners along with the two officers entered the office. "Try knocking."
"God he already is starting to sound like Dobey," Starsky commented as he took a seat everyone else followed his lead.
"So you guys got anything good?" Hutch asked hanging up the phone. Starsky went through they story again and handed the four statements to Hutch. "Let's get these people in here and Tommy up here do draw up a picture. We'll do them one at a time so they can't hear each other."
Several hours later Hutch had four drawing laid out in front of him. They were all pretty much the same. Each one of the witnesses were interviewed again, they had all been standing close to Maddie and Starsky at the game. One young woman said she had even thought she saw the man with a gun but hadn't really thought anything of it at the time. She just thought he was going to play the game. None of the others had seen a gun; no body heard a shot except for what was going on with the target game.
"Can we get a squad car to run these drawings over to the florist? Starsky asked. "I want to see if she recognizes him."
"I'll do it," Libby said she had just opened the office door and over heard what he had said.
"Thank you," Hutch said to Libby handing her the drawings. "If she identity's him, I want a copy of those in ever squad car in the city."
"You got it boss," Libby said with a wink as she left.
Hutch rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Good job guys. The corners report is in, the bullet hit her heart, she was dead before she hit the ground." Hutch looked at Starsky, "I'm sorry buddy."
Starsky looked away trying to hold back the tears. Susan who was standing next to him placed her arm around his shoulders. "We are going to find the bastard."
Starsky took a deep breath and nodded. He picked up one of the drawings and studied it closely. "You know this guy looks familiar to me too."
"Really? You think you might have seen him in the crowd?" Burkly asked.
"I don't know, maybe I was pretty intent on what I was doing. Until Maddie started going down I didn't notice anything." Starsky said cursing himself, if he hadn't wanted to show off for her she would have still be alive.
"It wasn't your fault," Hutch said knowing what his partner of many years was thinking. "If it was a hit it was just a matter of time before they got to her."
"Yeah but if I had been paying more attention I might have been able to stop them." He said softly.
An hour later a call came in from Libby saying that the florist identified the man as the one who had purchased the flowers. That moved them into action getting the drawings out on the streets. Hutch sent copies to the newspapers in hopes that someone would recognize the man.
It was late that evening by the time the detectives got home. Both Susan and Hutch had insisted that Starsky stay with them for a while. The living room was lit up but nobody was there. Hutch called out for Jesse but there was no answer. Starsky started toward the kitchen with Susan following. They had been so busy that they had missed dinner.
Suddenly Starsky came to a dead stand still causing Susan to run into him. "Starsk!" She exclaimed.
Starsky opened his mouth but nothing came out, he pointed to the dining room table. There sat the same arrangement of flowers that Dobey had gotten at the hospital. He went over and searched for a card but there wasn't one.
"EDNA!" Susan hollered as she ran back in to the living room.
"What's wrong," asked Hutch alarmed.
"Go look what's sitting on the table in there." She through over her shoulder as she took the stairs two at a time. "Edna! Jesse! Where are you?"
Edna's room door opened, "We are in here dear. What's the matter?"
"The flowers down stairs where did you get them?" Susan demanded.
"Oh from Gregory," she beamed at the detective. "Aren't they beautiful?"
​

                                                                                            Chapter 7
​

Mrs. Gray sat at the dining table staring at the flowers her date had sent her. She hadn't seen Gregory since he had dropped her and the girls off in the taxi. The flowers had arrived late that after noon, a note with an apology that he couldn't make their date that night.
"Edna, what is Gregory's last name?" Starsky asked talking the older woman's hand.
"I …I don't know." She said as tears glistened in her eyes. "Funniest thing every time it came up he always changed the subject some how. I don’t really know anything about him, where he lives, if he works, nothing."
"You met him in the grocery?" Starsky asked gently.
"Yes, but now that I think about it that was even strange." She said thoughtfully. "He didn't have a cart or a basket or even anything in his hands. He as just wondering around the store."
"This could all be a coincidence," Susan said but her gut told her it wasn't. "I'll call down to the station and see if I can get somebody to pull the Agiesti file.
While Susan went to make the call Hutch and Starsky questioned Mrs. Gray some more but there was little she could tell them. The car the man drove was a rental, he seemed to have a lot of money on him and didn't mind spending it. They were still taking to the nanny when Susan came back and stood in the doorway.
"Well?" Hutch asked.
"Seems Frank Agiesti has two brothers but neither of them is in the business. One is a doctor the other lives out of the country but his father is still alive. Gregory Agiesti." Susan sighed. "I think we have our man if we can just find him."
Edna Gray put her head in her hands and began to cry, "This is all my fault a foolish old woman thinking she could date like a kid." Edna sobbed.
"Edna it is not your fault anymore than it's mine," Starsky soothed. "Like a good friend told me, if he was after her he would have gotten her sooner or later."
"But…but I brought him into the house, he was with Jesse."
"You didn't know, none of us did, he seemed like a lovely man," Hutch told her. Then Hutch looked at his wife. "And how safe to you think you are?"
"Well it depends on why he killed Maddie. Because she double-crossed Frank or because he felt she was responsible for his death. If it's the latter he could be coming after me I guess." Susan answered honestly. "But at least we know who we are looking for now. Don't even think of taking me off the streets."
"I wouldn't think of it," Hutch said shaking his head. "Wouldn't do me any good to order you anyway would it?"
"Nope," she grinned.
"I'm going into the office for a while," Hutch said. "I want to see if I can get a photo of old man Agiesti. I'll get an APB out on him too. You two get some rest."
It was three a.m. and the phone beside the bed was ringing, it was never a good sign when the phone rung this time of night. Susan wondered why Hutch hadn't picked it up then remember he had gone into the office but that was hours ago. She reached for the phone, "Yeah,"
"It's Hutch," said the voice on the other end.
Instantly she was wide a wake, "what is it?"
"I just got a phone call from LAX seems like old man Agiesti is waiting to board a plane headed for New York at four thirty." Hutch said. "I'm on my way you and Starsk meet me there."
It was almost four when the three detectives met up and started for the gate that Agiesti was supposedly waiting at. They approached the waiting room carefully, knowing that if the man saw them he would know why they were there. The man had guts, coming into a cop's house to set up his victim.
Starsky was the one who spotted Gregory Agiesti, the old man was standing in front of one of the huge windows that looked out on to the landing field. The three detectives walked up and stood behind him.
"I wondered how good of cops you were." The old man said seeing their reflections in the plate glass. "Didn't take you too long."
"You are under arrest for the murder of Madison Calaway," Starsky said in his business voice but the pain on his face was clear.
Agiesti turned to face the detectives and held out his wrists for them to snap the cuffs on. Which Starsky gladly did. "Why," Starsky asked simply.
The man frowned, "She killed my boy and my legacy. Our family had ruled New York for some seventy odd years. My father before me, then me and I passed it along to my son, who would in turn pass it to his son. But Frank Jr. is much to young to take on the business.
"You talk about your business like you sell tires," Susan snapped. "You are the mob."
Agiesti gave a bitter laugh, "Was the mob sweetheart. Another family has now taken over. I'm too old to try and get it back. I don't think I would live along enough to see Frank Jr. take over anyway."
"Get him out of here," Hutch said shaking his head.
Two days later the detectives were standing around Dobey's hospital bed. Edith was sitting in a chair close to the window waiting to take her husband home. Dobey was being release as soon and the doctor gave him a last going over.
"I'm sorry I couldn’t make Maddie's funeral," Dobey said somberly.
Starsky smiled at his captain, "I know you would have been there."
"So seems like Hutchinson here made a good Captain, uh? Dobey said eyeing Hutch.
"Yeah he didn't do to badly," Susan grinned.
"Maybe this will lead to a promotion," Dobey said half-teasing and half-serious.
"No way!" Hutch protested. "You had better get well quick I don't want your job."
Dobey chuckled, "Well the doctor said I should be back in about three weeks. Can you hang on that long?"
Hutch sighed then smiled at his captain, "Yeah I think so." Then he leaned close to his captain's ear, "doesn't anyone every knock?"
Dobey roared with laughter and shook his head. Hutch's partners looked at the two men wondering what was just so funny.
​
THE END