Death Of A Detective
By
Tooki
Edited by Tonya
2022
Chapter One
Detective Ken Hutchinson slipped on his shoulder holster then unlocked a metal box that was stored on the top shelf of the bedroom closet, he took out his gun and inserted it into the holster. In his bachelor days in his small apartment he just hung it over an open closet door. But now that he was married with two children and one on the way he made sure his firearm was always secure.
Hutch took one last look in the mirror over the dresser, he ran his hand through his blond hair, then grabbed a jacket that he had hung on the doorknob. Throwing it on he descended the stairs to the first floor.
Megan Hutchinson was in the kitchen making her husband breakfast, she was still in her robe, humming to herself as she flipped pancakes onto a plate. Hutch stole up behind her and kissed her cheek. She giggled and turned so she could get a proper kiss.
Hutch put his hand on the barely showing baby bump. The couple, after losing their first child together to a miscarriage, were over joyed. Megan had two children when she and the detective met. Her previous husband had also been a police officer but in the NYPD. After his death she and the kids moved to California where she had gotten a job as a nurse. They had just moved in when an earthquake destroyed the apartment building, Hutch had lived on the floor below them. They had all been trapped when the building collapsed.
There was a loud bang from the living room that caused both Megan and Hutch to jump. Sam came running into the kitchen, moments later; Lucy followed, her face contorted in anger.
“Sam, get back in there and pick up those books.” Lucy commanded.
Sam scampered behind Hutch. “What is going on?” Hutch asked, grabbing the boy bringing him around in front of him.
“Nothing.” Sam lied.
Megan looked at her daughter. Lucy had her hands on her hips, “He dropped books from the top of the stairs.”
“Tattletale,” Sam retorted.
“Go pick up the books,” Hutch ordered.
“Aww dad.”
Hutch tried not to smile but he loved the fact that both of the kids called him dad. He had adopted them only the month before and the kids were happy to take on the Hutchinson name.
“Why are you throwing books?” Megan wanted to know.
“I hate math and english!” Sam proclaimed. “I want to be a police officer, I don’t need old math and english.”
“Well young man I have news for you.” Hutch crouched down in front of Sam. “I use math and english everyday.”
Sam sighed, “No fair!”
“Go pick the books up,” Megan gave her son a stern look. “And I don’t want you throwing books.”
“I didn’t throw them, I dropped them!”
“You are about to get grounded,” Hutch growled.
Sam shuffled into the living room.
Megan shook her head as she watched her son leave the kitchen. “I got this, go on to work, I’m sure Starsk is waiting for you.”
Hutch picked up a pancake and took a bite as he laughed. “Starsky waiting on me? That will be the day.” He grabbed a second pancake and headed toward the door, “Sam, you behave yourself.”
Two blocks away Detective David Starsky was just rolling out of bed. He glanced at the bedside clock, he was going to be late, Hutch would be knocking on the front door any minute. He jumped in the shower, dressed hurriedly and got downstairs just as there was a knock on the door. He opened the door on the way to the kitchen where his wife was feeding their daughter Lily.
Theodora, better known as Teddy, was also a detective, in fact that was how the pair had met. She had been Starsky’s temporary partner while Hutch was recovering from injuries he had sustained in the earthquake. She had come from San Francisco where she had been treated badly by her counterparts. Dobey had agreed to take her on in Bay City. Teddy had a chip on her shoulder when she first arrived but quickly learned she had the support of her new captain and temporary partner. She and Starsky still worked in the same squadroom but Teddy had her own partner now.
“Da,” Lily exclaimed when Starsky entered the kitchen and held her arms up to him. She was nearly a year old and her father’s whole world. He pulled his daughter from her high chair, Lily latched on to his dark curly hair with a chubby fist and gave him a sloppy open mouthed kiss on his cheek.
“Oatmeal uh?” Starsky grinned. He leaned over and kissed his wife. She wiped the slobbery oatmeal kiss off his cheek with her finger, and took her daughter.
“Morning Hutch,” She smiled at her husband's partner.
Hutch had followed his partner into the kitchen, he still had a pancake in his hand. “Morning.”
“Breakfast of champions?” Starsky quipped knowing in Hutch’s eyes a pancake was no better than a doughnut.
“Shut up.”
Starsky laughed as he went to the fridge and grabbed a slice of pizza from a square cardboard box.
“You let him eat like that?” Hutch addressed Teddy.
She shrugged, “Wait until the baby is born and see how much time you have. I’m lucky to get a shower.”
“We are really going to miss having Kim living with us after the baby comes.”
Kim Wilson, now Kim Lawrence, had lived under Hutch in the destroyed apartment building. She had moved into a house with Megan and then stayed on after they had married. She finally quit her job to become a full time nanny after Lily had been born. Several months ago she had married Grayson Lawrence who was Megan’s former father-in-law. Kim liked to joke that it was like a soap opera.
“We better get going,” Hutch suggested as he ate the remainder of the pancake.
Starsky devoured the slice of pizza in three bites, grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter, and took a swig of coffee from Teddy’s mug that was sitting on the kitchen table. “Let’s hit it.”
“I’ll see you at work later, after Lily’s check up.” Teddy told him.
Starsky kissed her, “I wish I could go with you.”
“You can’t handle when she gets shots,” Teddy laughed.
“Come on dad, time to go to work,” Hutch tugged the sleeve of his partner's jacket. “We don’t need Dobey pissed off because we are late.”
Captain Harold Dobey sat behind his desk waiting on his two detectives, they were late again. He was used to Starsky being perpetually late but not Hutchinson. He drummed his fingers on his desk staring at his closed office door like a robin listening for a worm.
He suddenly stood, “Starsky, Hutchinson, get in here!” Dobey bellowed.
Starsky opened the door poking his head in, “How do you do that Cap?”
“Do what?” Dobey grumbled. “Get in here.”
Starsky pushed the door the rest of the way open and the detectives took seats in front of their captain’s desk. “What’s up?”
“Intel says there is a big shipment of drugs coming in. So it’s all hands on deck. The DEA has asked for help.” Dobey leaned across his desk. “I volunteered you two, officers from several departments are joining in. SWAT is involved also, the DEA doesn’t want to take any chances that this operation could go sideways. Are you up for this Hutchinson? It’s your first day back.”
“The doc says I’m good to go.”
“You aren’t sending Teddy and Lori are you!” Starsky asked.
Hutch rolled his eyes, Starsky trying to protect his wife was a sore point between the couple.
“They won’t be involved, I still need detectives on the job.” Dobey leaned back in his chair, he was used to Starsky giving push back when Teddy and her partner got assigned jobs the detective deemed too dangerous. “I need my best detectives on this drug bust and you two are it.”
Hutch couldn’t help but chuckled softly.
“You finding something funny about this Hutchinson?” Dobey glared at the blond.
“No Cap, just don’t let Teddy hear you say we are the best.”
“You two are far more experienced in this type of operation.” Dobey sighed. “This has nothing to do with their gender. Now can we get back to the details.”
“Detail away,” Starsky grinned.
Dobey’s mood darken, “Listen you two, this is a dangerous operation. The semi is due in at 10 p.m. at a warehouse on Olympic Boulevard. Law enforcement is meeting here at 5 p.m. so you have the day off until five. Five p.m. got it? Do not be late! And don’t tell anyone about this, not your wives, not Huggy Bear, not even your priest.”
“I don’t have a priest.” Starsky quipped.
Dobey gave the pair a stern look, “Get out of my office, I’ll see you at five.”
“So now what?” Starsky asked as they left the squadroom.
“Megan doesn’t start her sift at the hospital until 3. So I guess I’ll go home. We will have to call Kim and have her stay after she gets the kids from school.” Hutch said.
Once in the elevator away from anyone that could be eavesdropping, Starsky asked, “I wonder why this operation is so hush-hush. Do you think we have a rat?”
Hutch shrugged, “The less people that know, the less things can go wrong.”
Megan was startled when the detectives opened the front door. She had just returned from taking the kids to school. “What are you doing at home?”
“Stakeout tonight. We have to be back at the station by 5.” Hutch gave her a quick kiss.
Megan frowned, “But it’s your first day back.”
“I’ll be fine,” he assured her.
She knew better than to ask questions. “Just be careful.”
“Always.”
Starsky was rummaging around in the refrigerator looking for something to eat.
“Can’t you wait for lunch Starsk?” Hutch asked.
“I’m hungry now,” Starsky mumbled.
Megan laughed and handed him a cookie. “How’s this?”
He took the cookie and grinned at her, “See, she understands.” Hutch just rolled his eyes.
Chapter Two
When Starsky and Hutch arrived back at Dobey’s office a DEA agent was waiting for them. He stuck his hand out first to Hutch, “Joe Petrill, good to meet you Detective Starsky.”
“I’m Hutchinson, he’s Starsky,” Hutch jerked his thumb at his partner.
“Oh, sorry,” Agent Petrill looked embarrassed.
Starsky clapped the man on the back then shook his hand, “Happens all the time.”
Petrill handed a bullet proof vest to each of the detectives, “Put these on, we don’t want any casualties.”
Dobey stood watching, hoping he wasn’t sending his men out to get hurt or worse. “When it’s over I want you to report in.”
“Sure thing Cap.” Hutch struggled into the vest. It was heavy and weighing on his shoulder making it ache.
No one noticed but Starsky since he knew his partner inside and out. As they left Dobey’s office Starsky whispered, “Are you sure you are up for this?”
“I’m fine.” Hutch said as he shifted his shoulder under the weight of the vest. There was no way he was letting his partner go without him.
They followed Agent Petrill to the parking lot where there were several non descript cars and a large van with SWAT stenciled on the side. Men in tactical gear were checking their weapons and loading the van. More DEA Agents along with quite a few BCPD officers milled around in the parking lot waiting for their commander who turned out to be Petrill.
“Gather around,” Petrill called, when he had everyone’s attention, he began, “We have put over a year and a half into this bust. Our inside guy assured me tonight is the night. A semi full of drugs will be arriving at 10. We will have several routes staked out, when the semi is spotted it will be followed at a distance. Once it pulls in we move in. SWAT will open the back of the semi, DEA agents will enter the truck after it has been secured. We want these men alive so no shooting unless you can't avoid it. Any questions?” The group was silent, “Alright let’s get to it!”
Starsky walked up to Petrill, “Impressive operation.”
“Thanks,” Petrill nodded. “But we all need to stay on our toes. This all could go sideways in a heartbeat. I’m putting you two on this route.” The agent spread out a map on top of one of the cars and pointed to a blue line that had been drawn on the map. There were also red, yellow and green lines. The agents best guess at how the truck could possibly come in.
“What if the semi takes a route you don’t have marked?” Hutch asked.
“Then we are screwed. I don’t want to take a chance of staking out close to the warehouse in case they have people watching. Moving this much product at once is unusual, this is a once in a lifetime bust.” Petrill shook hands with the detectives and moved off to double check routes with the other officers.
“You want to drive?” Starsky asked. Hutch shook his head as he climbed into the passenger side of the car. He winced as he did so. “Are you sure about this?”
Hutch looked over at his partner, “I’m fine, the vest is heavier than I remember.”
Starsky had his doubts but started the car. They didn’t need to be in position until 7 p.m. it was nearing 6. “Wanta grab some dinner while we wait?”
“Sure,” Hutch agreed.
Detective Lori Chapman was catching up on paperwork as she waited on Teddy. She had noticed the flurry of activity around the station and saw Starsky and Hutch leave.
After Teddy dropped the baby off with Kim she made her way to the station eager to relay that Lily was healthy and took her shots like a champ. But when she arrived she could sense something was going on, something big. There was tension hanging in the air.
The first thing she noticed as she pushed open the squadroom doors was that her husband and Hutch weren’t at their desks. Teddy had hoped to catch them before they went out for the day. Lori was typing a report and hadn’t noticed Teddy enter until she was standing over her.
“What’s going on?”
Lori stopped typing and looked up at her partner, “Your guess is as good as mine, nobody is talking.”
Teddy glanced at Captain Dobey’s door, it was closed. She walked across the room and knocked softly. She heard him growl to come in, opening the door she saw her captain studying a report. He looked up as she entered. “A Starsky that knows how to knock and wait to be invited in?” He muttered as he closed the folder.
Teddy sat down and looked at Dobey, “What’s going on?
“What do you mean?” The Captain asked evasively.
“You can cut the tension with a knife.” Teddy glared at Dobey. “And I’m betting my husband and Hutch are in the middle of it.”
“Listen, I am not at liberty to share what is going on and neither are they.” Dobey leaned back in his chair. “The most I can say is they are on a stakeout.”
“Fine!” Teddy miffed, stood up to leave.
“Teddy, he’ll be late getting in tonight, so don’t worry.”
“I always worry.”
“Me too.”
It was nearly seven, Starsky pulled the car over on their designated route. They had three hours to kill, three long hours. Hutch shifted in the seat trying to get comfortable.
“Why don’t you take that thing off for now,” Starsky suggested. They had taken off the vests while they were eating but put them back now that they were on watch.
“The truck could be early. I don’t want to have to struggle to get it back on.”
Starsky gave his partner a worried look, it was clear Hutch was in pain, anyone could see it now. As time wore on Starsky was ready to call in and have someone replace them. He was afraid Hutch was going to injure his shoulder. The two bullet wounds had healed but the vest wasn’t something the doctor had thought about before releasing the detective. They didn’t wear them often.
The rumble of a large truck caught their attention. Hutch pulled a clipboard that was lying between them. He read off the description of the semi they were looking for down to the license plate number. As the truck passed them it ticked all the boxes.
Once the truck was a block away, Starsky radioed on a secure channel that the truck was on the way. He then pulled out and followed at a safe distance.
The semi pulled through the gate of the warehouse, the SWAT van, that had been waiting just out of sight, drove in behind the semi. Starsky pulled their car sideways in the entrance blocking part of the entrance.
The detectives got out of the car as other cars pulled in. The doors of the semi cab opened, the driver and passenger spilled out and took off on a dead run. Starsky and Hutch ran after them.
SWAT swarmed the semi, opening the back doors, Petrill and two other DEA agents stood ready to climb into the truck. The truck was full of boxes, Petrill was the first one in when SWAT gave him a thumbs up, he opened one of the boxes, it was empty.
“What the hell?”He grabbed another box, then another and another, they were all empty. “There is something wrong! Everybody out of the truck!”
The two men the detectives were chasing suddenly dropped to the ground covering their heads with their arms. Before either of them could react, an explosion knocked Starsky and Hutch to the ground. The semi turned into a ball of fire incinerating the men inside, sending shrapnel flying in all directions and catching the warehouse on fire.
Starsky was the first to come around, shaking the cobwebs from his head, he saw one of the men they had been chasing was dead, hit by debris. The second badly hurt, bleeding profusely from a wound in his back. Then he saw Hutch through the burning paper floating down and chunks of metal lay around them. Starsky crawled to his partner and slapped out flames that had caught Hutch’s pants on fire.
“Hutch!” Starsky called as he leaned over his friend to make sure he was breathing. “Come on buddy.” He put his hand on his back.
A groan escaped Hutch’s lips, he opened his eyes looking at Starsky then noticed the hell raining down on them, “W-what happened?”
“I think there was a bomb in the truck.”
Hutch tried to push himself up, but a pain shot through his shoulder and he fell back to the pavement. He rolled over and struggled into a sitting position getting a look at the carnage all around them. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Starsky answered, still a bit dazed. “Your pants were on fire but I think I got it out before you were burned.”
Hutch felt the back of his legs, “No pain, thanks pal.”
The detectives sat together, knowing there was nothing they could do to help, it had been a miracle they hadn’t been killed or seriously hurt.
A few officers were starting to move around, anyone that had been close to the semi was dead. The SWAT van was engulfed in flames. Sirens could be heard in the distance as help hurdled toward them.
Megan was an hour away from her shift being over when an announcement came over the PA asking for all nursing staff that weren’t busy to report to the emergency room. She was busy filling out charts, and her supervisor told her to go.
When she got to the ER, there was a whirlwind of activity, “What’s going on?” She asked one of the orderlies.
“Some sort of an explosion involving a semi at a warehouse.” He answered then hurried off to get supplies from the storage room.
Megan wondered how many casualties they would have. She jumped in helping where she was needed. They had just finished when the first ambulance arrived. She ran outside to help bring in the first patient. She recognized the man as a police officer from the BCPD. His arm was badly burned and he had a serious cut on his forehead from flying shrapnel. “Officer Gorden,” She took his hand. She didn’t know him well but she knew his first name. “Joe.”
He opened his eyes and looked at her, he gripped her hand tightly, “It’s bad, it’s real bad.”
“What happened?” Megan asked.
“Lots of officers have been hurt,” Joe Gorden whispered as his eyes slid closed.
“Joe? Joe?” Fear gripped Megan’s heart. She wondered if Hutch and Starsky were somehow involved. She heard her name being called, she left Joe in the hands of one of the ER doctors and she ran to help with the next ambulance. As soon as they were emptied they would rush back to the scene.
The coroner's wagon was on the scene as well as several fire departments. Ambulances came and went taking the most severely injured first. The walking wounded were put into cars and driven to the hospital.
Both detectives had headaches, an EMT had checked on them, telling them to stay put, then moved on to the next victim. “How many…?” Starsky started to ask but couldn’t bring himself to say the word dead.
Hutch looked at the two vehicles that the fire department were working on, they were beginning to get the fire under control. Hutch shook his head, he knew there had been men in the back of the semi when it exploded. “We need to help.”
“I don’t think there is much we can do.” Starsky put his hand on Hutch’s shoulder.
“Have you seen Petrill?”
“No.”
The EMT was back, “We can transport you to the hospital.”
Hutch started to protest but a look from Starsky kept him silent. They had both removed their vests once the area had been secured. It had relieved most of the pain in his shoulder but it still ached a little. The EMT helped them both to their feet and led them to a waiting police car that had been transporting the less injured.
Dobey had remained in his office, he wanted to be there when the operation was over and get a report from his detectives. When the phone call came that it had been a setup and that many involved were hurt or killed, Dobey pounded his fists on his desk as he stood up. He started to leave, then went back to his desk and picked the receiver of his phone, “Get me Detective Starsky’s home number.”
Teddy had just made a cup of tea when the phone rang. The moment she heard Dobey’s voice she asked, “What’s wrong?” The Captain quickly told her as much as he knew. “I’m heading down there.”
Dobey knew better than to tell his detective not to go, she would anyway. “I’ll let Hutchinson's wife know.”
“She is still at work,” Teddy said, “I’ll have to drop Lily off with Kim. I’ll let her know.”
After hanging up the phone Teddy hurriedly got dressed, got their daughter and was knocking on the Hutchinson's door in record time.
Kim opened the door almost before Teddy knocked, “What is going on? Megan called just a while ago saying she had to stay at the hospital. There was some sort of explosion and fire.”
Teddy nodded as she handed over her sleeping daughter. “A drug bust went bad.”
“David and Ken?”
“They were involved but that is all I know.” Teddy kissed Lily’s forehead. “Someone will call the moment we know anything.”
Kim looked fearful as Teddy ran down the sidewalk to her car.
Chapter Three
When Teddy arrived at the scene all the injured had been removed to the hospital, the semi and SWAT van were smoldering wreckage. The bomb squad was there to sift through what remains to see if they could possibly identify the maker of the bomb. And the coroner stood by to begin the grim task of taking the dead to the morgue.
Teddy showed her badge to the officer at the gate, he nodded and let her pass. She needed to find out if her husband and his partner were among the dead. She walked around lifting sheets that were covering the dead looking for Starsky, she knew quite a few of the dead but none of them were him or Hutch.
She overheard the coroner asking about how many men were in the back of the semi when the bomb went off. The answer was five, maybe six. Her heart sank, they very well could have been in the truck.
“Teddy!” Dobey called as he walked toward her. “I just got word that Starsky and Hutchinson have been taken to the hospital.
Relief flooded her body and tears pricked her eyes but she refused to let them fall. “How badly are they hurt?
“I don’t know. You head to the hospital, I’m going to stay here.” Dobey instructed.
“Are you sure?” Teddy asked as she looked around at the bodies on the ground. There had been at least 30 men and women part of the operation. 20 were dead or seriously injured.
“Go,” Dobey patted her on the shoulder. “Check on them.”
Megan was busy when the detectives walked into the ER, she didn’t see them arrive. An orderly grabbed a wheelchair but Hutch waved him off. “At least have a seat, officers.” The man pointed to several empty seats. “Someone will be with you soon.” The orderly hurried off to help with an ambulance that had just arrived.
Hutch shifted in the chair, with the shock of the explosion wearing off, he was noticing other aches and pains. He looked at Starsky, he wondered what he looked like. His partner’s face was ashy looking, his curly dark hair full of debris and looked a little singed in places. His shirt and jeans had small burn holes.
“Are you okay?” Starsky asked for the millionth time. He was worried about Hutch who looked much like he had observed Starsky looking.
“My legs are hurting,” Hutch admitted.
Starsky looked up and down the hall where there was a rush of doctors and nurses attending those in worse shape. He finally spotted a familiar face, he jumped up, “Megan!”
Megan stopped and turned, relief flooded her face when she saw them. She hadn’t allowed herself to think they had been part of the operation that sent so many to the hospital. But she knew in her heart that detectives were probably there. The pair looked terrible but nothing too serious.
She threw her arms around Starsky then knelt next to her husband, Megan reached up and touched Hutch’s face. “Are you two alright?”
Hutch nodded knowing there were far more people that needed his wife’s attention.
“Hutch was on fire, I had to put it out.” Starsky said worriedly. “And his shoulder is bothering him.”
“I’m fine, you got the fire out quickly.”
“I’ll see if there is a room free, sit tight.” She squeezed Hutch’s hand and was gone.
While they were waiting Teddy arrived. “Thank God!” She exclaimed seeing them. She hugged Starsky tightly. “I was so scared,” she whispered.
“I’m okay, but we have to get checked out. Then I’m going back over there.”
“No you’re not.” Dobey stood there with a grim look, “There is nothing more you can do. It’s up to the crime lab and the coroner.”
“Who?” Hutch asked, meaning who didn’t survive.
Dobey sighed, “The entire SWAT team, at least three DEA agents, several BCPD officers.”
“Petrill?” Starsky asked.
“From what I understand he was in the semi.” Dobey responded.
Starsky sighed as he shook his head sadly. So many lives lost. It was a huge setup.
They finally moved into a waiting room. A multiple car accident had further slammed the ER. Hutch had only gotten a glimpse of Megan as she rushed around doing what she could. He was beginning to worry about her, she had been on her feet for hours. Hutch didn’t want to lose this baby.
The longer they sat the more uncomfortable Hutch became, his head was still pounding and the backs of his legs felt like they were still on fire. But he stayed quiet; he knew that he would be seen when there was time. He was having a hard time staying awake and his vision was becoming blurry.
Starsky was talking with Dobey and Teddy when he felt Hutch lean heavily on him. He looked at his partner who looked like he had fallen asleep, “Hutch?” When there was no response, Starsky shook his friend and called his name again. “Get someone in here!”
Teddy ran for help, she literally ran into Megan in the hall. “What’s wrong?” Megan asked.
“It’s Hutch, he has passed out.”
“I need a gurney in the waiting room,'' Megan yelled to an orderly. She headed there, Starsky was trying to wake Hutch up. Dobey was sitting on the couch on the other side of his detective. He moved when he saw Megan enter the room. She sat down next to her husband and took his pulse, it was racing. She looked at Starsky, “Hutch needs to be in a treatment room now! Why didn’t you tell me he was this bad?” She stormed at the detective.
Starsky looked bewildered, “Hutch kept saying he was fine. He was unconscious longer than I was, I should have known he wasn’t alright.”
Megan was instantly sorry for her harsh words. She put her hand over Starsky’s. “I’m sorry, it’s not your fault. You both should have been checked out hours ago.”
An orderly pushed a gurney into the waiting room and with Starsky’s help managed to get an unconscious Hutch onto the gurney and rushed him to an examination room. Megan followed the orderly, she paused in the doorway. “Starsky, you need to be seen also. I’ll have someone come get you. No arguing.” She looked at Teddy.
Teddy looked at her friend. “He’ll go or I will carry him.”
Megan nodded and ran after her husband as he was being pushed down the hall.
Lori Chapman appeared in the doorway, “What’s going on? Was that Hutch? Lori was Teddy’s partner, the news was finally breaking on the explosion and she came to the hospital to see if there was anything she could do.
“He passed out,” Teddy answered. “Probably has a concussion, in fact, I’m sure both of you do.” She looked at Starsky.
Dobey was pacing the room, making small sounds to himself. Lori walked over to him, “Captain, is there anything I can do to help?”
Dobey looked at his female detective, “I’m sure there will be a task force to look into this. I would like you and Teddy to be a part of it.”
“NO!” Starsky shouted. “It’s too dangerous. Look what has already happened. These guys mean business. You are not putting Teddy and Lori in the line of fire.”
“I am the Captain here, not you Starsky.” Dobey growled. “I need somebody I can trust on this investigation. There will be several different agencies working on finding out just what the hell went wrong.”
“What went wrong was it was a set up! A setup to kill as many law enforcement agents as possible. And they succeeded spectacularly, didn’t they? I want to nail them to the wall!” Starsky yelled.
“You are in no shape to be doing anything but getting checked out and taking a few days off.” Dobey barked at him.
Teddy was standing back with her arms across her chest, anger written on her face. “Are you two finished?” Both men turned and looked at her. “David Starsky, you are not stopping Lori and I from working on this case.” She advanced on him until she was only inches from his face. “I’m a damn good detective, I know what I’m doing and I know what I signed up for.”
“And we have a daughter that needs her mother,” Starsky threw back in her face.
“And we nearly lost her father today, lots of kids lost their fathers and mothers today. You and Hutch were lucky! And whoever is responsible is not getting away with it.”
“Detective Starsky?” A nurse stood in the doorway.
“He’s right here,” Teddy told the nurse.
“We have an examination room open.” The nurse said.
Starsky didn’t move; he was intently looking at his wife. “Go!” Teddy ordered.
“You don’t go anywhere.” Starsky said, almost pleading.
“Not until I’m sure you and Hutch are alright.” Teddy answered.
Starsky nodded and went with the nurse.
When Hutch came to, he was laying in a hospital bed. An IV dripping saline into his arm to rehydrate him. The last thing he remembered was sitting in the waiting room with his head pounding.
He felt someone take his hand, he looked over to see Megan sitting next to him, “Welcome back,” She smiled.
“What happened?”
“You passed out, you have a severe concussion.” Megan answered, “And a few of the burns on your legs were bad. It’s a good thing Starsky got the fire put out as quickly as he did.”
“Where’s Starsk?” Hutch looked around the room knowing that his partner should be there hovering over him like a mother duck.
“He is finally being checked out. Neither of you should have sat as long as you did.” Megan looked exhausted. “The doctor wants you to spend the night.”
“Isn’t the night almost over?” Hutch asked.
Megan glanced at her watch, it was nearly 4 a.m., “I guess it is. It’s been a long night.”
“So I can get out of here soon?”
Megan smiled, “24 hours.”
Hutch frowned, “So not today?”
“Tomorrow babe.” Megan stood up and kissed him. “Just rest, uh? I know it’s not your thing.”
“I don’t mind resting, just not in a hospital bed.”
The door opened and a curly dark head poked in. “How ya doing partner?” Hutch just grumbled. “That good uh?”
“They aren’t letting me out of here until tomorrow.”
“But it is tomorrow.”
Megan sighed, “I swear you two. 24 hours, the doctor wants to observe for 24 hours!”
“You need to go home,” Hutch looked at his wife who was trying not to yawn.
“I’ll stay,” Starsky offered.
“You aren’t under observation?” Hutch asked.
“I guess my head is harder than yours.” Starsky joked.
“What about Teddy?” Megan wanted to know.
“She’s kind of mad at me.”
“What did you try to stop her from doing?” Hutch knew his partner all too well.
“Dobey wants Teddy and Lori working on the bombing.”
“And you told her no, I’m sure that went over well.”
Starsky shrugged, “It’s too dangerous.”
“Everything we do is too dangerous.”
“Whose side are you on?” Starsky asked.
“I’m not answering that.” Hutch winked at Megan. “Go home, I’ll be fine.”
She nodded, “If you need anything.”
“I’ll call a nurse on duty,” Hutch said, holding up the call button. “Go home.”
Reluctantly Megan left, when she arrived home she found Teddy sitting on the couch holding Lily who was fast asleep. “Sorry, I didn’t feel like being alone.” Teddy whispered.
Megan sat down on the couch next to her friend, “You know you are welcome anytime, you’re more than a friend, you’re family.”
Teddy gave Megan a brief smile then asked, “How’s Hutch?”
“He’ll be fine, the doctor just wanted to have him under observation for a while.”
“Starsky is with him.” Teddy said, it wasn’t a question, she knew her husband would not leave his partner's side.
“Are you two alright?”
Teddy waved her hand in the air as if to wave away Megan’s concern, “Same old fight,” Teddy sighed. “I know he worries about me, I worry about him too. I just don’t try to stop him from doing his job.”
“I know it’s hard. I would love to tell Hutch to get a different line of work. But he would never be happy.” Megan leaned back on the couch as she kicked off her shoes. She closed her eyes and was asleep instantly.
Teddy pulled an afghan from the back of the couch and covered Megan, then she settled back cradling Lily and closed her eyes. She didn’t wake until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Teddy opened her eyes and looked up to see Starsky standing next to her.
He leaned over and took Lily from her arms. The little girl was just beginning to wake. “You need some proper sleep.” He smiled at her.
Megan stirred, “What time is it?”
“Seven,” Starsky responded, “Hutch is doing good. The doctor came in, he still doesn’t want to release Hutch until tomorrow morning.”
Megan threw back the afghan and got up. She was still in her nurse's uniform. “I’m going to get a shower and go back to the hospital.”
“I need to get to work,” Teddy looked at Starsky, daring him to say something.
There was a knock on the door, Grayson stood there with a large bag of donuts, Starsky who had opened the door grinned at the older man. “Anyone with donuts is welcome,” Starsky joked. He then looked at Teddy, “I’ll look after Lily.”
“Why don’t I take her?” Kim said as she came down stairs. She had been sleeping in her old room that would be turned into a nursery soon. “Go up and get some sleep David.”
“I’m fine,” Starsky said.
“You are not fine, you have been at the hospital all night with Hutch.” Teddy shook her head at her stubborn husband. “You need rest, you have a mild concussion.”
Starsky sighed, he was outnumbered. He handed Lily to Kim, grabbed a doughnut and went up the steps.
“Keep an eye on him,” Teddy said to Kim.
“You know I will.”
Chapter Four
“Detectives,” Dobey addressed Teddy and Lori as they entered his office. It had been two days since the semi had blown up, taking many lives. “Have a seat.”
The two women sat down in front of their captain's desk. “What’s up Cap?” Teddy asked.
Dobey leaned forward in his chair, “We have a lead on who might have been responsible for the set up.”
Teddy looked at Lori who nodded at her, “We’re in!”
“Good!” But Dobey looked grim. “You will have to be extra vigilant. For all we know this could be another set up. The bomb squad will be on hand, as well as a SWAT team from San Francisco.”
“My former Captain have something to do with that?”
Dobey nodded, Captain Nicolas Holder, had called his counterpart as soon as he heard what had gone down, offering any support his precinct could give.
“When?” Lori asked.
“Early tomorrow morning,” Dobey explained. “We don’t want to do it at night, it's too hard to see. Hoping early morning will catch them off guard.” Teddy nodded in agreement. “Be here at 5 a.m.”
Back at their desks Teddy and Lori gathered their things to head home for the day. Teddy knew Starsky was going to give her grief over the operation they were about to undertake. She was apprehensive but it had to be done and every precaution was being taken. Teddy thought about not telling her husband but she knew how she had felt not being in the loop.
When Teddy got home she found a note saying that Starsky and Lily were at the Hutchinson’s. Kim was there to keep an eye on the kids and Hutch. He was more than ready to get back to work but the doctor wanted him to give it a week.
Starsky and Hutch were camped out on the couch watching a baseball game when Teddy knocked and opened the front door. The two men turned their heads to see who had come in.
“Hi babe,” Starsky smiled at his wife.
“I need to talk to you guys.” Teddy said, sitting down in between them.
Starsky didn’t like the look on her face. “What’s up?”
“Where are the kids?”
“In the kitchen with Kim, making something.” Hutch sighed, “If I don’t get back to work I’m going to get fat. All they do is bake.”
Teddy gave him a brief smile, “Early tomorrow morning the task force is hitting a house. We have intel that it is where the bomber is hold up.”
Starsky was shaking his head the whole time. “And I guess you think you are going?”
“I know I’m going, Lori and I volunteered.”
“Do you know how dangerous it’s going to be?” Starsky asked, “The house could be wired to explode just like the semi. The whole thing might be a setup!”
“Every precaution is being taken. Captain Holder is sending a SWAT team, we will have the bomb squad.”
“None of that is worth anything if the place explodes with you in it.” Starsky stormed.
Starsky looked at Hutch, he held up his hands, “I’m not getting involved.”
“Chicken!” Starsky growled at his friend.
“Smart, not chicken.” Teddy winked at Hutch.
Megan opened the front door, she was coming off an early shift at the hospital. She was surprised to see Teddy there. “Everything alright?”
“No!” Starsky barked
“Yes!” Teddy retorted.
Megan looked at Hutch, he got up from the couch and went to his wife’s side. “What’s going on?” She asked softly.
“Let’s go see what Kim and the kids are up to.” He suggested.
Hutch led Megan through the kitchen. Sam was covered with flour. Lucy was showing Lily how to cut out sugar cookies.
“Want one?” Sam asked, holding up a freshly baked cookie.
“In a minute,” Megan answered as Hutch propelled her into the back yard. “What is going on?”
Hutch quickly explained about the mission Teddy and Lori were about to embark on. “I wish it was Starsk and I going.”
“I don’t want Teddy there but you two already nearly got blown up.” Megan said, turning worried eyes on her husband.
“Like Teddy keeps telling Starsky it’s the job. She knows what she is doing.”
“So do you and look what happened.”
There was a noise at the back door. They both looked to find Sam with his face smashed to the glass watching them, holding up a cookie.
Hutch opened the door and took the offered cookie. “Thanks buddy.”
“Sam!” Kim admonished him, “You parents are talking.”
Sam ducked his head, “It’s okay.” Hutch said as he scooped up the boy.
“Why don’t you see if David and Teddy want to stay for dinner.” Kim suggested.
“I think I have a better idea,” Megan said, taking Lily from her daughter and carrying her into the living room where Starsky and Teddy were deep in discussion. “Hey guys, why don’t we keep Lily tonight?”
Lily, upon seeing Starsky, held out her little arms, “Da!” She exclaimed.
Starsky got up from the couch and took his daughter. “What do you think Lily? Sleepover?”
“Da!”
Teddy joined her little family, “How about Mama?” She tickled Lily who giggled and held her arms out to her mother. Teddy took her from Starsky. “Mama?
“Da!” Lily sounded almost defiant.
Teddy laughed, “I see how it is. You and your dad are ganging up on me.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead and handed her to Hutch. “You need practice.”
Hutch willingly took Lily. She looked at him and smiled, “Da!”
Teddy said with a smug look at Starsky, “Guess you aren’t so special after all.”
“Come on you,” Starsky took Teddy’s hand pulling her toward the door, “Let’s take advantage of this.”
“See you tomorrow Starsky,” Hutch said, “Teddy you be safe.”
Teddy saluted Hutch.
The couple walked the two blocks to their home, Starsky put his arm around Teddy’s shoulders and pulled her close. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived at their house, Starsky pulled his wife to the porch swing.
“I love you, you know.” He looked into her green eyes.
“I know,” She responded softly as she lay her head on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”
They sat swinging for a long while, dusk began to fall. “I guess we should go in.” Starsky stopped the swing and got up.
Teddy followed, “I’ll throw something together for dinner.”
With dinner finished, Teddy went upstairs, she stripped off her clothes and went into the bathroom to shower, one less thing she would have to do in the morning. She turned on the water as hot as she could stand it and stepped into the shower.
Finally she allowed herself to think about the next morning. She would never admit it to anyone, especially her husband but she was afraid. Lily was so young that if anything happened the little girl would not remember her mother. Teddy took a deep breath and held it trying to calm herself.
Arms slipped around her, she had been so deep in thought she hadn’t heard Starsky step in behind her. Teddy leaned her head back against his bare chest.
“It’s going to be alright,” he whispered in her wet hair. “You’ve got this.”
She turned in his arms and looked into his eyes. “You always know the right thing to say.”
He smiled, “I know you have to be worried.” He didn’t say scared. He knew his wife and it wasn’t the right thing to say.
Teddy just nodded, she didn’t speak for fear her voice would reveal just how worried she was. If the house blew up it would probably kill everyone inside. She kissed him, “I love you, you know.”
“I know.” Starsky reached around her and turned off the water. He grabbed a fluffy bath towel and wrapped it around her. Then he picked her up and took her to the bed.
Teddy giggled, “You’re wet.” Starsky shook his curls sending at shower of water over Teddy and the bed causing her to giggle again, “Come here, you.”
She grabbed him, pulling him down on the bed next to her.
The next morning came quickly, Teddy got up quietly. She looked at her sleeping husband, she thought for a moment of waking him then decided against it. Instead she bent over him and brushed his forehead with her lips. She lingered drinking him in, praying she would see the man she loved later in the day.
Teddy’s next stop was the Hutchinson’s, she needed to see her daughter. She slipped the key to their door out of her purse and quietly opened the front door.
The female detective was surprised to see Megan in the kitchen making coffee. She held out a mug to Teddy, who took it gratefully. “Thanks, what are you doing up?”
Megan smiled at her friend, “I figured you would be coming to see Lily.”
Teddy smiled back and nodded. Then whispered, “If anything….take care of them.”
Megan hugged Teddy, “Go see your daughter.”
It was almost 6:30 a.m. when the phone rang, Megan grabbed the receiver before it could wake up the rest of the household. “Hello?” Phone calls that early in the morning were never good news.
“This is Captain Dobey, I need to speak to Hutchinson.”
Worry instantly filled Megan’s face. “Just a minute Captain, I’ll get him.” Megan raced up the stairs.
The phone had roused Hutch. “What’s wrong?” He asked when Megan appeared at the bedroom door.
“It’s Dobey.”
Hutch rolled over and grabbed the phone on the bedside table. “Cap!” Megan wanted to stay and listen but Lily began to cry.
“I didn’t want to tell Starsky on the phone. I thought it would be better coming from you.” Dobey said.
Hutch closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “Is…is Teddy…?” He could not finish.
“She is at the hospital. Other than that I don’t have any other details. I’m headed there myself to find out what the hell happened.”
“We will meet you there.” Hutch hopped out of bed and pulled on clothes.
Megan was standing in the hall holding Lily when Hutch raced out of the room and down the stairs. “What’s going on?” She called after her husband.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I know.” Hutch called back. He jumped in his brown beat up Ford, not wanting to take the time to walk the two blocks to his friend's house.
Hutch pounded on the door, when Starsky didn’t answer, he inserted the key and entered, “Starsky!” He yelled. It was clear the downstairs was empty, Hutch took the stairs two at a time. The bedroom was empty also, then he heard the water running. Hutch pounded on the bathroom door, “STARSK!” He opened the door.
Starsky peered out of the shower curtain. He didn’t even ask, he could tell by the look on his partner's face something had gone wrong.
Hutch pulled up to the emergency room, Starsky was out of the car before it came to a complete stop. He saw her leaning against a wall just outside one of the treatment rooms. Teddy looked devastated, she was covered in blood.
Starsky grabbed her, “Are you hurt?” She didn’t answer, he shook her gently, “Teddy are you hurt?”
She looked at him, unable to process what he was saying to her. Starsky spoke to her again, this time his face came into focus. She shook her head no as tears began rolling down her face.
The sun was just beginning to come up as the bomb squad rolled up to the house in question followed by SWAT, several uniformed officers, Teddy and Lori. Once the bomb squad had made sure the outside doors weren’t boobie trapped, SWAT entered after being warned to look for trip wires or anything suspicious.
With the downstairs cleared, a group headed to the basement while a second group, led by SWAT officer Manny Sutton, went up the stairs to the second floor. Teddy was directly behind him, then Lori followed by two uniforms.
There was a bedroom at the top of the stairs, the door was open with a clear sight to the whole room, “Clear!” Manny called out after he poked his head in the room and then continued on down the hall to a second bedroom.
It was Lori that saw the barrel of the gun suddenly poke through the slats on the white folding closet door in the bedroom. “Get down!” She yelled as she pushed Teddy to her knees. Lori fired her gun at the door hoping the bullet would reach its target.
There was a blast from the closet door that was fired simultaneously, there was a loud yelp from the closet and a large man fell through the door sending slats flying.
Manny was back in an instant, training his weapon on the man who was now moaning and rolling on the floor.
Teddy jumped to her feet, “Thanks Lori,” she said as she turned to look at her partner, it had been a close one.
Lori was not standing behind her but crumpled on the steps. Officer Stan Cooper was leaning over the fallen detective.
“Lori!” Teddy dropped down next to her. There was a bullet hole in the center of her forehead. A lucky shot by the man or unlucky for Lori. Teddy pulled her friend into her lap, holding her hand over the wound that had entered small but left a large hole in the back of her head. Teddy knew her friend was dead but she rocked her and continued to talk to her.
“Lori, Lori’s dead.” Teddy said almost in a trance.
“Teddy, Teddy,” Starsky wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry.”
Hutch arrived to see Starsky crouched in front of Teddy trying to talk to her but Teddy was staring into space unblinking, trails of tears ran down her cheeks. Hutch touched Starsky’s shoulder, “What happened?”
Starsky looked up at Hutch and whispered, “Lori,” Then shook his head.
Hutch knew instantly what his partner meant. Lori was dead, he wondered how many more. “Is there anything I can do?” Knowing there was nothing anyone could do.
“Teddy needs to see a doctor,” Starsky answered. “I think she is in shock.”
“No, no,” Teddy finally said as her eyes focused on her husband again. Her thoughts had gone back to Lori but she was back in the present. She grabbed Starsky’s shirt with her hands covered with Lori’s dried blood. “It was my fault, it should have been me.”
“Detective Starsky!” Manny Sutton, still in his full SWAT gear.
Both Starsky’s looked up, “Manny,” Teddy said. “Was anyone else killed?”
“No ma’am.” Manny looked sadly at her. “Only Detective Chapman. I’m sorry and it wasn’t your fault. I cleared the room. I didn’t look in the closet, I should have.” There was a catch in his voice, “It was my fault.”
Teddy stood up and looked him in the eye, “Lori was my partner, my responsibility.”
Manny stepped closer to her, “And you were her partner and her responsibility, she did her job.”
Starsky stepped away from the two officers, knowing Officer Sutton was who she needed at the moment. Hutch put his hand on his partner's shoulder.
“She will be alright,” Hutch said softly.
“I hope so. I know how I would feel if I lost you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Teddy?” Ben Chapman called as he walked down the hall.
It was clear he didn’t know his wife was dead . “Ben,” Teddy composed herself and made her way toward him. It had to be her to tell him.
He looked around, “Where is Lori?”
Teddy pulled him toward a waiting room. “Let’s go in here.”
“Just tell me!” Ben demanded, “How bad?”
Teddy took a deep breath, “Ben, Lori, she…she didn’t make it.”
Ben stared at Teddy for a long moment. “Lori is dead?”
“Yes, I am so sorry.” Teddy put her arms around Ben. He bent down putting his forehead on her shoulder. A sob escaped his lips as he wrapped his arms around his wife’s partner.
A large hand patted Ben on the back, “I’m sorry, son.” It was Captain Dobey, he had just come from being briefed on the second failed operation. This time there had only been one casualty. But one was one too many. “Anything you need, just ask.”
Ben lifted his head from Teddy’s shoulder and looked at Dobey. “What I need is my wife and my boys need their mother.”
“I’m sorry,” Dobey said again.
Ben ignored the Captain and said to Teddy, “I need to see my wife.”
She nodded and led Ben down the hall where he could say his final goodbye to Lori.
Starsky tried to take Teddy’s hand as she passed by him and Hutch but she pulled her hand away.
“Come on buddy,” Hutch tugged his partner's arm. “We need to find out what happened.”
“I’m not leaving Teddy.”
“We can talk in there,” Hutch pointed to the waiting room. “Come on Cap.”
Dobey followed his detectives into the room. Starsky closed the door then advanced on his Captain, “Just what the hell were you thinking?” He yelled.
Any other time Dobey would have been right back in his detective's face but this time he didn’t respond. He rubbed his hand over his face and took a deep ragged breath. He had sent too many of his men and women to their death.
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair.” Starsky backed off and flopped on the couch.
“Fair or not, I am responsible for assigning officers.” Dobey sat down in one of the chairs.
“You had no idea Cap.” Hutch said.
“Didn’t I?”
Chapter Five
The three detectives stood solemnly in their dress uniforms at Lori Chapman’s grave site. Her husband Ben and their twin boys, Jack and Cory, dressed in black suits next to them. Lori’s flag draped coffin sat in front of them. There was a 21 gun salute, Taps was played, then the honor guard folded the flag and handed it to Captain Dobey who in turn handed it to Ben. There were no words that the Captain knew would comfort the grieving family.
With the service over the crowd moved away, walking toward their cars. Megan, who had been standing behind her husband, slipped her arm through Hutch’s arm as they walked across the grass.
Teddy lingered over her friend and partner's coffin, she put her hand on the smooth surface and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Ben came up behind her. “Lori loved what she did and she loved you. She knew every time she went to work it was a possibility she might not come home. Lori accepted that and so did I, although it doesn’t make this any easier.”
“I loved her too,” Teddy looked at Ben. “I hope you three will be okay.”
The boys were standing with their grandmother, Ben’s mom. Ben turned and looked at his sons then said, “I’m taking the boys and going to Florida for a while. Mom has a nice place there, they will love it.”
Starsky appeared next to Teddy, he put his arm around her. “Come on babe, time to go home.”
She put her arms around Ben, “Take care and keep in touch.” Ben nodded as he went to join what was left of his family.
Hutch and Megan were waiting at the Torino. Starsky tossed the car keys to his partner, “You drive.” He held the front seat up so Teddy could get in the back then climbed in next to her. Starsky put his arm around Teddy pulling her close to him. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Teddy had barely spoken since Lori’s death. She went through the motions everyday doing what she needed to do. Caring for Lily, making meals, cleaning the house that was already clean. Starsky was worried about his wife, Megan tried talking to her but Teddy insisted she was alright.
Dobey had given his three detectives a week off even though Starsky and Hutch were due to return to duty. The morning of Lori’s funeral Teddy had walked into Dobey’s office, she was already wearing her dress uniform.
“Detective Starsky.” He had been surprised to see her.
Teddy had her holstered gun in her hand, she laid it on Dobey’s desk. Then pulled her badge from her pocket and laid it next to her gun. “I can’t do this anymore,” she said stiffly, she turned and walked out of the office.
Dobey got to his feet, “Teddy,” he called to her but she didn’t stop.
After the funeral Starsky and Teddy picked up their daughter at the Hutchinson’s. Teddy hadn’t spoken since she talked to Ben at the funeral.
“Teddy,” Starsky called to his wife as she carried Lily up stairs for the little girl's nap. She turned to look at him then continued on up the steps.
Starsky could hear Teddy singing to Lily, as he rattled around in the kitchen. He was standing with the refrigerator door open when the phone rang.
“Yeah,” Starsky wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. “Cap!” He was surprised to hear his Captain on the other end, he listened then said, “She what? Thanks for calling.”
Starsky hung up the phone stunned, he made his way upstairs to find Teddy in their bedroom packing a bag. She looked up when he walked in, “I guess you know.”
“What the hell?” Starsky sputtered, “You quit! You quit and didn’t tell me you? I had to find out from Dobey?”
Teddy tossed a few more things in the suitcase then sat down on the bed. “I’m sorry, I was going to tell you.”
“Tell me? Don’t you think it was something we needed to discuss?”
“There was nothing to discuss, it was my decision to make.” Teddy said in a tight voice.
Starsky moved the suitcase and sat down next to his wife. “You’re just upset.”
“Damn right I’m upset. My partner and friend is dead. How would you feel if it was Hutch? What if Hutch was being put in the ground today?” Teddy's voice kept getting louder. “Like I told Dobey, I can’t do this anymore. Nothing good has come out of me being on the police force.”
Starsky had never heard her like this. She was always so strong, so ready to do battle, even with him.
Teddy went on, “There has been too much tragedy, I’m done!”
Starsky pointed at the suitcase, “What is that about?”
“I am leaving for a while, I need to clear my head.”
He just stared at her. “You’re leaving me?”
Teddy took his hand, “I’m not leaving you, I’m just leaving. I need some time.”
He blinked at her, not seeing the difference, “What about Lily?”
Teddy took a deep breath, “I’m no good to anyone right now. I can’t be a good mother or wife.” Even though her heart was breaking at the thought leaving them, Teddy knew what she needed to do. She needed not to have to worry about anyone but herself. Her spirit was crushed, she could feel herself spiraling out of control.
“You are leaving us,” His voice full of sorrow, Starsky dropped his head into his hands.
Teddy tugged on his arm, “Look at me.” After several long minutes he brought his head up and looked into her green eyes. She put a hand on each side of his face, “David, I love you and Lily. I’ll be back, I promise.”
The use of his first name didn’t make him feel any better. The last time she had used it was when she had been shot in the head and lost her memory, she had only been parroting what her mother called him.
Starsky finally nodded, it wasn’t like he had a choice, he couldn’t tie her to a chair. “How long?”
Teddy shrugged as she got up and began packing again. “As long as it takes.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“That's all I can give you.”
“Where are you going?”
Teddy tossed the last of her things in the suitcase and latched it. “I don’t know.”
“Damnit Teddy, you can’t just disappear!”
“I’m not disappearing!” She answered softly. “I’ll call you, but give me a few days.”
Starsky threw his hands in the air in frustration and walked out of the room. He went down the hall to Lily’s room and stood in the doorway watching her sleep, tears spilled down his face.
It was early afternoon the next day before Starsky showed up at the Hutchinson’s with Lily. He knocked on the door, when Hutch answered he was shocked by his partner’s appearance.
Starsky hadn’t slept, dark circles were under his eyes. He hadn’t eaten either, he had thrown on a rumpled T-shirt and cutoffs, leaving his dress uniform lying on the bedroom floor. He had paced the house except when Lily needed something.
“Starsk, what’s going on?” Hutch asked as he looked outside for Teddy. “Where’s Teddy?”
“Good question,” Starsky carried Lily in the house, her diaper bag slung over his shoulder.
Hutch looked confused, he wanted to ask his friend again about Teddy but thought better of it, instead asking, “Can I get you anything?”
Starsky dropped the diaper bag on the floor and sat down on the couch. Lily wiggled to get down, she was nearly walking on her own. He set her on her feet so that she could hang on to the coffee table. Lily maneuvered herself around the table laughing.
Hutch went to the kitchen and grabbed two beers, when he came back into the living room Lily spied him. She turned loose of the table and made several awkward steps toward Hutch. “Well look at that.” He commented.
After a couple more steps Lily landed on her bottom, she sat there looking pleased with herself. Tears stood in Starsky’s eyes as he watched his daughter, “And she missed it.”
Hutch sat down next to his partner, handed him the beer and finally asked again, “What is going on? Where is Teddy?”
Starsky sat the beer on the table and let out a breath he felt like he had been holding since he watched Teddy drive away the day before. “She quit the force.”
“What?”
“Teddy gave her shield and gun to Dobey yesterday before the funeral, she told him she quit.”
“How many times have we threatened or actually done that? We have always come back. Teddy will too.”
Starsky shook his head. “She’s gone, Hutch.”
“What do you mean she’s gone?”
The dark headed detective dropped his voice as Lily came crawling toward them. He was sure she was too little to understand but he didn’t want her to hear him. “Teddy packed and left.”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know!”
“When is she coming back?”
“I DON’T KNOW!” Starsky said loudly.
Lily pulled herself up by the couch cushion and looked at her daddy, “Da.”
Starsky picked her up and looked at Hutch. “What am I going to do?”
“You are going to get through this. Teddy will be back, she loves you two.” Hutch put his hand on Starsky’s knee, “We are all here for you and Lily. It’s going to be alright.”
A few days stretched into a week with no word from Teddy. Starsky had quizzed Megan but she was just as shocked by Teddy as the rest of them. Her friend had not confided in her. Perhaps because Teddy was afraid she would tell Starsky or try and talk her out of it, or maybe it was just a spur of the moment decision.
The two detectives had gone back to work, things were back to normal or as normal as they could be. Starsky would drop Lily off at the Hutchinson's in the morning with Kim and pick her up after work. Both Hutch and Megan had asked him to just move in with them for a while but he had refused, thinking it would be better for Lily to keep her normal routine. And he could use the alone time to brood and worry about his wife.
Finally after being patient or trying to be for a full week, Starsky picked up the phone, he hadn’t wanted to call Teddy’s parents. But after not hearing from her he began to fear the worst.
The phone rang several times before a familiar female voice came on the line. “Marie?” Starsky asked.
“David, thank God, I was hoping you would call,” Marie said in a gush of words.
“What’s wrong?” Starsky held his breath.
“Teddy is here, she forbade me to call you. She said if I did she would leave.”
“Teddy is there? How long?”
“This is where she came when she left you.” Marie told him.
Starsky wasn’t sure if he was relieved or mad. “Can I talk to her?”
Marie put the phone down, she went to the sliding glass doors that opened out into the back yard. Teddy was laying in one of the lounge chairs with a book she wasn’t really reading in one hand and a glass of iced tea, that was no longer cold, in the other. She was completely lost in thought.
“David is on the phone.” Marie said, staring down at her daughter. “He called, I didn’t call him.”
Teddy looked up at her mother, she put the glass down on a small table next to the chair. “I figured he would eventually call. I’m surprised it took him this long.”
“Come talk to him.” Marie urged.
She dropped the book in her lap. “I’m not ready.”
“You can’t hide out here forever. David and Lily need you.”
“I know that mom and I need them. But I’m just not ready yet.” Teddy took a deep breath, “Tell him to stay away, please.”
Teddy got up and went into the house leaving her mother to deal with a heartbroken Starsky. Marie slowly made her way back into the kitchen. She picked up the phone, “David, I’m sorry she isn’t ready to talk yet.”
Starsky nodded woodenly and hung up. How long was he supposed to hold out hope that his wife would come back to him? It had only been a week but it felt like forever to him.
Monday morning found Captain Dobey confronting two DEA agents in his office, he shook his head, “Don’t even ask.” He told them before they could speak.
“You don’t understand Captain,” Agent Thompson said. “We have the man responsible for all the carnage in custody.”
“Who?” Dobey asked. Before agents could respond there was a knock on the door and Starsky poked his head in.
Upon seeing the two men, “Sorry, Cap.”
He started to close the door but Dobey waved for him to come in. “Hutchinson out there?”
Starsky called his partner and they both entered the office. “This is DEA Agents Thomson and….”
“Eaton,” the second agent said.
“Apparently they know who is behind the explosion.” Dobey explained the presence of the two men.
“Do they now?” Starsky growled sarcastically. Their whole lives had been upended by the explosion and subsequent killing of Lori.
“We have the agent in custody.” Thompson said. “The man, Wayne Wilson, that killed Detective Chapman sang like a canary when offered a deal.”
“Deal? You offered him a deal? He killed my wife's partner!” Starsky barked.
“Agent?” Hutch asked.
Thompson addressed Starsky first, “Detective Starsky, the only deal Wilson got was the DA took execution off the table so he would cooperate. He will spend the rest of his life in prison.” Then Thompson answered Hutch. “It was a disgruntled ex DEA Agent by the name of Doug Young that decided he wanted to kill as many law enforcement officers as he could. He was Agent Joe Petrill’s partner. Joe turned in Young when he found out he was taking bribes.”
“So Petrill was his main target.” Hutch said, shaking his head. “How did this Wilson guy factor in?”
“Wilson built the bomb that went off in the semi.” Eaton explained. “The basement of the house was full of bomb making equipment. We got an anonymous tip about the house. The tip was traced back to Young. He figured Wilson would die in the raid and everything would be wrapped up.”
“And then Young could just disappear. He didn’t count on Wilson surviving.” Thompson added. “Young will go on death row, no question.”
Starsky flopped in a chair in front of Dobey’s desk. Nothing either of what the agents said meant anything to him. It changed nothing, many officers had lost their lives, Lori was dead and his wife had quit the force and was gone.
Hutch put his hand on his partner’s shoulder and squeezed, knowing how he was feeling.
“Detectives thank you for…” Agent Thompson didn’t know how to finish so he just said. “Thanks.”
Both agents shook hands with Hutch. Starsky sat brooding. Dobey came around his desk and shook their hands and followed them out into the squad room leaving his men in his office.
“Good news,” Hutch sat down in the other chair.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Are you going to call Teddy? It might give her some closure knowing the man that started this whole mess is in custody.”
Starsky shrugged, “She won’t talk to me.”
“But you're talking to her mom.”
“And Frank, if he happens to pick up the phone.” Starsky heaved himself out of the chair. “It sounds like Teddy is doing better. Why couldn’t she have done it here with us?”
Hutch got up, “Hey buddy whatever gets her there.”
“I just wish she would talk to me.” Starsky looked so forlorn, the only thing that made him smile was his daughter.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Starsky still hadn’t heard from Teddy. His calls to the Carlisle household became less frequent and his hope that Teddy would return began to diminish.
Summer was in full swing, the kids were out of school much to Lily’s delight. Lucy and Sam were more like siblings to the little girl, she followed them around wanting to do everything they did. Lily’s first birthday had come and gone, Starsky was sure Teddy would show up for her daughter’s big day but she hadn’t.
Megan was getting bigger by the day, two more months and the baby would come. She missed her friend and attempted calling Teddy. Marie had tried to get her daughter to come to the phone but she had refused.
On a warm Saturday in late June it had been decided that instead of a picnic in the park which was the usual outing, they would have a cookout in the Hutchinson’s back yard.
Starsky had blown up a wading pool for the kids and filled it with water. Lily, in a pink one piece swimsuit, was the first one in, splashing and stomping her feet. Once she had started walking nothing had slowed her down. Sam and Lucy sat in the pool while Lily continued splashing and laughing.
Hutch and Grayson were readying the grill while Megan and Kim were getting the food ready in the house.
Megan came out the back door carrying plates and plasticware to set the large picnic table. Starsky jumped up from the lounge chair and took the things from her. “Let me do that. You sit!”
She laughed as she handed the things to him, “You can set the table.”
He stuck his tongue out at her as he took the items. “Sam, come help me.” He called.
Sam jumped out of the pool and ran to help. Starsky handed him the plates. “Will you play in the pool when we are done Uncle Starsky?”
Starsky chuckled, “I think I’m a little big for that pool. How about we go to a big pool or maybe the ocean soon?”
Megan smiled as she went back into the house to help Kim make burgers, “It’s good to see Starsk, laugh and smile again.”
Kim nodded, “It’s such a shame, they were so good together.”
“Teddy will be back, I know it,” Megan said firmly.
“I sure hope you are right,” Kim picked up a plate of raw burgers to take to the grill. “I’ll be back to get the rest of the food.”
Megan shook her head, they had all been treating her like she would break. Even though her due date was still two months away Hutch had insisted that she take a leave of absence until after the baby came. She grabbed the buns and a bowl of potato salad and headed outside.
Again, Starsky was by her side taking the bowl and buns from Megan, “Will you please sit down,” He said, kissing Megan’s cheek.
She laughed, “Okay, okay I give up.” Megan went and sat at the picnic table while Lucy and Starsky helped Kim bring out the rest of the food. She watched Lily and Sam in the pool as she ran her hand over her stomach.
“The burgers are ready,” Hutch called as he flipped the last one on the plate Grayson was holding.
Starsky scooped Lily out of the water and wrapped her in a towel. “Time to eat little one.”
Sam followed, minus a towel, climbed in dripping wet next to Megan sighed, grabbing a towel from the grass where it had been dropped earlier, and wrapped it around her son.
Hutch sat down on the other side of Megan. “How ya feeling?” He asked his wife.
She rolled her eyes, “I’m pregnant, not sick. You all are driving me crazy!” Megan smiled as she filled Sam’s plate and sat it in front of him.
Starsky balanced Lily on his knee as he put a spoonful of baked beans on his plate, which Lily immediately stuck her fingers in.
Kim reached across the table with a napkin before the little girl could smear it on anything.
“Thanks,” Starsky smiled at Kim. They all had pitched in to help out in Teddy’s absence. Lily began to squirm, wanting down. “Let’s eat a little something before you go play.”
But Lily didn’t settle down. Finally she said “Mama!”
Starsky had been working with her, showing her pictures of her mother so that Lily wouldn’t forget. He had also been trying to get her to say mama. “Well it’s about time.” He tickled her.
“Mama!” Lily cried again and held out her arms over Starsky’s shoulder.
They all looked the way Lily had her arms outstretched. Teddy stood in the back door, she still had her key and had let herself in the Hutchinson’s when no one answered the door.
She looked well rested, tanned, and a little unsure as she didn’t know what the reaction would be to her return. Teddy had thought of calling then decided she would just show up at the park since that was the usual Saturday spot. She was surprised when she didn’t find them there.
Starsky just stared at his wife, he put Lily down and she walked straight to Teddy and held up her arms, “Mama!”
Tears stood in Teddys eyes as she stepped out of the house into the yard and picked up her daughter hugging her close. “It’s mama,” she whispered to Lily.
Then she looked at Starsky who was rooted in place, he still wasn’t sure what he was seeing. Finally he got up and went to stand in front of his wife. There was a mixture of disbelief, hurt and love on his face.
“Hi,” Teddy said, she knew it was a stupid thing to say after being away so long but she wasn’t sure what else to say. She braced herself for his response.
A huge grin spread across his face as he pulled his wife and daughter into his arms. “Hi.”
Everyone sat watching from the picnic table, Sam started to get up and run to Teddy but Hutch grabbed him and whispered, “Give them a minute.”
“Ahhh,” Sam said and kicked the leg of the table.
“I’m so sorry I was away for so long.” Teddy said softly.
“You’re here now,” Starsky said releasing them from his embrace, he put his arm around Teddy’s waist and guided her toward the picnic table.
Sam broke free of Hutch’s grasp and ran to Teddy, “I missed you Aunt Teddy!”
Teddy handed Lily to Starsky and crouched down in front of Sam, “I missed you too, buddy.” After hugging him she stood up, “I have missed all of you.”
Megan got up with some assistance from Hutch. “I am so glad you are back.”
“Oh my!” Teddy said, noticing Megan’s round belly. She patted the baby bump then hugged her, “Looks like I came back just in time.” Next it was Hutch’s turn for a hug, “Thank you for taking care of him,” she whispered in his ear.
“Always,” Hutch kissed her cheek.
Lucy jumped up to hug Teddy, followed by Kim and Grayson. “Sit down,” Kim encouraged as she grabbed a plate for Teddy.
After the meal the kids played in the pool, Teddy sat in the grass and watched her daughter, amazed at how much Lily had changed since she had been gone. She hated that she had missed her first steps.
Starsky sat down next to his wife and slung his arm around her neck, Teddy leaned her head on his shoulder. “I missed you.” She said, “But…”
“But nothing.” He said. “You did what you needed to do. You’re back….you are back right?”
“I’m back.”
“Let’s go home.” Starsky got up and grabbed Lily from the pool.
Hutch walked up to the trio, “Would you like us to keep Lily tonight?”
Starsky shook his head, “Thanks, but we got some catching up to do.”
Hutch nodded then to Teddy, “It’s good to have you back.”
Lily, exhausted from playing all day went right to sleep, Teddy stood next to the crib watching her sleep. She reached down and pushed a dark curl from Lily’s forehead and placed a kiss where the curl had been. Then she went to the bedroom and began unpacking. Teddy pulled out her favorite sleeping attire, Starsky’s old T-shirt.
“I wondered where that went.” He stood in the doorway drinking her in. He had missed her so much.
She hugged the shirt to her chest, “My way of taking you with me.”
He walked across the room, took the shirt from her and tossed it on the bed. “How about the real thing?”
Teddy giggled as she wrapped her arms around him, “Forever and ever.”
The End