GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT
                                                                                              BY
                                                                                                      TOOKI


                                                                                           ~CHAPTER ONE~

“David Michael Starsky?” Asked Officer Gregory Kinner, this was one job that he hadn’t wanted and didn’t ask for. “You are under arrest.”
Starsky stood in the doorway of his apartment rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Greg?”
“Go put some clothes Starsky.”
“Is this some kind of joke you and Hutch cooked up?” Starsky said grinning sleepily.
“This is no joke, get some clothes unless you want to go downtown in your shorts.” Officer Kinner said in a business like tone.
Starsky squinted at the officer in front of him. He knew by the look on his face this was no joke. “What the hell is going on?”
“Please Starsky, put something on, I’m sure this will all be straighten out.” Kinner almost begged.
“What are the charges?” Starsky asked understandably confused.
“Theft and murder.”
Starsky was stunned. A busty blonde appeared in the bedroom door. “What going on Dave?”
“Let me make a phone call.” Starsky said as he headed toward the phone.
“Can’t let you do that,” Kinner stepped into the apartment. “My captain will have my badge if I don’t do this by the book. I’ll let you put something on but that is it, no phone calls.”
Starsky sighed as he switched directions and headed for the bedroom. Christy his flavor of the month was clutching a robe around the skimpy nightgown she was wearing. “Are you being arrested?”
“Looks that way,” Starsky answered as he slipped on a pair of jeans then pulled a blue t-shirt over his head.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well that makes two of us.” Starsky said as he started to exit the bedroom. He stopped and looked at her, “Call Hutch.”
Ken Hutchinson had just stepped from the shower when the phone began to ring. He quickly wrapped a towel around him and ran to get the ringing phone. “What is it Starsk? Running late again?” Starsky was the only person that would be calling him this early.
“Ken?” The voice was familiar but defiantly not his partners.
“Yeah, who is this?”
“Christy Evans.” When he didn’t respond she added. “Starsky’s girl friend.”
“Oh Christy sorry,” Hutch said but it was hard to keep up with Starsky’s string of girl friends. Lately it had seemed like it was one right after the other. “Something wrong?”
“Dave was just arrested.” She blurted out.
“What?” Hutch was shocked. “Where are you?”
“At his apartment, he told me to call you.”
“Thanks Christy.” Hutch slammed down the phone and quickly got dressed.
When Hutch got to the station his partner was in the process of being booked. Starsky had already been finger printed the ink still evident on his fingers he was now in front of a camera for his mug shot. “What the hell is this?” Hutch asked out raged that his partner was being treated like a common criminal.
“Take it easy Hutch,” Connie Simmons said as she finished snapping the photo. “I’m sure this is just a mix up.”
“Some mix up,” Hutch fumed. “Finger printing, mug shots? What’s next a strip search?”
Connie shrugged, “You know the rules Hutch.”
Hutch’s mouth dropped open. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“By the book,” She said then turned to the subject of her photo. “Ok Starsky I’m done. Go right though those doors.”
“Hutch,” Starsky said panic in his voice.
“Go on,” Connie said pointing toward a door. “After you have been processed you will be able to talk to Hutch.”
Starsky nodded and went to where she had pointed. He knew what was next; he would be stripped and searched then given an orange jump suit. It was no use to protest anymore besides Hutch was there and he would get it straightened out.
Hutch knew it would be at least an hour before he could talk to his partner so he made his way up stairs to see if his captain knew what was going on. He found Harold Dobey sitting at his desk but he wasn’t doing his usual paper work. He had his head in his hands a troubled look on his face. Hutch rapped his knuckles on the office door.
Dobey looked up, “Good you are here I was just getting ready to call you. I guess you know that Starsky has been arrested.”
“Yeah, what the hell is this all about? Hutch asked.
“Has he been acting strange lately?” Dobey wanted to know.
“No, not any stranger than usual. Don’t tell you think he is guilty?” Hutch snapped. “Just what the hell has he supposedly done?”
“Robbed police impound of guns and thousands of rounds of ammo.” Dobey said picking up the arrest report lying on his desk.
“What?” Hutch exclaimed. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Starsky? Stealing guns?”
“There was a big bust three nights ago. Cases of all sorts of guns and ammo were confiscated and locked in impound. Last night it was all taken. Starsky’s prints were found all over every thing.”
“Yeah right,” Hutch said waiting for the punch line that never came.
“One of the guards was killed the other knocked out but he said that he saw Starsky with two other men. He was how they got in, he used his ID to get past the front gate.”
Hutch shook his head in disbelief. “This is crazy.” Hutch exclaimed. “You know Starsky would never do anything like that. He’s a good cop. “
“Hutch the evidence doesn’t lie, there are finger prints and an eye witness,” Dobey said unable to digest the report in front of him.
“I know for a fact that he was with his girl friend all night.” Hutch said picking up the phone. “I’ll call her and she can tell you.”
Dobey took the phone from him, “She is already down stairs in interrogation.”
“What? But she is the one that called me.” Hutch said.
“I guess they picked her up after that.” Dobey said.
Hutch jumped up, “I’m getting to the bottom of this.”

Downstairs Christy Evans sat in an interrogation room, a cup of coffee sitting in front of her. Her long blonde hair was up in a bun, her make up on to perfection. She had on a tight see though blouse and even tighter blue jeans.
Hutch stood on the other side of a one-way mirror watching the show. He had only met the woman once and had thought then she was a little too sleazy for Starsky. Now he was sure of it and was instantly suspicious of her. He turned up the volume so that he could hear what she and Officer Kinner were discussing.
“So what time did you notice that Officer Starsky was gone?” he asked.
“Uhmmm let’s see, I guess I noticed around one a.m., I had to pee and when I got up he wasn’t in bed, so I went into the living room and he wasn’t there either. “ she said.
“Were you awake when he came home?” the officer asked.
“Yep, I couldn’t sleep so I started watching this old movie. I guess he came in about four.”
“How did he seem when he got back?”
“Well…he looked a bit upset and he clothes were dirty.”
“Did he say what he had been doing?”
“Yeah, Dave said he wanted some ice cream so he went to the mini mart and then on the way home he had a flat tire. That was why he was so dirty.”
“You are sure of the times?”
“Yes sir.”
“So what kind did he get?”
“Pardon?”
“Ice cream, what kind did he get?” Kinner asked.
Her mouth fell open, “He didn’t have any.”
Kinner made a note on the note pad in front of him. “Alright Miss Evans, please keep yourself available, I might have more questions later on.”
“Sure thing.”
After Christy left Greg came into the room where Hutch had been listening. “Did you get load of her?” Greg asked.
“This is bull shit,” Hutch answered. “I don’t believe a thing she said do you?”
Greg shrugged, “Until we have somebody to prove her wrong it’s her word against Starsky’s.”
“Has he been interrogated yet?” Hutch asked.
Greg shook his head, “I wanted to talk to her first. Starsky is next.” As he spoke the door to the interrogation room opened and Starsky was escorted in by an officer. Starsky sat down in his orange jump suit and looked around. The officer left, leaving Starsky alone in the room.
“I want to be in there,” Hutch said.
Greg shook his head. “I don’t think so but you are welcome to listen.”


                                                                                          ~CHAPTER TWO~


“Where is Hutch?” That was the first question out of Starsky mouth when Officer Kinner entered the room.
“He’s around,” Greg said. “Now how about you tell me what happened last night?”
“There is nothing to tell. Christy and I went out to dinner got home around eight, watched some TV and went to bed.” Starsky answered.
“You didn’t get up and leave at some point during the night?” Greg questioned.
“NO!” Starsky exclaimed. “I had to get up early for work in the morning. I didn’t even want Christy to spend the night but she insisted.”
“I see, was there some reason you didn’t want your girl friend spending the night?” Greg asked.
“I don’t like being up late on work nights and Christy well she ahh…let’s just say she likes to keep me up all night.” Starsky said looking down at his hands. Then he looked toward the one-way glass wondering if Hutch was standing there listening.
“So why did you let her?”
“It was her birthday, she said she didn’t want to spend the rest of it alone.”
Greg flipped open the file he had on Christy. He had run her through records as soon as he had gotten back to the station. It was clearly written that her birthday was in August and this was March. He frowned and looked up at the detective in front of him. “Ok Starsky lets cut to the chase. Last night about two a.m. you were let into the impound lot where you and two other men took cases of guns and ammo. You were reported as shooting and killing one of the guards.”
“Are you kidding me?” Starsky jumped to his feet. “What the hell is going on here? You know me better than that Greg.”
“I thought I did Starsk but I’m going on the evidence, your prints were all over, the other guard said he let you in after you showed your police ID.”
“This will be over when you check my gun.” Starsky said still standing.
“Sit down Starsky.” Greg said. “Your gun is being check as we speak. We should have the results any time now.”
Hutch watch Starsky closely, he could always tell when his partner was lying and from his body language he was telling the truth. So how could his prints be some place he wasn’t?
There was a knock on the interrogation room door and it opened a crack. “Here is the report on the gun Kinner, they said you wanted it ASAP.”
“Thanks,” Greg got up and took the file from the policewoman. After she was gone he opened up the folder and quickly scanned the results.
“So can I go now?” Starsky asked.
Greg dropped the file down on the desk in front of Starsky. “I’m afraid not. The bullets match your gun.”
“B-but that is impossible,” Starsky said grabbing the folder. He stared at the ballistic report. “It’s been over a month since I have fired my gun.”
“Not according to that report,” Greg said pointing at the paper Starsky was holding. “Your gun has been fired and your prints were the only ones on it.”
Hutch was dazed as he stood there staring out at his partner. If he was the officer on this case and the suspect was anybody but Starsky he would have no doubt in his mind that he was guilty. But he knew Starsky and he was a clean cop. He couldn’t stand hearing anymore, there had to be a mistake, and he was going to find it.
“Starsky I think you had better get yourself a good lawyer.” Greg said as he took the folder back from the detective. “You need to turn in your shield.” Starsky defeated fished in his back pocket and tossed it across the table toward the officer. “Listen I’m really sorry about this.”
“It’s not your fault if the situation was reversed I would think you were as guilty as hell.” Starsky said. “When can I see Hutch?”
“He’s been here all along,” Greg jerked his head toward the glass.
Starsky smiled, “I guessed as much. If anybody can get to the bottom of this then he can.”
“You can see him now,” the officer turned to the one-way glass and said, “You can come in Hutch.”
They waited a few minutes but Hutch didn’t join them. “Maybe the speaker is broken.”
“I’ll go and see,” Greg said as he got up to get Hutch. He found the room empty. Starsky was on his feet waiting for Hutch but all that came through the door was Greg. “I’m sorry Starsky but he’s not there. Maybe he got called away.”
“Or maybe he thinks I did it,” Starsky said sadly.

Hutch was back in Dobey’s office pacing back and forth, “Cap somebody is framing Starsky and I think this new girlfriend of his has something to do with it. Why would she lie and say that he went out when he didn’t.”
“Are you sure he didn’t?” Dobey asked.
Hutch glared at his captain. “Don’t tell me you believe this crap.”
Dobey smiled and shook his head he admired Hutch’s loyalty. “Just playing devils advocate.”
“Don’t,” Hutch said. “I have a feeling Starsky is going to need everybody he can get on his side if we are going to keep him out of jail.”
“I am on his side, I know Starsky couldn’t have done what he is being accused of anymore than you could.”
“So how long is it before I fall under suspicion? Guilt by association.” Hutch said.
“Have you been approached?”
“Not yet but it’s only a matter of time before they get around to interviewing me. After all I’m his partner, friend, we are closer than some married couples.” Hutch said. “I’m actually surprised I’m not under arrest too.
The phone on Dobey’s desk rang. The captain picked it up. “Dobey,” He grunted in the phone. He listened for a few minutes then glanced at Hutch. “I’ll send him right down.”
“What was that about?”
“You called that one, they want to talk to you down stairs.”

Starsky sat in his cell pondering where Hutch had gone too. He surely didn’t suspect that he had done what he was being accused of doing. He heard some giggling from the cell next to him. He looked over to see a ragged looking man at him.
“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” the bum giggled at Starsky.
“Do I know you?” Starsky asked annoyed.
“Sure ya do Starsky, you roust me every time some kid goes missing. The man sneered at him. “You make one mistake and you pay for it the rest of your life.”
“Cosmo!” Starsky said recognizing the man. “You should have never been let out of jail for molesting that little boy.”
“They say that I have been cured,” he laughed. “So what did the goody goody cop do?”
“Go to hell,” Starsky said and turned his back on the man trying to ignore him.

“Have a seat Detective Hutchinson,” Captain O’Ryan said as Hutch entered his office.
“No interrogation room for me?” Hutch asked looking around the room. Greg Kinner sat in the corner.
“Have you done anything wrong?” O’Ryan asked. “No and neither has my partner.”
“Well the evidence is saying something different.”
“I know what the evidence is saying but I’m saying Starsky didn’t do this, he is being set up, framed.”
“Why? By who?”
“If I knew that I would be out busting their asses not sitting here talking to you.” Hutch growled.
“Ok cool down Hutchinson,” O’Ryan said. “How about answering some questions?”
“Will it get my partner out of jail.”
“No, he has a hearing scheduled for later this afternoon. The judge might post bail but I wouldn’t count on it. The evidence is pretty compelling.” The Captain answered.
“Fine what do you want to know?”
“Well you are his partner, if anybody would know if he were a crooked cop you would.”
“And you think I would just tell you that he was running guns?” Hutch huffed.
“Come on Hutch,” Kinner said, “This isn’t helping.”
“No I do not believe my partner is a crooked cop. I have known him since the academy and he has never stolen so much as a pack of gum.” Hutch answered still glaring at the captain.
“What do you know about this girlfriend of his?” O’Ryan asked.
“Not much, he has only been dating her for about a month. I met her once at a bar. She doesn’t really seem his type.” Hutch said.
“His type?”
“She is a bit too, well sleazy for him, he tends to run a little classer than this gum popping bimbo.”
“So you don’t like her, does Starsky know that?”
Hutch sighed, “We really don’t discuss her. We are partners but we do have lives of our own.”
“Well maybe this bimbo has turned your partner, he wouldn’t be the first to fall by the way side over a woman.”
Hutch jumped to his feet, “This is ridiculous. Starsky did not do this. He said he was home asleep and I for one believe him.”
“But we have Miss Evans saying that he went out for several hours.” O’Ryan said checking the report that Officer Kinner had given him.
“I think she is lying.”
“Why would she lie?”
“I don’t know but by god I’m going to find out!”



                                                                                      ~CHAPER THREE~


Hutch stood looking around at Starsky disheveled apartment, for a moment he had thought that on top of everything else his partner had been robbed. Then he realized that it was the aftermath of the crime lab. They never saw that part of it they were almost always the first on the scene. The closet door stood open, Starsky’s belongs had been rifled though. Every drawer in the place stood open some had even been dumped on the floor. Hutch felt anger surge through him how could they even think that Starsky would so something like this. Sure cops went bad for all kinds of reasons but not Starsky.
The front door squeaked open and Hutch heard the click of a gun, he whirled around as he grabbed for his own weapon. “I wouldn’t.”
It was Captain O’Ryan flanked by Officer Kinner, “The captain wanted to see Starsky’s apartment,” Kinner said in an almost apologetic tone.
“What are you doing here Hutchinson?” O’Ryan wanted to know. “Come to cover up the evidence?”
“I’m a little late don’t you think? Crime lab has been here and gone hours ago.” Hutch snapped.
“But they could have missed something, perhaps something you know about.” The captain eyed the detective to see what kind of response he would get.
“Go to hell O’Ryan if you had anything on me I would be in jail along side my partner.” Hutch shouted. “I’m here for the same reason you are except I’m not trying to bury Starsky I’m trying to help him.”
“You will not be part of this investigation Hutchinson. I told Dobey as much just before we left the station. You have your own cases to work on I suggest that you do your job.”
“While you pin my partner to the wall? I don’t think so.”
“I will have you arrested if you impede this investigation.” O’Ryan threatened.
“Go to hell,” Hutch said as he stormed passed O’Ryan and Kinner.
Kinner ran after the angry detective. “Hutch wait up.”
Hutch stopped short and turned around. “What?”
Captain O’Ryan is a good man; he is only doing his job. He doesn’t want to see Starsky in jail any more than you do.”
“Well he has a funny way of showing it.” Hutch retorted.
“He just wants to get to the bottom of this. It makes the department look bad.”
“God forbid the department looks bad. What about Starsky? His name is going to be smeared all over the front page of the papers by morning, he reputation will be shot.”
“I know how you feel.” Greg said.
“Do you?” Hutch said.
Greg looked at the ground, “No I guess I don’t. But just know I’m on Starsky’s side and so is O’Ryan.”
“Well with O’Ryan on Starsky’s side I’m sure he will get the electric chair.” With those words Hutch stormed out to his car.

“Damn it Hutchinson,” Dobey bellowed. “You have to stay out of this.”
“Cap I can’t,” Hutch cried. “If it were your partner would you?”
Dobey fell silent, for they both knew the answer to that one. He was just trying to keep Hutch out of jail. O’Ryan had been furious on the phone. He had called to inform Dobey that Hutch had been at Starsky’s apartment when he had arrived there. Dobey had explained that he hadn’t had a chance to speak to his detective yet although he knew that wouldn’t have stopped Hutch. “Listen Hutch you aren’t going to help Starsky by getting yourself tossed in jail.”
Hutch flopped down in the chair in front of his captain’s desk. “So you are telling me that my hands are tied?”
“I’m telling you to be more subtle the bull in the china shop is Starsky’s routine not yours.” Dobey advised.
“So what are you saying cap?”
“What I am saying is as a captain you stay out of this investigation, as a friend I’m saying keep digging. We both know that Starsky didn’t do this, now it’s up to you to prove it, nobody else is doing to.”
Hutch smiled for the first time since he had gotten the news of Starsky’s arrest. “Thanks Cap.”

Starsky was ecstatic when he heard that Hutch was there and wanted to see him. He had only gotten a glimpse of his partner when he was being booked hours ago. Hutch was already seated when Starsky entered the room. “Where have you been?” Starsky almost whispered.
“Trying to figure out what the hell is going on here.” Hutch said softly. He knew that they were probably being monitored in their conversation.
“I didn’t do this Hutch.” Starsky said desperately seeking his partner’s support.
“God Starsk I know that, did you even think I wouldn’t be there to support you?”
Starsky shrugged, “I was beginning to wonder.”
“Stop wondering,” Hutch said leaning across the table. “Clearly somebody is setting you up. Any ideas?”
Starsky shook his head, “I have been racking my brain and I can’t come up with anything.”
“Well somebody is doing a good job. They have your gun fired at the scene. Your finger prints all over everything.”
“Do they really think I would be that stupid? Don’t they think I would wear gloves? Why would I use my own gun?” Starsky tossed out questions.
“Who has access to your gun, your ID?” Hutch asked.
“The ID I guess anybody could make a copy of that. As for my gun I keep that with me all the time.” Starsky said telling Hutch everything he already knew.
“Just how well to you know this Christy?” Hutch asked.
“Christy?” Starsky asked taken aback. “What does she have to do with this?”
“I don’t know I’m just asking.” Hutch said. “Somebody is lying here.”
“About what?”
“Kinner asked you why you allowed Christy to spend the night even though you didn’t want her to. Your answer was because it was her birthday. But her record shows that she was born in August not March.”
“So she lied to me about her birthday date so that makes her involved?” Starsky glared at Hutch.
“Or you lied.”
“Thanks partner.”
“Starsk I didn’t mean it like that. I’m looking at it from their perspective.” Hutch said. “There are just some subtle things that aren’t jiving here.”
“Like?”
“Well the birth date thing. Access to your gun, just about the only time you take it off is when you are home. The ID, well like you said that could be copied. Unless it’s an inside job then somebody would have to lift your ID to get it copied.”
“So you are saying that Christy took my gun, my ID to frame me? What about my fucking finger prints? Did she take my fingers too? The last time I looked at them they were still there!” Starsky got up from the table. “You are nuts Hutch. Why don’t you stop grasping at straws and find out who is really doing this?”
“Starsky calm down will ya?” Hutch said, he got up and went to his partner. “I’m on your side.”
“What about Christy?”
“I don’t know Christy do you?”
“Hutch!” Starsky said in a warning tone. Hutch knew he was treading on thin ice. But the young woman was the only answer he could see.
“Starsky just think about it.”
“No I’m not going to think about it.” Starsky stormed. “Does she have a record?”
“It’s clean.”
“Ok then, look some place else then.”
Hutch wanted to ask more about Christy, Starsky hadn’t really talked much about her since they had started dating so he knew little about her. Usually when Starsky had a new lady in his life it was all he could talk about but this time it had been different. “Alright, I haven’t talked with Huggy yet maybe he has the low down on what is happening.”
“Thanks partner,” Starsky said looking grateful that he was dropping the questions on Christy. But they had gotten him thinking. He didn’t really know that much about her. She had just suddenly come into his life out of nowhere. He had been pulling out of a parking space at the grocery store when he heard a thump and a scream. He had jammed the car in park and jumped out to see a young woman lying on the pavement. She had been unhurt saying that that he had only brushed against her enough to cause lose her balance. But he had felt badly and insisted on taking her to dinner. After that night they had been an on going thing.
“You ok?” Hutch asked.
“Yeah sure,” Starsky answered.
“I’m going to get out of here and see what I can find out.”
Starsky nodded. “Hutch get me out of here.”
“Your hearing is in a couple of hours I’ll be back by then.”



                                                                        ~CHAPTER FOUR~

Huggy had just finished with the lunch crowd when Hutch entered and took a place at the bar. He pulled a menu from between a sticky ketchup bottle and the salt and pepper but replaced it, the last thing he wanted to do was eat.
“So what can I do you for?” Huggy asked.
“You mean you haven’t heard?” Hutch asked wondering if his friend was losing his touch.
“Of course I have heard. A cop being arrested is big news on the streets.” Huggy said putting a beer in front of Hutch. “So what’s the scoop?”
Hutch shrugged, “You tell me.”
“Word on the street there is a big call for guns. Somebody, don’t know who is buying up every gun and as much ammo as they can get their hands on. Paying big money.”
“Enough to turn a good cop bad?” Hutch asked.
“Not enough to turn Starsky.” Huggy winked.
Hutch sighed, “But how am I going to prove that?”
“What have they got on him?” Huggy wanted to know not having the inside details.
“It was Starsky’s gun that shot and killed the guard, his prints all over it. They opened the gates because it was Starsky’s ID and witness said it was Starsky. What the hell am I suppose to think here?” Hutch said. “I know he didn’t do it but …”
“Anybody out to get him?”
“Not that we can think of.” Hutch said shaking his head. “There is this new girlfriend of his Christy Evans. I don’t know her but she is top on my list to check out.”
Huggy pulled a pad from under the counter and wrote down her name. “You have an address on her?”
“No, sorry but I can get it.” Hutch said.
“Don’t bother I can find out.”
“Thanks Huggy I knew I could count on you.”

The courtroom was filled; reporters hovered out in the hall since the hearing was closed except to those involved. Hutch had been admitted upon Starsky’s instance. The judge sat reviewing the evidence. Hutch was directly behind Starsky. The lawyer Sam Cokesbury sat next to the accused. He lived for cases like this one. He had gotten more than one guilty cop off in his day. He had jumped at this case before he had even been asked to defend Detective Starsky.
“So Detective Starsky what do you have to say for yourself?” Judge Reiff asked.
Starsky got to his feet, “I am innocent your Honor.”
“But the evidence speaks loud and clear.” The judge said.
“I believe that I am being framed.”
“That is for your lawyer to prove.” Judge Reiff said. “Now for the request for bail.”
The prosecution spoke, “We believe that Detective Starsky is a flight risk. He has nothing more to lose.”
“Nothing to lose?” Starsky shouted jumping to his feet.
“Detective Starsky!” the judge boomed. “I do not tolerate out bursts in my court room!”
“I’m sorry.” Starsky took his seat.
“Case in point Judge Reiff. Detective Starsky is a hot head and I think it is clearly in the best interest of this court to remand him to custody until his trial.” Mark Cobey said looking at the fuming detective.
“Damn it Starsky,” Cokesbury hissed at his client. “You aren’t helping your case.”
Starsky clamed up, as he crossed his arms across his chest. “Hang in there buddy,” Hutch whispered in his ear.
Cokesbury rose, “I would like to point out that Detective Starsky has a clean record, several accommodations.”
“And on that same record, he has had several reprimands also.” Cobey made his case.
“This man is not a flight risk, he wants to get to the bottom of this as much as the court does.” Cokesbury said.
Judge Reiff studied Starsky’s record that lay before him. “I think I tend to agree with you Mr. Cokesbury.” Then he looked at Starsky. “I will grant you bail if you will agree to stay out of this investigation.”
Starsky remained silent. Cokesbury poked him, “You had better take it unless you want to be in that cell for a month.”
“Thank you sir,” Starsky said finally. “I’ll behave myself.”
“You had better Detective or you will be right back in jail.”
“But your Honor this officer killed a man.” Cobey protested.
“Allegedly Mr. Cobey. I do not find Detective a fight risk.” The judge banged his gavel and rose to leave the courtroom.
Cobey slammed shut his brief case unable to believe that the judge was going to let Starsky roam the streets. He had killed a fellow officer getting into the impound lot and stolen a large amount of guns. As Starsky and Cokesbury were walking by Cobey said, “You so much as jay walk and I’ll have back in jail so fast your head will spin.”
Starsky started to come back with a retort but Cokesbury propelled him toward the courtroom doors. Hutch glared at Cobey but held his tongue as he followed the lawyer and his partner out into the hall amongst the hungry reporters.
Cameras flashed and microphones were shoved in the faces of Cokesbury and Starsky as they pushed their way down the hall. “Detective Starsky!” called one female reporter. “What happens now?”
“I’m going home and taking a shower,” he tossed over his shoulder.
“Detective, please give us an interview.” Another reported shouted out.
Cokesbury stopped in front the crowd shielding Starsky with his body, Hutch coming between his friend and crush of the reporters. “My client is not answering any questions at this time. He is going home to rest; I am going to my office to work on his case. Detective Starsky is innocent and being framed and I plan on getting to the bottom of this.” Cokesbury turned shoving Starsky in front of him ignoring the fountain of questions still pouring from the reporters. “Get him out of here.” The lawyer said to Hutch. “I’ll call him at home later.”
“Call him at my place,” Hutch said as he took over pushing Starsky to the exit.

Hutch was in the kitchen of his apartment making sandwiches when Starsky emerged from the shower. “Thought you might be hungry buddy.”
Starsky flopped down at the kitchen table. “Jail food isn’t to great.” Starsky said as he took a bite of the sandwich that Hutch put before him.
Hutch joined him bringing a couple of bottles of cold beer. “At least we got you out.”
“So when do we go hunting?”
“We aren’t I am.” Hutch said. “You are going to stay here lay low and keep out of trouble. Huggy and I have got this one.”
“I can’t just sit around doing nothing.”
“Oh yes you can. If I have to hand cuff you to the bed you aren’t leaving here.” Then Hutch added. “Unless I’m with you. We don’t need anymore sightings of you doing unsavory things.”
Starsky gave him a ruthful look. “I guess I have a double out there some place.”
“How could somebody have gotten your gun?” Hutch wanted to know. “And replaced it with out you knowing it?”
“Hutch I swear to god I never went any place last night. After dinner I was so tired all I wanted to do was go to bed.”
Hutch’s brow furrowed, “How did you feel this morning when you got up?”
“Shocked that I was being arrested.”
Hutch had to smile as he shook his head, “No, no numbskull when you first woke up before you answered the door.”
Starsky pondered the question for a moment then answered. “Kind of hung over.”
“You and Christy have a lot to drink?”
“No, just a glass of wine to toast her birthday, she isn’t much of a drinker.” Starsky answered. “One glass of wine shouldn’t have made me feel that way should it?”
“I wouldn’t think so.” Hutch said.
Starsky’s eyes met Hutch’s, “You think I was drugged?”
“You think?”
“Don’t be a smart ass.” Starsky glared at his partner. “But who?”
“Christ Starsky you are thick.”
“Oh don’t you start on Christy again.” Starsky dropped his half eaten sandwich back on the plate.
“Then who do you think could have done it? Who would have gotten your gun and replaced it ? Your ID? Who would have known where you keep that stuff with out destroying your apartment?”
Starsky had already started coming to the realization that Christy had something to do with all that was happening to him he just didn’t want to admit it out loud. “Ok just for arguments sake Christy is in on this…why?”
Hutch shrugged his shoulders, “I have Huggy on it. Her police record is clean but I have a feeling that perhaps Christy Evans isn’t her real name.”


                                                                                      ~CHAPTER FIVE~


Several men were putting guns in packing crates and nailing down the lids down. “So we about ready for the next hit?” asked a man with dark curly hair who had just entered the back room of the building where they had hidden the guns they hand stolen the night before.
“It’s amazing,” one of them men said. “You look just like him I never realized until I saw him on the news this evening.”
“A little hair dye, a little perm and you got instant twin. Even picked up these babies,” the look a like said as he pulled a contact case from his breast pocket and held them up. “Blue just like his.”
“Man no wonder they think it’s him.” Said one of the other men. “We are going to get away scott free and he is going to prison. What could be sweeter?”
“Just don’t get too cocky,” said a female voice.
“Aww baby,” the twin said as he put his arm around her waist. “You made me.”
She shrugged, “After spending a month with him I should know what he looks like.”
“Well that is over, you don’t have to see him anymore.” He said kissing her neck.
She poked her lip out, “I was just beginning to like him.”
“You trying to make me jealous?”
“He can’t hold a candle to you lover.” She answered planting a kiss on his lips.
“Cut it out,” A couple of the men made gagging noises.
“Shut up Carl. Let’s get the rest of these guns and ammo crated up and out to the docks. Then we can plan our next hit.”
“Got any ideas?”
“There is a big pot bust going down either tonight or tomorrow. We should be ready to take that off their hands by the time they get it impounded.” The look-a-like said. “I think Detective Starsky will make another appearance.”

Both Detectives jumped at the sound of the knock on the door. Hutch opened the door, Huggy stood in the hall. “I need to talk to you, he whispered when he saw Starsky sitting on the couch.
“Say what you got to say,” Starsky said getting up and coming to the door. “What did you find out?”
Huggy looked at Hutch, “He’s got to know.”
“It ain’t pretty.” Huggy said as he came in to the apartment.
“So I take it that Christy Evans isn’t her name.” Starsky sighed; once again he had picked the wrong woman. Or had he? He was really starting to wonder about the “accident”.
“Sorry Starsk not even close.” Huggy said. “Her name is Natalie Crable, goes by Nat she is one mean sister.”
“Where did she come from?” Hutch asked.
“Last place she was run out of was New Orleans. As to where she is originally from it’s anybody’s guess.” Huggy informed them. “She has spent several years in jail.”
“Do I want to know for what?” Starsky asked thinking it was probably to prostitution.
“Attempted murder.” Huggy answered taking Starsky by surprise. “I would guess that what ever is going on here she is the mastermind to it. This is no dumb chick. She graduated from of all places Harvard.”
“Harvard?” Starsky repeated. “What the hell is she doing stealing guns then?”
“Guess it pays better, than the law degree she obtained from them.” Huggy had done his homework.
“You mean she is a lawyer?” Hutch asked perplexed.
“She never took the bar exam. I had Harvard fax her graduation photo to Dobey’s office.”
Hutch shook his head, “You really are amazing.”
“How did you get them to do that?” Starsky asked then added, “Never mind I don’t want to know.”
“Professor Bear can do just about anything.” Huggy winked at them.
“Ok so now what? She has nailed your ass to the wall Starsky but good. It’s going to be hard to convince a jury that it wasn’t you unless we can catch them in the act.” Hutch said. “She is damn smart, has cover all the bases, framed you like a picture.”
“And what if she is done, skips town?” Starsky was suddenly worried that he might actually go to prison and for murder no less.
“Ok lets not go into a tail spin here. Stop and think those guns were in impound less than 72 hours before they were stolen. I would say they have somebody on the inside. How else would they know where they were? Nothing else was touch that night.” Hutch theorized
“There has to be a big buyer in town it would be hard to sell that many guns on the street.” Starsky said, they both looked at Huggy.
“I’m on my way.” Huggy said. “I’ll call you when I find out anything.”
After Huggy left Hutch went into the kitchen to clean up the lunch dishes while Starsky sat on the couch to digest not only his food but also the information he had just learned.
“Hey partner are you ok?” Hutch asked from the kitchen.
“Yeah sure why wouldn’t I be?”
“Well you just found out that your girlfriend is a criminal.” Hutch answered. Starsky just shrugged. “Did you love her?”
Sighing Starsky got up from the couch and joined Hutch in the kitchen. “No, I don’t think so but I was in like with her and I think that…” he left the sentence unfinished.
“I’m sorry.”
“I just feel like such a fool. I should have seen what she was doing.”
“And how were you going to do that? Apparently she is very good and I’m betting this isn’t the first time that she has done something like this.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Starsky looked sullen as he leaned on the edge of the counter. “You got any ideas how to get me out of this?”
“Why don’t you contact her and ask her out for dinner or something?” Hutch suggested.
“Are you nuts?”
“It was just a idea.” Hutch said. “I thought that maybe you know who she is you could…”
“I could what?” Starsky interrupted. “Ask her what her next plan is? Ask her why she picked me to frame?”
“Starsky I’m sorry.” Hutch realized how incentive he was being. “Maybe you like this girl a little more than you thought uh?”
“Yeah maybe, I just get tired of it never working out.” Starsky sighed.
“I know what you mean partner, I know what you mean.”

Starsky went to his apartment to pick up a few things; Hutch had insisted that he stay with him until things were resolved. He too thought that if “Starsky” made any more appearances then Hutch would be there to defend the real man.
He stood looking around his apartment still unable to believe that it had been Christy that had set him up, taken his gun, his ID. Why? What drew her to him; did he really come off as that big of a push over? Starsky went into the bedroom to pack a suitcase. When he opened his closet door a few of Christy’s things hung in the closet. A jacket that she had worn when they had gone for a late night walk on the beach, a pair of jeans with a plaid shirt over them and tennis shoes intermix with his shoes on the floor of the closet.
He hadn’t admitted it to Hutch but he was in love with her almost from the moment they had seen each other. She had been so sweet when he had picked her up off the pavement. It had been him that backed in to her but she was apologizing to him saying she hadn’t been watching where she was going. Now he knew it had all be a game, she had planned every moment of it and used him as the pawn.
Suddenly Starsky felt angry, with Christy and with himself. Was he so desperate for a woman that he couldn’t see when he was being played? He grabbed the phone and dialed Christy’s number, half expecting her not to answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi Christy it’s Dave,” Starsky said into the phone.
“Dave, you are home.” Christy said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the hearing.”
“That’s ok they wouldn’t have let you in anyway.” He answered. “You want to go out for dinner?”
“Tonight?”
“Sure why not, I might as well enjoy this freedom it might not last long.”
Christy was silent for a moment. Surely he knew that she had lied in the police report about him being out. Or perhaps he didn’t know that yet. She knew she had no business going out with him. They had gotten what they needed from David Starsky she knew her boyfriend would be furious if he found out that she had gone out with the cop again. “Sure,” she found herself saying.


                                                                                         ~CHAPTER SIX~


A steely hand gripped Christy’s upper arm, “Where do you think you are going?”
She turned to look at Andy, if he had had in the blue contacts he would have looked dead on David Starsky. “Out.”
“Out where?” he snapped, he squinted at her. “You are going to see that cop aren’t you?”
“I…uh...why would you say that Andy?” she asked avoiding his eyes now.
“You have a thing for that cop anybody can see that.” He snapped at her.
“So what if I do?” she snapped right back at him.
Andy grabbed a hand full of her blond hair pulling her head backwards. “You are mine,” He hissed in her ear. “Don’t you fucking forget that uh?”
“You are hurting me,” Christy said anger in her voice. She pulled away from him leaving strands of hair in his fingers. “And don’t you forget who set up the job and who brought you aboard. You were nothing but a two bit hood.”
Andy slapped her hard across the face opening a small cut on her bottom lip. “Don’t talk to me like that.”
Christy wiped her lip with the back of her hand then looked at the blood smeared there. “Get out of here.” She yelled at him.
Andy stormed to her apartment door. “You need me to pull off the rest of these jobs.” He shot over his shoulder and he opened the door, then he slammed it shut
“Damnit,” Christy muttered under her breath as she went to the bathroom to examine the damage to her face. Her cheek was already starting to turn blue and there was blood still oozing from the cut lip. She pulled out her make up and began the job of covering up the bruise.
When the doorbell rang she had just put on the finishing touches to her make up. Christy put a smile on her face as she opened the door. “I’m so glad to see you Dave,” She said giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Was it awful?”
“Well it wasn’t my idea of fun,” Starsky said coming into her apartment. He looked around this time with a detectives eye but he didn’t find anything out of place or unusual. The only thing that did catch his attention was the faint bruise and the split lip. It was clear that she was trying to cover it up. “Is everything alright?”
“Sure, why?” Christy forced her self to grin at him, her face hurt like hell but she couldn’t let on and not have to answer a bunch of questions.

Balancing a pizza and a six-pack of beer, Hutch was swearing under his breath that Starsky hadn’t opened the door so now he was force to do this balancing act while he was trying to unlock the door. Finally after almost dropping the pizza he was in, “Starsky!” he shouted. “How about some help here?” He looked around the apartment. “Starsky?”
Hutch had left shortly after his partner had gone home to get clothes. He wanted to see if he could dig up some more information on Christy. He had a thick file in the car and was glad he hadn’t brought it up with him. After putting the pizza on the table he went to the bedroom. “Starsk?” But no partner, it shouldn’t have taken him long to get his clothes and come back.
The blonde detective grabbed the phone and dialed his partner’s number but the phone just rang. Something didn’t feel right. Then he remembered his conversation with Starsky before he had left. Surely Starsky didn’t really call Christy for dinner. He had been half joking and it was a bad joke at that. The look on Starsky’s face had made him want to swallow his words.
So where could he be? He knew he wasn’t at the station for he had just come from there. Maybe Starsky had gone to Huggy’s since he had been gone so long. Hutch started to pick up the phone again but decided to just head over to the Pits.

Huggy was in his usual place behind the bar when Hutch walked in. The bartender waved him over to the bar, “Hey where’s your better half.”
“That is what I have come to ask you,” Hutch said. “I guess he hasn’t been in here.”
“Nope can’t say that he has,” Huggy said. “But I do have some information for you. I don’t know if it has anything do to with Starsky or not but there is a big drug bust going down tonight.”
“Yeah I know but how the hell do you know?” Hutch asked raising his eyebrows.
“Don’t ask,” Huggy said giving his friend a sly smile. “Anyway from what I understand this is going to be huge right? And it will all go into impound right?”
“Yeah I suppose.”
Huggy sighed, “Don’t you get it Hutch. Maybe they aren’t just into guns but big busts. If the drugs go into impound they might just try to hit it again.”
Hutch had been so focused on finding his partner it had taken a while for the light to go on. He snapped his fingers, “You might just have something there Huggy. Thanks buddy.”
“Anytime,” Huggy said but Hutch was already out the door. “Man disappears as fast as Superman” Huggy shook his head and went back to work.

Both Starsky and Christy were subdued during dinner, lost in their own thoughts. Christy wondered how Starsky could possibly not know that she had lied in the police report. Hutch was there he would have surely told his partner. So what was he doing out with her? Starsky was still in shock that the beautiful woman before him could be involved in anything illegal let alone a plan to frame him. Her planned had worked like a charm and he was probably going to jail if Hutch couldn’t prove he was being framed. So what was she doing out with him?
He watched as Christy grimaced as she tried to slide food past her split lip. Finally he couldn’t stand it anymore. “What happened?”
“Happened?” But Christy knew exactly what he was referring to.
“To your lip and you look like your cheek is bruised.”
She gently put her hand to her cheek, “Oh that…I…I slipped in the shower banged my self on the soap holder.” Even as the words came out of her mouth she knew they sounded lame.
Starsky reached across the table and took her hand. “Christy if you are in some kind of trouble I can help you.”
She slid her hand out from under his, “Trouble? What kind of trouble could I be in,” she asked nervously.
He shrugged, “I’m just saying I can help.”
“Well unless you can get my boss to give me a raise,” she joked.
Starsky gave her a slight smile. “Well if you ever need anything…”
He knew she knew he knew. Suddenly Christy felt as if the walls were closing in on her. “I’m not feeling well would you take me home?”
“Sure,” Starsky called for the check.
At her apartment door Christy pressed her back to the door. She was afraid that perhaps Andy had returned and was waiting for her. “Thanks for the dinner.”
“Are you sure everything is ok?” Starsky quizzed. She looked nervous again.
“Of course, my face just hurts and my pride for being so clumsy.” She lied. “I think I’ll just take some aspirin and go to bed. Sorry to be such a bad date tonight.”
Starsky gently touched the bruise on her face, “You could never be a bad date.”
“Dave…” Christy began.
“Yeah?” He looked into her eyes.
“Nothing, I’ll call you.” She brushed his lips with hers and slipped into her apartment.
Starsky stood there for a few moments feeling a range of emotions. He was about to turn to leave when he realized that someone was behind him. But there wasn’t time for him to react and he plunged into darkness as he was hit over the head with a butt of a gun.

Christy has just gone into her bedroom to change her clothes when there was banging on her door. Sighing she hurried to the door, “Dave I really don’t feel good please go away.”
“Open the fucking door,” came an angry voice.
Christy jerked the door open and gasped as Andy pulled an unconscious Starsky into her living room. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“Taking his place for good.”
“B-but that ruins the whole plan,” Christy sputtered.
“How? They will still think it’s the cop doing it. When we are done I lose the contacts and go back to my original hair color. The cop will disappear. They will think he just skipped town.”
“You are just going to kill him?”
“When has killing ever bothered you?” Andy dropped Starsky to the floor and grabbed Christy again. “I think you had better get over him.”
“There is nothing to get over,” Christy glared at him. “I just happen to know his partner and he will keep digging until he finds us.”
“Not if he is dead too.”



                                                                                         ~CHAPTER SEVEN~
​

The pounding on her door startled Christy awake; she glanced at her bedside clock as she grabbed her robe it was after midnight she headed toward the door. She knew it couldn’t be Andy he had taken Starsky and left hours ago. He refused to tell her where he was taking the detective. She looked through the peephole to see a very angry Ken Hutchinson standing in the hall.
Christy opened the door, “Hutch!”
Hutch came in even though he hadn’t been invited. “Where is Starsky?” He looked around the living room then went to her bedroom and looked in.
“I-I don’t know Hutch.”
“Don’t give me that shit. Where the hell is he?”
“We went out to dinner but that was hours ago. He left here and said he was going home.”
Hutch grabbed her by both of her arms. “Why would he tell you that when he is staying with me? I’m on to you sister. You might have my partner fooled but you don’t have me.
“Owww, you are hurting me,” Christy said trying to get out of his grip.
But Hutch refused to let her go. “I know you lied at the police station. I know my partner, he is a good cop and there is no way he has done the things he is being accused of.”
“I agree.”
“Why did you lie, why did you say that Starsky went out that night?”
“Because he did,” Christy said with out much conviction.
“I have a nice thick file down in my car on you Miss Crable or may I call you Natalie?”
Christy’s face went white. “Ok so what I have a record but I have gone straight.”
“You ever tell Starsk about this record of yours?”
“Of course,” Christy said as she dropped her eyes from Hutch’s face.
“Just stop lying. I know for a fact that Starsky had no idea about your police record.” Hutch tossed in her face. “Tell me where he is!”
“I told you I DON’T KNOW!” Suddenly Christy understood why Andy refused to tell her where he was taking Dave for she might have just told Hutch if she had known. The last thing she wanted was for anything to happen to him. She hadn’t planned on falling for the guy when she had picked Starsky. It had only been the luck of the draw that she had set her sights on Starsky. If another cop had been coming out of the prescient at the moment she had driven by then it would haven’t been Starsky.
Andy had snapped a photo of Detective Starsky and Christy had worked her magic to find out everything she could on the officer. By the end of the month she had known enough about him to wheedle her way in to his life and now she was destroying him. This wasn’t the first time she had done this type of thing. Her last job in New Orleans had turned out badly but this was the first time she had fallen in love with her mark.
When she had left New Orleans she didn’t bring any of her old crew with her. She made a new start in Los Angeles, finding new people for the job she was going to pull. She had bumped in to Andy at a pool hall. He had thought he struck gold with the beautiful blonde. Christy had thought Andy was stupid but smart enough for the job and he would be easy enough to leave when she was done.
But she hadn’t planned on David Starsky; he had a charm that was hard for her to explain. She even loved his cheesy impressions of Bogart. Christy had almost suggested that they find somebody else but it was too late and they were running out of time. The gun raid was upon them and they had to hit the impound while all the guns were still here.
Now they would be stealing drugs from impound hoping that nobody had put it together or think they would hit again so soon. It was going down the next night. After that job she would blow town with her share of the money and start over someplace else. But this time she was thinking she might really start over. Find a real job, being with Starsky had shown her what a real life could be like.
Hutch was so angry his face was almost purple. “WHERE IS HE?”
Christy broke down into tears. “I don’t know Hutch, honesty to God.” She wanted to tell him that Andy had knocked him out and drug him off. But she had quickly developed a fear of Andy and realized that he wasn’t as dumb as he acted.
“Fine! If you hear from him call me or have him call me.” Hutch glared at her.
“I will I promise.”

When Starsky regained consciousness the first thing he smelled was oil, car oil. It was dark where he was tied up but he could make out that he was in some sort of a garage. Several cars sat around in different stages of repair. His head throbbed and he found that he couldn’t move his hands and feet were bound with rope. Since Starsky wasn’t gagged he could only assume that there would be nobody around to hear him yell for help but he did anyway.
“Help!” he hollered.
With in seconds a light snapped on a bare bulb blinded the detective. He heard footsteps coming toward him and when he looked up into the man’s face that was hovering above him Starsky couldn’t help but be startled. For the face staring back at him was his own, or so close to his it was hard to tell it wasn’t his reflection in a mirror. “Pipe down,” came the order from the look alike. “Don’t waste your breath. Nobody can hear you and even if they could I doubt they would care.”
“Who are you?”
“At the moment I’m Dave Starsky.”
Starsky felt a chill run up his spine. Even the voice sounded remarkable like his. “Where is Christy?”
“At home in bed,” the fake Starsky answered. “You don’t need to worry about her, I’ll take your place.”
Starsky glared at the man, “You don’t know who you are messing with.”
“Sure I do, Detective Starsky. Then there is your good pal Hutch who I’m sure you are relying on to save your sorry ass. Let’s see then there is Huggy Bear, barkeeper of a dump. Shall I go on?”
“Hutch will find me.”
“Naw I don’t think so he will be dead by tomorrow night.”
Starsky’s heart skipped a beat. Surely Hutch was looking for him already. He didn’t know the time but when he didn’t show up at Hutch’s apartment the first place he would go looking would be Christy’s apartment. “You leave Hutch alone.”
“How noble.” Fake Starsky chuckled. “Kill me but let my friend live.” He stopped and thought a moment. “Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad, if I let him live it will be with the knowledge that his best friend and partner went bad then skipped town leaving him to explain that he wasn’t involved in anyway. Everybody knows how close the two of you are do you think they wouldn’t suspect that good ole Hutch wasn’t in on it from the beginning?”
“Who the hell are you?” Starsky asked incredulous. How could this person know so much about him? Of course he had told things to Christy but he knew for more about him than that.
“You!”

After Hutch left Christy lay back down but couldn’t sleep. She hoped that Andy hadn’t hurt Dave. Perhaps she could talk him out of killing him or find out where he was and tell Hutch. Yes that was what she would do; let Hutch take care of it and she would leave. Christy flipped the light back on and got out of bed. She went to her closet and pulled out a suitcase. Forget the job forget the cash.

Hutch was at a loss as to where to start. He knew that Christy had more information than she was letting on. His only chance was to stake out Christy’s apartment building and follow her when she left. Hutch left only long enough to get himself a cup of coffee and a sandwich then settled back to wait on Christy.


                                                                                 ~CHAPTER 8~

Working off of Huggy Bears hunch, several officers including Hutch staked out impound. It was a large warehouse owned by the police station where they kept large amounts of confiscated items, cars, drugs and of course the guns that had been stolen. The men hide in the shadows while the guards did their job only this time they had on bullet proof vests and were alert as to what might go down that night.
The night before Hutch’s stake out of Christy’s apartment proved fruitless, he wasn’t sure if he had doze off or she just hadn’t come out. Hutch had waited around until almost ten before he finally left. He had to make excuse as to the where abouts of his partner then got out of the office as soon as he could to continue to look for Starsky. Even Huggy had no information about a cop being snatched.
So here he sat hunkered down behind a box waiting for who ever it was to hit impound. The drug bust had gone well but the drugs had been whisk away to another location. All Hutch was interested in was finding Starsky. He was sure that something had happened to him or he would have at least called. His partner skipping out never entered his mind.
Suddenly there was some noise at the front gate, then shouting, four men shoved their way past the guards and into warehouse leaving a fifth man with his gun trained on the guards who had been told not to resist. The thief’s would be taken care of once in side.
The officers were poised ready to spring into action as the four-armed men dashed into their sights. “Where’s the stuff?” of the men yelled.
They all stopped short and looked around. It was clear that drugs were not there. “It’s got to be a set up,” another man yelled. “Clear out!”
The four men turned to run out of the building, the officers stood up from their hiding places. “Halt you are under arrest!”
But the men didn’t stop, “MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!” a third man yelled.
Hutch who had been hiding near the exit stepped in front of one of the fleeing men, his gun pointed at his chest. Hutch’s mouth fell open and his gun went lax in his hand, “Starsk?” The man standing before him was his partner. “What the hell are you doing?” Hutch couldn’t believe his eyes.
Starsky shoved Hutch out of the way and disappeared into the darkness. Hutch couldn’t bring himself to lift his gun to fire at the escaping man.
A shot rang out, “I got one of them.” Came a call from one of the other officers inside.
Gregory Kinner came up behind Hutch, “Wasn’t that Starsky?”
Hutch spun around still in a state of shock. “N-no, it wasn’t.”
“Hutch I saw the man pretty clearly and it looked like Starsky to me.” Kinner insisted. “You know I’m going to have to report this unless you can tell me where Starsky is.”
“H-he’s…,” Hutch took a deep breath.
“I thought he was staying with you.”
“He is.”
“Is Starsky at your apartment now?” Kinner inquired.
“I…uh…shit Greg I don’t know where Starsk is. He went out two days ago and never came back.”
“What? Why didn’t you report it?” Kinner wanted to know. Hutch just looked at him. “Okay, okay if it were my partner I wouldn’t have reported it either. But we can’t ignore this now, I’m having an APB put out on him.”
“Greg please, can’t it wait?”
“I’m sorry Hutch but no. One man has already been killed a load of guns has disappeared and they were probably after the drugs tonight.” Greg looked at Hutch. “Seems your partner might be in on this. We have thought there was somebody on the inside feeding them information. How else would they know when and what was being put into impound?”
“I don’t know but it’s not Starsky.” Hutch barked.
“I think you don’t need to be on this case anymore Hutch. I went against my better judgment and brought you in on this stake out. O’Ryan is going to have my tail for this when he finds out you were even here. But I felt that I owed you, debts paid Hutch.”
“Fine I’ll do this on my own.”
“Hutch I’ll lock you up if I so much as seen you nosing around. I won’t want to but I will.” With out answering Hutch started out of the warehouse. “Where are you going?”
“To find my partner.” Hutch shot over his shoulder.
Kinner shook his head but didn’t bother repeating his warning.

Christy had waited until Hutch had left. She had started to leave her apartment building with bags packed when she noticed Hutch’s car sitting out front. She had gone back in and waited until he left before she went out to hale a cab. Christy first went to the airport stowed her stuff in a locker, got herself a airline ticket then caught a cab to Andy’s apartment. Maybe if she were lucky he would tell her where he was holding Starsky.
When Christy knocked on Andy’s door she hear a lot of scurrying around inside, after several minutes the door opened. “It’s only you.” Andy exclaimed.
“Gee thanks,” Christy said as she entered the apartment. She looked around for signs of Starsky.
“He’s not here so you can stop looking.” Andy snapped. Then he yelled, “Its just Christy.”
Four men came out of the bedroom. She could tell they were getting ready to pull the job. “You doing this with out me?”
“Yeah we are.”
“But I’m the one that put all this together. I guess you are planning on keeping my share of the money too?” Christy stormed.
“You forfeited it when you fell in love with the cop.”
“This is a bunch of shit and you know it.”
“All I know is that you fell for that cop, now you can go down with him.”
“You are a jerk!” Christy yelled.
Andy slugged her knocking her two her knees. “Keep your voice down you twit.”
“Where is he?” Christy demanded through her tears of pain.
“You want to know?” Andy said towering over her. She nodded, hoping she would be able to get to Hutch. “Fine, you can spend your last few hours of life with him then you can die with him!”
“Andy…” Christy started but he landed another blow, which knocked her out.
“Somebody want to take the trash out?” Andy asked turning away from where Christy was laying.
“Where do you want her?”
“Stick her with the cop.” Andy ordered.

The bare light bulb came on; Starsky squinted in the sudden light. A man he had never seen before came in carrying a woman. As he got closer Starsky realized that it was Christy. The man unceremoniously dumped her unconscious body next to Starsky then bent to bind her hands and feet.
“What did you do to her?” Starsky demanded.
“Just knocked out don’t worry about it. Hope you two will be very happy together.” He said giving Starsky a toothy grin.
“What the hell is that suppose to mean!” Starsky yelled after the man as he was leaving. The man didn’t answer just flipped off the light plunging them back into darkness.
“Christy?” Starsky whispered he eyes were beginning to adjust to the dimness again. He nudged her, she emitted a groan, at least he knew she really was alive. “Wake up Christy.”
She stirred, “Where am I?” asked as her eyes fluttered open.
“I’m not sure,” Starsky said suddenly angry it was her fault that they were there. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“Dave I’m so sorry. I-I…”
“Save it Christy or what ever the hell your name is I know all about you.”
“I never wanted it to turn out like this.” She said tearfully.
“I’m sure you didn’t, now you are in the same boat I am.”
“That isn’t what I’m sorry about, I deserve to be here.”
“Then what do you mean.”
“I never meant to fall in love with you.” Christy admitted.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Starsky snapped. “I find out that my girl friend is nothing but a con artist that I couldn’t even see through. What the hell kind of a cop does that make me?”
“I don’t know about what kind of cop but it makes you a caring person.”
“You can stop with the flattery, I’m on to you.” Starsky answered.



                                                                                           ~CHAPTER 9~


“Hutchinson,” Dobey bellowed the moment Hutch entered the squad room.
Hutch sighed he had decided that his boss was physic. “What’s up Cap?”
“What’s up? What’s up?” Dobey roared as he got to his feet. “What is up is that one of my detectives has a APB out on him. Now tell me it’s a mistake.”
Hutch dropped his eyes to the floor and shook his head. “Cap he was there, Starsky was one of the men there to rob the drugs from the impound.”
Hutch’s words took the anger from Dobey the large man sat down in his chair. “What are you telling me?”
“Damn it,” Hutch was close to tears, “He was there Cap, I saw him with my own eyes, I had him dead to rights but I didn’t fire I let him go.”
“There has got to be an explanation for this.”
“That is what I have been trying to tell myself. That he was on some kind of sting that I didn’t even know about,” Hutch looked hopefully at Dobey.
“I’m sorry son,” Dobey said mournfully. “What ever he is doing it’s not with the police department.”
“He has been missing for two days. Starsk was supposed to be staying with me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that when you were in here yesterday?”
Hutch shrugged, “I guess I was looking for your explanation.”
“Is it this girl?”
Again Hutch shrugged, “I really don’t know. I have talked to her. She claims she doesn’t know where he is and he wasn’t in her apartment. I kind of barged in there and looked.”
“Why don’t you go and talk to her again.” Dobey suggested.
“I have been ordered off the case.”
Dobey just shook his head. “Let me know what you find out.”

Hutch knocked several times on Christy’s door but she didn’t answer. Finally the door across the hall opened an older man poked his head out. “She’s gone.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“Don’t know but she had several suitcases.” He answered before slamming the door.
Hutch knew from her records that Christy didn’t have a driver license so his best guess was that she left in a cab. He hurried to his car and radioed the cab company. They had a record of picking up the young woman and taking her to the airport. Hutch’s next stop was LAX.
After flashing his badge to at the ticket counter the gentlemen explained that she had indeed bought a ticket but never check her luggage and didn’t show up for the fight.
“Where was she going?” Hutch asked.
The man checked the computer screen, “Boston,” he replied.
“Only one ticket?” Hutch asked holding his breath; he had to wonder if there were two tickets if one of them was for Starsky.
“Just one sir.”
“Thank you,” Hutch said as he pulled a card from his pocket. “If she comes in give me a call at that number.”
“Well do.”
Hutch was now back to square one. Christy had prepared to leave town but didn’t make her fight. He wasn’t sure what to think of that.
He headed back to her apartment building and knocked on the door of the man across the hall. “You back again?” The man said as he opened the door.
“I’m Detective Hutchinson,” Hutch said showing the man his badge. “I was wondering if you could answer some questions about Miss Evans.”
“Sure if I can,” the man answered opening his door wider to allow Hutch to enter. “I’m Dale Maxim.”
“Mr. Maxim have you ever seen this man at her apartment before?” Hutch showed him a photo of Starsky.
He took the photo and examined it for a few seconds, “Yes, often.”
“Was he here night before last?” Hutch asked.
The man nodded. “Yes, he was here. I was guessing he took her out to dinner. They weren’t gone very long.”
“Did they have a fight?” Hutch asked.
“No, no he was always kind to her, not like the other one.” Mr. Maxim answered.
“Other one?”
“Yes, I thought they might be brothers they look so much alike. The other one has brown eyes.” He tapped the photo.” This one has blue.”
“How do you know the color of the second man’s eyes?” Hutch asked curiously.
“He and the girl were out in the hall fighting once. I went out to break it up the guy threatened me. He was very close to my face and he didn’t have blue eyes like the man in this photo.”
“But other than that he looked like my friend here?” Hutch inquired.
“This is going to sound strange but not at first.”
Hutch furrowed his brow, “How’s that?”
“His hair was lighter and straight. Then the next time I saw him it was dark like your friends then a week later it was curly.”
“So would you say that this man was changing himself to look like my friend?”
“I guess that is what I’m saying. Honestly I didn’t think much about it. I just thought it was two guys vying for the same woman’s attention.”
“Thank you Mr. Maxim.” Hutch beamed at him.
As he walked out to the car, Hutch began to whistle, he had known all along that there was no way it could have been Starsky but now he had to prove it. And with Starsky missing it was going to be impossible.

“Come on Dave don’t be mad a me.” Christy begged.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Starsky glared at her. “I sure hope the hell you are happy, you have managed to get both of us killed.”
“Andy isn’t going to kill us.”
“Oh so my look a likes name is Andy uh?” Starsky snapped. “How long did it take you to make him over into me? My guess is about a month.”
“Dave I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, in fact I wish you wouldn’t.”
“Why did you ask me out to dinner the other night? You knew who I was.” Christy asked.
“I guess I was giving you a second chance maybe hoping you really weren’t in on this or that you would come clean.” Starsky looked at her. “Why me?”
Christy sighed, “Right place at the wrong time. If we had spotted somebody else first then it would have been them.”
“Who is on the inside? Who fed you all the information on me and what was going to be in impound?” Starsky wanted to know.
“Stan O’Ryan.”
“Captain O’Ryan?” Starsky’s mouth dropped open. “No wonder he didn’t want Hutch helping on this case. “I’ll be damn, he would be the last person I would have ever suspected.”


                                                                                     ~CHAPTER 10~


“Cap you know this isn’t Starsky,” Hutch sat in front of his captain’s desk defending his partner.
“Hutch I don’t want to believe it but…”
“I can bring in Mr. Maxim,” Hutch persisted.
“I know what this man told you, but he was looking out a peep hole,” Dobey said playing devils advocate.
Hutch glared at Dobey, “I thought you were on our side.”
Dobey sighed, “I am on your side, Starsky’s too but I am just saying how it looks. You have one man saying that there are two men. There are how many officers saying its Starsky. Who do you think a jury is going to believe?”
“At this point a jury is the least of my worries,” Hutch said getting up. “I want to know where the hell my partner is. All I know is he went to his apartment to get some clothes and haven’t seen him since.”
“What about Christy?”
“She is gone too, had an airline ticket but never made the flight.” Hutch said rubbing his forehead where a headache was just beginning to form.
“Hutch maybe you just need to face the fact that Starsky has gone over to the other side. Sometimes the temptation is just too much.”
“Not for me, not for Starsky.”

When Andy burst into the garage he was furious, the cops had been waiting for them. That blonde partner of Starsky had him point blank and didn’t fire. He looked enough like Starsky to fool even his partner. Angrily he flipped on the light. “WAKE UP!” he yelled.
Christy and Starsky jerked awake, squinting in the light. “What happen somebody rain on your parade?” Starsky grinned knowing that something had gone wrong.
Andy grabbed Starsky by the front of his shirt and dragged him to his feet. “Ok smart guy how come they are on to us?”
Starsky glared at him. “You are asking me? I have been locked up in here you think I’m sending telepath messages to Hutch?”
Andy dropped Starsky to the ground and looked down at Christy. “Ok bitch what did you tell the blonde cop uh?”
“I haven’t talked to Hutch.”
The Starsky clone backhanded her across the face. “I know he was at your apartment.”
“Looking for Starsky but I didn’t tell him anything.” Christy said tears spilling down her face.
“Hit her again and I’ll kill you,” Starsky growled.
“I don’t think you are in any position to be making threats pretty boy.” Andy laughed.
“Hutch has figured out this much he will figure out the rest and he will find us.” Starsky glared at his capture.
Andy smirked at, “I have got even your partner fooled. He had me and thinking that it was you let me go. You know what kind of trouble he is probably in now?”

Captain Stan O’Ryan knocked on Captain Dobey’s office door. Hutch who was about to leave opened the door. “Captain O’Ryan,” Hutch said as he started out the door past the captain.
“Why don’t you stay Hutchinson.” O’Ryan suggested as he entered the office. Hutch followed him back in.
“Is there something I can help you with Stan?” Dobey asked.
“I want Hutchinson’s badge and gun.” O’Ryan answered.
“WHAT?”
“Calm down Hutch,” Dobey said then to O’Ryan. “Would you like to explain?”
“Last night your detective here had Starsky dead to rights and he just let him walk.”
“I heard all about it, Hutch says it’s not him.” Dobey said uneasily.
“And I have a whole room of officers saying it is.”
“Captain O’Ryan,” Hutch interrupted, “I have a witness that says that there are two men matching Starsky’s description. He says that he has seen Starsky a number of times at Christy’s apartment. He says that there is also a second man that over a period time changed his appearance to match Starsky.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes it is.”
“And just how does he know all this?”
“He…ah…well,” Hutch stalled. “He watched it through the peep hole in his door.”
“His peep hole,” O’Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “I see.”
“Don’t dismiss this. Why are you so ready to believe that this is Starsky? You know he has an excellent record.”
“That don’t mean shit, anybody for the right amount of money can go bad.”
“NOT STARSKY.”
“Just how do I know you aren’t in on it too?” O’Ryan asked.
“Ok that is just about enough.” Dobey roared hearing as much as he could stand. “Why don’t we bring this Mr. Maxim in?”
“Fine, I’ll do just that.” Hutch said.
“Wait,” O’Ryan said. “I want one of my men with him. And if this doesn’t pan out Hutchinson I want your shield on Dobey’s desk by the end of the day.”

Hutch and Greg Kinner climbed the stairs to the third floor of Christy’s apartment building. “This is Mr. Maxim’s,” Hutch pointed at the door that had the numbers 314 on them. Christy is right there 315, Mr. Maxim has a clear view of what is going on out side her door.”
“What kind of person stands and watches out a peep hole?” Kinner asked.
Shrugging Hutch knocked on the man’s door. “Mr. Maxim, it’s Detective Hutchinson again.”
They waited a few minutes, “Maybe he went out.” Greg suggested.
“Mr. Maxim?” Hutch called louder, knocking a little harder. This time the door popped open a crack. The two men looked at each other and both drew their guns. “Mr. Maxim?”
They stepped into the man’s apartment; the TV was on in the living room, a tray that looked as though the man was having lunch was over turned. “I don’t like this,” Greg said as he went down the hall to the single bedroom. Hutch continued on to the kitchen.
Greg Kinner found Dale Maxim face down on his bedroom floor a bullet in his back. “Hutch!” Greg called as he knelt next to the man.
“Shit!” Hutch breathed when he saw Greg next to the body. “He dead?”
“I think so,” Greg said not wanting to disturb the body. “Let’s call it in.”

“Sorry Hutch,” the coroner said after examining the body.
“This is just great!” Hutch yelled at nobody.
O’Ryan enter the apartment. He walked over to the gurney containing body and lifted the sheet. “Your peep hole guy?”
“Yes its Mr. Maxim,” Hutch answered annoyed at the way the captain addressed the victim.
“I want your badge and gun on Dobey’s desk now,” O’Ryan said turning to eye Hutch.
“B-but…” Hutch sputtered. “You think I had something to do with this? Kinner was with me.”
“Doesn’t mean your wayward partner didn’t to it before you two got here.”
“You can check my phone records I haven’t made any calls that I can’t explain you bastard.”
“OK that’s it,” O’Ryan hollered, “Arrest him Kinner, take Officer Hutchinson downtown.
“I’m sorry Captain but I won’t do that,” Kinner said.
“Fine you can turn in your gun and badge too!”
“You plan on running the whole department by yourself O’Ryan?” Hutch asked glaring at the man.
“Get the hell out of here.” O’Ryan said.

The ropes that bound Starsky’s hands loosened just a bit, he had been working on them since he had been kidnapped. “We have got to get out of here,” Christy said matter-of-factly. “Andy is going to kill us.”
“You said he wouldn’t.”
“I guess I changed my mind.”
“What the hell are you doing involved with a jerk like that for anyway?” Starsky asked.
Christy laughed, “He got involved with this jerk. I pulled him into this scheme he has just kind of taken over. I guess I’m not the best judge of character. I thought he would do what I told him to do, I was wrong.”
“So you go around looking for weak men uh?” Starsky asked, “Doesn’t say much for me does it.”
“Like I told you before you were just in the right place at the right time. Who ever had come out would have been our target. It just happened to be you.” Christy said. “I wish it hadn’t been.”
Starsky grunted, “Me too. So how long before your boyfriend comes back to kill us?”
“We were leaving after this job. Selling the stuff, splitting the money and disappearing.” Christy told him, leaving the lies behind her.
“And starting over some place else?” Starsky looked at her.
“Probably, it takes a while to set up an operation like this. You are the first cop I have use.”
“That is comforting,” Starsky said in a sarcastic voice. “Just how long have you been doing this anyway?”
Christy shrugged her shoulders. “A few years.”
“Years?” Starsky said startled.
She nodded, “If I get out of this alive I’m done. I have enough money to live the rest of my life. Want to join me?”
“The only place you are going is to jail, sweet heart,” Starsky said ignoring her offer.



                                                                                  ~CHAPTER 11~


The explosion shook houses for blocks around, shattering windows and rousting people out of their beds. The fireball could be seen for miles. Hutch was with in a block of the garage when it went up an anonymous tip had lead him in the direction of the auto garage. The voice had been disgruntled and impatience as he relayed the address to Hutch.
Hutch knew in his heart the moment he heard the explosion that is was his destination. He stepped on the gas but had to pull up short of the burning building, the flames too intense to get closer than a half a block. “Starsky,” he whispered as he leaned to look out the windshield as the fames shot skyward. Anyone left in the building had been incinerated.
Grabbing the radio, Hutch called it in then jumped out the car, the heat drove him back keeping him from even attempting a rescue. His only hope was that the informant had been wrong but instinct told him the caller had been true to his word for the man knew too much.
Hutch stood helpless watching the building burn, others began gathering around him in the night. Sirens could be heard in the distance but it didn’t really matter anymore.
“Are you alright sir?”
Hutch looked around to see an older woman clutching a robe around her. “Y-yes, I’m fine.” But he wasn’t he had just lost his best friend. Hutch slumped against the car as overwhelming sadness hit him.
“Here why don’t you sit down in your car,” the woman suggested as she guided Hutch around the open door. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
Hutch shook his head, “He was in there.”
“Who?”
“My partner.”


“You smell that?” Starsky asked sniffing the air. The odor of gas permeated the air. Christy’s eyes widen as she nodded her head. They could both hear somebody walking around.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “Andy is going to torch the place.
Starsky pulled at the ropes, “Damn it!” He cursed the ropes that bound his wrists.
“Come on Dave this place will go up like a roman candle.” The panic was evident in her voice.
“See if you can pull at my ropes I have been working on them,” Starsky slid around so that Christy could reach his hands.
She began tugging at them; it was difficult with her hands also bound. “Damn!”
“What?”
“I broke a nail.”
“Christ you are going to have a lot more to worry about than a broken nail if you can’t get me untied.” He snapped.
“Don’t yell at me I’m trying my best.” Christy said giving the knot a yank two more nails broke to the quick but the knot loosened.
“Good girl,” Starsky praised, “I think you got it.

Firemen doused the burning building with their fire hoses the only thing they could do was hope to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the rest of the block. Three fire companies were there with another two on the way. The fire was so intense that the onlookers had moved back with out even being asked.
Hutch sat in his car looking out at the windshield, smoke and tears stinging his eyes. He vowed that he would clear Starsky’s name even if it meant his career.
A hand reached in the car and gripped his shoulder. Hutch didn’t even dare to hope that Starsky had some how escaped the inferno. He looked up through burry eyes to see Captain Dobey standing there. Hutch eased out of the car.
“You alright?” Dobey question. He didn’t even bother to ask about Starsky he could tell by the expression on Hutch’s face what the answer was.
“No.” Hutch simply said turning his gaze back to the fire.

It was late afternoon before the fireman could enter what was left of the burned out garage. It had been an old two-story building with a working garage where many of the neighborhood residents had brought their cars for years. Now there was little left but rubble. The back wall was still standing and part of the second floor that a few men were working on to keep it from falling so that the arson squad could get their investigation done. Their job would be tedious as they not only looked for the source of the fire but for the body they expected to find.
The arson squad was about to call it a day when a shout came. Hutch who had not left the area since he had arrived the night before was the first person running toward the voice. No one tried to stop him but instead followed.
Ed Bellows who had been with the arson squad some twenty years had found a body; it was that of a man he was laying face down. Most of the body was burnt beyond recognition, a bit of curly black hair that was singed was all that was left to possibly identify the man until the coroner got a hold of him. Ed looked up at Hutch with a questioning look.
Hutch nodded but couldn’t speak he was using all this strength to keep his emotions in check.
“Hey man I’m really sorry,” Ed said then turned to several other men standing around. “Let’s get him out of here.”

It was pitch black, Starsky crawled feeling in the wet and darkness for Christy. “Christy are you alright?” Starsky asked as he coughed. He had been sure they were going to die from the heat and smoke.
“Yeah I think so,” he heard her voice and felt a hand clutch at his shoulder. “How are we going to get out of here?”
“I don’t know,” Starsky said straining to see in the blackness. He wondered if there was possibly a trap down in the mechanics bay.
It was a miracle they were even alive. Starsky had just finished untying Christy when the garage when up in flames. He had grabbed her by the waist and rolled them under a car, unbelievably there was a mechanics bay under the car, which they fell through moments before the fire would have swept over them. They could feel the heat above them and immediately started choking on the smoke. “Get back,” Starsky said as he pushed Christy forward hoping that the bay was deep enough to shield them from the fire. They were able to get under solid floor but the heat was still intense and the smoke was filling the bay.
“We have got to get those doors closed,” Starsky yelled at her above the roar of the fire. He felt around and finally found a manual crank that would allow him to close the two doors that swung into the bay. It wasn’t a tight seal but he prayed it would hold and keep the fire and debris out of the bay. Then he turned to Christy again. “Feel around for some rags anything we can stuff in the cracks of the doors or we are going to suffocate on the smoke.
Christy franticly felt the walls and floor of the tiny room; it was much longer than wide made for a mechanic to stand in under the car to work on it with out jacking the car up. Finally she found a wad of rags, as she was about to yell to Starsky her hand touch something else. Christy flicked on the flashlight it was grease covered and the lens was smeared but it worked.
Starsky was startled by the light fearing that the fire was working its way into the bay. He was relieved and delighted to see that Christy had found a flashlight. She held the rags out to him. Starsky grabbed them and begin wedging them in the slit between the two doors the best he could. He wasn’t sure how long they would last if the fire found them.
There was a large crash, Christy let out a yell as dirt and ash filtered down around them. “Get back,” Starsky yelled shoving her from under the doors. “I think the building is starting to fall.”



                                                                                                      ~CHAPTER 12~


The flames stopped smothered by several feet of debris that fell on the doors, the smoke also stopped but they were trapped. Starsky was thankful that the floor was concrete and it would hold against the fire. All that was left was to wait, wait until they were rescued.
Dripping water awoke both Starsky and Christy, they could hear muffled shouts from above, and the heat was still intense but the smoke was all but gone. Christy started yelling for help but Starsky stopped her, “Save your breath they can’t hear us now.” He pulled her back into the corner they had hunkered in and he wrapped his arms protectively around her. “We wait.”
It was hours later when they once again were awaken, their tomb was now much cooler and they were sitting in several inches of soot-blackened water. They both listened but no sound met their ears.
“Are they all gone?” Christy whispered.
Starsky shrugged in the darkness they had decided to preserve the flashlight only using it when they really needed to. “I’m pretty sure the fire is out.”
She slumped against him. “Thank god, now we can get out of here.”
“I don’t want to frighten you but I think we are buried.” Starsky said sliding out from under her. He grabbed the flashlight and shined it on the doors.
“Push on them,” she suggested.
“And bring all the rubble down on us? I don’t want to survive the fire just to be buried in tons of debris.” Starsky said pulling a few of the dripping rags out of the door cracks. He could see no daylight.
“So what do you suggest we do?” she yelled.
“Wait.”
“Wait? Wait is that all you can come up with???? I want the hell out of here.” Christy stormed and put her hands up to push on the doors.
Starsky grabbed her, “Yes we wait, there will be an arson investigation, and they will find us.”
“I can’t stand it anymore,” Christy screamed and began crying.
Starsky folded her in his arms, “We will get out of here I promise.”

As a body bag was brought in for the burnt corpse Hutch turned his head not wanting to see them load Starsky’s burnt body into the bag. “I’ll have the coroner put a rush on this,” Bellows said looking at the grief etched on Hutch’s face.
“Thank you,” Hutch said in barely a whisper.
Watts another investigator approached Hutch and Bellows. “Looks like a large amount of gasoline was dumped around the area, then with the flammable contents of the garage it just went up.”
“Any clues as to who might have set it?” Bellows asked.
Watts shook his head, “I doubt we will ever find out.”
“Thanks John,” Bellows said patting him on the shoulder. Then he turned back to Hutch. “You okay to drive?”
“Yeah,” Hutch nodded, “I’m going to get cleaned up and head into the station. If you find out anything called Dobey’s office.
“Sure thing.” Bellows said, “Hey Hutch wasn’t there a girl?”
“I don’t know if she was here, nobody has seen her.” Hutch answered.
“Alright,” Bellows shrugged, “I guess we can let’em clean up boys.”
As the men began to leave the area John Watts stopped cocking his head, he called out for everyone to stop moving and talking. They all froze including Hutch. “Did you hear that?” Watts asked.
Bellows went to stand beside him, “I didn’t hear anything.”
Again Watts heard the sound, “That, it sounds like somebody banging.”
Hutch walked over to where the two men were standing the others joined them. Everyone in the group held their breath. Finally they all heard it a very faint clanking noise as if somebody below them was banging on a pipe.
Bellows bent over, they were all standing directly over the trapped couple. “By God I think someone is alive down there.”
“How?” one of the men asked.
“I have no idea but get on the horn and get some help out here.” Bellows order.


They could hear movement above them both Starsky and Christy began to yell but the all the rubble covering them and the noise above nobody could hear them. They yelled until their throats ached. “They can’t hear us.”
“Damn it we have to make them hear us!” Christy said with a new conviction.
“Find something we can bang with,” Starsky said flipping on the flashlight again. He shined the light around their soon to be coffin. Finally he spied a wrench. “There,” he said pointing toward the tool.
Christy grabbed it and started banging on the metal doors holding them captive. “Help we are down here,” She yelled.
Starsky began using the flashlight it would be useless soon anyway as the batteries were starting to fail. One of Starsky’s favorite children’s books jumped to mind, he suddenly felt like a Who trapped in Whoville and they had to make themselves heard. “HELP!” Starsky yelled hitting the door as hard has he could. That was when he thought he heard something from above. He grabbed Christy’s hand to stop her. “Listen.”
“We hear you, help is on the way.” The voice was very faint and muffled but they both heard it all the same.
Tears sprang to Christy’s eyes and she threw her arms around Starsky’s neck. “They heard us, they heard us, “She sobbed with relief.

“How in the hell could anybody survive that inferno?” Dobey barked over the radio.
“I don’t know but I’m going to stick around and see who they pull out.” Hutch informed his captain. It hadn’t even crossed the detectives mind that it could be his partner. Starsky was on the way to the morgue in a body bag. He had seen the body. “I’m going to go give them a hand.”
“You let me know.” Dobey said as Hutch hung up.
As Hutch approached the scene several men were hoisting up a large section of the ceiling that had fallen, he jumped in to lend a hand. None of them could figure out how a person could have survived the fire, the smoke, and the intense heat.
“Easy now, we don’t know what is holding this up we don’t want to bring this whole mess down on who ever is down there.” One of the men cautioned.
It took ten men over two hours to carefully pick up the rubble to reveal metal doors. “Well I’ll be damned,” Bellows said rubbing his grimy face, his suit was beyond ruin.
“There is a mechanics’ bay,” Hutch said. “Come on let’s get these doors open.”
Several men tried pulling the doors but the extreme heat had melted the hinges. “Get some crowbars in here.
After many tries they were still unable to get the doors to budge. They called in a welder to cut the hinges so that they could open the doors. “You down there get back, we have to cut you out.” Bellows yelled.
“We hear you.” Starsky called.
Thirty minutes later the doors were ready to be pulled off. Once again a warning was yelled.

For the first time in two days Starsky saw the light of day, or thought he did for it was nearing midnight before he and Christy were finally free. Huge spotlights had been set up in the area so the men could see to work. They finally emerged from bay that had saved their lives. Wet, soot covered and tired they were lifted out.
Hutch looked at the couple, something looked familiar about the man but it couldn’t be. He was seeing things from the lack of sleep. It had been over 24 hours since he had slept. It wasn’t until Starsky called his name that it registered with him…his partner was alive…. alive.
“Hutch?” Starsky called, on unsteady legs he made his way toward his partner.
Hutch moved toward the dirty figure coming toward him. “Starsk?” The two men fell into each other’s arms. “I-I thought you were dead. We pulled a body out it-it was you.”
Starsky shook his head, “I was being framed, it wasn’t me it was a look a like.”
Christy was moving deftly away from the scene she was almost to the cover of night when Starsky called out, “Arrest that woman.”

Three days later Starsky and Hutch sat in Huggy’s downing beers as fast as Huggy could get them to the table. Christy as the rest of her gang were cooling their heels in a jail cell awaiting trial. Captain O’Ryan only mildly protested when he was arrested in his office. Once he heard that Christy was alive and well he knew it was all over.
“I am swearing off women.” Starsky proclaimed raising his fifth beer. “I have had it they are nothing but trouble.”
“Yeah yeah how many times have I heard that one?” Hutch asked but raised his bottle to meet his partners.
“This time I mean it,” Starsky said.
“Until the next pretty girl walks through the door then you will be off and running.” Hutch grinned.
“What ever.” Starsky shrugged. Hutch slid out of the booth. “Hey were ya going?”
“Bathroom man I’ll be right back.” Hutch tossed over his shoulder. When Hutch got back his partner was nowhere in site. He walked over to the bar where Huggy was pouring drinks. “Hey Hug where did Starsk go.”
Huggy grinned at the detective. “Did I hear him say he was swearing off women?” Hutch nodded. “Didn’t last long.” Huggy pointed to the other end of the bar where Starsky was perched on a bar stool talking to a pretty blonde girl.
Hutch sighed and headed toward his partner. “Hey buddy it’s time to go.”
“I’m busy,” Starsky said.
“I told Bev I would have you home at a descent hour tonight.” Hutch tossed back at him.
“Who’s Bev?” the girl asked.
“Romeo’s wife,” Hutch said grabbing Starsky by the arm.
“Hey I’m not married!”
The blonde glared at him, “You liar,” she growled then laid a stinging slap to Starsky’s face.
“B-but,” he protested as Hutch dragged him from the bar and out onto the street. Starsky jerked his arm from Hutch’s grasp. “What the hell was that all about?” He rubbed his face. “That hurt ya know.”
“A little pain now will save you from a whole lot of pain later,” Hutch grinned at his partner. “Come on buddy how about if we finish up the celebration at my place.”
Starsky shook his head and gave his partner a lop sided grin

The end