Finally… Coming Home
By: Jan in VA
Feedback: Is both craved and humbly solicited.
Disclaimer: The characters seen on the 1970's series "Starsky and Hutch" are DEFINITELY not mine…drat!
Warning: This story is a result of a challenge on the "Starsky and Hutch and Friends" yahoo group. The challenge was to write a letter by one of the partners to the other if he thought that death was imminent.
Writer's Notes: This is a extended version of an earlier story of mine on this site. I hope that you are more satisfied with this version. GRIN!
Thanks: My thanks go to my long-suffering husband who understands the
WHY I feel the need to write…he just doesn't quite GET the subject matter!
GRIN! I also must thank publicly Hilly for looking this version over for me and to all of my friends on the "Starsky and Hutch and Friends" yahoo group who have helped me so much in my writing by critiquing AND also encouraging me.
Summary: After 8 ½ years, Starsky is finally coming home…or is he?
A/N (Sparkle731) Jan is the writer who started this story and wrote the original version of Finally coming home. With her kind permission, we are working together to finish this extended version. Jan wrote the first five chapters and I wrote the rest of the chapters after that. Please note: this is an extended version of Jan's original story. I am just contributing to it.
Finally… Coming Home
By: Jan in VA Co-Writer: Sparkle731
Chap. 1
May 14, 1993
It had been two weeks since the heart of John McFarland had ceased to beat. Even Captain Kenneth R. Hutchinson had to be reminded of exactly who this felon was when the warden of the prison had called him to inform him of this particular inmate's death.
"I'm sorry, Warden Thomas. I realize that my partner and I were the arresting officers in the McFarland case, but I don't see why you would need to inform me in person about his passing," relayed Hutch professionally when the call from the warden had been transferred to his relatively new office at Metro as Captain of Detectives-Homicide Division.
Hutch would soon discover the significance of this seemingly minor, forgotten arrest early his career and the changes that it would have on his life now that McFarland had died. At the warden's insistence, Hutch had cleared his calendar of appointments for the day and had taken the 1 hour and 25 minute drive to the prison to meet with the warden.
When Hutch had arrived at Warden Thomas' office, he soon discovered what all the urgency was about. In McFarland's personal effects was an envelope addressed to:
"Captain Kenneth Hutchinson"
The word "Captain" looked as if it had been written over something else that had been there and erased...not once but several times.
"Won't you please sit down, Captain Hutchinson," suggested the warden as he gestured to an oversized burgundy leather armchair. As Hutch nodded his thanks, he noticed immediately that the envelope was open as it lay innocently on the warden's massive oak desk. He looked up towards Warden Thomas as he sat down, with a questioning look for an explanation for this seeming invasion of his privacy.
"The envelope was not opened by my staff or myself, Captain, I assure you," said the warden as he noted Hutch's questioning stare. "It was open when it was discovered in Mr. McFarland's personal effects. It wasn't until after the note inside fell out directing us to see to it that you personally received the envelope inside, and who the note said that envelope was from that we contacted you…" the warden paused and sighed as he gazed downwardly towards his desk away from the eyes of the man in front of him.
"Go on please Warden Thomas..." said Hutch in a calm voice as he tried not to outwardly reveal the growing anxiety that was beginning to stand his thinning blonde hair on end.
"Captain, there are very detailed instructions in the note enclosed…directions if you will…that I suspect your department will need..." Warden Thomas looked up at Hutch finally. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry we are that we didn't realize years ago that Mr. McFarland had this letter in his possession. If we had..."
Hutch nodded suddenly feeling as nervous as he had ever felt in his life.
"I thank you for contacting me about this matter, warden. I don't know what I'll find in this envelope, but I think I would appreciate it if you could leave me alone for a bit while I find out," requested Hutch with a tone as steady as he could muster.
"Of course, Captain. Please use my office for as long as you need to," said the warden as he patted Hutch's shoulder. "If you should need anything...anything at all...please don't hesitate to press the buzzer on my intercom. I'll be right outside." With that the warden left his office, being sure to close the door as quietly and respectfully as possible.
Alone now, Hutch's hands were shaking as he reached out, picked up the envelope and peered inside. Inside was indeed another envelope, which was sealed. As he drew it out, he still could recognize the handwriting on its front… even after 8 1/2 years. Handwriting he had long ago thought he would never see again.
It was the scrolling familiar script of his partner...Detective Sergeant David Starsky.
It was strange to Hutch how the envelope seemed heavier than it should. He took a deep breath and took the note out of the sealed envelope being careful not to tear the beloved writing on its face. As he picked up the note, two objects more familiar to Hutch than his own name fell onto the warden's desk...Starsky's rings…the ones that he had worn on the little finger of his right hand the entire time Hutch had known him. Hutch reached for the rings and held them reverently in the palm of his hand. "Oh Starsky…" Hutch thought as he began to read the note written by his friend so long ago.
Oct. 18, 1984
Dear Hutch,
I don't know why they are letting me do this, but I'm not about to ask questions at this point. I don't know when or even if you will ever read this, but in the faint hope that you will someday...I want you to know some things.
1. Please, tell Ma and Nick that I love them. On second thought, you can just let Ma tell Nick. I know how you just love to talk with my brother.
2. Know that I didn't go willingly. I will fight to my last dying breath to stay in this life. God Himself will have to tell me it's time.
3. Even as the gun that will most likely end my life is placed up against my ear, my last thoughts are of you and how much richer and fuller my life has been with you to share it with.
You know I don't like soapy scenes...
You know what's in my heart...
I love you Hutch.
See ya,
Starsky
Hutch quietly and carefully placed the note back into the envelope and picked up the notepaper with the directions printed on it. They were beginning to get fuzzy as he read them, but finally he closed his eyes and looked upwards with a smile on his face.
"It's been a long 8 ½ years, Starsk…a long time coming, partner, but finally...you're coming home."
00000
The massive door to Warden John Thomas' office opened slowly yet deliberately. Warden Thomas turned from the massive windows stretching from floor to ceiling that faced the mountains to gaze towards the man that emerged from his office. It was a man who seemed to stand a little less tall…whose eyes had just a little less sparkle than the man who had confidently strode into his office a little more than an hour previously.
Hutch let no other hints of the devastation he must be feeling at that particular moment show though as he walked out of the room that he had been in for the past hour.
"Captain, may I get you a cup of coffee or something?" asked Warden Thomas in a frail attempt to comfort this man who he realized had lost so much in the past few minutes.
All law enforcement officers knew the risks they would take when they recited the oath to protect and serve and accepted the badge as an officer of the law. It was a commitment that none of them took lightly, as they were all aware that they each might be asked to pay the ultimate price for that service at some point. It was one thing; however, to be aware of that price and another to have it paid…and have it not asked of yourself, but from your partner.
John Thomas' mind went over the file he had retrieved on one Detective Sergeant David Michael Starsky…a file thick with successful arrests and numerous commendations, filled with words that he knew had files and files associated with it from hospitals, court records, as well as additional police reports. In all of them except for a few, at the very start of Detective Starsky's career in law enforcement, Ken Hutchinson's name was associated with those reports also. These two men had been partners for eleven years…from almost the beginning until Detective Starsky's disappearance 8½ years ago.
The warden had been partnered with a few officers back before he took another route in his career with the prison system. They had watched each other's backs too, but he had never been partnered with anyone for more than a couple of years and he had NEVER lost a partner to death in the line of duty.
He could hardly imagine what this man standing before him was feeling at that moment in time. "Captain Hutchinson…?"
Hutch blinked his eyes a couple of times, his numbed brain finally realizing that the warden had spoken to him.
"Uh….yes…Warden Thomas?" Hutch replied solemnly. "I'm sorry…I wasn't paying attention. What were you saying?"
"I asked if I could do anything for you?" replied the warden in a low respectful tone.
Hutch took a deep breath, cleared his throat of the knot that was lodged there and answered, "Yes, warden. There is something that I would like for you to do for me."
"Anything Captain…you just have to ask."
"Would you contact the local sheriff and the county coroner…" Hutch's voice trailed off. "I think I will be needing their assistance in bringing my partner home to Bay City."
"I will be glad to contact Sheriff Hawkins, and I'll put in a call to the county coroner in Sacramento."
"Sacramento?" Hutch's head shot up like a bullet. "Warden Thomas, my partner has been missing for 8 ½ years, and now that I know where he is I'm not about to wait a minute more than necessary before going there to bring him home!" Hutch exclaimed with understated anger.
"Of course, Captain Hutchinson. I understand how you must feel…" Warden Thomas began, but his voice trailed off as his eyes met the razor sharp steel blue ones. Eyes that conveyed anger, mourning and deep abiding loss.
"No," the warden thought. "I don't have a clue about what this man is feeling and I pray I never do. Why do people say they understand to someone that is in such overwhelming pain, anyway?"
"I'm sorry sir…I'll go make the call to Sheriff Hawkins right now," Warden Thomas stated as he picked up the phone on his secretary's desk. " Oh, and Captain…I'm sure our staff's doctor would be more than happy to go with you to…to help with your partner."
Hutch smiled faintly and expressed his thanks for the warden's help and understanding.
"I'm sorry warden. You've been very kind given the circumstances," apologized Hutch. "I guess I don't have a living person to blame for all of this and I just lashed out at the first live body I came across." Hutch explained…his eyes downcast.
He then lifted his eyes to look at Warden Thomas, "That would be you unfortunately," Hutch concluded with a sad smile.
With a small smile that indicated Hutch's apology was not necessary, the warden asked, "Would you like to use my office while I'm making arrangements…maybe use my phone to contact your police department?"
"I've already contacted the dispatcher on duty at Metro and a personal friend who has almost as much interest in Detective Starsky as I have," Hutch paused a minute as he thought about the sober, almost non-verbal conversation he had with Huggy Bear a few minutes prior. He had let his professional guard down only slightly as he had talked with Huggy…as they both mourned the loss of their friend in almost mutual silence.
"I think I would like to go out into the garden area out in front of your prison and look at the mountains awhile if you don't mind."
Hutch didn't wait for a reply. He just walked slowly through the front doors to the prison and walked into the gleaming sunlight that had a little touch of the early spring chill still in the air.
Looking up towards the still snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountains, Hutch thought, "So this is where you've been all this time my friend. I looked everywhere…at least I thought I'd looked everywhere for you. Who'd have thought that you would have been in these mountains?
"…I know how you just love them!" Hutch thought sarcastically.
Hutch chuckled to himself thinking of the last time that he and Starsky had taken a short weekend vacation in the Sierras. Starsky was like a fish out of water.
"A fish out of water…" Hutch continued in his thoughts. "Fish out of water die…don't they, Starsk?"
About an hour later, Hutch found himself in Sheriff Hawkins' patrol car and he, along with his two deputies and the prison ambulance, driven by the facility's doctor, were on their way.
The scenery would have been magnificent if Hutch had been looking at it from the passenger side of the patrol car. Instead his mind was firmly immersed in the past.