Safe House
Chapter 2
Two hours later they were sat in Captain Dobey's office surrounded by buff folders containing information on everything from narcotics busts to murders. All the files mentioned Xavier Ramirez in one form or another, either as the prime mover or as the original cause of the crime.
'Man, this guy's been busy. He's got warrants in almost every state except Alaska, and then some overseas. We got ourselves a big one here an' we can't afford to loose him' said Starsky getting excited.
'Now just hang on a minute there. I'm the one that makes the decisions and I don't know about this. You're telling me that this guy of yours is willing to testify against Ramirez in court just so long as we can protect him?' asked Dobey, the big man's forehead furrowing in concentration. 'Seems almost too good to be true. And we're gonna need help here. This is way too big for just the two of you to take down. Someone'll have to go to Spain, then there are these four henchmen to consider. Do we know where they are? What about all the other dealers who're relying on this shipment? Aren't they going to want a piece of the action?'
Hutch held up his hand. 'We've been talking about that on the way over an' we think we may have a plan Cap. We can send the Narc boys over to Spain to get Ramirez. He'll never know they're coming till its too late, not if we tell the Spanish police what's going down and ask 'em to keep him under surveillance. In the mean time we take Ramsey into protective custody somewhere real safe – like Bay City Jail. We make it very public – get the TV cameras here, but we do a swap inside. One of us goes in as Ramsey whilst two of our boys take Ramsey out the back to a safe house. Once we get to trial, we swap back with Ramsey at the courthouse, he gives his evidence and Ramirez is potted. Then we just need my weak bladdered friend here', motioning to Starsky, 'to do his bathroom act at the sentencing hearing, and he goes down for eternity. Simple'.
'And which of you is going to be stupid enough to pose as Ramsey, whilst the rest of the world is looking for Ramirez?' asked Dobey.
'I am' both men said together, then glared at each other. Starsky carried on.
'You can't do it!'
Hutch glared 'Why not. I'm as good undercover as you, if not better'.
Starsky patted his shoulder, speaking as if to an eight year old. 'And what colour is Ramsey's hair?'
'I could dye mine, dummy'.
The brunette went on 'Yeah, and have a perm and chop a couple of inches off your legs and change the colour of your eyes. Loose a couple of pounds……..'
He was cut off as Hutch angrily flung himself down. 'You get all the fun, ya know. But seriously, how we gonna watch your back whilst you're in there? Ya need back up buddy'.
Dobey interrupted. 'I think I can help there. I can speak to the Jail Administrator. If we categorise Ramsey as AA he'll be in solitary, which should give Starsky some protection, and I can ask him to assign a new prison guard – Hutch – to his detail. Will that do you?'
'Hmm', Hutch was pensive.' That'll give some protection, but who's gonna be babysitting the real Ramsey? And how do you feel about it Starsk?'
'Oh terrific, always wanted to have a vacation paid for by the good old USA'.
'You leave the babysitting to me. I'm thinking Miller and Samuels. If Ramsey is hiding out, we need to set this in motion today. Is he safe for tonight?' asked the Captain.
The two detectives looked at each other, consulting silently. Finally Hutch nodded. 'Yeah, I think so Cap. But you're right. This has to go down tonight or tomorrow. Can we deal in time?'
Dobey grunted. 'Leave the details to me. You two head off and get some rest and be back here for 10.00pm. I'll have the jail sorted by then, so you'd better pack your bags.
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The two detectives went out into the squad room and cleared their desks, silence between them, each wrapped in their own thoughts. Starsky carefully placed all his files in an orderly fashion, arranging his pens and erasers in a neat line at the front of his drawer and putting his new pen in his jeans pocket. Hutch employed the Hutchinson patented method of opening the drawer and using his arm to sweep everything into his drawer, cursing as the contents bulged out and spilled onto the floor. Eventually he looked up from recovering his possessions from the squad room tiles.
'Starsk, are you sure about this? I can't be there all the time an' you have a lousy track record with undercover stuff in institutions. Look what happened at Cabrillo State'.
His partner grimaced. 'Yeah, but there isn't a psychopathic doctor on the loose in Bay City Jail, so far as I know. And you'll be there Blintz, and it's only for a couple of weeks. Besides I've always liked the Shawshank Redemption. I can just see myself as Andy, apart from the………well, that won't happen in solitary!'
The two men made for the door, and home.
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At 10.00pm they were back at the Metro squeezed into Dobey's office with five other detectives. Dunn, Fernandez and Holmes, the narcotics team left almost immediately the briefing ended, on their way to LAX to catch their flight to Bilbao.
That left Starsky, Miller, Hutch and Samuels. Starsky and his partner had worked with the other two men on several big busts and Starsky felt that if he was going to trust his life to anyone, it was good that it was this team.
Before making their way back to the Metro, the partners had stopped off at each apartment to pack some clothes ready for the next few days. Starsky had idly watered Hutch's plants as Hutch had fought his way through the war zone that was his closet, muttering under his breath as he tried to find various items of clothing. When they got to Starsky's however, the scene was very different, his cupboards being clean and tidy and even his jeans having hangers of their own. As he busied himself with his packing, Hutch became even more pensive. Finally he knew he had to say something.
'Starsk, are you sure about all this? I know we planned it out, but I have a real bad feeling. I can't forget that time in Cabrillo when Matwick had me put you in that straight jacket. Have you any idea what that feels like – having to do that shit to you an' knowing I have no option, because its what we're undercover to do. I can't be there for you all the time in jail'. He lifted sad eyes to his partner 'Sometimes you ask too much of me buddy'.
Starsky came over to his friend and put an arm round Hutch's shoulder. 'As I see it then we have two choices. One – we pull this right now, which will seriously piss Dobey off, not to mention the three guys currently in the air going to Spain. Two, I ask for different backup instead of you, and that's not gonna happen, coz I need you'. He tried to think of the right words to put his feelings for his partner into. 'Hutch you're my conscience, my rock, you stop me falling off the deep end. You're my left arm and I can't do this without you…….'
A silence followed as Hutch looked at his feet. Eventually Starsky broke it, wanted to end the silence, but not the sentiment.
'And apart from that, you lace a mean straight jacket!' he playfully punched the blonde's arm as he set off to complete his packing.
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In Bilbao, Xavier Ramirez was pacing his plush office overlooking the Rio de Bilbao. He stopped to look out of the huge plate glass window at the skyline of the industrial city. He stopped as there was a knock at the door.
'Hola?'
A small thin woman came into the room. Snr Ramirez, there is a telephone call from Los Angeles for you. Will you take it?
'Si' he picked up the phone. 'Buenas tardes Senior Dennis, Cómo está usted?..Si?..muy bien. Dennis' he switched to English ' you have news for me?
He listened carefully to the crackly voice on the other end of the phone, distorted as it was by distance. 'I've just seen a TV bulletin from Bay City. They've arrested Ramsey and he's in custody in Bay City jail – it showed him being transferred there'.
'Madre de Dios' Ramirez spat. 'Then we must send him an invitation to join our little party and cough up the cash. And, Dennis, make sure you deliver the invitation personally. I will pay well' he put the phone down and strode from the office.
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Dennis put the telephone down and turned to his three companions.
'Well boys, we have a job to do. I think we should get the safe house ready'.